Chapter 173
Chapter 173: Cuiyue Tower
The sun sank westward, and the last traces of the afterglow were swallowed by the horizon.
Soul-Return Town chose that very moment to wake up.
Red lanterns along both sides of the streets lit up one after another, dyeing the bluestone path a deep crimson.
Fireworks rose from every corner of the town and burst open in midair, scattering a sky full of floral rain.
The sound of gongs and drums, firecrackers, and voices wove together—as festive and boisterous as the New Year.
No—more boisterous than the New Year.
On the commercial street of Soul-Return Town's third ring, a tower rose from the ground—upturned eaves and interlocking brackets, carved beams and painted rafters.
Every floor was hung with large red lanterns, candlelight filtering through the latticed windows.
Above the entrance hung a gilded plaque.
【Emerald Moon Pavilion】
Emerald Moon Pavilion
Below the tower, several girls in thin, gauzy long gowns stood at the entrance, soliciting customers.
"Coming, coming! Right this way, sir!"
A girl came forward to greet them, her voice honeyed to the point of saccharine sweetness.
Zhao Yan slapped the back of the Joker's head.
"You worthless Tang Sirui—this is the dining spot you picked?"
He pointed at the gilded plaque, his face darkening.
"You dare bring me to a brothel—are you tired of living?!"
The Joker clutched his head, bitter to the core.
How many times had he been hit today?
This Tang Sirui—could he not behave himself for once?
He felt like his skull was already half-caved in from this insufferable old codger's hand.
"How could that be, Grandpa Zhao?!"
The Joker rubbed the back of his head and plastered a fawning smile on his face.
"Even brothels have different categories! We're just here for a meal—nothing else!"
Zhao Yan looked him up and down and gave a cold snort.
"That's more like it."
"There are female comrades in the group—show some decency!"
Xin An sidled over at that moment.
He was dressed in a merchant's long robe with a coin purse hanging at his waist, and had the look of a prosperous man of means about him.
"Captain," he lowered his voice, the corner of his mouth curling upward, "but if there were no female comrades around—would it be okay then?"
The Joker and he exchanged a glance.
Both grinned at the same time.
Then, two heads received simultaneous slaps to the back.
"Hmph!"
Zhao Yan withdrew his hand, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Remember the rules!"
"You may not be proper soldiers, but you represent the face of Huaxia!"
"No engaging in that sort of disreputable conduct!"
"Yes, yes!"
"The captain is absolutely right!"
The two of them clutched their heads and admitted their fault in unison.
Shadow stood nearby, watching the farce unfold, and pressed a hand to her forehead in resignation.
Her gaze drifted to the other side, and then—
She nearly lost her composure.
Liu Ruyan was rounding the street corner, clutching a cracked bowl, wearing a patchwork beggar's outfit, with a few smudges of ash wiped across her face.
She was walking with her head down and neck hunched, quick and urgent.
Had Shadow not had sharp eyes, she never would have recognized this as the Sword Emperor lady who carried herself so imperiously in ordinary times.
Liu Ruyan (Beggar Edition)
The three of them turned their heads in unison.
Three seconds of silence.
Then—
"Pfft!"
"Hahahahaha!"
All three doubled over laughing, tears nearly streaming down their faces.
Zhao Yan slapped his thigh. Xin An clutched his stomach. The Joker laughed so hard he crouched down on the ground.
"What are you all looking at! Never seen a beggar before!"
Liu Ruyan's face flushed deep red. She stuffed the cracked bowl against her chest and glared at them, teeth clenched.
"Never seen such a pretty beggar."
Zhao Yan, upon seeing her expression, quickly coughed twice and forcibly held in his laughter, grasping for an excuse.
"That, uh... I had good results today—took on a big job this afternoon, made twenty taels of silver banknotes."
"Very happy, very happy."
Xin An followed suit immediately: "About the same for me—exceeded my quota on the first day, made thirty taels."
"Ancient life is pretty interesting, haha..."
The Joker pulled the silver banknotes from his chest pocket and gave them a wave. "I met my quota too—made ten taels."
"Good luck, good luck."
3 people, 3 smiling faces, 3 sets of excuses.
Liu Ruyan held her empty bowl, shaking with anger.
"Are you... are you showing off to me?!"
She bit off each word.
"It's just a little extra luck—don't get smug!"
Shadow spoke up at the right moment, her tone flat: "How did you do?"
Liu Ruyan froze.
She flipped the bowl over. Empty. Not a single copper coin.
The air went quiet for two seconds.
"Really?"
Shadow looked her up and down.
"Didn't you draw Thief? How did you end up like this?"
"Don't tell me you looked so much like a beggar that you just went ahead and became one?"
"No beggar is this broke," Xin An said with a straight face, analyzing earnestly.
"There's a beggar right next to the shop I was at—made three taels in a single afternoon."
"Your bowl is cleaner than your face, which clearly means..."
"You're the beggar! Your whole family are beggars!"
Liu Ruyan cut him off, her voice cracking.
"I... I just don't know how to steal things!"
The moment those words left her mouth, she froze.
So did everyone else.
The words I don't know how to steal things.
Coming from the mouth of someone who had drawn the Thief role, those words were somehow...
A little heartbreaking.
‘Right—in a normal household, who teaches their child to steal?’
Zhao Yan's grin faded. The schadenfreude drained away in an instant.
He looked at Liu Ruyan's face—flushed with shame and indignation—and, uncharacteristically, felt a pang of guilt.
"Alright, alright, let's leave it there."
He cleared his throat and patted Xin An and the Joker on the shoulders.
"You two made more than your share—help her out."
Without a word, the Joker pulled out 2 taels of silver banknotes and handed them over.
Xin An fished out 3 taels. Together it came to exactly 5 taels.
Enough to pay tonight's head tax.
"Take it."
Zhao Yan pushed the silver banknotes toward Liu Ruyan.
Liu Ruyan stared at them, bit her lip, and shoved them away.
"No! I don't want your filthy money!"
She tucked the bowl back against her chest and raised her chin.
"There's still time! After dinner, I'll earn it myself!"
Zhao Yan's eyelid twitched.
That princess attitude of hers—truly impossible to change no matter where she went.
But...
Ambition was a good thing.
He couldn't have them supporting this young lady indefinitely.
He turned to the Joker: "When the dinner's done, go teach her."
"Me?"
The Joker pointed at his own nose, then glanced at Liu Ruyan.
In the interest of honing his craft, he had studied quite a bit of ancient Huaxia culture.
This woman in front of him—whether by name or by appearance—was no pushover. The type that could, in everyday life, drive a man to his grave through sheer exasperation.
But...
He was the Arashin-kai's 6th Seat—the world's greatest actor.
What was a little difficulty like this?
"Fine."
The Joker slapped his chest and flashed the brilliant Tang Sirui smile.
"Leave it to me! I guarantee she'll learn!"
Zhao Yan, rarely, showed an expression of approval. "A promising student indeed—haven't seen you this cooperative in a long time."
Shadow glanced around and asked, "Where's Chief Yue Tian? He's not here yet?"
"Chief Yue is a Prison Guard—won't get off until midnight."
Xin An picked up the thread.
"He came to find me this afternoon, said he wanted to investigate a few things on his own, and would come find us tomorrow."
The Joker's heart leapt.
Yue Tian's not here—perfect.
With the Interrogator present, he could barely breathe, terrified of letting a flaw slip through.
"Let's head inside then."
He quickly seized the conversation and began ushering everyone toward Emerald Moon Pavilion.
"They should already be waiting. When we head back, we can just bring some food for Chief Yue."
Zhao Yan nodded, waved a hand. "Move out."
Inside Emerald Moon Pavilion, it was even livelier than outside.
The ground-floor hall was packed with round tables full of diners.
Merchants in long gowns, wandering swordsmen in bamboo hats, scholars fanning themselves, and a few constables in official uniforms.
Cups and glasses clinked; toasts were made and returned. A bustling, merry scene.
A waiter came forward, a white cloth draped over his shoulder, a wide smile on his face.
"Honored guests—do you have a reservation?"
The Joker stepped forward: "We do. Arielia Alice invited us."
The waiter's eyes lit up at once, his bow deepening considerably.
"Oh my! So you're the distinguished guests of Miss Arielia!"
"Please, please come in! Third floor, Heaven-Class Suite—I'll show you the way!"
Zhao Yan's brow gave the faintest twitch at the name Arielia Alice.
Perennial runner-up on the Newcomer Leaderboard. Eagle Nation's new-generation ace.
From the waiter's tone, her standing at Emerald Moon Pavilion appeared to be no small matter.
Xin An leaned over and murmured, "What's her position at this place? She's not the owner, is she?"
The Joker chuckled. "You'll find out in a bit."
The three followed the waiter upstairs to the third floor and stopped before a carved wooden door.
The waiter announced their arrival and withdrew.
The Joker gripped the door handle, glanced back at everyone.
Then pushed it open.
The private room was large—easily seats for a dozen or more.
A round red sandalwood table stood at the center, already laden with dishes.
3 people sat around the table.
On the left was a figure in a constable's uniform with an axe at the waist—Allen Dick.
In the middle, dressed as a merchant with a melon-skin hat on his head, was Jamie.
On the right was a tall, broad-shouldered dark-skinned man in a laborer's short outfit, legs crossed, gnawing a chicken leg.
White Eagle Squad Trio
"Hey! Guys!"
Jamie was the first to stand, waving enthusiastically.
Allen Dick rose as well, bumped fists with the Joker, then turned to Zhao Yan and the others with a grin.
"You're all here! Come, sit down!"
The dark-skinned man wiped his hands on his clothes and stood.
"Hey, Huaxia friends—I'm the vice-captain of the White Eagle Squad."
He extended a hand and flashed a broad smile, white teeth gleaming.
"Code name: Fast and Furious. Just call me Roman."
Xin An stepped forward to shake his hand, making introductions in turn: "I'm Xin An, vice-captain of Blade Squad."
"This is our captain Zhao Yan, and these two are our squad members Shadow and Liu Ruyan, and that..."
He glanced at the Joker, who was already arm in arm with Allen Dick.
"That one is Iron Wall Squad member Tang Sirui."
Roman's eyes went wider and wider, until they were perfectly round.
"Good God! Blade Squad?! The Blade Squad that the War God himself served in?!"
He nearly upended the table in his excitement, seized Zhao Yan's hand, and shook it vigorously.
"I am a fan of Commander Lin! A die-hard fan!"
"The footage of him hacking down the Tailor during the Destruction Five Days Campaign—I've watched it more than a hundred times!"
"Heaven almighty! I never imagined I'd meet you here!"
At those words, the color drained from the Joker's face.
Allen Dick noticed instantly. "What's wrong, Tang? Are you unwell?"
"No—nothing! I was just thinking about something! Let's eat, let's eat!"
The Joker quickly waved a hand and laughed it off.
"That's right, eat and drink first! Save the worries for later!"
Jamie laughed.
And so the three of them returned to the meal.
While the Joker...
kept Roman locked in the corner of his gaze.
Concealed within his eyes—the intent to kill.