625: Entering the Mansion

Entering the Mansion

As soon as she said those words, she swung her sword killing the last of them. Wiping Blood Moon clean, Ming Yue went to collect the red tokens and gather everyone's treasure. While doing so, she flicked her hand out randomly, shooting a Wind Needle from her fingers. 2

Something shook before falling, a figure hidden within the walls. And like the others, she collected their things and their body. 

"Qing Ji must have made a lot of enemies."

Thinking this to herself, Ming Yue thought about her plan. 

"I suppose I'm not going to have as much trouble attracting attention in this way. In any case, I still have some investigating to do, I need to find out who's running this place now."

She turned to leave, vanishing into the night. 

Having made herself known, many had become much more aware of her presence and that was precisely what she wanted. After all, they weren't really focused on her but "Qing Ji" and with such an infamous reputation behind her, not many would think to challenge her. 

Quickly changing back into her armor, she traveled across the city, running from one roof to the next. 

"That's the center of the city over there... a few buildings do stick out but which one would house the branch leaders? According to the information that Elder Fei and Grandpa Meng gave me, it should be someone named Bai Meng."

Gaining a better understanding of the layout, she looked toward one of the said buildings. It was a mansion, one of the larger ones that she'd seen. There was only one floor but it was completely walled off from the rest of the city, paired with a large gate and a courtyard containing a garden. 

If someone of power lived here, it'd be in a place as luxurious as that.

Making her way there, it took just a few moments for her to infiltrate, hiding within the garden. Unlike the busyness of the sanctuary, this place was far removed from the noise. It was extremely peaceful, practically another world compared to the outside. 

"Hmm, there's a koi pond and even a pagoda out here. It's quite beautiful, I wonder who this Bai Meng is." 

Taking note of her surroundings, Ming Yue moved from one position to the next, swiftly getting closer before leaping onto the rooftop. 

But as she checked the inside, there was a look of surprise on her face. Not shock but just pleasant surprise was shown. 

"Hmm, Bai Meng doesn't seem to be here, it's just all servants or attendants. That makes things a bit easier", she muttered to herself. 

Having checked her surrounding, Ming Yue dropped down to the ground, landing quietly on the wooden floorboards. Placing her hand on the door, she slid it open and entered before closing them behind her. 

It was quiet, very quiet and the cultivator made her way through the rooms, looking for something. 

"Where could it be?" 

She checked each room and even the main hall before moving towards the back of the mansion. It was there that she found something, an office of sorts, complete with shelves of documents and a fancy desk with neatly organized papers. 

"Let's see what's in here."

While she began her search, there was a meeting elsewhere in the city. It was in the main halls where Bai Meng was seated on her throne, rubbing the temples of her head. 

"So what you're telling me is that Qing Ji, the White Aspen, has entered the city? Not only that, she's already killed over a dozen people?" she said. 

The woman sighed, trying to accept that fact while her subordinates knelt down before her. 

"Yes! According to several, she killed them on one of the side roads, away from the public. She left behind only puddles of blood, their bodies were nowhere to be found either", they reported. 

"Ugh." 

Bai Meng groaned, even with a tired look on her face, the allure of her appearance was hard to ignore. Some of the men and even a few women could only gulp and do their best to look down. After all, this was the branch leader of the original Redmist Sanctuary, one of the Fourteen Evils. Wanting to give in to their desires would end with only death. 

Rubbing her temples slowly, she had her eyes closed, paying no attention to the others. 

"Gather a few people and have them keep watch of her", she ordered. 

"Yes!"

Several of them nodded their heads before going and the rest stayed where they are. 

"What else is there?" Bai Meng asked. 

"The Nightmist Auction will be underway in a few days. Furthermore, the hunting parties have already begun to form. Once the parade has officially begun, a speech is needed from you", they said. 

"Right, right, I'll get to it. Is there anything else?" 

The irritation in her voice only grew stronger with each piece of news. After all, this was just more work for her. 

"Yes, one last thing, one of the other branch leaders will be visiting for this year's parade. It is Yao Lu."

Upon the mention of that name, Bai Meng opened her eyes, raising a brow at them. 

"Yao Lu? Him? Are you sure?" she asked. 

Everyone else gave each other a look before lowering their head in front of her, nodding and speaking together. 

"Yes, it is Yao Lu." 

There was silence as Bao Meng quietly thought to herself before letting out one long sigh.

"Is that the last of it?" 

Raising her brow, she gave them all a look. It wasn't a very powerful stare but it was enough to make them shudder from er fox-like eyes.

"Ye- yes, Miss Bai, that is the last it."

"Hah, alright, you may all go, when Yao Lu comes, be sure to greet him properly. Do not do anything to provoke him, I don't know what will happen if that madman decides to play games in this place. There are already enough problems as it is", she responded. 

As her subordinates bowed once more before leaving her, Bai Meng stood up to go as well, taking a different path through the back of the throne room. Walking through alone, her expression was complicated, irritation but also fear. 

"Of all the people that decide to come here, it is Yao Lu that comes", she thought to herself.

Bai Meng clicked her tongue, thinking about her plans. 

"If it's him, he could uncover what I've been planning to do all this time. Rather than uncover it, he'd destroy it altogether. Several years of work gone to waste if he decides to make a move. Qing Ji can be dealt with later but he is the most dangerous variable." 

The woman continued through a different corridor, walking for several minutes with no end in sight. But soon enough, there was a door waiting for her, one leading straight into her home. 

"Haah, whatever, I think of countermeasures later. For now, I need some rest", she muttered. 

Opening the door nonchalantly, she walked through and closed it behind her. Turning back, Bai Meng now stood in the middle of her bedroom having walked out of a hidden door on one of the walls. 

She glanced around before changing her clothes, moving from what was considered lewd and revealing to something more comfortable. 

Sitting at the side of her bed, the woman gave another look around her room, thinking about her current worries. In the end, she sighed before standing up and putting on a thick mantle. 

"Ah, I'll just go to the office and do a bit of work. It's not like I'm going to get any good sleep with such worrying news in my head", she muttered. 

Not wasting another second, she left her room and started walking through the courtyard of mansion, heading straight for her work quarters. 

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