Fanjia explained slowly, “Falling into the water without a sound indicates she might not have a physical form. But the fact that you can see her suggests this dragon’s lingering obsession runs deep.”
Bai Lixin looked thoughtfully at the scale in his hand. “Is this scale her obsession?”
Fanjia shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s also possible her obsession is attached to the scale. Because the scale fell here, you keep seeing her jumping over and over again.”
Bai Lixin: “But I asked others before, and they’ve never seen anyone jump from here before. So, this scale probably fell here recently.”
Fanjia: “Maybe. But why are you asking me all this? Do you want to help her realize her obsession? Regardless of whether this dragon is alive or not, lingering obsession isn’t a soul; it’s just a strong thought.”
Bai Lixin: “I’m just idle, I’ll figure it out.”
This dragon scale didn’t seem related to the task, but his sixth sense told him that something repeatedly appearing in front of him wasn’t coincidental.
He didn’t know the connection between the dragon scale, the woman in red and the mysterious deaths in Qingcheng Town. But he felt investigating wouldn’t result into any loss.
Perhaps, during the investigation, clues about the mysterious deaths would surface.
“Master, if I need to find you in the future, where should I look for you?”
Before leaving, Bai Lixin asked Fanjia, “Will you go back to the previous place?”
Fanjia: “Not for now. Hidden in the bustling city, if fate connects us, we shall meet again, benefactor.”
He prepared to leave.
“Wait.” The young man suddenly stopped him.
Fanjia turned to look at him in confusion. He saw the young man pointing to the bell around his neck. “You’re leaving just like this, without taking this thing back?”
The enormous lotus platform staggered for a moment, and Fanjia almost fell off.
Fanjia stared at the bell around Bai Lixin’s neck with a complicated expression. His thin lips pursed slightly.
‘This staff, did it get addicted after sticking to the fox demon? Won’t you come back?’
The bell shook on its own.
‘You dare blame me? You forgot about me completely and were leaving.’
“Ahem.” Fanjia gestured toward the bell. It shook a few times but refused to come off Bai Lixin’s neck.
He replicated his actions, trying five or six times, but the bell wouldn’t return to his hand.
Finally, Fanjia sighed lightly, “It seems to like you very much. Let it stay with you for a while. With it around, maybe it can protect you.”
“What about you, Master?” Bai Lixin stopped Fanjia again. “What if that cultivator comes after you again, and you don’t have your staff? What if you get hurt?”
Fanjia hesitated, then said, “You don’t need to worry about that. They can’t do much to me yet. If you’re concerned about my life and death, the bell on your neck is my life-bound magical weapon. As long as it’s safe, I’ll live. If it shatters, it means I’m dead.”
“Alright, it’s getting late. Farewell.”
With this final statement, Fanjia didn’t give Bai Lixin a chance to speak again. He controlled the lotus platform and left.
Bai Lixin watched the lotus platform until it disappeared from his sight before turning to leave.
Honestly, he had nowhere to go.
But, it seemed he had somewhere he could go.
…
He once again arrived at the brothel. When the momo saw Bai Lixin, she first froze, then smiled broadly and came over to greet him. “Oh my, young master, you’ve come again. Last time you left in a hurry, we didn’t get a chance to see you off. Come in, come in, please.”
“Who are you planning to meet this time?”
As soon as Bai Lixin arrived, he handed a golden leaf to the matron.
Seeing the money, the smile on the momo’s face grew even wider, and her tone became more sincere. “Oh my, young master, you’re truly generous. Young master, last time Chun Tao and Xia He offended you, I’m here to apologize on their behalf. Young master, a gentleman forgives and forgets, don’t lower yourself to their level.”
Bai Lixin smiled. “Who said I’m a gentleman? I’m here today to teach them a lesson.”
He handed the momo another golden leaf. “Where are those two?”
“They…” The momo’s eyes flickered. Sensing the man’s hostility, she was about to make up an excuse when the young master calmly took out a dozen more golden leaves from his sleeve.
The momo’s eyes lit up. ”Young master, are you specifically asking for them today? They’re currently entertaining guests. How about I arrange someone better for you? She’s our number one, absolutely stunning.”
“The number one at your brothel?” Bai Lixin sneered. “Is she better looking than me? If I’m here for looks, why not just stare at myself in the mirror at home?”
The momo was rendered speechless.
“Let me tell you, if you can bring those two women to me tonight, all these golden leaves are yours. But if you can’t, I’ll demolish this wretched brothel of yours today. I’ll make the whole town aware that you dared to drug a customer’s drink. You won’t live this down.”
The momo’s face turned pale. She glanced at her surroundings, then whispered, “Young master, my dear young master, lower your voice.”
Then she warned Bai Lixin, “Young master, food can be eaten freely, but words can’t be spoken recklessly. We run a legitimate business here. How could we resort to such underhanded tactics? If you keep making baseless accusations, I’ll report you to the authorities.”
“Go ahead and report. Let’s see if the county magistrate believes you or me.”
The momo frowned. “Heh, I’ve seen plenty of young masters like you. What kind haven’t I encountered? This isn’t a place for your tantrums! The county magistrate and I have a good relationship. I might spare you some face, but if you insist on going to court, you won’t have an easy time.”
“You have a good relationship with the county magistrate? What about me? Since you’ve brought up your connections, tell me, how good is your relationship with him?”
The momo glanced at him disdainfully. “You don’t know, do you? Let me enlighten you. The county Magistrate’s favorite concubine used to work here. We’re like her second family. That’s why the county magistrate gives me face. Scared now?”
“Unfortunately for you, the county magistrate recently married my cousin. In terms of seniority, I have to call him brother-in-law.”
“Moreover, do you think the county magistrate’s favorite concubine knows you’re flaunting her name out here? Claiming half a family connection, who would want their past revealed like that? They haven’t wiped you out and instead, they’ve let you stay. But you still dare to associate with her?”
“Believe it or not, I’ll tell her about this tomorrow. Let’s see if your establishment can survive another day.”
The momo hesitated. “Are you truly the cousin of the county magistrate’s wife?”
“If you doubt it, you can check tomorrow. If I am, then you’ve offended me today. Consider your future carefully. If I’m not, you won’t lose much. You’ll still receive the money you deserve. What do you say?”
The momo was completely intimidated. Her initial arrogance vanished, replaced by a pleading look as she gazed at Bai Lixin. “I’m afraid, okay. Fine, fine, Chun Tao and Xia He, right? I’ll find them for you now. I beg you, please don’t tell this to the mistress.”
“That depends on how Chun Tao and Xia He behave. You understand, right?”
Gritting her teeth, the momo said, “Fine!”
Bai Lixin went upstairs. After a few minutes, there was a cautious knock on the door.
A familiar female voice came from outside, “Young master, it’s Chun Tao and Xia He. We’re here.”
“Come in,” Bai Lixin cleared his throat and said calmly.
The door opened, and Chun Tao and Xia He entered respectfully.
The room was the same one Bai Lixin had been in the first time he visited. The glass paper on the door had been replaced and there were no signs of damage.
Chun Tao stood in front of Bai Lixin, trembling. The momo had warned them that this young master had come to seek revenge. Usually, men like him didn’t treat them kindly.
After tonight, they probably wouldn’t be able to entertain guests for several days.
Bai Lixin scanned both of them and pointed at Chun Tao, “You stay, Xia He, you can leave for now.”
Xia He had just breathed a sigh of relief when Bai Lixin added, “Don’t go far, I’ll need to talk to you alone later.”
Xia He’s breath caught in her throat, the relief she felt vanished.
Once Xia He left, Bai Lixin patted the space beside him. “Miss Chun Tao, come and sit here.”
Chun Tao’s shoulders trembled. She took a couple of steps forward, then her knees gave out, and she knelt on the floor. “Young master, I’m sorry! I truly realize my mistake. I didn’t mean to drug you. I’m just a worker, the momo made me do it. I had no choice. I had my reasons. Please spare me.”
“Come here, I won’t harm you,” Bai Lixin gestured at Chun Tao. “I insisted on talking to both of you because when I entered, I saw you two being mistreated in the hall. It’s clear you’re uncomfortable but have to endure it. That’s why I had the momo call you over.”
Chun Tao was stunned, looking at Bai Lixin in disbelief. “You… really won’t hurt me?”
“I won’t harm you. Please, have a seat.”
Chun Tao cautiously sat beside Bai Lixin. He poured tea for her, and she hurriedly protested, “Young master, I can’t allow you to pour tea for me.”
“It’s fine, have a drink to calm down. Let’s take a break before we continue talking.”
Chun Tao nodded and held the tea cup with both hands. She observed the young man in front of her carefully, trying to gauge the sincerity in his words.
The young man sat upright, his face devoid of the lecherous expressions common among their customers. But that didn’t prove anything.
Three kinds of people visited their establishment.
Some came solely to enjoy themselves.
Then there were those who, despite seeking pleasure, maintained a hypocritical façade, criticizing their profession while indulging in it.
Lastly, there were those who came to discuss business; to them, the women were tools. In their eyes, these women were objects meant to please clients or pawns to win deals.
Just like what those hypocrites say, their work was considered vulgar. But how many of the women here had willingly chosen this path? How many had been sold off by their families or abducted by human traffickers? There weren’t many who had come here voluntarily.
They were not born vulgar, they just have no choice but to do this.
Chun Tao pulled her thoughts back and watched Bai Lixin carefully. When her tea was finished, the young man across from her finally spoke, “Feeling better now?”
“Um,” Chun Tao replied cautiously. “Young master, what exactly…”
“I’m homeless,” Bai Lixin interrupted. “So I came here to sleep. I don’t know anyone else here. When I entered, I saw you two being mistreated downstairs, so I had the momo call you here. There’s nothing else. You don’t have to serve me. I asked you to come here just to talk and pass the time.”
Chun Tao looked at Bai Lixin’s delicate facial features and sighed silently after a moment, “Of course, what do you want to talk about, young master?”
‘Alas, every family had its own troubles.’
Bai Lixin: “Let’s talk about the county magistrate’s concubine. I overheard the momo mention her during our argument downstairs. Do you know her?”
“I know of her, but I don’t know her personally. I arrived here late, just a few years ago. By that time, she was already married. Although I don’t know her, I’ve heard about her.”
“I heard that our brothel didn’t originally operate here. We used to be in a town outside. Later, we offended someone, so the momo had no choice but to bring us here and start afresh.”
“At first, no one knew this sister had become the county magistrate’s concubine. It was only when she was seen buying jewelry in a shop that the momo recognized her and then learned about her prestigious marriage.”
“We often talk about her privately. We envy her for finding a good man even though she’s just a concubine. Her husband has been loving her faithfully for ten years. While other wives have come and gone, she remains his sole favorite.”
Bai Lixin: “It’s impressive. How did the she manage to control the county magistrate so completely? Did she learn a special skill to manipulate people from your brothel?”
Chun Tao: “We discuss this privately too. There are many theories, but most of them are hearsay.”
Bai Lixin: “Oh, what are some of the theories?”
Chun Tao: “The most common one is that she’s incredibly skilled in bed, making men crave her to the point of obsession.” Chun Tao blushed after saying this.
“Then there’s another theory, the county magistrate’s concubine looks a lot like the county magistrate’s first love. He doesn’t truly love her, he just sees others through her.”
Chun Tao paused. “Many people believe this theory.”
“Lastly, there’s a theory that suggests the county magistrate’s concubine practices witchcraft. She bewitched the county magistrate with her magic, making him unable to stay away from her.”
Bai Lixin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh, this theory is interesting. How did this rumor come about?”
Fanjia explained slowly, “Falling into the water without a sound indicates she might not have a physical form. But the fact that you can see her suggests this dragon’s lingering obsession runs deep.”
Bai Lixin looked thoughtfully at the scale in his hand. “Is this scale her obsession?”
Fanjia shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s also possible her obsession is attached to the scale. Because the scale fell here, you keep seeing her jumping over and over again.”
Bai Lixin: “But I asked others before, and they’ve never seen anyone jump from here before. So, this scale probably fell here recently.”
Fanjia: “Maybe. But why are you asking me all this? Do you want to help her realize her obsession? Regardless of whether this dragon is alive or not, lingering obsession isn’t a soul; it’s just a strong thought.”
Bai Lixin: “I’m just idle, I’ll figure it out.”
This dragon scale didn’t seem related to the task, but his sixth sense told him that something repeatedly appearing in front of him wasn’t coincidental.
He didn’t know the connection between the dragon scale, the woman in red and the mysterious deaths in Qingcheng Town. But he felt investigating wouldn’t result into any loss.
Perhaps, during the investigation, clues about the mysterious deaths would surface.
“Master, if I need to find you in the future, where should I look for you?”
Before leaving, Bai Lixin asked Fanjia, “Will you go back to the previous place?”
Fanjia: “Not for now. Hidden in the bustling city, if fate connects us, we shall meet again, benefactor.”
He prepared to leave.
“Wait.” The young man suddenly stopped him.
Fanjia turned to look at him in confusion. He saw the young man pointing to the bell around his neck. “You’re leaving just like this, without taking this thing back?”
The enormous lotus platform staggered for a moment, and Fanjia almost fell off.
Fanjia stared at the bell around Bai Lixin’s neck with a complicated expression. His thin lips pursed slightly.
‘This staff, did it get addicted after sticking to the fox demon? Won’t you come back?’
The bell shook on its own.
‘You dare blame me? You forgot about me completely and were leaving.’
“Ahem.” Fanjia gestured toward the bell. It shook a few times but refused to come off Bai Lixin’s neck.
He replicated his actions, trying five or six times, but the bell wouldn’t return to his hand.
Finally, Fanjia sighed lightly, “It seems to like you very much. Let it stay with you for a while. With it around, maybe it can protect you.”
“What about you, Master?” Bai Lixin stopped Fanjia again. “What if that cultivator comes after you again, and you don’t have your staff? What if you get hurt?”
Fanjia hesitated, then said, “You don’t need to worry about that. They can’t do much to me yet. If you’re concerned about my life and death, the bell on your neck is my life-bound magical weapon. As long as it’s safe, I’ll live. If it shatters, it means I’m dead.”
“Alright, it’s getting late. Farewell.”
With this final statement, Fanjia didn’t give Bai Lixin a chance to speak again. He controlled the lotus platform and left.
Bai Lixin watched the lotus platform until it disappeared from his sight before turning to leave.
Honestly, he had nowhere to go.
But, it seemed he had somewhere he could go.
…
He once again arrived at the brothel. When the momo saw Bai Lixin, she first froze, then smiled broadly and came over to greet him. “Oh my, young master, you’ve come again. Last time you left in a hurry, we didn’t get a chance to see you off. Come in, come in, please.”
“Who are you planning to meet this time?”
As soon as Bai Lixin arrived, he handed a golden leaf to the matron.
Seeing the money, the smile on the momo’s face grew even wider, and her tone became more sincere. “Oh my, young master, you’re truly generous. Young master, last time Chun Tao and Xia He offended you, I’m here to apologize on their behalf. Young master, a gentleman forgives and forgets, don’t lower yourself to their level.”
Bai Lixin smiled. “Who said I’m a gentleman? I’m here today to teach them a lesson.”
He handed the momo another golden leaf. “Where are those two?”
“They…” The momo’s eyes flickered. Sensing the man’s hostility, she was about to make up an excuse when the young master calmly took out a dozen more golden leaves from his sleeve.
The momo’s eyes lit up. ”Young master, are you specifically asking for them today? They’re currently entertaining guests. How about I arrange someone better for you? She’s our number one, absolutely stunning.”
“The number one at your brothel?” Bai Lixin sneered. “Is she better looking than me? If I’m here for looks, why not just stare at myself in the mirror at home?”
The momo was rendered speechless.
“Let me tell you, if you can bring those two women to me tonight, all these golden leaves are yours. But if you can’t, I’ll demolish this wretched brothel of yours today. I’ll make the whole town aware that you dared to drug a customer’s drink. You won’t live this down.”
The momo’s face turned pale. She glanced at her surroundings, then whispered, “Young master, my dear young master, lower your voice.”
Then she warned Bai Lixin, “Young master, food can be eaten freely, but words can’t be spoken recklessly. We run a legitimate business here. How could we resort to such underhanded tactics? If you keep making baseless accusations, I’ll report you to the authorities.”
“Go ahead and report. Let’s see if the county magistrate believes you or me.”
The momo frowned. “Heh, I’ve seen plenty of young masters like you. What kind haven’t I encountered? This isn’t a place for your tantrums! The county magistrate and I have a good relationship. I might spare you some face, but if you insist on going to court, you won’t have an easy time.”
“You have a good relationship with the county magistrate? What about me? Since you’ve brought up your connections, tell me, how good is your relationship with him?”
The momo glanced at him disdainfully. “You don’t know, do you? Let me enlighten you. The county Magistrate’s favorite concubine used to work here. We’re like her second family. That’s why the county magistrate gives me face. Scared now?”
“Unfortunately for you, the county magistrate recently married my cousin. In terms of seniority, I have to call him brother-in-law.”
“Moreover, do you think the county magistrate’s favorite concubine knows you’re flaunting her name out here? Claiming half a family connection, who would want their past revealed like that? They haven’t wiped you out and instead, they’ve let you stay. But you still dare to associate with her?”
“Believe it or not, I’ll tell her about this tomorrow. Let’s see if your establishment can survive another day.”
The momo hesitated. “Are you truly the cousin of the county magistrate’s wife?”
“If you doubt it, you can check tomorrow. If I am, then you’ve offended me today. Consider your future carefully. If I’m not, you won’t lose much. You’ll still receive the money you deserve. What do you say?”
The momo was completely intimidated. Her initial arrogance vanished, replaced by a pleading look as she gazed at Bai Lixin. “I’m afraid, okay. Fine, fine, Chun Tao and Xia He, right? I’ll find them for you now. I beg you, please don’t tell this to the mistress.”
“That depends on how Chun Tao and Xia He behave. You understand, right?”
Gritting her teeth, the momo said, “Fine!”
Bai Lixin went upstairs. After a few minutes, there was a cautious knock on the door.
A familiar female voice came from outside, “Young master, it’s Chun Tao and Xia He. We’re here.”
“Come in,” Bai Lixin cleared his throat and said calmly.
The door opened, and Chun Tao and Xia He entered respectfully.
The room was the same one Bai Lixin had been in the first time he visited. The glass paper on the door had been replaced and there were no signs of damage.
Chun Tao stood in front of Bai Lixin, trembling. The momo had warned them that this young master had come to seek revenge. Usually, men like him didn’t treat them kindly.
After tonight, they probably wouldn’t be able to entertain guests for several days.
Bai Lixin scanned both of them and pointed at Chun Tao, “You stay, Xia He, you can leave for now.”
Xia He had just breathed a sigh of relief when Bai Lixin added, “Don’t go far, I’ll need to talk to you alone later.”
Xia He’s breath caught in her throat, the relief she felt vanished.
Once Xia He left, Bai Lixin patted the space beside him. “Miss Chun Tao, come and sit here.”
Chun Tao’s shoulders trembled. She took a couple of steps forward, then her knees gave out, and she knelt on the floor. “Young master, I’m sorry! I truly realize my mistake. I didn’t mean to drug you. I’m just a worker, the momo made me do it. I had no choice. I had my reasons. Please spare me.”
“Come here, I won’t harm you,” Bai Lixin gestured at Chun Tao. “I insisted on talking to both of you because when I entered, I saw you two being mistreated in the hall. It’s clear you’re uncomfortable but have to endure it. That’s why I had the momo call you over.”
Chun Tao was stunned, looking at Bai Lixin in disbelief. “You… really won’t hurt me?”
“I won’t harm you. Please, have a seat.”
Chun Tao cautiously sat beside Bai Lixin. He poured tea for her, and she hurriedly protested, “Young master, I can’t allow you to pour tea for me.”
“It’s fine, have a drink to calm down. Let’s take a break before we continue talking.”
Chun Tao nodded and held the tea cup with both hands. She observed the young man in front of her carefully, trying to gauge the sincerity in his words.
The young man sat upright, his face devoid of the lecherous expressions common among their customers. But that didn’t prove anything.
Three kinds of people visited their establishment.
Some came solely to enjoy themselves.
Then there were those who, despite seeking pleasure, maintained a hypocritical façade, criticizing their profession while indulging in it.
Lastly, there were those who came to discuss business; to them, the women were tools. In their eyes, these women were objects meant to please clients or pawns to win deals.
Just like what those hypocrites say, their work was considered vulgar. But how many of the women here had willingly chosen this path? How many had been sold off by their families or abducted by human traffickers? There weren’t many who had come here voluntarily.
They were not born vulgar, they just have no choice but to do this.
Chun Tao pulled her thoughts back and watched Bai Lixin carefully. When her tea was finished, the young man across from her finally spoke, “Feeling better now?”
“Um,” Chun Tao replied cautiously. “Young master, what exactly…”
“I’m homeless,” Bai Lixin interrupted. “So I came here to sleep. I don’t know anyone else here. When I entered, I saw you two being mistreated downstairs, so I had the momo call you here. There’s nothing else. You don’t have to serve me. I asked you to come here just to talk and pass the time.”
Chun Tao looked at Bai Lixin’s delicate facial features and sighed silently after a moment, “Of course, what do you want to talk about, young master?”
‘Alas, every family had its own troubles.’
Bai Lixin: “Let’s talk about the county magistrate’s concubine. I overheard the momo mention her during our argument downstairs. Do you know her?”
“I know of her, but I don’t know her personally. I arrived here late, just a few years ago. By that time, she was already married. Although I don’t know her, I’ve heard about her.”
“I heard that our brothel didn’t originally operate here. We used to be in a town outside. Later, we offended someone, so the momo had no choice but to bring us here and start afresh.”
“At first, no one knew this sister had become the county magistrate’s concubine. It was only when she was seen buying jewelry in a shop that the momo recognized her and then learned about her prestigious marriage.”
“We often talk about her privately. We envy her for finding a good man even though she’s just a concubine. Her husband has been loving her faithfully for ten years. While other wives have come and gone, she remains his sole favorite.”
Bai Lixin: “It’s impressive. How did the she manage to control the county magistrate so completely? Did she learn a special skill to manipulate people from your brothel?”
Chun Tao: “We discuss this privately too. There are many theories, but most of them are hearsay.”
Bai Lixin: “Oh, what are some of the theories?”
Chun Tao: “The most common one is that she’s incredibly skilled in bed, making men crave her to the point of obsession.” Chun Tao blushed after saying this.
“Then there’s another theory, the county magistrate’s concubine looks a lot like the county magistrate’s first love. He doesn’t truly love her, he just sees others through her.”
Chun Tao paused. “Many people believe this theory.”
“Lastly, there’s a theory that suggests the county magistrate’s concubine practices witchcraft. She bewitched the county magistrate with her magic, making him unable to stay away from her.”
Bai Lixin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh, this theory is interesting. How did this rumor come about?”
