Tian Han and Fu Ran spent the next hour just trying to get away. Every dozen or so minutes, Li Mei found something she just had to show the cultivators. Be it some ‘spiritual item’ or some fancy antique they kept in the back. Xi’er was tirelessly trying to convince Tian Han to stay just one evening. “Only one, your highness! And then this one will never ask again!” she cried multiple times, even though she most certainly would ask again. Qianqian insisted that they at least stay for a drink, and since that was a most reasonable request, he felt it wrong to deny it.

When Fu Ran pried Tian Han from the women’s grip, they had to quickly escape to the front. “I can’t take one more minute!” Fu Ran whined. The lady owner was not there to see them off, so when Fu Ran headed to the door tirelessly, Tian Han chuckled.

“Hah hah, Shizun is quite popular.”

“What did that have to do with “popular?” I think they are just too good at their jobs!” Fu Ran pressed his hands to the front door, letting his weight push it open. As he was leaving, a man with a mask was entering.

“Ah sorry,” Fu Ran said quickly, accidentally bumping into the man’s shoulder.

The man only shot him a horrid glare beneath that gem inlaid mask. His voice growled with a mean and gruff, “move it.” Fu Ran was shocked to have his shoulder shoved out of the way, and his back hit Tian Han’s chest. His upper arms were caught with ease and gentleness.

Tian Han’s face was more unhappy than even Fu Ran’s, whose expression was mildly inconvenienced if anything. He grit his teeth and shot a squinted golden glare as the man disappeared behind the purple curtains.

“Tian Han, let's go,” Fu Ran said, trying to break his companion from building rage.

“Sorry, you're right.”

***

The two men had already wasted much of the night—between joking and drinking with courtesan’s and asking around the local market stalls—to investigate further. No one had any idea of a man who wore Fu Ran’s face. If the fake was anything like the original flavor, then of course… he would be antisocial. Fu Ran knew this, but still hoped otherwise.

“I think we may not have any further luck tonight.” Tian Han broke into the silence of his thoughts. The only other sound was subtle running water. They had found their way back towards the Guang Blind Alley and rested on the stone edge of the koi fountain like they had done the previous night.

Watching the fish swim back and forth was calming to the brain and his nerves. Fu Ran could only sigh. How correct the tyrant always was. Perhaps he should have listened in the beginning, but he did enjoy the nice drinks they had. Shesui Lang would spit up blood if he knew Fu Ran really was enjoying the “nightlife” of the Faceless City while he was supposed to be working.

Since the night was well past its prime time, the Guang Blind Alley was empty. It was calm, something he hadn’t experienced since he entered Jinan. Well, Fu Ran could have explained that he hasn’t known calm since he left his pavilion, or since the Bloody Entrance Exam nearly a month ago. Despite the fact that it wasn’t his decision to come out on a mission, he had enjoyed some moments. It wasn’t all terrible, and it was a little hard to process “living” after so many years of merely existing.

Fu Ran stood up and had only just opened his mouth to agree with Tian Han’s offer before being interrupted.

“Hey! Come on, give that back!” Howled an unknown man. The voice was almost playful, despite being loud enough to attract the attention of every passerby. Both Tian Han and Fu Ran turned their heads into the alleys.

There was someone, two people actually, running quickly in Fu Ran’s path. Tian Han expertly pulled Fu Ran into his chest, tearing him barely out of the lead runner’s line. The man ran fast for a human with no spiritual power, and he didn’t stop to look at the people he came close to mowing down. Behind him trailed a strange scent of flowers.

Fu Ran grit his teeth and was just about to bark out, “Hey, watch out!” but a heavy gust of wind flew over him mere moments later. In shock, his gaze darted up.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Tian Han’s weight shifted and lowered slightly onto Fu Ran, and he made an audible grumble of pain. It was as though he had experienced a sudden heavy weight on his shoulders, and when Fu Ran turned to inspect he saw: A man dressed in all black had easily landed, feet planted onto Tian Han’s broad upper back.

Tian Han’s eyes were squinted unevenly like he had to struggle a great deal to remain upright. Was the man really that heavy? Fu Ran didn’t feel a bit of that weight because Tian Han supported it with his own shoulders. The man in black appeared on the shorter side, and Fu Ran had seen the tyrant lift much larger things with ease. He was wholly confused.

For just a moment, Fu Ran’s eyes lit up. On the man in black’s back there was an oddly familiar blade inlaid with touches of pink gemstone. He wished he could have taken hold of that weapon, but he wasn’t given much time. Using Tian Han as a perch, the man in black leaped, shaking the tyrant emperor’s body wildly. Tian Han gasped.

This man must certainly have a death wish to use the future Tyrant Emperor as a step. Fu Ran thought.

The man in black dared to smile right at the furious Tian Han. There was definitely something strikingly different about him. His eyes turned up in squinted mischief. He waved, but his face showed not one sign of care in the world. With that he stretched his legs into a squat before he sprung off to a nearby roof.

“Are you okay?” Fu Ran looked to Tian Han and took a few steps closer. Tian Han seemed shaken but mostly in disbelief. He actually had to spend a few moments gasping to regain his breath. “Why are you out of breath?”

“That wasn’t normal,” Tian Han heaved.

Fu Ran stiffened upon hearing yet another pair of feet. He preemptively took a step back, pulling Tian Han with him to avoid another near collision. Heavy panting stopped right near the two cultivators. These tired noises belonged to a lovely woman with her face heavily made up in colorful paints. It was Xi’er. She spoke in between gasps. “Your highness!” she cried. “Which way did he go?”

“Xi’er, are you alright?” Tian Han asked.

She had just spent an hour trying to convince Tian Han to accompany her, but now she seemed desperate. “That man stole the money we collected for the auction house.”

“For the auction house…?” Fu Ran’s brow tensed and he didn’t really like the sound of kind girls taking money to places like that.

Looking at Fu Ran, Xi’er must have seen his worried doubt. She held a slender pale finger up to her lips. “We buy any young girls, so they don’t have to get sold off to worse fates.” Fu Ran’s heart tightened as he thought of the many young children he had just helped to release. Most were girls, and he had already lamented not being able to do more for them. A thought struck him—a way to make a difference, perhaps. Xi’er’s colorful nails dug into her robes, and she pleaded again. “So, can you please help me find that man?”

He didn’t hesitate. Tian Han trusted these women, even if they were more lively than he usually preferred. They were all kind.

“I’ll help,” Fu Ran said quietly, his tone steady. “Tian Han, stay with her.”

Tian Han barely had time to respond before Fu Ran stepped onto his sword. With a firm push, the blade lifted him into the air.

“Shizun, wait!” Tian Han called out.

“You look exhausted!” Fu Ran replied, already ascending above the height of the Auction House’s roof. “Catch your breath!”

The city below was dark, the rooftops cloaked in shadow. Spotting a man dressed in black would not be easy. Still, Fu Ran searched, scanning each shingle and alley until he spotted a small figure darting across a distant roof.

Fu Ran urged Shi Wei Ji faster. He did not often offer others a ride, but the situation called for haste. He flew ahead, closing the gap.

The man in black turned suddenly, eyes wide in surprise. “Cultivator?” he yelled, voice edged with panic. “No! I don’t need help from someone so used to admiration!” He kept running, legs pumping frantically.

“Admiration?” Fu Ran asked, puzzled.

“From those beautiful women of the Violet Court!” the man spat, his tone sharp. “You’re probably used to their attention.”

Fu Ran frowned. “I was not there for entertainment. I belong to An Xian Yun Peak—I do not have time for such… distractions.” His words came off a bit flustered, and he really didn’t know how to respond.

The man stumbled his eyes wide, and Fu Ran had to steady Shi Wei Ji quickly to stop in time. The man's expression changed from shock to calculation. “An Xian Yun Peak…? Fu Ran…” he muttered, sizing him up. “So, you’re offering a ride?” His words were suddenly more calm, and a touch less frantic. The change seemed more deliberate now.

With a sudden smile, the man stepped onto the blade. Immediately, Shi Wei Ji dipped under his weight, and Fu Ran had to channel more spiritual power to balance them both. The man’s eyes gleamed with amusement, as if he enjoyed the struggle.

Sweat beaded down the side of Fu Ran’s cheek as he looked in horror at his sword. Shi Wei Ji took to the change in spiritual flow well, though the sword still creaked beneath their feet.

“An Xian Yun Peak masters are truly something…” the man in black mused.

Fu Ran grit his teeth. Why does this man weigh more than a boulder? He continued forward, keeping his focus on the thief. Though he did suddenly feel lingering dread at the idea of Tian Han’s poor shoulders. It was clear now that his new passenger wasn’t… normal.

The pursuit led them down to the lower levels of Jinan. Fu Ran's sword might not have been as suited for carrying such a burden, but it was still faster than a man on foot. The thief was tiring, his pace slowing.