Chapter 19 — Shadows in Chongqing

As we arrived in Chongqing City, the wheels of the caravan creaked to a final stop. I jumped down from the wagon, helping my brother unload our luggage. Yu Meixian stretched her arms and looked around with a nostalgic sigh.

"Haaa… small, bustling city," she said with a relaxed smile. "It's been a while since I last visited Chongqing."

I shot her a sarcastic look. "Well, you can go to the brothel for rest."

Her eyes lit up for a moment, and she clapped her hands. "Yes! That's a fine ide—" But the moment her gaze landed on my brother, she coughed awkwardly and corrected herself. "Ahem! I mean… brothels are for other bad women. A righteous woman like me would never step into such a place!"

My brother bonked me lightly on the head with the back of his hand and scolded, "Where are you learning such dirty things, Rin?"

We grabbed our luggage and veiled our faces once more, ready to explore the city and search for an inn. As we walked, I noticed one woman from the caravan standing in the shadows behind us. She narrowed her eyes, a calculating glint flashing in them.

"Hmph… it's good I didn't reveal myself back then," she muttered under her breath while watching our backs. "It's a pity the Thirteenth Young Lady is gone… but if I report this—supreme yang physique—I might get a reward for this information."

She disappeared into the alleyway, her cloak billowing like a whisper of betrayal.

Meanwhile, we arrived at a decent-looking inn and found food and lodging for the night. At the front desk, Yu Meixian was already talking to the innkeeper, her voice calm but direct. She handled the check-in with confidence, and soon after, she joined us at our table.

"Well," she said, sitting down and pouring herself a cup of tea, "I've booked two rooms for tonight."

We nodded, and she leaned in slightly.

"We can't stay in Chongqing too long," she warned. "Even though this province isn't under the full control of the Hundred Weapon Sect, it's still ruled by several powerful unorthodox sects. The region is split between the Bandit Union and four notorious groups: the Blood Moon Sect, the Devil Bone Sect, the Wu Clan—a known evil clan—and the Evil Poison Sect."

I raised my brow. "What about the Murim Alliance? Don't they have a branch here?"

"it was destroyed"

then I ask."what about government?"

Yu Meixian chuckled dryly and pointed her chin toward a nearby table.

"See for yourself."

At the corner table, three women in officer uniforms were downing wine like water. Then, without warning, they stood and approached a man sitting alone. One of them leaned over his table with a sinister smile.

"Well, well," she purred, grabbing his collar. "I've never seen such a delicious dish before. How about I take you in for questioning? You look... suspicious."

The man's eyes were wide with terror. He trembled, unable to resist as the officers laughed.

I stood abruptly from my chair, furious. "This is wrong—"

But Yu Meixian grabbed my wrist and yanked me back into my seat. "Wait and watch," she whispered, eyes narrowed.

Just then, the innkeeper, a well-dressed middle-aged woman, rushed over and bowed respectfully.

"Madams, here is this month's cut. Please… let's not create a scene. I even increased the amount for your kindness in keeping the peace."

One of the officers snatched the pouch of coins and patted the innkeeper on the cheek. "It's our duty, after all."

With that, they released the man and swaggered out of the inn—without paying a single coin for their drinks.

The man slumped back into his seat, pale and shaken. The innkeeper gently helped him up and offered him a free meal, her face full of silent sorrow.

"This is insane," I growled. "Officers acting like bandits… What happened to law and order?"

Yu Meixian gave a bitter smile. "The empire is rotten to the core. Chongqing is one of the empire's failed provinces. Everyone here is corrupt—including the magistrate."

My brother sighed and said, "Then we need to leave this place as soon as possible."

After finishing our meal, Yu Meixian beckoned to a servant girl and handed her a silver coin.

"I need information about the situation in Chongqing," she said.

The girl leaned in. "There's tension brewing. All four unorthodox powers are furious with the Bandit Union. A few days ago, the daughter of the Blade Tigress, lord of the bandits, killed the Second Young Lady of the Wu Clan. And the son of the Devil Bone Sect's leader has gone missing. People are saying a war might break out any day now."

Yu Meixian nodded thoughtfully. "Isn't the Blade Tigress is unrestrained stage master? The four unorthodox powers each have only one grandmaster. So how four unorthodox power planning to defeat her?"

The girl lowered her voice. " word just came in last week. The Blood Moon Sect's elder has broken through to half-step unrestrained stage. The balance of power is shifting."

"That's all I know," the servant added, bowing as she left.

Yu Meixian muttered, "Something's off here. We need to leave before this turns into war. I'll look into caravans heading toward Sichuan. You two go to your room and rest."

Meanwhile, deep in the mountains of Chongqing, inside a hidden cave, the woman from our caravan journey arrived. She walked past guards and through a tunnel pulsing with ominous purple light. Inside, she was stopped by two Lust Devils.

"Halt. Who are you?"

"I'm a Lust Devil under the Thirteenth Young Lady. I have urgent information for the Fourth Young Lady."

They inspected her, then motioned her forward. She entered the inner chamber, a grand cavern illuminated by glowing purple crystals embedded in the stone walls. The air was thick with a sickly sweet scent of aphrodisiacs.

In the center was a large pond, its surface shimmering with faint violet mist. All around, naked, unconscious men floated in the water, their breathing slow and shallow.

The woman gasped at the overwhelming sensual energy, covering her nose as her cheeks flushed.

At the far end of the pond, a stunning woman around 26 years old, with long purple hair and haunting violet pupils, was straddling a young man, kissing him deeply. His mind was clearly lost, consumed by the lustful haze. She broke the kiss with a satisfied sigh and then tossed the man into the pond like a used rag.

"So much for the young master of the Devil Bone Sect," she said mockingly.

Then, naked and dripping with violet liquid, she stepped out of the water with an elegant sway. Her body was flawless, her eyes filled with dominance.

The caravan woman immediately bowed. "I greet the Fourth Young Lady."

With a slight smirk, the fourth young lady said, "Speak. What message has my foolish little sister sent me now?"

The Lust Devil servant bowed again. "The Thirteenth Young Lady is dead."

The smile on the Fourth Young Lady's face vanished. Her eyes widened, and her voice became cold. "Tell me everything. How did she die?"

The woman recounted the entire caravan journey, the fight, and the intervention of the Righteous Sword Heroine.

The Fourth Young Lady was silent for a moment. Then… she laughed.

"Haaa… I told that carefree fool she'd end up dead one day. But… she left behind a gift."

Her eyes gleamed. "Supreme Yang Physique, huh? If I offer this to Master, she'll be pleased. She might even teach me her ultimate technique. I'll surpass that smug First Senior Sister."

She stepped closer to the Lust Devil, the pond mist clinging to her curves. "So… the Righteous Sword Heroine is still with them?"

"Yes, Fourth Young Lady," the servant replied, trembling slightly.

"That complicates things," she mused. "I can't defeat her right now. She's far too powerful."

She turned away, folding her arms. "I'll need a plan… time to think."

Her lips curled into a seductive smile as she looked back at the pond.

"And I can only think properly… while having sex."

She walked sensually toward another unconscious man in the water, her figure disappearing into the mist as the sound of soft laughter echoed throughout the chamber.