I'm here to catch a cheater

"Senior Brother Xie, we haven't touched the signature crisp bamboo shoots here. Would you like to try some?"

Xie Lingchuan had only just returned to the inn when he heard Jiang Tingxue inviting him to eat.

He shook his head. "No need. Go ahead and eat."

Shen Ji looked at the empty space behind Xie Lingchuan and asked in puzzlement, "Senior Brother, Senior Xianren..."

"She's drinking. I'll go get her when she's finished," Xie Lingchuan said succinctly.

Seeing that Xie Lingchuan had no intention of sitting down, Shen Ji took a carved wooden token from his sleeve and handed it to him.

"Senior Brother, our rooms are on the third floor. This is the one on the far right. It's quieter."

Xie Lingchuan accepted the wooden token. "Thank you." Then, after a moment's thought, he added, "Give me hers as well. By the time she finishes drinking and comes back, it'll probably be very late. There's no need to trouble you all to wait for her."

Shen Ji thought that made sense. "If you need to keep an eye on Senior's movements, would you prefer the room opposite yours or the one next door?"

Xie Lingchuan thought it over. "Next door will do."

So Shen Ji sorted through the tokens, found the one for the room next to Xie Lingchuan's, and handed it to him.

Xie Lingchuan took it and said, "I'll head upstairs first. If anything comes up later, just knock."

Shen Ji agreed. "All right. Go upstairs and rest, Senior Brother."

Their rooms had all been arranged on the third floor, but business had been good these past few days, making it difficult to find adjoining rooms, so the seven of them had been split between two areas.

Xie Lingchuan's room was at the far right end of the third floor. Next door was the room he had chosen for Zhu Lianqing, and opposite Zhu Lianqing's room was A Man's.

The other four were to the left of the stairs, in two pairs of rooms facing each other.

Xie Lingchuan pushed open his door and lit the lamps one by one.

The room was elegantly furnished, and the soft pillows and brocade quilt on the bed looked very comfortable, but Xie Lingchuan had no mind to rest just then. He still held Zhu Lianqing's few pieces of silver in his hand.

The Spirit Connection Spell on his wrist told him that Zhu Lianqing had already found somewhere to drink.

Xie Lingchuan walked over to the window and pushed it open.

Outside, brilliant lights were reflected on the river like a long dragon.

Across the river stood rows of restaurants, and the lingering notes of strings, flutes, and pipas seemed to drift across the water, where flecks of gold floated.

Clearly, that district across the river was the best place in the city to seek pleasure and make merry.

And Zhu Lianqing was right there, in that soul-melting place of hazy lights.

In fact, the place Zhu Lianqing had found by following the scent of wine was indeed soul-melting.

For she had never expected that what she found would not be a restaurant, but a brothel filled with wafting perfume.

Though Zhu Lianqing had never liked entering such extravagant places, since she was already here, she had to have a couple of drinks before leaving.

As soon as she entered, a young woman came to link arms with her, her voice sweet enough to melt the bones. "Sister~ I've missed you to death~ Have you missed me?"

Zhu Lianqing knew that this woman soliciting customers was not truly saying she missed her, but discreetly asking what sort she liked.

Because a thriving brothel like this did every kind of business, catering to men and women alike.

Zhu Lianqing hurriedly said, "I'm feeling troubled today, so there's no need to find me company. I could smell the wine from a street away, so just find me a private room and bring a few pots of good wine."

The woman was an expert saleswoman and did not give up upon hearing this. Still in that soft, melting voice, she asked, "If you don't want me, Sister, a few newcomers arrived just last night, all fresh young boys of sixteen. Since you're troubled, having a sweet little brother pour your wine and play the zither would be just the thing to ease your boredom."

The corner of Zhu Lianqing's mouth twitched. With some effort, she pulled her arm free and made up an excuse. "No need. My other half keeps me on a tight leash. I only brought money for wine, and nothing for anything else."

The woman looked Zhu Lianqing up and down. Seeing her outstanding bearing earlier, she had thought she was someone she could fleece and had wanted to make her spend lavishly.

Who would have thought that someone who looked so distinguished was a pauper?

The woman instantly lost interest in entertaining her, though she remained perfectly courteous on the surface.

"Oh, you~ If you ever need anything next time, Sister, remember to ask for me~" She assigned someone to take Zhu Lianqing to a private room, then left without looking back.

Though this was a brothel, it did business on a grand scale and took on every kind of trade. The third floor was specifically for customers who only wanted to drink.

As soon as Zhu Lianqing entered the private room, even the perfume grew considerably fainter.

"Please wait a moment, honored guest. Your wine will be here shortly. Do you have any other requests? If not, I won't disturb your enjoyment."

Zhu Lianqing plopped comfortably onto a cushion on the floor and shook her head. "No... no, actually, yes. Once the wine has all been served, don't let anyone come in here. I don't need anything at all. Understood?"

The attendant immediately understood what Zhu Lianqing meant and nodded, his face wreathed in smiles. "Understood, understood."

On this side of the river, Xie Lingchuan stood quietly by the window for a long time, constantly keeping track of Zhu Lianqing's movements, while across the river, Zhu Lianqing was having a wonderfully carefree time.

The money she had given Xie Lingchuan was not enough to pay for the row of wine jars before her, but since Xie Lingchuan had said he would come pick him up, what was there for her to fret over?

She ordered only the most expensive dishes to go with the wine.

Xie Lingchuan would pay for it all anyway.

Besides, wasn't Xie Lingchuan's money hers to begin with?

After three rounds of wine, Zhu Lianqing felt more carefree with every drink and had no intention of stopping.

But the inn, two streets and a river away, had already fallen utterly silent, and everyone had drifted blissfully into dreamland.

Having received no message at all through the Spirit Connection Spell, Xie Lingchuan closed his eyes for a moment.

He turned, picked up his sword from the table, pushed open the door, and went out.

Apart from the brothels where pleasure-seeking continued all night until dawn, everywhere on the streets was quiet at this hour.

Following the location indicated by the Spirit Connection Spell, Xie Lingchuan found the brothel. As he stood before its entrance, perfume washing over his face and lewd songs assailing his ears, a crack finally appeared in his usually placid expression.

Hah. Sure enough, this was no decent place.

When Xie Lingchuan walked in, the woman who had solicited customers earlier took one look at his bearing and felt he must be someone of indescribable distinction. She was about to approach him, but froze for a moment upon seeing his expression.

Looking so fierce and menacing, he hardly seemed to be here for pleasure, but he did not look like a soldier here to raid the restaurant either.

Though the woman paused for a moment, Xie Lingchuan's face was simply too handsome despite his menacing expression, so she tilted her body and moved to press herself against him.

The next instant, however, something cold stopped her.

She looked down and jumped in fright. It was Xie Lingchuan's sword, barring her movement without the slightest courtesy.

But she was an old hand at this business. How could she easily let go of such a fat piece of meat? Holding her handkerchief, she smiled prettily.

"Oh my~ What are you doing, honored guest? If you're in a bad mood, why not listen to a song first to ease your mind? There's still time to discuss anything else afterward~ Why frighten me the moment you arrive~"

The people soliciting customers nearby all noticed Xie Lingchuan, whose build and looks were equally outstanding, and gathered around.

"What a handsome young gentleman~ Don't look so stern!"

"Why are you unhappy, young gentleman? Let me sing you a little song to cheer you up~"

Seeing more and more people crowding around, Xie Lingchuan frowned as well.

This was far more troublesome than he had expected.

He had to think of a way to get free and find her.

Xie Lingchuan simply held his sword crosswise and said coldly, "I'm not here for pleasure. I'm here to catch a cheater. Move aside."