C6 A Disaster Descended from the Sky

In the private room, Lee Fei sat with a dignified posture.

He was slightly uneasy, possibly due to the room's poor soundproofing, as he could faintly hear a jarring noise.

The door swung open and the matron entered with a beaming smile, followed by a servant bearing a tray. A pot of wine was promptly placed on the table, alongside a plate of cold dishes.

The matron expertly filled a cup with wine and offered it to Lee Fei, saying, "Master, this is lychee wine, a top-tier fruit wine."

Lee Fei lifted the cup, inhaled its rich aroma, and nodded in approval. "The wine is indeed excellent."

The matron went on, "This dish is cold mung bean noodle salad, known for its refreshing effect on the lungs and heart."

Lee Fei nodded again, "Quite good."

"If it pleases you, Master. The hot dishes will take a bit longer. Perhaps in the meantime, we could find some company for you to enjoy your drink?" she suggested with a chuckle.

After draining his cup, Lee Fei pondered for a moment before replying, "Let's have someone who can sing a tune and another who's skilled in giving a back massage."

The day's labor had taken its toll, leaving him with a sore back and aching muscles that craved relief.

Lee Fei was refreshingly straightforward to attend to.

Upon receiving an additional ten taels of silver from him, the matron inwardly commended his generosity.

As Lee Fei sipped several more cups of wine, he contemplated his future endeavors.

He envisioned wandering the landscapes, immersing himself in the majestic mountains and pristine rivers of Qouprovia.

Alternatively, he could settle in Wreah, where his wealth would afford him a leisurely life for a year or more. He could indulge in gardening, nurturing his spirit with flora, casually stroll the streets, or visit the brothel for a floral libation.

Naturally, he would persist in honing his Dark Magic skills. Only with personal strength could he safeguard his well-being and, should he ever venture into a realm of deities and spirits, pursue the elusive dream of immortality...

Immortality seemed still far out of his reach. He decided to put the thought aside for now.

Shortly, a woman escorted two young girls upstairs. One, cradling a lute, was clad in red with delicate features and a cherubic face, her eyes as clear as a pristine lake.

The matron inquired, "Sir, what are your thoughts?"

Lee Fei, somewhat noncommittal, responded, "Fine, these two will do."

Upon Lee Fei's approval, the woman beckoned, "Xing'er, come give the gentleman a back massage."

With a soft sigh, Xing'er moved behind Lee Fei and began to massage his back with gentle strokes.

Feeling the pressure from behind, Lee Fei shook his head, "You're too gentle. Put a bit more strength into it."

Xing'er promptly exerted more force and inquired, "Sir, is this better?"

"Mm, that's more like it. Carry on," Lee Fei said, visibly relishing the moment.

The woman signaled the girl in red to give her best performance before silently exiting the room.

The girl in red took a seat opposite Lee Fei, her expression neutral, and asked, "Young Master, what piece would you like to hear?"

"Choose whatever you're best at," Lee Fei replied offhandedly.

At his request, the girl in red began to strum her lute, her voice softly echoing, "The mournful cry of cicadas, by the long pavilion at dusk, as the sudden rain ceases..."

Her voice was laden with sorrow, a nightingale's lament that touched the heart. It was unclear whether the sadness stemmed from her own emotions or the intrinsic nature of the song.

Music, an art form that conveys emotions more directly than words, allowed Lee Fei to sense the depth of the girl's feelings.

Lee Fei silently mused that this woman must have traveled great distances to be here. Such a pity.

He found himself humming along, though his tone-deafness rendered the tune almost unbearable.

Xing'er's brow furrowed ever so slightly, wishing the man would just keep quiet.

As evening fell, a carriage halted near the country government office in Wreah. Chen Kuo alighted and approached a grand doorway, knocking on the door with anticipation.

After waiting for quite some time, a voice finally responded from behind the door, "Who's there?"

Chen Kuo cleared his throat and announced, "It's Chen Kuo. I need to speak with the Magistrate about an urgent matter. Please, let me in quickly."

Clearly a regular visitor, Chen Kuo's name prompted the servant inside to swiftly open the door.

Noticing his urgency, the servant quickly escorted him through to the backyard where a room was brightly lit. Without hesitation, Chen Kuo approached and called out, "Magistrate, I—"

"Why the commotion? I'm in the middle of official business. We can discuss this tomorrow," came a voice tinged with the weary impatience of middle age.

Chen Kuo, maintaining his composure, insisted, "Lord Hu, this issue is of great importance and cannot wait."

"Fine, let me get dressed. And you, young lady, remove your hands at once!"

The sounds made it clear what Magistrate Hu was preoccupied with, yet Chen Kuo betrayed no reaction. As the door opened, he entered.

Magistrate Hu, having donned a robe, sat back on the bed. Behind him, his concubine lay in the covers, her striking beauty partially revealed.

Clearly annoyed by the interruption, Magistrate Hu demanded, "What's so important?"

Without a word, Chen Kuo produced a wind-proof lighter, struck a flame, and waved it before Magistrate Hu.

Witnessing the lighter for the first time, Magistrate Hu's surprise was evident. "Where did you acquire such a thing?" she inquired.

Chen Kuo replied with a smile, "I purchased it from a foreigner. In all of Qouprovia, this treasure is likely unique to my possession."

The rarity of the item suggested its value was beyond measure.

Magistrate Hu, eyeing the wind-proof lighter with delight, mused, "Presenting this to Minister Cai could surely earn me a promotion."

Chen Kuo snapped the lighter shut and handed it over, adding, "Lord Hu, I suspect the foreigner carries other valuables. Take his shoes, for instance—the images on them are as lifelike as real people. They too must be of considerable worth."

Magistrate Hu held the wind-proof lighter, trying it several times under Chen Kuo's guidance. He marveled at its "magical" capabilities.

He understood Chen Kuo all too well. Observing Chen Kuo's manner of speaking, he quickly deduced his intentions.

His real name was Hu Zheng, and he was far from a virtuous man. A distant relative of Minister Cai in the capital, he had secured his position as Magistrate through relentless flattery. With powerful backers, even the higher-ranking Magistrate had to defer to him.

Magistrate Hu asked with some hesitation, "How sure are you that this won't lead to trouble?"

"One hundred percent," Chen Kuo replied with confidence. "That foreigner claims to be from the Western Regions and has no connections here. We can easily fabricate a charge and arrest him. Once we've extracted all his valuables, we'll dispose of him in an unmarked grave, and no one will be the wiser."

"The foreigner is currently indulging himself at the Garden of Delights. If we miss this chance, we'll regret it forever."

Magistrate Hu certainly didn't want to let this opportunity slip by. After a moment's thought, he declared, "Leave this matter to me. Once it's settled, you'll be handsomely rewarded!"

Chen Kuo bowed with his fists clasped and thanked him, "I am grateful, my lord!"

Both men, each with their own cunning schemes, burst into hearty laughter. Meanwhile, the concubine in the bedchamber cast a fleeting glance their way.

Garden of Delights

Seven constables, knives at their waists, stormed in with a commanding presence. Leading them was a man who worked at the pawnshop. He guided them upstairs and pointed out the private room where Lee Fei was.

The madam, who was on guard, changed her expression instantly. Before she could speak, the head constable struck her with a slap.

Intimidated by his aggression, the madam covered her face and retreated, not daring to utter another word.

Without further ado, a constable kicked the private room's door open, and the group swiftly entered.

Upon seeing Lee Fei dining at the table, the doorkeeper exclaimed, "That's the man!"

The pipa music came to an abrupt halt, leaving Lee Fei momentarily dazed. As he rose to speak, a sudden blow to the head sent him staggering, nearly toppling to the ground.

Several constables quickly approached, pressing Lee Fei onto a table and deftly binding his hands with rope.

"You're asking for trouble. If you kill this young man, the lord will certainly not let it slide!" exclaimed one constable, his waist adorned with an identifying plate, as he pointed accusingly at another.

The accused constable, with his distinctive triangular eyes, retorted with a chuckle, "Don't worry, Mr. Hu, I always measure my blows."

Mr. Hu, unimpressed, snorted coldly and gestured dismissively. The constables hoisted Lee Fei up and headed for the door.

Known as Mr. Hu, this individual was Magistrate Hu's nephew, Hu Ren by name. Leveraging his uncle's influence, he had secured a position as head constable at the country government. He was notorious for his misdeeds and for bullying the innocent, all while assisting his uncle with unsavory tasks.

Before departing, the triangular-eyed constable groped Xing'er, smirking lewdly, "This lad sure knows how to live it up."

The two young women, still reeling from the ordeal, watched as the madam burst in, cursing, "Curse these constables, they'll get their comeuppance!"

Her concern was not for Lee Fei's well-being, but rather the loss of a lavish patron, which she lamented as a significant financial blow.

"Make way, everyone. This man is a spy from the enemy nation. We are under orders to apprehend him."

Their commanding shouts dispersed the onlookers, and Lee Fei, bound and subdued, was escorted from the Garden of Delights to a waiting carriage outside.

Rather than heading to the jail, the carriage wound through several streets before stopping at a stately courtyard.

Magistrate Hu was known for his prudence, especially since detaining someone was a delicate matter, and he was under scrutiny from his superiors.

To avoid the risk of rumors spreading from the crowded jail, he opted to take Lee Fei to a private residence instead.