You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

The brothers Baili Jing and Baili Jie left Jiangshan Fengyu Tower and hurried towards the west gate of the city.

Along the way, although the streets of Shanghai seemed somewhat dull, no one stopped them. Neither the canal gang nor the government officials dared to make things difficult for them.

This relieved Baili Jing a little.

However, as they got further and further away from the city center, their pace gradually slowed down.

Bai Lijing's brows furrowed tightly beneath his mask, a hunch that he sensed something was changing around him.

The main street in the western part of the city, which should have been bustling with vendors and lively crowds, has become sparsely populated at some point.

The peddlers on the street were silently packing up their stalls, the porters carrying loads of goods were also turning into the side alleys with their heads down, and even the patrolling yamen runners who could be seen just a moment ago had disappeared without a trace.

The entire wide street suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Baili Jie leaned close to his brother and said:

"Brother, something's not right."

Baili Jing nodded:

"No need to pretend, we're being watched."

Baili Jie looked around at the empty streets, his expression grave.

"To be able to clear out all the people in the streets so quietly, bit by bit... the power of the Canal Gang is frighteningly large."

Baili Jing smiled:

"That's true, but what I don't understand is, given the power of the Canal Gang in Shanghai, if they really wanted to take us brothers down, they could have simply sent experts to block our roads. Why go to all this trouble to stage this 'empty city ruse' in front of us?"

He had barely finished asking the question when a soft, sweet laugh suddenly came from above him. The laugh was both melodious and wistful, making one's heart flutter.

"Hehe... Look at what you're saying, young master. I went through all this trouble because, of course, I wanted to talk to you alone~"

Bai Lijing's eyes sharpened, and the two brothers abruptly stopped in their tracks, raising their heads in unison to look in the direction of the sound.

On the second floor of a teahouse beside the long street, a bamboo pole gently held open the vermilion-lacquered wooden window facing the street.

Her long silk dress swayed gently in the breeze as Hua Xiangrong rested her chin on her left hand, leaning languidly against the windowsill.

A charming smile graced her pretty face as she gazed at Baili Jing with tender affection.

Baili Jing sighed inwardly, pulled down his mask, and somewhat helplessly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the second floor:

"So... it's the Flower Heroine."

Upon hearing this address, Hua Xiangrong made a coquettish and pitiful expression:

"Last night you were calling me 'Sister Hua' so affectionately, how come you've become such a tough 'Heroine Hua' the moment it was light this morning and we're out of danger? It's only been one night, and you don't even recognize me anymore, young man? And you wanted to leave the city without even saying goodbye today, it really breaks my heart..."

Baili Jing coughed lightly, and was somewhat overwhelmed by the demon's barrage of words, even with his two lifetimes of experience.

He stepped forward silently, shielding his younger brother behind him, and said in a deep voice:

"So... what exactly does Sister Hua want by personally waiting for me here today?"

Hua Xiangrong parted her red lips slightly, sighed softly, and spoke in a mournful tone like a woman confined to her boudoir, filled with resentment:

"Young master's words are truly estranged from your sister to the core. What can your sister do here? I just thought the sun was shining brightly today and wanted to invite you upstairs for a cup of tea and a chat."

Baili Jing's gaze sharpened slightly.

He looked down at the empty street beneath his feet and knew very well that he and his brother would definitely not be able to leave the city gate today.

He knew that Baihuatang wanted to recruit him, but why?

Was it because of his unique flesh-and-blood furnace physique? Or was it because he had unintentionally gotten involved in some kind of conflict?

The answer to all these mysteries may lie right here in this teahouse.

Moreover, given the strength Hua Xiangrong displayed last night, and since she has already personally waited here for me, even if I had wings, there would be absolutely no way I could escape from her clutches.

Rather than tearing off the mask of civility and fighting head-on, it would be better to... take this opportunity to thoroughly find out the secrets behind this mess.

Baili Jing turned his head and glanced at Baili Jie.

Baili Jie had already obediently taken off his mask, revealing a fair and delicate face.

He tilted his head back and said innocently:

"Brother, this beautiful lady is the one who saved your life last night, right? Since she's so kind to invite you, I think you should go up and have a good chat with her, as that would be proper etiquette."

Upon hearing this, Hua Xiangrong burst into laughter, her body trembling with mirth. She shook the feather fan in her hand, giggling continuously.

"Oh my, this little brother's words are so sweet they melt my heart. Little brother, you're much cuter than your brother."

Upon hearing the praise, Baili Jie scratched the back of his head shyly and smiled.

Baili Jing knew his younger brother well; this kid had probably already plotted against Hua Xiangrong and her ancestors for eighteen generations. His shy and timid demeanor was clearly an attempt to lull his opponent into a false sense of security.

However, he also understood that such cleverness was futile in the face of the opponent's strength.

My younger brother didn't experience last night's battle and has no idea how powerful masters like Miao Han and Hua Xiangrong are.

"Let's go upstairs."

Baili Jing said no more, waved his hand, lifted the bamboo curtain, and went inside.

This is a fairly large, long-established teahouse. At this moment, there is not a sound inside, not even the errand runners are gone. In the empty hall, there is only an elderly manager, standing trembling behind the counter.

Upon seeing the Baili brothers enter, the shopkeeper dared not utter a single unnecessary word. He bowed respectfully and obsequiously, gesturing towards the mahogany staircase at the back:

"Gentlemen...gentlemen, please come in. Miss Hua has been waiting for you in the private room on the second floor for quite some time."

Baili Jing stepped up the stairs.

As soon as you step onto the second floor, a refreshing aroma of tea wafts over you.

On the second floor, next to the rosewood tea table by the window, Hua Xiangrong had already put away the bamboo pole propping up the window and elegantly crossed her legs.

The moment Baili Jing's gaze fell upon her, his eyelids twitched violently and uncontrollably.

Her magnetic right arm from last night is gone, replaced by a long, slender, shimmering mechanical arm.

That iron arm was extremely exquisite, with the joints fitting together perfectly. The machine was covered with densely packed talismans, and every time she moved her jade fingers slightly, a tiny exhaust valve on her wrist would release a gentle steam, which was quite noble and elegant.

Seeing the Baili brothers walking upstairs side by side, Hua Xiangrong smiled. She smoothed her dark hair at her temples, her phoenix eyes sparkling with spring, and turned her head slightly to speak softly to Baili Jing:

"Come, young man, sit down. It's quiet here today, so let's open our hearts and have a good chat."