I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon-Chapter 999 - 371: Peach Blossom Tribulation! Ye Zi’e’s Little Schemes! (2)
"That’s not what I meant."
Chen Mo was silent for a moment, then said solemnly, "No matter what, what is done is done, I won’t make any excuses for myself... I have mastered the ’Master Dongxuan’s Yin Yang Secret Technique,’ and it might help you reach the Heavenly Human Realm. If you’re ready, you can come find me at any time."
"As for the Empress, I’ll find a way to resolve it, you don’t need to worry."
He was well aware of what Ye Zi’e wanted.
Thus, he didn’t say foolish things like "be responsible for you for a lifetime," as they had no emotional foundation to begin with. Instead of making empty promises, it’s better to offer something tangible.
"Are you saying you’re willing to do dual cultivation with me?" Ye Zi’e asked in surprise.
"Since the uncooked rice has already been cooked, cooking it a few more times shouldn’t be a problem, right?" Chen Mo spread his hands and said, "Of course, the premise is that you don’t mind."
"..."
Ye Zi’e realized the other party misunderstood.
In fact, the thug knocked on the wrong door that night and didn’t really come to enroll.
She wanted to explain, but swallowed the words back.
This might not be a bad thing, rather it could become an opportunity for her to reach the rank of Grandmaster...
"I didn’t expect to predict something yesterday and have it come true today?"
"But rushing won’t make the tofu cook faster, especially with the Empress still around, there will be more opportunities in the future."
Thinking of this, Ye Zi’e cleared her throat and said, "Let’s talk about this matter later, Mr. Chen, don’t worry, professional matters are professional, personal matters are personal, I won’t let personal feelings affect business."
"That’s good."
Seeing the other party so magnanimous, Chen Mo finally relaxed.
With things out in the open, both felt a lot lighter, and the atmosphere was no longer as awkward as before.
At this moment, Chen Mo thought of something and turned to ask, "By the way, there’s one thing I’m curious about... what’s Mr. Xu’s background?"
Ye Zi’e was taken aback, "Why are you asking this?"
"She doesn’t feel like an ordinary officer, there’s something peculiar, but I can’t pinpoint it." Chen Mo thought, rubbing his chin, "Could she be the daughter of some wealthy family? But there’s no prominent Xu family in Tiandu City."
"..."
Ye Zi’e’s lips twitched, shaking her head, "She’s just a small assistant officer of the Tusi, I find her clever, so I keep her by my side, she doesn’t have any special identity."
"Is that so?"
Chen Mo’s brow furrowed slightly.
He could tell Ye Zi’e wasn’t being truthful but felt it inappropriate to press further.
"Let’s go."
"Alright."
After leaving the alley, the two walked toward the center of the city.
Passing through bustling streets, they vaguely saw a circle of city walls, and in front of the gates, government officers in armor were standing guard.
Ye Zi’e explained, "Back when the Barbarian Tribe invaded, Bailu City, as the state capital, took the brunt, the city gates were broken, blood flowed like rivulets, casualties were grave. This city has been rebuilt since then."
"To strengthen the defenses, the city center is mainly designated for government offices, state mansion, and guards, then extending outward a hundred miles as commercial and residential areas, forming the appearance of today’s inner city and outer suburbs."
Chen Mo suddenly understood, "No wonder the city walls don’t have signs of wind and sand erosion, so it’s newly built? Saying it’s to strengthen defenses, but isn’t it just using the common people as a buffer?"
"...Indeed, that’s one way to put it."
"But now with the Princess stationed at the border, the Barbarians dare not cross the line a single step, there’s no need to worry about external threats anymore, the inner city is more like a symbol of status."
"Didn’t Kuang Jie give you a letter of introduction? Should we go in and seek help from the State Mansion?"
Ye Zi’e asked.
After all, the area of Bailu City is too large, with just a few of them, finding traces of the Gu God Sect is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"There’s no rush for now."
Looking at the heavily guarded inner city, Chen Mo’s eyes flickered.
Kuang Jie’s uncle is the Assistant Governor of Nantu State, with significant power. Just holding that letter of introduction, coupled with his identity as a Tianlin Guard Thousand Households, would surely gain the other’s assistance.
But the premise is that the other party is clean.
"Gu God Sect’s means are unpredictable, no one can be easily trusted."
"I don’t want to expose my identity just yet, let’s wander around the outer city first and see if the State Mansion will show any movements."
The issue of the Tianlin Guard coming to Bailu City, Kuang Jie would surely communicate with his uncle, but the Gu God Sect is unaware of their movements... This simple information gap can easily reveal a flaw.
Ye Zi’e understood Chen Mo’s intention and asked, "Where should we go now?"
Chen Mo glanced around, noticing a courtyard with the sign "Pear Cloud Hall" from which melodious singing faintly emerged, he blinked, "Nothing to do, why not visit the brothel and listen to music, let’s go and sit."
"Huh?"
Ye Zi’e hadn’t reacted before Chen Mo had already stepped inside, quickly lifting her leg to follow.
The theater was quite spacious, with two levels, a stage built of solid wood in the center, tea tables placed around, and armchairs in the corners.
Compared to the night scene, the day scene is generally calmer, but the first floor is still nearly eighty percent full, business is not bad.
The voice of the actor on the stage is clear and melodious, like shattered jade falling onto a plate, and cheers could be heard sporadically from the audience.
The server approached quickly, with a smile on his face, and asked, "Did the two of you come to listen to the tunes? Scattered seats or formal seats?"
The price list was displayed above the counter. The row chairs under the gallery were scattered seats, only requiring an admission fee of fifty cents, while the tea tables near the stage were formal seats, requiring an additional two hundred cents for tea.
"Find a private room and brew a pot of good tea."
Chen Mo raised his hand and tossed over a silver ingot.
The server reached out to catch it and weighed it slightly, his smile growing even more radiant, "Certainly, esteemed guests, please go upstairs."
He led the two to a private room on the east side upstairs, saying, "You’ve come at the perfect time today, the next show is Mr. Ming, who is the star performer of our Pear Cloud Hall, guaranteed to make your experience thoroughly enjoyable."
Opening the door, the room was simply yet elegantly decorated, spacious and well-organized.
The window faced directly towards the center of the stage, providing an extremely wide view, with two pear wood chairs and a tea table beside it, and a couch with bedding against the wall.
"Please sit for a moment, your tea will be served right away."
The server bowed and exited.
Chen Mo walked into the private room and sat by the window.
Listening to the melodic opera voice, he tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table.
Ye Zi’e, sitting opposite, asked puzzled, "Mr. Chen, aren’t we investigating?"
"As you yourself said, Bailu City is too big, like finding a needle in a haystack." Chen Mo replied with a smile, "Therefore, we’ll have to devise a way to let the fish come to us."
Knock knock knock—
At this moment, the door knocked, and a maid carrying a teapot walked in gracefully.
She filled the two teacups in front of them to seventy percent full, the fragrance was captivating, and she said gently, "This is ’Snow Drifting Over Jade Pond,’ made from Mengshan Green Tea and jasmine flowers. Please enjoy."
"Here, a reward for you." Chen Mo pulled out a silver note and handed it over.
"Fifty... fifty taels?!"
Seeing the denomination on the silver note, the maid nearly lost her balance.
It’s just delivering tea, and this much reward? She couldn’t earn this much in years!
"Sir, we... we don’t have that kind of service here..." The maid’s throat moved, her tone struggling.
Though tempted, she knew there’s no free lunch in the world, this money wouldn’t be easy to take.
"Don’t be nervous, I have no other intention. This money is rightfully yours, consider it my... spirit compensation." Chen Mo said.
"Spirit compensation?"
The maid hadn’t yet thought through the words, only feeling the man’s eyes like whirlpools, unconsciously drowning in them.
Her gaze gradually became hollow, standing motionless like a statue.
Chen Mo took out a wooden box, handed it to the maid, and transmitted, "Take this and place it into..."
"Yes."
The maid nodded woodenly, turned, and walked out of the private room.
Ye Zi’e asked curiously, "Mr. Chen, what did you give her?"
"Gu Poison Worm."
"What?"
Seeing her bewildered expression, Chen Mo said with a grin, "The bait has been set, now to see if the fish will bite."
...
...
Backstage.
Ming Yuchun was sitting at the dressing table, arranging his costume, fully dressed as a martial character with heroic features between his brows.
"Mr. Ming, you can get ready to go on stage now." the stage manager reminded.
"Alright." Ming Yuchun responded.
Tap tap tap—
At this time, light footsteps could be heard.
Ming Yuchun turned his head to look, puzzled, "Little Yue, aren’t you out greeting guests? What are you doing in the backstage?"
Yue’er held a tea bowl and spoke softly, "Sir, have a cup of tea to soothe your throat."
"You little girl, you do have a thoughtful mind."
Ming Yuchun chuckled, took the porcelain bowl and drank it all, then patted Yu’er’s head, before getting up to head to the stage.
Moments later, Yue’er suddenly awoke, looking around with a perplexed expression.
"Huh? How did I end up here?"
