Chapter 23: Where Is the Poison?

Chen Yi frowned. Killing people outside the Donghua Gate? The Eastern and Western Depots were located nearby; who would be so bold as to cause trouble here? Min Ming also blinked in curiosity.

Chen Yi turned and headed toward the door. Min Ming hurriedly threw on her top and followed closely behind. As twilight deepened, they reached the courtyard. Looking out onto the main road toward Donghua Gate, Chen Yi saw two corpses on the ground—one old, one young—both killed by needles to the throat, leaving the ground awash in blood. Beside the bodies were a group of people in rough linen clothes who appeared to be courtesans and patrons from a brothel. As the sounds of clashing blades rang out, a group of Magpie spies in black launched an assault against them.

This was not the main point; the point was that Chen Yi spotted the second-rank master, the Nameless Old Matron, and the Granny of Green Media from the Wuyong Tower.

"Granny..." Min Ming muttered in shock, her face turning pale.

The situation was perilous. The Magpie Pavilion, led by the Nameless Old Matron, was clearly surrounding the members of the Wuyong Tower. Sounds of fighting erupted from all directions in the night, and more corpses began to litter the ground.

"Scatter! Break through in different directions!"

The Wuyong Tower was clearly no match for the Magpie Pavilion. As the fighting intensified and chaos ensued, Granny Green Media gave the order. Chen Yi watched the battle on the main road. More and more Magpie spies were closing in, their martial arts far superior to the thieves of the Wuyong Tower. With the Nameless Old Matron overseeing the operation, it was a one-sided slaughter.

The Wuyong Tower members began to break out in all directions. Granny Green Media struck first, repelling the spies closing in on her to clear a path. Whether intentional or not, as she broke through, she cast a glance toward Min Ming’s direction. Min Ming panicked instantly, retreating hurriedly back into the inner room.

Chen Yi sensed something was wrong. Frowning, he turned and followed her inside. Once in the room, he saw the pallor beneath Min Ming’s makeup.

"If—if they come here... I will surely die... I... I..." Min Ming stammered in terror. "Whether it's the Wuyong Tower or the Magpie Pavilion, if either one comes here, I... I am dead."

Hearing this, Chen Yi immediately realized the danger. If a Wuyong Tower thief sought refuge here, the Magpie spies would pursue them to this location. Even without a thief, if the spies investigated this place, Min Ming’s current level of martial arts would leave her with no choice but to surrender.

Min Ming’s eyes trembled, and she shook with anxiety. "What do we do? What should we do now?!" She looked at Chen Yi and asked, "How about... you go and lure them away?"

Just at that moment, Chen Yi heard the sound of someone leaping across the rooftops using light-foot skills. Chen Yi rushed toward her, pinned her shoulders, and ripped her clothes, exposing her shoulders, which were as smooth as prairie milk-cheese.

Min Ming looked stunned. Seeing Chen Yi push her toward the bed, she cried out, "Wait... what are you doing? You should be going to lure them away... Ah! You scoundrel!"

The situation was critical. With a dark expression, Chen Yi snatched the quilt from the bed, covered both of them, and snarled, "Do what you are supposed to do."

***

Min Ming felt both aggrieved and ashamed. "But what time is it now?!" she demanded, glaring at him and reaching out to push him away.

Seeing her lack of cooperation in his state of anxiety, Chen Yi pinched her firmly, his temper flaring. *What time is it, she asks... Does she really think I’m that desperate?*

Min Ming let out a shamed cry of pain, her face flushing red. Chen Yi quickly tapped her acupoints; lacking inner energy, her body instantly went limp. She glared at him with hatred, trying to scare him off, tears welling in her peach-blossom eyes.

The sound of the door being pushed open echoed from outside, and the white-haired Nameless Old Matron crossed the threshold. The courtesan went limp, shivering in terror as if she feared her head would be severed the next second.

The Nameless Old Matron walked slowly, her eyes like a hawk's. She had noticed Granny Green Media glance in this direction and, knowing this was the residence of a Thousand-Household of the Western Depot, she had come to investigate. She had anticipated everything, whether it was an ambush or a Wuyong Tower spy holding Chen Yi hostage.

However, she never expected that while there was shouting and killing outside, there would be a scene of intimacy within.

As the door opened, both of them looked out in apparent terror, looking exactly like people whose pleasure had been suddenly interrupted.

"Nameless Matron..." Chen Yi’s voice sounded fearful. "Why... why have you come here?"

Min Ming kept her mouth shut, not daring to make a sound.

The Nameless Old Matron’s expression shifted. "How bold of you to harbor thieves!"

Chen Yi’s nerves were taut, but he immediately realized the Matron was bluffing. He replied in a hurried tone, "Matron, this... this is my newly acquired concubine..."

The Nameless Old Matron said coldly, "Bring her here. I will know if she is a thief with one touch."

Hearing this, Chen Yi released Min Ming. She rose tremblingly, lifted the curtain, and walked toward the Nameless Old Matron, shaking. The Matron reached out and grabbed Min Ming’s wrist.

*No inner energy flowing through the meridians...* The Matron’s suspicions were halved. She then cautiously pressed on Min Ming’s shoulders, arms, abdomen, and thighs. Aside from her thighs, there were no muscles, and certainly no calluses; she was not a practitioner of martial arts. As for the muscles on her legs, it was normal for a woman who served by her beauty to have developed them through practice. It seemed she was truly not a thief from the Wuyong Tower.

The Nameless Old Matron calmed down. After squinting at Min Ming for a while, she told her to go back.

Though Min Ming was shaking violently, she was only wearing her bodice. Women were thin-skinned; such trembling was a normal reaction. The Nameless Old Matron had no further suspicions.

Chen Yi breathed a silent sigh of relief, inwardly cursing. This Nameless Old Matron was truly vigilant—no wonder she could guard the Imperial Palace and deter the wicked. If it weren't for the fact that he had drained Min Ming’s inner energy, and that as a courtesan she practiced nothing but leg-work, he never could have deceived her. It was fortunate that it was Min Ming on the bed; if it had been her sister, Min Ning... they would likely have been executed on the spot.

Seeing Chen Yi pull Min Ming back into his arms, the Nameless Old Matron snorted coldly. "Thousand-Household Chen, such a calamity has occurred outside the Donghua Gate, yet instead of serving the Consort, you are indulging in pleasure here. If something happens within the palace, do not blame me for holding your Western Depot accountable."

Chen Yi nodded repeatedly. The Nameless Old Matron strode away, her figure disappearing from sight.

After waiting for a long while, Min Ming slumped to the floor, panting as she realized she had survived. "Hah... hah..." This shock had nearly cost her half her life.

Chen Yi also exhaled, put the quilt back on the bed, and glanced inward. Yin Tingxue was sleeping soundly, curled up in the corner; she hadn't even woken up.

Min Ming suddenly sensed a wave of scorching heat and a slight stinging pain. She suddenly remembered the Three-Yang Qi-Dispersing Ointment and trembled, "Poison... poison... poison..."

Chen Yi instantly understood but feigned shock. "Poison? What poison?"

Min Ming’s face flushed hot, but she was too exhausted from the fright to do anything but say, "The Three-Yang Qi-Dispersing... ointment."

Chen Yi looked horrified. "Isn't that... the poison that can cause the meridians to rupture?"

Min Ming moaned in exhaustion. "Yes..."

Chen Yi picked her up, his expression grim. "Where was the poison applied? Where is it?"

"In... there..."

"Where is 'there'? Tell me quickly, so I can neutralize it."

Min Ming’s pale face was a mess of tears and disheveled hair. She dared not speak, biting her lip tightly, and could only, in humiliation, part her legs and arch upward.