"Come over here."
Beckoning to Wu Qingce, Jiang Beiran crouched down and wiped his index finger across the female Life-Killing Palace disciple's lips.
"Smell it. What does it smell like?"
Wu Qingce leaned in for a sniff, thought for a moment, and answered, "It seems to be... Purple Sun Flower?"
"Don't give me 'seems.' Give me a definite answer."
"It is Purple Sun Flower!"
"Bring your head over."
"Ah..."
"Ah what? Hurry up."
"Senior Brother, be gentler..." Wu Qingce said as he lowered his head. "Ah!"
After Wu Qingce let out a miserable cry, Jiang Beiran said, "This is the scent of hibiscus. It's rouge made by mixing hibiscus with Blue-Facing Flower juice. I looked around Mingcui Town before, and there wasn't even a market here. They probably wouldn't sell expensive rouge made from hibiscus. Let me ask you another question: where do you think is the nearest place that would sell such high-end rouge?"
"Anhuo City!" Wu Qingce immediately answered while rubbing his forehead.
"Mm, you finally got one right." Rubbing his fingertips together twice, Jiang Beiran continued, "They might not necessarily have bought it there, but tomorrow, you can try your luck in Anhuo City and see if you can find any clues. Come on, recite the mnemonic I taught you. What is the purpose of an investigation?"
"Oh, oh." Wu Qingce immediately swayed his head as he recited, "If there's profit, make a killing; if there's no profit, keep one hand on the hilt."
Nodding, Jiang Beiran removed the two money pouches from the black-clothed man's waist and poured out all the Copper Coins inside.
"Take a look. Where are they all from?"
"Yes." Squatting down, Wu Qingce carefully examined the Copper Coins. "There are some from Anhu, some from Shangtang, some from Ningyi... Ah, here we