Chapter 281: Chapter 224: Return to Chang’an

Chang’an Military Mansion, West Gate.

Li Bao stayed beside the fire basin, craning his neck in anticipation. Beside him, the old hand Han Ya chuckled, "It’s rare to see someone as eager as you standing guard."

Li Bao’s face was rosy from the fire, "I’m just wondering whether to go home to sleep or have a drink after my shift."

"Want to head to Red Candle Street?" Han Ya stroked his chin, "Don’t worry, with Brother Ya leading the way, you’ll find a woman that’ll make you savor every taste."

Red Candle Street is the most famous street for seeking pleasure in Chang’an County Town. It has both high-end and low-end offerings. Every night, each house lights a red candle outside, reminiscent of the wedding night candles in a bridal chamber. Han Ya, well into his forties and still single, spends all his pay on Red Candle Street and becomes the groom every night during his holidays. He’s the mansion’s famed ’critic’; during dull training sessions, everyone passes the time listening to Han Ya’s bridal chamber stories.

"I wouldn’t dare. Leaving the military mansion without permission will result in a punishment!"

"How about we go together during the holiday in a couple of days?" Han Ya tempted, "The girl I met last time, tsk tsk, her face was so tender you could squeeze water out of it, her hips big and white, moaning for dear life like a mother cat clutching onto someone. Want to give it a try?"

Although Han Ya’s description was both crude and simple, it was already an enticing tale for a young man like Li Bao. He shook his head vigorously, "No, I want to save Spiritual Jade to buy a Cultivation Technique. I also aspire to become a Masked Mansion Soldier!"

"Hey, what’s so great about being a Masked Mansion Soldier? You’ll have to battle in the Secret Realm, come fire or flood. Living a well-fed, safe life in the Chang’an Prefecture is much better," Han Ya said. "Why do you even need to save Spiritual Jade to buy a Cultivation Technique? Judging by your name, aren’t you a Li Family member? Ordinary people can’t enter Chang’an Military Mansion."

As the Capital Military Mansion, it doesn’t require battling in the Secret Realm, yet pay is fully distributed. How could such a nice job fall to ordinary people? Chang’an Military Mansion doesn’t recruit outsiders; even the sweepers are in by connections.

"My grandfather was a servant at Duke Tang’s Mansion, given the surname Li. My parents spent a lot of money to get me into the mansion," Li Bao said honestly, "We have no money left to buy a Cultivation Technique; I have to rely on saving Spiritual Jade myself."

"Your parents put you here to get through life. Why bother buying a Cultivation Technique? What if you become a Second-Turn Messenger and are sent to fight in the Secret Realm?"

"How do you gain commendations to exchange for tokens without fighting in the Secret Realm?" Li Bao had his own ideas, "Since I have the chance to become Mansion Soldiers, I shouldn’t miss it. What’s the point of being a mere mortal in this lifetime?"

Han Ya shook his head, "Hey, when you reach my age, you’ll understand. Ordinary, mortal life is just fine."

Li Bao didn’t argue, but his expression showed his complete disagreement. Han Ya wasn’t surprised. Young folks always think they’re unique, assuming that having a clear goal means they’re on the right track... But often, you don’t even know where the path leads, swept by the tides of the mundane world, unknowingly leaving you with illness and unaccomplished dreams.

Suddenly, Li Bao straightened his posture. Han Ya turned to see a carriage turn from the corner of the street. It wasn’t particularly large, just a two-horse, four-wheeled carriage, but the two horses were pure white mares with gleaming manes under the moonlight like snow; the carriage bore eight orange lanterns that spun with its movement, casting shifting shadows, leaving the carriage in a dream-like atmosphere, mysterious and ambiguous.

As the carriage drew nearer, they could see more details: painted on its exterior was an illustration they couldn’t understand, showing a man and woman embracing on a bridge of magpies. At the front hung two wind chimes, ringing gently as it moved, their sound ethereal and pleasant.

At the top of the carriage hung a flag bearing the character ’Yue’, the strokes tender and lively... At that moment, Han Ya and Li Bao seemed to become cultured people, able to appreciate the quality of the calligraphy.

Though they hadn’t seen inside the carriage yet, the two guards were already tense, hearts racing.

"Stop!" Han Ya gestured to halt the carriage, "Who goes there?"

The carriage slowly stopped before the West Gate; the coachman was a young man, accompanied by a pale assistant. The assistant rubbed his hands together, an ingratiating smile on his face, "Gentlemen, inside is Miss Quan of Xijiang Yue, coming to meet Commander Li tonight to admire the moon and discuss poetry. Should we report in?"

"We need a look."

"No problem, but... if Miss Quan is seen by others coming out, it wouldn’t be good for Commander Li. Please peek through the window."

Under the assistant’s gaze, Han Ya and Li Bao approached the carriage, cautiously lifting the curtain.

First came the enveloping fragrant smoke, a refreshing scent, far from gaudy, likely lilac-scented. Inside was brightly lit, unknown how many lanterns were lit. Walls and ceiling covered with white silk, the floor a fluffy white carpet, the only colors noticeable were Miss Quan and the maid.

Miss Quan sat comfortably, draped in wide-sleeved colorful clothes, wearing a black silk hat that concealed her appearance. What made the two guards’ blood race was her stocking-clad legs fully exposed, being massaged in the maid’s arms, seemingly wearing nothing beneath her colorful attire.

"Gentlemen," Miss Quan’s voice carried a magnetic quality, "Thank you for your hard work tonight."

"It’s no trouble at all." Li Bao hurriedly spoke, his face flushed, unable to keep looking, "You may proceed." Inside the carriage was clear; only Miss Quan and the maid, no further inspection needed.

"Why does your maid wear a black thing?" Han Ya’s keen eyes caught it.

"Little Shang is blind; her unmoving pupils can frighten guests, so I bought this to cover her eyes." Miss Quan reached over to stroke the maid’s hair, prompting the maid to lower her head in gratitude—anyone could see they shared a close bond.

As the carriage entered the Military Mansion, Han Ya and Li Bao lingered for a long time, their nostrils flaring as they inhaled the fragrance left behind by the carriage, as if doing so would bring them closer to the fair lady.

"Such a beautiful girl... and so kind..."

"Indeed, those long legs could definitely crush me."

...

"Blind man, right? Blind man, right?"

"Shut up, little maid, just behave and massage my legs!"

Inside the carriage, Shang Xinlei was causing a commotion because of Yan Qing’s words, while Yan Qing naturally did not indulge her. The two went back and forth in the cramped space of the carriage. Outside, Ying Rushi lowly commanded, "Stop arguing, we’re nearing the next checkpoint!"

Then Yan Qing immediately donned the long-sleeved colorful outfit, stuffing his legs into Shang Xinlei’s embrace as a lure. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

That’s right, this was the plan they came up with in just fifteen minutes. All three had ways to reveal themselves, but Yan Qing lacked any disguise methods and didn’t want to appear, so the role of the girl would naturally fall to him because only a girl could openly wear the black gauze hat, especially since she was Commander Li’s bride tonight, not someone a mere soldier could simply gaze upon.

But it wasn’t safe enough just with this; what if someone insisted on taking a look? So Yan Qing could only expose his legs, disguising them as a tantalizing illusion of bare skin under the colorful outfit, causing the Mansion Soldiers to think twice about whether Commander Li would reprimand them, naturally hastening their pass.

Incidentally, the long-sleeved colorful outfit and stockings were provided by Shang Xinlei. In terms of physique, Pharmacist’s Wish’s clothes were more suitable, but all her garments were crafted by a Chang’an tailor, and one can’t be too cautious; besides, smaller clothes might be more effective.

As a result, they proceeded smoothly all the way. Even the most troublesome fortress in the plan directly let them in, although Yan Qing’s legs were nearly pinched red by Shang Xinlei, as she tightly held them in her embrace, and Yan Qing felt a bouncing and soft mass pressing against his calfs. This rascal was clearly taking the opportunity to retaliate, as if I’d done something to her legs... Which I probably did.

Outside the courtyard of the commander’s room, two Mansion Soldiers reached out to stop the carriage, indicating that only the lady could enter with them; the others must wait outside.

This was the place.

"Hold on, Miss Quan is switching shoes." Ying Rushi said as she walked over to the soldiers, glancing at the fortress patrol that had just passed, while Pharmacist’s Wish quietly got off the carriage pretending to feed the horse.

"Miss Quan is coming out," Shang Xinlei’s voice sounded from inside. The two soldiers instinctively glanced at the carriage’s curtains, and simultaneously Ying Rushi and Pharmacist’s Wish drew their weapons and attacked.

Ying Rushi struck three times, Pharmacist’s Wish twice, breaking their shields before the soldiers could react, then the two delivered a fierce blow, nearly breaking their necks, rendering them unconscious!

They had confirmed that Li Long’s outer guards were First-Turn Mansion Soldiers, as using Second-Turn Messengers for night duty was too extravagant. To Pharmacist’s Wish and Ying Rushi, the First-Turn Soldiers’ Masked Helmets were no different from walnut shells!

Fully armed, Yan Qing and Shang Xinlei immediately sprang from the carriage, helping to move the two soldiers to the shadows, tying them up as a wrap-up.

This wouldn’t stay hidden for long; the fortress patrol would soon notice these two guards weren’t at their posts. Yet, given the leniency of the Chang’an Military Mansion, this might buy fifteen minutes to half an hour, as everyone knew Li Long sought a girl every night, and unless it was something extremely urgent, no one would choose this time to disturb the commander.

And the thieves only needed this time discrepancy!

Approaching the commander’s room, the four donned their masks, Yan Qing glanced at Pharmacist’s Wish, who nodded and eased her footsteps. Only Yan Qing, Ying Rushi, and Shang Xinlei’s footsteps were audible. Yan Qing went ahead and knocked on the door, speaking with a disguised voice, "Commander Li, Xijiang Yue Quan comes to fulfill the night’s appointment."

In the room, ’Rising Dragon Hand’ Li Long was handling business, and upon hearing the knock, he quickly got up and strode over, saying, "Coming."

Before opening the door, Li Long suddenly felt a warning sign—something was off. Usually, the guards knock to report; why was there no noise from the guards this time? They would never miss such an opportunity to appear before me!

Simultaneously, the thieves, with their ears pressed to the wall, noticed Li Long’s footsteps stop at the door but didn’t open it and realized something was amiss.

As Li Long’s retreating footsteps sounded, Pharmacist’s Wish promptly kicked the door open, and Ying Rushi charged in!

But it was too late; Li Long was already near the massive alarm bell in the room, punching it vigorously!

The alarm bell vibrated intensely, its roar deafening, akin to thunder tearing through the night sky!