Murim's Weakest Princess

The luggage arrived quicker than Anji thought it would, and the porters looked even scrawnier than the manager. However, they worked efficiently and seemed very strong. Anji barely had time to thank them before they disappeared. It was baffling, but she did not have time to question it because a lady who blended right into the background of the Red Palace appeared.

"My sweet child!" a lilting voice called out.

Before Anji could react, she was enveloped in crimson silk and a warm bosom. As Anji was taller than she was previously, the height of the hug almost suffocated her. Hong Nian Niang was nothing but well-endowed despite her age. She was truly the depiction of ageless beauty, and while Anji was thrilled by the warm welcome, she had to tap out literally.

"Aunt Hong, you’re going to kill my sister!" Yihao pointed out politely, trying to avert his eyes from the scandalously clad lady.

By the time Hong Nian Niang pulled away, Anji’s face was almost as red as her clothing, gasping for air. The matriarch of the Red Palace laughed with apology and noticed the red ribbon tied on Anji’s longevity lock in her hair. The small trinket that Anji kept with her made the lady soften. It had truly been a few years too many.

"Right, my bad. It’s been so long since we last saw each other, I heard that all the children of the the Celestial Dragon Sect were given official permission to participate in the murim war now. As much as I want to be the playful aunt, we don’t have that much of a luxury."

Despite the speech, Hong Nian Niang’s arms were still tightly wrapped around Anji as if she were reluctant to let go. Yihao also noticed this and smirked.

"If that case, shouldn’t Aunt Hong be giving us the briefing instead of wasting time?"

At that, the mischievous grin returned to Hong Nian Niang.

"Oh, there’s no need to worry about that. I’ve given Mingshen the briefing and summary about what happened during his absence. He’ll join us for dinner later. It’s nothing you kids should bother yourself with. Besides, it is your first time in the capital city. There is a lot to see despite the situation. What better tour guide is there than the famous Lady in Red?"

Anji knew Hong Nian Niang was famous in the murim world. Her choice of fashion was not exactly discreet either, making her very well-known even in regular society. However, according to her second brother, she thought they would not be allowed outside the Red Palace.

"Are we really going to see the city?" Anji asked. There was a chance Hong Nian Niang might be doing it behind her brother’s back.

With twinkling eyes, Hong Nian Niang grinned. "Not now, but after dinner when it gets dark. The true beauty of Chang’an happens when the moon is up. For now, why don’t I give you a tour of the Red Palace? The actual Red Palace, seeing you are special guests."

Actual tour? Anji and Yihao exchanged confused looks. However, they nodded and followed after Hong Nian Niang. Lizi and Gu Ying bowed to the Vermillion Bird Sect Leader and offered to remain behind to help sort out the luggage. With such a reliable person acting as the guide, Yihao and Anji were safe with her.

The Red Palace was a very popular place. However, Anji and Yihao noticed how eerily empty the corridors they passed were. They could still hear the faint sound of trumpets and laughter. However, it sounded very distant, as if it were from the next district and not in the same building.

"The Red Palace is a famous entertainment building. However, it is also the headquarters for Mingshen’s information guild, the Murim War’s Alliance Support, founded by Zhang Mou and Vermillion Bird Sect’s main sect building."

From where they stood, Anji could hear boisterous laughter and arguments muted. However, the direction it came from was most curious. They were standing directly above the source of noise, which made Anji’s theory about Red Palace having false floors even stronger.

"Sect Leader Hong, pardon my curiosity. Are we on the floors in between floors?" she asked eventually.

Yihao still seemed confused, but Hong Nian Niang smirked.

"You’re one clever girl, did you know that? It would take guests several visits to eventually figure out the secrets of the Red Palace. You’re right. This is the floor between floors. We call this the ghost levels, and the people who work on these floors are ghosts. Welcome to the Ghost Tour of the real Red Palace, also known as the Vermillion Bird Sect."

Beaming at the compliment, Anji thanked Hong Nian Niang for confirming her suspicions. The porters were definitely ghost workers compared to the manager, who worked in the regular Red Palace. However, Zhao Yihao’s jaw fell so low that Anji could fit a whole bun in it. Was it truly that shocking to regular people? Just the height of the interior and some basic arithmetic would tell anyone with the most basic of education that something was off.

Then again, the number of books Zhao Yihao had completed reading in his life could be counted on one hand. Her older brother was in dire need of tutoring, and even Anji was concerned.

"Wow!" he finally breathed as his mind caught up with the revelation. "That’s so sick. Isn’t it like a real secret quarters then? It’s almost as if you guys were real spies and assassins! I can’t believe that bastard did not tell me he was working at such a cool place!"

...

Neither Hong Nian Niang nor Anji commented on Yihao’s thoughts. The fact that he was walking in the headquarters of the most elite spy and assassin guild known to mankind would probably kill all his remaining brain cells if they told him. After a long time away from society and only recently regaining his speaking skills, Zhao Yihao was most out of touch with the real world. The fact that his older brother was an established guild leader of his own information network in those years they grew up apart must not have yet sunk in. He probably still thought Zhao Mingshen was apprenticing under Sect Leader Hong or something.