Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 124 Are you afraid of the dark?
The next day, a commotion broke the silence of the morning.

A squad of imperial guards smashed open the gates of the Drunken Dream Pavilion.

The leader was a young officer who raised his token and shouted, "We have received a report that Zui Meng Lou is harboring Qin spies. We are now ordered to search Zui Meng Lou."

These words immediately caused an uproar among the onlookers, who began to discuss the matter animatedly. Given the already tense relationship between Qin and Zhao, with constant border clashes, the fact that Qin was harboring spies was bound to elicit a negative reaction from the crowd.

"Harboring spies from the Qin state, I think Zui Meng Lou doesn't want to stay in business anymore!!"

"I knew long ago that Zui Meng Lou was no good place. They harbor Qin traitors and collude with the enemy. If this is true, then Zui Meng Lou..."

"Haha~~"

"Harboring Qin spies? Which of our brothels and dance halls here is clean? They're all a den of snakes and rats!!"

Hearing the murmurs outside, Bi Ji, the manager of Zui Meng Lou, changed her expression slightly. She quickly stepped forward and said with a forced smile, "Sir, are you mistaken? Zui Meng Lou has been operating in Handan for many years, and many high-ranking officials in the court are frequent customers. It has always had an excellent reputation and has never done anything illegal, let alone harbored spies!"

"Today, Lord Guo specifically instructed that several girls, including Nongying, come to his residence to perform! If they spoil Lord Guo's mood, it will be difficult to say what will happen if he blames them later."

As expected of the manager of Zuimenglou, his words were impeccable. He first explained that Zuimenglou had been operating in Handan for a long time and had an excellent reputation. The implication was that if Zuimenglou were harboring spies, they would probably have been discovered long ago and there would be no need for them to be reported today.

Then she mentioned Guo Kai again. With him as a backer, not just anyone could run wild here.

Upon hearing this, the man's expression changed slightly. Who was Guo Kai? As a native of Zhao, how could he not know that this powerful prime minister of Zhao was indeed someone to be feared?

But then, as if remembering something, his expression turned serious, and he said coldly, "Harboring Qin spies is a grave crime of treason. Even if the Prime Minister knew, he wouldn't say much. The shopkeeper's evasive behavior here suggests he has something to hide!"

Upon hearing this, Brigitte's face darkened. Although she didn't know what had happened, the other party's response was clearly prepared.

She winked at the girl beside her, then continued with a smile, "Since the general says he has received a report, does the general dare to have that person confront me face to face? Or produce convincing evidence before conducting the search? I, Brigitte, will not stand in your way!!"

"But if anyone fabricates rumors and maliciously slanders my Drunken Dream Pavilion, ruins my signboard, and damages my reputation, then after today's matter is settled, Biji will definitely report to Lord Guo and ask him to stand up for Drunken Dream Pavilion!!"

At this point, Biji looked at the onlookers outside the door and said loudly, "Gentlemen, Biji was born and raised in Handan, which is verifiable. I have been running the Zuimenglou in Handan for more than a year or two. If I really had ulterior motives, how could Lord Guo tolerate me?"

This display of eloquence calmed most of the people present. The reason why Zuimenglou had stood firm in Handan for so many years was because of Guo Kai, the prime minister who was second only to the emperor. He had no reason to betray the country and collude with the enemy. Moreover, in Zhao, no matter how small the disturbance was, it would not escape his notice. If Zuimenglou really had any ulterior motives, he would have dealt with it long ago.

At this point, the visitor knew he had to provide an explanation, so without hesitation, he stated directly: "Last night, someone saw a stranger enter your Drunken Dream Pavilion. According to our informant, this person was acting suspiciously and his behavior was questionable. More importantly, his accent wasn't from Zhao at all, but from Qin!"

"As for the person who provided the clue, I'm afraid I cannot provide that information!!"

Upon hearing what the visitor said, Biji frowned. What the visitor said did not seem to be a lie, but there was one thing that was tacitly accepted throughout Handan.

They open their doors to guests, and those with money are treated like royalty. They don't care whether someone is from Zhao, Qin, or even Yan or Wei.

The person who came was using the other party's identity as a pretext, which clearly indicated that they were acting under someone's orders to cause trouble.

"General, are you joking?"

The newcomer raised an eyebrow and his face darkened.

"What does the shopkeeper mean?"

Brigitte gave a cold laugh.

"There are so many merchants and common people from all over the world coming and going. No less than a thousand people enter and leave Handan every day. If every foreigner is a spy, then where do we get our daily clothes and food? Or is the general different from us common people and doesn't need to eat or drink?"

Upon hearing this, the people outside all nodded in agreement.

Merchants circulated goods among the seven kingdoms, and no monarch strictly forbade merchants from traveling between them. For them, the circulation of goods by merchants could stimulate their national economy, which was a good thing.

The newcomer was taken aback, but he quickly realized what was happening.

"As I said before, the man was acting suspiciously and his behavior was erratic. He is not the merchant the shopkeeper mentioned!"

Seeing that the other party was unmoved by reason, Biji knew that the other party was determined to target Zuimenglou today, so she decided to settle for second best.

"May I ask, General, what does this man look like?"

As they spoke, the Imperial Guards had already sealed off all escape routes from the Drunken Dream Tower, so the newcomers were not worried about leaking information and allowing their men to escape.

When Brigitte asked him, he replied directly, "He is a young man who is not very old and is wearing a blue robe."

Brigitte frowned. She didn't recall anyone like this. So she turned to the girls around her, as if asking if they had seen this person before.

Upon hearing this, Chun Tao, who was standing in the crowd, looked at him strangely. Could the other person be referring to the boy she had met last night?
On the fifth floor, Xiu Yuan and Ni Chang, standing behind the window, naturally heard these words as well.

Ni Chang's eyes became somewhat strange. Although this young man was a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, his background was that of the Zhao Kingdom, specifically the Three Sheep Village in the Zhao Kingdom. For her, this was a place that left a very deep impression.

"How did you come to be targeted, young master?"

After a moment of silence, Ni Chang couldn't help but ask. Logically speaking, given the other party's skills, they shouldn't have been targeted.

Xiu Yuan shook his head. He himself found it strange. Since arriving in Zhao, apart from asking for directions a few times, he hadn't spoken to anyone.

Asking for directions?
Upon recalling this matter, Xiu Yuan frowned, his gaze turning gloomy and uncertain.

Ni Chang looked over, and then Xiu Yuan said, "On the way here, I asked someone for directions, but at that time, to avoid unnecessary trouble, I spoke in the language of Zhao."

"What does the State of Zhao say?"

Ni Chang felt a little strange.

After thinking for a moment, she asked again, "Is it the same thing as what Brigitte said?"

Xiu Yuan shook his head, then added a sentence.

"From Daicheng"

Since he regained consciousness, he has not spent much time in Zhao. He spent most of his time in Tianzong, and then went to Han. In Zhao, he heard a lot from Daicheng.

Upon hearing this, a bitter smile appeared on Ni Chang's lips.

She then explained, "The language spoken in the border area between Qin and Zhao is no longer the language of Zhao. People from Qin can understand it, and people from Zhao can also understand it. It's a hybrid language."

At this point, Xiu Yuan had probably guessed the reason.

"It seems the reason lies here."

"What should we do next?"

"It must be someone targeting Zuimenglou, or rather, dealing with Guo Kai. Young Master was just implicated."

"But young master, don't worry. Guo Kai should receive the news soon. With him in charge, there shouldn't be any major problems."

As soon as Ni Chang finished speaking, a path was parted in the crowd, and a group of soldiers rushed over.

"Officials are conducting business at the Prime Minister's residence. All unauthorized personnel must leave!"

Compared to the previous imperial guards, these later soldiers were significantly more domineering, and the onlookers nearby were dispersed.

"Who do we have here? Isn't this Commander Wang? What strange wind blew you here today?"

The speaker was a man in black robes, with a pale, beardless face and a sinister expression, yet he exuded a chilling killing intent. Upon seeing the former commander of the Imperial Guards, he chuckled, his words laced with sarcasm.

"Black Stone!"

Commander Wang seemed to recognize the visitor, and he spoke with a gloomy look in his eyes.

On the fifth floor, Xiu Yuan's gaze swept over, and with just a glance, he could roughly tell the other party's cultivation level.

"You're right, his cultivation level is above Tianze's, but cultivation level doesn't represent combat strength. In a life-or-death battle, the outcome is hard to predict."

Ni Chang nodded.

"Upon receiving a tip, it was discovered that Zuimenglou was harboring spies from the Qin state. Wang is hereby ordered to conduct a search!"

As he spoke, Commander Wang took out a token from his pocket.

Black Stone scoffed when he saw the object.

"A spy?? Let's not even talk about whether there is a spy or not. Even if there really is a spy, the Prime Minister's Office is responsible for arresting them. Since when did the Imperial Guards get involved in the affairs of Zui Meng Lou?"

Commander Wang's face darkened.

"Blackstone, what do you mean?"

Blackstone extended his hand in invitation.

"Please withdraw your troops, Commander Wang. I remember that the East City is under your jurisdiction, right? There's something there that needs your attention!"

Just then, a member of the Imperial Guard rushed in.

"General, the Wangji Grain Shop in the east of the city is on fire!"

Upon hearing this, Commander Wang's face turned ashen. Even without guessing, he knew who was behind it.

"Blackstone!!"

"Setting the streets on fire, even the Prime Minister can't protect you!!"

A cold smile curled at the corner of Black Stone's mouth.

"Where's the evidence? Anyone can make empty promises. Commander Wang has served in the Imperial Guard for many years; surely he understands this?"

"While the fire isn't too big yet, it's not too late to go and put it out. Let me give you a piece of advice: not everyone is someone you can mess with!"

Standing on the fifth floor, listening to the conversation between the two, Xiu Yuan frowned. It seemed that the situation in Handan was more chaotic than he had imagined.

Furthermore, their style of action, which involves covering the sun, is even more domineering than that of the night.

"Fall back!!"

Commander Wang glanced at Black Stone with a gloomy look and shouted through gritted teeth.

Watching the Imperial Guards' departing figures, Black Stone spat.

"You shameless bastard, who gave you the courage to cause trouble at Zui Meng Lou?!"

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Brigitte breathed a sigh of relief and quickly greeted him with a smile.

"Thank you for your kind assistance, Lord Blackstone."

Black Stone waved his hand, then narrowed his eyes and looked around.

After a moment, he said coldly, "Where is that person?"

Brigitte was taken aback, then looked at Black Stone with a puzzled expression.

A hint of coldness flashed in Black Stone's eyes.

"What Wang Shan said is true. You don't really think he would dare to joke with the Prime Minister's residence for no reason, do you? Unless he's tired of living!"

Biji frowned. The person was actually real? But she had never seen him before, and when she looked at the girls at Zuimenglou earlier, no one answered.

"Lord Blackstone, could it be..."

Just then, Chun Tao stepped out from the crowd, "Sister Bi Ji, Lord Black Stone, I think I've seen that person before!!"

On the fifth floor, when Ni Chang saw Chun Tao come out, her gaze darkened, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in her eyes. She was not just a pretty face, but also a top-tier assassin of the Luo Wang organization.

"Oh??"

Upon seeing Chun Tao, Hei Shi was somewhat surprised, then looked over. "Where did he go?"

Chuntao glanced at Biji first, and seeing that the other party did not object, she said softly, "I went to Nishang's place."

Upon hearing this, Biji's expression changed drastically.

Ni Chang, the most beautiful courtesan of Zui Meng Lou, and the top courtesan of Zui Meng Lou, why did that person go looking for her?

"Ni Chang??"

Black Stone was also taken aback, then his effeminate eyes narrowed and he turned to look towards the fifth floor.

Bi Ji knew who Ni Chang was, and as a regular customer of Zui Meng Lou, he naturally knew as well. Seemingly recalling Ni Chang's stunning beauty and exquisite figure, Hei Shi subconsciously licked the corner of his mouth.

"grown ups."

Because of Ni Chang, Bi Ji wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Hei Shi waving his hand.

"Since it involves Miss Ni Chang, I naturally have to investigate it personally. The Prime Minister is already aware of this matter, so we cannot be careless in the slightest. If we ruin the Prime Minister's important plans, you know the consequences."

Upon hearing Blackstone's words, Brigitte paused, her eyes flickering uncertainly. After a moment's hesitation, she ultimately said nothing more.

With a wave of his hand, Black Stone's men surrounded Drunken Dream Pavilion once again.

Looking at the fifth floor, which he could never normally set foot on, a hint of fervor flickered in the eyes of this master who could block out the sun.

Looking at Black Stone's retreating figure, Brigitte sighed inwardly, then turned to look at Spring Peach.

She knew very well that the girls in the brothel had complicated minds, but Chun Tao's temperament made her feel a little disheartened.

Although Heishi was also one of Guo Kai's men, she had heard about his character and personality before. If Ni Chang fell into his hands, who knew what kind of suffering she would suffer?
Seeing the hint of ambition in the other person's eyes, Brigitte shook her head slightly.

Why do women have to make things difficult for each other...?

After arriving on the fifth floor, Black Stone was about to knock on the door when he changed his mind. He was here to search for Qin spies, so there was no need to be polite to this courtesan.

So his right hand suddenly changed direction in mid-air and pushed the door open directly. After entering the room, he casually closed the door behind him.

Looking at the figure behind the curtain, Black Stone chuckled.

"Ni Chang, where is that spy from Qin?"

Ni Chang, also known as Jing Ni, sat behind the curtain without getting up. After hearing Hei Shi's words, she chuckled softly.

"A spy?? What do you mean, sir? I don't understand."

Blackstone first looked around at the layout of the room, then his gaze shifted, and he said in a playful tone, "Don't understand?"

"Chuntao said that you met someone last night, and according to reliable intelligence, that person is a spy from the Qin state."

Ni Chang paused, seemingly startled.

"That man is a spy from Qin? My lord, are you mistaken? He is the son of an old friend of mine. He lives in Sanyang Village, Daicheng. He came to find me yesterday, but only to seek refuge."

Black Stone paused in his steps.

He remembered Daicheng, a city located on the border between Qin and Zhao. Recalling the intelligence he had received before, he frowned.

The accent of Daicheng is indeed different from that of Handan. It was too close to the Qin state, so it was inevitable that it would be influenced by the accent.

But then he thought again, if this is the child of an old friend, then this person must be related to Ni Chang, and whether or not he is a spy is entirely up to him, isn't it?

Such a perfect handle was a godsend opportunity for him.

"Is there any evidence?"

“Alas, the entire village of Sanyang was slaughtered. There is no evidence left. Only some small things from our childhood can prove that we recognized each other.”

Upon hearing this, Black Stone couldn't help but smirk.

"So that means there's no evidence for this?"

"By order of the Prime Minister, investigate this matter thoroughly. If there is no evidence, then I will take this person away."

After a while, Ni Chang's words came through again.

"take away??"

"I hope you will be lenient and show some mercy; he's just a child!"

Sitting opposite Ni Chang, Xiu Yuan looked at the mischievous smile that flashed in the corner of the girl's eyes and was at a loss for words.

He had already said he would handle the matter himself, but the girl was still so mischievous.

"It's not impossible for me to show leniency when I want to smear someone, but that depends on Ni Chang's performance."

Upon hearing this, Ni Chang's eyes turned cold.

However, her tone remained unchanged as she continued, "How does Lord Blackstone wish me to behave? So that when the Prime Minister summons me next time, I can put in a good word for you?"

Upon hearing this, Black Stone chuckled.

"If that's what Miss Ni Chang says, then I'm afraid I can't be lenient. Once your old friend's little brother gets into the dungeon, his life or death won't be up to me."

"What does Lord Blackstone want?"

A fiery glint flashed in Black Stone's eyes.

"I heard that Ni Chang is not yet married. If you can spend one night with me and let me experience the pleasures of the world, I will spare you, my little brother, then it would not be unreasonable."

After some probing, Black Stone revealed his true intentions, his eyes no longer concealing their burning desire.

"you"

Seemingly angered by Black Stone's words, Ni Chang's voice carried a hint of rage.

"Lord Blackstone, aren't you afraid I'll complain to the Prime Minister?"

Black Stone sat down to the side, waved his hand dismissively, and continued with a sneer, "What kind of accusation are you going to file? Say that you're no longer a virgin? Or that you're having an affair with a Qin spy? Do you think the Prime Minister will punish you severely or come after me, his right-hand man, when he hears this?"

Ni Chang's eyes turned cold, then she nodded to Xiu Yuan.

"It seems I have no choice?"

Blackstone chuckled and said nothing more.

Suddenly, Black Stone's brow twitched.

A boy appeared beside him without him even noticing.

"Kid, who are you?"

The boy replied calmly, "Weren't you looking for me?"

Blackstone was taken aback for a moment, then he realized what was going on.

"You're that Qin spy??"

The boy picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of tea.

"A spy? Do you think so?"

Seeing the other party's reaction, Black Stone suddenly felt uneasy. As a master, he hadn't even noticed when the other party appeared beside him. This situation was terrifying for him.

"Young man, you're joking. Do you think just because I think it's true, it really is?"

Hei Shiqiang calmed himself down. Being in Handan and with so many men outside, he didn't think the other party would dare to lay a hand on him. Going along with what the other party was saying, he continued.

What if I were the one?

However, the boy didn't seem to intend to let him off the hook, and suddenly asked a question in return.

Black Stone's lips twitched; he hadn't expected the other party to say something like that.

"Young man, you jest. As Ni Chang just said, you're from Sanyang Village in Daicheng. How could you possibly be a spy for Qin?"

Upon hearing this, Ni Chang, who was still sitting behind the curtain, burst out laughing.

This reversal happened so fast! One second they were calling the other a spy for Qin, and the next they were villagers of Daicheng.

"By the way, the Prime Minister has other tasks to attend to. Since there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

As he spoke, Blackstone was about to get up and take his leave.

But then another voice reached his ears.

"Did I tell you... to get up?"

Black Stone was taken aback at first, then the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end in that instant.

A strong sense of crisis rushed into his mind, and he immediately sat back down.

Looking at the young man beside him who was still sipping tea, Heishi suddenly felt like crying.

"Young brother, oh no, young hero."

"May I ask if there is anything else you require, young hero?"

The boy ignored Heishi and began sipping his tea. After a while, he suddenly spoke up, "Don't you want to try and see if there's still a chance?"

Black Stone swallowed hard. The strange calmness emanating from the other party made him dare not make a move.

"Young hero, you jest."

The boy looked up at the black stone, and his calm voice rang out again.

Do you think I'm discussing this with you?

Black Stone's lips twitched. He wanted him to make a move? He wondered if he had misheard, or if the young man in front of him was a madman.

Just then, Ni Chang lifted the curtain and slowly walked over. Upon seeing this stunningly beautiful woman, Hei Shi lost all interest in her. The more he examined her, the more violently he trembled. He seemed to have flaws everywhere, yet none of them were flaws.

"Oh, Lord Blackstone, what's wrong? It's not cold in my room! Why are you shivering?"

Hearing Ni Chang's words, Hei Shi still didn't dare to breathe, his forehead already covered in sweat, well, he was scared.

"No, I'm not cold, I'm not cold."

Seeing the other party's reaction, Ni Chang couldn't help but smile again. It was rare for this Black Stone to be flustered and at a loss.

"Take action!"

The sound, like a lion's roar, exploded in Black Stone's heart. Startled by the sudden roar, Black Stone instinctively threw a throwing knife from his sleeve. However, the target was not the boy in front of him, but Ni Chang to the side. At the same time, he ran towards the door.

But the next moment, he felt his vision darken, the world lose its color, and the doorway that was only a step away in front of him became an unattainable dream.

He casually deflected the flying knife aimed at Ni Chang, and then the boy came to Black Stone's side.

Are you afraid of the dark?

(End of this chapter)