Before evening.
Ruyi Commerce Chamber's steward hastened back from the government offices, taking Song Cheng and Tong Jia with him to the government offices.
Firstly, he had obtained a new Road Guide, which simply sketched the portraits of two people, their residence, household registration, and so on.
Without this thing, you simply couldn't settle anywhere.
Even if it wasn't a controlled period, and the city gates weren't strictly inspected, you still couldn't stay in an inn. Even if you paved your way with silver and reluctantly settled down, once an incident occurred in the city, you, who lacked a Road Guide, would be the first to be investigated... This is called "having an unclear origin and being suspicious." If there were a homicide, and a confused official was eager to close a confused case, you with "an unclear origin" could very likely be made into the criminal and become a scapegoat...
With a Road Guide, you could generally move around within the county, but if you wished to travel far, an official would need to make a note on the Road Guide, stating where and when you intended to go, and then add a public seal.
Otherwise, you couldn't go.
Secondly, there were the routine testimonies.
Song Cheng and Tong Jia had escaped from Tang River Village.
The Government Office naturally needed to record their testimonies to understand the incidents at Tang River Village.
After some documentation, the two had formally completed the relocation procedure between the two places.
However, what made Song Cheng quite curious was that even though he had mentioned the mysterious "dirty thing," the recording clerk didn't show any surprise, as if he already knew about it.
This issue, he couldn't help but ask the steward about it.
The steward knew that the young master valued this lad, so he didn't neglect to reply, "It's not just your Tang River Village, I've heard that many villages have been hit by the "dirty thing." There are three villages in Hanping Prefecture alone; your Tang River Village is just one of them.
Moreover, more than two months ago, villagers from your Tang River Village had escaped and already told the story. If it weren't for this, how would our young master know that Miss Guan was still trapped in the village, and why would the guards have waited outside the village for so long?"
Song Cheng asked, "Does that mean bandits might also have escaped?"
The steward replied, "Those villagers who escaped said that everyone was scared out of their wits at the time, both villagers and bandits just ran outside, not caring for anyone else.
But...they must have really run away. Otherwise, during this period, we would have seen executions at the vegetable market or prisoners being transported to the Prefectural City."
While speaking, the steward added, "Lad, the young master values you, so you should just stay in our Commerce Chamber. Rest for the next few days, stop thinking about the past, and once you have rested, the young master will still need your services.
Do you know, the young master has even set aside a separate residence for you, and you...should repay the young master's kindness."
...
...
Creak.
The door opened.
The steward led Song Cheng and Tong Jia inside for a tour, then handed over 10 taels of silver to them, saying, "This is for you to settle down, given by the young master. She wants you and your wife to rest well and visit her in a couple of days. As for meals, you can go to the dining hall."
The couple thanked him profusely.
The steward left.
The door closed once again.
This residence was within the Ruyi Commerce Chamber, ensuring its safety first and foremost.
And the house inside was almost as large as the one back at Rejuvenation Hall, with the original bamboo fence replaced by white walls.
Whatever you did in the courtyard, the outside could see everything clearly, but now with the wall, it was different.
Both felt a sense of relief after their narrow escape.
Tong Jia glanced at the wood prepared at the corner of the wall, commenting, "Big households really are different, even the firewood is ready."
She went into the house, where even coal was placed.
She knelt and sniffed, detecting a faint scent, and upon pinching it, found the coal particles to be very fine.
Young Mrs. Tong waved her hands excitedly, shouting, "Song Cheng, Song Cheng, come look!"
Song Cheng approached.
Young Mrs. Tong exclaimed, "This is good coal! It's expensive! When burned at night, the entire room stays warm and even smells nice!"
Song Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a bit more relaxed.
Young Mrs. Tong then ran to the bed, touched the bedding, and said, "So smooth! So soft! I can't wait to cover up with it!"
Song Cheng couldn't help but chuckle.
The couple sat down, looking around as though they were country bumpkins in the city, everything appearing new to them.
The deep red sun was gradually hidden, and dusk slowly drew its curtains.
Beyond the walls, the noise did not cease, with the glow of lanterns reddening the dark clouds in the distance.
This place was unlike a village, not like the mountains, it had the unique human touch of the Human World.
It was now 17 p.m.
The two were about to go out for dinner.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Brother Song! Brother Song!"
In the room, Young Mrs. Tong looked at Song Cheng and asked, "Who is it?"
Song Cheng remembered the invitation for a drink, wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulder and said, "It's the guard from the Prefectural City, named Ding Kui, he said it's a welcome dinner, with expenses covered by the young master."
"Then go ahead," Young Mrs. Tong was very understanding.
Song Cheng didn't move, his face wearing a somewhat bizarre expression.
The air quieted down.
Young Mrs. Tong suddenly realized and said, "Flower... wine?"
Song Cheng said, "It might be."
Young Mrs. Tong pushed him and said, "Go on, get out of here, don't let others look down on us!
I'm telling you, once you're there, let loose, if you need to strip and get in bed with a woman, then do it, just don't be wishy-washy.
If you've spent the money, you should enjoy yourself. As long as you don't bring a woman back, I'm fine with it."
Song Cheng: ???
"Wife, why are you speaking so coarsely?"
Young Mrs. Tong snorted, "You're just realizing this now?"
Song Cheng said, "No, wife, that's not what I meant. I'm saying why should I ignore the beauty at home to go sleep with some wilted flowers and broken willows outside."
Young Mrs. Tong playfully hit him and laughed, "Get out of here already."
...
The brief conversation between the couple ended.
The door opened.
Ding Kui gave Song Cheng a bear hug, then said, "My home is right next to yours. The young lady is very kind to all of us guards. We've also just set up our homes inside the commerce chamber.
Your wife can go eat with mine and the others in the dining hall, it should be fine."
Song Cheng smiled and said, "Alright then."
As the two of them walked away, slowly over a dozen other guards joined them. At first, everyone was a stranger, but after chatting, things got better. By the time they went to Biliu Courtyard and had gone three rounds of drinks, they had all become brothers. Then, when the courtesans came down in a queue, fluttering about, and each started sitting on the guards' laps, hooking their arms around their necks, the guards laughed out loud, constantly switching places with each other, and their brotherly affection deepened even further.
The woman sitting on Song Cheng's lap was as soft as silk, extremely smooth, her white flesh as tender as tofu, and she emanated a seductive scent of rouge. Women from the pleasure districts didn't engage in productive work; they maintained nothing but their skin. How could it not be good?
In terms of beauty, Young Mrs. Tong was superior to this woman.
But in terms of the softness and scent of the flesh, she was slightly lacking.
The woman glanced at Song Cheng, then suddenly looked to the side and giggled, "Old Man Ding, is this Big Master Song's first time?"
Ding Kui laughed and said, "Definitely! Take good care of my brother!"
The woman giggled, leaned in close to Song Cheng's ear, and said seductively, "My name is Hua Zhi. I'll give you a little gift later, and next time you come, look for me to have some fun."
...
...
In the middle of the night...
Some guards stayed the night, while others returned.
Song Cheng also returned.
The scent of perfume mixed with the smell of alcohol had not yet dissipated.
The moonlight was like snow, shining down on the small courtyard.
Song Cheng was just at the door when he heard the whoosh of the wind inside the courtyard. Upon opening the door, he saw Young Mrs. Tong practicing her knife skills.
Sweat twisted her black hair, clinging to her skin, her eyes sharp, exuding a certain heroic charm.
Above her head, the data read "5~5".
Seeing Song Cheng return, she put down her knife and went to boil water for him to bathe.
Only at midnight did the two of them finally lie down on the bed.
After a fierce and intense attack, Young Mrs. Tong said huffily, "You definitely didn't let loose at Biliu Courtyard."
Then, curiously propping herself up on her elbows on his chest, she asked, "What did it feel like?"
Song Cheng said, "How could I be in the mood?"
The four words pulled Young Mrs. Tong back into that fearful state of mind.
If it weren't for the accident, both she and Song Cheng would have been corpses by now.
After a while, Song Cheng suddenly said, "I'll go have a look outside."
"Haven't you looked enough?" Tong Jia asked, puzzled.
Song Cheng whispered in her ear, "I'm going to have an out-of-body experience and look around. Just letting you know, so you won't be scared."
Tong Jia realized the situation and initially thought to say "Why not look tomorrow, we've done so much today, aren't you exhausted," but remembering the great horror they encountered in the deep mountains, she could only say nervously, "Be careful."
Song Cheng nodded, then lay flat, closed his eyes, and a tiers-high, eerie tower appeared out of the void. The young Divine Soul ascended step by step, reached the top with one step, and soared out.
Today, the wind was gentle, allowing for a half-hour exploration.
Having arrived in a strange prefectural city, he wanted to take a good look at all kinds of people in it.
To know who was stronger than him, by how much, who disliked him, and why, he needed to have a clear understanding.
To put it in plain terms, this is called... "opening up the map first."