32

Qingchen wasn't entirely lying; the soldiers at the West Gate privately called him "Master Ximen Qing."

Firstly, he was in charge of the West Gate, and secondly, the character "Qing" in his name made it easier to pronounce.

In truth, how could he dare use the word "Master" in front of the City Lord's daughter? He could only cut to the chase and try to get away with it.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ningyi's eyes flashed with a strange light. Her fingers tightened the sash of her bathrobe, and her voice softened:

"Ximen Qing... I'll remember that. Since you've told me your name, I won't make things difficult for you anymore."

When she looked up, her eyelashes trembled. She avoided Qingchen's gaze, but couldn't help glancing at his masked chin.

The masculine aura he exuded just now still lingered in her nose, much more pleasant than Li Muyun's superficial scent.

“Remember this, if a third person finds out about tonight…”

She paused, “I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth, I won’t let you get away with it.”

Qingchen quickly nodded, “Miss Zhao, don’t worry, I, Ximen Qing, am very tight-lipped. This matter will remain a secret.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a blush spread across Zhao Ningyi’s cheeks, making her look stunningly beautiful.

Qingchen noticed this and his heart skipped a beat. The atmosphere was off; he had to change the subject quickly.

Before he could speak, Zhao Ningyi cleared her throat: “My father’s city lord’s mansion isn’t so easy to break into.

The outer sentries change every two quarters of an hour, and there are hidden sentries in the watchtowers; the walls of the treasury and study are reinforced with iron plates, not to mention there are experts like the old steward…”

Before she finished speaking, Qingchen recalled the feeling of exchanging blows with the old steward earlier.

The force of the palm strike sent a numbing sensation up his arm to his shoulder, still throbbing slightly.

He frowned, his voice deepening, "I was forced by circumstances to do this. I hope you can keep it a secret, sister.

But how can I leave this heavily guarded city lord's mansion undetected?"

Seeing the sweat beading on his forehead, Zhao Ningyi felt a pang of panic herself. She smiled calmly, "During the day, I could hide you in the sedan chair and send you out through the side gate.

But with such a commotion at the treasury tonight, my father will surely have skilled guards at all the doors. Even without searching the sedan chair, just a peek through the curtain will give us away."

"Then, what should we do?" Qingchen was truly frantic.

If he were trapped here, forget about finding the token; he wouldn't even be able to save his life.

Zhao Ningyi hesitated for a moment, as if making a decision, then turned and walked into the attic. "Follow me."

She hadn't changed out of her bathrobe yet, her wet hair draped over her shoulders.

Qingchen followed behind, able to smell the lavender scent on her, which surprisingly wasn't unpleasant.

In the attic was a small study, with bookshelves displaying collections of poetry.

Zhao Ningyi walked to the innermost bookshelf and pressed her fingertip on the spine of a copy of the *Classic of Poetry*.

With a "click," the bookshelf shifted half a foot to the side, revealing a dark passageway.

“Don’t worry, I have a secret passage here, for escape. From this pavilion, it leads directly to the moat outside the city, allowing us to avoid everyone’s notice.”

She took a tinderbox from the table, blew on it, and handed it to him. “There are steps in the passage; follow them. The exit is in the reeds by the riverbank; no one will find it.”

Qingchen took the tinderbox; the firelight illuminated the walls of the passage.

He had a bad feeling: Could this be a trap?

But looking into Zhao Ningyi's eyes, it didn't seem fake.

Before he could finish his thought, Zhao Ningyi had already stepped inside, her skirt sweeping across the steps: "I'll lead you a bit; there are few forks in the road, you won't get lost."

The passage was narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass at a time. Qingchen followed behind, able to smell the dampness in her hair.

Zhao Ningyi's voice floated through the passage: "Ximen Qing, remember, if you ever encounter enemies chasing you again, you can come find me from here. Just knock on the hidden door with a wooden stick."

The two of them walked silently out of the passage, one after the other, to the riverbank outside.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a faint light appeared ahead, the reflection of the river water.

Zhao Ningyi stopped and turned to look at him: "We're here. The moat is just outside. Swim downstream, and you'll reach the woods outside the city."

Qingchen gave Zhao Ningyi a deep look.

Then he turned and leaped into the river, disappearing into the night.

Zhao Ningyi stood on the bank for a long time, until Qingchen's shadow was no longer visible.

She sighed softly, turned, and stepped into the secret passage, silently chanting, "Ximen Qing."

Back in her study, she carefully pushed the bookshelves back into their places, then wiped the spine of the *Classic of Poetry* with a cloth, making sure no trace was visible, before carrying her wet hair back to her bedroom.

...

When Qingchen returned to his residence, his clothes were still dripping wet.

He began to think; perhaps there was a better way to obtain the token for the immortal ship.

The night passed in silence.

The next day, there was a knock at the door. It was Niu Dali: "Chief, Young Master Li is waiting for you at the restaurant; he says it's urgent."

Qingchen changed into casual clothes and hurried to the restaurant.

Li Muyun sat by the window, a half-empty wine jug on the table. Seeing him arrive, she quickly beckoned, her voice low:

"Brother Qing, have you prepared anything new or unusual lately?"

A hint of urgency flashed in her eyes.

Qing Chen, hearing this, replied perfunctorily, "Brother Yun, please be patient. Things are tense lately; we need to wait patiently for a while."

Since his failed night raid on the City Lord's mansion, he understood that the mansion was teeming with experts.

Finding the token inside was an impossible task.

If it weren't for the miraculous pill he had taken last time, which had led to a breakthrough in his cultivation, and the medicinal powder he had prepared as a backup, he would probably already be dead.

Furthermore, his Jade Forging Technique couldn't support a breakthrough to the first-rate realm.

The first-rate realm required establishing a sect and becoming a grandmaster, forging one's own path in martial arts.

Based on the timing of the last Seven Kingdoms War, the day the immortal ship returns to Immortal Island is drawing ever closer.

He doesn't have much time to improve his cultivation, nor can he achieve any significant military exploits to gain the city lord's favor.

"Alas, it's been quite some time. This worry of mine needs a good cure. Five-Stone Powder is the only remedy," Li Muyun said anxiously, his words revealing his impatience.

Qingchen noticed Li Muyun's urgency and a plan suddenly formed in his mind: "Brother Yun's matter is my matter, Qingchen's matter. There will definitely be a result in the next few days. Just be patient for a few more days."

After speaking, he casually probed, "Brother Yun, does your wife know about this worry of yours?"

"Of course, I dare not let her know, otherwise she would skin me alive, and I could forget about my carefree days."

Li Muyun smiled bitterly, then continued, "Besides, she returns to the City Lord's mansion to serve her parents every even-numbered day, which is why I was able to steal some time to seek medical treatment."

Upon hearing this, Qingchen already had a plan in mind.

He knew that a woman of this age, nearing thirty, having spent years alone in her chambers,

even if she was gentle and understanding, she would inevitably develop desires and gradually become a resentful woman confined to her chambers.

If she had a man, but he was merely a figurehead, it would be even more unbearable.

Qingchen recalled the erotic scene from the other day, which had not only delighted his eyes but also stirred ripples in Zhao Ningyi's heart.

Her last words clearly implied that she wanted Qingchen to seek her out again.

However, women are always shy and didn't say it outright.

However, Qingchen was not in a hurry to act.

He knew very well that if he complied now, it would at most be a momentary pleasure, just having another woman to enjoy himself with.

This, however, was insufficient to win her heart, much less to realize his schemes.

He needed to patiently wait for the right opportunity befor