Chapter 89 - 4: The Enchantress Covered by a Black Cloth

"Good analysis!"

Meeting Si Nan’s gaze, Ye Liuyun smiled and nodded.

From now on, Ye Liuyun couldn’t possibly handle everything personally—what would be the point of recruiting subordinates then?

"Hehe!"

Getting Ye Liuyun’s approval, Si Nan scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.

"But..."

Shi Sheng still wasn’t quite getting it.

"That Southern Governor doesn’t seem like a bad person, does he?"

"You think everyone looks the same—do you expect villains to have ’bad guy’ written on their faces?"

Si Nan rolled his eyes at Shi Sheng.

With your level of intelligence, you’d better stay out of anything requiring brainpower, otherwise you’ll just embarrass yourself.

Si Nan didn’t say it out loud, though.

But that look—Shi Sheng got the message.

"..."

Too lazy to bother with Shi Sheng, Si Nan looked back to Ye Liuyun.

"Sir, there’s just one thing I don’t understand: what exactly does the Southern Governor want?"

After all, our lord is an Innate Realm Martial Artist—it can’t be that Qi Yuanliang really just wants to mess around with our lord for fun, right?

Before, it totally seemed like he wanted to win our lord over—even supported Ye Liuyun in public—but now, his actions don’t look like that at all.

If you want to recruit someone, surely you need to show some good faith?

"Who knows!"

Ye Liuyun shrugged it off with a smile.

"Whatever move he makes next, I’ll handle it as it comes."

Once I reach Grandmaster, none of these problems will matter—and if this Southern Governor Qi Yuanliang just likes playing games? No problem, I’ll play along with him!

"Understood!"

The unknown is the scariest part.

But seeing Ye Liuyun so relaxed, much of the unease in Si Nan’s heart faded, and he nodded seriously.

Thinking about it, with their lord’s strength, what’s there to be afraid of?

"So, the Southern Governor really isn’t a good person?"

Shi Sheng had been listening in for ages and all he got was this basic takeaway.

Si Nan cast a sidelong glance at Shi Sheng.

"What, you think our lord would lie to you?"

Of course, Shi Sheng trusted Ye Liuyun.

He was just a bit disappointed, that’s all.

Shi Sheng used to think that—even if the Embroidered Uniform Guard had its bad eggs—there were still decent folks working hard, like this Southern Governor Qi Yuanliang.

But now it looked like this Qi Yuanliang wasn’t much good either.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard’s days are numbered.

...

After several days traveling south, they finally saw a town ahead.

The locals had been waiting for quite some time already.

So, once Ye Liuyun arrived, a few constabulary captains stepped up to roll out a prison cart covered in black cloth.

There was a horse pulling it in front, and a wooden cell at the back—but what was odd was that the wooden cell was wrapped in black fabric, covered tight and solid.

"What’s this?"

Even Ye Liuyun was puzzled.

Si Nan and Shi Sheng, who followed behind, exchanged confused looks as well.

Nobody knew what was going on.

"Reporting, sir!"

The constabulary folk didn’t dare leave anything out and explained right away.

"The demoness locked in this cage is highly skilled in a demon technique—she can bewitch anyone who sees her face. A few of our brothers already suffered, so we had no choice but to cover it with this black cloth."

"Demon technique?"

Ye Liuyun didn’t buy into any nonsense about ’demon techniques.’

Most likely, it’s some kind of magic.

Which means, the criminal we’re escorting this time is probably a mage?

"Hehehe!"

Right then, a soft laugh sounded from within the black-clad cell—a woman’s voice.

Even though her face couldn’t be seen, the sweet and delicate notes of her voice sent a tingling itch through the heart.

"Sir, clearly they’re just jealous of a girl’s beauty—why make up stories about me using demon techniques?"

Sure enough—it must be some special magic.

Even her voice could stir up those kinds of thoughts.

"Tsk!"

Shi Sheng didn’t seem affected, just frowned a little.

But Si Nan couldn’t help but gasp, scratching at his chest, fighting the urge to lift the black cloth for a peek.

Then he caught Shi Sheng’s sidelong, scornful glance and instantly snapped back to his senses.

"What’s with that look? You think I’m some lecher who can’t resist a pretty face?"

"Aren’t you?"

"You—"

Si Nan knew that making a racket now would only embarrass Ye Liuyun.

So he could only look away, awkwardly quiet.

"Hehe!"

The woman inside the cage seemed able to ’see’ what was happening outside—her gentle laughter sounded again.

"That’s enough!"

At last, Ye Liuyun waved his hand to cut off the conversation.

No matter what might be inside that cage, since the handoff was done, all they had to do was get her back to the Imperial City—deliver her to the Celestial Prison, and job done.

"We’ll take her from here. You can all return now."

"Thank you for your hard work, sirs!"

The captains bowed and watched Ye Liuyun depart.

Only after Ye Liuyun and his men vanished from sight did they finally relax.

"Finally, they’re gone."

"That demoness was terrifying."

"If they hadn’t taken her away, our whole department would’ve been toast."

Just thinking about those few guys who’d seen the demoness’ face, like they were brainwashed—insisting on letting her go, ready to lay down their lives for her, even tear their hearts out for her—was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

Good thing they failed.

If they’d actually let her out, that would’ve been it for all of them!

At least we had a little restraint—didn’t go peeking just because we heard she’s a great beauty. Otherwise, we’d be the ones dead now.

...

It’d taken them three or four days to get here.

Now, heading back with a prisoner in tow, it was bound to take even longer.

Night fell. With no towns nearby, Ye Liuyun’s group had no choice but to camp in the wild.

Ye Liuyun and the others sat around a campfire, flanked by other Embroidered Uniform Guards on watch. Since this was a transport mission, Ye Liuyun had especially brought a squad—around ten or more guards.

"Told you, there’s not even a drop of profit in cases like this,"

Si Nan grumbled as he finished cleaning a few wild rabbits and put them on the fire to roast.

At the same time, he pulled out his flask of wine and handed it to Ye Liuyun.

"Is ’profit’ all you ever talk about?"

Shi Sheng likewise took out his own flask, drank a sip, then rolled his eyes at Si Nan.

"If you give me a hundred taels, I’ll stop mentioning it."

"Then you’d better keep talking."

Fat chance of getting anything out of him anyway—when was Shi Sheng ever generous?

Wait, come to think of it, Shi Sheng was never the generous type in the first place.

When the rabbits were nearly done, Si Nan took out his knife to slice a piece, then glanced at Ye Liuyun as if thinking of something.

"Sir, should I bring some over?"

As he spoke, he shot a meaningful look at the prison cart shrouded in black cloth.

After all, people need to eat.

The case required them to deliver her alive—if she died of starvation on the way, that’d be a real waste of effort.

...