Chapter 496: Trap

Heng Xian was seeing the Nine Palaces Inner City scenery for the first time seriously; he saw the city at night extraordinarily prosperous, markets, pawn shops, spirit beast shops, spirit armor weapon shops, pill shops all open; local cultivators, Nangong family members, and even guests from all directions came in an endless stream.

Some places were even livelier than Qi Capital.

Just then, several people walked toward him from opposite; upon seeing them, Heng Xian couldn't help but feel surprised.

It was actually White Daoist Nun, He Seventh Lord, and others!

White Daoist Nun and He Seventh Lord had a grudge over stealing treasures, yet they were walking together intimately?

More crucially, Third Uncle Heng Xiao Tian followed behind them, looking like a little submissive.

"How? Junior Brother Heng, do you know them?"

Shen Kai asked in surprise.

Heng Xian turned his face, calmly said: "Of course I don't know them; I'm just curious why there are so many and mixed people in this inner city—isn't it said to be hard to enter?"

Shen Kai said softly: "If it were another time, it would certainly not be easy to enter, but today is different; today is the birthday of the head of the Gongsun family, Gongsun Shou!"

He invited the whole Nine Palaces Mountain City and cultivators from all directions; it seems not only for the birthday banquet but also for the opening of the Yao Domain Boundary!

"Is the birthday banquet set at the Nine Mechanism Pavilion?" Heng Xian asked.

Shen Kai nodded: "Exactly!"

Heng Xian said: "If I'm not mistaken, the Nine Mechanism Pavilion is a brothel."

Shen Kai froze for a moment: "Ah, yes!"

Heng Xian said: "The Gongsun family sure doesn't follow the usual path; the old master goes to a brothel to celebrate his birthday, and even invites guests from all directions to join in birthday prostitution?"

Shen Kai shook his head, laughing: "The Nine Mechanism Pavilion is not just a simple brothel; it is also the pavilion of the Nine Mechanism Formation, an important place of the Gongsun family!"

As they spoke, White Daoist Granny, He Seventh Lord, and Third Uncle Heng Xiao Tian and a few others brushed past them ahead, yet they didn't recognize him.

Yet on Heng Xian's hand appeared a storage bag; he casually opened it, took out a box, inside which lay a five-colored glaze hair brush.

White Cat Brush!

Shen Kai exclaimed in surprise: "Eh? What is this?"

Heng Xian casually said: "Just a little trinket!"

He had planned to retrieve it after the matter ended, but now that he had encountered it, he might as well take it.

From behind came a heart-rending roar: "Ah! My storage bag, my storage bag! Who stole my storage bag! Come out!"

Heng Xian and Shen Kai had already hidden in the crowd, unable to be seen clearly.

As they went forward along the main street, the pedestrians grew more numerous; finally the crowd's cultivation levels and demeanor rose a notch, and the closer they got to a certain building, the more people there were!

Shen Kai pointed at that building: "That's it, that place is the Nine Mechanism Pavilion!"

Heng Xian surveyed that building; it was built on a hilltop, vast in area, with the momentum of a tiger embracing mountains and forests, shaking the eight directions; it was a place of excellent geographical location and abundant spiritual energy!

He said: "It's hard to imagine this place being a brothel!"

Shen Kai laughed: "The Gongsun family acts differently; the Nine Mechanism Pavilion is too large, leaving the front empty is just waste; better to do business and make some money, for you know the ladies in the Nine Mechanism Pavilion are very expensive!"

Heng Xian exclaimed: "Senior Brother Shen, have you gone in to play?"

Shen Kai's face turned red from holding back: "I, I certainly haven't; I went with Nangong Li Er!"

Heng Xian patted his shoulder: "Going in to play is also understandable, after all, men!"

Shen Kai shook his head, laughing: "Let's go!"

As the two approached the Nine Mechanism Pavilion, they saw within the huge, exquisite building lights blazing everywhere, Fu Shou Lu character lanterns hung all over, the sound of string and bamboo music resounded, cultivators from all over crowded in, speaking with southern and northern accents, chatting and putting on airs.

Inside the Nine Mechanism Pavilion, the Loulan windows were wide open; a group of slim young ladies in brocade silk leaned by the windows, their expressions respectful with a hint of restraint, looking like aristocratic young ladies, each with a unique style!

Heng Xian paused slightly, sighing: "Nothing compares to the beautiful spring day of the mortal world……"

Shen Kai said: "I've heard Junior Brother Heng has the great talent of the Poetry Sage; I wonder what the next line is?"

Heng Xian thought: "Young ladies play eighteen in one night!"

Shen Kai froze for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Just then, a maid hurried over, searched the crowd, instantly spotted Shen Kai, and happily said: "Son-in-law, I've finally found you; Ninth Young Lady is waiting for you; it's almost our turn to offer birthday congratulations."

Shen Kai glanced at Heng Xian.

Heng Xian smiled: "Don't worry about me, go!"

Shen Kai nodded, solemnly said: "Watch your safety; we all rely on you!"

Heng Xian solemnly nodded: "Rest assured!"

Only then did Shen Kai leave.

After glancing at his retreating back, Heng Xian gave a faint smile, turned and strolled leisurely.

Not far away, White Daoist Nun and He Seventh Lord had already returned; He Seventh Lord looked as if bereaved of his parents, the whole person collapsed.

White Daoist Nun occasionally comforted a few words, like an old friend of many years.

Heng Xian glanced twice at the two people behind them at the distant Heng Xiao Tian, walked over pretending to be casual, and patted him on the back behind Heng Xiao Tian.

Heng Xiao Tian, who had been lowering his head thinking about his thoughts, glanced at him in surprise, then cautiously looked toward the White Daoist Nun ahead, and asked: "This person…… any business?"

Heng Xian said: "Me!"

Heng Xiao Tian's face changed, he grabbed him and said: "Come with me!"

The two walked to a secluded corner; Heng Xiao Tian launched into a tirade: "How did you come here? Hurry up, someone wants to harm you!"

"Who wants to harm me?" Heng Xian exclaimed.

Heng Xiao Tian said: "I also secretly heard from White Daoist Nun that she and He Seventh Lord designed a scheme to deceive you!"

Heng Xian asked: "Why would they deceive us?"

Heng Xiao Tian said: "It seems they said you have a monk beside you, whom the Nine Palaces Mountain City deliberately released to lure disciples of the Fourteen Sects, and who has been continuously observed by the Gongsun family's Nine Mechanism Pavilion using the Great Nine Boundary Law Treasure!"

"When you killed that Hu Yuan De and the Flower Pavilion Guardian Dharma, they knew you had arrived; when you found He Seventh Lord, they also guessed it!"

"He Seventh Lord, in order not to reveal the flaw, colluded with White Daoist Nun to stage a self-inflicted injury play!"

Of course, the White Daoist Maiden knew she couldn't beat you, afraid that if you killed her it would be too unjust, so she gathered those friends to help; but in the end, none of them were a match for you—fortunately, you had no intention to kill!

Heng Xian's expression unchanged: "When did you find out about all this?"

Heng Xiaotian's face flushed embarrassedly: "That night you left, the White Daoist Maiden summoned me to serve her bed, had me impersonate you, then let down her guard; just then Lord He Qiye came by later, I secretly overheard their conversation and learned all this, and I've been worried about you these past days!"

Heng Xian glanced around, then said to Heng Xiaotian: "I trust you! Listen to me—go back now, take your daughter and leave!"

Heng Xiaotian shook his head: "I don't want to go back; I'd lose face!"

Heng Xian said: "Then go to the Ten-Thousand-Li Vast Mountain, to the Bandit Alliance I founded!"

Heng Xiaotian gritted his teeth: "All right!"

He turned and strode away.

Watching Heng Xiaotian's receding figure, Heng Xian's expression grew grave; the situation in Nine-Palace Mountain City exceeded his expectations.

Bu Fan and he hadn't realized it, but upon entering the city this time, they had actually fallen into a trap for the second time!

The enemy set up the whole city as a game; a few people could hardly spot the anomaly from the big picture, because when many people act out the fake, it becomes real!

More crucially, the Profound Yellow Heavenly Hexagram gave no warning!

This, however, eased Heng Xian's mind considerably, for the Heavenly Hexagram's silence meant the opponent's scheme had many loopholes that could be picked apart one by one!

The divination had never led him into danger! And the schemes of Lord He Qiye and the White Daoist Maiden amounted to nothing in the eyes of the signs—using their plan against them was actually the best way to enter Nine-Palace City.

So what comes next…

He gazed at the Nine Opportunities Pavilion, then strode inside.

Passing through the luxurious, imposing gate and corridors exuding sensual charm, he entered the great hall where strings and bamboo instruments played continuously, like the gentle village of the living dead.

The hall seemed bolstered by a formation, its area exceptionally large.

In view were nothing but alluring young women and cultivators pretending to be upright gentlemen—numbering over a thousand.

"Miss Phantom Maiden…"

"The Phantom Maiden has appeared…"

At that moment, a commotion erupted in the nearby side hall corridor; a large crowd escorted a group of young women out, and another group of young women surrounded a lady whose face was veiled in brocade gauze, clad in a red silk robe, her skin as white as snow, her eyes like silk.

Phantom Maiden!

Heng Xian blinked slightly; this person, he actually knew her!

(End of chapter)