"... G-guest, if you want those 'pleasure slaves,' you need only tell my master. My master has always been generous," the attendant said with a bow. "But these pills must be kept ready for the other guests..."
"I don't see anyone in this tower right now who needs to leave more than these twenty-nine people."
"..."
"Give them to me."
The attendant lowered his head, fetched two trays of jade boxes, and presented them to him.
"If you want to leave, you can take one yourself. Put it on my account." Pei Ye accepted them and glanced at him.
The attendant gave a violent shudder.
Pei Ye carried the two trays back into the room and distributed the pills, one by one, among those faces with their differing expressions. He offered the last one to the little cat on his shoulder.
"I'm leaving these people to you. Take them outside. Xie Chuantang and Li Zhao have been keeping watch out there."
The black cat fell silent for a moment without accepting it, then looked at him solemnly with jade eyes. "We came to investigate the identity of the Phantom Tower's master. Beating the grass and startling the snake like this may leave us empty-handed."
"This is also a loose end of the Carp Hall case. It's all official business," Pei Ye said. "I can't learn about a place like this and still let it exist."
"..."
"It's all right." Pei Ye adjusted the sword at his waist and said quietly, "I'll find out who he is another way. It makes no difference."
The black cat was silent for another moment, then accepted the pill and nodded. "Be careful."
At the top of the Vermilion Tower, candles shone as brightly as day.
The bright moon seemed to hang just outside