Chapter 1052: Invisible Hand

Zu An put on a commoner's mask, changed his clothes, and slipped out of the inn, evading the surveillance of the surrounding spies.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a graceful and beautiful young woman pacing near the entrance. Her magnificent figure, swaying as she walked, drew glances from everyone passing by.

Who else could it be but Pei Mianman?

Zu An quickly went over and pulled her away.

Startled by the sudden grasp of her hand, Pei Mianman gasped in alarm, and a surge of black flames erupted from her palm.

But the flames flickered on his hand and extinguished. She froze for a moment, then, realizing something, exclaimed with a mix of surprise and delight, "Ah Zu?"

"Yes, it's me," Zu An whispered, pulling her into a nearby alley.

Meanwhile, some watchful eyes had noticed their unusual behavior, and a few people started to follow. Pei Mianman casually waved her hand, and a dark curtain enveloped the pursuers, instantly blinding them.

By the time everything returned to normal, their targets had vanished without a trace.

Was it a ghost maze?

The spies were instantly terrified and dared not pursue further.

Elsewhere, Pei Mianman and Zu An were already walking down the main street. She couldn't help but pinch Zu An's face. "It feels strange with the mask on," she remarked.

Zu An removed the mask and smiled. "Mostly because everyone is watching my every move now, so I naturally need some disguise. By the way, why were you at the inn entrance so early?"

"How could I not know about such a big commotion in the city last night? It was only this morning that I learned you were involved. When I heard you were gravely injured, I naturally had to come see you. Who knew those guards wouldn't let me in no matter what, not even relaying a message," Pei Mianman said indignantly. Then she quickly grabbed Zu An's hand and began checking him all over. "Where exactly are you hurt? Why are you out strolling around instead of recovering properly?"

"Something happened at the inn, and it's been placed under martial law, no one's allowed in or out, that's why you were stopped," Zu An explained, feeling a warmth in his heart at her anxious yet caring gaze. "Don't worry, I'm fine, just a minor injury."

"What minor injury? I heard you were impaled through the chest with a sword, couldn't get out of bed, and nearly lost your life!" A mist clouded Pei Mianman's eyes. "Don't try to be tough, rest and recover properly."

"I've mostly recovered," Zu An said, pulling down his collar to show her his chest. "I cultivate the Grand Clarity Primordial Scripture, which gives me incredible regenerative abilities. Plus, after being tempered by the Primordial Qi, my body is tougher than anyone else's. You should know that better than anyone, right?"

"Hmph, you're incorrigible," Pei Mianman scoffed, a blush rising on her charming face, making her even more alluring.

However, after personally examining him and finding his injury indeed mostly healed, she finally relaxed. "Even if your body is good, your wound hasn't fully recovered. Why did you run out so early in the morning?"

"How else would I have met you if I didn't come out so early?" Zu An teased with a smile, then added, "I came out this time to investigate something."

"What's so urgent?" Pei Mianman exclaimed, surprised.

"Someone warned me to be wary of the Pegasus Commercial Firm earlier," Zu An said, omitting Tang Tian'er's name. "After I returned to the inn last night, I specifically had someone investigate, and Rouge Bloom is also part of the Pegasus Commercial Firm."

"What's the problem with that?" Pei Mianman usually didn't concern herself with the owners behind these shops, so she couldn't understand why he was so focused on it.

"During this period, Prince Qi's heir has basically not visited anywhere else besides your Pei family, apart from the shops where he bought you gifts. So I figured I'd check if there was anything suspicious about those shops, worried he might be meeting someone there," Zu An explained. "But after investigating, I found a commonality among them: they are all properties of the Pegasus Commercial Firm."

Pei Mianman also realized something was amiss. "Could it be that Prince Qi's side is colluding with the Pegasus Commercial Firm?"

"I can't figure it out either," Zu An said, feeling a headache. Han Fengqiu also appeared at the Zhenyuan Commercial Firm last night, and logically, he should be allied with them. "That's why I plan to go to the Pegasus Commercial Firm to investigate."

He had another concern he hadn't voiced: yesterday, just as he investigated Rouge Bloom, Qiu Honglei led him to the Zhenyuan Commercial Firm. Was it a coincidence or something else?

"That definitely needs investigating," Pei Mianman's eyes lit up. "Do you know where the Pegasus Commercial Firm is located?"

"No, I don't. I was just about to ask. It shouldn't be hard to find, right?" Zu An said.

"No need to ask, I'll take you." Pei Mianman was a local after all, and the Pegasus Commercial Firm was one of the top commercial firms in Yunzhong Commandery, so it wasn't hard for her to know its location.

Zu An naturally wouldn't refuse such a beautiful guide. Soon, led by her, the two arrived at the Pegasus Commercial Firm.

The Zhenyuan Commercial Firm had a relatively more understated architectural style, while the Pegasus Commercial Firm was much more opulent and gilded, appearing grander with a strong sense of nouveau riche extravagance.

The two found a section of the wall and quietly slipped over. The further they went inside, even Pei Mianman's expression changed.

"Why is a mere commercial firm so heavily guarded?"

Zu An said in a deep voice, "It seems there truly is a problem."

Compared to the Zhenyuan Commercial Firm last night, the security here was equally, if not more, stringent.

The two became even more cautious. Fortunately, Zu An had his jade cong for a transparent map, and Pei Mianman was also an elite of the younger generation, so they managed to avoid all the hidden sentries along the way.

Just as they were about to head for a secret location like a study, Zu An suddenly felt something, and quickly pulled Pei Mianman to hide behind a nearby rockery.

The gap within the rockery was narrow; to hide both of them, they had to embrace tightly.

Pei Mianman's face flushed slightly, but instead of shyness, she found it amusing. Hooking her arms around his neck, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.

Zu An only felt the softness against his chest, and seeing the playful glint in her eyes, he couldn't help but sigh, thinking this woman truly was a temptress.

Just then, several people slowly emerged from around the corner.

"I didn't expect the Zhenyuan Commercial Firm to have the shadow of White Jade Capital behind it. This is troublesome; that woman Yan Xuehen is not easy to deal with."

"Manager Zhang, you can rest assured. Yan Xuehen has never been one to meddle much and shouldn't get too deeply involved. And even if she does, our Lord Sect Master will deal with her."

Zu An's heart skipped a beat. He cautiously peered out and saw two middle-aged men at the forefront. One of them, dressed in a green robe, was burly with sharp eyes, walking with the imposing gait of a formidable leader.

Pei Mianman secretly transmitted, "This man is Zhang Che, the owner of the Pegasus Commercial Firm. He often visited my father over the years, bringing gifts and such. I've seen him once and have some impression of him."

"Zhang Che?" Zu An had also heard this name. With the wealth of his Pegasus Commercial Firm, he was a person of significant influence in Yunzhong Commandery.

Just then, Pei Mianman let out a soft "咦," "Why is *that* guy here too?"

Zu An naturally knew why she was puzzled: beside Zhang Che was a large, stout man, looking like a country bumpkin millionaire, holding a golden abacus. Anyone who didn't know might think he was the owner of the Pegasus Commercial Firm. This was Golden Rogue, one of the Eight Rogues of the Demonic Cult, whom he had met on the way from Brightmoon City to the capital!

Pei Mianman had also seen him back then, hence her confusion. Zu An's heart sank. The Pegasus Commercial Firm was indeed connected to the Demonic Cult. It seemed Qiu Honglei's appearance at Rouge Bloom earlier was deliberately meant to lead him away.

He recalled how, back in Yi Commandery, Qiu Honglei had ambiguously mentioned whether he would be angry if he ever discovered he had been deceived by her. It must have been about this. "I've been used as a pawn," Zu An thought, recalling Qiu Honglei's desperate attempts to protect him last night. He ultimately sighed, thinking she likely didn't know...