The Evil Deity's Second Career - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Ji Lanci asked me why I had been gone for so long.

“Disobedient people always have to suffer a little,” I replied.

She didn’t press for details, her mind entirely focused on that General Wang.

“Who is he?”

Ji Lanci said, “A favorite of the Emperor. I heard of him back when I was in the palace. Officially, he is a guard of the Imperial City, but in truth, he is the Emperor’s talon, responsible for many a foul deed.”

“I’ll go kill him.”

I gripped my sword and prepared to turn back.

Ji Lanci was quick to stop me. “Don’t be rash, my Lord!”

“It won’t be too late to kill him once we’ve questioned him and learned the truth.”

Wang Can had a weakness for beauty; he went to Embrace Moon Tower every single day.

What kind of place was Embrace Moon Tower? It was a Money Pit, the premier den of luxury and debauchery in the Great Zhou.

Ji Lanci insisted on coming with me.

However, she was penniless and couldn’t even get through the door. Out of options, she reached her predatory claws toward the Donation Box on Shi Jia’s Shrine.

Shi Jia was frantic. “Zhu, you’re the one who brought her back! Do something!”

I didn’t mind at all. Instead, I reminded Shi Jia, “Think about your fifty Temples.”

“Didn’t you say she was just bragging?”

“Mm. I was lying.”

While Shi Jia had a breakdown behind us, I followed Ji Lanci into Embrace Moon Tower.

The air was thick with the chaotic sounds of flutes and strings. Ji Lanci selected a Private Booth with an excellent vantage point, allowing us to see everything on the first floor.

As night fell, the lanterns of the establishment were all lit. The corridors echoed with the chirping laughter of women, and the cloyingly sweet scent of rouge and powder stirred the senses.

“Lord Wang is here! This way, please.”

“Girls, take good care of him!”

“Coming!”

I observed him closely. Wang Can was a big, burly man, but the pouch at his waist was bulging-he was clearly very wealthy.

“Is that him?”

“Yes. Just don’t let him die yet; I have questions for him.”

I nodded. “Just watch.”

Wang Can was having the time of his life, a girl on each arm.

I dropped a colorless, odorless pellet into his cup.

He didn’t notice a thing, draining the wine offered by a beauty’s hand in one gulp.

“Ooh…”

Wang Can suddenly clutched his stomach with a pained expression. His insides were churning, the cramping so severe he broke out in a cold sweat.

“My Lord, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing… perhaps I’ve had too much rich food lately… where is the latrine?”

Seeing Wang Can hurry toward a small outbuilding, I exchanged a look with Ji Lanci, who was sitting up on the balcony.

Understanding the signal, Ji Lanci followed me.

“What did you feed him?”

“A Gu Worm from the Southern Borderlands.”

“What happens when you eat it?”

I spread my hands. “I don’t know either. Let’s wait and see.”

Ji Lanci and I followed Wang Can all the way back to his home.

Wang Can’s residence was incredibly extravagant, comparable even to the imperial palace. He could never have afforded such a place on a general’s salary alone.

Ji Lanci reached out to touch a screen embroidered with a scene of court ladies, her eyes filled with sorrow.

“Was this from your home too?”

“Yes.”

Ji Lanci walked through the entire house; it was filled with items Wang Can had plundered from the Ji Family.

“Stop looking,” I said. “Business first.”