"But to prevent the Thief's House from continuing to recruit thieves, Father, you'd better find three skilled individuals and make them Jianghu Thieves as quickly as possible. That way, regardless of the circumstances, the Thief's House will remain our Great Zhou's secret realm."
Yao Shi Moke pondered for a moment and unexpectedly didn't agree immediately.
Pharmacist's Wish found it unbelievable; she thought that the first task of the Thief's House falling on Chang'an was just like heaven helping Great Zhou. After all, no matter how formidable the other three thieves may be, when the twelve legions of the Left Guard surround them, they will be trapped with no escape. Why hesitate on such an easy opportunity?
"It's a matter of great importance; I need to think about it," Yao Shi Moke said, "You may leave now."
He paused, then continued, "First pretend you're really going to steal Bingzi Pepper Forest. Be careful not to expose any flaws. If danger arises, it's better to give up the Thief's House than to take risks."
"Father, don't worry, I will never let anyone discover," Pharmacist's Wish said earnestly, "The Thief's House will definitely become our Great Zhou's new secret realm!"
...
…
In the Nocturnal Heaven City, in the empty room of the Lecheng County Duke's Mansion, a figure suddenly appeared wearing a White Fox Mask. Before she had even changed out of her attire, urgent voices came from outside, "County Duke, County Duke, have you returned?"
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty has summoned you to the palace, already urged twice!"
White Fox was startled and hurriedly removed her mask and armor; as she exited, she transformed into an elegant and beautifully dressed female County Duke. The carriage was already prepared, and soon White Fox entered the Imperial Palace through the side door of the palace wall, where she was required to walk rather than ride. A eunuch wearing a black veil silently led her way.
Inside the Imperial Palace, five steps a post, ten steps a patrol, Guards wearing Evil Ghost Masks stood like tombstones at the side of the road. Despite the blazing sun and the endless splendid palace complexes, the palace seemed deeply chilling; even the wind didn't stir. It was quiet like a cemetery; aside from White Fox and the guiding eunuch, the entire palace felt devoid of other living beings.
She traversed winding roads, stepping onto long stairs.
As White Fox arrived at the hall entrance, the four Evil Ghost Guards scrutinized her with a glance, sending a chilling malevolence through White Fox's entire body.
The Evil Ghost Guards said nothing; when they moved, it was as though their bodies were filled with lead, like steel molds. With just their palms, they pushed open the red gold hall door cast in gold. Inside the hall, all windows were tightly shut, enveloped in darkness despite the daylight, relying solely on candlelight for illumination. A sickly sweet odor engulfed the air, almost suffocating White Fox; in the center of the hall, a large fire seemed to burn, making things unclear.
As soon as White Fox stepped in, she sensed something amiss; the carpet underfoot was surprisingly sticky. Upon closer look, it turned out not to be a carpet but decomposed flesh minced into mince meat laid flat on the ground, woven into patterns using the texture of the flesh!
White Fox lowered her head, taking tiny steps toward the center of the hall. The closer she got to the immense fireball in the center, the more she could hear a faint wailing, smelling a nauseating sweet fragrance as if honey were melting inside her mind.
Yet she dared not lift her head, speaking calmly as she approached the steps, "Your Majesty, Rushi has arrived."
"Raise your head."
White Fox lifted her head, and despite having braced herself mentally, her spirit was nonetheless captivated by the scene before her.
The beautiful woman on the throne wore only a semi-transparent veil, lying nearly nude upon it. Behind her extended nine tails; the enormous fireball White Fox saw was because her tails were ablaze.
Upon closer examination, one could see these were not tails at all but nine spine bones the woman had grafted onto herself. Finger bones were pieced onto the spines; these fingers twisted and danced in the flames, appearing to be furry tails at first glance.
The flames seemed to lack heat; the fingers remained untouched. Yet the wailing in White Fox's ears unmistakably originated from within the fingers, as if countless vengeful souls were trapped there!
"Rushi," the woman asked, "Do you think this image resembles the Nine-tailed Demon Fox of ancient times? Do you think I am more beautiful than the fabled Nine-tailed Demon Fox?"
White Fox forcibly suppressed the tremor within her, nodding, "Your Majesty is beautiful."
"Then tell me, am I more beautiful or are you more beautiful?"
"Your Majesty is beautiful."
"Lies!"
With a stretch of her hand, White Fox found herself flying naturally in front of the woman, placing her chin in the woman's grasp. The woman inserted two fingers into White Fox's mouth, grasping her tongue, rendering White Fox stiff and nearly immobile!
Nocturnal Heaven City is known as a war-free safe zone, one of the three major cities of the Central Plains. By theory, no one can deliberately harm others within the safe zones of the three main cities. But this woman seemed capable of circumventing such earthly rules, toying with other lives as she pleased!
"Profound Mirror clearly told me that the most beautiful person in Nocturnal Heaven is you! Why did you deceive me? Are you betraying me too?"
White Fox could not speak, gazing hopelessly at the woman. The woman released her tongue, and White Fox gasped, coughed twice before hurriedly saying, "Rushi did not lie! In Rushi's view, the superficial appearance is the most mundane part of beauty; power and authority are the true beauty, lasting and reigning beauty! Therefore, the most beautiful person in Great Qi surely must be Your Majesty! In the presence of Your Majesty, I, Ying Rushi, am no more than a crimson skeleton, not worth mentioning!"
The woman before Ying Rushi was indeed the Great Qi Monarch, Ying Le.
Ying Le remained silent, gently caressing Ying Rushi's face. What she thought was unknown, yet an ominous pale smile gradually unfurled on her face. Ying Rushi trembled deeply, swiftly speaking up, "I just got summoned by the Thief's House!"