After walking along the passage for a little over ten minutes, Jiang Yourning emerged into an alley.
This was the capital's largest black market-Swallow Sparrow Street. It was completely cut off from the outside world; even the reigning emperor knew nothing of its existence.
Every day, all manner of dealings that could never see the light took place here.
What no one outside dared to buy, people here dared to buy.
Anything no one dared to sell could be sold here, too.
Jiang Yourning discreetly surveyed her surroundings out of the corner of her eye, walking straight ahead with her head high and her chest out.
Quite a few ill-intentioned gazes settled on Jiang Yourning, but she did not seem like a curious newcomer visiting for the first time, so no one dared approach her with crooked intentions.
When they saw Jiang Yourning enter the Shadow Pavilion, everyone obediently withdrew their gazes.
Anyone who could enter the Shadow Pavilion was not someone they could casually prey upon.
Inside the Shadow Pavilion, the lighting was dim, and strange patterns were carved into the surrounding stone walls.
Most striking of all was the werewolf statue standing in the very center of the hall.
The wolf king bared its fangs, its two eyes-made from some unknown material-glowing an eerie green. It was inexplicably chilling.
Jiang Yourning calmly glanced around, and her hoarse voice rang out once more.
"Anyone here taking jobs? A ghost will do, too."
"You're quite an interesting young lady."
A figure likewise dressed in black robes and wearing a fanged demon mask slowly descended from above along a rope.
Against the dim backdrop, it looked as though he had flown down from the sky.
"You're pretty interesting yourself."
Jiang Yourning calmly flashed a grin.
"What brings you to my Shadow Pavilion, miss?"
The androgynous voice was rather hoarse, as though the speaker's throat had been slashed. It was unpleasant to hear.
"I have a few little things to sell."
"And what might those be, miss?"
"Poison, and pills that make people tell the truth. Would your pavilion be interested?"
"Oh?"
The figure immediately perked up.
"Were these things obtained legitimately, miss?"
"Of course."
"So, do you want them or not?"
Jiang Yourning took two small bottles from her sleeve.
"We need to test the quality of the pills."
He seemed quite interested.
"Sure. Only I have the antidote to this poison. I'll give you one of each, including a Truth-Telling Pill. Go test their effects first."
"Very well."
He took out a badge shaped like a bird in flight and tossed it to Jiang Yourning.
"Tomorrow at the hour of the rooster (17:00), come to the Everpeace Pawnshop on West Street. Show this to enter through the back door. If they work, we'll give you a fair price."
"No problem."
Jiang Yourning smiled with her lips pressed together and swaggered out of the black market.
Her main reason for selling things was to earn some points and expand the storage space in her little backpack. It was far too small.
Along the way, she took another pill to maintain her appearance.
After leaving, Jiang Yourning went into a clothing shop, bought a fresh outfit, and changed into it. Only after the pill's effects wore off did she reappear in public.
Later that day.
The National Preceptor's Residence.
The study.
Qian Yan suddenly hurried inside to report.
"Master, someone went to the Shadow Pavilion to sell medicine today. Even Divine Doctor Ye couldn't neutralize the poison, and there was also a pill that made people tell the truth. It worked very well."
"And?"
Qing Qianxue spoke coolly. Winter plum blossoms continued blooming on the paper beneath his hand, his work entirely undisturbed.
"And tomorrow at the hour of the rooster, that person will go to the Everpeace Pawnshop to sell the medicine.
"Also, Master, that woman was quite young, yet she possessed such things. Her background is probably far from simple."
As he said this, suspicion crept onto Qian Yan's face.
"But they still lost her."
Qing Qianxue calmly uttered those few words.
Qian Yan hastily dropped to his knees.
"Forgive us, Master. There's something strange about that woman. The Shadow Pavilion's men followed her to a clothing shop, but after that, they couldn't find any trace of her.
"And that clothing shop was bustling with customers, with all sorts of powder and perfume scents mixed together. Our men are all grown fellows, so investigating there wasn't easy."
"Find a way to uncover her background within three days."
Qing Qianxue's tone remained cool.
There was actually no punishment. Qian Yan froze for a moment, then, afraid Qing Qianxue might change his mind, hurriedly grinned and dashed outside.
"I'll pass down the orders right away! Our men certainly won't let you down, Master!"
After Qian Yan left, Qing Qianxue raised his head.
A drop of red ink fell from his brush onto the white paper, spreading into a brilliant blot of crimson.
Just like that, the painting of winter plum blossoms was marred.
A rare trace of bewilderment appeared in Qing Qianxue's cool eyes.
During his divinations over the past two days, he had discovered an unpredictable variable within his own fate star, whose doom had no solution.
That variable signified life.
If one could live, who would willingly die?
Yet he could find no answer as to where that glimmer of life lay.
After leaving the black market, Jiang Yourning made a special trip to find an old carpenter and explained all her ideas to him.
It was the first time the old carpenter had taken on such a novel job. He was thrilled, chatted with Jiang Yourning for ages, and even gave her a discount.
Jiang Yourning also visited a blacksmith, who was just as excited as the old carpenter.
Both agreed to begin working at the tavern the next day and return to reopen their own shops once the work was finished.
Once those arrangements were made.
Jiang Yourning ordered another batch of materials. Upon learning that Xie Ciyan was accompanying her elder sister, she remarked that he knew what he was doing, then took Chun Tao and Xia He home first.
Later that day.
Xie Ciyan escorted Jiang Wanrong home.
As soon as she reached her courtyard, Jiang Yourning went to visit her.
"Sister, how did your outing with Young Marquis Xie go? Have you arranged everything that needed arranging?"
"Yes. Young Marquis Xie is dependable and thorough. With his help, work on renovating the tavern can begin tomorrow."
Jiang Wanrong nodded.
A rosy flush still lingered on her cheeks.
"That's good."
Jiang Yourning nodded.
Not bad, not bad. That young fellow really is worth knowing. Just look at how red my sister's little face is.
Before you continue