Lu Ying wore a pig-faced mask, cautiously following behind Chen Yi.

Upon entering the brothel named Moon Viewing Tower, the scene of pavilions, carved railings, painted buildings, and babbling streams crossed by small bridges unfolded before their eyes.

As they crossed the wooden bridge, Lu Ying noticed that the railings were made of redwood, a testament to the past prosperity of Shantong City.

Yet the Western Jin's seizure of Hanzhong made the decline even more lamentable.

A vibrant city reliant on the trade of Shu brocade was reduced overnight to this desolate state, becoming a marginal border outpost.

The silk trade route into Hanzhong through Jinmen Mountain Path was completely abandoned thereafter.

Lu Ying snapped out of her thoughts and saw Chen Yi engaging in a conversation with someone. Soon, a person guided him to a pavilion upstairs.

She quickly lifted her skirt and followed.

This was her first time visiting a brothel, and she was both curious and flustered, unwilling to venture too far from Chen Yi.

Inside the pavilion, Chen Yi took a seat. Lu Ying initially sat beside him, but feeling a subtle aversion toward him, she scooted away while still wearing her pig mask.

Chen Yi didn't mind. Though the key figures in Moon Viewing Tower hadn't arrived, the prostitutes were already offering their hospitality.

Lu Ying's eyes widened gradually.

She saw a woman with sharp shoulders and a slender waist approach coyly. With a quick gesture, Chen Yi pulled her into his arms, teasing her frivolously as his palm subtly roved over her silky skin—an unmistakable veteran in the art of seduction.

How is he… so experienced?!

Lu Ying was momentarily dumbstruck.

Somehow, she felt an unspoken sense of disappointment toward her master.

Wait, weren't they in a respectful uncle-niece relationship? What am I even thinking?

Lu Ying frantically chastised herself, invoking principles of ethics and morality to suppress a faint, unwanted thought—Chen Yi and Zhou Yitang seem unexpectedly well-matched.

Noticing Lu Ying's unease, Chen Yi chuckled lightly, "Feeling uncomfortable? Nervous?"

Underneath the pig mask, Lu Ying regained her composure and replied, "So what?"

Attempting to shift his attention, Lu Ying said as she watched him continue his skilled antics with the prostitute:

"Why did you buy this mask?"

"Uh… Have you ever heard of *The Return of the Condor Heroes*?"

"What?"

"It's a storybook. The protagonist wore a mask because he felt burdened by youthful romantic entanglements. Inspired by that, I decided to wear a mask too," Chen Yi said, then teased his sister-disciple. "I was afraid you'd fall for me."

"You're being ridiculous." Lu Ying scoffed coldly. "That so-called Central Divinity Wang Chongyang—did you also get that name from the storybook?"

"Exactly."

"What's the story about?"

"Since we're waiting for someone, I might as well tell you the tale." Chen Yi casually pushed the prostitute away and pulled his chair closer.

Seeing this, Lu Ying inexplicably felt a sense of relief and instinctively leaned in.

He's her nephew, but she's the master's eldest disciple, which makes her his senior in rank. What sort of elder would tolerate such unrestrained behavior from their junior?

"The story begins at the Tomb of the Living Dead at the foot of Mount Zhongnan…"

Chen Yi began to narrate, unfolding the tale of love and betrayal, vivid emotions meticulously expressed. Though he intended to give a brief account, Lu Ying couldn't help but become completely engrossed.

Initially sitting upright, she gradually leaned forward, unwittingly cupping her cheeks as she sank deeper into the storytelling.

When she heard the part about Yang Guo losing his arm, she suddenly gasped in shock and exclaimed:

"You're the Little Dragon Girl?!"

"What?" Chen Yi's narrative stalled momentarily.

Like she'd uncovered a monumental secret, Lu Ying continued, "Yang Guo lost an arm, and Master also lost an arm. He started as a Taoist, yet under the Little Dragon Girl's influence, he abandoned his teachings. Are you, this sudden nephew, planning to do the same to Master?!"

Chen Yi froze, his mouth slightly agape as if he'd been struck dumb.

Lu Ying's indignation erupted: "You're shameless! And… you're insinuating things about me too, suggesting I'm Yin Zhiping!"

Though initially moved by the plot, Lu Ying began reassessing the story through her Taoist perspective, and it felt increasingly strange. While the story was captivating, she couldn't suppress her growing discomfort.

Upon hearing the part about Yang Guo losing his arm, she immediately became skeptical. From a Taoist's viewpoint, the entire narrative took on a starkly different implication!

The Little Dragon Girl appeared pure and pristine, but when reconsidered—wasn't she a serpentlike woman who seduced first Yang Guo, then Yin Zhiping?

Doesn't that resemble Chen Yi? Too much!

Besides, it was always common for writers to portray themselves as women—Chen Yi's motives couldn't have been more sinister!

"This isn't a storybook; you just made it up yourself." Lu Ying glared at Chen Yi with the authority of an elder disciple.

Chen Yi laughed awkwardly, unable to refute her accusations.

Just then, the shopkeeper from Moon Viewing Tower entered the pavilion.

Not wanting to continue arguing with Lu Ying, Chen Yi turned his attention to the shopkeeper.

"Sister-chef of the Muddy Blade Sisters, I presume?"

The shopkeeper sat across from Chen Yi.

Faint footsteps echoed in the building, and Chen Yi's face remained impassive as he said:

"It's me."

"Doesn't seem like it."

"What's missing?"

"The Sisters are Western Qiang natives—they have tattoos and wear earrings."

"Then who am I?" Chen Yi asked.

The shopkeeper's face briefly darkened with an ominous smile. The faint footsteps abruptly stopped, apparently signaling readiness.

The prostitute at Chen Yi's side continued to smile charmingly, but her body subtly lowered.

The servants and maids in the pavilion froze in place, retreating as their hands explored within their wide robes...

Swish, swish, swish!

What appeared were cold, gleaming knives!

"You're one of the Thousand Households."

Lu Ying's face turned deathly pale in an instant. Her small hands trembled uncontrollably, the *Alerting Heart Skill* came alive.

Like a delicate flower from Yin Sword Mountain's greenhouse, it was her first glimpse of the cruel and treacherous Jianghu scene. The brothel's artful decor and playful laughter transformed in a blink into the glint of blades.

At this moment, a large hand covered hers—warm and broad.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.