WWWASTJWTCAT?

17

Chapter 17

“Hmph, what does this have to do with me?” Xu Nian mused.

Upon hearing this, Xu Nian felt relieved and turned back towards the inn. Now, with Qi Shaochen’s storage bag and the treasured divine artifact she had fought so hard for, she felt like she hit the jackpot. Aside from the divine artifact, she was particularly interested in the contents of that sly Qi Shaochen’s storage bag, which undoubtedly contained many valuable items.

Xu Nian’s heart fluttered with excitement, and if it weren’t for the injury on her tail, she would have been leaping for joy. She floated into the inn, heading towards her room. But, pausing in surprise, she noticed two unfamiliar men at her door, suspiciously peering inside.

Recalling the “flower thief” incident she overheard on the street, Xu Nian panicked, wondering if they were after Ji Yuebai. One of the men was extinguishing a burning fragrance stick at the window, while the other was silently working on picking the door lock with a thin iron piece.

Without hesitation, Xu Nian rushed towards them.

Zhang Wen and Li Qiao, were infamous the “flower pickers,” they had caused much grief to many families, preying on young women. Due to the shame associated with such incidents, many families refrained from reporting them, allowing these two to continue their crimes unabated.

They had heard about Mu Yanyu, the wealthy and beautiful daughter of the richest man in the south, now owner of the Baibao Pavilion in Qingshui County. Their corrupt minds couldn’t resist the temptation. After enjoying the daughters of many wealthy families, they wondered how much more thrilling it would be with a rich man’s daughter. So, they meticulously planned their attack on Mu Yanyu.

However, on their reconnaissance day, they were completely entranced by the sight of Ji Yuebai leaving Baibao Pavilion. They had never seen a woman so beautiful, and her presence haunted them for days. Noticing the sword at her waist, they guessed she was a cultivator.

Far from being deterred, Zhang Wen and Li Qiao reckoned that sleeping with a female cultivator would be a crowning achievement, even in death. They took every precaution, even hiring different people to track her movements, finally pinpointing Ji Yuebai’s lodging and routine.

But their greed proved to be their downfall. Eyeing both Ji Yuebai and Mu Yanyu, they were caught red-handed by Mu Yanyu, who had gotten up during the night. The incident, involving the county magistrate’s beloved niece, caused a commotion in the county, leading to a late-night manhunt by the patrolling guards.

By morning, the whole county would know, and the beautiful cultivator at the inn would surely be on guard. Finding another opportunity would be next to impossible. Unwilling to let their prey escape, Zhang Wen and Li Qiao gritted their teeth and sneaked back to the inn, making their way to Ji Yuebai’s room.

With their hearts in their throats, they lit the aphrodisiac incense, fearful that the cultivator would wake up and slay them with her sword. Fortunately, there was no other movement in the room even after the incense had burned out.

Zhang Wen and Li Qiao were overjoyed, and just as they finally pried open the door, Zhang suddenly felt a hard object poking his lower back. Irritated, he swatted it away, grumbling, “It’s not the time for jokes.”

But Li Qiao’s voice trembled uncontrollably, “No, no, no… It’s not a joke… Zhang, there’s a snake. Did we… are we… seeing things?”