Nine Nights Owl Song

The group had been walking on the mountain road for about an hour when Ghost Shadow called out to Su Jiuge.

"Master, there are sentries from Qingjiang Town ahead. I'll go scout ahead alone; it'll be easy to be discovered if we go in groups."

Su Jiuge stared at the ghostly figure.

"Be careful!"

The ghostly figure had disappeared into the woods.

Zhao Ying walked up from behind, looked in the direction the ghostly figure had disappeared, and muttered something:

"Your movement technique is indeed quite good." Su Jiuge glanced at him.

Zhao Ying raised her hands.

"I know I'm no match for her."

Su Jiuge didn't speak, but turned to look at Qingjiang City below the mountain.

In the twilight, it resembles a sleeping giant beast, perched between mountains and rivers.

The crown prince wanted her to come to the southern border to die, but she refused to die.

She would deal with the three towns in the southern border one by one.

The west has been conquered, the north has been pacified, and the south will be no exception.

The southern border in December is much warmer than Luoyang. The trees in the mountains are still green, and a few early plum trees have bloomed occasionally.

Su Jiuge stood on the mountain road, looking at the outline of Qingjiang City in the distance.

Behind them, Shen Qing stood with his sword in hand, Zhao Ying idly twirled his short blade, and Lin Mo buried himself in drawing a map.

Twenty elite members of the Dark Pavilion silently spread throughout the mountains and forests; Ghost Shadow had already infiltrated Qingjiang City.

Su Jiuge touched the straight sword at her waist.

The 22nd day of the 12th month of the 18th year of Yong'an.

Qingjiang River.

Ghost Shadow had been lurking in Qingjiang City for more than half a year, figuring out the city's defense layout, troop deployment, and grain storage locations. He even knew exactly when Qian Shigui got up and when he went to the toilet every day.

But she never managed to get to the heart of the Qian family—

Qian Shigui's study, where all the secrets are kept.

Ghost Shadow is skilled at assassination but not at theft; he tried three times and was almost discovered each time.

The Qian residence was heavily guarded, especially the third courtyard where the study was located, which was patrolled day and night, so that not even a fly could get in.

Su Jiuge stood in front of the map and remained silent for a moment after listening to the ghost's report.

"What about the intelligence on the Thousand Machine Tower in the Southern Territory?"

She had already read the secret report that Xiao Yan sent from Luoyang. The Qianji Tower's foundation in the Southern Territory was not deep, and what they could find out was only the tip of the iceberg.

Who is Qian Shigui's patron in the court? Does he have any dealings with the Crown Prince? What private agreements does he have with Pinghai and Wuyi garrisons?

These crucial pieces of information cannot be found in Qianjilou.

The ghost said:

"There are two places in the Qian family mansion that are most heavily guarded: one is Qian Shigui's study, and the other is Qian Shaoqing's bedroom."

Zhao Ying became interested.

"Qian Shaoqing?"

"Qian Shigui's son is at the peak of the Transformation Realm, and his swordsmanship is ranked first in Qingjiang."

Ghost Shadow glanced at Zhao Ying.

"I've heard she's good-looking."

Zhao Ying was twirling her short blade when she heard this and her fingers paused.

The short blade nearly flew off, but he grabbed the hilt, a strange expression on his face.

"What does it matter to me whether he's good-looking or not? I'm not a woman."

The ghostly figure stared at him.

"It's said he's attracted to men."

This time, the short blade in Zhao Ying's hand really flew out and stuck to the pillar with a buzzing sound.

Su Jiuge looked at Zhao Ying, Zhao Ying looked at Gui Ying, and Gui Ying looked at Su Jiuge.

The three men stood in silence for a moment in front of the map.

Zhao Ying swallowed.

Why are you all looking at me like that?

Su Jiuge said:

"You're good-looking."

Zhao Ying's face turned green.

"Master, what do you mean?"

Su Jiuge withdrew her gaze and looked at the map.

"Qian Shaoqing is fond of men. You're good-looking and your swordsmanship is also quite good; you could spar with him. Get close to him and sneak into his bedroom. You can't get into Qian Shigui's study, but you might be able to get into Qian Shaoqing's bedroom. Qian Shaoqing is Qian Shigui's only son, and he's spoiled rotten. There might be some of Qian Shigui's secrets in his bedroom."

Zhao Ying's face turned from green to black.

"Master, are you asking me to sell myself?"

Su Jiuge looked at him.

"I'm sending you to investigate. How you investigate is your business."

The ghostly figure added from the side:

"You don't actually have to sell yourself. Just have a few drinks and chat with him. Qian Shaoqing is the kind of person who, if you have a few drinks with him and say a few nice things, he'll consider you a confidant. Confidants can talk about anything."

Zhao Ying's face darkened even more.

"How do you know so much?"

The ghostly figure remained silent for a moment.

"He used to be close to me. He thought I was a man."

Zhao Ying was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, slapping her thigh with laughter.

"You? He's close to you? Hahaha—he doesn't even know you're a woman?"

The ghostly figure stared at him coldly.

"He doesn't know. Because I always wear a mask."

Zhao Ying laughed even harder.

Su Jiuge called out "Zhao Ying".

Zhao Ying's laughter stopped abruptly.

Are you going or not?

Zhao Ying looked into Su Jiuge's eyes, those bright black eyes leaving no room for negotiation.

The pavilion master said so, so he had to go, whether he wanted to or not.

He gritted his teeth.

"go."

December 23, Qingjiang City.

Zhao Ying changed her outfit—

She wore a moon-white brocade robe with a dark green silk sash tied around her waist, and her hair was tied up with a jade crown.

He was born handsome, with striking eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and a naturally upturned mouth that carried a hint of nonchalant smile.

Normally, he's dressed casually in tight-fitting clothes, so you wouldn't guess it, but when he puts on a brocade robe, he looks like he stepped out of a painting.

Zhao Ying stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at herself, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Why do I feel like I've become a completely different person?"

Shen Qing stood behind him, looking expressionlessly at Zhao Ying in the mirror, and said:

"You're acting like a human being now."

Zhao Ying choked for a moment.

Su Jiuge glanced at him.

This Zhao Ying certainly has a beautiful appearance.

I hadn't noticed before, but now that he's wearing a brocade robe, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and well-defined features, he's far superior to those self-proclaimed romantic talents in the capital. It's just that his temperament is a bit lacking—he doesn't look like a young master from a noble family, but more like a wandering swordsman.

But rumors say that Qian Shaoqing was fond of men, and perhaps that was his taste.

Zhao Ying concealed the short blade inside her boot, and only wore a decorative longsword at her waist.

He took a deep breath and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Su Jiuge.

"Master, I'm going."

Su Jiuge said:

"Be careful. It's okay if you can't reach the bottom, just don't get yourself involved."

Zhao Ying's eyes suddenly stung; this was the first time the Pavilion Master had ever spoken to him like this.

Previously, it was always "go," "come back," or "kill," but this time there are several more words.

He grinned.

"Don't worry, Master. I, Zhao Ying, can lose anything, but I cannot lose my innocence."

Su Jiuge's lips twitched slightly.