It was night.
A late autumn rain had just fallen.
The bluestone streets of Chang'an City were covered in a shallow layer of water, reflecting the scattered lanterns in the neighborhoods, their light flickering.
Yongxing Ward.
Adjacent to the Demon Suppression Headquarters, it was one of the most affluent areas in Chang'an City.
Those who lived here were either rich or noble.
And not just ordinarily rich or noble.
Either someone in their family held a high position in the imperial court, adorned in purple robes and jade belts, or their ancestors had accumulated immense merits.
Once the ward gates closed, it became another world.
Even the martial officers patrolling the ward had to walk on tiptoes.
Fearing they might step too heavily on the bluestones and disturb the peaceful dreams of some noble.
Ordinary commoners, let alone live there, even if they just passed by, if their clothes were disheveled, they would be interrogated by the ward guards for a long time.
A slightly heavy sound of hooves broke the silence of the long alley.
Jiang Yuechu, leading her Red-Eyed Colt, stopped in front of a vermilion gate.
She looked up, using the faint glow of the lantern at the entrance to examine the plaque.
"This is it."
Jiang Yuechu let out a sigh of relief and wiped her face.
Her originally fair and delicate face was now completely covered in dried, dark red bloodstains, revealing only a pair of clear, cold eyes that shimmered faintly in the dark night.
Having fought her way back from Jingyang and then entered the city without stopping.
It truly made her look less than human at this moment.
Knock, knock, knock.
Jiang Yuechu raised her hand and knocked on the door knocker.
After a long while.
A dragging footsteps sound came from inside the door.
"Which esteemed guest visits late at night..."
Creak—
The side door opened a crack.
An old doorman, holding a lantern, poked out half his head.
The dim yellow glow of the lantern illuminated the three feet of ground in front of the door.
Before he could even clearly see who it was.
An indescribable stench, following the crack in the door, rushed straight to his nose.
"Ugh—"
The old doorman was caught off guard, his stomach churned, and he almost vomited his overnight meal.
He instinctively covered his mouth and nose, sizing up the dark figure in front of him.
His originally dark official robe was now covered in blood and mud, with some unidentifiable bits of shredded meat clinging to it.
His hair was slightly disheveled, and his face was utterly beyond words.
The old doorman was stunned.
Where was this?
This was the residence of Duke Wei, formerly the Grand Minister of the Court of Judicial Review!
Those who usually visited, which one wasn't dressed in bright clothes, riding fine horses, and exuding fragrant perfumes?
Could it be a beggar?
But that wasn't right either.
This Yongxing Ward was a crucial area in the capital.
There were patrols day and night; let alone beggars, even if a dog looked a bit shabby, it would be driven out.
How did this person get in?
"Go away! Go away!"
The doorman frowned and waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.
"Where did this beggar come from? Don't you open your dog eyes and see what kind of place this is!"
"Go beg for food at the Beitain Ward in the south of the city. Daring to act wild in Yongxing Ward, aren't you afraid of being caught by the patrols and having your legs broken!"
With that, he was about to close the door.
Jiang Yuechu wasn't annoyed.
She looked down at her attire, which was indeed a bit disheveled.
In the battle at Jingyang, no matter how good her movement technique was, it was inevitable to get covered in filth.
One hand steadily pushed against the door panel that was about to close.
The doorman used all his strength, but the door panel seemed to be cast in iron, refusing to close even a sliver.
His heart skipped a beat, and most of his sleepiness vanished.
Was this a martial artist?
"I'm not begging for food."
Jiang Yuechu's voice was flat, with a hint of hoarseness.
"I'm here to find someone."
"Find someone?"
The doorman eyed her suspiciously, covering his nose and shrinking back.
"Who? My master has long since retired for the night and isn't seeing guests."
"I'm looking for Wei Qing."
"..."
"You beggar, have you gone mad?"
The doorman laughed in anger, "My Young Miss is a golden branch and jade leaf; how could she possibly know someone like you..."
Before he finished speaking.
A waist token was gently tossed over.
The doorman instinctively reached out and caught it.
Using the dim yellow glow of the lantern, he finally made out the characters on the waist token.
The next second.
His hand trembled, and he almost dropped the lantern.
This... this was a Demon Suppression Division waist token?!
"This... this..."
The doorman stammered, his legs feeling a bit weak.
Jiang Yuechu withdrew her hand and said indifferently, "Please inform them that Jiang Yuechu from the Region is here to visit."
...In just a moment.
The quiet, deep mansion instantly became chaotic.
Lanterns lit up one after another, and hurried footsteps sounded disorderly.
Amidst it all were the exclamations of maids and old women, and the clatter of someone knocking over a copper basin.
She didn't have to wait too long.
"Where is she? Where is she?!"
A graceful figure rushed out.
Her hair bun was a bit disheveled, clearly having just gotten out of bed, wearing only a warm outer garment, and even dragging a pair of embroidered shoes, with the heels not even pulled up.
It was Wei Qing.
She held a lantern, waving it wildly in the dark night.
Until the glow fell upon the figure, who resembled a blood-soaked gourd.
Wei Qing suddenly froze.
The next second.
Immense joy burst forth in her eyes.
"Yuechu!"
Wei Qing casually shoved the lantern into a nearby maid's hand and rushed towards Jiang Yuechu.
"Why did you suddenly come to Chang'an?!"
Jiang Yuechu slightly opened her arms, ready to embrace this long-awaited warmth.
However.
Just as the two were about to meet.
Screech—!
Like an emergency stop of a horse.
Wei Qing's figure abruptly halted.
"Ugh—!!!"
Jiang Yuechu awkwardly withdrew her hand and sniffed her arm.
"Is it... that smelly?"
Wei Qing straightened up, tears streaming from her eyes due to the smell.
She pinched her nose with one hand and fanned the air with the other, retreating two steps with a look of utter disgust.
"You... ugh... did you fall into a latrine?"
"..."
...In the boudoir of the Wei Residence's back courtyard.
Steaming hot, mist swirling.
The large redwood bathtub was filled with flower petals.
Jiang Yuechu soaked herself in the hot water and let out a long sigh of relief.
Wei Qing had dismissed the maids, personally rolled up her sleeves, and stood by the tub with a loofah in her hand, earnestly scrubbing Jiang Yuechu's back.
The originally clear hot water had now turned dark red.
"What kind of Demon was it this time?"
Jiang Yuechu closed her eyes, enjoying this rare pampering, "A few Sheep Demons that had achieved sentience; they took a bit of effort."
"In the Region, it's Demon-slaying every day, and now that I'm in Chang'an, it's still Demon-slaying. The Demon Suppression Division really doesn't treat people as people..."
Wei Qing grumbled, but her hands didn't stop moving.
"..."
Jiang Yuechu, however, had no complaints.
With the position comes responsibility.
Whether out of her own personal desire or because of the official uniform she wore, slaying Demons and eradicating evil was her duty.
"But speaking of which... your flesh seems to have firmed up quite a bit, hasn't it? Before, you were scrawny, but now... tsk tsk tsk..."
Wei Qing reached into the water, pinched Jiang Yuechu's arm, then her gaze moved down from the collarbone, finally stopping somewhere, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.
"How did even this part grow?!"
"..."
Jiang Yuechu's face darkened, and she flung the wet cloth towel at Wei Qing's face.
"Shut up!"
"Alright, my lord~"
In the bathtub, the water rippled.
Outside the window, the night was deep, and the autumn rain began again, pattering softly.