Chapter 495 - 249: Head to Head

Chapter 495: Chapter 249: Head to Head

"Ferryman?"

Zheng Xiu silently added another Path to the Path Atlas he was constructing in his mind, then asked,

"What’s his Ability?"

Jun Buxiao and Situ Yong exchanged a look, silent.

Seeing them just look at each other, Zheng Xiu waited a moment before he couldn’t resist interrupting. "So, which of you knows?"

Jun Buxiao tilted his head and retorted, "You don’t know?"

Situ Yong was taken aback. "Why would I know?"

Jun Buxiao chuckled. "I just assumed you did."

Situ Yong’s beard bristled. "I don’t know jack shit!"

"Funny, I don’t know either," Jun Buxiao said, spreading his hands in resignation.

Though furious inside, Zheng Xiu calmly uttered two words: "You’re fined."

"Young Master, don’t be rash!" Jun Buxiao’s expression changed in a flash. In the blink of an eye, he donned a "crying" mask, clinging to the Young Master’s waist and sobbing pathetically, "I really don’t know! Back in the day, the Night Lord kept Upper Two under tight wraps. Ever since Upper Three Feng Bei joined Ye Weiyang, that person just vanished as if they’d retired, never taking on another assignment. All I know is that someone in the old Ye Weiyang said they were as elusive as a ghost and seemed to have the ability to travel a thousand li in a single day."

Jun Buxiao had only meant it as a joke, but it had backfired spectacularly. The Red King produced a small, blank booklet from out of nowhere. He lowered his head and wrote down ’Jun Buxiao,’ adding a tally mark beside it to record the transgression, which meant a pay cut. Zheng Xiu then put the booklet away and mused aloud, "But Ye Weiyang disbanded long ago, and the former Upper Two never joined the Disaster Prevention Bureau. For them to show up in this case... calling it a coincidence is too much of a stretch. But if..."

Zheng Xiu’s eyes began to shine, his expression one of frantic realization as he muttered to himself, ’If I go with my initial theory that ’Zhu’ is behind this, then everything makes sense! Upper Two Bai Qiuyue has been on Zhu’s side all along! It’s all connected! There is only one truth!’

Situ Yong and Jun Buxiao were both stunned to hear this, their faces full of confusion. "Zhu?"

The origins of Zhu were not yet common knowledge within the Disaster Prevention Bureau, so the fact that these two were in the dark made Zheng Xiu feel more secure. He hinted at it briefly, and their reactions brought a small smile to his face. Just as he was about to say something, there was a knock at the door.

The Orange Cat looked disgusted, covering its nose and mouth and flopping onto the table with an ’I’m-gonna-die’ expression. Zheng Xiu nudged his chin at Situ Yong, and the Elder Divine Doctor shuffled forward to open the door. Standing behind it was the madam, her head wrapped in gauze. Her expression was wooden as she held an exquisite tray, which was covered by a bright red silk cloth.

Zheng Xiu looked at the madam and asked with feigned innocence, "Oh dear? How did you get hurt?"

The madam’s eyes darted about, not daring to meet the young man’s seemingly innocent gaze. Her lips trembled as she stammered, "I... I... I was clumsy. I accidentally bumped into something."

She carefully placed the tray on the table as she spoke. The Orange Cat’s fur stood straight up, and it leaped to the floor in disgust, landing near Jun Buxiao’s feet.

Zheng Xiu silently activated [Scouting] and couldn’t help but stare. A garish pink fog, so dense it was jarring to see, carried a scent so thick it was almost tangible. He didn’t even need to look; the rich Orchid Fragrance was enough for Zheng Xiu to guess the object on the tray was one of Fragrant Maiden’s intimate belongings.

Situ Yong’s brow furrowed. He lifted the cloth and found a bright red golden silk phoenix apron folded neatly inside. His brow furrowed again as he touched it with the back of his hand. "It’s warm!" he exclaimed.

The madam forced a smile. "Fragrant Maiden says... she heard a certain Young Master came all the way from the big city just for tonight. She even turned away another distinguished guest for him. After all, what’s a girl to do when she meets a Young Master even more generous than her other patrons!"

Zheng Xiu pointed at the clearly very recently worn apron and chuckled in disbelief. "Are you saying this apron is..."

The madam nodded, her smile strained. "It is a Token. When Fragrant Maiden fancies someone, she bestows a Token upon them. With this, one may enter her boudoir and enjoy a night of passion."

With that said, the madam looked as if she wanted to say more but stopped herself. She began to back away, trembling.

"Please, wait a moment."

Situ Yong took out a White Porcelain Jade Bottle and set it firmly on the table.

"This medicine is for bruises and external injuries. Apply it for three days, and you’ll be good as new."

The madam looked astonished. Situ Yong stroked his long beard, puffing his chest out smugly. "It is my humble honor. I am, after all, merely the world’s number one Divine Doctor, Situ Yong!"

"Thank you, good sir!" The madam turned back. As she reached for the porcelain bottle, she stumbled, knocking over a wine bottle and nearly falling. A moment later, she used the long table to shakily pull herself up and, from across its surface, bowed deeply three times.

After the madam had left, Situ Yong slapped himself on the forehead in frustration. "Damn it! My old affliction flared up. I got soft-hearted for a moment and gave away a Spirit Medicine! Tsk. It can’t be helped, I suppose. I am a man of Medical Compassion."

"Hee hee hee!" Jun Buxiao howled with laughter beside him, clutching his stomach.

Zheng Xiu pointed to the long table. "It wasn’t a total loss. At the very least, good deeds get rewarded."

Situ Yong glanced over and froze. There, next to the tray with the still-warm golden silk apron, the madam had used her feigned fall as a distraction. Hiding her actions with a long sleeve, she had used the spilled wine to write two words on the tabletop: "Escape now."

Situ Yong didn’t even have time to mull over the ’good deeds get rewarded’ bit. He stared at the words "Escape now," then glanced at the warm apron and broke into a grin. "Well now. It seems our hosts are aware of our intentions."

"Perhaps," Zheng Xiu said with a nod. He dusted off his clothes and calmly stood up. Jun Buxiao let out a soft "Ooh?" and Situ Yong, startled once again, asked, "Young Master, you don’t mean to...?"

Zheng Xiu smiled. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m going to go and meet this Orchid."

Situ Yong asked, "Venture into what...?"