Volume One, Chapter 13: The Night Watchman’s Temptation

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By the time Qin Zheng left the Spring Shirt Pavilion, he was already neatly dressed and impeccably groomed. He wore a black official robe with a round collar and wide sleeves trimmed in gold, paired with a white undergarment and a deep blue belt—both soft and lightweight, fitting comfortably, yet exuding a solemn dignity.

As he walked along the elegant corridor, he came straight to the heart of the Entertainment Bureau, where in the Drunken Wind Pavilion, Yang Fengqing sat astride his horse like a dashing general, idly trimming his short beard with a dagger.

“Ugh! A crude warrior, a shameless watchdog of the Night Watch!” Qin Zheng cursed inwardly but, mindful of the ‘Ma Hua’ corpse, forced a smile and said, “Lord Yang, your prestige is formidable; at a word from you, no women or children in the Entertainment Bureau dare to shed a tear. Your lingering influence remains—why have you returned again?”

At once, he was startled by Yang Fengqing’s expression.

Yang’s face looked withered, as if some enchantress had taken advantage of him countless times; his hawk eyes were no longer sharp.

“Did my little flame harm him so much?” Qin Zheng pondered, then carefully asked, feigning ignorance, “My lord, how did you get injured?”

“How I got hurt, you don’t know?” Yang Fengqing’s expression turned sour, then he sneered sharply, “Ha! You were unconscious at the time, truly had no idea!”

He coughed several times, grumbling, “Those little demons from the Hehuan Sect, all damn quacks! They made me fuss over them all night, and my injuries haven’t improved one bit!”

Qin Zheng was stunned—did those little demons from the Hehuan Sect actually know medicine?

He didn’t pursue the matter and instead took a seat opposite Yang Fengqing with a respectful smile. “Then, Lord Yang, what brings you here?”

“To see you,” Yang replied with a half-smile, “Indeed, you woke six hours earlier than I expected! And after dawdling with that little courtesan all night, you still managed to guard your vital energy—impressive!”

Qin Zheng smiled awkwardly. “Your insight is keen, my spiritual sense is injured, so I dared not engage in intimacy. Could you perhaps examine me?”

Ha! You can use spiritual perception to look at my body, but do you dare invade my mind?

Yang Fengqing twitched his lips sternly. “Nonsense! Recklessly using spiritual sense to invade another’s mind and pry into privacy is not the act of a gentleman. Your spiritual injury will heal in a few days; no need to worry.”

He glanced behind Qin Zheng, where the courtesan Ziwei blushed, flustered, holding tea and about to approach. Yang raised an eyebrow and waved her away.

Only after Ziwei left did he smirk at her retreating figure and say nonchalantly, “Do you sympathize with these girls? The women of the Entertainment Bureau?”

“Dressed in purple robes and golden belts, they must bear the weight of their status. Sympathy does not apply,” Qin Zheng shook his head with a sigh. “Those fallen to the Entertainment Bureau were once born into noble families. They enjoyed the wealth and splendor of those houses and thus must bear the risks when those houses collapse.”

He continued calmly, “If I were to pity them, how could I pity the impoverished girls who have starved since childhood and struggle with all their might just to survive?”

Finally, he sighed helplessly, “It’s just natural empathy—when one suffers, others of the same kind grieve. They were harmed by monsters, yet I cannot simply watch them be abandoned by humanity and remain indifferent.”

“Dressed in purple robes and golden belts, they must bear the weight of their status.”

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Yang Fengqing nodded with a smile. “Well said. That is exactly my meaning! Don’t let pity for these women make you forget their identity! We Night Watchmen oversee all officials; we are not here to clean up after them!”

Qin Zheng was taken aback. “We Night Watchmen?”

I, Qin Kenan, talented and handsome with a promising future, now safe in life, how could I be connected with you Night Watch watchdogs?

He eyed Yang Fengqing cautiously and asked carefully, “My lord, what do you mean?”

Yang glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then leaned forward, lowering his voice in a conspiratorial tone. “You’re lucky—Lord Lu has taken a liking to you!”

Lord Lu, the King of Hell, has noticed me… and where is the grand sedan chair for my welcome?

Moreover, you’re a straightforward Night Watchman—why act so secretively?

Qin Zheng felt uneasy but forced a dry smile. “My lord, speak plainly.”

“I reported the case to Lord Lu. He admires you greatly and agreed that you should join the Night Watch!”

Yang Fengqing lowered his voice, “Lord Lu says the case is extremely complicated, involving high officials of the court. We Night Watchmen cannot be lenient; it must be investigated to the end! You know this case best, so naturally, you’re the perfect candidate to investigate it!”

This is damned so-called luck!

I, Qin Kenan, don’t even want to join the Night Watch, much less investigate this bizarre case that no one else cares about…

After some consideration, Qin sighed, “I do aspire to patrol on behalf of Heaven and oversee officials as a Night Watchman. But I am the Deputy Commander of the Taichang Temple, appointed by the Academy and elders—I cannot just resign.”

You Night Watchmen may be ruthless, but you wouldn’t dare take someone by force!

Yang Fengqing, however, smiled slyly, “No worries—I’ve thought it through for you! The Night Watch has spies everywhere. You don’t need to resign your post at Taichang Temple. You can investigate this case secretly as an undercover agent!”

Undercover agent, my foot! No benefits at all. Who the hell wants to be an underground agent…

Qin Zheng’s head ached. Gritting his teeth, he said, “My lord, you jest. I do not know the secrets behind this case. If you have no further business, I shall take my leave…”

He quickly weighed the pros and cons, stood up, bowed, and gestured to see him out—all in one smooth motion.

Though this might offend the Night Watch, it was far safer than being entangled in this case.

Besides, his official post carried no real power or prospects, which ironically was his greatest advantage against the Night Watch!

In this dull, powerless office, even if the Night Watch wanted to frame him, they had no leverage.

Unless they were mad enough to stage another massacre at the Entertainment Bureau…

“You still look down on us Night Watchmen?” Yang Fengqing didn’t leave, instead calmly said, “You fear this case so much, it seems you already have suspicions. But I also know that forced fruit is not sweet—I won’t trouble you.”

He then shifted tone, like a father scolding a disappointing child, “You’ve been smart and capable since childhood; are you really content to stay here in the small Entertainment Bureau as a lowly Ninth Rank Deputy Commander?”

Better to cultivate here quietly than risk my life with you…

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Qin Zheng sighed and forced a bitter smile. “I truly do not know the secrets behind this case. I only fear betraying Lord Lu’s trust, so I dare not get involved.”

Yang Fengqing was unfazed. He pulled out a roll of bright yellow silk from his sleeve and casually tossed it to Qin Zheng, beaming, “See for yourself! The Night Watch has already reported your merits overnight. This imperial edict will ensure smooth passage!”

Qin Zheng unrolled it and saw an imperial decree from the Secretariat: Qin Zheng, for his outstanding merit in solving the serial family massacre case in the fallen capital, was reinstated to office and awarded five hundred taels of silver!

Yang Fengqing chuckled lightly, “What power do we Night Watchmen have? As long as you join us and cause no harm to the human race, you will never again be secretly targeted over minor negligence!”

Ha! Trying to bribe me with power?

I, Qin Kenan, am unyielding in honor and unmoved by wealth. How could I be swayed by such trifles?

Qin curled his lips into a respectful smile. “The Night Watch’s influence is immense. I thank you, my lord.”

Yang Fengqing, however, said casually, “Last night I heard you gave that Dali Court prison guard a hard time! He paid thirty taels of silver to buy your case files. Now he’s come looking for the money you promised, but can’t find you!”

He pointed to his withered hawk eyes, grinning, “How is the Night Watch’s intelligence? As long as you cause no trouble, all the world’s info is yours to command!”

A warm flush surged in Qin’s heart. He said frankly, “That guard kicked my chicken leg—I merely gave him a lesson! But the Night Watch’s network truly is the pillar of great Ning.”

Yang Fengqing then took a small silver pouch from his sleeve, withdrew a blood-red pill, and held it out to Qin Zheng.

“This is called the Blood Pill, essence of flesh and blood, nourishing to us warriors’ bodies.”

Like a wealthy old master showing off his treasures, he smiled brightly, “With enough Blood Pills, you can break through the Ninth Rank Refining Essence stage and step into the Eighth Rank Refining Qi!”

Casually, he added, “How rich and powerful is the Night Watch? Once you join, this Blood Pill is yours!”

Qin Zheng’s gaze fixed on the pill; his inner spiritual flame stirred restlessly, unable to look away.

Seeing Qin’s expression, Yang finally revealed a sly fox’s smile and held up three fingers: “Power, intelligence, wealth! All yours once you join the Night Watch!”

Then he sighed, “Do you know how precious the Blood Pill made by that monster is? Even Cui Guangyuan, gravely injured and begging for medicine, couldn’t get one from Lord Lu! Only I, through my merits, have obtained one.”

He looked at Qin sourly. “But since Lord Lu personally chose you, he already said that once you join, you get one too!”

Qin Zheng still stared at the Blood Pill. This was crafted by ‘Ma Hua’?

I, Qin Kenan, am steadfast and unyielding, unmoved by wealth or power!

But you cunning, despicable Night Watch watchdog, giving me so much—you're trying to corrupt my righteous heart!

Qin immediately clasped his fists, beaming with joy, “I am willing to serve the Night Watch!”