Chapter 33

Ling Xiao had left, but Lu Xiaofeng still returned to the Drunken Moon Tower to drink alone. A beautiful woman walked up to his table with graceful steps, gently picked up the wine glass opposite him, and with a light laugh, drank the wine in one go.

"The lady won’t use the guests' wine glasses, you big drunkard!" Lu Xiaofeng’s lips twitched as he mocked.

"Since he’s already gone, why should you care if I don’t mind!" the woman pouted, her every move filled with allure. If only her voice wasn’t so rough, it would be even better!

Lu Xiaofeng rolled his eyes and scolded, "Quickly take off that skin! Looking at your beautiful face but hearing that broken voice, I’ll have nightmares tonight!"

The woman laughed teasingly, and with a sudden swipe of her left hand across her face, her alluring appearance instantly changed. Lu Xiaofeng sighed, looking at the now unfamiliar but still youthful and beautiful face, "That’s not the point! If you’re going to put on a show, change your voice too!"

"The lady" ignored him and continued in her rough voice, "There are too many people here. If they find out my true identity, how can I continue my business?"

"Who told you to not change your appearance when doing business? And return the wine you stole from me." The woman sat between them, pouting.

"The lady" laughed, "You came so quickly!"

"Wherever there’s Xiao Feng, you’re always around! After being stolen from so many times, one naturally becomes more alert." The woman’s eyelids drooped slightly, her clear whites telling "the lady" that she was very angry and the consequences would be severe!

"The lady" placed a silver ingot on the table, looking rather embarrassed. The woman nodded, "That’s more like it!" and left, satisfied.

"Are you really not going to investigate?" "The lady" asked as the woman left.

"Ling Xiao is different from Ling Lingfa. He is much more cunning, but his loyalty to the Emperor is beyond doubt. He clearly knows that Ling Lingfa is his most important support! In fact, he has already clearly told me everything." Lu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow, looking at "the lady," "Got it! I won’t tell you, if you want to know, beg me!"

"The lady" looked angry, realizing she was no match for Lu Xiaofeng’s cunning, "I know you’re sharp, but how did you not hear anything valuable from what he said? Besides the threat to you."

Lu Xiaofeng nodded in satisfaction, "Not a valuable clue, but the real mastermind!"

"The lady" was stunned, "Just a few words told you so much?"

Lu Xiaofeng stroked his small mustache solemnly, "There aren’t many experts who can put me in danger. Moreover, the imperial seal is something that is useless to keep but a pity to discard. Those who are involved with it generally have ties to the royal family. Besides, why do you think he asked about that night!"

"The lady" tilted her head, placing her finger on her lips in thought, suddenly exclaiming, "You mean... Old Ye!"

"Selling cuteness is shameful! Quickly take off that outfit, it’s disgusting to look at!" Lu Xiaofeng scolded.

...

Tiptoeing into the clinic, he was surprised to see the living room lit up.

"Little one! You still say you have no ulterior motives? Why did you run!" Ling Lingfa seemed to be interrogating, but the prisoner caught Ling Xiao’s attention.

A weathered face, clearly a man with a story. His clothes were disheveled, his leggings torn, looking carefree but more like a free spirit. Strangely, Ling Lingfa had actually handcuffed the prisoner’s feet!

"I ran because you chased me! I didn’t know what you were doing." The prisoner complained.

"Still making excuses! Roaming around on rooftops in the middle of the night, speak! Did you do something you shouldn’t have!" Ling Xiao came over to examine the prisoner, "Why are you so disheveled? Did you use excessive force?"

"I didn’t, this guy flew too low and was seriously speeding. If I didn’t lock his feet, it would have been hard to catch him! Speak, did you steal anything?" Ling Lingfa’s expression was full of disdain.

"No." The prisoner answered straightforwardly.

"Did you kill someone? Why did you run so wildly!" Ling Lingfa asked with interest.

"No!" The prisoner was a bit helpless.

"Oh! Did you just...!" The gossip fire in Ling Lingfa’s eyes blazed.

"No!!!" The prisoner’s face showed veins popping.

"Let me ask! Your wife is waiting for you." Seeing this would go on endlessly, Ling Xiao sent Ling Lingfa back to sleep.

He carefully examined the prisoner again, pouring a cup of flower tea for him in a police drama style, "Tell me, what’s your name? Where do you live? How many people are in your family? How many acres of land do you have per person? How many cows in the fields?" He smiled warmly.

The prisoner’s lips twitched but quickly regained composure, though the smile made him feel a bit uneasy, he still answered, "Cui Lue Shang, there’s no one left at home, and I don’t farm."

Ling Xiao slammed the table and roared, "Still saying you have no ulterior motives! This is a clinic, not the Six Fans, why did you answer so straightforwardly? Clearly you have something to hide! Did you commit a major theft? Speak!"

Cui Lue Shang’s face contorted, and he roared back, "I already said no! I hate such things! Your master’s token almost blinded me, who can’t tell who he is!"

Ling Xiao was taken aback, then remembered that after Ling Lingfa’s clothes burst, the Bao Long clan’s token was fully exposed. "I see, you have some knowledge, recognizing the Bao Long clan’s token." He calmly sat back down.

"I didn’t expect the Bao Long clan to be hiding in a clinic, and even specializing in gynecology!" Cui Lue Shang’s expression was strange, clearly this was a significant shock to him.

"That’s what makes my master wise and heroic, not just you, probably no one in the entire Ming Dynasty would have thought of it." Ling Xiao laughed proudly, then asked, "So why were you roaming around on rooftops in the middle of the night? Were you playing a superhero and fighting crime?"

"I was just going home! Using lightness skills is faster!" He looked aggrieved, then suddenly paused, seeing Ling Xiao staring at him intently, a spark in his eyes. "You... what are you looking at? Don’t think I’m strong, I’m not!"

"Trust me, your survival skills are worse than a cockroach. I just didn’t hear your name clearly, can you say it again?" Ling Xiao asked hopefully.

"Uh, my name is Cui Lue Shang." He sighed in relief and repeated.

"What’s the date today? One celebrity after another, but this guy is a bit down on his luck." Ling Xiao mused, then asked, "What do you do for a living?"

"Collecting debts, sometimes delivering packages." Cui Lue Shang said softly, a bit embarrassed.

"Sure enough! Trust me, opportunities will come, and it won’t be long." Ling Xiao looked at him with a supportive expression, unfastening the handcuffs, which were made of strong magnets, no wonder Cui Lue Shang couldn’t break free.

"Thank you, it’s rare for someone to have such confidence in me." He rubbed his stiff ankle, looking at the handcuffs with lingering fear, wearing them made it impossible to walk freely, his feet always involuntarily closing.

"My intuition is always right, you can check if you don’t believe me. Also, if you could be a bit colder, your life might be better. I know you’ve helped many people pay off their debts."

Cui Lue Shang paused, then laughed bitterly, "So you’ve investigated me, does that mean you deliberately caught me today?"

"Don’t flatter yourself, it was an accident today. I just have a good relationship with the neighbors, and I’ve heard about you occasionally." Ling Xiao waved his hand dismissively.

Cui Lue Shang felt relieved, he really didn’t want to get involved with the authorities, "I understand what you mean, but those debtors have elderly mothers and young children depending on them! How can I bear to take action!"

Ling Xiao blinked, "Alright, that line sounds familiar. You’re not suited for this job, but don’t lose heart, life has its ups and downs, everything will get better."

Cui Lue Shang was a bit moved but still asked, "Thank you for your comfort, can I go now?"

"Of course, next time I suggest you walk home, the capital might not be peaceful recently."

Cui Lue Shang thought for a moment, "Thank you for your advice, I seem to have said too many thanks today. I hope we don’t meet again, to save each other the trouble."

Watching him gradually walk away, Ling Xiao smiled, "Unless you stop being a debt collector!"

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