Chapter 16: There's Absolutely No Way

"The third brother... How can I help?"

As Chen Zhi'an cried, Chen Zhibai gently asked.

Although he knew Chen Zhi'an was pretending to be pitiful, Chen Zhibai didn't expose it.

He handed a handkerchief to him to wipe away his tears and waited quietly for him to continue.

Chen Zhi'an looked at his gentle elder brother, suddenly hesitating, unsure if he should involve him.

His elder brother seemed so ordinary...

What if he was mistaken, and he isn't some big shot?

Sending an ordinary person to find Jiang Baihu was no different from delivering oneself to the door.

As this thought arose, he remembered his money tree waiting to be saved. He immediately dispelled any hesitation and said seriously, "Elder brother, you are well-read. Please persuade that crazy woman with reason and emotion, and ask her to return Li Lanqing to me!"

Chen Zhibai didn't refuse and said gently, "Brother will give it a try, but there's no guarantee of success!"

Chen Zhi'an was overjoyed. He was just trying his luck, but he didn't expect Chen Zhibai to agree so readily.

After all, his elder brother was known for being a homebody, rarely seen outside.

Once the matter was settled, Chen Zhibai turned back to the study to fetch a book to present as a gift.

Chen Zhi'an was speechless.

He had never heard of using a book as a gift, especially not when visiting a widow.

But considering that the big shot was different from ordinary people, he let it go without reminding him.

While his elder brother prepared the gift, Chen Zhi'an sneaked into the side room and found the old steward.

Although he didn't know the steward's level, judging by his elusive steps and long life...

Chen Zhi'an speculated that this old man was no ordinary person.

After all, it was his elder brother's first attempt. It was better to play it safe.

Upon hearing his request, the old steward smiled mysteriously, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Seeing this, Chen Zhi'an took it as an agreement.

Filled with joy, he returned to his study, refusing the four sisters' offer to share his bed.

During this time, he needed to focus on making money. Women only slowed down his progress in that regard. Besides, he had no time for love...

The curfew in Chang'an begins at the hour of the pig.

As the evening bell tolled in the palace, bustling Chang'an gradually fell silent.

Pedestrians went home, shops closed...

There were some homeless wandering souls on the streets, hiding from the cleaners.

Under the emperor's feet, within the Great Tang Imperial City, beggars and refugees were not allowed to exist.

For the sake of appearances, it was better not to chase them away in broad daylight.

So, Wang Fugui, the magistrate of Jingdu Prefecture, had a flash of inspiration and created the profession of the cleaner.

With long knives at their waists and sticks in their hands, once the curfew was over, the entire Chang'an belonged to them...

Chen Zhibai walked slowly on Baihu Street under the moonlight.

He had an ordinary appearance, dressed plainly, and wore hemp shoes. He didn't look like someone rich or powerful.

Typically, people like him who dared to step into Baihu Street during curfew hours were prime targets for the cleaners.

However, the fierce cleaners seemed to ignore him, as if they hadn't seen him at all.

He passed through the forbidden area without any hindrance.

Chen Zhibai stood in front of Zuike Tower, holding a scroll of book, gazing up at the seventh floor!

"Sir, the curfew is over. If you want to drink, please come back tomorrow!"

Seeing Chen Zhibai staring blankly at their tavern, the waiter who was cleaning up the remnants sneered disdainfully as he shooed him away.

"Little brother, I'm not here for a drink."

Chen Zhibai raised the gift, and said gently, "I'm here to see Miss Jiang, the owner of this tavern. Would you mind letting her know?"

The Waiter was slightly taken aback. He looked Chen Zhibai up and down, then sneered disdainfully, "Even if the curfew is over now, our master is not someone who can see just because wants to!"

"Do you know why this street is called White Tiger Street?" Chen Zhibai asked.

"I don't know, I'd like to hear more about it," Chen Zhibai replied honestly.

"Because all the shops on this street belong to our Miss!" The shopkeeper said proudly, pointing to the door. 

"So get lost! Our Miss makes hundreds of taels of silver every minute. Do you really think you're worthy? Do you think that just because you've read a few days of books, you're a scholar? 

You're just a useless bum trying to freeload off others. I've seen plenty like you!"

Chen Zhibai sighed.

With a step, his figure disappeared from view.

The shopkeeper widened his eyes in astonishment, staring at the empty street, and shouted in disbelief, "Ghost!"

On the seventh floor, 

Jiang Baihu, who was half-lying on the bed enjoying Li Lanqing's massage, suddenly sat up, her lazy expression turning extremely cold.

Her slender palm reached out into the void, and instantly, the vitality surged, and sword qi rose.

Three thin swords emitted a buzzing cicada-like sound.

Like lines cutting through the air.

Crash!

The specially made wooden door of the boudoir was shattered into countless pieces, revealing a plain-clothed figure outside the door.

Facing the three swords with their fierce killing intent, the plain-clothed figure made no move and just smiled gently at Jiang Baihu.

But the swords seemed to be trapped in a quagmire.

They hung a foot in front of him, unable to advance an inch.

"Who are you?" Jiang Baihu was shocked. This person had silently arrived on the seventh floor, and her spiritual consciousness had not detected him at all.

If it weren't for hearing the call from the shopkeeper and seeing the reflection in the window, she wouldn't have noticed this person at all.

Even more so.

Even the full-powered Sword Qi couldn't stop the visitor from acting.

The visitor just frowned slightly, and her swords disappeared...

"Chen Zhibai pays respects to Miss Jiang, visiting late at night, causing much inconvenience, please forgive me!" Chen Zhibai said, feeling somewhat embarrassed. 

After all, Jiang Baihu was dressed lightly now, and as a scholar, it wasn't appropriate to look at a woman like this.

He had intended to knock on the door earlier, but unfortunately, the shopkeeper didn't give him the chance.

Moreover, Jiang Baihu's killing intent was too strong, and she directly tore down the door.

Jiang Baihuo, however, didn't think so.

She had no sense of impropriety about her exposure.

Her thoughts churned, analyzing the intentions of this plain-clothed guest.

It was certain that she couldn't win in a fight.

Although she was at the peak of the virtual transformation realm, and there were even offerings of the Jiang family's virtual god realm in this building.

But facing this plain-clothed guest.

She knew she had no chance of winning.

Since she couldn't win.

She could only talk.

With her thoughts racing, she still couldn't remember when she had offended such a powerful figure, and for a moment didn't know how to broach the subject.

Virtual transformation realm nourishes the spiritual consciousness, virtual god realm spirit travels, communicating with the soul of the god realm, dongtian realm, creating its own heaven and earth, unique dongtian...

The plain-clothed guest's ability to shatter the sword qi with a glance, at least indicated that her soul was complete and her spirit traveled without dispersing.

Added to the miserable state of the cicada-sounding sword trapped in the quagmire.

This plain-clothed guest was at least nourishing the spiritual consciousness of the virtual transformation, and perhaps even creating her own heaven and earth in the realm of the dongtian!

Such a figure.

She would never forget anyone she had dealt with or heard the name of.

But strangely, there was not a single memory of this person in her mind.

—Chen Zhibai.

The name was quite familiar, and it sounded similar to Chen Zhi'an.

Chen Zhi'an, however, was a bit problematic...

Could it be?

Glancing at the aggrieved Li Lanqing beside her, Jiang Baihu immediately dismissed the thought.

How could a grandmaster-level figure possibly come to a woman's beck and call?

Absolutely impossible!