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Xun... Xun'er... I..."
What had he just blurted out?!
Xiao Yan's face paled drastically, almost devoid of color. His lips trembled, and he struggled to form a coherent sentence. The surge of impulsive courage that had welled within him vanished in an instant, plummeting into an abyss of regret.
He glanced at the two figures beside him, who stood silently, feigning ignorance, neither speaking nor making a sound, as if they had witnessed nothing.
What do I do? What do I do?! His eyes pleaded with Ye Fan.
Ye Fan offered a polite smile, his expression carefully blank.
Save me! Save me! Xiao Yan's gaze shifted desperately to Lu Xian.
Lu Xian smiled and nodded subtly, his eyes conveying a silent message.
Don't worry, brother, I understand.
Good brother, I'm counting on you! Gratitude welled up in Xiao Yan's eyes.
Lu Xian then turned to Xun'er with a courteous smile and inquired, "Miss, that… unfortunate slip of the tongue from our friend just now, regarding 'three million worldly patrons bowing before him'—you didn't happen to hear that, did you?"
"Huo Huo?" Xun'er glanced at Xiao Yan, who was trembling visibly, and a gentle smile touched her lips. "Xun'er heard nothing of the sort."
"Excellent. And as for the subsequent… bold declaration, 'If the heavens had not birthed me, Xiao Huo Huo, then the world would be plunged into darkness'—surely that also escaped your notice, correct?" Lu Xian continued, his smile unwavering.
"Indeed." Xun'er's expression softened further as she nodded.
"Splendid!"
Lu Xian clapped Xiao Yan on the shoulder with a reassuring gesture. "Relax, Huo Huo. The young lady heard not a single word."
"..."
Did that truly offer any solace?
In truth, it only amplified his discomfort… a profound sense of inner mortification washing over him.
Observing Xiao Yan's increasingly peculiar gaze directed at them, Lu Xian swiftly made his excuses. "Ye Hei and I still have matters to attend to, so we shall not intrude upon your time any longer."
"Yes, yes, pressing matters! The sky looks as though it might unleash a downpour, and my mother instructed me to secure the laundry!" Ye Fan nodded earnestly, maintaining a remarkably straight face. Hold it together, damn it, do not succumb to laughter here!
The two turned and quickened their pace, and as soon as they disappeared around a corner—
Their eyes met.
"Hahahaha—!"
"Hahahaha—!"
Lu Xian and Ye Fan finally lost their composure, clutching their sides, slapping their thighs, and succumbing to unrestrained laughter until their faces ached.
After a prolonged moment—
Ye Fan inhaled deeply, still chuckling softly. "That was a close call! I almost witnessed that fellow take a step towards a more… grounded existence. Fortunately, fate intervened at the last possible moment. Let us see if he dares to boast of his affections in the group chat again. By the heavens, I nearly lost it back there."
Lu Xian also attempted to regain his composure, his abdomen sore from laughter. "Ye Hei, how can you be so heartless? Our brother has just endured a rather… traumatic experience, and you find amusement in it?"
"But Lu bro, you are practically weeping with laughter…"
"Am I?" Lu Xian dabbed at his eyes, feeling a trace of moisture. Striving for a serious demeanor, he quickly fabricated an explanation. "Do not be deceived! My lips may have been twitching with the intensity of a crossbow trigger, but those were tears of sympathy."
"Truly?"
Their eyes met once more.
"Hahahaha—!"
"Hahahaha—!"
They erupted into another fit of laughter. Only after a considerable time did they finally regain their composure and return to the main thoroughfare, where Xiao Yan was nowhere to be seen—likely having been hastily escorted home.
Ye Fan inquired, "Lu bro, what shall be our next course of action?"
"Naturally, we shall visit the pleasure houses." Lu Xian stated matter-of-factly.
"The… pleasure houses? Seriously?" Ye Fan hesitated. It was not a matter of particular moral rectitude—rather, his youthful appearance, resembling an eleven or twelve-year-old and standing less than 1.7 meters tall, made the prospect of entering such an establishment feel… decidedly inappropriate.
Observing his reluctance, Lu Xian earnestly attempted to persuade him. "Consider it, the women in such places—if they do not have ailing mothers, they often bear the burden of fathers with gambling compulsions. Could you truly, in good conscience, ignore these unfortunate souls who offer themselves to provide for their families, bury their deceased, or even contribute to the welfare of our nation? Show some compassion, my friend!"
"Besides, we still have time before our midnight undertaking. We must find some way to occupy ourselves, no? If we are not transgressing any explicit laws, we could at the very least indulge in some proper therapeutic massages. Afterward, we can check on Huo Huo. What say you? Are you with me?"
"Are you offering to treat?" Ye Fan's interest was piqued.
"Without question!"
"Then let us proceed!"
The two found themselves in immediate agreement, eager to extend their support to the impoverished and vulnerable young women through a generous display of patronage.
"Who is to say that heroism is confined to those who dwell in the light?"
Lu Xian hummed a lighthearted melody as he guided Ye Fan towards the brothel. Both were handsome young men, and they were swiftly ushered upstairs to a private chamber where the madam began to elaborate on the unique 'services' offered within the Dou Qi Continent's pleasure establishments.
Lu Xian was genuinely surprised by the diverse range of entertainment available—there were even ladies skilled in lightning attribute Dou Qi who could provide specialized electrotherapy sessions. He immediately gestured expansively, like a seasoned patron, and requested two.
To charge his power storage device…
It was a dark, moonless night.
The perfect conditions for clandestine activities!
At the Jia Lie Clan's estate, three shadowy figures clad in black cloaks silently scaled the wall and slipped into the grounds.
"Does anyone else feel as though we are being observed from behind?"
"Indeed, I sense it too. It sends a chill down my spine…"
Lu Xian and Ye Fan exchanged uneasy glances, then turned around—only to meet the intensely resentful gaze of Xiao Yan.
I shall be watching you two… always…
Their lips twitched involuntarily. So that was the source of the unsettling sensation.
"Well, at this juncture, perhaps we should… focus on the mission at hand."
"Agreed."
The Jia Lie Clan's security was not particularly stringent, and their infiltration was accomplished with ease. The trio moved swiftly, melting into the shadows, soon reaching the residential quarters at the rear of the estate.
"What is the strategy?" Ye Fan whispered.
"We proceed room by room. Maintain absolute silence."
Lu Xian's suggestion was met with silent consensus. The three exchanged nods and carefully muffled their footsteps.
Upon reaching one of the courtyards, Yao Lao utilized his spiritual energy to disengage the door latch. Lu Xian and Ye Fan slipped inside, finding a figure still deep in slumber upon the bed.
"Yashila-leh!" Without hesitation, Lu Xian murmured a brief incantation, casting a silencing spell to prevent the occupant from crying out upon awakening.
Ye Fan summoned a golden tome from his Sea of Bitterness—the physical manifestation of the Dao Scripture—manipulating it with the precision of a razor-sharp blade. A golden flash illuminated the darkness, and the figure on the bed was decapitated in their sleep.
"Next!"
The two retreated silently, moving with the cold efficiency of seasoned assassins.
Xiao Yan and Yao Lao quietly opened the doors. Lu Xian swiftly silenced any potential outcry.
Ye Fan executed the target. It was a seamless and deadly operation—so efficient that they even had moments for hushed conversation between their grim tasks.
"....."