Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter 124: Breaking In When Patience Runs Out

In the main hall of the residence, a man walked in with heavy, agitated steps and ripped off his cloak. Beneath it, he wore a purple official’s robe, having just returned from court before meeting Chen Chang’an.

The master of the residence, who had been waiting inside—the head of the Dragon-Slaying Society—frowned upon seeing him. "What? You couldn't finish it? Don't tell me you didn't even retrieve the transcript?"

The official in the purple robe shook his head, then nodded. "I retrieved the transcript; I verified it is genuine. But it is infuriating that even with so many assassins and my own personal oversight, we still failed to kill Chen Chang’an."

The master was clearly displeased with this outcome, yet he forced himself to remain calm. "Enough! It is fine as long as we have the transcript. The plan cannot be delayed any further. Send it into the palace immediately and deliver it to A-Bao—or rather, our Divine Deer Boy. Have him use the excuse of the 'Wordless Heavenly Book' to lure Bai Wan into appearing, then force her to reveal the method for uncovering the hidden script on the oil-paper of the Changning Decree."

"Understood, I will handle it at once," the official nodded.

"By the way, there is one more thing..." As he prepared to leave, he suddenly recalled something and turned back. "According to my recent investigations, that Mr. Fenyang, who has collaborated with us before, has recently appeared in Cangzhou. Coincidentally, Wang Liansi has temporarily resigned from his post to return to his ancestral home, which is also in Cangzhou. I fear there may be a connection."

"Oh?" The master’s expression turned intrigued. "Interesting. I have long suspected that man was not simple. Wang Liansi... ha... focus on completing the current plan first. I will dispatch someone specifically to keep an eye on him in Cangzhou."

"As for Chen Chang’an, since we have the transcript, leave him be for now!"

On the detailed map of Chang’an City, the winding red line stopped at the very residence mentioned. The owner of this estate was Bai Jinghu, the cousin of Empress Bai Wan, who held the title of Prince Jing’an.

Since Bai Wan had launched a military coup, seized the throne of the Great Qi, and renamed the country Min, many of her clansmen had risen to power and nobility. Bai Jinghu was among those who had climbed to the highest and most powerful positions. Chen Chang’an vaguely remembered seeing him at the palace gates during the last Longevity Festival.

"Sigh, I never imagined it. I kept guessing that the forces behind the rebellion were of the Zhao bloodline, attempting to reclaim their rightful empire from that woman, Bai Wan, and restore the Great Qi. To think it was her own kin—how amusing!"

"But... who is this cloaked man, the so-called Vice Head of the Dragon-Slaying Society?"

Chen Chang’an rubbed his chin, pondering deeply. Finding no useful clues after a moment, he gave up and turned to the beauty across from him. "I must thank you, Sister Taohua."

Taohua pursed her lips and smiled faintly. "Why thank me? It was your own strategy."

"Heh! Heh! Heh!" Chen Chang’an could not have been more satisfied. He chuckled incessantly, looking humble and honest. Once he had integrated all the information regarding the Dragon-Slaying Society case and mapped out the follow-up details on his draft paper, he put down his brush, looked up, and said earnestly, "Sister Taohua, I actually have one more question."

"Go ahead!" Taohua’s eyelashes fluttered, and her beautiful eyes blinked.

Chen Chang’an chuckled. "Lately, whenever I open the *Chronicles of the Fragrant Pavilion*, I see new content on the second page. A courtesan named Youwei has appeared. She..."

"She what?" Taohua’s eyes danced with a charming, playful light.

Chen Chang’an waved his hands in explanation. "Sister Taohua, please don't misunderstand. I swear by the lamp that I am only asking out of simple curiosity. I am not preparing to abandon the old for the new."

"Hahaha!" Taohua rested her hands on her slender waist. "Look at you, getting so worked up! What? Are you afraid that your sister here would be jealous of her own kind? Actually, I hope you open all seven floors of the pavilion soon, so we can see each other sooner. So, ask whatever you like, don't worry!"

*Geez... if I open all seven floors, who could handle seven at once?* Chen Chang’an’s thoughts turned lewd, but he quickly returned to the topic. "Right! Logically, I haven't opened the door to the second floor yet and haven't met this Sister Youwei, so why is there relevant content appearing and changing in the *Chronicles*?"

"And... and she even gave me a secret technique!"

"Hahaha!" Taohua laughed until she trembled like a flower in the wind. She replied, "Generally, there are two reasons why information appears in the *Chronicles* before the door is opened."

"What two reasons?" Chen Chang’an perked up his ears.

Taohua spoke in a soft, melodic tone: "First, your own conditions have implicitly reached the standard required to open the pavilion. Second, certain words or actions of yours upon entering the Fragrant Pavilion have caught their attention. Regardless, you can try to see if you can push open the new door now!"

"As for why she gave you a secret technique before you even met, that is just her personality. My sixth sister has always been rather peculiar."

"So... that’s how it is!" Chen Chang’an realized.

"Mmhmm!"

Taohua stood up, reached out her slender, jade-like hand, and parted her white teeth slightly. "Come, shall we go see if you can push open the door to the second floor?"

Chen Chang’an was stunned; he hadn't expected her to suggest this. He stared with wide eyes, unable to respond until Taohua playfully flicked her shoe at him. Only then did he stammer, "Right, Sister, I'll go take a look with you."

"What do you mean 'take a look with me'? It's for your own gain!"

*Pfft...* Chen Chang’an nearly choked. *Sister, you look so proper on a daily basis, yet you have such a sharp tongue. Who actively drives their own man to find a mistress? Oh, wait—Youwei is the sixth among the sisters; I should call her Little Six! Or... Old Six...*

"Fine, I'll go give it a try!"

In truth, he was equally curious about Old Six, Youwei, who had a negative favorability rating despite having never met him, and who had generously gifted him a useless secret technique.

He reached out and took Taohua’s hand. The moment their fingers interlaced, a strange array pattern appeared beneath their feet. Accompanied by the scent of flowers, they were instantly transported outside the second-floor door.

Taohua stepped aside with anticipation, resting her chin on her hand, her beautiful eyes shining. "There it is. Push!"

"Alright!" Chen Chang’an stood directly in front of the door, feet together, posture upright. He adopted the same stance he had used the first time he pushed open the entrance to the Fragrant Pavilion. He slowly placed his hands on the door panels, trying to influence it with his heart, embrace it with love, and understand it with compassion. He seemed to be doing it all, but nothing happened.

"Uh..."

He slowly withdrew his hands, adjusted his mood and mindset, and once he felt ready, pressed his palms against the panels again.

One second... Two seconds... Three seconds... Thirty seconds...

Regrettably, there was still no response. He had to look to Taohua for help.

Taohua shook her head slightly. "Each door is connected to the heart of the courtesan within. I don't know what method would satisfy Sixth Sister; you have to figure it out yourself!"

"Got it!"

Chen Chang’an smacked his lips and paced back and forth, deep in thought. Everything in the world exists in relativity. If Old Six, Youwei, didn't like the soft approach, she must be waiting for something hard, right?

As the thought sprouted in his mind, he placed his hands on the second-floor door again. He leaned his upper body forward, thrust his hips back, and pushed with all his might. As time passed, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, as if he were physically exhausted. After holding the effort for a moment longer, a loud fart blasted toward where Taohua was sitting.

"Damn it!" He immediately pulled his hands back, giving up entirely.

"So many mosquitoes, there are so many mosquitoes..." Taohua muttered, waving her left sleeve to fan the air while covering her nose and mouth with her right. "It's... it's fine. If it doesn't work, just leave it for now. Try again later; there will eventually be a time you can push it open."

"Right! Right! There will eventually be a time."

The loud fart had ruined any desire Chen Chang’an had to continue. Embarrassed, he said, "Sister Taohua, in that case, I’ll be going. There are still many things to deal with outside; I can't delay any longer."

"Mmhmm, go ahead!" Taohua waved goodbye.

Chen Chang’an gazed at her with soulful, black-and-white eyes, nodded, and turned to leave. After exiting the main gate of the Fragrant Pavilion, he concentrated his consciousness to return to the real world. Thinking that Old Six, Youwei, was an eccentric character and that his attempt to push the door might have affected the data, he curiously pulled out the *Chronicles of the Fragrant Pavilion* to flip through it.

The result:
Youwei’s current favorability: 30%!
Youwei’s emptiness relieved: 22%!
Gift received: None!
Courtesan secret technique possessed: Youwei’s "Opposite Sex Aversion Blessing" (can appropriately increase the degree of aversion others have toward you, especially among beautiful women)!
Current remaining time in the Fragrant Pavilion: 208 hours!

Chen Chang’an was stunned. *What is going on? I remember the favorability was negative before; how did it jump to thirty? What does Old Six like? Or rather, what could have earned her favor—the pushing, the fart, or both?*

*If it’s like this, conquering her might be quite easy.*

"Hey, heavens... why is it again..."

Strangely, when he looked up to yawn and then looked down again, the content on the page had changed.

Youwei’s current favorability: -50%!
Youwei’s emptiness relieved: 3.6%!
Gift received: None!
Courtesan secret technique possessed: Youwei’s "Opposite Sex Aversion Blessing" (can appropriately increase the degree of aversion others have toward you, especially among beautiful women)!
Current remaining time in the Fragrant Pavilion: 208 hours!

Chen Chang’an’s face turned black on the spot, deep furrows appearing on his forehead. *What is the meaning of this? In less than half a minute, the favorability dropped from positive thirty back down? Is this just bullying? This is intolerable.*

He threw the *Chronicles of the Fragrant Pavilion* aside. Chen Chang’an drew his blade with his left hand and clenched his right fist, channeling the full power of his Demon Bone. Purple electric arcs crackled and hissed, illuminating his furious, distorted face.

"I don't believe there is a door in this world I cannot enter!"

Chen Chang’an roared at the sky, leaped into the air with his blade raised and fist clenched, and dove toward the wooden door of the second-floor pavilion.

"BOOM!"

A thunderous sound erupted. The entire Fragrant Pavilion—or rather, this strange space—seemed to shake and totter. Thick, scorching black smoke billowed from the second floor. The two door panels that had blocked him were blown to smithereens, and a gaping hole was torn into the wall of the inner room directly facing the entrance.

"Crack! Crack-crack! Crack-crack-crack!"

Chen Chang’an, who had been blackened by the blast, pulled himself up from the choking smoke, gasping for air. He looked inside and saw a woman, her dress covered in holes from the explosion, her face smeared with dust, and her teeth blackened, glaring at him with dead-fish eyes while balancing a bowl of upside-down ramen on her head.

They stared at each other in silence for a long time before the woman roared at the top of her lungs, "What are you doing? Are you insane?!"