Cloud Peace City was the capital of Great Wei, right beneath the emperor's nose, and no martial-world factions could be seen operating openly. But in a sprawling city with over a million permanent residents, it was unrealistic to expect there to be no places harboring filth and corruption.
Half the Capital City's martial arts schools, escort agencies, and carriage firms clustered around West Market. It was a gathering place for every creed and every walk of life, and martial artists arriving in the capital often chose to lodge nearby. The Black Bureau had also planted plenty of "informants" among the townsfolk.
Ye Jingtang intended to pose as a "fake Wingless Owl" to lure the snake out of its hole, and the Black Bureau was highly cooperative. Since yesterday, Wang Chihu had been having his informants spread rumors through the streets: "A noble household was robbed," "Wingless Owl is suspected of striking again," "He stole a Horned Gentleman and is trying to fence it," and so on.
All Ye Jingtang had to do was slip into the "black-market channels" provided by the Black Bureau, take out the "Horned Gentleman," and ask for a price, drawing the attention of anyone interested.
Although Wang Chihu seemed careless and rather unreliable, his ability to get things done was truly exceptional.
Ye Jingtang had thought he would have to wander around for several days before Wang Chihu could stir up any rumors in the streets. Instead, as he walked along, he heard a conversation:
"Brother Wang, have you heard? Wingless Owl struck again..."
"Oh?! Really? Whose house did he rob this time?"
"Word is, he sneaked into the Chancellor's Residence and stole a..."
"Whoa! Wingless Owl's got that much nerve?"
"He's always had plenty of nerve. They say that thing is something Chancellor Li can't do without in bed. With Wingless Owl getting his hands on it, wouldn't that mean he's indirectly touched Chancellor Li's wife and concubines..."
The drizzle had not stopped, and the sky had darkened without them noticing.
Ye Jingtang led his horse along the sparsely populated street. Listening to the whispers drifting out of a teahouse, he hardly knew what to feel.
All day, he had merely wandered around the Capital City, taking the "Horned Gentleman" to a few shops to ask its price. He had never volunteered any story about where it came from.
But the idle townsmen's imaginations were truly formidable. Adding oil and vinegar and making wild connections, they had turned a baffling little incident into the thunderous scandal of a woman losing her chastity. They even beat their chests and stamped their feet in anguish over it, bitterly condemning Wingless Owl as a scoundrel.
Some even described the object's use in vivid detail, as though they had personally watched the chancellor's wife take the "Horned Gentleman" and push it into His Excellency's little flower...
News about such matters between men and women traveled fast wherever it went.
Ye Jingtang had initially doubted this method, but hearing even the hooligans in the teashop discussing it, he knew that as long as Wingless Owl was in the Capital City, it would surely reach his ears.
Luo Ning had stayed beside him the whole time, holding the box like a little wife. Hearing all this filthy nonsense, her face was practically turning green, and she wanted nothing more than to smash the dirty thing in her arms on the spot.
But that was clearly out of the question. Seeing the sky grow dark, Luo Ning asked:
"Where now?"
Ye Jingtang had attracted plenty of attention by impersonating Wingless Owl and wandering all over the streets. But when he and Luo Ning discreetly examined those people, they were all ordinary martial artists who had heard the rumors. There was no sign of any expert with extraordinary lightness skills.
With the Black Bureau fanning the flames, practically every place where all walks of life gathered was discussing "Wingless Owl's nimble-handed theft of a willy."
If "Wingless Owl" was hiding in the Capital City, there was no way he had heard nothing. To find Ye Jingtang, he only needed to wait by a shop that fenced stolen goods, like waiting by a stump for a rabbit.
By Ye Jingtang's reckoning, Wingless Owl might already be following them in the shadows, investigating. His movement skills were simply so good that neither Ye Jingtang nor Luo Ning had noticed him.
If they called it a day and went home now, they would most likely give themselves away. He considered briefly:
"Ning'er, should we keep looking for somewhere to sell it, or rest for the night first?"
Luo Ning hesitated a little. In her view, the rumors spread by the Black Bureau had already traveled through nearly the entire city. If she and Ye Jingtang continued brazenly looking for somewhere to fence the goods, it would seem far too contrived.
But they could not return to Twin Osmanthus Alley now. If they wanted to rest, their only option was an inn.
They were disguised as a married couple from the martial world. If they stayed at an inn, wouldn't they have to sleep together...?
Luo Ning slowed her steps slightly. After a brief hesitation, she said quietly:
"You're the man. Make the decision yourself."
Ye Jingtang nodded slightly. After looking around the street, he headed toward an inn by the roadside.
"..."
Luo Ning secretly gritted her teeth. With their mission taking precedence, she ultimately showed nothing unusual and followed Ye Jingtang over.
"Waiter, one of your best rooms. Feed the horse well, and bring us some hot water."
"Certainly, honored guests. This way upstairs, please."
Soon, the two arrived at a room on the second floor.
After the attendant went downstairs, Ye Jingtang entered the room, went to the window, and tapped twice.
"Hoo~"
Niao Niao, who had been keeping watch from the shadows, was already waiting outside the inn. Hearing this, Niao Niao answered.
Somewhat reassured, Ye Jingtang took off his bamboo hat and straw rain cape, then turned to look at Lady Luo.
Luo Ning closed the door and removed her veiled hat, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful, mature face as she surveyed the room.
It was a perfectly standard "double room." The window faced away from the street, and there were guest rooms on either side. Inside stood a square table, a tea table and chairs, and a large canopy bed against the wall, hung with blue mosquito netting.
Luo Ning glanced at the bed. Wary of ears beyond the walls, she showed nothing unusual and walked coldly over to sit at the tea table.
"Things are tense outside. We'll take turns keeping watch, so the officers don't sneak up on us!"
Ye Jingtang sat beside her and tilted his head toward the outside, signaling-How are we supposed to lure the snake over if we take turns keeping watch?-while saying with a smile:
"What are you afraid of? Don't you trust my skills? There were only a few little tails on the road just now, and I shook them all off. Sleep easy."
Luo Ning blinked, wanting to say something but seemingly unable to find an excuse. She rose and sat at the dressing table, making a show of combing her hair.
Saying too much could easily expose them. After exchanging a few casual remarks, they fell silent.
Once the attendant brought up the hot water, the two washed briefly like ordinary guests. Ye Jingtang went to the bed, set the box beside the pillow, and flopped down.
"Whew..."
Luo Ning sat at the head of the bed, glancing at the man lying there with a complicated look in her eyes. She could hardly sleep on the table all night. After gritting her teeth for a long while, she finally touched the flexible sword at her waist, came over to the bed, and sat down, glaring at Ye Jingtang.
Seeing Luo Ning's murderous gaze, Ye Jingtang shook his head and sighed.
"Go to sleep. We might have to run tonight, so keep your clothes on."
Only after warning Ye Jingtang with her eyes for a while did Luo Ning slowly lie down on the pillow. Her hand remained on the flexible sword at her waist, and she kept a foot of distance between them. Closing her eyes, she pretended to sleep while listening for movement outside.
But dropping straight off to sleep hardly made them look like a married couple.
To make their performance more convincing, Ye Jingtang turned his head toward the Purple Sandalwood Box between them.
"Ning'er, have you ever used something like this in private?"
*?*
Are you sick in the head?!
Lady Luo opened her lovely peach-blossom eyes, her gaze embarrassed and angry. Suppressing her temper, she said softly:
"What nonsense are you talking? Go to sleep."
Luo Ning had an ethereal beauty. Even without dressing up, her bare face alone could be called otherworldly. Whether angry or annoyed, those eyes carried a beauty that made the heart flutter. Lying on their pillows, gazing into each other's eyes from inches away, they could see every tremor of the other's eyelashes.
Hiss, hiss, hiss...
Fine rain fell steadily outside the window. Apart from their two breaths, there was not the slightest sound in the room.
Looking at the beautiful profile so close to him, Ye Jingtang thought for a moment, then said:
"Are you still angry? I really didn't do it on purpose last time. You nearly got discovered by the officers, and I was trying to help you. Who could've expected you wouldn't cooperate at all..."
The bulging little melons beneath Luo Ning's robes rose and fell slightly as she said evenly:
"Stop talking about it. It's in the past. If I blamed you, I'd have castrated you long ago."
Although they were putting on an act, every word was true.
Ye Jingtang smiled, intending to close his eyes and pretend to sleep while discreetly listening for movement outside.
Before long, a birdcall sounded in the distance:
"Hoo~ hoo..."
An owl's call was extremely common at night, nothing unusual. But Ye Jingtang's heart jolted as he understood Niao Niao's signal-there was a suspicious figure outside.
He had not expected the fish to bite so soon. He turned his gaze to Luo Ning beside him.
Luo Ning also recognized Niao Niao's voice. To avoid startling the snake in the grass, she rolled over to face Ye Jingtang and mouthed:
"What do we do?"
Ye Jingtang listened intently to the sounds outside. Since he had not located the newcomer, he signaled with his eyes not to alert their quarry, then spoke softly in the tone of a husband chatting with his wife:
"Why do I feel like you're still angry?"
Luo Ning's expression was serious as she listened for the slightest movement outside the window, while playing along aloud:
"When have I been angry with you?"
"You're sleeping so far away. What else could it be?"
*?!*
You little scoundrel!
Luo Ning's eyes widened, her gaze looking as though she wanted to devour him.
There was indeed a faint disturbance outside the window, as though someone were listening on the roof, but they could not determine the exact position.
Luo Ning was furious, but ultimately put the greater objective first. She moved closer and shared Ye Jingtang's pillow, their faces only two fists apart. Raising her delicate hand, she made a scissors gesture, warning Ye Jingtang not to play with fire.
Ye Jingtang indicated that he understood. Keeping his eyes on the window, he raised a hand to put his arm around Luo Ning.
*?!*
Seeing Ye Jingtang take a mile when given an inch, Luo Ning quickly leaned back to dodge him and glared. Her eyes probably meant-You little scoundrel, have you had enough of living?
Ye Jingtang paused, then leaned forward to Luo Ning's ear and roared in a voice as faint as a mosquito's whine:
"What am I supposed to say? I can't kiss you, and we can't just lie here staring at each other, can we?"
His hot breath brushed her earlobe and neck. Luo Ning shivered, her gaze flickering away.
But two people lying face-to-face without doing anything would indeed arouse suspicion. She secretly gritted her teeth and gestured toward the headboard, telling Ye Jingtang to shake the bed.
"No foreplay, just straight to shaking?"
Foreplay?
Luo Ning only half understood. Afraid that delaying too long would let the newcomer notice something amiss, she steeled herself, simply covered Ye Jingtang's mouth with her hand, pressed him down against the pillow, then leaned forward and kissed the back of her own hand.
Smack, smack...
Before you continue