Chapter 132: Setting the Trap

Yi An and Shen Yuqin left their home and headed straight for the Dianzhuang Pavilion. It is worth noting that upon their departure, they once again encountered the duplicitous Madam Wang. Yi An would never believe that this was a mere coincidence; it seemed she was intensely curious about their movements. Moreover, there was a high probability that Madam Wang was brewing some conspiracy with Luo Kui. However, they perhaps did not realize that there is a tactic known as preemptive action.

Soon, Yi An and Shen Yuqin arrived outside the Dianzhuang Pavilion. They did not enter, but instead stood back to observe. Regardless of whether this was redundant, one must commit fully to a performance; if they chose to slack off simply for convenience, it would inevitably reveal flaws. One should never assume everyone in the world is a fool; only by respecting one's opponent can one defeat them. If one lowers their guard or underestimates the enemy from the start, they will almost certainly reap the bitter fruits of their own making.

"Yi Lang, look," Shen Yuqin said, pointing to a magnificent carriage parked outside the pavilion. It was Mu Lan’s personal transport. Even though she had become a ghost, she could not shed her lazy disposition or the airs of a noble lady. The only difference between this and a mortal carriage was its propulsion; while human carriages are drawn by horses, this one was powered by pure human effort—or rather, by the consumption of Yin energy, provided by a dedicated coachman.

"Let’s head back," Yi An said with a slight nod. Their purpose in coming here had been achieved. First and foremost, they needed to confirm Mu Lan’s whereabouts. It was not that they distrusted Yan Chixia, but they had to account for uncontrollable factors, such as Mu Lan suddenly leaving. Although she might still depart after they left, they had no better options. They could not force her to stay, and the best strategy was to have someone watching. If she were to leave early, they could intervene to stall her. However, this thought vanished as quickly as it had appeared; upon closer reflection, he realized it was highly impractical, not to mention troublesome and potentially useless. It would only expose them and lead to total failure.

"Yuqin, now comes the test of your acting skills," Yi An said earnestly. "Act natural, and don't let anyone see through us. Madam Wang is cunning, and at this critical juncture, she is prone to suspicion."

If he were alone, he would not have to consider so much; even if Luo Kui exhausted his schemes, he would only end up suffering. He could simply walk away without losing anything. But that was not the case now. He was not alone. In this precarious situation, he had to find a new path and seek more effective ways to cleverly neutralize the volatile factor that was Luo Kui.

Returning to the entrance of the alley, Yi An and Shen Yuqin paused, exchanging a look. They shared a silent understanding—a resolve to move forward, cutting down any god or Buddha that blocked their path. They turned into the alley, feigning indifference, slowing their pace, and deliberately creating small, inadvertent sounds to draw Madam Wang's attention.

In truth, this involved a degree of gambling. For the past two days, Madam Wang had been tracking their movements. By all logic, she would not miss an opportunity to observe them as they returned. Now, they only needed to wait for her to take the bait.

Sure enough, as soon as they neared the gate of Madam Wang’s residence, Yi An caught the faint sound of rustling behind the door—a sound so subtle that it would be impossible to detect without careful attention. Yi An winked at Shen Yuqin, signaling that it was time to begin the script.

Shen Yuqin understood instantly. With a tone of disbelief, she exclaimed, "Yi Lang, I truly never imagined that Luo Kui’s ninth wife could be such a person."

As her words fell, Yi An clearly heard a slight movement behind the door. It seemed Madam Wang was quite invested in the affairs of the ninth wife.

Following their rehearsed lines, Yi An sighed. "I never expected that Luo Kui’s ninth wife would commit adultery. No wonder I noticed Luo Kui looking so green-faced before; so that was the root of his illness."

"There is nothing to be surprised about," Shen Yuqin added, sounding deeply lamentable as if the events were entirely true. "Such things cannot be stopped even in the mortal world, so in this ghost city where there are no constraints, there is naturally no moral burden."

Yi An nodded. "Still, this has nothing to do with us. Whatever happens to Luo Kui is no concern of ours. Let us just treat it as a spectacle. As for what we just saw, we had best not mention it to avoid inviting trouble upon ourselves."

Shen Yuqin agreed emphatically. "You are right. There is no need for us to meddle in other people's business. Whether Luo Kui lives or dies has nothing to do with us." She paused, then added, "But then again, the owner of the Dianzhuang Pavilion is usually so low-key, yet he makes such a shocking move. Quietly and without a sound, he seduced Luo Kui’s most favored ninth wife."

Feeling she hadn't said enough, she added, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I truly wouldn't have believed it!"

"Indeed," Yi An agreed. "One is a rouge shop owner, the other a noble lady of a wealthy family. Given such a vast disparity in status, for the shop owner to win the beauty over is truly breathtaking."

"The way you say that, could it be that you envy him?" Shen Yuqin asked with a playful smile. This line was not in the script, but seeing Yi An’s look of genuine admiration—as if the shop owner were a paragon for their kind—she felt a flicker of annoyance and seized the moment to ask.

"I do not," Yi An said, taken aback, hastily denying it. He had merely been too deep into character, performing so realistically that he had almost convinced himself. However, he had to admit that Shen Yuqin’s interjection was a perfect connection, even better than what they had originally planned. Had the timing not been so sensitive, he would have loved to praise her. The evolution of events was even more perfect than he had imagined.

"I should hope not," Shen Yuqin huffed, not pressing the matter further.