The pleasure boat's appearance on the Bai River had not only terrified Wang Hu and his companions; the young masters from wealthy families who had survived the previous ordeal trembled like sifted chaff. After eating their evening meal, they hid in their rooms, not daring to step outside.
This was especially true for the Zhu family. Eldest Young Master Zhu and Master Zhu dared not step out the door at night, holing up at home all day long. Having experienced such a fright, they no longer frequented brothels or pleasure houses, instead staying indoors each day to cultivate their character and nurture their nature.
Eldest Young Master Zhu huddled in bed beneath a thick quilt, tightly clutching his wife, not daring to breathe too loudly.
...
At night, upon the Bai River, the pleasure boat that should have been bustling with excitement was deserted and cold. The scantily clad courtesans were thoroughly baffled. What was so unusual about this Jiangyin County? Did the men here not care for feminine charms, that not a single soul ventured out after dark?
Inside a lavish chamber aboard the boat, a woman sat at the dressing table applying lip rouge. She wore moon-white damask silk, her skin fairer than snow, her eyebrows dark and delicate. A single upward glance of her liquid eyes seemed capable of drawing someone's very soul inward.
Within the room, the wick of a glazed lantern flickered, lending a few touches of warmth to the beauty's complexion.
“How is the investigation going? Why has no one come tonight?”
The woman spoke softly, her voice like spring water—sweet, melodic, and tinted with a hint of languid charm that seemed to melt one's very bones.
Not far from her, a man knelt with his head bowed, not daring to look directly upon her face.
“Master, it has been uncovered. Another pleasure boat was here before—the vessel of Ghost Hua Niang.”
The woman’s hand paused as she applied her rouge. “Oh? It was actually her. It seems the spirit essence of those men has already been harvested by her. Have I made this trip for nothing?”
The kneeling man bowed his head even lower. “No, that Hua Niangzi was wounded, and her pleasure boat has concealed itself. No trace of it can be found.”
Halting her movements, the woman rose and walked up to him. “Who did it?”
Catching the fragrant scent emanating from the woman, the man’s breath caught slightly. “This subordinate is incompetent and failed to find out.”
He recalled how, during his inquiries, someone claimed a mere constable had wounded the master of that phantom pleasure boat, but he found it completely impossible to believe.
He knew the depth of Hua Niang's cultivation. Without genuine ability, how could anyone harm her? She was a ruthless figure whom even several Daoist masters working together had failed to subdue.
The woman studied him for a long moment before returning to the dressing table. She let out a sigh. “Never mind. It is merely my poor luck. Besides, Jiangyin County lacks any useful men anyway. There is no need to linger here; we will proceed directly to the next location.”
With that, she gazed into the distance toward the county gates. It truly was the resting place of that person; even after a hundred years, an expert still guarded this place.
Still, she had waited this long; she could afford to wait a little longer. Once her master broke free, she would return here to meet that expert.
“Understood.”
The man rose and backed away. Before leaving, he gently raised his eyes toward the bronze mirror. He felt as though the beautiful face in the reflection was merely pasted on, and that an evil ghost might leap out from behind it at any moment.
He withdrew his gaze, not daring to look further. His master was hardly gentle-tempered and cared deeply about her skin and appearance.
If she discovered his thoughts, he might either have to find her an even lovelier vessel of skin, or end up as consumable material for her cultivation.
...
On duty for the county yamen, Gu Qingyun and Bai Fan were currently patrolling Apricot Blossom Alley. It was already the second watch. Most people were fast asleep, with only a small number still bustling by lamplight to make a living.
Gu Qingyun's ears twitched. Moving beside a residence where faint sounds still stirred, she was just about to knock when Bai Fan caught her arm.
“Sister Yun, what are you doing? It's normal for the occasional household to have a lamp lit. Let's not interfere.”
Gu Qingyun brushed his hand aside and knocked on the door. “This household is frugal. Once night falls, they've never lit an oil lamp even once; they always go to sleep early. Tonight is so out of the ordinary, so being vigilant can't be wrong.”
【Knock, knock, knock】
Gu Qingyun knocked several times in succession before someone finally came toward the door from inside. Without opening it, the person spoke in a muffled, nasal voice:
“Who is it, knocking on doors in the dead of night? We're about to sleep. If it's anything, come back tomorrow.”
Gu Qingyun’s face darkened. “Night patrol from the county yamen! If you refuse to open the door, are you harboring a fugitive?” Portraits of several wanted criminals were pasted outside the gates of the county yamen, so Gu Qingyun's accusation was not unfounded.
The person inside was startled. A burly man opened the door tremblingly, wearing a face on the verge of tears. “Officers, you do me a grave injustice! How could I dare harbor a fugitive? Even with ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare!”
Gu Qingyun pushed open the door and swaggered inside, the very picture of a slick veteran soldier.
“You say you haven't hidden anyone, but I'll only know after I've inspected the place myself.”
Her words left the man utterly choked. Gritting his teeth, he pulled two qian of silver from his pocket and pressed them into their hands.
“Officers, please don't scare me. I'll confess! My wife and I were just playing a little roughly earlier, which is why it got so late and we forgot to blow out the oil lamp. Next time, we'll definitely put it out right on time. Please forgive us.”
Gu Qingyun tossed the silver up and down, then turned to glance at the room where the light had just been extinguished. “Is that room that just went dark the bedroom for you and your wife?”
The man bowed and scraped. “Yes, yes. This humble one won't dare do it again. Please, officers, spare this humble one this once.”
Gu Qingyun tucked the silver into her robes and tilted her chin slightly toward Bai Fan. “Go inspect the other rooms. I'll check this bedroom.”
Bai Fan froze, looking troubled. He leaned close to Gu Qingyun and whispered, “Sister Yun, isn't this improper? We just took his silver.”
Gu Qingyun shot him a glare. “What are you talking about? This is our compensation for our trouble. He suspected a thief sneaked into his home, so he's having us go in to investigate.”
Bai Fan had never seen Gu Qingyun act so brazenly righteous and shameless. Still, he had one great virtue: if he couldn't figure something out, he didn't dwell on it. Drawing his saber, he cautiously approached the other two rooms.
Gu Qingyun glanced at the man. “Alright, open the door. I'm a woman, so entering your bedroom won't harm your wife's reputation, will it?”
The man lowered his head, his face twisting for an instant. Extremely reluctant, he opened the door. The moment it opened, a foul odor rushed out to meet them.
Gu Qingyun furrowed her brows. Raising her lantern to look around, she kept her other hand resting firmly on the hilt of her saber. The room was not large; aside from a table, a cupboard, and a bed, there was nothing else.
Gu Qingyun’s gaze focused on the bed. The man stepped in to block her view, smiling unnaturally. “My wife is shy and timid, which is why she's hiding under the quilt and won't come out. Please don't take offense, Officer.”
Gu Qingyun nodded. “Quite normal. Everyone has a different disposition.”
Hearing her say that, the man breathed a sigh of relief. But Gu Qingyun’s next words made him tense up once again:
“Strange... why can't I hear your wife's breathing? Could it be that I'm so terrifying she doesn't even dare breathe and is holding her breath?”
“My wife is frail, so her breathing is naturally very faint. And since she's under the quilt right now, that's just how it is,” the man stammered in explanation.
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