Chapter 339 - 259: It’s Too Late

Chapter 339: Chapter 259: It’s Too Late

Feng San Niang added, "When the spider silk breaks, it often sticks to a person. For up to three days, the Alien Spider can sense where the silk is. Even from a great distance, it can detect the general direction."

"I see."

Tang Wen pressed, "Are there many of these Alien Spiders in the Commerce Association?"

Feng San Niang shook her head. "Not many. As far as I know, I only have this one. I’m even worried about how to find a mate for it."

Tang Wen finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he still reminded himself internally: ’I can’t underestimate the heroes of this world. There are countless strange methods out there.’

As they were speaking, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door. The Female Extraordinary had brought the Steward of the Spring Breeze Pavilion from the front courtyard.

A summons late at night was unusual. Feng San Niang didn’t let them enter, merely having the Female Extraordinary open the door so she could question them from behind a screen.

"Have there been any notable guests in the front courtyard recently?" Feng San Niang asked, her tone light and casual.

The Steward, having been called over in the middle of the night, thought something terrible had happened. Hearing Lady Feng’s question, he was completely baffled. He thought back for a moment and said, "The Huang Family finally paid the Silver Coins they owed."

Feng San Niang glanced at Tang Wen. He deserved some credit for that matter.

Ever since the White Tiger attack on the city, the Huang Family’s arrogance had been greatly curtailed.

Recently, the Black Water Gang, the Chen Family, the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall, and her Commerce Association had been showing subtle signs of forming an alliance.

The Huang Family was against it, but they were powerless to stop it.

So, they had recently begun making friendly gestures, trying to win over the various parties.

"Not that. I’m asking about something from the past few days."

Feng San Niang didn’t specify "four days ago."

She had already guessed that the person Tang Wen was looking for might be related to the major battle on the Boat Gang’s territory four days ago.

The people who came and went in a place of entertainment were all shrewd. If she could guess it, the Steward could probably figure it out too.

There was no need to let her subordinate know too much.

The Steward added, "In the last few days, about seven or eight days ago, a group of horse bandits came from the South. They grabbed the girls from our establishment, asking all sorts of questions, and finally asked if they were willing to leave with them. They offered a high price."

"That group probably wants to build their own brothel. It’ll be a hard life for the women over there," Feng San Niang judged.

That wasn’t them either.

Feng San Niang reminded him, "There might not be many of them."

’Why is Lady Feng being so hesitant and vague today?’

The Steward was puzzled.

He didn’t dwell on it and frowned in thought. ’Is Lady Feng looking for a lone wolf?’

"Speaking of lone strangers, there have been two or three. They’ve rented out courtyards here for the past few days, eating and living inside. But a small number is normal; every so often, some new faces come here for pleasure. Other than that, forgive my poor eyesight, but I haven’t noticed anything else amiss."

Feng San Niang glanced at Tang Wen, then asked, "Which courtyards are those lone operators staying in? Is there anything unusual about them? Go and ask."

"Yes," the Steward agreed, turning to leave. Tang Wen and Feng San Niang resumed drinking and chatting.

Tang Wen was still a little embarrassed about being caught breaking into her boudoir late at night.

But Feng San Niang didn’t make Tang Wen feel uncomfortable at all.

It was as if Tang Wen’s secret infiltration today had never happened; the two chatted like old friends.

Feng San Niang shared some amusing anecdotes from the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Tang Wen drank the wine poured by her delicate hands, listened to her stories, and gazed at her beautiful profile. A phrase suddenly flashed through his mind: ’emotional value’.

’This woman is truly worthy of being the number one Courtesan.’

The courtyards were a hundred meters away. Before the two had finished half a pot of wine, the Steward rushed back.

"I’ve made the inquiries."

Tang Wen put down his wine cup and listened intently.

The Steward said, "We’ve had a total of four new faces spending money here recently. One of them stayed for five days and checked out yesterday. Three are left. According to our people’s observations, all three are Martial Artists. They are in Chunlei Courtyard, Chunshui Courtyard, and Chunsheng Courtyard, respectively."

"In Chunlei Courtyard is a merchant who came to buy wine. It seems he came once last year as well."

Feng San Niang was not careless. "Not ’seems’. Be precise."

"Yes. To be precise, two of the maids saw him last year, so it should be certain."

Tang Wen listened in silence. He didn’t know if this investigation would yield anything, but there was still hope.

The Steward’s voice continued, "No one recognizes the guest in Chunshui Courtyard. He’s been here for five days. For the first three days, he was up all night, every night. Yesterday he rested early. Today, he ordered Deer Antler and Tiger Bone Soup and ’Roasted Three Treasures’, and he’s still awake now."

After saying this, his voice paused.

Seeing that Feng San Niang didn’t respond, he continued, "The last person has been here for four days. I just went over and happened to run into the two girls from his room coming out for a late-night snack. According to them, this guest is very proper before nightfall, but once the lights are out, he’s like a different person. He goes at it all night, every night."

"He hasn’t switched girls?"

"No."

"Is there a problem with him?" the Steward asked cautiously.

"You may leave."

"Yes. Forgive my loose tongue."

Silence fell both inside and outside the room.

Feng San Niang looked at Tang Wen. "This last guest in Chunsheng Courtyard might be suspicious. But it seems he’s not the person you’re looking for, Young Master."

"What’s the problem? Isn’t he just feigning respectability?" Tang Wen genuinely didn’t understand.

Feng San Niang leaned over to pour more wine, revealing a stretch of snowy skin below her long, elegant neck.

"If you come here for pleasure, why pretend? To be so proper, yet revel every single night without changing partners. Don’t you find that strange, Young Master?"

"Then we might as well go take a look." Tang Wen had no other leads. The Hummingbird had tracked the scent here, but then it disappeared.

Until a new clue emerged, he would have had people watch the Spring Breeze Pavilion, even if it took days to find anything.

Feng San Niang agreed, then turned and bent over to pick up a small vial from her dressing table.

As she bent, her qipao stretched taut, outlining a posterior as round as the full moon.

Tang Wen couldn’t help but take a few extra glances before concealing his figure.

「Late at night, the north wind blew cold.」

Over her qipao, Feng San Niang wore a pure white overcoat. She looked like a young mistress who had run away from home, strolling aimlessly by herself.

Before long, she arrived outside the "Chunsheng" Courtyard. She took out the small vial and spoke to the empty darkness, "The Secret Medicine in this vial turns into a gas upon contact with the air. It will relax a person’s mind and make them sleep soundly until dawn."

After speaking, she added, "Please, Young Master Tang, be mindful of the consequences. If you cause too big of a scene and I can no longer do business here, I, a helpless and frail woman, will have no choice but to come to your estate to freeload."

Tang Wen laughed. "San Niang is welcome to come freeload anytime!"

"I might just take you up on that," Feng San Niang said with a charming smile.

The Secret Medicine disappeared from her palm. For a long moment, there was no reply.

She huffed, and the smile on her face gradually faded.

In Chunsheng Courtyard, the lights were bright, and the sounds of conversation could be heard from time to time.

The lights inside were not extinguished; the people were not yet asleep.

Tang Wen didn’t have the patience to wait.

The Secret Medicine was sent in through the crack under the door. The people inside felt a wave of drowsiness. They got into bed, and before they could start anything, they fell fast asleep.

Tang Wen pushed open the door and went straight for the skinny man on the bed.

He had observed for a while just now; the man’s complexion seemed off.

His fingers touched the man’s cheek. The skin was cold, yet there was a faint warmth underneath.

’Just as I thought, there’s a problem. It feels like I’m touching a layer of leather.’

Was this man in disguise?

The Steward hadn’t mentioned that earlier.

Tang Wen ripped at it forcefully. The "man" woke up, his dazed eyes instantly clearing. He didn’t shout, but simply grabbed Tang Wen’s hand, preparing to counterattack.

The Power of Concealment spread as Tang Wen prepared to subdue him.

But the "man" before him suddenly relaxed his grip and said in surprise, "Tang Wen? You came looking for me? How did you know I was here?"

"You Ruo?" Hearing the voice, Tang Wen let out a breath of relief.

"I heard you have a Fifth-Grade expert with you, from the White Tiger Tribe?!" Bai You Ruo gripped his hand tightly again.

"That’s right. There are two Fifth-Grade White Tigers right outside."

Bai You Ruo let out a long breath, visibly relaxing. Her eyes filled with despair and regret.

"We should have waited for you! We should have waited! But Uncle Shuo thought it was a good opportunity. The enemy seemed completely undefended. He told me to hide while they went to probe. He said even if the other side had experts, they could retreat safely. But... but who could have imagined... there were five Fifth-Grade experts there! Bai Ningbing... how could she! Colluding with outsiders to harm her own clan!"

Her voice grew more and more agitated, until she finally broke down into sobs.

A knot formed in Tang Wen’s chest. He understood the fate of Bai Shuo and the others.

"We can’t let that woman succeed! She must be on her way back to the clan. If she returns with the exploration team first, then Uncle Shuo will have died in vain, and the supplies I promised to the Flame Camp will never be delivered!"

Before Tang Wen could say anything, her spirits fell again. "It’s too late. I’ve been hiding here for four days to completely evade pursuit. That woman must have left long ago!"