Chapter 106: Hidden Compartment

Duan Rong exited the courtyard gate on this side, turned his steps, and entered the courtyard next door.

The proprietress of this Gou Lan Yuan was a middle-aged woman covered in fat; she sat on a large lounge chair, her face, like a meatball, smeared with thick powder. Duan Rong felt like vomiting after just one glance at her!

"Oh, a guest has arrived! What would you like to play today? The girls haven't had a single customer yet!" The Rou Qiu Nu greeted him enthusiastically the moment she saw Duan Rong enter.

Once she started talking, the rolls of fat on her neck trembled and shook...

"Is Chunmei here? I'm booking her for the whole night!"

When the Rou Qiu Nu heard it was for the whole night, her eyes lit up instantly, and she shouted, "Chunmei, your old flame is here! Why aren't you coming out to welcome him!"

Duan Rong stood in the courtyard and looked around to size up the environment.

Just as the Rou Qiu Nu's voice fell, the curtain of a side room was lifted, and a fair-skinned, tender young woman wearing a tight, light green outfit with a cluster of flowers in her hair walked out.

Chunmei stood there, looked at Duan Rong, and was slightly stunned.

Chunmei had thought it was a regular customer when she heard the Rou Qiu Nu say an old flame had arrived, but upon seeing the person before her, he looked very unfamiliar!

Duan Rong saw Chunmei's expression and laughed, "Little vixen, have you missed me?"

Chunmei immediately gave a charming smile, grabbed Duan Rong's arm, and coquettishly said, "Sir, it's been a while since you've come! Did you find some other mistress and forget about us girls in the house?"

The two of them bantered as they walked into the side room together.

Business for the whole night was much more relaxed than taking on a succession of guests, yet the earnings were no less, so Chunmei appeared exceptionally attentive.

Furthermore, Duan Rong actually ordered a few dishes and called for two pots of wine, and the two began to eat, drink, and chat.

Even among those who booked for the night, very few were like Duan Rong, ordering both wine and food.

One had to know that Chunmei received a commission on the night's expenses!

Chunmei felt happy in her heart; the more she looked at Duan Rong, the more pleasing he seemed. He was generous, had good taste, and even knew to order wine and food, unlike those crude fellows who acted like dogs gnawing on food the moment they arrived...

After a few cups of wine, Chunmei's face was already flushed, and she insisted on pulling Duan Rong to drink cross-cupped wine several times!

Chunmei had fair skin and a full chest, and she kept pressing against Duan Rong, rubbing back and forth; how could Duan Rong not feel heated?

Duan Rong poured another cup of wine for Chunmei and laughed, "The cases outside have been quite fierce lately! It seems they are hunting for someone named Xu Ruhu; posters are flying all over the streets..."

When Chunmei heard this, her complexion changed instantly!

Duan Rong saw Chunmei's reaction and knew that the prostitute named Liu Hong hadn't been spouting nonsense to him; it seemed this was the place!

Chunmei finished the wine in her cup, glanced toward the door of the side room, lowered her voice, and said, "Let me tell you! That thief Xu Ruhu actually lived in this room for several days!"

"This room?" Duan Rong shrank his body, feigning terror.

"Don't be afraid! That was nearly two months ago. That thief was injured and still tormented me every day! He didn't treat me like a human! That night was his own fault; he took a wet whip and lashed me. I couldn't take the beating and just kept screaming at the top of my lungs!"

"Who would have known... that night, Head Constable Xie was right next door in Lanxiang's room. He found me too noisy and kicked the door open!"

"The two of them met face-to-face, and for some reason, Head Constable Xie suddenly drew his blade. I was tied to this bed at the time and was so scared I wet the bed!"

"Only later did I find out that the thief was actually a wanted criminal!"

As Chunmei spoke, she poured a cup of wine and handed it to Duan Rong, saying, "Sir, we've had enough to drink. You aren't in a hurry at all, but we can't just drink all night, can we?"

Chunmei was already slightly tipsy; her body went limp as she collapsed into Duan Rong's arms, her head resting on his sturdy shoulder, her heart fluttering with desire!

"Sir is naturally not in a hurry; I want to slowly get you settled!" As Duan Rong said this, he suddenly struck a light palm-blade against the back of Chunmei's head.

Chunmei was laughing at his words when she suddenly felt a jolt at the back of her head and fainted!

Duan Rong immediately checked Chunmei's breath and, finding it normal, felt slightly relieved. Although he hadn't channeled his Internal Breath and only used muscular force, he was still afraid of injuring Chunmei with a single strike!

Duan Rong carried Chunmei and laid her on the bed, then walked to the doors and windows to test them, confirming they were all locked tight.

Only then did Duan Rong begin to pace around the room, his eyes scanning everywhere incessantly!

He walked to every corner and tested every brick in the wall to see if any were loose!

He moved the tea table aside, turned it over and over to inspect it thoroughly, even flipping the bottom to feel it all over!

Furthermore, Duan Rong carefully stepped on every inch of the floor tiles he walked over to see if they wobbled!

Just like this, Duan Rong very patiently, as if studying a lover's body, carefully inspected every single inch of the place...

Duan Rong sighed and lay on the bed, feeling somewhat exhausted!

It seemed he had overthought it!

How could that thief have left anything in this place!

Duan Rong turned his head and, by the dim light of the Candle Lamp, looked at Chunmei lying beside him. Her eyes were tightly shut, her breathing steady, as if she were fast asleep.

Duan Rong's gaze traveled from Chunmei's fair face to her heaving chest...

Duan Rong suddenly pressed over and had his way with her for a while...

The money couldn't be spent for nothing, after all...

After Duan Rong had his fill, he hugged a pillow, turned on his side, and drifted into a drowsy sleep... "The feel is really good!"

Duan Rong slept until he faintly heard the crowing of a rooster before he slowly woke up!

He turned over and looked at the ceiling with sleepy eyes!

Suddenly, he saw a black shadow flash across the rafters; it seemed like a mouse had run past...

Duan Rong was startled awake and jumped off the bed!

He tried nudging Chunmei and calling her softly, but Chunmei just slept soundly without the slightest reaction.

Only then did Duan Rong feel at ease; he walked to the side table and picked up the Candle Lamp there!

He suddenly executed the Cloud Snake Step, his figure instantly beginning to flicker left and right, gradually leaving afterimages in the dim light...

Duan Rong suddenly climbed onto the rafters like a gecko along the wall!

Duan Rong stood on the rafters and shone the Candle Lamp in his hand; he saw that the rafters were covered in dust, spiderwebs, and mouse droppings.

Duan Rong didn't mind the filth at all; like a gentleman on the beam, he crouched on the rafters, holding the Candle Lamp in one hand while his other hand began to grope along the beam!

Duan Rong groped bit by bit, not letting a single inch go. Before long, his hand was covered in mouse droppings and spiderwebs, but Duan Rong didn't care and continued his work!

Suddenly, in the corner of the rafter closest to the wall, he felt a crack that was slightly abrasive to the touch!

Duan Rong's heart stirred; he shone the Candle Lamp over, carefully rubbed a patch of the area for a moment, and suddenly Duan Rong reached out and peeled off a palm-sized piece of wood skin from the surface of the roof beam.

Beneath it, there was actually a hollowed-out secret compartment the size of two fingers!

This secret compartment was covered with a piece of wood skin that fit seamlessly, and with a bit of dust and rat droppings used to conceal it, it was indeed impossible to see any flaws at all!

Even if someone like Duan Rong carefully felt over it with his hand, as long as he was slightly inattentive, he would still miss it!

Inside that secret compartment, something was clearly placed!

Duan Rong took it out, and upon feeling its texture, his heart gave a jump!

It was a yellowish piece of human skin!

This human skin scroll, when opened, was as large as a person's belly, and on it were densely packed characters and small, delicate images!

Duan Rong borrowed the dim light of the Candle Lamp, took a rough look, and was suddenly filled with shock!

"It is the Womb Treasury Sutra!"

"Twelve layers!"

"This human skin actually has twelve layers!"

(End of chapter)