Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

The two strolled along, stopping frequently, looking quite relaxed, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Aji's grocery store.

"What would you like to order, gentlemen?" Aji greeted them with a broad smile.

Li Yuan took off his straw hat and gave him a bright smile: "Aji, it's me."

"Big brother?"

Aji exclaimed in surprise, "I thought you'd forgotten! Come in and sit down!"

He pulled Li Yuan towards the backyard, then looked at Mr. Mo and asked, "And this gentleman is?"

"This is Mr. Mo."

"Hello, sir, please come in and have some tea." Aji said with a kind smile.

The two walked into the backyard, which was not large. There were some odds and ends piled up and a few clothes hanging out to dry. Everything seemed normal.

"Brother, it's been a year since we last met." Aji said excitedly, his eyes reddening. "You must stay for a meal before you leave this time."

The group sat on stone benches in the courtyard. Mr. Mo took the rough pottery teacup, but his divine sense had already quietly enveloped the entire courtyard.

"Alright, then I'll try your cooking." Li Yuan laughed heartily, watching Aji bustling around, and casually asked, "How's business at the shop lately? Nobody's giving you any trouble, has anyone?"

This grocery store doesn't make money from oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar; it mainly relies on buying mountain products and doing business with regular customers, which generates considerable profits.

"Business is alright," Aji replied while busy at a small stove in the corner. "A few thugs came to cause trouble, but the neighborhood headman helped deal with them."

When the grocery store first opened, Li Yuan gave Aji money to bribe the neighborhood official. Since it wasn't a big business, the official took good care of him.

Soon, a simple meal was served: a plate of braised pork, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, a bowl of egg drop soup, and a small pot of cloudy wine. It wasn't lavish, but it had a strong home-style flavor.

Aji attentively poured wine and served food to the two of them.

"Mr. Mo, it's just simple food, please don't mind." Aji raised his glass, his eyes reddening again. "I'd like to toast my elder brother. Without him, I, Aji, wouldn't be where I am today."

Li Yuan smiled and clinked glasses with him, then drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. The wine was ordinary cloudy wine, and there was nothing unusual about it. The food was also perfectly fine.

During the meal, the three chatted and laughed, talking about everyday things, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Seeing that the wine had reached a point of half-drunkenness, Aji sighed deeply, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Is there something troubling you? Feel free to tell me, and I'll see if I can help," Li Yuan said with a smile.

"Brother, do you remember that winter five years ago, when we finally managed to get a few pancakes, only to have Mao Bawang and his gang steal them?"

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow, wondering why he suddenly brought this up. "Of course I remember. We were beaten up back then, and we were in pain and hungry. We almost died."

"Yes, if it weren't for Ah Hua taking pity on us and secretly giving us a pancake, we probably wouldn't have made it through."

Back then, the two lived in a dilapidated temple. Ahua was a little girl who was learning embroidery nearby. She often saw the two of them and felt very sorry for them.

"It's been many years since I've seen Sister Ahua. I wonder how she is doing now?" Li Yuan sighed.

"I ran into her on the street the other day. She's not doing well these days. Her damned stepfather is in debt from gambling and actually sold her to a brothel..."

Aji's eyes were filled with grief and indignation. "Brother, I know you're very capable. Could you lend me some money so I can go and redeem her..."

Leaning against the Red Chamber?

Li Yuan and Mr. Mo exchanged glances. No wonder everything was normal in the courtyard; they were waiting for him at Yihonglou.

"Is this true?" Li Yuan slammed his hand on the table in anger. "Miss Ahua has been kind to us, so we should help her, but I don't have much money on me..."

She looked at Mr. Mo with a troubled expression and said, "Please help me pay for this first, and I will pay you back when I get back."

Mr. Mo smiled and said, "Saving lives is the priority. Let's go and check the situation first."

"Great, brother, Mr. Mo!" Aji jumped up. "We'll go right now..."

The three left the general store and headed towards Pingkangfang.

The streets were as bustling as ever, yet countless eyes were quietly watching from the unseen shadows.

Yihonglou is located at the east end of Pingkangfang. Compared with those high-class brothels with carved beams and painted rafters, it looks rather shabby. The gate is not big, the lanterns are old, and it exudes a cheap, effeminate atmosphere.

Most of the customers here are peddlers and laborers, seeking a fleeting moment of pleasure and attracted by the affordable prices.

Aji hurried to the door and barged in. The hall was dimly lit, and several gaudy women leaned lazily against the railing. When they saw a guest arrive, they immediately waved and greeted him warmly, creating a lively atmosphere with their sweet voices.

A brothel madam, heavily made up, swayed forward, smiling before even speaking: "Oh my, you distinguished guests are quite unfamiliar faces. Is this your first time here? What kind of girls do you prefer...?"

"We're looking for Ahua, who is Xiaolian," Aji interrupted her, his voice tense. "I need to redeem her from her servitude."

"To redeem yourself?"

The madam's smile froze. She sized the group up and down, and seeing their shabby clothes, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes. "Xiao Lian is our star here; this ransom isn't cheap..."

"Just tell me how much it costs." Aji waved his hand and showed a silver note.

The madam's eyes lit up, and her face immediately broke into a wide smile: "Easy, one thousand taels, no bargaining, how about it?"

Upon hearing such a large sum, Aji gasped, "Didn't her father only sell it for twenty taels? Why does it cost so much?"

"Does she eat and drink for free?" The madam's face immediately turned cold. "Stop talking nonsense. If you can afford it, redeem her. If you can't, get out of here and don't delay my business."

Li Yuan observed coldly, but his mind was racing. The biggest obstacle that the Dark Pavilion chose this location for the ambush was undoubtedly Mr. Mo.

Within Chang'an City, the protective array suppresses high-level demons, making it difficult for them to unleash their full power and easily attracting the suppression of experts from the Demon Suppression Division.

He secretly looked around, but couldn't see anything unusual. He couldn't help but wonder what method the other party would use to stall Mr. Mo.

Aji looked at Li Yuan somewhat weakly, and only when the latter nodded to him did he regain his confidence.

"Alright, a thousand taels it is. Take us to meet the person, and we'll exchange the money for the person."

Seeing that he agreed, the madam immediately beamed with joy: "Alright, alright, gentlemen, please follow me. Xiao Lian is still entertaining customers right now."

The stairs were narrow and steep, creaking underfoot. The second-floor corridor was filled with the pungent smell of cheap perfumes, and one could vaguely hear some unpleasant noises coming from the rooms on either side.

The madam stopped in front of the innermost room.

Before they could speak, they heard a woman's pitiful cries of pain and a man's rude curses coming from inside.

"It's Xiao Lian!" Aji's eyes widened in fury, and he kicked the door hard.

"Bang!"

The door was not bolted shut and opened with a click.

The scene inside the room immediately came into view: a thin girl, wearing only a bodice and underpants, her body covered in whip marks, was being held down on the table by a burly man with a fierce face, who was holding a leather whip in his hand.

The girl was in tears, her expression one of terror and despair. She did indeed resemble Ah Hua from my memory.

"Stop!" Aji roared, rushing in without regard for anything else. "Let her go!"

Li Yuan and Mr. Mo exchanged a glance. Now that they had come this far, there was no reason for them to back down.