Chapter 317: Wen Ya’Er is Wen Chan

Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Wen Ya’Er is Wen Chan

One hundred thousand taels of silver, just to have the top courtesan accompany him for drinks and music. It had to be said, the price was ridiculously high.

The Madam’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the stack of silver banknotes Chu Fan handed over, but she still said reluctantly, "Young Master, we at the Simurgh Pavilion value our reputation above all else. Since the young master of the Li Family has already made a reservation, we cannot break the rules, no matter how high a price others offer."

"Then if I offer one hundred thousand taels, can I see Miss Ya’Er tomorrow?" Chu Fan asked.

The Madam shook her head and said, "If you get in line now, Young Master, the earliest you could see Miss Ya’Er would be at least a month from now."

"What if I add this?" Chu Fan said, taking out the Mo Jade.

The moment the Madam saw the Mo Jade in Chu Fan’s hand, she trembled in fear. "I-I didn’t realize it was Your Excellency in person," she stammered. "I will make the arrangements for you at once."

The Madam hurried away. Not long after, she came jogging back and led Chu Fan to a private room in a pavilion in the rear courtyard.

As he pushed open the door, Chu Fan saw the slender, graceful figure of a woman sitting at a table with her back to him.

"Ya’Er, hurry and greet this Young Master!" the Madam prompted.

The woman sitting with her back to the door immediately stood up. As she turned, Chu Fan’s gaze froze.

Because this top courtesan named Wen Ya’Er was none other than Wen Chan, the Courtesan from the Xi Jun Building he had won in a bid four years ago.

’Or is she not Wen Chan? Just Wen Chan’s twin sister?’

"Ya’Er greets you, Young Master," Wen Ya’Er said, curtsying to Chu Fan.

Chu Fan waved his hand at the Madam, who retreated and closed the door from the outside.

"Your name is Wen Ya’Er?"

"Yes, Young Master. My name is Wen Ya’Er."

"Oh? And what is your relationship to Wen Chan of the Xi Jun Building in Jianye City?" Chu Fan asked coolly, his gaze fixed on the woman’s eyes.

A flash of surprise in the woman’s eyes vanished in an instant. Though she hid it well, Chu Fan clearly perceived it.

"I don’t know who you are referring to, Young Master. Besides, I have never been to any Jianye City."

"What about Chaoyin Pavilion, then? Have you heard of it?" Chu Fan continued to ask, still staring into her eyes.

This time, however, the woman’s eyes were as placid as still water, showing no change at all. She simply shook her head in confusion.

"And the God Slaughter Hall? Never heard of that either, I suppose?"

Chu Fan had asked three consecutive questions. Aside from that initial, fleeting flash of surprise, the woman maintained a look of utter confusion.

Chu Fan walked to the table and sat down in the seat the woman had just occupied. He picked up a wine cup, poured a drink, and took a sip. The bronze cup then crumbled to dust in his hand.

He spoke again, his tone just as dispassionate. "The thousand-plus disciples of the God Slaughter Hall on Three Mountains Island were all slaughtered by me in a single night. I wonder, does your arrival in the Eastern Domain have anything to do with that? Pavilion Master Wen, we’re old acquaintances. There’s no need to keep denying it."

"Young Master, I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t understand a single word."

Chu Fan stood up, and as he turned around, his face reverted to its original appearance.

This time, the terror in the woman’s eyes was unmistakable.

"You... you’re Chu Fan! Aren’t you dead?"

"Long time no see, Pavilion Master Wen," Chu Fan said with a grin.

"You... how are you still alive?" Wen Chan’s eyes were filled with terror.

"Instead of you being surprised that I’m still alive, I’m more surprised that Long Jingyao would just let you leave the Central Domain."

Wen Chan walked to the opposite side of the table from Chu Fan and sat down, a smile on her face. "A classic ’golden cicada sheds its shell’ maneuver. I never would have thought your art of disguise was so miraculous, Young Master Chu. No wonder even Long Jingyao was fooled by you."

"Is that so? Then take another look."

As Chu Fan spoke, he swiped a hand across his face, and instantly, he took on Wen Chan’s appearance.

Wen Chan had just recovered from her earlier shock, but now she was once again stunned by Chu Fan’s abilities.

"You... you..."

"Pavilion Master Wen, not a single true word has left your mouth since the day we met. Look, I’ve shown you my cards. Can’t you have a heart-to-heart talk with me?" Chu Fan said with a smile.

He now wore Wen Chan’s face, and his every expression was identical to hers. Even his voice was exactly the same, right down to Wen Chan’s uniquely enchanting tone.

Wen Chan’s heart quickly calmed down. She asked, "What would you like to talk about with me, Young Master Chu?"

"Let’s start with why you came to the Eastern Domain."

"After being locked up by you and Long Jingyao for four years, it’s a rare chance to get out. I just wanted to come and relax."

"Heh, it seems Pavilion Master Wen isn’t being sincere at all."

With that, Chu Fan stood up and made to leave. At the same time, he spoke again, "If that’s the case, Pavilion Master Wen, then from this day forward, you’d better be careful of everyone around you."

After speaking, Chu Fan changed back to the appearance he had when he first entered the private room. He then opened the door, ready to depart.

"Wait!"

His foot, already stepping out, paused in mid-air and then pulled back. He turned his head and asked, "What is it? Did Pavilion Master Wen remember something?"

"Young Master Chu, please, stay and sit a while longer," Wen Chan said.

Chu Fan closed the door again, turned, and went back to his original seat.

"Just as you suspected, Young Master Chu, I am indeed here in the Eastern Domain on orders from my superiors to investigate the matter of Three Mountains Island."

"Then why not go to Celestial Wave Lake? Why come to Shuoyue City instead?" Chu Fan asked.

"This is the Capital City of Great Xia, after all. It’s easier to gather information here."

"How did you escape Long Jingyao’s surveillance?"

Wen Chan shook her head. "About a month ago, Long Jingyao suddenly pulled back the people watching me. I tested it a few times and found that he really had lifted his surveillance. But over the past few years, Long Jingyao used me as bait to kill quite a few people."

"Tell me about the God Slaughter Hall."

"To be honest, our Chaoyin Pavilion doesn’t have a high standing in the God Slaughter Hall, so my knowledge is limited. Everything I’m about to say is the truth."

"Then tell me everything you know about the God Slaughter Hall."

"The God Slaughter Hall has one Hall Master, two Vice Hall Masters, the Left and Right Protectors, four Palace Guards, as well as four Saint Heirs and four Saintesses. Our Chaoyin Pavilion takes orders from one of the Saintesses. I’ve heard the God Slaughter Hall oversees twelve halls and eight branches, but I don’t know the specific number of people. I only know that each hall and branch has its own mission. This time, I came to the Eastern Domain on the orders of a Maid who serves the Saintess. My only task is to find out who made a move on Three Mountains Island; I am not to get involved in anything else. The people on Three Mountains Island were placed there by one of the Saint Heirs."

"Of all these Hall Masters, Vice Hall Masters, Saint Heirs, and Saintesses you mentioned, how many have you actually met?"

Wen Chan shook her head. "I haven’t met a single one of them. The only ones I’ve seen are a few of the Saintess’s Maids. I don’t even know where the God Slaughter Hall is located."

"Then how do you contact them?" Chu Fan asked.

"I can’t contact them. Periodically, someone holding a special Jade Token will come to see me and pass on information. The person is different every time, and the style of the Jade Token they hold is also different."

"They’re certainly making it mysterious," Chu Fan said, shaking his head with a laugh.

’In truth, he was quite surprised. He hadn’t expected the God Slaughter Hall’s organization to be so tight, with one layer concealing the next. Tracing them back to their source would be extremely difficult.’

"Since your position in the God Slaughter Hall is so low, why would you risk your life to work for them?" Chu Fan asked curiously.

"Because from the day they found us, we were left with no other choice. Either we die, or we have a Gu Insect planted in us and obey their every command," Wen Chan said without concealment.