Bloodkiller - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Lianxiang

After discussing the matter at length, the three men agreed that the issue of the Bl00d-Drinking Blade shouldn’t be rushed. The clues were too vague, the doubts too many, and the seller’s identity still a mystery. Without confirming a connection to the Jiang family, acting too soon could backfire and alert the target.

With that matter shelved for the time being, Yao Chuan finally felt some relief—but then his stomach reminded him it had been running on fumes. Over the past few days, he’d only managed to scavenge some dry rations and wild fruits. Today, after talking at length about the Bl00d-Drinking Blade, he was starving. Just as he was about to shamelessly ask Qian Ling for a bite to eat, a servant from the Qian household arrived, announcing it was time for dinner.

Qian Ling exclaimed, realizing he had yet to properly host his guests. Without delay, he led them to the dining hall.

After the meal, Yao Chuan’s thoughts drifted to the black-clad man outside the Linfu Inn.

Was that person connected to the Bl00d-Drinking Blade? And why had he lured them toward Lianxiang Pavilion?

He had gone over this with Lin Yi multiple times on their journey. They both agreed: whether it was a trap or not, a visit to Lianxiang Pavilion was inevitable. It was the only real lead they had. Regardless of the risks, they needed to investigate. What remained was deciding when to go, and how to approach it.

Thinking this through, Yao Chuan turned to Qian Ling.

“Brother Qian, since you know Hangzhou like the back of your hand, I have something else to ask.”

“About the Bl00d-Drinking Blade again?”

“No, this is something else. Do you know anything about Lianxiang Pavilion? Is there anything unusual about that place?”

At that, Qian Ling nearly spat out his wine, hurriedly covering his mouth. “Good thing my wife isn’t here right now—otherwise, with you asking a question like that and me answering? I’d never hear the end of it. Honestly, Brother Yao, you’ve always steered clear of brothels. Why the sudden interest in Lianxiang Pavilion? You looked so serious a moment ago!”

Yao Chuan brushed off the teasing, answering firmly: “This is serious business, not a joke.”

Lin Yi smirked from the side, stirring the pot: “Yao the Iron-Hearted Hero, indeed. I’ve heard more than once how he left yet another lady in heartbreak. So if he’s asking about Lianxiang Pavilion, rest assured—it’s got nothing to do with romance. It must be for a mission. Go ahead, Qian, speak freely.”

Yao Chuan shot Lin Yi a glare. “Would you stop with the sarcasm and help gather intel? The more we know, the better our odds.”

Realizing this wasn’t a casual inquiry, Qian Ling dropped the jokes and got serious:
“You’ve come to the right person. I’ve never been inside, but the Qian family has been doing business in Hangzhou for years—we know the ins and outs. Officially, Lianxiang Pavilion is a brothel, and Nuanxiang Pavilion across the street is supposedly a teahouse. But behind the scenes, both are owned by the Qinglong Gang. One deals in courtesans, the other in southern-style ‘hospitality.’ Let’s just say they know what makes men spend money—and they exploit it masterfully.”

“Qinglong Gang?!” Yao Chuan’s expression changed. Years ago, he had come to Hangzhou just to meet the Qinglong Gang’s leader, Liang. That trip led to the whole scandal involving Lin Yi, and…

“Wait—what did you call that place across the street? Lianxiang Pavilion? Isn’t that supposed to be a restaurant?”

“Does that sound like a name any serious restaurant would use? People in the know call it Xiyulou. It’s just as infamous as Lianxiang Pavilion. They even pair the names together—‘Lianxiang Xiyu,’ playing on the idea of fragrant love and gentle rain. It may look like a place for food and drink, but those ‘waiters’ are far from ordinary. All dolled up, overly familiar with customers—those aren’t your typical servers.”

No wonder the waiters Yao Chuan had seen last time were so overly attentive. He had thought it was just local custom. Now it was clear—they were being led straight into a trap. The Qinglong Gang had engineered the entire setup. But why lure him to their own establishment? To squeeze some coin out of him?

He slammed down his wine cup, a look of disgust on his face.

Lin Yi chimed in, “Didn’t the private room in Lianxiang Pavilion have some kind of incense? What’s the deal with that?”

Qian Ling nodded. “That incense is somewhat notorious. It’s a rare blend developed by the Qinglong Gang themselves. It’s said to have a mild aphrodisiac effect, but what makes it special is that it only affects men. After a while, it can stir emotions, weaken defenses. Even some upper-class ladies in Hangzhou secretly buy it. Oh—and it’s used in both Lianxiang Pavilion and Xiyulou.”

Yao Chuan and Lin Yi exchanged glances. The same scent was present in both locations. So which one was the man in black trying to lead them to?

“In that case,” Lin Yi said, “we shouldn’t wait too long. We’ll investigate tomorrow night. I’ll go to—”

“I’ll take Lianxiang Pavilion,” Yao Chuan cut in. “You handle Xiyulou. Either way, regardless of what you find, we both return to the Qian estate before midnight. Sound fair?”

Yao Chuan didn’t say it aloud, but he had a hunch Lin Yi might attract trouble at Lianxiang Pavilion. With Lin Yi’s track record, he might end up flirting rather than investigating—and wouldn’t that spell trouble with Ruyun? Better that he take Lianxiang Pavilion himself.

Lin Yi rolled his eyes, instantly reading Yao Chuan’s intentions. With a smirk, he replied, “Since you’re so eager, how could I say no? We’ll do it your way.”

They spent a little more time ironing out the details. To keep things simple, they would disguise themselves as merchants from out of town. If they couldn’t glean any useful information from the women or waiters, they would sneak in later under cover of night.

Once they were done, Qian Ling added, “Just a reminder, both Lianxiang and Xiyulou cater to high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and the well-connected. Security is tight, and there are plenty of skilled guards. You two are strong enough to handle them, but still—hurting someone in the wrong circle could cause unnecessary trouble. The Qinglong Gang may be involved, but don’t forget the authorities are never far behind. Be careful not to get caught up in politics.”

Yao Chuan nodded, accepting the warning. Still, there was something in Qian Ling’s words he couldn’t quite put his finger on. A vague unease lingered, but Qian’s face gave nothing away. For now, he chose to let it go.