The horse carriage lurched to a halt, its roof tassels swaying in the inky blackness. "Sunshine Town," they called it, but as the carriage doors creaked open, only shadows greeted the diverse group on the deserted street. A cold shiver snaked up the spines of the four inexperienced scholars, while the others, more seasoned travelers, silently scanned the quiet buildings for any sign of life or clue. The usual clamor of a thriving town was replaced by an unnerving stillness, as if the entire place was holding its breath under the suffocating weight of the night.
"I don't want the hunters and bandits to find me with you," Su Bofen said, his voice hushed. "I will go home first. Pretend I just met you here, okay?" Su Bofen jumped out of the carriage and quickly adjusted his clothes. Ping'an and Lee Dachin took over the carriage.
Not far away, four men walked in their direction. Su Bofen panicked.
"Lao Su... Is that you?" Man One asked, approaching with the others.
"Who are these people, Lao Su?" the man continued.
"I don't know. I just met them here," Su Bofen stammered, trying to sound convincing.
"I'm asking him for directions to the nearest Inn," Ping'an interjected smoothly.
"Where are you from?" Man Two inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Capital City," Ping'an replied.
The four men stared at the group of people, exchanging eye signals.
"There's an inn over there, not too far away," Man Two offered. "I believe there is still room. The other inn is currently overcrowded."
The group arrived at the inn suggested by the four men. It was an older inn, with guests still eating in the dining hall.
Lee Dachin stopped the carriage, and the others in the carriage stepped out with the help of Guo Longtong. The group walked into the dining hall.
The group sat at three different tables because each table had only four seats. Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Zhao Renshu sat at one table. Guo Longtong and his friends sat at another table. Fang Yaoting, Guo Yingyu, and the two Wu sisters sat at a third table.
A waiter brought them food. The eyes of Guo Longtong, Lee Dachin, Fang Yaoting, and Wu Meixiang were glued to Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Zhao Renshu.
Ping'an picked up the chopsticks of the two men, then picked a piece of meat from the plate with each chopstick and placed it into the men's bowls of rice. She handed the chopsticks to the men. Then, the two took a piece of meat from the plate and put it into her bowl of rice.
"Dachin, you still like Baiyu?" Guo Longtong sighed sadly, turning to his friend.
"He is so close to those two," Chen Changchao commented. "Childe Zhao even kissed Baiyu."
Lee Dachin looked at his friend and said, "I think he kissed Baiyu just to anger Childe Fang."
"You didn't answer my question," Guo Longtong pressed.
"I admire him very much," Lee Dachin replied. "He doesn't have to like me."
"Keep your head down," Zhao Renshu said softly to Ping'an and Guo Baiyu.
Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Zhao Renshu lowered their heads on the table. The lovers slowly turned their heads and scanned the room. To their surprise, the guests in the dining hall seemed to have fallen asleep with their heads on the tables.
Two women's voices came from outside the entrance.
"I told you that we should wait until they get back to the room," Woman One whispered.
"It is almost midnight. We need to be prepared," Woman Two replied. She sniffed. "Do you smell it?"
"Smell what?" Woman One asked.
"Very strong yang chi energy, nothing like I have ever smelled before," Woman Two murmured.
"We don't absorb human energy," Woman One stated.
"But the yang chi energy is too strong to resist," Woman Two said, her voice laced with temptation.
The two women walked to the front entrance, but three fireballs flew towards them. The two women performed two air backflips and avoided the fireballs.
Zhao Renshu flew to the front entrance. Ping'an and Guo Baiyu closely followed. The two men attacked the two women.
Guo Baiyu's leg swung towards the ground to attack one of the women's legs. She jumped up. Ping'an sent a talisman, which turned into three icicles, at the woman. The woman performed two air backflips and dodged the icicles. Guo Baiyu grabbed one of the woman's legs. Ping'an directly issued the magic rope talisman to the woman. The magic rope wrapped itself tightly around the woman's leg.
Then, a third woman jumped off the roof and began to attack Ping'an. Ping'an flew backward onto the street, landed on her feet, and took out her whip. The third woman stopped attacking.
"Ping'an?" the Third Woman said with a very sexy voice.
"You are?" Ping'an asked, surprised.
"Xiao Hui," Xiao Hui giggled. "We met in the forest a week ago, and you rescued me from the four wolves. It was me, the little white fox." She smiled at Ping'an.
"Oh, the talking little white fox fairy," Ping'an responded with a smile.
"Hmm," Xiao Hui hummed, giving her a very sexy, flirting smile. She turned around and saw Zhao Renshu, who was still fighting her sister. "Hunter Zhao, stop... it was all a misunderstanding."
Zhao Renshu loosened his hand around the woman's neck.
"Don't kill her. She is my sister Xiao Dan," Xiao Hui urged.
"Little white fox?" Zhao Renshu questioned.
Xiao Hui smiled and walked towards Zhao Renshu.
"Nice to meet you," Xiao Dan said, coughing several times.
The two sisters both giggled and said sexily, "They are so handsome." They held each other's hands.
"One of them said they would absorb someone's Yang energy," Zhao Renshu pointed out.
Xiao Hui sniffed around the men and then came to Ping'an.
"We were just talking about it," Xiao Dan clarified. "Our clan is forbidden to absorb human energy. Anyone who breaks the rules will be sentenced to death."
Xiao Hui turned to the second woman, who was still tied. "You can leave now. Once we are done here, tell the tribe chief that we will go back."
Ping'an released the spell and the magic rope.
"Did you taste it right? Strong Yang energy," Xiao Dan asked her sister.
"Yes, it's coming from her," Xiao Hui said, pointing at Ping'an. "Strange... Ping'an has strong pure yang energy. You two," she said, looking at the men, "have strong Yin energy."
"Let's go inside and talk," Guo Baiyu suggested.
The group walked inside and sat at the table.
Zhao Renshu asked, "So, what are you doing here?"
"Two weeks ago, we met a man asking for help," Xiao Hui began. "We came here to catch the thieves who kidnapped the young women and men. We heard that people often disappeared from this inn, which is why we are here. We thought you were those kidnappers."
"We also thought you were those kidnappers," Zhao Renshu admitted.
"I think it's best to lure the kidnappers," Guo Baiyu proposed.
"How?" Zhao Renshu asked.
"They only kidnap beautiful women and young people, right?" Guo Baiyu stated, looking at the Xiao sisters.
Xiao Hui and Xiao Dan nodded.
"We are all visually striking. Let us show up in public tomorrow," Guo Baiyu suggested, indicating the whole group.
"I like that idea," Xiao Hui giggled sexily, her eyes flirting with Guo Baiyu. "How about the two of us becoming your two wives? Ping'an is our maid."
"Sounds good," Ping'an agreed, "if both Xiao sisters are willing to help."
Zhao Renshu looked at Ping'an. "Come closer," he said. Ping'an moved closer to Zhao Renshu. He cast a talisman onto his palm, then placed his hand on Ping'an's left face.
"There, perfect. There's no more dust. Now wake them up," Zhao Renshu instructed.
The two Xiao sisters giggled.
Xiao Hui clapped her hands three times. Then, everyone woke up. They didn't know what had just happened, but they realized that there were two beautiful women sitting at the lovers' table.
"Everyone comes over here," Guo Baiyu said, his voice authoritative. "We need to discuss how to help this town."
Guo Baiyu's words caught the attention of the innkeeper, who also began moving closer to the group. When everyone was sitting around the table, they were all gasping in surprise.
"Ping'an... your... face..." Guo Longtong stammered, pointing.
"What happened to my face?" Ping'an asked, confused.
Lee Dachin took out a small mirror and gave it to Ping'an. Ping'an looked at her face in the mirror. There was a very large dark birthmark covering her entire left face.
"Zhao Renshu...." Ping'an sighed, her voice laced with irritation.
Zhao Renshu knew that when Ping'an said his full name, she was either all lovely-dovey towards him or very angry. Given the situation, he guessed she must be very angry. He put on an innocent, almost puppy-dog expression. "This is for your own good," he said, holding her hand.
"Listen, everyone," Guo Baiyu continued. "We have important tasks tomorrow morning and tomorrow night." He explained, "Tomorrow, we will walk into the town and be exposed as much as possible so that the bandits can see us."
"The bandits only kidnap young men and women," Zhao Renshu added. "These two sisters will pretend to be Baiyu's wives."
"Don't call me elder sister," Xiao Hui frowned playfully.
Zhao Renshu leaned close to her ear. "Sister, a thousand years old is not old, then how should I call you?"
"Tomorrow night," Guo Baiyu continued, "Yingyu and both Wu ladies will stay in one room. Childe Fang, and Ping'an will protect Guo Longtong and his friends. This means your room and their rooms need to be adjacent to each other."
"We only have four rooms left," the Innkeeper interjected.
"How about we start tonight?" Xiao Dan suggested. "If there are already spies in the inn, it would be more credible."
Both Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu said at the same time, "NO!"
Everyone looked at Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu, puzzled by their synchronized answer.
"Why not?" Xiao Hui asked, clearly confused.
Guo Longtong cleared his throat and said, "It is inappropriate for Ping'an to stay in the same room with the five of us."
The Innkeeper interjected, "There is a storage room where we stored extra blankets and pillows. This might not be the best place, but it should be possible for one person to sleep inside."
"I can sleep anywhere," Ping'an stated. "This plan will not start until tomorrow. Tomorrow night, I will guard Childe Guo and his friends with Childe Fang."
Zhao Renshu was not good at hiding his complaints. The expression on his face told the team that he was not satisfied with Ping'an's sleeping situation.
"Don't worry about who sleeps where," Ping'an said, putting an end to the discussion. "We have other important things to worry about. Remember, we must put the interests of town residents first."
"Yes, this young lady is absolutely right," the Innkeeper agreed wholeheartedly. "We need all your help. Your lodging will be provided as appreciation for helping us." He smiled. "Ah Tin, please take this lady to the storage room."
"Don't worry about me," Fang Yaoting said, stepping forward. "Even if I like Baiyu, I won't ruin his plan."
Guo Baiyu smiled and said, "Thank you for understanding."
Fang Yaoting's actions left a deep impression on everyone, especially Lee Dachin.
"Ah-Tin and Ah-Fa, take these heroes to their room," the Innkeeper instructed his waiters.
The two waiters led the group to their rooms. When they exited the main dining hall, they were taken to a small area. There were four rooms there, two rooms on each side with the doors facing each other. Past the washroom, located next to the back door of the inn, was the storage room.
Ping'an thanked Ah-Tin. She closed the door and took out three blankets. She put two blankets on the floor, put down a pillow, and then unfolded the last blanket. When she was about to blow out the candle, there was a knock on the door. She went to open the door, and Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu stood in front of her. The two men walked into the storage room and closed the door.
"Why are you two here?" Ping'an asked, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Because I miss you," Zhao Renshu said, holding her in his arms.
Ping'an pulled away and sat on the floor. "You two should be with your wives," she teased gently.
Then, Zhao Renshu sat behind Ping'an, his arms around her waist and his chin on her right shoulder.
Guo Baiyu handed Ping'an a small flat ceramic bottle. "Last time, when we made love," he said, "you mentioned you felt uncomfortable and couldn't sit for a while."
"So..." Ping'an prompted.
"I use sunflower oil for lubrication. We can use it during..." Guo Baiyu began, trailing off.
Zhao Renshu picked up the bottle from Ping'an's hand. "How about we use it now?" he suggested mischievously.
Ping'an's face turned red. She felt her cheeks burning like fire.
Guo Baiyu sat in front of Ping'an and kissed her on the lips. "We are already like this. When we are by each other's side, there is no need to be embarrassed."
Zhao Renshu hugged her from behind and kissed her neck gently. Guo Baiyu kissed her on her lips. She turned her head around and kissed Zhao Renshu. When Guo Baiyu unfastened his belt, a black shadow flickered on the window. Then they heard swords hit each other. The lovers stopped what they were doing. Zhao Renshu grabbed his sword. Guo Baiyu tightened his belt.
Both of them kissed her on the cheek. "Stay here," they urged.
"Be safe," Ping'an replied, her voice filled with concern.
Zhao Renshu closed the door. He took ten steps, then turned around and stuck a paper talisman on the door. The two rushed to the fighting scene.
The moment after the two men left the storage room, a figure approached the storage room alone. One hand pushed the door open.
Ping'an, her back to the door, holding two pillows in her hands, said, "That's fast. Is it over already?"
The hand slammed Ping'an's neck hard, causing her to immediately fall to the floor.