Chapter 173: Dark Pavilion

Although Yuqin Guo is powerful, it is still somewhat weaker than Qi Guo, and the customs between the two nations differ greatly; Qin Yue xi, newly arrived in Jingcheng, finds everything extremely curious, and staying here would seem not bad.

At that moment, her gaze met Chi Nan Yi's across the elegant room; with a single glance, she recognized Chi Nan Yi's identity.

Seeing the fleeting sparkle in her eyes, Chi Nan Yi's mouth curled into a smile and she nodded to her.

At this time, Yuqin Guo's convoy slowly halted, and a familiar figure stepped to the front of the convoy.

It was Yun Shan.

Is this Yuqin Guo's entry into Jingcheng actually overseen by Prince Li's residence?

She recalled the words Qin Yue xi had said back in Nanpu.

"If I could marry Prince Li, how wonderful that would be."

Thinking of that, Chi Nan Yi's fingertips curled slightly, and the smile on her face faded a bit.

Yun Shan exchanged a few words with Mou Hanqin ahead, then turned and walked toward the inn.

The Yuqin Guo convoy slowly vanished from Chi Nan Yi's sight until it was gone, and only then did Chi Nan Yi feel a slight chill in her body.

At that moment, a cloak was draped over her.

"In the dead of winter, you're not even afraid of catching a cold," Qing Shan laughed, tossing his fragmented hair forward: "I doubt there are many guards as meticulous as me."

Chi Nan Yi smiled: "Not bad, here's a raise for you."

"Really? How much of a raise?"

Chi Nan Yi tossed him another porcelain bottle.

Qing Shan's smile at the corner of his mouth faltered.

He was being placated again with these useless items.

"I don't want it; silver would be more practical."

Chi Nan Yi heard this, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes as she shook the porcelain bottle: "Are you sure you don't want it?"

"No."

"Fine." Chi Nan Yi produced a silver ingot: "Twenty taels."

Qing Shan grasped the silver in his hand, lifted the ingot and bit it, then heard Chi Nan Yi say softly, "Since you don't want the antidote, I'll put it away."

"What?"

"Antidote?"

Qing Shan suddenly looked up, his gaze blazing as he stared at the porcelain bottle in her hand, and slowly pushed the silver toward her.

"I don't want this; I want the silver."

"Is that so? But didn't you say you didn't want it?"

"Want, want, want! Little master, I treat money like dirt."

Chi Nan Yi did not hand him the porcelain bottle, but said slowly, "Once a move is made, there's no regret; you chose silver, so you can't change it now." She glanced disdainfully at the bite marks on it: "Even with that silver, I still wouldn't take it."

"Then I'll just buy the whole place!"

"One piece, one thousand taels."

Qing Shan's smile at the corner of his mouth tightened abruptly: "Isn't it… isn't it twenty taels?"

"Young man, that was the earlier price."

Qing Shan: "…"

When he lowered his head again to look at the twenty‑tael silver, he tossed it onto the table and muttered, "It's even worse than dirt!"

Chi Nan Yi, seeing his frustration, poured the pill out and tossed it directly into his mouth.

"You… why are you eating that?"

"Actually this isn't an antidote; it's a health‑strengthening pill."

Qing Shan's expression soured: "Are you playing me?"

"I'm just trying to teach you a lesson," Chi Nan Yi said with a smile. "Some things can't be judged by appearance alone; appearances are the easiest to deceive, and you shouldn't trust others' words too much. Take this pill—if you don't try it yourself, how would you know whether it's for strengthening the body or for detoxifying?"

After Chi Nan Yi left, Qing Shan remained seated there.

Night fell, and the previously sleeping Chi Nan Yi suddenly opened her eyes; silver needles shot from her hand, several figures retreated sharply, the sound of needles piercing flesh reached the ears, a few muffled groans sounded, and in the next instant, the lights in Chi Nan Yi's room flared on.

"Presenting to the Pavilion Master."

Chi Nan Yi draped a great cloak over herself, looked at the several women kneeling on the ground, and a hint of satisfaction appeared in her eyes.

"Lanxi taught you well."

"Thank you, Master, for the praise." These women were skilled; had she not been naturally vigilant, she might not have easily noticed their presence.

"From whom did you learn your kung fu?"

"Answering the Pavilion Master, the four of us were formerly escort masters of the same escort bureau; my father was the Chief Escort Head, and we learned our martial arts from him."

"Are the four of you biological sisters?"

"Indeed."

"If you were escort masters, why join the Dark Pavilion?"

The four exchanged glances and whispered, "Our father was killed, murdered by someone. After we slew our enemies, we didn't want to drag the escort bureau into trouble, so we left. The authorities pursued us relentlessly, leaving us nowhere to hide, until we met Sister Lanxi, who took us in. Because our identities are special and we have lives at stake, Sister Lanxi said that if we wish to stay, we must obtain the Pavilion Master's consent."

When they finished, the four knelt on the ground, speaking earnestly: "Pavilion Master, if you allow us to remain in the Dark Pavilion, by your side, we sisters will follow your lead without ever betraying you!"

"Lanxi is willing to keep you for her own reasons; she sent you to find me, so she must have some confidence. Since lives are at stake, let's have you explain the whole story in detail!"

The girl at the front bowed respectfully to Chi Nan Yi and said softly, "Answering the Pavilion Master, my father was the Chief Escort Head of the Heavenly Wolf Escort Bureau. I grew up in Jingcheng, and later fled with my father to Nanpu, where we stayed for over a decade. After my younger sisters were born, my father became an escort master in the bureau; his martial skill was high, and he soon became Chief Escort Head. Our sisters trained in martial arts from childhood; after our mother died, we followed our father as escort masters. However, he said it was unsafe for women to escort, so we always presented ourselves as men. For years we lived peacefully, but two years ago a group was assigned to transport goods and specifically asked my father to deliver them. Mid‑journey, a band ambushed us—not to steal goods, but each attack was aimed at my father. They clearly wanted his life. To avenge him, we left the bureau, tracked the culprit, whose name was Huangmang. Though his skill was high, he was a lecher. The four of us disguised ourselves as courtesans, caught him off guard, and killed him."

"Huangmang?"

"Why does that name sound familiar?"

"I think I've heard it somewhere."

"Pavilion Master, the four of us are like floating duckweed on water; please accept us."

"Why must you join the Dark Pavilion?" Chi Nan Yi looked at them and said lightly, "If you want to change your identity, the Dark Pavilion can provide you with a new one. Since the great revenge has been avenged, you can start your life anew. Why must you join the Dark Pavilion."

Facing her discerning gaze, the few exchanged a glance, feeling a little guilty.

"You'd better tell the truth; if there's any concealment, you may voluntarily leave!"

Hearing that she intends to send them away, the four instantly grew anxious.

"Pavilion Master, we speak! After we killed Huangmang, our trail was exposed, and we have been constantly pursued. By accident, we overheard something…"