As the sun sets, the last rays of its rays are swallowed by the horizon.
But then, the Soul Return Town awoke.
The red lanterns along both sides of the street lit up one after another, illuminating the bluestone pavement in a bright red glow.
Fireworks rose from every corner of the town, exploding in the air and showering down a shower of sparks.
The sounds of gongs, drums, firecrackers, and voices mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere like Chinese New Year.
No, it's even more lively than Chinese New Year.
On the commercial street of the Third Ring Town, a tower rises from the ground, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted rafters.
Large red lanterns hung on each floor, and candlelight shone through the openwork window frames.
A plaque with gold lettering hangs above the door.
[Green Moon Tower]
Downstairs, several girls dressed in long, sheer dresses were standing at the door, soliciting customers.
"Coming, coming! Please come in, sir!"
A girl came forward, her voice sickeningly sweet.
Zhao Yan slapped the Clown on the back of the head.
"Tang Sirui from the ditch, is this the place you were talking about for the dinner party?"
He pointed at the golden plaque, his face turning ashen.
"You dare bring me to a brothel?! Do you have a death wish?!"
The Clown clutched his head, feeling utterly miserable.
How many times has he been beaten up today?
Can't Tang Sirui be a little more obedient?
He felt like his head was about to be smashed by that stinky old man!
"How could that be, Grandpa Zhao!"
The Clown rubbed the back of his head, a fawning smile plastered on his face.
"Even brothels have different types of establishments! We're just having a meal together, nothing more!"
Zhao Yan looked him up and down and snorted coldly.
That's more like it.
"There are women in the team, otherwise what kind of order would that be!"
Xin An then approached.
He was dressed in a Merchant's robe with a money bag hanging from his waist, and looked somewhat like a wealthy man.
"Captain," he lowered his voice, a slight smile playing on his lips, "If there are no female comrades left, can we go?"
The Clown exchanged a glance with him.
They both grinned at the same time.
Then, he received a slap on the back of both heads at the same time.
"Snort!"
Zhao Yan withdrew his hand, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Remember this discipline!"
"Although you are not formal soldiers, you are the face of China!"
"You're not allowed to do anything shady!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"The captain is right!"
The two covered their heads and admitted their mistake in unison.
The Shadow stood aside, watching the farce unfold, and helplessly rubbed its forehead.
Her gaze shifted to the other side, and then...
I almost couldn't hold back.
Just then, Liu Ruyan turned the corner, holding a broken bowl in her hands.
He was wearing a beggar's outfit covered in patches, and his face was smeared with ash.
She walked quickly and hurriedly, her head down and neck hunched.
If it weren't for Shadow's sharp eyes, she would never have recognized that this was the arrogant young lady of the Sword Emperor.
The three of them turned their heads in unison.
Three seconds of silence.
Then...
"Puff!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The three of them laughed so hard they were doubled over, and tears were almost streaming down their faces.
Zhao Yan slapped his thigh, Xin An clutched her stomach, and the Clown laughed so hard he squatted on the ground.
"What are you looking at! Haven't you ever seen a beggar before?!"
Liu Ruyan's face flushed red. She tucked the broken bowl into her bosom and glared at them through gritted teeth.
"I've never seen such a handsome beggar."
Seeing this, Zhao Yan quickly coughed twice, forcibly suppressing his laughter, and made up an excuse.
"Um... I did pretty well today. I got a big job tonight, I'll earn twenty taels of silver."
"I'm so happy, so happy!"
Xin An quickly followed suit. "Me too, I exceeded my target on the first day and earned thirty taels."
"Life in ancient times must have been quite interesting, haha..."
The Clown pulled out a silver note from his pocket and waved it. "I met my sales target for today, earning ten taels."
"Good luck, good luck."
Three people, three Smile Face, three sets of stories.
Liu Ruyan held the empty bowl, trembling with anger.
"Are you... are you showing off to me?!"
She gritted her teeth and spoke slowly, deliberately.
"You were just lucky! Stop being so arrogant!"
Shadow spoke at the opportune moment, his tone flat. "How's your performance?"
Liu Ruyan froze.
She turned the bowl over; it was empty, not even a single copper coin.
The air was silent for two seconds.
"No way?"
The Shadow looked her up and down.
"Didn't you draw the thief? How come you're in such a state?"
"Could it be that he became a beggar just because he dressed like one?"
"You can't be this poor, even a beggar."
Xin An analyzed the situation with a serious expression.
"There's a beggar right next to my shop who earned three taels of silver in just one afternoon."
"Your bowl is cleaner than your face, it's obvious that..."
"You're the beggar! Your whole family are beggars!"
Liu Ruyan interrupted him, her voice cracking.
"I... I just don't know how to steal!"
After saying that, she froze in surprise.
Everyone was stunned.
I won't steal.
These words, spoken by someone who drew the profession of thief, are inexplicably...
It's a little heartbreaking.
Yes, in a normal child's family, who teaches them to steal?
Zhao Yan's smile faded, and his gloating vanished instantly.
Looking at Liu Ruyan's face, which was both ashamed and angry, he felt a rare pang of guilt.
"Alright, alright, let's leave it at that."
He coughed and patted Xin An and the Clown on the shoulder.
"You two earn a lot, help her out."
Without saying a word, the Clown took out two taels of silver and handed them over.
Xin An also took out three taels, which together made up a five-tael silver note.
That's enough to pay tonight's head tax.
"Take it."
Zhao Yan pushed the silver notes in front of Liu Ruyan.
Liu Ruyan looked at the few silver notes, bit her lip, and pushed them away.
"No! I don't want your filthy money!"
She tucked the bowl into her bosom and raised her chin.
"There's still time! I'll earn it myself after we finish eating!"
Zhao Yan's eyelids twitched.
That spoiled brat attitude of hers is something she just can't seem to change, no matter where she goes.
But...
Having ambition is a good thing.
We can't let them support this old lady forever.
He turned to the Clown: "After the dinner, go and teach her a lesson."
"I?"
The Clown pointed to his nose and then glanced at Liu Ruyan.
To improve his acting skills, he studied a great deal of ancient China culture.
The woman in front of me, judging from both her name and appearance, is no pushover.
They belong to the type that can drive people crazy in everyday life.
But...
He is the sixth seat of the Desolate God Society, the greatest actor in the world.
What are these difficulties?
"OK."
The Clown patted his chest and flashed a bright smile reminiscent of Tang Sirui.
"Leave it to me! I'll teach her!"
Zhao Yan rarely showed a look of satisfaction. "You're a promising student. It's been a long time since I've seen you so well-behaved."
Shadow looked around and asked, "Where's Chief Yue Tian? Hasn't he arrived yet?"
"Chief Yue is Jailer; he doesn't get off work until the early hours of the morning."
Xin An took over the conversation.
"He came to see me this afternoon, saying he needed to investigate some things on his own and would come back to see us tomorrow."
The Clown was secretly delighted.
That's great that Yue Tian isn't here.
With the Interrogator present, he didn't dare breathe too loudly, afraid of giving himself away.
"Let's go inside first."
He quickly took over the conversation and pushed everyone towards Green Moon Tower.
"They should be waiting already. Just bring some food for Chief Yue when you go back."
Zhao Yan nodded and waved his hand. "Let's go."
The inside of Green Moon Tower was even more lively than the outside.
The lobby on the first floor was filled with round tables, all occupied by diners.
There were Merchant in long gowns, knights-errant wearing straw hats, scholars waving fans, and several yamen runners in official robes.
The atmosphere was lively, with toasts and drinks flowing freely.
A waiter approached, a white towel draped over his shoulder, his face beaming with smiles.
"Gentlemen, do you have any reservations?"
The Clown stepped forward. "Yes, Aeria invited us."
The waiter's eyes lit up immediately, and he bent down even lower.
"Oh my! It's Miss Aeria, a distinguished guest!"
"Please come in, please come in! This is the top-class private room on the third floor. Let me show you the way!"
Zhao Yan's brow twitched slightly upon hearing the name [Aeria].
A perennial runner-up on the Novice Ranking leaderboard, and the ace of the new generation from the Eagle Country.
Judging from the waiter's tone, she seemed to hold a fairly high position at Green Moon Tower.
Xin An leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "What's her position in the brothel? She's not the owner, is she?"
The Clown chuckled, "You'll find out soon enough."
The three followed the waiter up to the third floor and stopped in front of a carved wooden door.
The waiter greeted them and then left.
The Clown gripped the doorknob and glanced back at the crowd.
Then, I pushed open the door.
The private room was large enough to seat more than a dozen people.
A round mahogany table was placed in the very center, and it was already laden with dishes.
Three people were sitting at the table.
The one on the left, dressed in a constable's uniform with an axe at his waist, is Allen Dick.
The one in the middle, dressed as a merchant and wearing a melon-shaped hat, is Jamie.
The one on the right is a big, dark-skinned man with a thick beard, wearing a servant's short jacket, and he's sitting with his legs crossed, gnawing on a chicken leg.
Hey guys!
Jamie was the first to stand up and wave enthusiastically.
Allen Dick also came forward, bumped fists with the Clown, and then turned to Zhao Yan and the others, grinning.
"Everyone's here! Please, have a seat!"
The big, dark-skinned man wiped his greasy hands on his clothes and stood up.
"Hey, friends from China, I'm the vice-captain of the Eagle Squad."
He stretched out his hand, grinned, and revealed a set of white teeth.
"My codename is [Speed and Passion], you can just call me Roman."
Xin An stepped forward and shook hands with him, then introduced himself, "I am Xin An, the vice-captain of the Sharp Blade Squad."
"This is our captain, Zhao Yan. These two are team members Shadow and Liu Ruyan, and there's that..."
He glanced at the Clown, who was arm in arm with Allen Dick.
"That's Tang Sirui, a member of the Iron Wall Squad."
Roman's eyes widened and widened until they were completely wide open.
"My God! The Sharp Blade Squad?! You're the Sharp Blade Squad that once commanded the God of War?!"
He was so excited he almost overturned the table, grabbed Zhao Yan's hand, and shook it vigorously.
"I'm a fan of General Lin! A die-hard fan!"
"I've watched the video of him hacking down the Tailor during the Destruction Five Days at least a hundred times!"
"Oh my god! I never expected to see you all here!"
Upon hearing this, the Clown's expression changed.
Allen Dick noticed this keenly. "What's wrong, Don? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No... no! I was just thinking about some things! Let's eat!"
The Clown quickly waved his hand and laughed.
"That's right, let's eat and drink first! We can think about our troubles later!"
Jamie laughed.
The three then continued eating, while the Clown...
He then stared intently at Roman out of the corner of his eye...
A murderous intent lurked in his eyes...