This was a wonderful misunderstanding, but it was of no great consequence.
One thought that the other had seen through his former identity as a Jinyiwei, while the other believed he was dealing with an insistent eunuch.
"There is no need for this."
Extending his hand to push away Zhou Li's melon seeds, Hou Jue said with a righteous expression, "I am acting in a private capacity now; I cannot accept this money. If you have some golden sore medicine, please lend it to me so I can treat my wound."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of shock passed through Zhou Li's eyes, but he concealed it well. He naturally withdrew his hand, took out the golden sore medicine, and casually asked, "Would you like me to apply it for you, young master?"
As soon as Zhou Li said this, a flash of panic crossed Hou Jue's face. He steadied himself, shook his head, and said, "There's no need to trouble you with that. I will go outside to apply the medicine and will talk with both of you in a bit."
It was obvious that Hou Jue was in a hurry. After getting the medicine, he quickly ran outside the stone door and disappeared. Just then, Tang Wan, who had been observing the scene with a cold eye, approached Zhou Li and said, "What do we do now? If that eunuch's business isn't taken care of, could he take it out on us?"
"I'm starting to have some doubts again."
Zhou Li stroked his chin, looking at the stone door not far away with a serious expression, "This fellow actually didn't take the money."
"He did say he was acting in a private capacity and that it was inconvenient to take money," Tang Wan replied with a shrug, her charming face looking especially adorable in the light of the Secret Realm, "Maybe he thought that taking money in a private capacity would make it easier to be reported."
"No, no, no, you don't understand," Zhou Li shook his head, speaking seriously, "A eunuch not taking money... Let me give you an example. Say, you raise a dog."
"It suddenly eats one less meal one day?"
"No."
Zhou Li said with gravity, "One day, it stops breathing."
"Is that necessary?"
Tang Wan curled her lips and said with an exasperated face, "There are good people and bad people everywhere. Are you saying the Eastern Depot can't have a few good people?"
"I don't know about good people, but perfect people are impossible," Zhou Li replied, bursting into laughter, instantly lightening the heavy atmosphere, "Okay then, what are you planning to do?"
"What to do..."
Bowing her head to look at Xu Ziyi at her feet with white tender skin and a curvaceous figure, Tang Wan furrowed her brow and sighed, "I don't know either..."
"What about the Tang Sect?"
Zhou Li folded his arms and kicked Xu Ziyi before asking, "Now that we have a ready-made test subject, you won't have to be treated like a lab rat by your whole family anymore."
"That's not going to work either."
Tang Wan's gaze drifted, and she spoke in an unnatural tone, "There's some issue with my family, and I can't go back for now."
Oh?
Zhou Li and Tang Cen had been good friends in their youth, like birds of a feather, and even though Tang Cen had now become Tang Wan, he could see at a glance that she seemed to be hiding something. He stroked his chin and after a moment, he asked, "How did you run away from home?"
Instantly, Tang Wan's expression stiffened, and the corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily, "I just, just told my family, and then... came back."
"I have your parents' pigeon post address."
"Would it do if I knelt for you?"
Without any hesitation, Tang Wan knelt on the unconscious Xu Ziyi, her beautiful face displaying a resolution born of desperation:
"During the Mid-Autumn Festival a few months ago, I put the remaining Gender-Change Spring Water in my great-grandfather's mooncake and added some laxatives to my father's wine jug. It took a lot of effort to create chaos and escape, and if I get caught and taken back now, I probably won't make it out alive."
"Holy shit."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Li was stunned, "You're really fucking ruthless."
"Alas, it was a necessary evil."
Tang Wan heaved herself up, jumped off Xu Ziyi, tiptoed, and skillfully hooked her arm around Zhou Li's neck. She smiled mischievously and said, "Zhou Li, we're brothers, right?"
"You..."
Feeling the overwhelming fragrance and the unique soft warmth of a young girl, Zhou Li's face contorted with disgust, and he reached out his hand to pull her by the nape of her neck and flung her off, asking, "You're not thinking about staying at my place, are you?"
"Alas, I don't want to either."
Wiping her face, Tang Wan swept her snow-white hair behind her ear and said helplessly, "I used to freeload food and accommodation at the Imperial Academy Mansion under the guise of the Tang Family Observer. But now, after this mess, I can't go back to the Mansion. And as for the Tang Sect... I'm afraid of death, I dare not go back."
Since there was no awkwardness between them in front of Zhou Li, Tang Wan casually dug into her clothes, pulled out a small purse, and tossed it to Zhou Li, saying easily, "Anyway, this is all the money I have on me. Let me know if it's not enough, I'll listen."
"Cut it out."
Zhou Li weighed the purse and estimated there were about seven or eight thousand coins inside, which was equivalent to seven or eight silver ingots. He disdainfully tossed the embroidered purse back to Tang Wan and said, "I'm partly to blame for your shitty situation, so keep the money for yourself. Conveniently, my Capture Demon Pavilion is short-staffed lately. Come help out."
"That would be wonderful."
Delighted, Tang Wan pocketed the purse and looked at the stone door not far away. Squinting her eyes, she asked, "So, what should we do with that Eastern Depot eunuch?"
"Leave it be."
Zhou Li picked up Xu Ziyi and an idea flashed in his eyes. "I have a brilliant plan."
After leaving the Secret Realm, the thirteen stones quickly lost their original luster. Clearly, the condition for the disappearance of the Secret Realm was that the Spring Water had been removed. On their way down from the mountain, Zhou Li and company encountered Hou Jue, who was preparing to ascend.
"My lord..."
Zhou Li bowed to Hou Jue and asked, "How's your injury? Do you need our help?"
"No need, no need."
Hou Jue laughed bitterly and waved his hand, "Are you two preparing to descend the mountain?"
"Mhm."
Zhou Li nodded his head, without beating around the bush, and directly passed Xu Ziyi to Hou Jue, "My lord, this incident was unexpected. We never thought this villain would be so brazen as to finish off the treasure. I'm handing this thief over to you, to make it easier for you to report back. How does that sound?"
"Couldn't be better."
Overjoyed at these words, Hou Jue said, "Then I will take this thief to the authorities. Since we've met, surely it's fate. May I know the names of you both?"
Without hesitation, Zhou Li bowed and with a perfectly proud demeanor of a youth passionate about his clan, said, "I am the Tang Family's Third Young Master, Tang Cen."
The real Tang Wan, who had been pretending to be a Snow Woman, was caught off guard by Zhou Li's words, freezing on the spot. However, she didn't show it and only when Hou Jue's gaze fell on her did she clench her teeth, bow, and say:
"I am the Beiliang Rotting King, Zhou Li."