Chapter 366 180: Invitation, Part 2

They exchanged a look.

"Have they left the city?"

But when they asked the people around if anyone had seen a group carrying many chests pass by,

the answer was always no.

"Carriages have passed through here, but I haven't seen anyone carrying chests."

A waiter at a teahouse said,

"This is the South City Gate. A lot of people come and go."

"If a group that large was parading through here like you two said, I'd definitely remember them."

"Besides, to get that many chests out of the city, the officials at the gate alone would have had to inspect them for quite a while."

"There's no way it could have happened so quietly."

"If you're looking for people, you've likely come to the wrong place."

Jiang Ran and Tang Huayi both fell silent.

'A group like that can't just disappear without a trace…'

'If no one noticed them, it can only mean they split up and went their separate ways.'

At present, they had no idea what was in the cargo, nor what this group planned to do with it.

Was this plan unfolding inside the city, or outside?

Thus, whether the group had even left the city remained an open question.

"I think it's very likely they've left the city,"

Tang Huayi said. "They could have dispersed their people, broken up into smaller groups, and left through the various city gates. They could have prepared carriages in advance, also split up the goods, and exited the city one by one."

"And your reason?"

Jiang Ran asked.

"Intuition!"

Tang Huayi said with conviction.

Jiang Ran let out a deep sigh, his face a picture of resignation.

"What's with that look? Do you look down on my intuition?"

Tang Huayi glared.

Jiang Ran shook his head.

"I'm just filled with despair… that my intuition is telling me the same thing as yours."

Tang Huayi's glare instantly melted into a grin. "So, shall we go look?"

"And look for a needle in a haystack?"

Outside the city gates, the roads scattered in every direction. It wasn't just two people; even with twenty, or two hundred, it would still be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

"Let's go!"

Jiang Ran stood up.

"We aren't familiar with this area around Evergreen Mansion. It's impossible for just the two of us to find them."

"We need to find some help."

"You have acquaintances in Evergreen Mansion?"

Tang Huayi gave Jiang Ran an incredulous look.

"I seem to recall this is the first time in your life you've ever traveled far from home."

"..."

Jiang Ran once again felt the urge to pinch her cheeks.

This time, however, Tang Huayi anticipated his move and was already prepared. The moment she saw Jiang Ran raise his hand, she darted ten yards away and stuck her tongue out at him triumphantly.

Jiang Ran grinned and beckoned to her.

"Come here."

"What for?"

Tang Huayi watched him warily.

"Come here, I'm being serious."

Jiang Ran said, his expression turning solemn.

Half-believing, half-doubting, Tang Huayi shuffled back to Jiang Ran's side.

"Who are you going to ask for help?"

"The Changqing Prefect, of course."

Jiang Ran took the Assassin's Order from his robes.

"This should be useful. If nothing else, they'll surely know the history of the Zhou Residence. That group took it over, so it shouldn't be too hard to get the Changqing Prefect to provide a few clues… Don't you agree?"

"Mhm…"

Just as Tang Huayi was nodding, she saw a blur of fingers in her peripheral vision.

She froze, and by the time she thought to run, it was already too late.

She felt a pressure point on her shoulder tighten, and her head shot up.

"You despi—MMMPH!"

Jiang Ran had cupped both her cheeks in his hands and was now kneading them mercilessly, squishing her face until her features were completely distorted.

He gritted his teeth and said,

"I dare you to run. Go on, run! You going to run again, huh? Are you?"

Poor Tang Huayi couldn't even form a word, only able to let out a series of muffled, meaningless noises.

Only after kneading her cheeks until they were glowing red did Jiang Ran finally release her, undoing the pressure point at the same time.

"Jiang Ran, I'm going to kill you!"

Freed from her binds, Tang Huayi immediately prepared to charge at him.

Jiang Ran shot her a look. "Oh?"

"...We can fight to the death another day, I suppose."

Tang Huayi rubbed her burning cheeks and shot another glare at Jiang Ran.

"My face is this beautiful, how could you be so heartless?"

"When I'm dealing with a little temptress from the Demon Sect, what's the point in being soft-hearted?"

Jiang Ran snorted.

"Let's go. To the Government Office."

Tang Huayi silently mimicked Jiang Ran's tone and mannerisms, threw in an eye-roll for good measure, and was about to follow when Jiang Ran suddenly stopped in his tracks.

She bumped right into his back.

"Oof… What gives? Why'd you stop?"

Confused, Tang Huayi tilted her head to peer around him.

She saw that several young men had appeared before them at some point. The one in the lead bowed deeply to Jiang Ran.

"Dare I ask if you are he who is known as the Shocking God Saber, Young Hero Jiang Ran?"

"No."

Jiang Ran shook his head firmly. "You all must have the wrong person."

"..."

The leader of the young men was struck speechless for a moment, then he gave a wry smile.

"Young Hero Jiang, please do not jest. We have come at our master's command to invite you for a talk. We would not make such a mistake."

"If you're so sure you've got the right person, then why bother asking…"

Tang Huayi rolled her eyes. "And who is this master of yours? If we don't want to go, are you going to forcibly drag us there?"

"The young lady jests. We are extending a polite invitation; how could we dare use force?"

"If Young Hero Jiang is unwilling, we can only return to invite you another time."

As he said this, the leader suddenly produced an invitation from his sleeve.

"My master said that since this is his first contact with Young Hero Jiang, he wishes to present you with a small welcoming gift."