Chapter 393: Stealing People

There were only three girls in the interrogation room; the youngest was about the same age as Pan Yun, and the other two looked to be around fifteen or sixteen.

When Pan Yun entered, all three were breathing only out, not in.

Seeing not a single patch of unblemished skin on them, she touched their limbs—soft and limp.

She frowned; this was clearly meant to kill.

Pan Yun fed them medicine while calling for Tao Yanbai.

Tao Yanbai took one look and said, "Little Master, you must transmit some Yuan force to them, or they won't survive."

Pan Yun transmitted Qi to them, left Tao Yanbai to treat them, and turned to the other two rooms.

Five girls were locked in the solitary confinement cells, but many more were being trained elsewhere—Pan Yun searched the rooms and found eight.

When the girls heard she was there to save them, they half-believed, half-doubted, all covering their mouths to stifle sobs.

Pan Yun gathered them together and said, "Those who want to leave, follow me; those who don't, stay. Don't fear—I'll only knock you out, I won't leave any evidence behind."

At this moment, all their faces were covered with cloth, leaving only their brows and eyes exposed.

Pan Yun was wrapped the most tightly, because she also wore a hat.

Thirteen girls exchanged glances, watching Pan Yun warily: "If we go with you, where to?"

Pan Yun: "Back to your homes, or wherever you want—I can take you to the county magistrate's office. Oh, and if you don't want the authorities, I can take you out of the city."

The girls' eyes brightened; some glanced at each other, suppressing excitement, but others trembled with dread, clutching their hands: "I—I was sold by my family. If I go back, my parents will sell me again."

Pan Yun: "Then don't go back. I'll give you travel money. Those who can't return can stay together for a while, or seek out other relatives."

The girls sold by their families looked bewildered—more lost than those kidnapped or abducted, because they truly had nowhere to go.

Pan Yun scratched her head, realizing she'd oversimplified things—but since she'd already done it, she'd see it through.

Besides, this was saving lives.

Pan Yun scanned their faces and limbs, picked out a few with lighter injuries and more strength, dismantled three bedboards, carried out the three severely wounded girls from the interrogation room, and laid them on the boards for the others to carry.

Xiao Hong lifted the talisman and floated ahead; no one except Pan Yun could see her.

Pan Yun led the way, Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He flanked the sixteen girls on either side, Tao Yanbai brought up the rear.

Xiao Hong swept through the courtyard like a gust of wind, then floated back: "No one's in this courtyard."

Of course there was no one—the only two had been knocked out by her.

Pan Yun waved at her; Xiao Hong shot off like a gust of wind.

The girls behind Pan Yun shivered, feeling the wind grow cold.

Ahead lay a closed courtyard gate; Xiao Hong could only float over the wall. Soon she returned: "Lots of people ahead—someone keeps passing by."

Pan Yun nodded, signaled everyone to wait, then stepped forward, unlocked the lock, and peered out.

This courtyard connected to the front building; Pan Yun scanned it and saw three rooms faintly emitting music and laughter, but few people in the courtyard—only occasional servants carrying wine, dishes, fruits, and snacks passed by.

What surprised Pan Yun was that there seemed to be no guards or enforcers here.

Xiao Hong floated beside Pan Yun and whispered in her ear: "Do you know this courtyard? It's for high officials and nobles—enter and exit through the side gate, so only guards are stationed there."

Pan Yun nodded and whispered: "You and Pan Xiaohei go ahead and keep watch. If anyone comes to deliver more items, stop them—if you can't, have Pan Xiaohei warn me."

Xiao Hong: "What if I make noise?"

"Make noise then—good, it'll ease the pressure on Big Disciple."

Xiao Hong understood and floated off straightaway.

Pan Yun mentally called to Pan Xiaohei, who'd vanished somewhere: 【Go help Xiao Hong.】

This time Pan Xiaohei obeyed, answering softly, then slipped soundlessly across the roof.

Pan Yun timed it—when another eunuch emerged with an empty tray and left, she rose and told the girls behind her: "Move fast, no noise. See over there? Head straight for it."

The girl behind her turned pale, trembling: "Mistress, who… who were you just talking to?"

"The Mountain God."

The girls' expressions eased slightly: "What Mountain God?"

"Mountain God Pan Gong. Remember to thank him for saving you after you leave. Let's go." Pan Yun led forward; the girls hurried after her.

The girls were terrified, clutching their skirts, stepping carefully behind Pan Yun, rushing swiftly through the courtyard toward the side gate.

Pan Yun made no attempt to hide—she headed straight for the side gate.

Two eunuchs guarding the side gate leaned against the door, eating roasted peanuts. In the moment they bent to peel the shells, they looked up—and the empty path ahead now held a group of people.

Both froze; before they could speak—crack! crack! —their eyes rolled back and they collapsed.

Pan Yun shoved them just as they fell, making them land with a thud beside the gate.

She opened the gate fully, peered out—beyond lay a narrow alley wide enough for a cart. Empty. No one.

Pan Yun swung the gate wide open, stepped aside: "Go out. Head that way."

The girls stared at the open gate, suppressing excitement, lifting their skirts and sprinting out.

Pan Yun whispered: "Wait up ahead. Seeing Miao Zhen, lead them. If anyone sees you—knock them out, stun them, whoever it is."

Seeing Miao Zhen agreed, leading them down the alley—just then, two screams erupted from the courtyard: "Ghost—!"

Chaos erupted; heads popped up from all sides, people rushed over to gawk.

Xiao Hong didn't care—seeing everyone gather, she floated upside-down straight into their faces, and instantly, bloodied scars appeared across her face and body—the exact wounds from her death.

"Ghost—!"

Screams rose; Xiao Hong laughed joyfully, soaring and cackling "Hahaha!"—for the first time, she understood the joy of being a ghost.

Pan Yun and the others found it anything but fun; aside from Tao Ji being briefly terrified, everyone else accepted her quickly, unafraid.

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Xiao Hong flew joyfully, zipping through the courtyard—swish! one way, swish! back again, darting right before people's faces, behind their backs—anything to scare them.

The entire courtyard rang with screams.

The madam came charging over in a fury, shoving aside the wooden-faced people crowding in, and barked, "Who's playing tricks here, screaming and hollering like a ghost?"

Xiao Hong dropped straight down from above in a flash, hanging upside down face-to-face with her.

Screams erupted from both sides and behind, then with a few thuds, someone fainted dead rigid and toppled backward.

The madam only froze for a beat, then swung her hand and slapped toward Xiao Hong's face.

Xiao Hong whisked away in a flash, dodging her palm, and hung in midair, staring fixedly at her.

The madam looked fierce as a demon, rolled up her sleeves, jabbed a finger at Xiao Hong's nose, and cursed, "What inauspicious ghost crawled out of where? Just watch this old lady beat you till your soul scatters!"

Having said that, she charged straight at Xiao Hong.

Xiao Hong was stunned for a moment, felt the murderous aura and ferocity radiating off her whole body, and immediately drifted aside to dodge.

Truth be told, although she knew no Daoist arts, ghosts really did dread that fierce air about her.

So it was true—cursing a ghost could really drive it away.

But Xiao Hong only dodged for a moment—could she be an ordinary ghost?

She flew circles around the madam, luring her into chasing and hitting at her.

The madam's mouth was filthy with curses. At first Xiao Hong was a bit angry, but seeing her panting and unable to catch up, Xiao Hong's heart found its balance.

She flashed to a stop right in front of the madam again, grinned at her, and said, "You're not afraid of me?"

The madam gnashed her teeth, her gaze vicious. "I don't even fear the living—why would I fear a ghost?"

"Judging by your clothes and makeup, the dust on you, you're in the same trade as us, aren't you? But I've never seen the likes of you in my Wan Chun Brothel. If you have a grievance, find the one who wronged you. What's the meaning of coming here to ruin my Wan Chun Brothel's business?"

The madam jabbed at Xiao Hong's nose and cursed, "I'll give you one chance—get out of my sight right now, or I'll summon a Daoist Priest to take you, and beat you till your soul scatters!"

Xiao Hong was silent for a moment. "You mean I'm also a courtesan?"

She twirled a strand of hair at her chest with her finger, thoughtful. "No wonder. I was wondering why I was so familiar with the pleasure houses and flower boats—turns out I was in this line of work."

Xiao Hong lifted her thin red sleeve to cover her face and burst into a tinkling, girlish laugh, then flashed to the madam's side, gently stroking her cheek. "Thank you, Mama. If not for you, I'd never have known I was a courtesan in life. Hehehehe…"

The madam's whole body went cold from her laughter. Before she could react, Xiao Hong vanished into thin air.

The madam froze, stood stiffly for a while, turned her head to look all around, and once she confirmed Xiao Hong had truly vanished, immediately turned back to the guests with an apologetic smile. "Honored guests…"

She had barely opened her mouth when the guests, who had still been half in doubt, witnessed Xiao Hong's disappearance and shrieked, turning to flee.

By this time, Pan Yun had already led all the girls out through the side door. She shut the door, then led them away through the twists of an alley.

Wang Cong and Hong Yan had also looted plenty of good things. Seeing people continuously pouring out from the rear courtyard below, shouting "Ghost! Ghost!", he stuffed a heavy little chest he couldn't pry open straight into his storage space, and said to Hong Yan, "That's about enough, let's go."

Hong Yan took all the jewelry from the bedside cabinet too, and when she saw several bolts of pretty cloth inside the wardrobe, she went up to gather them.

She herself could store items, so she simply collected them on the spot.

Wang Cong was about to leave with her when he saw a painting hanging on the wall and casually took it down too.

It looked like an authentic work—no matter, grab it first.

The two straightened their robes, quietly opened the door, and seeing the whole Wan Chun Brothel in chaos, blended into the turmoil, running with the others toward the front gate.

The doorman at the gate couldn't stop the flood, and didn't notice the two of them either.

It was the fifth watch—the hour when people sleep their deepest—even the government office Runners on patrol had wandered off somewhere to sleep.

Pan Yun led them the whole way, dodging the night watchmen, and brought them to an alley not far from the county office.

(End of chapter)