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"Tingtao Pavilion?"

Yi Huawei raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.

"It's the elegant room on the far east side of the top floor, overlooking the river."

Cui Xiang's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet every word was clear: "Young Master Xiang has booked it out, only to entertain the distinguished guests he brought. Those guests... are mostly unfamiliar faces, speaking with a northern accent, or... like seasoned boat captains, always carrying the fishy smell of the river..."

As she spoke, she unconsciously rubbed the back of her hand, which Yi Huawei had just touched, with her fingertips, as if the strange sensation still lingered there.

On the other side, Cuiwei, who had been curiously observing Yi Huawei and Shan Meixian, couldn't help but chime in when the topic turned to "extraordinary people," displaying the lively and gossipy spirit typical of young girls:
"If we're talking about extraordinary people, then Chief Ren is the real deal!"

She stuck out her tongue and made an exaggerated expression of fear: "He has a terrible temper! Last time, some new guy was being inconsiderate and spilled a little wine on his robe, and he almost threw him down the stairs! But, well..."

Changing the subject abruptly, her eyes sparkled: "He's incredibly generous! And he absolutely loves it when Chief Yun comes to keep him company! Every time Chief Yun arrives, his usually stern face lights up with a wide grin!"

Cuiwei lowered her voice, a hint of mystery in her tone: "Chief Yun is incredibly powerful! I've heard she has a group of people under her who are extremely capable, able to fly and disappear like ghosts, specializing in gathering information and carrying out tasks for her!" Dan Meixian sat beside Yi Huawei, juggling Cuilu's overly enthusiastic urging to drink and serve food with the occasional attention to the timid Cuizhu's soft-spoken questions, her mind on edge. But her ears and eyes remained firmly fixed on the conversation between Yi Huawei, Cuixiang, and Cuiwei.

Seeing Yi Huawei begin to steer the conversation, she understood immediately and joined in the "pick-up lines." Mimicking the curious expressions of those spoiled young masters, she deliberately adopted a lazy, arrogant tone, pushing her barely touched wine glass towards Cui Lü:
"This Baling City looks lively. Besides the Emerald Pavilion, what other fun places are there? I heard the Baling Gang runs quite a large establishment?"

Cui Lü, who was just worried about not having a chance to get closer to this "shy and handsome" young man, immediately became animated upon hearing this, her voluptuous body squeezing closer to Shan Meixian, almost pressing half of her breasts against Shan Meixian's arm. The rich scent of roses made Shan Meixian feel dizzy.
"Oh, my handsome young master! You've come to the right person! The Baling Gang's brothels? There are plenty! 'Qianjinfang' in the south of the city has an amazing place for dice and dominoes! 'Kuaihuolin' at the west docks—if you have money, they have all kinds of entertainment! And..."

She leaned even closer, her red lips almost touching Shan Meixian's ear, her breath sweet as orchids:
"The river street connected to the back alley of our Drunken Dream Pavilion, with its pleasure boats moored at night, is a real hidden gem! It's all under the protection of Young Master Xiang and Chief Ren, so it's perfectly safe!"

On the other side, Cuizhu timidly added, her voice still very soft: "The Iron... Iron Cavalry often hangs around the docks and the West Market... They're very fierce... If you go, young master, you must... you must be careful..."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head like a startled fawn.

The clamor of string and wind instruments and the sounds of laughter rolled in the halo of the glass palace lanterns, and the mixed smells of cosmetics, wine, meat and sweat in the air seemed to solidify into a tangible form.

Yi Huawei sat upright, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, listening to the women around him, their conversations, whether intentional or unintentional, his eyes deep and unfathomable. Those fragmented pieces of information—Tingtao Pavilion, the northern accent, the boat captain, Ren Shaoming's temper, Yun Yuzhen's subordinates, Qianjinfang, Kuaihuolin, the docks, the riverside pleasure boats—were like scattered pearls, rapidly being connected by invisible threads in his vast sea of ​​consciousness, gradually outlining the clear contours of the vast and sinister network of the Baling Gang and the Iron Cavalry Society.

Taking a small sip of tea, Yi Huawei's gaze remained fixed on the stage. His lips moved almost imperceptibly as a wisp of concentrated true energy, carrying a precise command, was transmitted to Shan Meixian's ears, the voice resonating directly in her mind:

"Contact the base immediately. Dispatch the highest-ranking 'Shadow Guards' to control all exits, secret doors, and waterways of the Drunken Dream Pavilion. Targets: Ren Shaoming, Xiang Yushan, and Yun Yuzhen. Continue to track them, record those who come into contact with them, and do not alert them."

Prioritize investigating the private room "Tingtao Pavilion" on Xiangyu Mountain, including its internal structure, the location of hidden compartments, and details of items carried by people who have recently entered and exited; all vessels under the Baling Gang's name, and any unusual movements in the Three Gorges waterway within the past seven days, especially marking disguised cargo ships and vessels with abnormal drafts; the coordinates of the iron cavalry's iron and tung oil exchange points in the Poyang Lake area, and the identity and characteristics of the leaders who received the goods...

Furthermore, the whereabouts, frequented locations, and activity patterns of Yan Ni Chang Zhen and her disciples in Baling; the specific routes, handover methods, and code names of intermediaries used in the transport of prisoners of war between the Yuwen Clan (Yuwen Zhiji) and the Xiang Family.

After giving the instructions, Yi Huawei picked up his teacup again and took a small sip, as if he was only attracted by the aroma of the tea.

Shan Meixian's body tensed instantly, then she forced herself to relax. She turned her head to avoid Cui Lü's wine glass, which was now close to her again. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she whispered to Cui Zhu, the quietest person beside her, "Change your clothes. Lead the way."

His voice deliberately carried a hint of the young master's impatience.

Cuizhu quickly stood up and said timidly, "Young master, please come with me."

Shan Meixian left her seat and followed Cuizhu through the bustling lobby. Her eyes seemingly casually swept over the noisy guests, the bustling maids, and the guards in the corners, but in reality, she was memorizing the layout and possible surveillance points. Cuizhu led her to a relatively quiet corridor at the back of the first floor and pointed to the area at the end with a sign that read "Xiangge" (Fragrant Pavilion).

"Young master, the clean room is over there," Cuizhu whispered.

"Okay. I'll wait."

Shan Meixian gave the order coldly and walked alone towards that area. She didn't enter any of the clean rooms, but instead quickly slipped into a dimly lit corner on the side of the corridor, cluttered with cleaning supplies. The space was small, barely enough for one person.

She swiftly retrieved a small black token, neither gold nor jade, engraved with the unique demonic runes of the Yin Kui Sect, from a hidden pouch close to her body. A wisp of pure Heavenly Demonic Art true energy gathered at her fingertip, and she silently pressed it onto a barely perceptible indentation in the center of the token. A fleeting, eerie light flashed across the token's surface, and an invisible, extremely subtle fluctuation of a specific frequency instantly spread outwards, like a pebble thrown into still water, perceived only by the intended recipient.

Less than five breaths later, at the other end of the corridor, a round-faced girl carrying an empty wine jug and dressed in the attire of a low-ranking maid from the Drunken Dream Pavilion casually strolled into the storage area. She casually adjusted the tray in her hands, her gaze meeting Shan Meixian's briefly before looking away.

Dan Meixian's lips moved slightly, without uttering a sound, but every word was clearly transmitted to the maid's ears through her exquisitely controlled true energy. She repeated Yi Huawei's instructions at an extremely fast pace, clearly and logically, emphasizing "Shadow Guard deployment," "Miaofeng Channel," "Tingtao Pavilion," "Three Gorges cargo ships," "Poyang Lake junction," "Changzhen Law," and "Yuwen Clan route."

"confirm."

The maid's lips moved silently, and her fingers tapped three times discreetly on the bottom of the tray, indicating that she had received it correctly. Then, as if completing a routine task, she calmly turned and left the storage area, disappearing into the bustling crowd of the lobby. The entire process took no more than twenty breaths.

Shan Meixian took a deep breath, suppressing the slight turmoil caused by the rapid communication, straightened her perfectly wrinkle-free robes, and resumed her slightly arrogant young master demeanor. She stepped out of the recessed corner and coldly said to the waiting Cuizhu, "Return to your seat." After Shan Meixian sat back down next to Yi Huawei, the door to the private room opened again.

Ren Shaoming, a burly figure, stepped forward first, his gait powerful and imposing. His eyes gleamed with a sharp, piercing light. He was clearly in a good mood, a smug and knowing smile playing on his lips. He waved to Yun Yuzhen, who followed closely behind, and strode down the stairs. The heavy thud of his leather boots on the wooden steps seemed to pause the clamor along the way, and many eyes looked away fearfully.

Yun Yuzhen lagged a few steps behind, a charming smile on her face. Her light blue figure swayed gracefully, like a soft, flowing water plant, a stark contrast to Ren Shaoming's fierceness. Her eyes swept across the lobby, lingering briefly on Yi Huawei's table with a hint of professional scrutiny, before disappearing at the top of the stairs.

Xiang Yushan did not leave with them. His pale face appeared even more effeminate under the glass lamp. He returned to the bustling hall and chatted familiarly with several well-dressed, merchant-looking guests at another table, his face plastered with his signature fawning smile, as if the conspiracy in the private room had never happened.

Yi Huawei sat motionless, but an invisible net of spiritual perception had already firmly locked onto the two departing figures. Ren Shaoming headed straight for the Iron Cavalry's territory in the west of the city, while Yun Yuzhen drifted towards the dock area—both were clearly reflected in his mind. At the same moment, under Shan Meixian's silent command, the "Shadow Guards," who had already been deployed at each exit of Cui Bi Lou, in the alleys, and even at the riverside windows, silently set off for their respective targets, blending into the night of Baling City.

Having gained enough, it was no longer wise to linger here. Yi Huawei's gaze swept over Cui Xiang, who stood quietly beside him. This woman possessed a gentle demeanor, and had unwittingly revealed information about "Tingtao Pavilion" earlier. Although not an intentional betrayal, it could still be considered a small act of goodwill. With an almost imperceptible flick of his fingertip under the table, a jade needle as thin as a cow's hair, translucent and perfectly formed, silently shot through the air, precisely embedding itself deep within Cui Xiang's thick hair, without even causing a ripple.

The jade needle contained a wisp of his gentle and mellow true energy, which could protect her heart in critical moments. More importantly, this wisp of true energy was like an extremely faint beacon, which he could sense once Cui Xiang encountered a life-or-death crisis or a huge emotional fluctuation.

He said no more, casually placed a few thin gold leaves on the rosewood table, then calmly stood up. His gaze did not linger on anyone, but only glanced at Shan Meixian.

Shan Meixian understood immediately, broke free from Cui Lü's entanglement, stood up, and resumed her aloof and refined demeanor, following closely behind Yi Huawei.

The two walked one after the other through the still noisy and bustling hall, ignoring Jin San Niang's flirtatious glances and attempts to persuade them to stay, and walked straight out of the magnificent yet desire-filled door of Zui Meng Lou.

The night breeze, carrying the faint fishy smell of the river, swept over me, instantly dispelling the suffocating sweetness behind me.

Back at the inn, we passed through several intricately designed corridors and entered a quiet room at the far end. The room was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was heavy and somber.

Shan Wanjing was hunched over her desk, writing furiously. The desk was piled high with files, secret letters, and several wooden plaques engraved with special symbols. A hint of weariness lingered between her delicate brows, but her eyes were unusually bright and sharp, clearly indicating she had just finished a silent battle. Bai Qing'er stood respectfully to her side, her once charming face now displaying only absolute obedience and efficiency. When they saw Yi Huawei enter with a strange "young master," both of them, who had risen to greet him, were startled.

"Young master...and who is this gentleman?"

Yi Huawei nodded slightly. Shan Meixian didn't say much either. She walked to the copper basin in the corner, quickly removed the disguise from her face, and then used a special solution to wash away the camouflage color applied to her neck and the back of her hands. A moment later, the slightly reserved "young master" in the Drunken Dream Pavilion disappeared, replaced by the elegant and noble true face of Lady Dongming, Shan Meixian, only with a touch more coldness between her brows than usual.

"mother?!"

Shan Wanjing's eyes widened.

"it's me!"

Seeing her daughter's astonished expression, Shan Meixian smiled, gently patted her daughter's back, and said:

"How is the matter that the young master entrusted to you progressing?"

"Fortunately, I did not disgrace my life."

Turning her gaze to Yi Huawei, Shan Wanjing's voice was clear and efficient:
"Of Rong Jiaojiao's seven core confidants in Jianghuai, four have died 'accidentally,' their deaths consistent with either江湖 vendettas or demonic possession; the other three are under the control of secret techniques and are temporarily kept as undercover agents to stabilize the periphery. The key nodes, codebooks, and communication methods of her intelligence network have all been obtained and are being sorted out and integrated."

As she spoke, she pointed to several thick booklets and a pile of scattered wooden plaques and pieces of cloth on the table.

Bai Qing'er immediately stepped forward and added details in a clear voice: "The cleanup process encountered three minor resistances, but it has been cleaned up without alerting outsiders. Rong Jiaojiao herself is imprisoned in the 'Xuanshui' secret dungeon, guarded by the 'Guishui Guards' on rotation. Her true energy is sealed, and she cannot speak. Her three secret warehouses and two safe houses have been taken over by the 'Shadow Guards.' Preliminary inspection revealed a large amount of gold, silver, jewelry, weapons, and... some secret letters that had not yet been sent, involving internal power struggles within the Yuwen and Dugu clans."

Shan Meixian nodded slightly, acknowledging the efficiency of her daughter and disciple. Yi Huawei walked straight to the huge hanging hydrological map of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, his gaze serious.

Just then, a very faint, rhythmic knocking sound of three long and two short taps came from the window of the quiet room. Shan Meixian quickly went to the window, pushed it open a crack, and took a roll of silk as thin as a cicada's wing that was handed in from outside.

"Initial report from the Shadow Guard!"

She unfolded the silk scroll and read aloud the coded text in rapid succession:
After leaving Zuimenglou, Ren Shaoming went straight to the backyard of the "Shunfeng" cart dealership in the west of the city. This place was actually the Iron Cavalry Society's headquarters in Baling, heavily guarded and filled with hidden agents. He did not leave after entering, and messengers frequently came and went from the headquarters.

Yun Yuzhen returned to the dock area and boarded the Giant Kun Gang's flagship, the "Yuzhen," moored at Pier 3. The ship was brightly lit, and the guards were all her trusted confidants. Shortly after boarding, several speedboats departed in different directions.

About 15 minutes later, Xiang Yushan left Cuibi Tower and took a carriage to Jixianfang in the south of the city, entering the headquarters of the Baling Gang, Juyitang…

(End of this chapter)