AUBTN -Chapter 68 The Appointment

“She doesn’t even know her own limits? A weak girl like her, going to a place like that to play hero!”

Shen Jue also took the note and looked at it carefully.

Su Hewan sighed. “Lord Lu, calm down. You know Yu Qing’s temperament—no one can stop her. But although she acts impulsively, she isn’t completely reckless. The other party clearly has their sights on you and the Overseer. Targeting Yu Qing is just a way to find a foothold.”

Shen Jue spoke softly, almost pensively: “Exactly. Since they used the thrush as a marker, it might be related to the missing ledger. Miss Yu won’t be in immediate danger—now it’s just a question of what they want.”

Lu Yan’s expression darkened. “Interesting. That old man Jiang Huai was trying to get rid of us, and now someone delivers a clue right under our noses.”

Shen Jue casually let rainwater drip from the eaves onto his long, knuckled fingers, giving off a strangely ascetic aura.

His tone was lazy, yet edged with a cutting, lethal energy.

“Since someone has set the stage, if we don’t go watch the show, wouldn’t that be ungrateful?”

He turned his head toward Lu Yan, who could hardly restrain his murderous intent, and chuckled lightly: “Shall we go, Lord Lu? Let’s see what big fish your lovely acquaintance has managed to lure in.”

The night was heavy, rain pouring down in torrents.

The Smoke-and-Rain Pavilion stood on the most bustling part of the Qinhuai River in Su City. Though it was late at night, the building remained brightly lit.

The music of silk and bamboo sounded particularly intoxicating against the backdrop of rain.

Yu Qing held an oiled-paper umbrella, standing at the entrance.

Looking up at the gilded signboard, the little voice in her mind screamed in panic.

“What the heck… why does this place look so shady?”

“Stay calm, Yu Qing! Trust your protagonist aura!”

She took a deep breath, closed the umbrella, straightened her back, and stepped boldly over the threshold.

The madam of the house waved a handkerchief and came forward. “Miss, are you here to see someone or is this your first visit?”

Yu Qing crossed her arms defensively, wary of the madam’s greedy gaze. “I…I’m here to see someone! The thrush!”

The madam instantly put away her smile and pointed with a hand. “To see someone? Go to the ‘Tian’ room on the second floor.”

Yu Qing glanced at the many scantily clad women filling the hall, unable to hide her astonishment.

“Luxury, decadence… utterly corrupt!”

She didn’t dare linger, weaving past the women and stumbling up to the second floor.

The ‘Tian’ room was at the end of the corridor.

She knocked carefully, but there was no response.

Yu Qing pushed the door open, puzzled.

“Um… is anyone here?”

She tried to make her voice sound steady, though a tremor still betrayed her.

The room was empty. Not a single soul.

Only a cloyingly sweet perfume lingered in the air.

Yu Qing felt a chill run through her heart.

“What’s going on? Are they messing with me?”

“Why isn’t there even an NPC? This isn’t how the plot is supposed to go!”

A surge of survival instinct made her decide immediately—retreat!

“Looks like I made a mistake. Sorry for the disturbance, goodbye!”

She turned to run, but before she could step over the threshold, a faint whooshing sound came from behind.

Instinctively, she wanted to look back, but felt a sudden numbness in her neck, followed by a strange, sweet scent filling her nose.

“A sedative? Such a cliché… scriptwriter, have some heart…”

Yu Qing completely lost consciousness.

When she woke again, she found herself in a windowless, enclosed chamber.

She moved, realizing that her hands and feet weren’t bound—but her body felt limp, too weak to lift.

“Awake?”

A cold, clear female voice sounded from ahead.

Yu Qing shot her head up and saw a woman dressed in black night attire standing at the only exit of the secret room.

The woman wore a mask decorated with a hibiscus bird pattern, revealing only a pair of icy eyes, looking down at her from above.

“Who are you? Did you tie me up?”

Yu Qing forced herself to sit up. Though her heart was racing, her mouth instinctively went into “mouth-off” mode.

“Big sister, even kidnapping has rules. You want money? Or… pleasure? I don’t really have the latter, and the problem is, I have neither!”

The black-clad woman ignored her rambling and fixed her cold gaze on Yu Qing, speaking directly:

“I am Huamei.”

“I know you’re from the capital, and I know you’re investigating Jiang Huai.”

Yu Qing froze, instantly clamming up.

Huamei? The name mentioned in the account book?

“I have what you’re looking for.”

The black-clad woman pulled a small booklet from her bosom and shook it slightly.

“This is evidence of Jiang Huai secretly trading salt, as well as concrete proof of him forging weapons and colluding with foreign enemies, including a map of the armory.”

Yu Qing’s eyes widened. “Then why come to me? Just report it directly! The people of Chaoyang would welcome you!”

“I don’t trust the authorities.”

A trace of hatred and resolve laced the black-clad woman’s voice.

“But I know that your commander of the Jinyiwei and the Eastern Depot overseer can contend with Jiang Huai!”

“And the conditions?” Yu Qing’s mind raced. When an NPC hands over a quest item voluntarily, it usually comes with a high-difficulty side quest.

“I want you to protect someone.”

The black-clad woman stepped forward, and a subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness flickered across her eyes.

“As long as you can safely escort Jiang Ruyi out of Su City, I will hand over this evidence willingly.”

Yu Qing blinked. Before she could process all that, the stone door suddenly slammed open with a loud crash.

Two figures burst in like death incarnate.

“Let her go!”

Accompanied by a fierce shout, a razor-sharp blade tore through the dust, aimed straight at the black-clad woman’s face.

Lu Yan’s frost-cold face appeared in her sight. His embroidered spring knife struck with overwhelming force, showing no intention of holding back.

“Ah! Lord Lu, don’t kill the witness!” Yu Qing screamed in terror.

The black-clad woman reacted instantly, twisting her body in a strange, almost acrobatic angle to dodge the killing strike.

Then, with a swift motion, she drew a flexible sword. The sword, like a living serpent, shot straight toward Lu Yan’s wrist.

“Hmm?”

Shen Jue, standing behind in a supportive stance, let out a soft murmur.

He clasped his hands behind his back, remaining inactive, his sharp eyes fixed on the black-clad woman’s movements.

Her martial style was extremely eclectic—traces of Jinyiwei’s bold, sweeping swordplay, the Eastern Depot’s sly and subtle assassination techniques, even hints of ruthless street-fighter savagery.

Lu Yan also sensed something off. This female assassin’s moves… looked strangely familiar.

As if… someone deliberately imitated his and Shen Jue’s martial arts!

In the cramped secret room, sword and blade clashed, sparks flying in all directions.

Worried about Yu Qing in the corner, Lu Yan restrained his strikes.

The black-clad woman, seemingly not intent on a prolonged fight, advanced with each move by retreating, trying to break through the encirclement.

“Trying to leave? Not that easy.”

Shen Jue sneered and finally took action.