Guan Xilan entered a high-end club in the East District of the Ancestral Court. The passing waiters and hostesses all bowed slightly to her, then stepped aside and lowered their heads.
Once Guan Xilan walked past, they resud their tasks.
Guan Xilan glanced disdainfully at this opulent, hedonistic place, a location she neither liked nor wanted to visit, yet she had no choice but to co.
Because the Ancestral Court had issued an order for her to find soone here and, by any ans necessary, fulfill that person's demands and request his help with a task.
As the Grand Commander of the Hidden Guard, trained and raised by the Ancestral Court from a young age, she had to complete this mission at any cost.
This retro club nad "Night Shanghai" had four floors. Regular custors could only access the first and second floors. The third floor was the VIP area, reserved for those who were not just wealthy but also influential figures in the East District.
The even higher fourth floor was used by the owner of Night Shanghai to entertain friends. Only the owner's friends could gather there, and they did not need to spend any money.
Guan Xilan went up to the fourth floor. No one dared to stop her, even though the owner of this place had connections everywhere. Moreover, the owner had already been notified about her visit and had prepared accordingly.
Guan Xilan passed by several courtyards. There were no private rooms here, only courtyards large enough to gaze upon the stars, each the size of a football field and uniquely decorated.
"Odin... Buddha of Light... Jade Emperor... Zeus..." Guan Xilan passed by each courtyard, nad after ancient mythological kings.
Although she couldn't see into the courtyards, the architectural style of their gates suggested a resemblance to those mythological styles.
"Is the owner here running a business, or worshiping gods?" Guan Xilan murmured with a frown.
"To mortals, everyone living here, in their respective fields, is like a god, or rather, the king of gods," a voice sounded beside her.
Guan Xilan turned to the speaker, a stunning woman. Perhaps due to the instinctive rivalry between won, Guan Xilan instantly felt she disliked this woman because she was just as beautiful as herself.
"Madam, the owner asked
to assist you. Whatever your request, I will do my utmost to fulfill it," the beautiful woman said.
"What's your na?" Guan Xilan asked.
"You may call
Shui Yu, Madam. I am the supervisor of the fourth floor of Night Shanghai," the beautiful woman said gently.
"Water jade, flawless at first glance, but upon drying, its cracks are like cotton," Guan Xilan remarked as she observed Shui Yu, then shifted her tone, "If I asked you to die, would you?"
Shui Yu remained silent and clapped her hands. Imdiately, a maid ca in carrying a tray and approached Guan Xilan.
Guan Xilan glanced at the tray, spotting a sheathed dagger. Just by the sheath alone, she could tell it was a priceless object.
"If you need, Madam, you can take Shui Yu's life now." Shui Yu closed her eyes, raised her chin slightly, and exposed her neck, smooth and white as mutton fat jade, like a graceful swan waiting to be slaughtered.
"Take
to see Luo Yuanfei," Guan Xilan didn't take the dagger, nor did she kill Shui Yu.
If she took the dagger, she would fall into another's rhythm, regardless of whether she killed or spared, she would be at a disadvantage, so she chose not to take the dagger.
But it did not an she wouldn't kill; she chose when to kill and how to kill.
She would choose the mont Shui Yu least intended to die.
"This way, Madam." Shui Yu dismissed the maid and led the way, walking gracefully like willows in the clouds, indescribably beautiful.
Finally, the two arrived at a courtyard entrance. Guan Xilan noticed the doorplate which read "Andersen."
Guan Xilan was about to knock when Shui Yu interrupted, "Luo Gongzi should be painting by now. He dislikes being disturbed while painting. It's better to wait for a while."
Guan Xilan ignored her and knocked on the door.
But there was no response from within. She waited for a mont and was about to knock again.
"It's best to wait; he truly doesn't like being disturbed while painting," Shui Yu advised once more.
Guan Xilan still ignored her and knocked again.
The Hidden Guard possessed greater authority in the Ancestral Court, even more than the Inspectorate. The Inspectorate needed a reason to kill; the Hidden Guard needed only the phrase "endangering public safety."
As the Grand Commander of the Hidden Guard, a top expert at the Ninth Awakening, there was no need to wait to et a Sixth Sense such as Luo Yuanfei.
Hearing no answer, Guan Xilan knocked again. This ti Shui Yu did not try to stop her.
"If you're so eager to co in, just enter," a man's voice drifted out from inside the courtyard, listless, like a man suffering from severe depletion of Primordial Energy.
Guan Xilan unhesitatingly pushed open the courtyard door and walked in.
The courtyard was simply arranged, appearing ordinary, without ostentation, nor pavilions—just a straightforward courtyard with simple furniture.
Yet the scene made her feel extrely uneasy.
From her vantage point, she saw a man seated on a stool, painting at an easel. As the easel was turned away from Guan Xilan, she couldn't see what was being painted.
Not far from the easel lay a naked, beautiful woman lounging gracefully on a couch, evidently serving as the man's model, naturally the subject of his painting.
The man had stopped his brushwork, placing it aside, and his gaze shifted to Guan Xilan.
"Luo Yuanfei, I'm here to ask you to kill soone," Guan Xilan stated.
"Who are you?" Luo Yuanfei asked with just three words.
"Who I am is unimportant. As long as you can complete the task, you can have anything you desire," Guan Xilan replied.
"Seems the person you want dead is quite difficult to kill," Luo Yuanfei smiled.
"Will you kill, or won't you?" Guan Xilan asked coldly.
"If I say no, are you going to kill ?" Luo Yuanfei interlaced his fingers, resting his elbows on the table, looking at Guan Xilan through the gaps between his fingers.
"I only kill those who are guilty; are you guilty?" Guan Xilan said expressionlessly.
"Fine, I'll kill for you," Luo Yuanfei replied, his smile calm and unruffled.
"What do you want as compensation?" Guan Xilan thought this was quite normal—who would dare refuse her request?
"I... want... you..." Luo Yuanfei, peering through the gaps in his fingers, seed to smile even with his eyes.
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