6. Drunken Flower Shade, Fragrance Fills the Path

Gu Qiuhan moved closer to Shen Bisha and whispered, "Are you ready? Remember his position. In a moment, I will blow out the candle, and we will both kick him hard, even if we have to bite him. In any case, we must take him down." Once the candle is extinguished, the 'Yellow-faced Ghost' will be as blind as a bat. If the two of them work together and attack him unprepared, there may be a chance. At that moment, Shen Bisha nodded. Gu Qiuhan moved back to his original position and said, "As long as you keep your word, I will tell you..." At this point, he took a deep breath and blew towards the candle several feet away. Without hesitation, Shen Bisha straightened her waist and swept towards the 'Yellow-faced Ghost'.

Shen Bisha smiled as if in admiration, yet also with a hint of sarcasm, saying: "Such a foolish method, I can't believe you thought of it."

Shen Bisha was not idle either; she jumped to the back and forcefully pushed in the direction of the momentum. This time, she finally succeeded, but with a loud rumble, all the lamps on the ground went out, and both of them jumped back. The darkness was, however, exceptionally brief. As the stone door collapsed, a beam of light shone in, and both felt puzzled. Could it be that the stone slab at the entrance of the underground palace was not sealed? If that were the case, the people above would certainly hear the sound of the stone door crashing down.

Shen Bisha said: "She is not as foolish as you, she is simply being overly anxious." Gu Qiuhan, lost in thought, did not notice her rather unfriendly tone. After some contemplation, he realized that Thirteen was indeed quite clever and would never do something as foolish as digging her own grave, which eased his mind considerably

She did not touch even a single piece of gold, silver, or jewelry, so she certainly would not covet a portrait. Gu Qiuhan believed her words to be true, and he immediately clasped his hands and said: "Madam, your integrity and noble character are truly admirable. Once Miss Bi Sha brings the household register, I will trouble you again. Farewell." He descended the stairs alongside Shen Bi Sha, and along the way, he remained deeply moved. It seems that not everything in the brothel is about makeup and money; the actions of this old matron compelled them to change their previous perceptions.

Using a bone knife to cut a rope is not an easy task. Gu Qiuhan exerted tremendous effort, working for nearly half an hour before managing to sever one. He exclaimed with joy, "The task is accomplished!" He then began to unravel the ropes that bound Shen Bisha's arms, and she helped him remove the bindings. Although they were still trapped in confinement, the removal of the ropes made them both feel incredibly relieved. They first stretched their limbs and then sat down to regain their strength, waiting for someone to open the door so they could charge out.

The space within the tomb is cramped, and coupled with the boundless darkness, it creates an overwhelming sense of oppression. Waiting is always an irritating affair; at this moment, they even long for the "Yellow-faced Ghost" to return quickly and open this damned door. Even if it means meeting their demise under the six ghostly hooks, it would be better than being stuck here enduring the torment. However, even as their stomachs growled, the "Yellow-faced Ghost" did not return.

One of the slightly older young ladies asked suspiciously, "Aren't the three young masters here for leisure?"

Shen Bisha asked, "What happened?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "This arrow is exactly the same as the one that injured you; it is called a 'triangular pronged arrow' and can only be used by the imperial guards in the palace." The arrowhead is triangular in shape, and there are still bits of flesh and blood hanging from the barbs, making it a shocking sight.

Gu Qiuhan let out a breath, smiled indifferently and said: "Why don't you take a guess, does she know where the portrait is?"

Gu Qiuhan consecutively pulled out several arrows, each one being the same, leading to the conclusion that the one who killed the Soul Searching Six Ghosts must undoubtedly be the Captain of the Imperial Guard. He pondered, "Could it be that they fought fiercely over credit?" He then negated his own thought, saying, "But the Captain of the Imperial Guard did not come to the underground palace to look for us; they killed and left, as if they were completely unaware that we were locked in the tomb chamber." Shen Bisha smiled slightly and said, "It is always good to have someone eliminate the Soul Searching Six Ghosts. Stop overthinking it; let’s hurry back." Upon hearing this, Gu Qiuhan covered the stone slab at the entrance of the underground palace and descended the tower with Shen Bisha.

Shen Bisha's voice floated softly, "What are you doing?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "Thousands of years ago, people used animal bones to make knives for cutting things." As he spoke, he reached into his cassock and felt a piece of ilium from the remains of Baozhi, forcefully prying it off and grinding it on the Xumi pedestal. The tomb chamber was empty and silent, and the sound produced by the friction between the human bone and the stone was particularly jarring

No wonder the "Yellow-faced Ghosts" have not returned; it turns out they have truly become ghosts. Who killed them? Out of curiosity, Gu Qiuhan carefully examined the wounds of the six individuals and discovered that some had been hacked to death by chaotic blades, some had been pierced by sharp weapons, and others had been shot with arrows. It seems that the assailants were numerous. Gu Qiuhan drew an arrow and quickly focused his gaze on the arrowhead, exclaiming, "Oh! What a sight!"

The "Yellow-faced Ghost" let out a cold laugh, stepping on Shen Bisha's ankle, and delivered a slap that sent Shen Bisha sprawling backward, a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. Against two individuals whose skills had not yet recovered and who were bound hand and foot, the "Yellow-faced Ghost" appeared to be in complete control. After knocking down Shen Bisha, he then seized Gu Qiuhan's legs and forcefully threw her away. Gu Qiuhan fell like a leaf, crashing against the wall before bouncing back and landing heavily on the ground

With a creaking sound, the stone door of the tomb opened, and a slightly refreshing breeze surged in, causing the candlelight to flicker and reveal a tall shadow. Gu Qiuhan and Shen Bisha both turned to look, and saw that the person had a waxy yellow complexion and a sinister expression; it was the "yellow-faced ghost" who had ambushed Gu Qiuhan on the mountain road. Upon recognizing him, Gu Qiuhan immediately understood that they had never truly escaped Hu Weiyong's watchful gaze

"Aren't you asleep?" Gu Qiuhan yawned and sat up lazily. Shen Bisha replied, "I can't sleep." Gu Qiuhan collected her thoughts and said, "Then why hasn't that yellow-faced pig come yet?" Shen Bisha said, "Yes, I woke you up to see if you could think of a way to get them to open the door." Gu Qiuhan replied, "In a place like this, even if I shout until my throat is hoarse, no one will hear me. What can I possibly think of?" Shen Bisha sighed, knowing this was asking too much, and had no choice but to give up.

Shen Bisha said: "If you kill him, you will never find the portrait in this lifetime." The "Yellow-faced Ghost" heard this and increased the force in his feet, threateningly saying: "Tell me where the portrait is, and I will spare your life." Gu Qiuhan merely coughed, glaring at him with icy eyes. The "Yellow-faced Ghost" suddenly withdrew his foot, turned to Shen Bisha, and grasped her throat, saying: "If you do not speak, I will kill this wretch."

"Are you saying that it was the Imperial Guard who killed them?" Shen Bisha seemed to have heard the most absurd thing in the world, clicking her tongue and saying, "No, it’s impossible. Wouldn’t that mean they are killing each other?"

Gu Qiuhan, exhausted and drenched in sweat, finally polished the ilium into a sharp bone knife and said to Shen Bisha: "Come here." The two could not see each other at all; Shen Bisha could only follow Gu Qiuhan's breathing to feel her way to him. They stood back to back, and Gu Qiuhan fumbled around until he grasped Shen Bisha's hand. Shen Bisha's delicate body trembled slightly, and she instinctively withdrew her hand. Gu Qiuhan urged, "Give me your hand; what are you still hesitating for at this moment? If I cut carelessly, I might hurt you." Upon hearing this, Shen Bisha no longer held back and clasped her hand with Gu Qiuhan's.

Shen Bisha said: "Kneeling on the ground? How would I know? I was waiting for you inside the tower when I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. As soon as I turned around, I smelled a strange fragrance, and then I lost all awareness.

The madam was also a courtesan | of female origin, and her room was no different from others. She brewed a pot of tea and said, "Gentlemen, please take a seat." Gu Qiuhan waved his hand and said, "No need for that, let us be brief. May I ask if the package left by Shen Bitiao is being kept here with you, madam?" The madam visibly trembled, her smile froze, and she looked at the two of them again, asking, "Who are you two?" Gu Qiuhan had already prepared a speech, and he spoke methodically, "This young lady is Shen Bitiao's sister. I heard that Mr. Ma Wenbi once painted a portrait of her sister, and she wishes to keep it as a memento to express her sorrow. That portrait should be in her package." As he spoke, he took off Shen Bitiao's hat, looked at the two of them again, and said, "Madam, please see, the sisters bear a striking resemblance, so you must know that my words are not false."

Regardless, both individuals were overwhelmed with joy in their hearts as they swiftly exited the tomb chamber. They saw that the entrance was indeed wide open, with light streaming in, albeit dim, which was invaluable to the two who had been trapped in the tomb for so long. Just as Gu Qiuhan was filled with excitement, something suddenly fell on his face, feeling damp. Shen Bisha looked at him, and her expression immediately turned very grim. Gu Qiuhan sensed something was amiss and quickly moved aside, only to see a stream of fresh blood dripping down from above, and when he looked down, he discovered a pool of blood had gathered at his feet. The two fell silent, like cicadas in winter. Gu Qiuhan whispered, "I will go up and see what has happened." Without waiting for Shen Bisha to respond, he sprang up and squeezed through the narrow entrance.

"It was just a joke to lighten the mood, why so serious, Brother Yellow Face?" He grimaced in pain but did not forget to make a jest. The 'Yellow Face Ghost' stepped forward, pressing down on his chest, and Gu Qiu Han suddenly felt his head swell several times over, his breathing became labored, and he couldn't help but start coughing.

Gu Qiuhan did not know what time it was. Judging by the level of hunger, it should be at least past noon. After sitting for a long time, Gu Qiuhan felt a pain in her back and waist, so she simply lay down. Drowsiness gradually overcame her, and she said, "Sitting here idly is not a solution; I might as well take a nap to regain some strength for the struggle ahead." In a daze, she quickly fell asleep.

How strange! Looking at Shen Bisha's topknot, Gu Qiuhan felt even more perplexed. The captors would certainly not be so bored as to style her hair. Could it be that after being affected by that intoxicating fragrance, one enters a dreamlike state, losing consciousness yet still able to perform certain actions? Is this truly the result of the fragrance, or is there something else in the ancient tomb that is causing this disturbance?

Gu Qiuhan heard her sigh with sorrow and felt a pang of compassion in his heart. He thought her concerns were not without reason. After being trapped for a long time, going hungry for a few meals was one thing, but what would they do in case of an urgent need? He took out a lamp, struck a match, and looked up. This tomb chamber was built beneath the tower; to support the tower's base, the tomb's ceiling had beams and rafters, resembling a living person's roof. However, the tower's base was constructed entirely of stone slabs, incredibly solid, so Gu Qiuhan dismissed the idea of digging a hole to escape from above. He lit a second lamp, his gaze falling on the pedestal, and suddenly an idea struck him, saying: "I have a solution!"

Gu Qiuhan sighed, "When it should be extinguished, it is not; when a person is down on their luck, even a single candle seems to work against you." He could only move forward in the dark, relying on the positions in his memory, and arrived in front of the Xumi seat, standing up. The earlier fall he had given to the 'Yellow-faced Ghost' had nearly shattered his bones, and he felt pain all over his body. He turned around unsteadily, muttering, "To save a life is better than to build a seven-story pagoda; Master is a high monk of the Buddhist sect, and surely will not blame this junior."

He entered the private room with a girl on each arm, only to find someone inside. Thinking he had entered the wrong room, he turned to leave, but saw that the entrance was already blocked. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Gu Qiuhan, whom he had been desperately trying to capture! Knowing he was no match for Gu Qiuhan and now alone, he dared not hope to apprehend her. At that moment, he shook his arms and pushed all three girls forward, then turned to flee. As Shen Bisha approached him, she kicked out, striking him right in the heart. Yuan Feng mistook Shen Bisha and Liu Jing for guests seeking pleasure, unaware they were accomplices of Gu Qiuhan. Caught off guard, he stumbled back after being kicked by Shen Bisha and retreated to his original position.

Regardless of whether the "Six Ghosts of Soul Searching" are employed by Hu Weiyong, Gu Qiuhan is certain that their primary objective now is to locate the portrait. It is sufficient to make the "Yellow-Faced Ghost" believe that one of the two knows where the portrait is, but cannot ascertain who it is, so he would not dare to act recklessly.

Shen Bisha asked, "Are you worried about yourself, or are you worried about Miss Thirteen?" Gu Qiuhan was taken aback. To be honest, his bindings had been removed, and at worst, he could fight to the death with the Six Ghosts. However, he was still concerned about Miss Thirteen's situation, which had been weighing on his mind. It was just that he had never considered this issue before; only when Shen Bisha mentioned it did he realize that his concern for Miss Thirteen was indeed somewhat excessive.

Gu Qiuhan said calmly: "She is the younger sister of Shen Bitiao, and it is highly likely that she knows where the portrait is. I was the last person to have contact with Shen Bitiao before her death, and she may have told me this secret. This means that one of us definitely knows the location of the hidden portrait. If you kill both of us, that would naturally resolve the matter. However, if you still wish to find the portrait, you must be very careful when killing; if you happen to kill the wrong person, you will regret it beyond measure."

Gu Qiuhan said: "Of course not, so I do not wish to put Lord Yuan in a difficult position. I only need Lord Yuan to answer me one question truthfully, and we will leave immediately, without disturbing Lord Yuan's enjoyment."

As Gu Qiuhan was still unsteady, Shen Bisha quickly jumped out, worried that Gu Qiuhan would not be able to handle it alone, so she dared not be negligent. However, the scene before them left both of them astonished; they saw the Six Soul-Searching Ghosts lying dead in various positions, a section of the staircase had collapsed, and the windows were riddled with holes. There was no doubt that a fierce battle had just taken place here

The yellow-faced ghost closed the stone door, and with a clatter, locked it from the outside. Shen Bisha wondered, "What is he doing?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "He probably went to get the torture instruments, right?" Shen Bisha shook her head and said, "If he only went to get something, he wouldn't have locked the stone door. I suspect he went to report to the master. We must find a way to escape while we have this opportunity." Gu Qiuhan thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "That makes sense, but you forget there are a total of six ghosts. There must be guards above, and I really have no way to open this stone door."

Returning to the private room, Gu Qiuhan shook his head at Liu Jing, walking despondently to the window and pushing it open to gaze outside. After repeated disappointments, he seemed to have reached a dead end, even doubting whether the portrait of Shen Bitiao truly existed. In all possible places, there were no traces left behind, and none of those close to her had seen or even heard of this portrait. Yet, Shisan spoke with certainty about the portrait and the will; why was it that only she knew so much? Moreover, in the house where Shen Bitiao once lived, there was also a jade statue of Shisan. What close relationship could there be between the two of them? In all possible places, there were no traces left behind, and none of those close to her had seen or even heard of this portrait. Yet, Shisan spoke with certainty about the portrait and the will; why was it that only she knew so much? Moreover, in the house where Shen Bitiao once lived, there was also a jade statue of Shisan. What close relationship could there be between the two of them?

Shen Bisha inquired, "What method?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "The stone door is made of stone slabs over an inch thick, while the Xumi seat is a single large stone weighing over a thousand pounds. If we were to smash the stone door with the Xumi seat, what would the outcome be?" Shen Bisha laughed and said, "Naturally, it would shatter the stone door into pieces, but can the two of us lift the Xumi seat?" Although both of them possessed considerable internal strength, moving the Xumi seat seemed beyond their capabilities.

The "Yellow-faced Ghost" indeed released Shen Bisha, and then understood Gu Qiuhan's intention, angrily saying: "Do you think that by doing this I would not dare to kill?" Gu Qiuhan replied calmly: "We have already become prisoners, how could we dare to hope for Brother Yellow Face to show mercy? I am just afraid that the higher-ups will blame you, and it would be difficult for Brother Yellow Face to explain." This was clearly a threat. The "Yellow-faced Ghost" was furious, wishing he could strike Gu Qiuhan dead with a single blow, but he ultimately restrained himself and left with a remark: "You little brat, I don't believe I can't pry open your mouth." He then swept away his sleeves.

Shen Bisha said, "Perhaps she simply overslept and missed the time; by now, she may have already reunited with Liu Jing, who can say for certain." Gu Qiuhan sighed, "I hope that is the case."

Gu Qiuhan frowned slightly. If the madam were to be tempted by money, she would insist on taking the bundle to the authorities. However, the portrait of Shen Bitiao held no value for her; it would be better to offer a substantial reward to have it returned. With this thought, she exchanged a glance with Shen Bisha and said, "Young Master Liu, please wait a moment; we will step outside for a bit." Liu Jing understood that she intended to find that madam, so he said nothing further and nodded in agreement.

For several consecutive days, the three individuals searched almost every corner of the residence, yet they found nothing. A sense of irritation and frustration quietly emerged. Gu Qiuhan was undoubtedly the most disheartened among them; the portrait remained elusive, and there was no sign of Shisan. In short, everything was without a clue, which left him feeling extremely vexed. Fortunately, with Shen Bisha and Liu Jing by his side to offer comfort and encouragement, his confidence did not waver. Gu Qiuhan was undoubtedly the most disheartened among them; the portrait remained elusive, and there was no sign of Shisan. In short, everything was without a clue, which left him feeling extremely vexed. Fortunately, with Shen Bisha and Liu Jing by his side to offer comfort and encouragement, his confidence did not waver

Gu Qiuhan took a sip of wine and asked, "When Shen Bitiao returned to 'Drunken Flower Shade,' did she bring anything with her?" The slightly older girl reminisced, "Sister Bitiao came back with just a small bundle, probably all her savings from these years." Gu Qiuhan inquired again, "Which room did she stay in here?" The girl pointed upwards, "Interestingly, it was the room right above us, but after Sister Bitiao's incident, my mother has already arranged for another girl to move in." "Interestingly, it was the room right above us, but after Sister Bitiao's incident, my mother has already arranged for another girl to move in."

Gu Qiuhan had never ventured into the realm of frivolity, nor did he engage in flirtations with young ladies. He straightforwardly asked, "Are you three familiar with Miss Shen Bitiao?" The three young ladies were taken aback. The sudden misfortune that had befallen their sister, with whom they had spent every day, cast a shadow of terror over their hearts. At this moment, Gu Qiuhan's mention of Shen Bitiao could not help but make them feel anxious.

Gu Qiuhan said: "By utilizing the principle of the pulley, it is certainly possible to lift it up." He then lit another lamp, found the rope that had bound him earlier, and in the dark tied it around the waist of the Xumi seat. Another rope was split into two strands and tied to the purlin, then it was looped around the bronze incense burner, serving as a winch, and then wrapped around the circular beam to hang down.

Shen Bisha appeared slightly disappointed, paused for a moment, and said: "Do you have a way to untie the rope?" Gu Qiuhan replied: "It should be possible." Shen Bisha, feeling exasperated, said: "Then what are we waiting for? First, let's remove the ropes, and when they open the door, we will fight them head-on." Suddenly, the light dimmed before their eyes; the candle had finally burned out, and the tomb was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see even a hand in front of them. Although the two were not far apart, they could not even make out each other's outlines.

This is a narrow tomb chamber, where on a stone pedestal carved in the style of Mount Meru, there lies a skeleton draped in a cassock, seated in a posture of meditation with legs crossed, which should resemble the appearance of Master Baozhi at the time of his passing. Gu Qiuhan awoke from a deep slumber and saw that his candle had been inexplicably placed on the pedestal, its flame flickering and nearly extinguished. He felt that his mind was still not entirely clear, and his hands were tightly bound behind his back, which was quite uncomfortable. Gu Qiuhan was taken aback, recalling the events leading up to his unconsciousness, realizing that he had fallen into a trap. Hearing a sound of breathing behind him, he turned around and saw Shen Bisha, similarly bound and curled up in a corner.

Yuan Feng turned around sharply and coldly laughed, "Do you dare to kill me?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "In any case, I will die; do I still fear adding one more life to my count?" Yuan Feng thought for a moment and indeed, his tone immediately softened. He smiled apologetically and said, "Young Master Gu has also served in the court, so you must know that we subordinates only have the duty to act according to orders. If you have any grievances, you can appeal in court. I am only responsible for the arrest, which surely cannot be wrong, right?"

The ground was as hard as iron, exuding waves of dampness. Gu Qiuhan was sleeping very uncomfortably and soon woke up. However, at that moment, he was still drowsy, so he turned over and continued to sleep soundly. In this state of waking and sleeping, he did not know how much time had passed when he was shaken awake. Opening his eyes, although he could not see anything, he could smell a faint fragrance. He knew that Shen Bisha was right beside him

"Do you think that Thirteen might also fall into their hands?" Gu Qiuhan asked languidly, rubbing her sore arm. Shen Bisha shook her head; in this darkness where they could not see each other, Gu Qiuhan certainly could not see her. After a while, Gu Qiuhan continued to speak to herself: "I fear she may not withstand the torture and will confess the truth. If Hu Weiyong learns that we do not know where the portrait is hidden, we will lose our value, and our lives will be at stake."

The three young ladies had experienced the generosity and lavishness of Gu Qiuhan and his companions. Upon hearing that there would be a substantial reward, they were filled with immense joy. They immediately employed all their skills, coaxing and pulling, to bring Yuan Feng upstairs, directly entering that private room.

Yuan Fengdao asked, "What problem?" His eyes darted around, calculating that he had not anticipated Gu Qiuhan having an accomplice, and that he had been careless in guarding against the two by the window, which led to his current predicament. Given his own martial arts skills, he was certainly inferior to Gu Qiuhan, but the two opposite him might not necessarily be able to stop him. With his mind set on escaping, he had no intention of answering Gu Qiuhan's question. Resolute in his plan, he immediately leaped towards the window. Known by the nickname "Ghost Shadow," his lightness skill was unique, and this time he was well-prepared. In a flash, he reached in front of Shen Bisha, his palms slicing towards the two. He initially thought his movements were so swift that he would knock them down in one go and escape through the window before Gu Qiuhan could react.

Gu Qiuhan continuously channeled his internal energy, lifting the Xumi Seat more than three feet high, yet he did not dare to relax, only letting out a heavy grunt through his nose. Shen Bisha immediately understood, striking a few lit candles and tossing them to the ground. Using the light, she pressed her palms against the Xumi Seat and pushed backward until her strength was nearly exhausted. Suddenly, she leaped to the side, and the Xumi Seat whistled as it swung toward the stone door. However, the scene they had hoped for did not materialize; the Xumi Seat fell short, stopping just two feet away from the stone door due to exhaustion. Shen Bisha stamped her foot and hurriedly exerted more force as the Xumi Seat swung back. This time, although it came closer to the stone door, it still failed to collide, and the heavy Xumi Seat swung back and forth like a swing, leaving both of them feeling dizzy.

The "yellow-faced ghost" was taken aback and asked, "What does that mean?"

The candle flame flickered violently a few times, yet it did not extinguish! Although Shen Bisha realized the situation was dire, in that fleeting moment, she had no time to withdraw her stance and could only grit her teeth, sweeping her legs in a series of kicks. Gu Qiuhan was momentarily taken aback; he had originally been confident that blowing out a candle from a distance of a few feet would not be difficult. However, after being affected by that intoxicating fragrance, even though he had regained consciousness, his confidence had not fully returned. Wasn't this putting Shen Bisha in danger? Without further thought, he leaped into action, twisting his legs towards the "yellow-faced ghost's" neck.

"The image is not here; I think we have one last place to check, which is 'Drunken Flower Shade.'" Liu Jing had to admit that it was futile to linger in this house any longer, but his mention of 'Drunken Flower Shade' reignited a glimmer of hope in Gu Qiuhan and Shen Bisha. After Shen Bitao moved out from here and returned to 'Drunken Flower Shade,' it was indeed a place closely related to her.

The "Yellow-faced Ghost" intensified his tone and said, "You two, whoever reveals the location of the portrait can leave alive." Gu Qiuhan smiled and replied, "Only one person can leave alive? Life and death are at stake; allow us to discuss and decide who will tell you." The "Yellow-faced Ghost" snorted, "If you intend to play tricks, you will only bring suffering upon yourselves." He seemed to be quite averse to this place as he impatiently glanced around.

The chief of the inner guard, despite several attempts to capture Gu Qiuhan, was unsuccessful, which infuriated Hu Weiyong. As the acting inspector, Mu Tianxiong could not escape blame, and the captors, the chief and deputy hundred households, Jiao Zheng and Yuan Feng, were frequently reprimanded by Mu Tianxiong, facing immense pressure. Yuan Feng, being a lecherous man, had just been scolded by Mu Tianxiong during the day, and feeling dejected, he went out to seek pleasure, hoping for some relaxation.

Gu Qiuhan was filled with doubts and asked, "Miss Shen, who brought you here?" Shen Bisha looked confused and shook her head. Gu Qiuhan wondered, "Why did you kneel on the ground just now? You shouldn't have responded, yet you inexplicably ran in. I was in a hurry to chase after you, which led to my lack of vigilance, and I was overwhelmed by that fragrance.

That evening, Shen Bisha changed into men's attire, transforming into a graceful young gentleman, and set out with Gu Qiuhan and Liu Jing. After having dinner on the street, the three leisurely walked to "Drunken Flower Shade," which featured red walls and white plaster. The entertainment venues in Yingtian were mostly concentrated along the banks of the Qinhuai River, yet "Drunken Flower Shade" was situated deep within an alley, surrounded by various flowers. Upon entering the alley, the fragrance of flowers wafted through the air, hence the name. Unfortunately, in winter, the flowers withered, leaving only a few cold plum trees standing against the wind, which prevented "Drunken Flower Shade" from being merely a name without substance. The three entered the hall, casually selected three young women to accompany them, and took their seats in an upstairs room.

By this time, it was already the evening of the second day. The two hungry individuals first sought a place to have a hearty meal before returning to Liu Jing's residence. To Gu Qiuhan's disappointment, he did not see Shisan; the room still contained only Liu Jing. Gu Qiuhan asked, "Has Shisan not arrived yet?" After receiving a negative response, he could not help but feel a sense of loss. Liu Jing inquired about the experiences of the two, but Gu Qiuhan was disinclined to respond. Instead, it was Shen Bisha who recounted the events.

The madam approached the bed and retrieved a blue silk package from beneath it, saying, "After the incident with Bi Tao, the officials searched her room, so I hid this package, hoping to hand it over to her family in the future. However, mere resemblance in appearance is not sufficient to determine that this young lady is indeed Bi Tao's biological sister. You only need to bring the household registration as proof, and I will naturally hand over the package to you." She opened the package, which contained mostly jewelry and a few ingots of gold and silver, indicating that the madam had indeed remained completely unperturbed.

The madam exclaimed with a sound of "Ah," widening her eyes as she stared at Shen Bisha. From the moment Shen Bisha entered "Drunken Flower Shade," she felt a sense of familiarity. However, since Shen Bisha was dressed in male attire, there was no flaw to discern, and she did not think much of it. Now, seeing Shen Bisha's beautiful features, which were indeed indistinguishable from those of Shen Bitao, she was astonished and immediately believed it to be true.

Shen Bisha put on her hat and, with tears in her eyes, said: "My sister met a tragic end, and as her younger sister, I am powerless to avenge her. I only wish to bring her belongings back home, especially that portrait. As for the gold and silver jewelry my sister accumulated over the years, I will give it to our mother as a token of gratitude"

"What about that bundle?" Gu Qiuhan asked anxiously. The young woman replied, "Not long ago, someone from the governor's office came to search, and I don't know if they took that bundle away." At this moment, another young woman interjected, "Hmph, it must have been the madam who took it first; how could we let those lieutenants benefit from it?" From her tone, it seemed she was quite jealous and dissatisfied with the brothel keeper for seizing Shen Bitiao's personal belongings.

Gu Qiuhan felt a headache coming on and was about to close the window when he suddenly caught sight of someone walking down the street, seemingly also on their way to seek pleasure at "Drunken Flower Shade." Gu Qiuhan found the person particularly familiar, and upon closer inspection, he was astonished to realize it was Yuan Feng, the "Ghost Shadow" who had once captured him. At that moment, Yuan Feng was dressed in plain clothes, his appearance meticulously groomed, and he was cheerfully heading towards "Drunken Flower Shade." Gu Qiuhan had a thought and waved to summon three young ladies, pointing at Yuan Feng, saying, "You three go and lure this person here, and there will be generous rewards." The three young ladies, upon hearing this, replied, "This is easy, Young Master, please wait a moment." They giggled and went downstairs.

Seeing that he was the only one present, Gu Qiuhan felt somewhat relieved and quickly contemplated how to take advantage of this opportunity to escape. However, he heard the "Yellow-faced Ghost" ask, "Where is the portrait of Shen Bitiao?" As Gu Qiuhan had anticipated, they were indeed working for Hu Weiyong. While Gu Qiuhan was deeply engrossed in devising an escape plan, he absentmindedly replied, "Are you asking me or her?"

Gu Qiuhan saw Yuan Feng enter "Drunken Flower Shade" and was immediately met by three young ladies. He said, "I will step out to block his retreat. Bi Sha, keep watch at the window and make sure he does not escape." Shen Bi Sha did not recognize Yuan Feng, but seeing his serious expression, she sensed that this matter was of great importance. At that moment, she had no time to ask further questions and nodded in agreement. Gu Qiuhan left the private room and stood facing the wall at the end of the corridor

Liu Jing took out three ingots of gold and placed them on the table, saying, "We only wish to inquire about Shen Bitiao, and we kindly ask the three young ladies to answer truthfully. This gold shall be considered a gift for you three." The women of the dust-laden world have always favored gold and silver, and the three young ladies smiled brightly, each taking an ingot and putting it into their bags.

Hearing that the experiences of the two were so perilous, Liu Jing was left speechless. When it came to the portraits, neither side had made any significant progress, indicating that there is still a long way to go and that further efforts are necessary.

Everything was ready. Gu Qiuhan pulled the rope, which was quite sturdy, and said, "I will hoist the Xumi seat up, and you can use it to strike the stone door like a bell." Shen Bisha was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Oh!" Gu Qiuhan gathered all his strength and used a thousand-pound weight; surprisingly, the enormous Xumi seat actually lifted off the ground. This simple pulley was enough to save him half the effort. Weighing over 500 pounds, with the support of the beam to lift it, it was hardly a challenge.

Shen's father was convicted and his home was raided. Shen Bisha, having been studying at Qingxiaoge on Langya Mountain, fortunately escaped being sold into a brothel, and naturally, there was no household registration. However, it no longer mattered whether this package could be retrieved, as the contents of the package were clear at a glance, and there was no portrait of Shen Bitao. Gu Qiuhan felt a chill in his heart and asked, "Is everything here?" The madam replied with a sense of regret, "Although I was forced into this profession and am looked down upon, I do know that there is a way to earn money. All of Bitao's belongings are here, but as for the portrait you mentioned, I have never heard of it."

Gu Qiuhan said to the three young ladies, "We have some personal matters with this gentleman, so you three may leave for now." He took out a few pieces of silver and handed them to them, then closed the door. Yuan Feng placed her hand on her chest, staring in shock at Shen Bisha, yet she stubbornly refused to back down, saying, "I am an official of the court; what do you dare do to me?" Gu Qiuhan smiled and replied, "I was also an official of the court back then, yet I have become a criminal now. If Lord Yuan does not behave, he might not even be able to remain a criminal and could end up directly at the gates of hell."

As the two gentlemen descended the stairs, the madam noticed them and, with a smiling face, said, "Are you two gentlemen leaving? Is it that the young ladies have not attended to you properly?" Gu Qiuhan replied, "We would like to inquire about something with you, may we have a moment to speak?" Seeing his serious expression, which did not seem to indicate jest, the madam briefly instructed the young ladies and led the two gentlemen upstairs.