“Since you are guests, you are naturally free to go up. However, as it is your first time here, it would be better if Jin Yi accompanied you!”
Jin Yi bowed slightly, her beautiful eyes darting about as she looked at Shi Yu with a coy, alluring gaze.
Mo Yuan stood to the side, taking all of this in. Just as he was about to act, Shi Yu stopped him.
“Then I shall trouble you, Miss Jin Yi.”
Shi Yu kept a smile on his lips, appearing gentle and elegant as he nodded to Jin Yi.
The two followed Jin Yi upstairs. Shi Yu, seizing a moment when Jin Yi was not paying attention, calmly observed the surrounding layout.
The second floor seemed normal enough, no different from typical pleasure houses. It was filled with young masters from noble families seeking amusement, and the sounds of debauchery and unrestrained laughter rose and fell.
Jin Yi led Shi Yu and Mo Yuan through the entire second floor. As they reached the stairs again, Shi Yu prepared to head up, only to be blocked by Jin Yi once more.
“Miss Jin Yi, as guests, is it not slightly improper for you to block our way time and again?”
Mo Yuan gently waved the bamboo fan in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling up as his peach-blossom eyes revealed a deeper meaning.
“Please forgive me, young master. It is not that Jin Yi wishes to obstruct you, but rather that even I have no permission to set foot on the third floor.”
Jin Yi lowered her head slightly, appearing quite pitiable.
Hearing this, Shi Yu seemed to have his interest piqued.
“Oh? Then why do you not tell me, Miss Jin Yi, what are the conditions for going up?”
Jin Yi looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with affection as she gazed at Shi Yu.
“The third floor of the Phantom Beauty Pavilion is occupied by figures of great importance in the Cloudmist Kingdom. It really is not convenient to bring you two young masters up there.”
Upon hearing this, Mo Yuan closed his folding fan and slowly stepped toward Jin Yi.
Feeling the pressure of Mo Yuan’s encroaching aura, Jin Yi took a small step back, her hands clenching tightly.
Just as Jin Yi prepared to take action, Mo Yuan stopped.
“In that case, Miss Jin Yi, just arrange a room for us on the second floor. There is no need to call for dancing girls; I still prefer to be served by Miss Jin Yi.”
Watching Mo Yuan’s playful demeanor, Shi Yu felt inexplicably annoyed, and his tone sharpened.
“A-Yuan!”
Seeing this, Mo Yuan raised an eyebrow and retreated sullenly back to Shi Yu’s side.
Shi Yu frowned slightly and bowed toward Jin Yi. “I trouble you, Miss.”
Jin Yi seemed to have not seen a man of such refined character in a long time; she stood stunned for a moment before immediately agreeing and leading them to an empty room.
Once the attendants brought fine wine and Jin Yi had composed herself, she asked Shi Yu once more.
“Is there anything else you require, young master?”
Hearing this question, Mo Yuan immediately looked at Shi Yu.
Shi Yu, however, seemed to be intentionally teasing him; he kept his head down and remained silent, appearing to be in deep thought.
Mo Yuan was so anxious he was practically fuming, almost shouting a refusal to Jin Yi himself.
“No need for now. Since it is our first time here, we must get accustomed to the environment.”
Under Mo Yuan’s piercing gaze, Shi Yu finally spoke.
Jin Yi seemed to have anticipated this answer; she gave a faint smile, nodded slightly, and then retreated from the room.
As soon as Jin Yi left the room, Shi Yu immediately cast a spell. A “trace butterfly” materialized from his hand and flew quietly into the air, concealing its form as it closely followed Jin Yi outside.
Unexpectedly, Jin Yi seemed to sense the butterfly’s presence and turned to check. The butterfly immediately shattered and vanished into the air.
Seeing nothing amiss, Jin Yi assumed it was a trick of the mind and turned to leave.
Shi Yu had just withdrawn his hand when he felt the butterfly vanish, feeling slightly surprised.
“A-Yu.”
Mo Yuan, who had been watching Shi Yu’s actions, was about to ask, but Shi Yu signaled him to be silent.
Immediately after, Shi Yu waved his hand, and a transparent barrier rippled out like water, completely enveloping the room.
“Does A-Yu also feel that this Jin Yi is suspicious?”
Once the barrier was fully formed, Mo Yuan finally asked the question.
“It is not just Jin Yi; I fear that all the dancing girls in this entire brothel are problematic.”
Mo Yuan listened to Shi Yu’s words, tapping his bamboo fan as he recalled what he had just seen and heard.
That Jin Yi was indeed not simple; she was likely specifically assigned to guard the third floor.
As for the other dancing girls, their eyes were quite strange. They must have been under some kind of dark magic, though it seemed this magic had no effect on them.
“This Jin Yi finds us to be unfamiliar faces, so she will likely investigate our identities. When we return, have Fu Zhu make arrangements immediately.”
Shi Yu’s expression was grave as he carefully eliminated every potential danger, unwilling to overlook any hidden threats.
“Fine. But, did you really want to order dancing girls just now, A-Yu?” Mo Yuan asked, his eyes drifting toward the dancers on the stage below.
“Why? Are you allowed to flirt with the ladies, but I am not allowed to order a performance?”
Hearing Mo Yuan, Shi Yu’s expression remained calm, as if this were a matter of no great importance.
Recalling his own actions just now, Mo Yuan felt a bit chagrined. “I was only testing her!”
“Then I was only trying to avoid making her suspicious. Who enters a pleasure house and refuses dancers without a moment’s hesitation?”
Hearing Shi Yu’s flat, logical defense, Mo Yuan felt there was some truth to it; he pursed his lips and said nothing more.
To avoid arousing suspicion, the two spent the better part of the day at the Phantom Beauty Pavilion. When they left, they even successfully pretended to be bewitched in front of Jin Yi, successfully pulling off the ruse.
Jin Yi watched the two men leave, silently mocking them in her heart. Men really are all the same!
She even felt ashamed for previously thinking Shi Yu was different, and she returned to the pavilion in a state of annoyance.
Avoiding the crowds, Jin Yi twisted and turned until she reached a room hidden behind a wall.
In the room stood a man dressed in black, who turned to look at Jin Yi upon hearing the movement.
“Night Shadow, help us find out the background of these two.”
With a playful smile, Jin Yi handed the portrait to the man and instructed him carefully.
“These two should have only arrived in the King City a few days ago. Help me check carefully and see if there are any problems.”
The man took the portrait but remained silent throughout. He simply nodded slightly to indicate he understood before leaping out the window.
Like a phantom, he vanished into the dark night.
Watching the man’s uninteresting behavior, Jin Yi could not help but roll her eyes. She closed the window and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, Shi Yu and Mo Yuan had already returned to their residence by the time Night Shadow set out.
Shi Yu, feeling a sense of urgency, immediately sought Fu Zhu to discuss a strategy.
“Fu Zhu, someone will come to investigate our identities in the next two days. Do you have a way to cover our tracks?”
Fu Zhu, upon hearing the request, seemed to have anticipated it. “I had already arranged it when I arrived. Furthermore, all the neighbors know that the two Senior Brothers are merchants from Lannan County who have come to the King City to take refuge.”
Hearing of Fu Zhu’s meticulous planning, Shi Yu was secretly surprised but did not show it, simply offering genuine praise.
“You are indeed thorough.”
As expected, after investigating for two days, Night Shadow confirmed that they were merely merchants and returned to report the results to Jin Yi.
“Merchants? Ha! Someone truly brought a pillow just as I was getting sleepy!”
Upon hearing the report, Jin Yi was overjoyed, as if she could already see the piles of silver flying toward her.
“Go back and tell your master that we accept the matter we discussed before.”
Night Shadow remained silent, only nodding to show he understood.
Jin Yi really did not want to look at this frozen face, so she turned and left immediately after speaking.
Not until Jin Yi had turned away did Night Shadow dare to lift his eyes to watch her retreating figure, his expression filled with an indescribable, lingering longing.
On Shi Yu’s side, Fu Zhu had also sensed Night Shadow’s covert surveillance. Once he confirmed the deception had succeeded, he informed Shi Yu and Mo Yuan.
“It seems they believed us. Merchants; they should be a role that interests them. Now, we wait to see what they do next.”
Shi Yu set down his teacup, his tone cool with a hint of playful intrigue.
“Does Fu Zhu know who it was that came to investigate?”
Fu Zhu shook his head.