A skinny man with a tiny beard on his chin emerged angrily from one end of the alley. He looked around, searching for someone, but couldn't find the person he was looking for.
At the same time, another skinny man with sleepy-looking eyes came rushing out from the opposite end of the same alley. He, too, looked furious, and apparently had no better luck finding them.
The two men met in the middle of the alley.
"Well? Did you see them?" the sleepy-eyed man asked first.
"No... What about you, ErGe?" the tiny-bearded man replied.
The sleepy-eyed man simply shook his head. Suddenly, he kicked a large, leaning wooden board beside him.
"I can't believe we lost them! That woman must be a street rat!"
"ErGe, what should we do now? TaGe must be furious!"
Despite his fierce and intimidating appearance, the tiny-bearded man seemed much more cowardly than his brothers. The sleepy-eyed man, on the other hand, appeared to be the one who usually made the decisions.
"Let's search somewhere else. After that, we'll go back and report to TaGe."
The sleepy-eyed man left the alley, followed by the tiny-bearded one.
Only after they had disappeared did two figures emerge from behind the large, leaning wooden board.
They were the very people those men had been searching for: the woman and TanTan.
The woman dusted off her clothes.
"I think we're safe for now..."
She turned towards TanTan, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Thank you, young man! I've never seen anyone willing to sacrifice such an expensive roast chicken just to help someone else! Hahaha! I like it!"
She seemed thoroughly entertained by TanTan's impulsive action.
Remembering the incident, TanTan couldn't help regretting the loss of that delicious roast chicken.
The woman seemed to notice her expression, so she gave TanTan a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Don't worry about it. I'll repay your kindness someday. I, QingQing, never forget anyone who treats me well—or badly!"
TanTan studied QingQing carefully. Judging from her simple clothing, she guessed that QingQing had grown up on the streets, or perhaps she was a traveler. She also seemed older than TanTan, probably around twenty-five.
For some reason, TanTan found herself liking QingQing's friendly personality.
QingQing waited for a moment, apparently expecting TanTan to introduce herself as well.
"Well? I've already told you my name. What's yours?"
TanTan wondered whether QingQing had somehow discovered her real gender. She quickly adjusted her voice again.
"Erm... I'm sorry. I... I'm Tan... Lang."
She extended her hand for a handshake.
QingQing narrowed her eyes slightly, looking confused by TanTan's gesture. But then she smiled.
"TanLang... Hmm, nice to meet you."
She brought her fists together in front of her chest, using the customary greeting between travelers.
Only then did TanTan realize that the common greeting in this era was different from what she was used to. QingQing must have thought she was a rather strange young man.
TanTan quickly corrected her gesture, imitating QingQing and greeting her properly.
However, QingQing seemed amused.
"You must have traveled quite far to learn the greeting customs of the yellow-haired people. It's quite rare to see someone use it!"
TanTan couldn't think of an answer. All she could do was laugh awkwardly.
"Now, what can I do to repay your kindness, Tan Di?"
TanTan felt relieved that her real gender hadn't been discovered. Still, she couldn't help wondering whether she was really that good at disguising herself or whether people in this ancient era were simply easy to fool with a change of clothes.
Regardless, she felt she could trust QingQing.
After thinking quickly, she replied, "Actually, I'm looking for some information... about someone who wears a silver mask. Do you happen to know him?"
"A... silver-masked man?"
QingQing thought for a moment.
"Hmm... I don't know anyone like that. But perhaps I can take you somewhere you might find what you're looking for! Come on, follow me!"
QingQing took the lead. As they walked, she carefully checked the road ahead to make sure those skinny men wouldn't suddenly return. Only after she was certain the way was clear did she gesture for TanTan to follow.
TanTan decided to trust her. At last, she had found someone who might help her uncover some clues. That was certainly better than wandering around aimlessly without knowing where to begin.
Still, she couldn't help worrying about XiaoRue, whom she had left behind at the restaurant.
She should be all right, shouldn't she?
Meanwhile, XiaoRue was urging ManQi to chase after the two skinny men.
But ManQi pulled her arm back.
"Hold on. Let's wait here first."
"But... XiaoJie! She's in danger! We have to hurry!"
XiaoRue was still panicking, so ManQi held both her arms to calm her down.
"Calm down. Those men you mentioned might come back to report to their boss. If they do, we can catch them here. All right?"
After hearing ManQi's reasoning, XiaoRue gradually calmed down.
However, ManQi suddenly realized how close he was standing to her. He awkwardly released her arms and stepped back.
"Erm... I'll take care of this big fellow first."
He immediately focused on tying up the unconscious big man using a rope he found from one of the nearby merchants.
"Okay..."
XiaoRue also began feeling awkward after noticing ManQi's sudden change in behavior.
Meanwhile, TanTan followed QingQing to a mansion.
She looked up at the sign above the entrance. It read:
The House of Gamble.
A gambling house?*
TanTan wondered whether she could really find any useful information there. She hesitated to enter, knowing that gambling houses were not exactly respectable places and that she probably shouldn't get involved with such establishments.
QingQing noticed her hesitation and reassured her.
"Come on."
Just as they were about to enter, the two skinny men appeared from another alley.
The tiny-bearded man immediately recognized them.
"ErGe! Look! There they are!"
TanTan noticed them at almost the same time. QingQing saw them too and quickly pushed TanTan towards the entrance.
"Hurry! Don't worry. They won't dare come inside!"
TanTan and QingQing hurried into the gambling house, passing two large men guarding the entrance.
TanTan noticed that QingQing exchanged a slight nod with one of the guards. It seemed they knew each other.
Meanwhile, the two skinny men tried to enter as well, but the guards immediately blocked their way.
The tiny-bearded man attempted to threaten them, but it was useless. The guards were far more intimidating than the two of them. Without hesitation, they punched both men and threw them back onto the street.
"See what I mean? Come on. We'll be safe inside."
After witnessing that, TanTan finally felt relieved and followed QingQing further into the gambling house.
The two skinny men eventually gave up and decided to return to report to their big brother.
But what a surprise awaited them!
Their big brother was tied to a pole on the street.
"TA GE!!!"
"WHO DARES TO TIE OUR TA GE UP LIKE THIS?!"
The sleepy-eyed man glared angrily at the people around them, but everyone simply tried to avoid his gaze.
Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
When he turned around to see who it was—
BAM!
A punch landed squarely on his face.
In a flash, ManQi knocked both men down and tied them up as well.
He then began interrogating them.
"Speak! Where are the two people you chased?!"
The skinny men looked confused.
"What two people?"
"We only chased one woman..."
ManQi scolded them sharply, trying to intimidate them.
"DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH ME!"
He drew his sword and pointed it threateningly at them. Yet the two men still looked confused.
Seeing their reaction, XiaoRue quickly pulled ManQi aside and whispered that TanTan was also disguised as a man.
Only then did ManQi understand the misunderstanding.
"Erm... I mean, where are the woman and the young man you chased? SPEAK, OR I'LL CUT OFF YOUR TINY BEARD!"
His threat successfully terrified the tiny-bearded man.
"Nooo! Not my tiny beard! They... they went into the House of Gamble! We couldn't get inside..."
"The House of Gamble?"
ManQi widened his eyes.
This HuaMuTan really is good at creating more trouble!
"It's true! You can find them there now! We've told you everything you wanted to know, so please release us!"
ManQi gave them a smirk.
"Of course. I'll release you when we arrive at the prison."
The tiny-bearded man immediately began to cry.
"What?! No! I don't want to go to jail again!"
The sleepy-eyed man, meanwhile, started shouting a string of rather impolite curses.
"Release us, you... S***! F*** you!"
Just then, their big brother finally regained consciousness.
"Huh? What? Where am I...?"
Several officers had already arrived. ManQi turned towards them and gave his orders.
"Take all of them to the law office!"
XiaoRue grabbed ManQi's hand.
"What about XiaoJie?" she asked anxiously.
"Don't worry. Prince Li will take care of her later."
ManQi smiled reassuringly.
However, inside, he couldn't help wondering how his master would react upon learning that HuaMuTan had entered the House of Gamble.
Somehow, he found the whole situation rather amusing.