Volume One: A Beauty’s Bane Chapter 35: The Flower-Plucking Thief

"It is fortunate that I did not choose to go out during the day. It seems I really must heed my master’s words!"

Jiang Hao, having just stepped out of the Xike Restaurant, could not help but be startled as he passed the East Gate of Yongan City. He quickly ducked into a narrow alley. Not far ahead, soldiers stood before the East Gate, clad in armor and clutching spears, fully prepared for battle. At their head, a middle-aged officer held a portrait, meticulously questioning the few people attempting to leave the city. The security was incredibly tight. Though Jiang Hao could not see the portrait clearly, he had a sinking suspicion that the face depicted was his own.

"I wonder if the guards at the South Gate are as strict as those at the East?" Jiang Hao sighed inwardly. The South Gate was the closest route to the Misty Forest, but it seemed he had no choice now. He would have to observe which gate was the least guarded and slip through there. As long as he could ensure his safety, a long detour was worth it.

"It looks like I will have to trouble Master to intervene when the time comes," Jiang Hao muttered with a wry smile, then continued his dash toward the Wanbao Pavilion. After witnessing the scene at the gate, he no longer intended to just buy healing pills; he hoped to find treasures within the Pavilion that might aid his escape.

As he hurried through the night, a dark figure carrying a heavy sack leaped over the rooftops three miles away from the Pavilion, flashing past Jiang Hao’s line of sight.

"Stealing such a large sack in the middle of the night? That thief has had a fruitful evening!" Jiang Hao thought in surprise. Suddenly, he froze. "Wait! That doesn't look like a common thief. There seems to be a person inside that sack—it looks like a woman..."

"That fellow is clearly a lecherous kidnapper!" Jiang Hao was shocked. This was his first time witnessing such a crime in person.

"Forget it, better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Getting to the Wanbao Pavilion to find Pavilion Master Qin is the priority." He frowned, watching the dark-robed figure vanish into the distance. Just as he was about to move on, Feng Ling’er’s mocking voice echoed in his ear: "Kid, the Pavilion Master you are looking for is not in the Wanbao Pavilion right now."

"Master, what do you mean?" Jiang Hao asked, confused.

"You already saw that Pavilion Master just now," Feng Ling’er whispered.

Jiang Hao suddenly realized, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at the blurred silhouette of the dark-robed figure. "Master, are you saying... the person in that sack is Pavilion Master Qin?"

"That is correct," Feng Ling’er replied calmly.

In an instant, Jiang Hao felt as though he had seen that dark figure somewhere before. He asked instinctively, "Master, could that dark-robed person be the powerful individual you mentioned?"

"Yes," Feng Ling’er confirmed.

Jiang Hao’s mind went blank. He had already guessed the dark-robed man's motive for abducting Qin Yumei.

"It doesn't matter. The Pavilion still has that manager; buying things from her is the same," Feng Ling’er said indifferently, as if Qin Yumei’s abduction were of no consequence. Jiang Hao, however, disagreed.

"This is outrageous! Is there no justice in this world? To dare kidnap a woman in broad daylight!" Jiang Hao shouted indignantly. "Master, let’s go save Pavilion Master Qin! If we are too late, she might be ruined by that Young Prince!"

"What does that have to do with me?" Feng Ling’er retorted with disdain.

"How... how can you say that?" Jiang Hao stammered, scrambling to explain. "Master, as cultivators, we must punish evil and promote good! Besides, she has helped us before; we cannot just stand by and watch! If she is defiled by that Prince and chooses to end her life, that would be a living soul lost!"

Jiang Hao pulled out every argument he could think of, desperate to persuade Feng Ling’er to intervene.

"Are you addicted to playing the hero saving the damsel?" Feng Ling’er replied impatiently.

"If you really want to save that woman, these reasons are not enough to make me take such a risk," she continued.

Jiang Hao, burning with anxiety, suddenly had an inspiration. "Wait! Master, I recall hearing that Prince mention that Pavilion Master Qin came from the Imperial City—she is the daughter of some noble, powerful family! She might just be honing her skills at the Yongan auction house, and her influence certainly extends beyond this single shop. If we save her, wouldn't it be much easier to find the materials for your new body?"

"Master, if we can rescue her from that Prince today, she will owe us a massive favor! We cannot hesitate—a golden opportunity like this won't come again!" Jiang Hao was amazed at his own eloquence.

"Fine, let’s go!" Feng Ling’er replied impatiently.

"Master, go where?" Jiang Hao asked, thinking he had misheard.

"Where else? To save that woman, of course!" Feng Ling’er said coldly.

"Master! I don't know how to express my admiration for you!" Jiang Hao quickly buttered her up. "But, Master, can you actually defeat that dark-robed person?"

"Nonsense!" Feng Ling’er scoffed. "Besides, who says we must use force? Can't we use our wits?"

"Master is right!" Jiang Hao felt relieved. Since she was so confident, he felt secure. "Master, the figure has gone quite far; can we still catch up?"

"What do you think?" Feng Ling’er chuckled, her voice carrying a playful tone.

"Master, what are you planning?" Jiang Hao felt a chill, sensing she was brewing some trouble.

"Kid, you are too weak. If you want to save her, you will have to suffer a little. Let me take control of your body for a while."

Without waiting for a response, Feng Ling’er flew out of the pendant and dived into his body.

A few moments later, a black shadow leaped from the ground, racing along the rooftops in the direction the kidnapper had fled.