Xia Changming had returned from Ji Province. This time, he had chosen to stay at Welcome Immortal. Following the assassination at the Sea-Rhyme Restaurant, the establishment had been placed under strict surveillance by the Bohai Kingdom, and all its guests had moved out.
Xia Changming's trip to Ji Province had yielded little. Although he had completed the task Hu Xiaotian had assigned him, he had not seen Huo Xiaoru. Even Xiang Shancong, the proprietor of Yanxi Hall, had said only a single sentence to him.
Hearing that everything at Yanxi Hall remained normal, Hu Xiaotian felt reassured. At least the Bohai authorities had not traced anything back to Yanxi Hall yet, which meant Huo Xiaoru would be safe for the time being.
"I just wonder whether they'll guess you're here," Xia Changming said.
"They certainly will," Hu Xiaotian said. Once that painting reached Huo Xiaoru, she would recognize its distinctive style and realize he had come to the Bohai Kingdom.
"What are your plans, boss?" Xia Changming asked.
"Look into the Heavenly Star Court for me. There's no need to get close. Just draw me a bird's-eye view of the place."
Xia Changming nodded. "No problem!" Lowering his voice, he added, "I heard you're living with Xue Lingjun now, boss?"
Hu Xiaotian could not help laughing. "Rumors are fearsome things. She was attacked at Fuqing Tower and feared for her safety, so she's staying temporarily at Spring Garden. There's nothing between us."
Xia Changming laughed too. "Even if you were just playing along for the occasion, there'd be no harm in it. What worries me is whether this puts you on the crest of the storm, with everyone watching."
"With things as they stand, I'm actually safer out in the open," Hu Xiaotian said. "The Bohai authorities still have their