Chapter 201: The Vanished Zhou Qingqing

Li Lin arrived at Yuecheng’s “Flower Market Street,” where private brothels clustered thickly.

Government-run brothels were called "Te Fang," accessible only to true high-ranking nobles.

According to Qin Donglai, his concubine lived in a small alley south of Flower Market Street, in a two-courtyard house named Zhou Qingqing.

Li Lin went to this area to inquire.

After asking several neighbors in the alley, one person finally knew who Zhou Qingqing was and said: “That Zhou Qingqing sold her house and moved away!”

“When did she move?”

“A month ago.”

Li Lin calculated the time—it must have been shortly after Qin Donglai was captured.

That meant… Zhou Qingqing knew Qin Donglai had been seized and fled immediately.

That reaction speed was too fast.

Li Lin asked again: “Do you know where she went?”

The passerby shook his head.

“What about her son?”

The passerby still shook his head.

Li Lin inquired for a long time around the area but found no one who knew where Zhou Qingqing had gone.

Li Lin was left helpless.

This… Zhou Qingqing seemed to have something going on—she vanished all at once.

Clearly, she had deliberately hidden her trail.

Had she sensed something?

After searching the area for a while without success, Li Lin returned to the inn.

When he entered the hall, he found it even more crowded, and most of the people were martial artists.

As soon as he stepped in, over a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward him.

Li Lin frowned—he sensed something was off.

Even if the Qin Prince’s call for talented men attracted martial artists, it shouldn’t draw this many.

This was only one inn; other inns must be just as packed with martial artists.

Seeing Li Lin dressed as a scholar, most gazes withdrew, but a few remained fixed.

Half of those were women.

Li Lin ignored them and walked straight through the hall, up the stairs.

During this time, Li Lin sensed a tense, sword-drawn atmosphere among the martial artists.

Li Lin returned to his room and took out yellow paper and cinnabar from his satchel.

These items were mixed with brushes and inkstones; the soldiers hadn’t inspected them closely upon entry, and even if they had, these things weren’t illegal.

Soon, over a dozen small paper figures were drawn; under the influence of spiritual energy, they slowly turned pink-purple.

The paper figures came alive, hopping and darting wildly around the room.

Several quickly dragged out small insects from the room, pushed them together, and crushed them.

Li Lin summoned the paper figures for safety.

With so many martial artists below, having them on guard let him sleep well.

More importantly, tomorrow he could use the paper figures to search for Zhou Qingqing—but first, he needed her portrait.

Otherwise, the paper figures couldn’t track her.

Just as he was about to sleep, a light knock came at the door.

The dozen paper figures instantly vanished—some hid in the door crack, others under the bed, some clung to the ceiling.

“Who is it?” Li Lin asked.

“Qingcheng Sect, Qingshan Swordman Ji Feng. I wish to speak with the young hero.”

Li Lin did not open the door; instead, he stepped back two paces, away from it, and asked: “I don’t know Ji Daxia. We have nothing to discuss.”

Outside, silence lingered before the voice replied: “You’re not a martial artist?”

“Correct.”

“Then why come to Yuecheng, this place of trouble?”

Li Lin said: “The call for talented men.”

“Ah, I see. Our misunderstanding. Apologies for the disturbance.”

Footsteps faded slowly, growing fainter.

It was nearly midnight.

Li Lin blew out the candle, lay down fully clothed on the bed, and closed his eyes to rest.

Several paper figures slipped out through the door crack under cover of night, watching the corridor.

Two more climbed to the window, placing the surrounding area under surveillance.

That meant, if anyone approached the door or window, Li Lin would know.

The entire night passed without disturbance.

Li Lin barely slept well.

When he awoke, he washed up casually and went downstairs.

The main hall was much less crowded than last night—many were still resting in their rooms.

Li Lin ordered congee with meat and asked the innkeeper: “What’s really happening here? Even the Qin Prince’s call for talented men couldn’t draw this many martial artists.”

The innkeeper couldn’t answer.

At that moment, a middle-aged man walked over, bowed, and smiled: “Young hero, may I sit and speak with you?”

“Your voice sounds familiar,” Li Lin frowned at him. “Ji Daxia from last night?”

The man nodded: “Yes, it’s me.”

Li Lin sighed: “Sit.”

“Thank you.” Ji Feng sat down.

Li Lin studied Ji Feng—the man’s appearance was unremarkable, yet he carried an air of authority, clearly someone accustomed to command.

“Young hero, I can tell—you’re not here for the Linglong Jade Box.”

“Linglong Jade Box?”

Ji Feng stroked his long beard and smiled: “You’re clearly not here for the Linglong Jade Box. Then you shouldn’t stay—otherwise, trouble will come.”

At that moment, people upstairs began descending, in small groups.

Li Lin glanced around at the martial artists and nodded: “Understood. Thank you for the warning, Ji Daxia.”

Saying this, Li Lin rose and left.

He had no reason to compete with these martial artists over the Linglong Jade Box—his sole goal was to find Zhou Qingqing first.

Leaving the inn, Li Lin led his steed and visited several other inns—all were packed with people.

With no other option, he went to a brothel.

This was a high-end establishment; ordinary martial artists couldn’t afford to enter.

Because they had little money.

Though it’s said “the poor study, the rich train,” martial artists’ “wealth” was merely modest comfort.

Brothels were true money pits—martial artists might visit occasionally but could never stay long.

Li Lin handed his steed to the eunuch and stepped inside, immediately surrounded by three scantily clad women.

“Oh, this young master is so handsome! A new face!”

“Young master, have you chosen someone? Why not me?”

“Young master, I’ll give you half price…”

More women turned to look.

Li Lin glanced around and said: “I’m only here to rent a room. I don’t need company.”

“Who comes to a brothel just to sleep without pleasure?” one woman scoffed.

Li Lin said: “I do.”

Laughter erupted around them.

The three women pulled Li Lin to a table and sat him down.

Then the madam approached, shooed the women away, and looked at Li Lin: “Were you driven here by those martial killers?”

“You know?”

“Sigh… lately, this Linglong Jade Box business has drawn more and more killers. It’s become unbearable—people keep dying violently at night, murdered.”

Li Lin wasn’t interested in that. He asked: “I heard you once had a girl named Zhou Qingqing.”

Qin Donglai had told him Zhou Qingqing was a girl he had bought out of this brothel.

Her first three sons were fathered by different patrons; after birth, she gave them away—cold-hearted indeed.

The madam paused: “You’re…”

“I have a friend who was her husband. He met with misfortune and, before dying, entrusted me to care for his son,” Li Lin said slowly. “But when I went looking, I found Zhou Qingqing had moved. My friend’s son vanished too, so I came to ask—do you know where she went?”

The madam sighed: “She ended up a widow. We don’t know where she went. She bought her freedom, escaped the sea of suffering, and naturally had no desire to maintain any ties with us lowly folk.”

“Do you have her portrait?”

With a portrait, Li Lin could send the paper figures to search.

'No!'

Li Lin was slightly disappointed.

But then the madam said, 'But we can draw you one—just this money...'

'No problem. Ten taels of silver for one painting, how about that?'

'My lord is truly generous,' the madam laughed, her eyes nearly closing: 'I’ll draw it for you right away.'

(End of Chapter)