Qing Chen had not entirely lied. In private, the soldiers at the western city gate all called him "Lord Ximen Qing."
For one thing, he oversaw the western part of the city; for another, his name began with "Qing," so the nickname rolled off the tongue.
Heaven knew, how could he dare include "Lord" in front of the city lord's daughter? He could only lop off the tail and hope to muddle through.
At his words, an unusual gleam flashed in Zhao Ningyi's eyes. Her fingertips tightened around her bathrobe's sash, and her voice softened:
"Ximen Qing... I'll remember that. Since you've told me your name, I won't make things difficult for you anymore."
When she raised her eyes, her lashes fluttered. She avoided Qing Chen's gaze, yet could not help stealing a glance at the jaw beneath his mask.
That masculine scent from earlier still lingered around her nose, far more pleasant than Li Muyun's hollow, insubstantial air.
"Remember, if a third person learns what happened tonight..."
She paused. "Even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth, I won't let you off."
Qing Chen hastily nodded. "Rest assured, Miss Zhao. I, Ximen Qing, keep my lips sealed tight. This matter will rot in my belly."
As soon as those words fell, a blush spread across Zhao Ningyi's cheeks, making her look enchanting.
Seeing this, Qing Chen's heart gave a jolt. This atmosphere isn't right. I need to change the subject quickly.
Before he could speak, Zhao Ningyi cleared her throat first. "My father's residence isn't so easy to break into.
"The outer sentries change every half hour, and there are hidden sentries in the arrow towers too. Places like the treasury and study have iron plates embedded in their walls, not to mention experts like the old steward..."
Before she finished, Qing Chen recalled what it had felt like to exchange palm strikes with the old steward.
That palm force had slammed into his palm, sending numbness shooting up his arm to his shoulder. Even now, it still ached faintly.
He frowned, his voice growing a little deeper. "Circumstances forced my hand. I had no choice. I hope you can keep my secret, elder sister.
"Then how can I leave such a heavily guarded residence without anyone knowing?"
Seeing sweat break out on his forehead in his anxiety, Zhao Ningyi unexpectedly grew flustered herself. She smiled calmly. "In the daytime, I could hide you in a sedan chair and send you out through the side gate.
"But after such a commotion in the treasury tonight, my father must have experts guarding every gate. Even if they don't search the sedan chair, all they have to do is lift the curtain for a look, and you'll be exposed."
"Then... then what should I do?" Qing Chen truly grew a little anxious.
If he ended up trapped here, never mind finding the token-he would not even be able to save his own life.
Zhao Ningyi pondered for a moment, then seemed to make up her mind. She turned and walked into the loft. "Follow me."
She had not changed out of her bathrobe, and her wet hair lay over her shoulders.
Following behind her, Qing Chen could smell the lavender fragrance on her, which was actually quite pleasant.
There was a small study in the loft, with collections of poetry arranged on the shelves.
Zhao Ningyi walked to the innermost row of shelves and pressed her fingertips against the spine of a copy of the Classic of Poetry.
With a click, the shelf actually shifted half a foot to the side, revealing a pitch-black passage.
"Don't worry. I have a secret passage here for escape. It leads straight from this loft to the moat outside the city, allowing you to evade everyone's eyes and ears."
She picked up a firelighter from the table, blew it alight, and handed it over. "There are steps inside the passage. Follow them, and the exit is in the reeds on the riverbank. No one will discover you."
Qing Chen took the firelighter, its light illuminating the walls inside the passage.
He wondered uneasily, Could this be a trap?
But the look in Zhao Ningyi's eyes did not seem feigned.
Before he could finish thinking, Zhao Ningyi had already stepped inside, her skirt brushing the steps. "I'll lead you part of the way. There aren't many forks inside, so you won't get lost."
The passage was very narrow, only wide enough for one person. Following behind her, Qing Chen could smell the dampness in her hair.
Zhao Ningyi's voice drifted through the passage. "Ximen Qing, remember, if enemies ever hunt you down again, you can come find me through here. Just knock on the hidden door with a wooden stick."
One behind the other, the two silently walked out of the passage and arrived beside the river outside.
After walking for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, a faint glimmer appeared ahead-the reflection of the river.
Zhao Ningyi stopped and turned to look at him. "We're here. The moat is right outside. Swim downstream along it, and you'll reach the woods outside the city."
Qing Chen gave Zhao Ningyi a long, deep look.
Then he turned and leaped into the river, disappearing into the night.
Zhao Ningyi stood on the bank for a long time, until she could no longer see any trace of Qing Chen.
She sighed softly, turned, and stepped into the secret passage, silently repeating in her heart, Ximen Qing.
Back in the study, she carefully pushed the shelf into its original position, then wiped the spine of the Classic of Poetry with a cloth. Only after making sure no traces remained did she gather up her wet hair and return to her bedroom.
When Qing Chen returned to his lodgings, his clothes were still dripping.
He began to consider whether there might be a better way to obtain a token for the immortal ship.
The night passed without further incident.
The next day, a knock came at the door. It was Niu Dali. "Chief, Young Master Li is waiting for you at the restaurant. He says it's urgent."
Qing Chen changed into casual clothes and hurried to the restaurant.
Li Muyun sat beside the window, with a pot of unfinished wine on the table. Seeing him arrive, he hurriedly beckoned and lowered his voice:
"Younger Brother Qing, have you prepared any novel things lately?"
As he finished speaking, a flicker of urgency crossed his eyes.
Hearing this, Qing Chen replied evasively, "Be patient, Brother Yun. Things have been tense lately. You'll have to wait a little longer."
Ever since his failed nighttime incursion into the city lord's residence, he had understood that experts gathered there like clouds.
Finding a token inside was truly as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Had he not taken a wondrous pill last time, made a breakthrough in his cultivation, and prepared medicinal powder as a fallback, he would probably have long since met his end in the Yellow Springs.
Yet the Jade Forging Art could not support a breakthrough to the First-Class Realm.
First-Class experts were towering masters capable of founding their own sects, and had to forge their own path in martial arts.
Judging by the timing of the last war among the seven kingdoms, the immortal ship's next arrival at Immortal-Severing Island was drawing ever closer.
He did not have much time left to improve his cultivation, nor would it be easy to earn illustrious military merits and win the city lord's favor.
"Ah, it's been so long already. This affliction in your elder brother's heart needs good medicine to cure it. Five-Stone Powder is the medicine for this illness." Anxiety showed on Li Muyun's face, and his words betrayed his impatience.
Seeing Li Muyun so anxious, Qing Chen suddenly thought of a plan. "Your business is my business, Brother Yun. There will definitely be a result within the next few days. Just bear with it a few days longer."
Then, feigning casualness, he probed, "Brother Yun, does your wife know about this ailment of the heart?"
"Of course I wouldn't dare let her know. Otherwise, she'd surely strip a layer of skin off me, and I could forget about carefree, merry days."
Li Muyun smiled bitterly, then continued, "Besides, she returns to the city lord's residence to attend to her parents on every even-numbered day. That's how I get the chance to slip away and seek medical advice and medicine."
At this, Qing Chen already had a plan in mind.
He knew well that a woman of such an age, nearly thirty, who had spent years alone in an empty bedchamber-
No matter how gentle her disposition or how understanding she was, longing would inevitably arise in her heart, gradually turning her into a resentful woman secluded in her chambers.
Having a man who was as good as nonexistent would make it even harder to endure.
Qing Chen recalled the sensual scene from the other day. Not only had it given his eyes a feast, it had also stirred ripple upon ripple in Zhao Ningyi's heart.
Those final words of hers had clearly meant that she wanted Qing Chen to seek her out again.
It was just that women were always thin-skinned, so she had not said it outright.
Still, Qing Chen was in no hurry to act.
He knew very well that if he obliged her now, it would amount to no more than a moment's pleasure and another lovely woman to bed.
That, however, would hardly conquer her heart, much less accomplish the scheme he had in mind.
He had to let this woman stew a little, then make his move when the time was ripe.