A Scheme Within a Scheme

Li Yuan and Mr. Mo strolled along at an unhurried pace, stopping now and then. Before they knew it, they had arrived outside Aji's general store.

"Honored guests, what can I get for you?"

Aji greeted them with a broad smile. Li Yuan removed his conical hat and flashed him a dazzling grin. "Aji, it's me."

"Big Brother?"

Aji cried out in delighted surprise. "I thought you'd forgotten all about me. Hurry, come inside and sit."

He pulled Li Yuan toward the rear courtyard, then looked at Mr. Mo. "And this is?"

"This is Mr. Mo."

"Greetings, sir. Please come in for some tea." Aji's smile was guileless and honest.

The two entered the rear courtyard. It was not large, with some odds and ends piled about and several garments hanging out to dry. Everything appeared perfectly normal.

"Big Brother, we haven't seen each other for a whole year." Aji was so emotional that his eyes reddened. "You must stay for a meal before leaving this time."

The group sat on stone stools in the courtyard. Mr. Mo accepted the rough clay tea bowl, but his divine sense had already silently spread across the entire yard.

"Alright, then I'll have a taste of your cooking." Li Yuan laughed heartily. Watching Aji bustle about, he casually asked, "How has business at the shop been lately? No one's been giving you trouble, have they?"

This general store did not make its money from rice, oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar. Its main business was purchasing mountain goods from regular customers, and the profits were considerable.

"Business has been alright." Aji worked beside the small stove in the corner as he answered, "A few hooligans came looking for trouble, but the ward chief helped deal with them."

When the general store had first established itself, Li Yuan had given Aji money to smooth things over with the ward chief. Since they were not conducting any major business, the man had been quite accommodating.

Before long, a simple meal was set on the table: a plate of braised meat, a plate of stir-fried greens, a bowl of egg-drop soup, and a small jug of cloudy wine. It was hardly lavish, but it had all the flavor of a home-cooked meal.

Aji eagerly poured them wine and served them food.

"Mr. Mo, it's just plain fare. Please don't mind it." Aji raised his wine cup, his eyes reddening again. "I offer this toast to Big Brother. Without him, there would be no Aji today."

Li Yuan smiled and clinked cups with him, then drained his wine in one gulp. It was ordinary cloudy wine, with nothing unusual about it, and there was no problem with the food either.

During the meal, the three chatted and laughed over everyday matters, the atmosphere easy and relaxed.

As the wine began to take effect, Aji let out a long sigh, seeming to have something to say but holding it back.

"Is there something troubling you? Go ahead and tell me. Perhaps I can help." Li Yuan smiled.

"Big Brother, do you remember that winter five years ago? The time we finally managed to beg for a few flatbreads, only for Mao the Tyrant and his men to snatch them away?"

Li Yuan raised a brow, unsure why he had suddenly brought this up. "Of course I remember. We got beaten too—hurt and starving, we nearly died."

"Yes. If A Hua hadn't taken pity on us and secretly slipped us a flatbread, we probably wouldn't have made it through."

Back then, the two had sheltered in a ruined temple. A Hua was a young girl nearby learning embroidery. She often saw them and felt deeply sorry for them.

"We haven't seen Sister A Hua for many years. I wonder how she is now." Li Yuan sighed with emotion as well.

"I ran into her on the street some days ago. She's having a terrible life now. That damned stepfather of hers owed gambling debts and actually sold her to Leaning Red House..."

Aji's eyes were filled with grief and indignation. "Big Brother, I know you're capable. Could you lend me some money first, so I can redeem her...?"

Leaning Red House?

At this, Li Yuan exchanged a glance with Mr. Mo. No wonder everything in this courtyard had seemed normal. So this was where they had been waiting for him.

"Such a thing happened?" Li Yuan slapped the table angrily. "Miss A Hua showed us kindness; we must help her. It's just that I don't have much silver on me either..."

With that, he looked at Mr. Mo with a troubled expression. "Sir, please advance the money for me first. I'll repay you after we return."

Mr. Mo smiled. "Saving someone is urgent. Come, let's go take a look first."

"Wonderful, Big Brother, Mr. Mo." Aji sprang to his feet. "Let's go at once..."

The three left the general store and headed toward Pingkang Ward.

The marketplace remained as bustling as ever. Yet within the unseen shadows, countless eyes were quietly watching them.

Leaning Red House stood at the eastern end of Pingkang Ward. Compared to those high-end brothels with carved beams and painted rafters, it looked rather shabby. Its entrance was small, its lanterns old, and it exuded a cheap scent of rouge and powder.

Most of its patrons were peddlers and laborers, seeking a night of pleasure at an affordable price.

Aji hurried forward and barged straight inside upon reaching the entrance. The hall was dimly lit and suggestive. Several gaudily dressed women lounged against the railings. At the sight of customers, they immediately waved their sleeves in eager welcome, their cooing voices filling the place with lively chatter.

A madam caked in thick makeup sashayed over, smiling before she even spoke. "Oh my, these honored guests look unfamiliar. Is this your first visit? What kind of girls do you like—"

"We're looking for Xiao Lian." Aji cut her off, his tone tense. "I want to redeem her."

"Redeem her?"

The madam's smile froze. She looked the group up and down, disdain flickering in her eyes at their shabby clothing. "Xiao Lian is one of our most popular girls. Her redemption fee won't be cheap..."

"Just tell me how much." Aji waved a banknote before her.

The madam's eyes immediately lit up, and her face blossomed into a smile. "Easy enough. One thousand taels, no bargaining. How about it?"

Aji sucked in a sharp breath at the enormous sum. "Didn't her father sell her for only twenty taels? Why does it cost so much?"

"Does the food and drink she consumes grow on trees?" The madam's face instantly turned cold. "Enough nonsense. If you can afford it, redeem her. If you can't, get out of the way and stop disrupting my business."

Li Yuan watched coldly, but his mind was racing. Dark Pavilion had chosen this place for the ambush. Without question, Mr. Mo was their greatest obstacle.

Chang'an City was under the suppression of the National Guardian Grand Formation. High-ranking demons found it difficult to display their strength there, and they could easily draw the attention of Demon Suppression Bureau experts.

He secretly surveyed the surroundings, yet could not spot the slightest anomaly. He could not help feeling puzzled. Just what method would they use to hold Mr. Mo back?

Aji looked weakly toward Li Yuan. Only when he saw the latter nod did he find his courage.

"Fine. One thousand taels it is. Take us to see her. We hand over the person and the money at the same time."

Seeing him agree, the madam beamed. "Alright, alright. Gentlemen, please follow me. Xiao Lian is still entertaining a customer right now."

The staircase was narrow and steep, creaking beneath their feet. The second-floor corridor was saturated with the pungent odor of cheap incense, and faint, unbearable sounds drifted from the rooms on either side.

When they reached the door to the room at the very end, the madam stopped.

Before anyone could speak, a woman's miserable cry of pain rang out from inside, followed by the crude scolding of a man.

"It's Xiao Lian!" Aji's eyes split with rage as he kicked the door.

Bang!

The door had not been bolted and flew open at once.

The scene inside immediately came into view. A frail young girl, clad only in a dudou and underpants, was covered in whip marks. A burly man with a face full of flesh had pinned her onto the table, a leather whip still hanging from his hand.

Tears streamed down the girl's face, and her expression was one of terror and despair. Looking at her, she did indeed resemble the A Hua in his memories.

"Stop!" Aji roared, charging inside without a thought for anything else. "Let her go!"

Li Yuan and Mr. Mo exchanged a glance. Now that they had come this far, there was no reason to shrink back at the critical moment.