Volume Three: How a Crooked Merchant Is Made - The Golden Vein Cloud Demon Howl (Part One)

Du Lengning and the other two hid off to one side. Once almost everyone had left, Du Lengning's eyes darted around. "Which of the two still inside do you think will come out first?" Ling Xiaose was a homebody with no experience in such matters, so he guessed on instinct. "Xiao Yan." Xiao Xiangzi struck the pose of a great lover and considered it. "In my experience, Kuasiren."

Luo Qian was pondering the same question. The best outcome would be for one to come out first and the other later, giving him time to soothe them one after the other. But he knew there was little hope of things going so perfectly. While he was fretting, a figure appeared before him. He paused at the sight of a familiar haze of gauze, then smiled. "Xie Tang. I never expected you to enter too." A trace of amusement shone in Xie Tang's eyes. "Were you angry with me last time?" Her voice was clear enough that Du Lengning and the others heard her from a distance. All three gaped, then burst into speculation. So Luo Qian had been getting up to things behind their backs—and there had even been a last time...

Luo Qian shrugged, feigning ease. "It's all right. I know you must have had your reasons." Pain flashed through Xie Tang's eyes. "You're right. I did have my reasons. If I hadn't done it, our next meeting might not have been so easygoing." Luo Qian had a vague inkling of what she meant, but no clear idea. Xie Tang suddenly giggled, a hint of concern barely discernible in her voice. "Have you been well these past few days?" Luo Qian smiled bitterly. "Well enough. I'm alive." After a moment's thought, Xie Tang lowered her voice. "I heard Lu Xiaofeng