24. Breaking Into Fan Tower

“I regret coming here,” Cheng Yan sighed as he looked at Lu He. “I’ve ended up costing you your life, Lu.”

Lu He replied, “It was my idea to take a walk. The fact that you don’t hold it against me is kindness enough.”

“If I hadn’t let the talk from the southeast unsettle my mind, none of this would have happened…” Cheng Yan took the blame upon himself once more.

Now he understood a certain truth completely.

No promise made by another can truly be relied upon; only actions under your own control are certain.

And what can you truly control?

Strength.

Without it, you’re at the mercy of others.

Back in the ghost market, he had nearly been devoured whole. And now…

The two men and a mouse were each soaking in separate wooden tubs, as if each vessel had been made to their measure. Hui Bao’s was simply a washbasin.

Hot water flowed endlessly. Little Butterfly stood smiling nearby, accompanied by several women of striking beauty in plain dresses, ready to help them bathe and change.

Even at Hui Bao’s basin, a woman stood brushing his fur with a soft-bristled brush.

Hui Bao seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, reclining against the rim in contentment.

Lu He, by contrast, was unspeakably ill at ease. He came from humble origins and had never been attended by anyone—let alone women as beautiful as these. Even caught in a trap, the alluring scene made him shrink down and duck his head beneath the steaming water, blowing a few bubbles.

Cheng Yan fared no better.

Though his family background was slightly superior, he was by no means from a wealthy household. He recalled his grandfather’s words: when bandits captured the scions of rich families, they would test them in just this way. If you could withstand the pampering without betraying yourself, you were of noble birth; those who grew uneasy and averted their gaze were the poor.

The poor were chopped down, the rich were made to write home for ransom.

Whether in a den of thieves or monsters, you had to keep your composure.

Once bathed, they were dressed in finely embroidered indigo robes, hair combed and bound, jade belts at their waists, swords at their left hips, and sachets at their right.

Clothes truly do make the man. These two, who looked unremarkable in daily life, now resembled elegant young lords of a troubled world.

Hui Bao wore a plum blossom atop his head and a little embroidered bib on his chest.

Little Butterfly gave a graceful bow. “Gentlemen, please follow me.”

A blade awaits whether you stick your neck out or shrink it back.

Let’s go!

The two exchanged a smile, each showing a dash of gallant resolve.

…

Beyond the damp, cold alleys, it was as if they stepped into another world. A long street stood over a mist-shrouded river, the embankments ablaze with red lanterns, a single arch bridge leading directly to the Fan Pavilion. The building rose like a mountain, yet also resembled a blossoming tree. Acrobats, actors, musicians, and courtesans filled its branches like drifting petals, creating a dreamlike vision.

For all this splendor, there wasn’t a single guest. The festivities seemed to exist only within the Fan Pavilion; the endless riverbanks were empty.

Tap.

A feline paw landed on the arch bridge.

It was the black cat, Lu Xun, who had tracked them here.

To avoid alerting anyone, he chose to infiltrate in cat form.

He was about to continue forward when suddenly—

A voice, deep and stern, rang out: “Where do you think you’re going, little spirit? Have you no sense of decorum? Do you not see the master is entertaining honored guests here? Be gone at once!”

From the air dropped a monster, four and a half feet tall, with the head of a rat.

The flying rat demon had fleshy wings sprouting from its back, wore a russet robe fit for both civil and martial occasions, and wielded a steel trident.

The black cat narrowed his golden eyes.

A talking flying rat—clearly not a mere creature.

He did not turn around. Instead, his hind legs tensed and he broke into a sprint.

“Bold!” the flying rat guard shouted, hurling his trident.

With a clang, the trident missed, embedding itself in the planks of the bridge.

The black cat was undeterred.

The flying rat’s wings beat, launching him into the air. He dove, snatching up his trident and charging after the cat with lightning speed.

This time, he didn’t throw the weapon. At such close range, not even a cat’s reflexes could dodge the thrust.

Stab!

The black cat twisted in midair with uncanny agility.

The flying rat yanked out his trident and stabbed again.

As swift as a rainstorm.

Yet the cat not only avoided capture, he had already crossed most of the bridge. If the rat didn’t catch him now, the cat would breach the Fan Pavilion.

The rat abandoned his trident and skimmed the ground, both claws reaching for the old cat.

The cat leapt skyward.

“Perfect!” cried the rat in delight. With wings, he could change direction at will and immediately caught up to the old cat.

But a cat’s body, however powerful, couldn’t shift in midair like that. The rat already pictured himself catching the feline spirit, flexing his claws—

Thud.

The black cat suddenly sprang even higher.

The rat lost control and crashed face-first into the sturdy planks, tumbling awkwardly.

“Damn it all—” he roared, flapping his wings to summon a fierce gale that wrapped the front of the bridge in turbulent winds.

No matter how skilled Lu Xun was at walking as a cat, he couldn’t keep his footing in such a storm.

The rat swooped close again. He refused to believe his magic couldn’t subdue a newly awakened, moonlight-breathing spirit.

“Change form.”

Midair, the black cat transformed into a white ape.

The Lord of Five Tunnels, now seven feet tall, stood firm, his feet rooted like old trees, snow-white fur streaming in the wind.

The red-faced, tusked ape bared his fangs and roared:

“Play in the water!”

With a splash, water spouted from both sides of the bridge, transforming into arrows.

The wind howled, the ape shrieked.

The rain of water arrows descended.

The rat was terrified—what connection could there be between a cat and an ape? If this creature could change forms so freely, he was no match for it.

Yet he didn’t sit idly by. With a beat of his wings, he summoned a torrent of wind blades to meet the rain of arrows.

Water and wind clashed midair, neutralizing each other.

But the rat’s windstorm was a shade weaker; he hastily shielded himself with his wings.

Meanwhile, Lu Xun, in ape form, closed the distance and swung a powerful fist.

Whoosh!

A golden sash whipped up, blocking the ape’s fist for the rat.

“Sister Cai, let’s capture it together!” the rat exclaimed in joy. He had sensed danger just before; alone, he might not have survived against this red-faced ape demon. With Sister Cai’s help, this beast was nothing to fear.

The woman in yellow, her expression cold, slowly retracted her sash. “A guest is a guest. The master has asked me to invite you to the feast.”

The rat saluted with his trident and soared upward.

Lu Xun stared at the woman who had blocked his blow. Behind her, nearly invisible, were translucent cicada wings that matched her yellow dress, ethereal as spun silk.

Another formidable demon, he thought.

She gestured invitingly. “Please, guest.”

Lu Xun did not enter the pavilion but walked back toward the bridgehead.

The woman’s eyes flickered with doubt, but the look soon faded into calm detachment.

Monsters, she mused, sometimes have more sense than men. People rarely know when to back down; they insist on forcing their way through. Beasts, cautious of injury, more often withdraw when they sense overwhelming strength. Clearly, this ape demon was the same.

At the bridgehead, the ape gathered a dark green scale armor, dusted it off, and donned it.

Satisfied, he nodded.

Then he strode toward the woman and spoke: “Roar.”

Surprised, she hadn’t expected the ape to dress himself properly rather than retreat. Clearly, he was a creature who understood propriety.

Lu Xun thought, since infiltration had failed, he might as well enter openly.

Better than going in bare-bottomed.

“Please.”

Lu Xun, Lord of Five Tunnels, followed the woman in yellow toward the Fan Pavilion.

Gazing up at the towering, magnificent building, Lu Xun’s mind wandered.

Half his attention remained in a strange internal space.

[Crush the skull of Chen Sheng, water fortress lord of the alligator demons?]

“Crush.”

[Acquired bone ash: 1.2 taels]

[Total bone ash: 4.9 taels]

As long as I don’t focus on ape transformation, the other four major spells are all immediate combat power, Lu Xun reasoned.

“Enhance.”

[Enhancing the skull of the Five Tunnels Lord]

[Spell: Mountain Collapse] → [Spell: Mountain Collapse (Initiate)]