Nanyang Prefecture North Market’s Fan Building.
The first-floor hall of Chunfeng Tower was endlessly noisy.
Beautiful singers took the stage every so often to present their dances.
The hall was divided into dozens of semi-enclosed booths with screens.
The screens were low and semi-transparent, strategically placed so one could clearly see the stage performances while vaguely concealing what was inside the booths.
Inside the booths were low couches, with long tables in the middle filled with fruit wines, drinks, and delicious dishes.
Under the dim lights, songs and dances filled the hazy atmosphere.
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Inside a booth on the left edge, four or five sturdy men sat together.
“What the hell is going on with Qingshan County? Are all the people that come out from there damn cowards?”
“Do you know how many residences we searched today?”
“Five!”
“They say even the craftiest rabbit has three burrows. This guy is practically forefather of rabbits! Just like that scholar!”
The leader in black clothing gulped down the clear white liquor in his cup, his face filled with anger.
“What are we going to do if we can’t find him?” a man beside him frowned worriedly.
“How the hell would I know,” the leader grumbled, taking another gulp of his drink.
They had seen the outcome of Sun Fu’s downfall with their own eyes, and if they didn’t find something soon, they wouldn’t have any good outcomes either.
“A scolding is inevitable,” sighed the lead strongman. “Should be no threat to our lives.”
Sun Fu was drowned in the river because he offended the Left Hall Master, but they hadn’t offended anyone.
“But, it’s likely we’ll get a good beating,” the robust man’s eyebrows furrowed tightly.
That was fine with them. They were appointed to Sikou Yu by the general hall, and it was a good opportunity to fake an illness and return to the general hall. Sikou Yu wasn’t easy to serve.
“Forget about it, let’s just enjoy the food and drinks. We’ve got more work to do tomorrow!”
The men continued to clink their cups and drink merrily.
No one noticed that there was a little paper figure sticking out from behind the soft couch.
After listening to the others boast and chat for a while, the little paper figure fell to the ground and turned into a wisp of black smoke that vanished.
…
Seven or eight meters away, in a dimly lit private room near the doorway.
Chen Mu transformed into a man with a dark, square face showing no expression and sat alone in the private room, silently eating the food spread across the table.
“It’s clearly from the chef of Sihai Tower next door, so why is it more than twice as expensive!” Chen Mu’s face was expressionless, but inside, he couldn’t help but complain.
He glanced up at the gorgeous singer on stage, dressed revealingly and striking seductive poses.
“Forget it, forget it, so it’s a little expensive, focus on the food!”
Every three days, he would come to Chunfeng Tower, pick a corner, and order a table full of dishes to eat voraciously, then release a little paper man to gather news about the Startling Swan Gang.
Luckily, the anonymous young master was infatuated with Chunfeng Tower due to his love for beauty, or else Chen Mu wouldn’t know where to gather information.
“The matter with Sun Fu should be considered over,” Chen Mu hoped the Startling Swan Gang wouldn’t trace the matter back to him through Sun Fu.
“That Taoist’s description… why does it sound so familiar?” A hint of doubt crept into Chen Mu’s mind.
The music accompaniment on stage suddenly became more intense.
Chen Mu quickly looked up.
The singers’ dance moves grew increasingly enchanting.
Chen Mu stuffed a piece of braised meat into his mouth, watching…savoring the taste.
“It seems these people have concluded that Sun Fu has been drowned in the river by Zuo Sheng.” Chen Mu was unaware of the intricacies involved.
But he felt deeply grateful: “Eldest Young Master Zuo, you really have taken on too much!”
Then he happily poured himself a cup of refreshing tea to cleanse his palate.
“With Sun Fu’s case closed, there’s no need to continue watching over the Startling Swan Gang’s lackeys,” Chen Mu thought to himself.
As he looked up again and saw the striking figures on the central stage, he furrowed his brows in contemplation: “Maybe… I should come here a few more times.”
“Yes, this is just to minimize the risk,”
Chen Mu convinced himself silently and then happily bowed his head to eat with gusto.
…
Having eaten his fill, Chen Mu left Chunfeng Tower staggeringly.
He wandered around the North Market’s night bazaar for a while before quietly slipping into a dark alley.
Five notes were swiftly uttered.
With a flash of black smoke, the tight-cuffed brown Jianghu outfit vanished instantly.
In the blink of an eye, the scholar dressed in a rice-white long robe with a grey belt was all-encompassing.
The muscles on his face writhed, and the thick, dark, square-shaped face transformed into a gaunt oval one.
When he emerged from the other end of the alley, the square-faced Jianghu traveler had vanished, replaced by a thin scholar with an oval face.
Chen Mu observed his attire with an imperceptible glance downward, a smile inadvertently spreading across his face.
This was a new trick he had devised for using the Five Ghosts Bag, paired with the shapeshifting technique. In just a few breaths, he could change his appearance and complete his disguise.
“Once I figure out how to adjust my height and build, coupled with Solid Fragrance Pills to change my body odor, hehe…”
…
After making several turns to get home, Chen Mu let out a sigh of relief.
It wasn’t that he was cowardly, but that the world was too dangerous, filled with villains everywhere.
Under the big willow tree outside the courtyard lay two pests still.
He habitually conjured up the grey wall.
Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse: 3877/10000/Fifth Rank;
Pleased with the significant increase in proficiency, Chen Mu filled the Five Ghosts Bag with fresh fish and continued to chant the curse to grind for experience.
“Not much meat left, I need to stock up tomorrow.”
…
The next day.
In Nanyang Prefecture, South Market, a street dedicated to fresh produce.
Chen Mu once again took on the appearance of the square-faced man, occasionally scanning the surrounding shops. Unfortunately, none had the hereditary delicacy of the Qi Family’s food stand.
With his current cooking skills, ordinary snacks were not worth his time to imitate.
He randomly chose a meat shop and agreed to have the goods delivered in the afternoon.
Chen Mu continued to wander leisurely around the South Market.
Staying at home all day without seeing anyone, the bustling crowd always brought him joy.
As he walked, he watched the passing crowd, discreetly studying their facial structures, imagining how to adjust his muscle lines to imitate their appearances, seizing the opportunity to enhance his understanding of the shapeshifting technique.
At the north gate of the South Market.
Chen Mu nodded in satisfaction as he withdrew his gaze.
The more he observed and pondered, the more he tried, the more rapidly he could increase his proficiency.
At that moment, a crowd suddenly gathered around the notice board under the arch at the North Gate.
Chen Mu wasn’t surprised by this.
It could be a large-scale job recruitment, or someone massively buying up a certain material, or even the Prefectural Government Office issuing a notice.
“Startling Swan Gang is recruiting again.”
“We’re just here for the excitement; they have requirements, only taking skilled Jianghu warriors who can perform great feats.”
“I’m strong; maybe I have a chance too!”
“You wish!”
Chen Mu paused momentarily.
The Startling Swan Gang is recruiting again? Didn’t they just hire a bunch two months ago?
“Look, the Tangshan Army is also recruiting instructors. Generous compensation, they’re asking for martial arts masters from major academies, as well as independent practitioners from Jianghu who have a specialty.”
“Too bad I don’t know martial arts.”
Chen Mu’s brow furrowed slightly, and he turned and left.
The Startling Swan Gang recruiting, the Tangshan Army looking for instructors outside the city.
He had a feeling a storm was coming.
“Please, let the chaos within Liang not spread here,” prayed Chen Mu.
Only now did he suddenly realize the widespread turmoil across Liang.
The current peace in Nanyang Prefecture was hard to come by.
“I need to find out more about the situation in the hinterlands of Liang when I have time.”
“If it really reaches Nanyang Prefecture, planning then would be too late.”
“But this is already the southernmost part of Liang; where else could I hide? Set sail?” Chen Mu shook his head, not dwelling on it any longer.
Thinking wouldn’t help, better to go home and grind for experience.
After just a couple of steps, Chen Mu stopped again, turned around, and walked back to South Market.
“Might as well stock up on some more food supplies.”