Jade Faced Fox (3)

Nangong Yue's exquisite face was clouded with worry, her slender jade fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at her waist. The candlelight in the secret chamber flickered, casting dancing shadows on her face.

"Saintess, your subordinate believes..." The masked man knelt on one knee, the iron mask reflecting a ghostly light.

Nangong Yue suddenly chuckled, but the sound was chillingly cold. "Break into the Imperial Prison?" Her red lips parted slightly, the words falling like icy beads. "The Brocade Guard's Thirteen Protectors are stationed at the Imperial Prison, the weakest of whom is a Fourth-Rank Minor Grandmaster, with formed qi. Even if the Four Heavenly Kings arrive together, I fear it would be a one-in-ten chance of survival." Her phoenix eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the person before her. "You, a mere Fifth-Rank, speak with such audacity."

The masked man slammed a fist on the table, rattling the teacups. "Your subordinate is foolish! But... if we could transfer him to another location..."

"Another location?" A glint flashed in Nangong Yue's eyes, a dangerous curve appearing at the corner of her lips. "Go tell the two Heavenly Kings—" She suddenly lowered her voice, her breath like orchids, "Tell them to prepare to break into the prison."

"What about our hidden assets..."

"The Jade Faced Fox caused this trouble, so he must bear the consequences himself." Nangong Yue flicked her wide sleeves, turning around and leaving a fragrant breeze in her wake.

Inside the study, Nangong Wentian was toying with a blood-jade thumb ring. Hearing footsteps, he didn't even look up. "The Ministry of Justice's people have already gone."

Nangong Yue performed a flawless bow, the pearl hairpins in her cloud-like hair remaining perfectly still. "Thank you, Father."

"Yue'er..." Nangong Wentian put down the thumb ring, his voice tinged with weariness. "It's been twenty years. How long will you continue to resent your father?"

Nangong Yue paused in her turn, the hem of her skirt drawing a semicircle on the gold-brick floor. "This daughter wouldn't dare." Her voice was frighteningly calm.

Li Chen Zhou paused in his steps, his black cloak swinging in an arc behind him. Squinting, he watched the dust rising in the distance. The Ministry of Justice's black-armored guards approached with synchronized steps, their armor gleaming coldly in the setting sun.

"Bookworm, go scout around." He tapped the scabbard of his blade lightly, producing a dull thud.

A moment later, the Bookworm trotted back, whispering, "Sir, the Ministry of Justice has arrived with a warrant to take someone."

"Could it be that Jade Faced Fox?" A cold smile played on Li Chen Zhou's lips.

"Your insight is brilliant, sir." The Bookworm bowed.

A flash of cold light appeared in Li Chen Zhou's eyes. "To have the Ministry of Justice personally demand someone, this Heavenly Desire Palace's fox must be quite precious." He waved his hand. "Anyway, the reward money is already in hand. Let them do as they please."

When the Jade Faced Fox was carried out, his lower body was a bloody mess. Yan San's knife was always quick and ruthless.

"Lord Yan's hands and feet are quite nimble." Li Chen Zhou chuckled.

The Bookworm leaned closer. "Just let him go like that?"

"Without that thing—" Li Chen Zhou looked meaningfully at the departing prison wagon. "This Flower Plucking Thief is less than a stray dog."

As the lanterns were lit, carriages and horses crowded before the Elegance Fragrance Courtyard. As Li Chen Zhou stepped through the vermilion gate, he was enveloped by a wave of rouge and powder fragrance.

"Brother Li!" Zhang Qiang's booming voice cut through the noise. He strode over, heavily clapping him on the shoulder. "We've been waiting for you!"

Inside a private room, the Brocade Guard all rose to offer a toast. Li Chen Zhou accepted all comers. After a few rounds of drinks, Zhang Qiang mysteriously led him into an inner chamber.

The flickering candlelight illuminated a graceful back. Hearing footsteps, the woman slowly turned around, the golden bells at her waist jingling softly, the purple veil hanging from her veiled hat shimmering in the moonlight.

A wisp of fragrance entered his nostrils, and Li Chen Zhou's muscles instantly tensed. This familiar soul-stirring fragrance, this familiar method of circulating energy—another Heavenly Desire Palace trick. A playful smile appeared on his lips, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Brother Li, enjoy yourself." Zhang Qiang winked, exiting the room with a knowing look, not forgetting to close the door.

Ming Yue lightly moved her lotus steps, the golden bells at her waist ringing crisply. "Does Young Master wish to hear a song?"

Li Chen Zhou sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, closing his eyes. "Play on."

The zither music flowed like a babbling stream. He appeared to be intoxicated, but in reality, he was secretly circulating the "Turtle Breathing Technique," slowly forcing the bewitching fragrance out of his body. When the song ended, he raised his cup in a gesture. "Exquisite. Play another."

This continued repeatedly, and Ming Yue's fingertips gradually trembled, the zither music losing its accuracy. An hour passed, and she finally couldn't help but stop playing the zither.

"Why did you stop?" Li Chen Zhou feigned a drunken stupor.

Ming Yue suppressed her anger, saying softly, "Young Master is drunk. Let this servant help you rest." She approached lightly, but suddenly accelerated when she was three steps away, a cold light flashing from her sleeve!

In a flash of lightning, Li Chen Zhou wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her tightly. Ming Yue struggled, only feeling a wave of masculine energy wash over her, and her face flushed red.

"Young Master... the ground is cold..." Ming Yue's voice trembled, secretly circulating the "Golden Cicada Shedding its Shell" technique, but she found that her mingmen acupoint was locked by an invisible qi.

Li Chen Zhou suddenly leaned in, his thin lips almost touching her earlobe. "Nangong Yue's finger technique is far too lacking tonight." His warm breath carried the scent of wine, showing no sign of drunkenness.

Ming Yue—no, she should be called Nangong Yue at this moment—her pupils shrank. Her wide sleeves fluttered, and a poisoned dagger was already pressed against Li Chen Zhou's throat.

"Ding—"

The dagger struck golden Sanskrit characters three inches from his skin, like the morning bell of an ancient temple. The flowing scriptures reflected on Li Chen Zhou's face, making his eyebrows and eyes resemble a Vajra's Wrathful Gaze. "Did the lady forget? My Golden Bell Shield is specially designed to counter the Heavenly Desire Palace's Soul-Melting Bone-Corrosion."

He backhanded and grabbed Nangong Yue's wrist, and red marks instantly appeared on her jade-like skin. Amidst the crisp sound of the dagger falling to the ground, the two figures suddenly intertwined, forming a standard "Drunken Concubine" dance—except that his fingertips contained hidden grappling techniques, and her waist concealed killing moves.

"Lord Li has great composure." Nangong Yue suddenly giggled, and a peach-colored haze appeared around her. The Heavenly Desire Palace's secret "Born with Charm" was pushed to the extreme, and even the candlelight was dyed an ambiguous pink.

Li Chen Zhou's Adam's apple bobbed, and he suddenly pinched a hand seal and chanted a mantra. The Blood Demon Blade at his waist hummed as it was unsheathed, shattering the amorous atmosphere in the room. "If you circulate your energy again, I don't mind using the Brocade Guard's 'Dragon-Locking Stake' to verify the Saintess's identity."

Nangong Yue staggered back, her veil falling off, revealing the face that haunted the dreams of the entire jianghu—but now it carried a rare look of panic.

"Tomorrow at noon, the Ministry of Justice's prison." She panted, her slender fingers crumpling the collar of her clothes. "Is this information enough to exchange for my dagger?"

"This is getting interesting—" Li Chen Zhou smiled, but not quite. "You're from the Heavenly Desire Palace, but now you're betraying the Heavenly Desire Palace."

"That's none of your business." Nangong Yue didn't linger, pushing open the window and leaving. "The Heavenly Desire Palace may send Four Heavenly Kings-level figures. You'd better bring some experts."

Li Chen Zhou watched her leave, the faint fragrance of orchids lingering on his fingertips. A playful smile appeared on the corner of his lips. "This Saintess of the Heavenly Desire Palace is quite interesting."

"As expected, the bold are full, and the timid are starving. The previous owner licked for so long, and probably didn't even hold hands."

With Nangong Yue gone, Li Chen Zhou no longer had the desire to stay.

[System Prompt: Side Quest "Ministry of Justice Storm" triggered]

[Mission Objective: Intercept the prison break attempt at noon tomorrow.]

[Mission Reward: Heavenly-Rank Martial Skill - Wind God Kick (Nie Feng's signature move).]

Li Chen Zhou's eyes flashed with excitement. This Wind God Kick was a top-tier martial art combining superior lightness skill and leg techniques, both offensive and defensive, exactly what he needed right now.

"Lord Li?" Zhang Qiang's voice pulled him back to reality. The Captain was sitting alone outside the private room, several empty wine jars in front of him.

Li Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Captain Zhang is in high spirits."

Zhang Qiang chuckled, lowering his voice. "The brothers thought the wine was too expensive here, so they went to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. I'm just..." He winked suggestively, "waiting to settle the bill for you, Lord Li."

Li Chen Zhou's temple throbbed. He was about to speak when Zhang Qiang suddenly slammed the table and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! This old brother made a killing today! That bunch of bumpkins all bet you'd be out in half an hour at most. Who knew..." He held up a finger, his face full of triumph, "A full hour! Wiped them clean!"

Li Chen Zhou turned and left without a word, Zhang Qiang's drunken shout following him: "Hey! Brother Li, don't go! I'll give you thirty percent..."

Stepping out of the Elegance Fragrance Courtyard, Li Chen Zhou took a deep breath of the night air. He looked up at the moon and murmured, "The Four Heavenly Kings... looks like I need to make some preparations for tomorrow."