The lamps in the main hall cast a dim yellow light.
Wang Shouyin sat sprawled at the table and had Ye Xingge fill his wine bowl. Then he said mysteriously:
"According to reliable news from the authorities, Mantanghong hasn't just come to Yongzhou Prefecture. She's right here in Qingxi County!"
"Really?!"
Ye Xingge's heart skipped a beat. He sat down beside him.
"What did she come here for?"
Wang Shouyin shook his head. "I don't know the details. Anyway, the court's men fought Mantanghong, and she fled after being defeated. Right now, she's 'lost all her power.' The Heaven-Observing Pavilion chased her all the way here and confirmed she came to our county, but she vanished as soon as she entered the city..."
Wang Shouyin picked up a portrait and unfolded it in front of Ye Xingge.
"This is Mantanghong. The Heaven-Observing Pavilion just issued this portrait. Take a look."
Ye Xingge turned to look. The woman in the painting wore red and a veiled hat. Though her face was hidden, she had a slender waist, long legs, a large bust, and a round bottom...
Fuck...
Wasn't that the crazy woman from just now...
Ye Xingge sat a little straighter, feeling as if he had gotten himself into serious trouble. Still, he couldn't quite believe it, so he asked:
"Did she have any divine weapons on her?"
Rustle~
Head Constable Wang unfolded another sheet. "This woman is the Cloud and Rain Tower's eldest disciple. This time she brought the divine weapon called the Filth-Severing Whip. The whip can change into countless forms and has no fixed shape, but its true form should look like this."
The painting showed a three-foot leather whip...
"?"
Ye Xingge stared at the familiar object on the paper, his face darkening!
What was this supposed to mean?
So that heroine who had eaten without paying really hadn't been talking nonsense?
Her presence certainly had resembled that of a formidable figure in the martial world, and her lack of martial skills could be explained by her loss of power.
But she took me as her disciple, passed a divine weapon on to me, said I didn't have long to live, gave me several thousand taels of silver, jumped when I whipped her, and even wanted me to marry into her family...
Who could possibly have believed that?!
No wonder she said I wouldn't live past three days. I just whipped her on the backside. If she let me live through the night, she'd be letting down Mantanghong's illustrious reputation...
But that's putting the cart before the horse. Why would I die three days from now?
Full of questions, Ye Xingge thought for a moment, then asked:
"Then what's the good news you mentioned, Head Constable Wang?"
Head Constable Wang put the portrait back on the table and gestured outside.
"To catch that fearsome bandit, even a commander of the Heaven-Observing Pavilion has come. Didn't you used to talk about the 'Flower Judge' all the time? The greatest beauty in the capital is at the county yamen right now, and she'll be staying several days. Magistrate Shen remembered your kindness and specifically recommended that Lord Luo stay here. She'll be here any moment, so hurry and get ready to receive her..."
"Uh..."
Ye Xingge had indeed heard of the capital's greatest beauty before, but how could he be in the mood to entertain high-ranking officials now?
Mantanghong was genuinely ranked nineteenth under heaven and was also the head of the Mountains and Rivers Association. Whether such a formidable figure was righteous or wicked, she couldn't have been joking when she had earnestly tried to persuade him.
If the court's officers and soldiers stayed here, Mantanghong, having lost all her power, naturally wouldn't dare return, and he wouldn't be able to ask her exactly how he was going to die...
At that thought, Ye Xingge hurriedly tried to decline.
"Please thank Magistrate Shen for looking after me, but all my staff have left. I'm afraid the inn can't receive her..."
"Hyah!"
Clop, clop...
Before he finished speaking, the sound of a large troop of horses came from the street outside!
Head Constable Wang sprang to attention, set down his wine bowl, and ran to the door.
"She's here, she's here! Hurry and get ready, and don't neglect her. Serve her well, and you could save yourself thirty years of detours..."
"Huh? Uncle Wang..."
Ye Xingge's scalp tingled, but he couldn't neglect a high official from the capital either. He got up and hurried to the door to look.
Clop, clop...
On the street, more than a dozen officers rode toward them. The riders all wore rust-green robes embroidered with carp, making them plainly the Heaven-Observing Pavilion's "embroidered-robed officers."
An official sedan chair followed at the rear, carried by four embroidered-robed officers. A military officer with thick brows and large eyes jogged alongside it, reporting on various matters.
The group reached the inn in moments, and the military officer at its head reined in his horse.
"Whoa!"
"Are you the innkeeper? Commander Luo will be staying here. Clear out the idlers!"
Ye Xingge hurried forward, intending to say there were no guests in the inn, but a voice spoke first.
"I'm only stopping for a short rest. There's no need to make such a fuss."
The ethereal voice carried the authority of someone long accustomed to a high position, yet it also held a measure of graceful languor.
As the voice fell silent, the sedan chair stopped outside the inn, and the adjutant hurriedly bowed and lifted its curtain.
A woman in a white cloak bent down and stepped out of the chair. She glanced at the inn's sign.
The woman was tall and radiated nobility. A white veil covered her face, leaving only a pair of foxlike eyes visible. She held a chubby black cat in her arms. Her overall bearing was like that of an imperial consort, worlds apart from the heroine in red earlier.
But when it came to the fear she inspired in the martial world, the Flower Judge, Luo Xuanqing, was scarcely inferior to Mantanghong.
She was one of the Heaven-Observing Pavilion's four great commanders, ranked twenty-sixth under heaven in martial skill, and held the post of inspection envoy in the Judicial Review Bureau, where she was responsible for judging cases.
But when the Heaven-Observing Pavilion handled affairs, it usually "only killed, never judged"!
Thus her sole function was to carry out executions according to a list. She could be understood as the Gestapo's deputy commander.
Ye Xingge had long heard the thunderous reputation of this female King of Hell. With no time for idle thoughts, he stepped forward with Head Constable Wang.
"This commoner, Ye Xingge, pays his respects to Lord Luo."
"Lord Luo, please come in..."
Luo Xuanqing gave a slight nod and stepped up onto the landing, instructing her deputy:
"The county town has been sealed off. Mantanghong has lost all her power; even if she had wings, she couldn't escape. All of you spread out and search every household..."
"Yes!"
Ye Xingge was a mere commoner and didn't expect the Flower Judge to exchange pleasantries with him. He walked ahead and hurried upstairs, choosing a superior guest room. He planned to open the door and windows first, then invite this female King of Hell to stay.
But he soon discovered that the sky had fallen!
Creak~
Ye Xingge opened the door. Before he could set foot inside, he saw that the guest room's window was already wide open.
A familiar leather whip and veiled hat lay on the table as well.
The heroine in a long scarlet dress sat in a chair with her legs crossed. From the side, the curve of her bottom was full, and her elegant yet domineering bearing made her look like a female underworld boss waiting for her live-in husband to come home...
!!
Ye Xingge's whole body jolted. Thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him, he lightly bit the tip of his tongue to clear his head and looked again.
The heroine in red was still sitting in the room. Despite the many footsteps already coming up the stairs, she showed not the slightest fear, merely giving him a cool glance.
Though she said nothing, the anger in her eyes struck his soul like two knives...
Fuck?!
At the sight of Mantanghong, who had returned at some unknown point, Ye Xingge froze and thought:
My lady, when did you come up here?!
Are you trying to get me killed?
Quick, quick, get out of here...
But Mantanghong didn't react, merely staring at Ye Xingge impassively. Her meaning was clear:
Where's that wild, unruly spirit you had just now?
You wouldn't listen when I tried to persuade you nicely, and now you know to be afraid?
Go on, drag me out to the authorities again if you dare.
If I get caught, you'll go down the road to the Yellow Springs without ever knowing why...
Ye Xingge looked at the grudgebearing woman, his eyes expressing speechless resignation, but this really wasn't the time to talk.
Seeing Luo Xuanqing already leading her group toward him, Ye Xingge could only brace himself and say:
"A lord from the capital is staying here, honored guest. Please keep the noise down and don't disturb our distinguished guest..."
Luo Xuanqing moved with a graceful sway. She had been giving her adjutant instructions, but turned at his words.
"I already said not to disturb the people. What are you doing?"
Ye Xingge took the opportunity to close the door.
"Please forgive me, my lord. I was worried you wouldn't get a good rest. It's noisy here by the street. I'll open a superior room for you..."
Unfortunately, Luo Xuanqing seemed rather inclined to "share in the people's pleasures and avoid pomp." She stopped when she reached him.
"I'm only resting here temporarily and still have orders to pass on later. A room facing the street is convenient. Just pick any one."
"Uh..."
Ye Xingge looked around, hoping to find a room from which Mantanghong could escape.
Head Constable Wang Shouyin had been following at the rear. Seeing Ye Xingge suddenly dawdling, he was full of puzzlement.
After all, what had Xingge always been like?
The boy was clever, quick-witted, hardworking, and knew how to deal with people. Though he showed no mercy when fighting thieves and bandits, he could play a "business ball game" with Magistrate Shen and leave the magistrate so delighted he wished he could marry his daughter to him!
He had been fine just now, so why had he suddenly gone all wooden? Wasn't there a superior room right beside him?
Could it be that he was too nervous after seeing the greatest beauty in the capital?
That wouldn't do!
Worried that the dawdling would anger the distinguished guest from the capital, Wang Shouyin immediately stepped forward to help.
"You rascal, did seeing Lord Luo scare you silly? Isn't this a superior room right here? Lord Luo, please..."
Creak-
As he spoke, he pushed open the door to the room opposite!
"Huh?"
Ye Xingge stumbled inwardly and immediately tried to stop him!
After all, if Luo Xuanqing stayed here, the two ladies would be facing each other right across their doors. How could Mantanghong slip away then?
But Head Constable Wang had already opened the door. There was clearly no stopping him.
Luo Xuanqing walked to the doorway with the cat in her arms. Seeing that the room was clean and tidy, she seemed quite satisfied and turned around.
"I'll stay here. All of you go out and lead the search teams. Report any news as soon as it comes, and if there's anything you're unfamiliar with, ask Head Constable Wang."
"Oh, Lord Luo, you're too kind!"
Wang Shouyin hurriedly nodded and bowed. As he followed the adjutant and attendants downstairs, he winked his left eye at Ye Xingge, his expression somewhat slick. His meaning was obvious:
No need to thank your uncle! Just bring me a few more bowls of good wine in the future...
Be smart and serve her well, and you'll save yourself thirty years of detours, boy!
Know what forbearance and riches mean?
But Ye Xingge clearly didn't appreciate it much. With Head Constable Wang's help, he might not even live through the night!
After entering the room, Luo Xuanqing saw that the young innkeeper was still standing dumbly at the door and gave him another instruction.
"Go dice some fish. It's been running around all night and is hungry too."
"Meow~"
The black cat in her arms did indeed look hungry. It jumped down, landed in front of Ye Xingge, and wagged its tail.
The black cat's fur was glossy as brocade all over, and it was plump. It also wore a kerchief around its neck, embroidered in gold thread with the character for "capture." It even seemed to hold an official post.
The situation was completely out of control, and Ye Xingge could do little to salvage it. Worried that the two women would fight and splash him with blood, he could only pick up the cat and head downstairs at the speed of light...