The person Lu Xiaofeng had thought of was named Sikong Zhaixing.
This man was renowned even among thieves. His qinggong was exceptional, and his disguise techniques were downright miraculous. It was said that no one had ever seen his true face.
On the Lantern Festival, the streets were brilliantly lit, packed shoulder to shoulder with a sea of people.
But times like these were also when all sorts of shady characters came out to roam.
As a leading figure among thieves, Sikong Zhaixing naturally would not let such a perfect opportunity pass him by.
Lu Xiaofeng climbed to a high spot and soon spotted a figure darting across the entire street, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
There were quite a few people in this world with qinggong like that.
But there were few who used such qinggong for stealing.
Lu Xiaofeng immediately gave chase. His qinggong was even faster, and though he had started later, he arrived first, blocking Sikong Zhaixing's path.
"I was wondering who had qinggong better than mine, enough to get ahead and block me. So it was you, Lu Xiaofeng."
"It was me. I came to find you today because I need something."
"What is it?"
"Do you know where Jile Tower is?"
"Hm?"
Suspicion immediately appeared on Sikong Zhaixing's face. "You're not... investigating the Jile Tower case, are you? No way. A place that fun can't be ruined by your investigation."
"Hey, why investigate a case on such a fine Lantern Festival night? I've only heard about it and wanted to have some fun myself."
"You want to have some fun? I don't believe you!"
Sikong Zhaixing turned to leave at once.
Lu Xiaofeng quickly grabbed him and said helplessly, "All right. Actually, I made a wager with someone else. We're competing over this case, and each side has terms."
"A competition? Terms? What terms?"
Lu Xiaofeng said, "If I win, he has to dig for earthworms."
"Dig for earthworms?"
Sikong Zhaixing's eyes lit up. "What an interesting condition. Who came up with that? Oh, right—what happens if you lose?"
"That person owes me a favor. If I lose, the debt is wiped clean."
"That's no fun. Lu Xiaofeng, I'll help you win. But once you do, I'm coming with you to watch that unlucky fellow dig for earthworms!"
"No problem!"
And so the two of them came to an agreement.
Sikong Zhaixing then led Lu Xiaofeng to a patch of wilderness outside the city. There was unexpectedly a graveyard in the woods, with several crooked tombstones planted in the ground.
"What did you bring me here for in the middle of the night?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
"Ah, this is how you get to Jile Tower!"
Sikong Zhaixing moved aside a pile of branches on the ground, revealing a grave pit with a coffin inside.
At the same time, he began explaining it to Lu Xiaofeng.
It turned out that whether one was going to or returning from Jile Tower, one had to travel by coffin.
To go there, one came to this fixed location, planted a candle in the ground, and then climbed into the coffin. Someone would naturally come and take them there.
Besides the location, there was also a time requirement.
If the time had not arrived, they would not take you.
If you were late, it was useless as well.
That window was usually a brief period between nightfall and midnight.
For the return journey, one had to enter a coffin in Jile Tower before dawn. Jile Tower's people would likewise transport them and send them back here.
Only by operating in such a concealed manner could Jile Tower ensure its safety.
The two entered the coffin. Before long, they heard footsteps nearby, followed by loud banging sounds.
The people outside were using coffin nails to seal the entire coffin shut.
Lying inside, the two of them grew somewhat dazed. They had no idea how much time had passed—perhaps a long while, perhaps only a moment—before they heard someone opening the coffin.
When the coffin was opened, they found themselves in a brightly lit pavilion. Two rows of strong guards stood on either side, while a man in a smiling mask said cheerfully, "Welcome to Jile Tower, honored guests. May you both rise in rank and grow rich!"
At the same time, he presented them with two masks.
It turned out that everyone entering had to wear a mask.
There were all kinds of other rules as well, such as the divisions between floors. Only gold, silver, and jewels were accepted; banknotes were not.
However, when leaving, one could exchange all the gold, silver, and jewels they had won for banknotes.
Hearing that rule, Lu Xiaofeng could not help sneering.
Exchange them for banknotes before leaving?
The notes they gave out were probably all counterfeit, weren't they?
So in other words, no valuables were allowed to leave at all?
Upon entering the tower, they saw gambling tables everywhere, nearly all crowded with people and bustling with activity.
Beautiful women played music around them, while attendants served fine wine and delicacies.
Burly guards stood at every checkpoint.
Unable to restrain himself, Sikong Zhaixing went off to play first, while Lu Xiaofeng wandered around.
His gaze swept across the place, and he quickly determined that although the tower appeared ordinary, it was actually filled with mechanisms and traps.
Moreover, every mechanism was exceedingly ingenious. If he had not grown up alongside Zhu Ting and absorbed some knowledge of such things through constant exposure, he might not have noticed them at all.
As he walked, he ran into an acquaintance.
"Old Hua, why are you here too?" Though they were separated by masks, Lu Xiaofeng was certain that this had to be Hua Manlou.
Hua Manlou did not deny it. "Naturally, I came to investigate the case. This matter concerns the Hua family, so I cannot leave all the work to you."
"Where's Old Zhou?"
"He didn't come with me."
"Heh, don't tell me he still hasn't even found Jile Tower?"
"Or perhaps he has no need to investigate it personally."
Lu Xiaofeng considered it and realized that made sense. He immediately felt rather unbalanced.
"Tower Master, Lu Xiaofeng has arrived."
Inside a secret chamber, the masked master of Jile Tower nodded. "No matter. Play with him for a while!"
In this case, Luo Ma was the true mastermind.
What did mastermind mean?
Every plan came from him, and every matter revolved around him.
Jile Tower was no exception.
The people in the tower had also been found and won over by him through the conveniences of his office, and they were utterly loyal.
The master of Jile Tower in particular was fanatically devoted.
Even if Luo Ma truly ordered him to die, he would obey.
Of course, Luo Ma would not present things that way on the surface. What he told everyone was that the master of Jile Tower and all those within always wore masks, so no one knew their true identities.
When the time came, they could naturally substitute one person for another and switch the identities around.
Thus, the already loyal master of Jile Tower had no intention of resisting at all and carried out Luo Ma's plan completely.
Lu Xiaofeng was highly capable to begin with, and with the secret assistance of Jile Tower's master, he soon won a great deal of silver and was invited to the second floor.
There were few guests on the second floor, but the minimum bets were much higher.
Even the games themselves were far more elaborate.
Yet Lu Xiaofeng continued winning hand after hand.
So he was invited to the third floor.
A glamorous and radiant beauty then appeared before Lu Xiaofeng.
She was Wuyan, the courtesan queen of Jile Tower.
The games on the third floor were decided by the courtesan queen. The winner could not only win wealth, but also spend some time with the beauty.
Naturally, Lu Xiaofeng won again.
Wuyan invited Lu Xiaofeng into her private chamber. Amid flirtatious conversation, she removed her outer robe.
Her ample breasts were revealed, and upon skin as smooth as warm jade was a tattoo of an axe.
Lu Xiaofeng was startled. "Miss Wuyan, you..."
Bang, bang, bang!
Loud knocking suddenly came from outside.
Wuyan's expression changed. "Hero Lu, once this knocking begins, Jile Tower's people will come to drive guests away!"
She hurriedly took out a string of prayer beads and handed it to Lu Xiaofeng. "There isn't enough time. Please investigate Yunjian Temple, Hero Lu. When you find prayer beads exactly like these, you will understand."
As she spoke, the door to the room was pushed open directly.
The man in the smiling mask entered with several guards and said politely, "Guest, the time has come. You must leave."
With no other choice, Lu Xiaofeng had to leave. He exchanged all the silver he had won that night for banknotes, then lay down in the coffin under Jile Tower's watch.
Before you continue