When Pei Shaoqing arrived home, Xie Qingwu was already asleep.
She was tactfully sleeping on the floor. One flawless, fair little foot peeked out from under the blanket. It looked delicate enough to be held in one hand, yet pleasantly full. The arch of her foot was elegant, with faint blue veins visible beneath the skin. Her ankle was slender and well-defined. The sole of her foot was soft and delicate, tinged with a faint pink, and her ten toes were long and perfectly formed.
Pei Shaoqing couldn't help but take a second look. It wasn't that he had a foot fetish; he simply appreciated beautiful things. It would have been the same with legs, hips, a chest, or a face.
'In short, he wasn't picky; he was into everything.'
It was already late, and he couldn't be bothered to call for water to wash up. He walked over, grabbed the soundly sleeping General Li off the bed, and tossed him aside. With a kick of his boots, he flopped down onto the bed.
General Li didn't even make a sound after being thrown to the floor. He got up, yawned, shook out his fur, and with a light leap, jumped onto the vanity to find a new, comfortable spot to continue his nap.
His practiced movements were almost pitiable.
Pei Shaoqing slept soundly.
But some were not so lucky.
In the main hall of the Mo Mansion in Tongzhou City, Gongsun Yi paced back and forth, his expression anxious. His wife, Liu Yuheng, sat to the side, fraught with worry, her elegant brows tightly furrowed.
Their senior and junior disciples, whom they loved as their own children, had gone out together at dusk and had yet to return.
"Brother Gongsun and sister-in-law, there is no need to worry," Mo Wengu, the head of the Mo Family, offered comfort. "I've already sent people to look for them. Young people are playful; perhaps they got carried away and lost track of time, or they're drunk somewhere. As long as they're still in the city, I'm sure we'll have news soon."
He and Gongsun Yi were old friends who had traveled the Jianghu together in their youth. Mo Wengu had only returned to his hometown of Tongzhou to marry, start a family, and put down roots after growing tired of the constant conflict. He was now a man of considerable renown in the local area.
Gongsun Yi had come to Tongzhou this time specifically to visit him.
Gongsun Yi sighed, his face full of apology. "My two insolent disciples have caused you trouble, Brother Mo."
"Brother Gongsun, you're being too formal…"
"Master! Master!" Just then, the steward hurried in, gasping for breath. "We have news, Master! It's a disaster! Young Master Jiang and Miss Zhao got into a conflict with the new Officer Pei of the Jing'an Guard at the Hongbin Restaurant. They even drew their weapons and have been arrested! According to the Shopkeeper, it seems Miss Zhao was the one who was discourteous first."
"What!" Liu Yuheng's face paled. She shot to her feet, her ample bosom trembling, and looked anxiously at her husband. "Senior Brother, the Jing'an Guard's prison is like a living hell! It's no place for people. Who knows how much Yebai and Lan'Er will suffer inside. We have to find a way to rescue them quickly!"
"How dare those two insolent disciples! It's all because you spoil them!" Gongsun Yi said, gritting his teeth. He took a deep breath to calm himself before looking at Mo Wengu. "Brother Mo, we're strangers here in Tongzhou. I'm afraid we can only ask you to step in on our behalf."
"This is a difficult situation!" Mo Wengu shook his head with a helpless look and sighed. "I have some dealings with Hundred Households Commander Zheng. If it were anyone else, even a Standard-Bearer, I could prepare a generous gift and get them released. But this new Officer Pei is someone with powerful connections.
"According to Standard-Bearer Chen Zhongyi, he's the young son of Marquis Weiyuan, banished to Tongzhou for some mistake. But no matter what, he has the blood of a marquis. I also hear he's arrogant and domineering, and can't stand the slightest grievance. That's why even Hundred Households Commander Zheng humors him. Since your nephew Jiang and the others drew their weapons on him, I'm afraid my intervention will have little effect."
To draw a weapon on a nobleman… not even the immortals could save them now.
"Ah! This… What are we to do?" The usually poised and graceful Liu Yuheng lost her composure and was on the verge of tears. She bit her lip, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at her husband. "Senior Brother, say something!"
Gongsun Yi was silent for a moment before turning to Mo Wengu, his voice dry. "Thank you, Brother Mo. I won't make things difficult for you. Please allow my wife and me a moment alone to discuss if there's anything we can do."
"Sigh. My apologies, Brother Gongsun." Mo Wengu offered a somewhat ashamed apology and left with his servants.
It wasn't that he was disloyal. With a son and daughter and a large household and business to think of, there were some things he simply dared not get involved in.
"Senior Brother!" Liu Yuheng's face was pale as she looked at her husband, tears streaking her cheeks. "What should we do?"
Gongsun Yi closed his eyes, a look of helplessness on his face.
"Don't worry. I will never abandon them."
...............
"Sir, Sir?"
Shouts came from outside the room.
Pei Shaoqing sat up in bed. "What is it?"
The other person and the cat were also awakened by the noise. General Li immediately jumped down to light the lamp, and the room brightened. Xie Qingwu sat up in a daze. The silk blanket slipped down, revealing her slightly disheveled inner clothes. Her collar was half-open, offering a glimpse of her delicate collarbones and the dewy, fair curve of her skin.
"Sun Youliang, the Tiqi, requests an urgent audience."
Pei Shaoqing frowned. For Sun Youliang to come disturb his sleep in the middle of the night, it must be something important.
"Prepare some tea and have him wait in the main hall."
"Yes, Sir."
"You can go back to sleep," Pei Shaoqing said to Xie Qingwu before getting dressed and heading out.
In the hall, Sun Youliang, who had been waiting quietly, immediately stood and bowed upon seeing Pei Shaoqing. "Forgive me for coming uninvited and disturbing your rest, Sir."
"Enough. There's no need for such empty pleasantries between us." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand and cut to the chase. "What's so urgent that you had to find me now?"
"Sir." Sun Youliang glanced around.
With a wave of his hand, Pei Shaoqing said, "All of you, leave us."
"Yes." Several servants bowed their heads and departed.
Only then did Sun Youliang take two steps forward and report in a low, grave voice, "Sir, Brother Song and I personally gave a… warm reception… to the scoundrels who dared draw their blades on you tonight. The young woman couldn't bear to see her senior brother tortured inhumanly, so she traded a secret for us to stop."
"What secret?" Pei Shaoqing raised an eyebrow slightly.
Sun Youliang lowered his voice even more. "They are disciples of the Iron Sword Sect from the neighboring Bazhou County. The reason they came to our Tongzhou is to plot for an Immortal Relic."
"Oh?" Pei Shaoqing's expression grew serious. "Tell me everything, quickly," he urged, impatient.
'In his understanding, the so-called Immortals of this world weren't true Immortals, but merely Cultivators.'
'Although the depletion of Spiritual Qi had rendered all Cultivation Techniques useless, the various Magical Treasures and Spiritual Elixirs left behind by the Cultivators of old were still coveted by the world.'
'The various Sects, great clans, and even the Emperor had people searching everywhere for these relics.'
"Yes!" Sun Youliang began his detailed account.
According to Zhao Zilan, they had come to Tongzhou ostensibly to visit their master's old friend who lived here, Mo Wengu.
However, she had accidentally overheard her master and his wife talking one night and learned that the true purpose of their trip was to plot for an Immortal Relic newly acquired by the Mo Family. As for how her master knew this secret, she had no idea.
"They just arrived in Tongzhou today and have already moved into the Mo Mansion. The Mo Family has relied on its martial prowess to prey on the common people for years, and they are quite wealthy and well-known locally. Meanwhile, that Gongsun Yi has a reputation in the Jianghu for being kind-hearted and righteous. And it just so happens the two are old friends.
"Therefore, I speculate that he planned to move into the Mo Mansion first and then devise a long-term plan. He would prefer to get what he wants quietly and leave, so as not to ruin his reputation or let word get out and attract the attention of others," Sun Youliang said in a deep voice.
Pei Shaoqing was silent for a long moment, lost in thought. Finally, he clapped Sun Youliang on the shoulder and said, "You've done very well."
"To have earned your favor is a blessing from the heavens, Sir. How could I dare to have any presumptuous thoughts?" Sun Youliang said with his head lowered.
'When he first heard the news, he too had been tempted.'
'But his reason quickly overcame his greed.'
"Are Zhao Zilan and the other one being watched?"
Sun Youliang replied, "Brother Song is still there."
Pei Shaoqing paced back and forth in thought, his expression shifting unpredictably as his mind raced.
Sun Youliang held his breath, not daring to disturb him.
"Sir, there is a man outside who claims to be Gongsun Yi, the Sect Leader of the Iron Sword Sect. He requests an audience." Just then, the steward Chen Youfu came scurrying in to report.
Pei Shaoqing and Sun Youliang immediately exchanged a look.