In the past, Lin Zhaoyue, if not exactly extravagant, certainly knew how to spend money lavishly.
But now… this pearl who grew up pampered by the Lin family seemed to have learned the sorrows of the mortal world.
This version of Lin Zhaoyue felt more unfamiliar to Xiao Yan than ever before.
Exiting the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion, Shen Yanzhou was waiting at the entrance, slightly out of breath as if he had just returned from somewhere.
Seeing his expression, it was clear he had something to say.
The two walked to a secluded spot. Shen Yanzhou’s ears twitched slightly as he ensured no one was around before speaking:
“The workshop that made the crossbows—everyone has fled. They cleaned up thoroughly, leaving no clues behind. They probably ran about two hours ago.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan’s lips curled into a cold, thin smile:
“Their information is quite sharp. Since they’ve run, this Black Market…”
As he spoke, Xiao Yan’s gaze swept around, taking in the never-ending sea of lights and the faint, lingering scent of decay. He said coolly:
“Then we should save those worth saving, kill those who deserve killing, and then burn this place clean with fire. Use the ill-gotten gains to settle the displaced households.”
“Understood…”
…
When Xiao Yan returned to the spot, Lin Zhaoyue was already gone.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, let out a soft click of his tongue, and strolled slowly down the street. Passing by a pharmacy, he walked in and bought a box of Scar-Soothing Balm.
“You must be buying this for your wife, sir! This Scar-Soothing Balm is absolutely excellent—creamy texture, not greasy at all, and very effective. I guarantee any scars will disappear completely within three days of use…”
Listening to the shopkeeper’s extravagant praise, Xiao Yan picked up a box, opened it, and sniffed.
A strong scent of camellia flowers, but upon closer inspection, there was another underlying odor.
For Xiao Yan, who had long walked the knife’s edge, this smell was not unfamiliar.
Corpse Oil.
His eyes turned cold. Xiao Yan directly threw the Scar-Soothing Balm in his hand aside:
“Crooked, evil methods.”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, the shopkeeper’s expression immediately changed, his eyes turning fierce as he signaled to the surrounding clerks with a glance.
The clerks who had been working nearby received the hint, put down their tools, and began to surround Xiao Yan:
“Kid, you think you know a lot, huh?”
The shopkeeper shouted, waving his hand:
“Make sure he walks in standing up and gets carried out lying down…”
“Ah…”
Before they could even move, and before they could clearly see how the man acted, those who had just surrounded him were already sent flying by a kick.
One by one, they lay on the ground, howling in pain.
The shopkeeper watched as the man strode toward him, swallowing hard, and threatened:
“Don’t come any closer! Do you know who I answer to? It’ll scare you to death—I’m the second brother of Brother Hu from the Black Market. You…”
Before the shopkeeper could finish, Xiao Yan kicked him unconscious.
Just as he reached the shop entrance, thick smoke could be seen billowing from the direction of the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.
“Fire! Fire! Run for your lives…”
Watching the panicked crowd, Lin Zhaoyue frowned. She turned to look at the black smoke filling the sky and said urgently:
“Let’s go quickly…”
…
Sitting in the carriage, Lin Zhaoyue watched the diverse crowd fleeing from the exit. After a moment, she lowered the curtain:
“Go.”
Without a word, Seventeen urged the horses forward and drove away.
Along the way, Lin Zhaoyue noticed officers from the Dali Temple galloping on horseback toward the Black Market, kicking up clouds of dust in their wake.
Chu Bai kept his eyes fixed outside, seemingly memorizing the route.
Lin Zhaoyue pretended not to notice and instead instructed Seventeen to go to the capital’s largest market street—Chang’an Street.
On the wide bluestone road, a grand procession of carts and horses moved back and forth, pedestrians streamed endlessly, shop banners fluttered high above, hawking cries rose and fell in succession, and dazzling goods were everywhere.
The entire street was steeped in a thick atmosphere of bustling life, extraordinarily lively.
Such a lively place was perfect for—escape!
Lin Zhaoyue noticed Chu Bai’s eyes lighting up.
“Seventeen, stop here. I’ll go buy something.”
The carriage halted. Lin Zhaoyue took a pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Chu Bai:
“Now that you’re also my person, I cannot treat you poorly. Take this. Later, if you see anything you like, buy it.”
Chu Bai pursed his red lips, looked at the not-so-full pouch, and reached out to take it:
“Thank you, Miss.”
After they disembarked from the carriage, Chu Bai was curious about everything, looking at this and that.
Lin Zhaoyue took Chu Bai to a tavern.
Chu Bai was clearly starving, eating voraciously.
After ten years of wandering displacement, this was Chu Bai’s most satisfying meal.
Once they had eaten and drunk enough, Chu Bai patted his round, full belly and said he needed to go to the restroom.
Lin Zhaoyue didn’t say anything, only gave him a deep look before nodding.
Lin Zhaoyue’s gaze made Chu Bai unable to meet it directly—it seemed capable of piercing through one’s heart.
After waiting for about the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, Seventeen looked toward the door:
“I’ll go check on him.”
Lin Zhaoyue shook her head, sipped some tea, then set down her cup:
“No need. He’s already gone. Let’s go!”
In this lifetime, since she had decided to choose another path, staying in the capital would be fraught with peril.
His fortune or misfortune beside her was unpredictable. This life, she hoped he wouldn’t be trapped by cages, forever free, living well—being a wealthy man would be quite fine.
The two left the tavern and boarded the carriage heading toward the Lin Residence, traveling in the direction completely opposite to the white-clad youth.
Chu Bai ran desperately, not even daring to look back.
He didn’t know how long he had run; only when his stomach hurt unbearably did he stop.
He shouldn’t have been so greedy earlier.
He hid in a corner, secretly glancing behind—no one was chasing him.
It seemed he had shaken them off.
He relaxed, collapsing onto the ground.
Looking at his hand, which had just been brushed by Lin Zhaoyue’s sleeve, he felt extremely disgusted.
During these years of being sold as a catamite, those who coveted his appearance were all for that one thing.
Copulation was the most disgusting thing in this world!
After resting a while, Chu Bai stood up and went to wash his hands at the river.
He scrubbed those hands, more tender and white than a woman’s, until they turned red, stopping only when faint red blood threads emerged.
Casually drying his hands, he pulled out the pouch Lin Zhaoyue had given him.
The pouch was quite simple: light green satin, with only a “Lin” embroidered at the bottom.
Carrying a faint lime scent belonging to her.
Chu Bai didn’t reject this scent, but whenever he thought that this pouch was someone else’s personal item, he felt an inexplicable physiological disgust.
This disgust wasn’t directed at anyone specifically; rather, years of unbearable experiences made him repel anyone.
He had lost his memory, didn’t remember who he was, didn’t remember what had happened to him before. He only knew that from the moment he had memory, he had always been what others called a catamite—a lowly, despicable identity.
He pulled open the drawstring of the purse and poured the silver coins into his hand, discovering there were even a few Gold Nuggets inside. Truly, she was a daughter of a wealthy family—generous and gullible.
Years of hardship had taught him that appropriate displays of weakness and feigned obedience could make life much easier for him.
Just as he was about to discard the purse, his thumb brushed against a different texture, like paper.
His hand paused, and Chu Bai reopened the purse, finding that it actually had a hidden compartment.
Opening the compartment, he saw several neatly folded banknotes, and his expression instantly turned somewhat subtle.
He reached in, picked them up, and unfolded them.
Three banknotes, each with a face value of one thousand taels.