15: Chapter 15 The Holy Maiden is well; do not move, wait patiently.

The roadside tea stall was steaming.

Chen Ran ordered a large bowl of tea for two wen; tea dregs floated on the surface, bitter but thirst-quenching.

He lowered his bamboo hat and huddled in a corner like a destitute man who had just entered the city.

At the neighboring table sat two Jianghu travelers with sabers, talking animatedly.

“Have you heard? Lei Laohu of Black Wind Fortress has been taken down.”

“I already know. I heard he was dragged back last night like a dead dog by Constable Lin, Lin Wan of Six Doors.”

“This Lei Laohu is really unlucky. I heard from a brother in Six Doors that Constable Lin was originally chasing someone last night, but she happened to run into Lei Laohu robbing a road and took care of him along the way.”

“Along the way? He's a Seven-Grade Peak expert!”

“Heh, in front of the Lin family's Eldest Young Miss, a Seven-Grade is nothing. I heard it only took three strikes for Lei Laohu's hand and foot tendons to be severed.”

Chen Ran's hand holding the tea bowl paused slightly.

So that was it.

It seemed Lin Wan hadn't caught anyone during the Heavenly Jail riot last night.

This Lei Laohu was indeed unlucky enough.

However, this also explained why Lin Wan's Killing Intent was so heavy today.

She lost the main target and took her anger out on a scapegoat.

Chen Ran finished the tea in his bowl, threw down two copper coins, and stood up to blend into the crowd.

...

Everspring Inn.

Located in Blackfish Alley in the south of the city, its storefront was small, but business was booming.

The proprietress was named Liu Sanniang, a middle-aged woman who still retained her charm and wielded a good Whirlwind Blade; she was considered quite a figure in this chaotic southern part of the city.

At this moment, she was leaning against the counter, lazily cracking melon seeds.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The counter was tapped.

Liu Sanniang didn't even lift her eyelids: “Staying the night or just a meal?”

“Someone asked me to bring you a message.”

The voice was childish and crisp.

Liu Sanniang looked down.

Standing before the counter was a snotty-nosed little beggar clutching a stick of candied haws, looking at her expectantly.

“Go away, go away, where did this wild brat come from? Don't block my business.”

Liu Sanniang waved her hand like she was shooing a fly.

The little beggar sniffed his nose and said loudly:

“That person said: ‘Warm a pot of old wine three times, no red skin, slice the beef thin enough to see through.’”

Crack.

The melon seed shell in Liu Sanniang's hand shattered.

She suddenly straightened up, and two sharp glints instantly burst from her originally languid peach-blossom eyes as she stared intently at the little beggar.

The noise in the main hall seemed to fade away.

This was the most Advanced secret signal of the Red Lotus Demonic Cult!

Warm three times—Three Suns bring prosperity, the Sacred Fire never dies.

No red skin—Discard the false and keep the true, core cult members.

Beef thin enough to see through—A heart like a clear mirror, absolutely no second thoughts.

These secret signals were only known to those at the rank of Incense Master or above in the cult!

Who was the person behind this little beggar?

“Where is that person?”

Liu Sanniang's voice tightened as she grabbed the little beggar's shoulder.

The little beggar was hurt by the grip and burst into tears.

“It hurts... That person gave me candied haws and told me to go to the back alley after I finished speaking...”

Whoosh!

Before the little beggar could finish, Liu Sanniang's figure had already vanished from behind the counter.

Leaving only a gust of fragrant wind and the still-swaying door curtain.

...

The inn's back alley.

This was a dead end, piled with junk and trash, emitting a foul stench.

Liu Sanniang rushed into the alley, a Willow Leaf Blade already sliding into her palm.

No one.

In the empty alley, only a stray cat was startled and scrambled up the wall.

“Come out!”

Liu Sanniang gave a low shout, her Internal Energy surging, causing the wall plaster to fall in flakes.

No one answered.

Only the rustling sound of the wind blowing over scrap paper.

Liu Sanniang looked around vigilantly, her gaze finally landing on a loose green brick.

A folded slip of paper was wedged in the gap between the bricks.

She walked over and used the tip of her blade to pick out the note.

She unfolded it.

There were only a few words on it, the handwriting crooked as if written with the left hand:

[The Saintess is well, do not move, wait patiently.]

Boom!

It was as if thunder had exploded in Liu Sanniang's mind.

The Saintess!

In the cult, no more than five people knew the true identity of the “Red Lotus Witch”!

Even she only barely knew a thing or two because she was in charge of the intelligence network in the capital.

Who was this person?

Not only did they know the secret signals, but they also knew the Saintess's identity and even her current situation!

“Do not move...”

Liu Sanniang gripped the note tightly, her expression uneasy.

Was this a warning to them not to act rashly and not to attempt a jailbreak?

Could it be news sent out by the Saintess?

Or... a trap?

Liu Sanniang suddenly looked up, her gaze sweeping across the rooftops and windows around the alley like a hawk.

There was no aura at all.

The other party was an expert.

At least in terms of Qinggong and Breath Concealment Technique, they were far above her.

“Whew...”

Liu Sanniang exhaled deeply and crumpled the note.

No matter who it was, since the other party had given this signal, it meant the Saintess was safe for now.

...

A hundred paces away.

On the second floor of a teahouse named “Tingyu Pavilion.”

Chen Ran sat by the window, holding a cup of hot tea, watching that alley from afar through a crack in the window.

At this moment, his Tortoise Breathing Art was operating at its limit.

His heartbeat was only ten times per minute, and his breathing was so faint it was almost inaudible.

His whole being was like a piece of lifeless wood, perfectly blending into the surrounding environment.

Even when Liu Sanniang looked up and scanned just now, her gaze only swept past the window where he was without pausing for a moment.

“It seems she believed it.”

Seeing Liu Sanniang tear up the note and turn to leave, the corners of Chen Ran's mouth curled up slightly.

This move of “tossing a stone to find the way” worked quite well.

Using a little beggar to deliver the message while staying out of it himself.

He had delivered the message and maintained a sense of mystery, intimidating these cultists.

As long as they didn't go crazy and try to break into the jail, he would be safe in the Heavenly Jail.

“Who would have thought that right under the capital's nose, there would be eyes and ears of the Red Lotus Demonic Cult...”

Chen Ran took a sip of tea, his eyes deep.

The waters of this capital were deeper than he had imagined.

However, the muddier the water, the better the fishing.

As long as he didn't show his face, who would have thought that the one stirring up this muddy water would be a lowly Heavenly Jail guard?

“Time to go back.”

Chen Ran put down his teacup and left a piece of broken silver on the table.

He stood up and lowered his bamboo hat.

His figure quickly disappeared at the top of the stairs.