At that instant, Shen Changqing had intended to withdraw his hand and leave, but a faint, almost imperceptible fluctuation made him abandon the thought.
He turned back to look at the woman before him.
She seed no different from the other won soliciting custors.
However, as he drew closer, the already strong scent of costics grew even more intense.
Yet, despite its intensity, the fragrance wasn’t overpowering.
Seeing that Shen Changqing didn’t resist, the woman smoothly seized the opportunity, pulling him towards Wanhua Building.
As they walked, the woman smiled captivatingly.
"My na is Qing’er. May I ask your na, Young Master?"
"My surna is Shen."
"So it’s Young Master Shen. If I’m not mistaken, this must be your first visit to Jincheng, correct?"
"That’s right."
Shen Changqing responded with a faint smile.
As they conversed, they had already entered Wanhua Building.
Inside, a scene entirely different from the outside unfolded. Fiery red lanterns hung all around, and scantily clad won were everywhere, tugging at patrons. So n had already chosen several ladies for company, their rry laughter echoing through the lively hall.
Perhaps due to the abundance of won, the thick fragrance of costics hung heavy in the air, causing one to unconsciously imrse themselves in it.
Shen Changqing took a brief look around before Qing’er pulled him to an empty table and had him sit.
"Please sit, Young Master Shen."
Qing’er’s voice was soft and sweet. As she spoke, her breath tickled his ear, making Shen Changqing feel an itch, and he instinctively drew back slightly.
Seeing this, she smiled knowingly and sat even closer.
"May I ask where Young Master Shen hails from?"
"Guangyuan Prefecture."
Shen Changqing smiled, and this ti, he did not move away. He turned his head to look at the woman beside him, whose already lovely face appeared even more alluring under the lamplight.
"And where might Miss Qing’er be from?"
"I’ve been a native of Jincheng since childhood."
"A Jincheng native?" Shen Changqing raised an eyebrow, his face showing confusion. "From what I’ve seen, the skin of Jincheng locals tends to be rather coarse. It’s rare to see soone with skin as delicate and tender as yours, Miss Qing’er."
"Young Master Shen jests."
Qing’er covered her mouth and giggled, then explained, "I usually stay inside Wanhua Building, sheltered from the wind and sun, so my skin is naturally a bit smoother. By the way, what brings Young Master Shen to Jincheng?"
As she spoke, she poured a cup of wine and brought it to Shen Changqing’s lips.
Shen Changqing didn’t refuse and drank it down smoothly.
"I heard Jincheng boasts fine scenery, so I ca to see for myself."
"I see."
Qing’er nodded, then leaned in closer with a smile. "Jincheng is comndable in many aspects, especially its won. Compared to other places, they possess a unique flavor. If Young Master Shen is interested, you could experience them more... intimately—"
"If the opportunity arises in the future, I certainly will."
"No need to wait for another day. Mmm, if Young Master Shen is willing, we can do so now." Qing’er’s eyes were full of allure, her crimson lips slightly parted—a truly soul-stirring, seductive sight.
Despite this, Shen Changqing remained unmoved, simply continuing to sit there and drink his wine.
Hearing his response, Qing’er looked at him, sowhat disappointed. "Could it be that Qing’er doesn’t catch Young Master Shen’s eye?"
She looked as if she were about to cry.
Shen Changqing smiled. "Miss Qing’er, you’re too serious. I’ve only just arrived in Jincheng and am truly weary from the journey; I don’t have the energy for such things. After a good rest, I will certainly enjoy a proper conversation with you tomorrow, Miss Qing’er."
"Is Young Master Shen trying to deceive with those words?"
"Why would I do such a thing? Please accept this silver note as a token of my sincerity. I hope to continue our conversation tomorrow, Miss Qing’er."
Shen Changqing took out a silver note from his robes and placed it on the table.
Qing’er’s eyes imdiately brightened, yet she didn’t pick up the silver note at once, instead pouring another cup of wine for Shen Changqing.
"Then Qing’er will await Young Master Shen tomorrow."
"Good!"
He drained the cup and stood up.
"Then tomorrow evening, I shall return to et with you, Miss Qing’er."
"Young Master Shen, you must be sure to co."
"Naturally."
Upon leaving Wanhua Building, it was already evening, and there were fewer people on the streets.
Shen Changqing chose a direction and started walking.
Only when he reached a deserted corner did he open his mouth and expel all the wine he had drunk at Wanhua Building.
Shen Changqing could not be certain whether the wine was tainted.
To be safe, he had used his True Qi to control it from the mont he drank it, preventing the wine from actually being digested.
Now that he had left Wanhua Building, he used his True Qi to force all the wine out.
Back at Tianyi Tower.
Before Shen Changqing even pushed the door open, he sensed faint breathing inside the room.
Considering this was a Heavenly Inspection Guard stronghold, he didn’t make a scene. He opened the door normally, only to see a man with a square face sitting there.
He turned and closed the door behind him.
Shen Changqing’s gaze fell on the middle-aged man as he spoke coolly, "Who might you be, sir, and why have you suddenly appeared in my room? I expect an explanation!"
His right hand rested on the hilt of the knife at his waist, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.
At that mont, the middle-aged man felt as if a powerful aura had locked onto him; any untoward move on his part would invite a fatal blow.
That sensation made cold sweat uncontrollably bead on his back.
Not daring to hesitate, the middle-aged man hurriedly rose and cupped his fists. "Zhong Chi, Steward of the Jincheng branch of the Heavenly Inspection Guard, pays his respects to Lord Shen!"
With those words, the oppressive presence that had locked onto him dissipated, allowing him to silently breathe a sigh of relief.
Shen Changqing sized up the other man before taking a seat across from him.
"So, you are the Steward of the Heavenly Inspection Guard in Jincheng. I must say, I was rather abrupt earlier."
"Lord Shen is too kind."
Although Zhong Chi’s nervousness had dissipated, his internal assessnt of Shen Changqing’s importance had risen to yet another level.
Jincheng was unlike other places.
To be the Steward of the Heavenly Inspection Guard in Jincheng ant his strength was not insignificant.
Although he had not reached the Innate Realm, he could still be considered a formidable figure within the Pulse Condensation Realm.
An ordinary Innate Martial Artist, though stronger than him, could never make him feel such a palpable threat.
So—this Shen Changqing’s strength was far greater than he had anticipated.
The mont the other party had arrived, he had received the relevant intelligence on Shen Changqing.
According to his estimates, the man’s realm was probably around the peak of Innate Inner Gang, with a small chance he had stepped into Innate Outer Gang. Now, it seed the likelihood of him being in the Innate Outer Gang had greatly increased.
In just a few brief monts, a wealth of information had flashed through Zhong Chi’s mind.
Suddenly, he looked at Shen Changqing with a sowhat peculiar expression.
"Lord Shen, you went to Wanhua Building?"
"I happened upon it, so I went in for a look. For Steward Zhong to recognize the scent of Wanhua Building, you must be quite familiar with it. I trust the Heavenly Inspection Guard knows a fair bit about the place as well."
Shen Changqing poured himself a cup of tea.
Zhong Chi countered with a question, "Did Lord Shen discover anything during your visit to Wanhua Building?"
"There’s a Yin Evil Aura in Wanhua Building."
Shen Changqing stated, then, feeling his statent was incomplete, added, "A very faint Yin Evil Aura, impossible to detect unless one gets extrely close."
Having said that, he looked at Zhong Chi.
"Given your understanding of Wanhua Building, Steward Zhong, I presu you’ve also detected that Yin Evil Aura?"
"That’s not quite it," Zhong Chi shook his head, his expression grave.
"Recently, there have been frequent disappearances in Jincheng. Although most of those who vanished were commoners, our investigations revealed they all had one thing in common: they had all been to Wanhua Building.
Therefore, I suspected their disappearances were definitely connected to Wanhua Building. I had the Heavenly Inspection Guard secretly investigate Wanhua Building, but we found nothing.
Wanhua Building’s record is clean—abnormally so."
No brothel or similar establishnt could possibly be that clean.
To be frank, in such a line of work, coercing won into prostitution and other criminal activities are commonplace.
If one investigates carefully, they are bound to find so clues.
Yet, the Heavenly Inspection Guard found no trace of such activities at Wanhua Building. Its record was surprisingly clean, cleaner even than that of ordinary rchants.
This, in itself, highlighted the problem.
Shen Changqing did not interject, allowing the other man to continue.
"Wanhua Building’s immaculate record can only an that another power is deliberately blinding the Heavenly Inspection Guard. In Great Wilderness Prefecture, few factions can match the Heavenly Inspection Guard’s intelligence network.
So, I was investigating them one by one.
However, during the subsequent investigation, several Heavenly Inspection Guards unfortunately disappeared, which made truly realize the gravity of the situation."
As Zhong Chi spoke, a hint of killing intent glinted in his eyes.
"There are several factions that can rival the Heavenly Inspection Guard in intelligence, but only one would dare to kill its mbers and openly defy the Demon-Subduing Division!"
The Eternal Alliance! Even without Zhong Chi saying it, Shen Changqing understood the implication of his words.
The only ones who would dare kill mbers of the Heavenly Inspection Guard and oppose the Demon-Subduing Division were likely the Eternal Alliance.
No other Jianghu faction would dare to kill mbers of the Heavenly Inspection Guard.
After all, word always gets out.
If they were truly to kill a Heavenly Inspection Guard mber and the truth was later exposed, it would an annihilation for that faction.
Within the borders of Great Qin, no Jianghu faction could survive unscathed after offending the Demon-Subduing Division.
The formidable reputation of the Demon-Subduing Division was built on the blood of countless Jianghu factions.
Thus, after much thought, only the Eternal Alliance would dare to openly oppose the Demon-Subduing Division.
After Zhong Chi finished speaking, Shen Changqing lightly tapped his fingers on the table. In the candlelight, his eyes glinted with a cold light.
"You suspect that behind Wanhua Building are mbers of the Eternal Alliance, or rather, that Wanhua Building is actually an Eternal Alliance stronghold in Jincheng?"
"Precisely!"
Zhong Chi nodded.
"Even if Wanhua Building isn’t an Eternal Alliance stronghold, it must have so connection to them. Now that Lord Shen has detected a Yin Evil Aura in Wanhua Building, this further confirms my suspicions."
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