Chapter 189 The Deal

"Hmm, it's really good. I'll take it." The young man nodded in satisfaction, then leaned closer to the shopkeeper and said mysteriously, "My classmate told me that you have some fun things here. Could you recommend a few to me?"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper was slightly taken aback, then a knowing smile appeared on his face. He said softly, "Young master, we do have that kind of thing in our shop. However, these are private items and should not be discussed in public."

Upon hearing this, a glint of excitement flashed in the young man's eyes. He impatiently urged the shopkeeper, "Hurry up and show it to me. If I'm satisfied, I'll reward you handsomely!"

Seeing the boy's eagerness, the shopkeeper said no more. He turned and went into the inner room, and soon returned with a delicate little box, which he carefully handed to the boy.

The boy took the box and eagerly opened it, only to find several small and exquisite items inside. He picked one up and examined it closely, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and satisfaction.

"These are the things that make people happy?" the boy asked curiously.

The shopkeeper nodded and explained in a low voice, "These are all private items that can bring pleasure and relaxation to the user. However, caution should be exercised when using them to avoid becoming overly addicted."

After hearing this, the boy already had an idea in mind.

He put the trinkets back into the box one by one, then handed them to the shopkeeper: "I'll take all of these, shopkeeper. Remember to pack them up carefully, I don't want anyone to find out."

The night was as dark as ink, and the lights in the inn flickered, casting dappled shadows on the returning young man.

She sat quietly in front of the mirror, her fingers gently tracing the edge of the mask before slowly peeling it off, revealing a dashing and heroic face.

It was a face full of vigor and vitality, with an indomitable pride between its brows.

A pair of bright, clear eyes, sparkling like stars.

I don't know what she was thinking, but she smiled excitedly at herself, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, as if her spirit was overflowing.

Those bright, expressive eyes seemed to contain endless wisdom and charm, making it impossible to look away.

Just then, a disciple from the Hidden Sect hurriedly entered the room and reported to Li Xi: "Young Master, Huang Er has not come out of the antique shop, nor has he appeared from the other exit."

Upon hearing this, a sly glint flashed in her eyes. "Understood. Continue to have people keep an eye on him."

She opened the item she had bought from the antique shop that day.

The jade pendant has a smooth, jade-like surface and simple, elegant carvings. However, it is just an ordinary object with nothing special about it.

Another snuff bottle, almost identical to one she had seen in a museum in her previous life, piqued her interest.

She gently twirled the snuff bottle, and the delicate painting on it depicted a landscape scene.

The shopkeeper had also prepared a small pouch of opium paste. She carefully examined it and found that it was very similar to the paste she had obtained from Master Huang's opium den.

I took a gentle sniff, and that familiar scent wafted up, exactly the same as before.

Yuncheng may seem peaceful, but it is actually one of the spheres of influence secretly controlled by Master Huang.

They dare to sell these contraband items so openly; it seems the prefect of Yuncheng is in cahoots with them.

These past two days, Master Huang has been frequently seen shuttling between the antique shop and the village in the suburbs.

Li Xi decided to investigate, so he sneaked into Master Huang's manor under cover of night.

She crept forward cautiously and discovered that Master Huang had been busy in his study for several hours without coming out.

This piqued her curiosity. What exactly was Master Huang doing in his study, and why was he being so mysterious?

To find out, Li Xi quietly jumped onto the roof, lifted a tile, and peered into the study.

Master Huang was sitting upright with several ancient books spread out in front of him, but his gaze kept drifting to the window, as if he was waiting for something.

Li Xi hid in the shadows, a sense of doubt rising in her heart.

Could it be that Master Huang already knew she was coming? No, that's impossible. She was very careful when she entered the estate, leaving no trace.

Just as she was pondering this in her heart, the study door was suddenly pushed open rudely, and a gust of cold wind followed.

A burly, fierce-looking man in black appeared at the door, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed directly on Master Huang.

Li Xi's heart tightened, and she quickly held her breath, focusing intently on observing the situation inside the room.

"Huang Er, why is there so much less money this month?" The man in black asked in a cold, threatening tone.

His face looked a little pale, but he quickly recovered. "Your Excellency, the gambling den has run into some trouble recently. However, I've found a partner, and we'll soon be able to open an opium den in Kyoto."

The man in black seemed dissatisfied with Master Huang's explanation. He frowned, his tone becoming even colder: "Master Huang, you should know our rules. If the money is less, your life is worthless."

Master Huang's face turned pale instantly. He hurriedly nodded and bowed, repeatedly assuring, "Your Excellency, rest assured, I understand. I will definitely make up for it next month, next month."

The man in black glared at him, then turned and strode away.

She waited patiently until she was sure that Master Huang had left the study and was fast asleep before she quietly slipped in.

The study was pitch black. Relying on her keen senses, Li Xi carefully searched for places where clues might be hidden.

Open the drawers, browse the books on the bookshelves, check the closets... leave no corner unchecked.

Finally, in an inconspicuous corner, she discovered a hidden little box.

She carefully put the small box into her backpack and then left Master Huang's estate.

Upon returning to the inn, Li Xi immediately closed the doors and windows and lit the oil lamp.

Inside the box were several documents and a map, neatly arranged.

The lines on the diagram are intricate and complex, seemingly depicting some kind of intricate network.

She noticed that some of the lines intersected at specific points, which might represent important locations or nodes.

The document records the appointment and removal of local officials in Yuncheng and personnel changes. Why would Huang Er hide this for no reason? I couldn't figure it out no matter how much I thought about it.

To avoid alerting the enemy, she made a copy of the document and also drew a map.

Before dawn, I returned the small box to its original location.

The next day, she disguised herself again and went to the antique shop, where she happened to run into Huang Er.

Li Xi strode around with an air of nonchalance, smiling broadly as she said, "Shopkeeper, what new things do you have today? The snuff bottle you introduced last time was very good, but it was missing a few things."