Chapter 11: Night Visit to the Courtesan House—Part 2

As soon as the name “Ranqing” was mentioned, the light in the eyes of the women dimmed immediately.

They quietly returned to their seats and began fiddling with their Pai Gow tiles, as if they couldn’t see Yan Qige at all.

(T/N:Pai Gow is a Chinese gambling game, played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes.)

Just then, Yusang, who had used a spell to transform into male attire, entered the room.

Seeing this scene, she was puzzled, but before she could ask, the old courtesan madam had already hurried out upon hearing the news.

With a smile, the old madam welcomed this rare guest.

When she learned that Yan Qige was there to see Ranqing, she hesitated for a moment but, remembering how poor business had been recently, decided not to turn him away.

“Miss Ranqing is upstairs.”

Before the old madam could say more, Yan Qige had already started up the stairs.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back to Yusang with a half smile and said, “You can stay downstairs and have some fun. Don’t hesitate to spend the money you brought.”

Yusang was startled.

She didn’t have any money on her, but in an instant, she understood Yan Qige’s intention and couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Sure enough, the women who had earlier shown no interest all turned their eyes towards Yusang upon hearing the mention of money.

Yusang shivered and tried to run for the door, but one of the women quickly blocked her way.

Soon, the others surrounded her, waving their handkerchiefs invitingly.

Seeing this, despite her usual rule of not using spells in front of mortals, Yusang broke her own rule.

She swiftly cast a spell that made everyone in the hall fall asleep where they stood.

Looking up, she saw that Yan Qige had already reached Ranqing’s room and knocked twice.

“Who is it?”

Footsteps sounded from inside, and then the door opened.

The woman who answered had a face remarkably similar to that of Madam Lu.

Ranqing was momentarily stunned upon seeing Yan Qige at the door.

Her eyes flashed with surprise and wariness as she asked, “May I ask what brings you here, sir?”

“I come from Magistrate Wang’s residence.”

At the mention of Magistrate Wang, Ranqing frowned slightly and glanced around outside before motioning for Yan Qige to enter.

As Yan Qige entered the room, he observed the neat surroundings.

A peach blossom tree was planted against the wall, and several half-bloomed peach branches were placed in a vase near the bed.

A cup of tea on the table emitted thin wisps of smoke, next to an open copy of the <Five Classics>, as if she had been reading it moments before.

“Does Master Wang have any messages for me?” Ranqing asked.

Yan Qige ignored her question, instead walking a few steps around the room before stopping by the window.

He gently pushed it open and looked out into the night, saying, “There have been many strange incidents in the city lately; even your maid wasn’t spared. Yet you don’t seem afraid, not even closing your windows?”

Ranqing smiled faintly.

“You jest, sir. How could I not be afraid? But if I were to be unlucky enough to fall victim to a demon, it would simply be fate.”

Yan Qige turned back and casually flipped through the book on the table.

“You certainly have a carefree attitude.”

“Is there anything else, sir? If not, please leave,” Ranqing said, taking a few steps forward and gesturing toward the door.

“There’s no need to rush,Miss. It’s still early. When I decide to leave, you won’t be able to stop me.”

“Please leave immediately,” Ranqing said, her face reddening with a hint of anger.

“And if I don’t?”

“Then don’t blame me for being rude.”

As she spoke, Ranqing suddenly leaped to the bedside, reaching under the bed to draw a sharp sword.

In a swift movement, she flicked her wrist, sending two sword flowers towards Yan Qige.

(T/N:In martial arts, “sword flowers” describe the graceful, circular movements made with a sword, creating a visual effect that resembles the blooming of flowers. These movements are typically used to confuse or mislead an opponent, making it difficult for them to predict the direction of the next attack.)

He dodged alongside the blade, causing it to land squarely on the carved round table, splitting it in two.

After her first strike missed, Ranqing attacked again, thrusting the sword directly at Yan Qige’s chest.

He caught the blade between two fingers, and with a slight twist, the sword flew out of Ranqing’s hand, embedding itself in the window frame with a slight tremor.

Realizing her sword was taken so easily within three moves, Ranqing knew she had encountered a formidable opponent.

Her eyes turned cold as she prepared hidden weapons under her sleeve, ready to strike again.

“Who are you, and what do you want?” she demanded.

“You’re occupying the body of Madam Lu, so you’re mostly human. But a demon is still a demon, even if it has a mortal body. That’s why you have to stay in a courtesan house thick with the scent of powder to cover your demonic aura, isn’t it?”

“So you’re just a noisy demon hunter Taoist priest,” Ranqing sneered.

“Even if you know this, what can you do? As long as my soul stays in this body, you can’t touch me.”

When Yan Qige heard the word “Taoist Priest,” his eyes narrowed slightly, and he paused his retort.

He glanced at Ranqing before calmly exiting the room and heading downstairs, where Yusang stood glaring at him.

Yan Qige didn’t pay her much attention, casually breaking the spell on the people in the hall and dragging her out.

Upstairs, Ranqing ran out with her sword, pretending to look pitiful as she accused Yan Qige of mistreating her.

The old madam’s face turned pale, and she ordered the servants to chase after them.

However, as soon as they got outside, they found that the pair had vanished without a trace, and the empty street was completely deserted.

The servants exchanged glances, recalling the recent strange happenings in the city and shuddered. None dared to pursue further, even as the old madam cursed at them, and they quickly retreated into the courtesan house, closing the door.

From the rooftop of the courtesan house, Yan Qige and Yusang watched everything below.

Yusang said irritably, “You look so refined, not at all like a pauper. How could you do something so shameless as freeloading…”

Before she could finish, Yan Qige suddenly covered her mouth, signaling her to look down.

A figure dressed in a black cloak was approaching, quietly slipping into the side door of the courtesan house. After waiting for a moment, Yan Qige leaped up to the second-floor eaves and approached Ranqing’s room.

Naturally, Yusang wasn’t to be outdone, leaping up as well, doing a somersault to hang upside down by the window, and even winking at Yan Qige.

“You can rest easy now that she’s been dealt with,” said a male voice inside. Yusang immediately recognized it as Magistrate Wang.

“I still feel something is off,” Ranqing’s voice was filled with anxiety.

“You’re overthinking it.”

“But back then…”

“No need to speak of it!” Magistrate Wang’s voice, which had been soft a moment ago, suddenly grew loud, trembling with an unmistakable fear.

“So it’s true, you still…”

“The events of that year were my fault, but these five years have been no better for me. If you still refuse to let go, you’ll only make things harder for me.”

“Are you blaming me? What did I do wrong?”

After a moment of silence, Magistrate Wang sighed deeply.

“You did nothing wrong. It’s fate that’s at fault. You and I were always destined for misfortune. That’s why this has happened. Before anything else goes wrong, leave and don’t come back.”

After saying this, Magistrate Wang opened the door and left.

The room fell silent as Ranqing sat in a daze, motionless.

Ding.

Yan Qige flicked a small piece of stone into the room, striking the bronze mirror on the dressing table.

“Who’s there!” Ranqing’s gaze swept over the room as she cautiously sat up, quietly drawing the sword hidden under the bed.

“Who’s outside?” she demanded, her eyes scanning the window. Realizing someone was there, she quickly thrust her sword through the window paper.