The fairy vanished with the wind, just as mysteriously as she had appeared.

Was she just shy, or was there any other reason behind her abrupt departure?

More importantly, why did her method of disappearing leave him with such an eerie feeling?

Noticing Bubai’s unsettled expression, Qian Bage peered over to Bubai’s other side, his eyes darting around, but not noticing anything. "What’s wrong, brother?"

"Nothing." Bubai replied tersely before glancing back at Qian Bage. "Lead the way."

“Oh…” Qian Bage’s flashed a sly grin, beckoning him to follow. “Ah, right this way."

Qian Bage eagerly hurried forward, leaving the brothel behind.

Following after him, Bubai couldn't help but steal a glance back at the Phoenix’s Nest, a nagging desire for research tugging at his thoughts.

Noticing this glance, Qian Bage chuckled lightly. "Oh, if brother wants, we can go in there another time. But not today...”

His casual voice became a whisper of caution, “After all, that brothel’s owner is still looking for us, and we certainly don’t want to leak our... exchange to them."

Bubai's eyes narrowed slightly when he digested Qian Bage's words. "That place is opened by the Feng Clan?"

Qian Bage rolled his eyes, "What do you think? Where else would there be virgin women in this sect to play music without being forced to play the flute as well?"

Oh, that makes sense, but…

This guy actually dared to set the rendezvous right inside their sphere of influence! Isn’t he afraid of being discovered?!

Or perhaps… this guy is trying to pit him?

If he was really silly enough to walk into the Phoenix’s Nest with the given token, he might really end up in prison...

Bubai glared at Qian Bage.

Meeting his gaze, Qian Bage combed his messy hair back with a hint of smugness. "It’s an easy landmark to use. Don’t mind the small details. Come along, we don’t have all night."

Staring at Qian Bage’s back, Bubai’s lips were pressed together, yet he still followed along. Indeed, he can’t give up the quest reward over some “small” details.

Guiding Bubai to a darker corner, Qian Bage sneakily peeked around the corners to ensure no one was nearby before he turned to Bubai, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "So, brother, do you have the goods?"

“Of course.” Bubai nodded, reaching into a pouch and taking out a black, stringy underwear.

“Ah?” Qian Bage's eyes abruptly widened with excitement as if he was a child beholding a new toy. "Ou! Ouuuu!"

However, after a moment of exhilaration, Qian Bage's expression shifted, his eyes squinting as he fixed them upon Bubai. "Brother, you won’t be just using another woman’s to fool me, right?"

Bubai scoffed at the suggestion, "I took it fresh off her uniform. If you don’t believe me, you can go ask her if it is hers. I can guarantee... a good reaction."

Qian Bage chuckled slyly and patted Bubai on the shoulder. "Haha, brother, I want to believe you, but you know for matters like these, it’s a basis of trust, so if it’s possible..."

Bubai solemnly raised his hand, "I, Mo Bubai, swear upon my dao heart that I delivered the provided task object to the Chun Hua Courtyard and acquired this from the same room in the process.”

“Hahaha!” Qian Bage burst into laughter, giving him a thumbs up, "Good! Straightforward! Brother Bai is indeed a dragon amongst men, even able to get this!"

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Qian Bage’s claws reached out for the legendary artifact, but Bubai immediately retracted his hand.

The duo’s eyes met as Bubai's gaze bore into Qian Bage's, "I hope you aren’t going to renege on your... payment."

Qian Bage shook his head vigorously, his expression earnest. "No, no, of course not! I, Qian Bage, am always credible when it comes to business."

Without hesitation, Qian Bage reached into his storage pouch and produced two pouches.

"Here you are," he said, handing both pouches over. "Five for the task, and ten for the baobao, fifteen total."

Bubai took the pouches, his fingers deftly opening them to peek inside to count the low-grade spirit stones. Satisfied that the number was correct, he finally tossed over the black undergarment clutched in his hand.

“Careful! Careful!” Qian Bage screeched in panic, his hands darting out to catch the delicate, fluttering item before it could fall.

When his claws acquired his treasure, he breathed a sigh of relief, his face flushing with excitement as he reverently raised it up, treating it like a sacred relic. “Ouuuu!”

Bringing it to his face, the shameless man deeply inhaled, "Ah, this is her smell..."

Bubai dully stared at him. Pervert!

Still, he kept a straight face as he declared, "The goods are in hand, our transaction is over. Goodbye."

With that, Bubai turned on his heel and began to walk away.

Qian Bage finally broke away from his fantasy. Stuffing the undergarment into his storage pouch, he rushed after the leaving Bubai, stopping him with a hurried call, "Hold up, brother!"

Bubai shot a silent glare over his shoulder, "Problem?"

“No, no, of course not.” Qian Bage hastily shook his head, his hands gesturing in a placating manner.

"Brother already did me a solid one. It’s just that there are some things I am curious about… I’ll pay extra if brother is willing to satisfy my doubts. Of course, if brother isn’t willing to answer, it is also fine."

Extra payment? The offer caused Bubai’s eyes to flash briefly with interest as he crossed his arms, signaling his willingness to listen. "Ask away.”

Qian Bage grinned eagerly as he began, “So, brother, you managed to get into her courtyard I presume?"

Bubai nodded, "Naturally."

Qian Bage eagerly rubbed his hands together, "May I ask how you got over her walls?"

Bubai raised a brow, replying casually, "I just flew over.”

Qian Bage's face registered a moment of disbelief before he blurted out, "Huh, brother, how did you bypass the flight ban?"

Bubai was struck by a flicker of confusion. Flight ban? What flight ban? Could it be...

A thought flashed in his mind, but he didn't hesitate to reply, "Trade secret."

Qian Bage's lips presented a lopsided curve. "Ah, I understand, I totally understand. Well, moving on…"

His shifty eyes scanned up and down Bubai’s body, a furrow forming on his brow. "Brother, I don’t see the token I gave to you…"

Bubai replied with a straight face, "Tossed it."

Qian Bage's eyes widened with surprise. "Tossed? No, why toss it?"

"Tracking." Bubai bluntly stated, wearing a fake smile on his face.

Qian Bage's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly nodded, trying to save face. "Oh, it seems brother is also aware...”

Bubai cocked his head, his smile unchanged. "Problem?"

"No, no, it’s just a small matter.” Qian Bage shook his head as he patted Bubai on the shoulder, laughing it off. “Hahaha…”

Haha, your head. "Anything else? If not-"

Bubai suddenly felt the hand tightening on his shoulder. He heightened his vigilance, raising a brow.

The laughter gradually faded from Qian Bage's face, replaced by a solemn expression. His eyes squinted, staring at Bubai as if trying to read his heart. “Just a final question…"

His voice became low and serious. "Did brother take the chance to sneak a peek?"

Bubai maintained his smiley expression, meeting Qian Bage's gaze evenly and countered. "Do you think I can still walk out alive if I did?"

“…” The duo stared at each other, a silent standoff stretching the distance between them.

After a moment of tense silence, Qian Bage's solemn facade finally cracked as his hand released its tight grip, giving Bubai's shoulder a couple of pats. "Right, right, sorry brother, I must be thinking too much.”

Reaching into his pouch, Qian Bage took out another two spirit stones with a chuckle. "Haha, I hope brother doesn’t blame me. After all, no one wants others to peek on their white moonlight.”

Bubai took the spirit stones with a grumble as he quipped, "Yours, not mine."

Qian Bage nodded enthusiastically. "Right, right.”

The tension between them finally dissipated.

Keeping the spirit stone in his pouch, Bubai glanced at Qian Bage. "That’s all?"

Qian Bage nodded. "Yes, that’s all, brother. Oh, right, I do hope…" he trailed off, drawing a zip motion over his lips.

"Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul," Bubai assured him, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

Qian Bage grinned in response, shaking Bubai’s hand firmly. "Yes, brother understands me well. It’s indeed a good brother of Qian Bage! Brother Bai, I do look forward to working with you in the future."

"Likewise," Bubai’s eyes darted toward Qian Bage's pouch for a brief moment before he turned and walked away.

A grin spread across Qian Bage’s face and he gave his pouch a pat, watching Bubai go.

It wasn’t until Bubai turned a corner and vanished from sight that the emotions faded from Qian Bage's expression, replaced only with eyes swirling like a deep whirlpool, "Mo Bubai… this new face isn’t simple at all. Could he be…"

A sly smile gradually crept onto his face, his finger stroking the Echo Bug in his palm.