Chapter 1134: Cooperation

In the past, when he performed the Sunflower Phantom Body Movement, each phantom had an identical aura to his true form. However, masters and those above Grandmaster rank didn't rely on sight alone; they perceived their surroundings with their soul sense, making it difficult for these shadow clones to deceive them.

However, now that Zu An's soul had matured, he could attach a wisp of his soul to each shadow clone, making it nearly impossible for masters to detect any difference.

Moreover, the distance between Xiao Yao and him further blurred the latter's perception.

So when he arrived at the spot where Zu An had just vanished, he found the opponent's aura emanating from several distinct directions, causing him to frown in confusion.

He did not blindly choose a direction to pursue, but instead stood still, calmly discerning the subtle differences between the auras from various directions.

Not long after, he smiled. "This fellow indeed possesses some skill. If it were only you, I might truly have been deceived. But it's a pity you're still accompanied by Yu Yanluo."

Zu An could perfectly replicate his own aura, but he couldn't make Yu Yanluo's equally flawless.

As the most brilliant swordsman of his generation, highly praised even by the Libationer, Xiao Yao was not so easily tricked.

He quickly leaped down from the eaves and headed straight for the Jadeite Brothel.

"Oh, sir, come in and have some fun~" With the lanterns just lit, it was the Jadeite Brothel's busiest time of day. The madam stood at the entrance with various brightly dressed girls, enticing customers.

Upon seeing Xiao Yao approach, she instinctively tried to solicit him.

However, catching a whiff of alcohol from him and noticing his tattered, unkempt attire, she realized he was clearly penniless. She immediately lost interest. "Go, go! Where did this drunkard come from, trying to cause trouble here?"

Xiao Yao calmly asked, "Did two people in official uniforms just enter?"

According to prior intelligence, the two had disguised themselves as imperial guards to slip out.

The madam rolled her eyes at him. "If you're begging for food, go somewhere else. Don't disturb our business."

Xiao Yao's response was equally direct: he placed the long sword from his waist directly at her neck. "I won't say it a second time."

A mere commoner wasn't worth drawing his sword for, but his Grandmaster cultivation, even a slight release of pressure, was more than sufficient.

The madam quickly pleaded, "Please, sir, spare my life! I haven't seen any officers enter. Who would dare wear a uniform when visiting our establishment? It would look very bad. Everyone comes in plain clothes."

Xiao Yao frowned, realizing her point. He rephrased his question: "Within the last fifteen minutes, which guests have arrived? Take me to see them."

"Alright, alright, sir, please move your sword a little. Don't accidentally cut me." The madam carefully walked ahead.

Xiao Yao grunted and re-sheathed his long sword at his waist.

Threatening an ordinary person was inherently against his nature. Since the madam was willing to cooperate, he naturally wouldn't press her further.

"We've had eight guests arrive during this time," the madam said with a deferential smile. Working in such a place required excellent recognition skills and memory, otherwise, failing to acknowledge a familiar customer could easily cause offense.

"Which ones arrived in pairs?" Xiao Yao quickly scanned his surroundings. The chattering women and the pervasive smell of cosmetics made him frown; he much preferred the scent of wine.

"Sir, most guests who come here arrive with companions; very few come alone," the madam hastily explained.

"Take me to every room," Xiao Yao instructed, simultaneously using his vital energy to scan his surroundings. Unfortunately, the Jadeite Brothel was too crowded and noisy, with various debauched sounds, which somewhat interfered with his spiritual perception. He could only vaguely sense that Yu Yanluo and her companion were nearby, but couldn't pinpoint their exact location.

"Alright, alright," the madam dared not refuse. She quickly summoned a colleague to inquire about the recent guests' whereabouts. Being constantly engaged in soliciting customers, she couldn't possibly know which girl each guest had requested.

Soon, she led Xiao Yao, opening one room after another, from which startled cries and curses quickly erupted.

Xiao Yao's eyelids twitched; the scenes within were truly an eyesore.

He searched room after room, but none contained his target.

Only the last room remained. His hand was already resting on his sword hilt, ready to act at any moment.

However, when he pushed aside the screen and witnessed the scene within, he was still stunned.

On the bed, a woman was lying prone, while a man behind her pulled her hair and vigorously engaged in a "piston motion."

Although both were covered by a blanket, the woman's pale, delicate shoulders were vaguely visible, and disheveled clothes, including a red bellyband, were strewn across the bed and floor. Clearly, neither person was wearing anything underneath.

Sensing the disturbance, the woman shrieked and quickly pulled a nearby undergarment over her face.

The man clearly flinched in shock, then turned to see the group and roared, "What the hell are you doing? Get out!"

Xiao Yao turned and walked away expressionlessly. Although the woman's movements had been quick, Xiao Yao had glimpsed her face in that instant; it was not Yu Yanluo.

Crucially, he did not believe Yu Yanluo would strip naked and lie beneath a man doing such a thing.

Had the two already escaped this place?

Xiao Yao frowned deeply, then swiftly departed on his sword, searching in other directions.

"Sir, please take your time and enjoy. We sincerely apologize for the disturbance. Today's drinks are on the house; we hope you're not too upset." The madam quickly offered a placating smile to the guests inside, while thoughtfully closing the door for them.

In her heart, she felt a little confused. Was this a new girl in the establishment? She looked somewhat unfamiliar.

However, the Jadeite Brothel was quite large, with new girls arriving daily, so she didn't know every single one.

After everyone else had left, a strange quiet descended upon the room.

The man hopped off the bed. Strangely, although he was bare-chested, he was wearing pants below.

He said to the woman on the bed, somewhat apologetically, "My apologies for the offense just now."

The woman on the bed also threw off the blanket and got up. Her upper body was tightly wrapped in a bustier, so the exposed area above her shoulders had given the illusion that she was unclothed.

"It's fine. Deceiving Xiao Yao without resorting to a fight was the simplest and most convenient option." The woman calmly put on her clothes, though the faint blush on her skin betrayed a less composed mood than her words suggested.

These two were, of course, Zu An and Yu Yanluo. Zu An knew that shadow clones alone couldn't deceive Xiao Yao; he had only intended to use them to buy a little time.

After entering the Jadeite Brothel, he began to make preparations. He retrieved two sets of clothes from the Glazed Treasure Pearl and, to be extra cautious, even changed into two different masks, successfully recreating the scene to deceive Xiao Yao.

To hide her embarrassment, Yu Yanluo deliberately said, "It's fortunate you thought on your feet just now, otherwise we would have been in real trouble."

Zu An shook his head. "You're the one who deserves the most thanks. Xiao Yao isn't easily fooled; the main reason he was tricked is that he couldn't imagine you would be lying beneath a man."

Yu Yanluo was speechless.

This fellow certainly knew how to bring up awkward topics. Yet, she had to admit that if it had been anyone else, she would have rather fought to the very end than agree to such a disguise. But since it was Zu An, she seemed to feel less resistance.

It was just that his acting had been a little too vigorous, leaving her with a faint soreness even now.

"What do we do now? Should we leave first?" she asked with a straight face, feeling very uncomfortable hearing the occasional lewd remarks from the neighboring room.

Zu An pondered for a moment. "Xiao Yao should still be nearby. Without the bustling cover of the Jadeite Brothel, he could easily spot us... Hmm, I have an idea. Follow me."

With that, he took her hand and climbed out the window.

Yu Yanluo's gaze fell upon her wrist. She hesitated for a moment but did not pull her hand away.

His palm felt warm, providing an inexplicable sense of security.

Soon, the two arrived at a dry well. Yu Yanluo's eyes lit up as she realized his plan.

This was the exit of the Duke's estate's secret passage, which meant they could also use it to reach the Duke's estate.

With the underground secret passage providing cover, it would be difficult for Xiao Yao outside to track their whereabouts.

Meanwhile, in a Taoist temple outside the city, a cold beauty in white looked indifferently at Xu Yu before her. "Why should I help you?"

These days, Xu Yu was unrivalled in influence within Cloud County, yet before this woman, he was exceptionally deferential. "Reverend Yan, White Jade Capital and the imperial court have always maintained friendly relations. The Emperor also views this case with great importance and wishes to avoid anything that might negatively impact the court's perception of White Jade Capital."

He secretly admired her, thinking that her beauty was in no way inferior to Yu Yanluo's. Her temperament was simply a bit cold and fierce, lacking Yu Yanluo's approachability. Yet, with such high cultivation, she exuded a uniquely superior aura. He wondered which man would be able to conquer her in the future.

The beauty in white was, of course, Yan Xuehen. Hearing this, her expression turned cold. "Are you threatening me?"