Chapter 219 (1/2)
Chapter 219: Urgent Summon
Jun Huang didn't immediately respond. She thought for a moment and concluded that Nan Xun was right. She nodded. ”We have to leave. We can't predict what they'll do if they can't find the jade tree. It's going to be difficult to leave the city, though.”
”We don't know the situation yet. You should pack and take a look at the city gate. Then we'll talk about what to do.”
Nan Xun walked out of the room. Jun Huang agreed that they didn't have any other choices. She packed up and put the box containing the jade tree into her bag.
They left the inn without having breakfast. They intended to exit the city immediately. Once they reached the city gate, however, they realized that things weren't as simple as it appeared to be. No one would put in so much efforts just because the city lord lost something. Besides, the authority didn't say what the missing item was. Weren't they worried that people would panic?
Jun Huang didn't have an answer. She handed her bag to Nan Xun and walked into the crowd. She knocked into a kind-looking woman on purpose. The woman dropped the package in her hands. Jun Huang quickly picked it up and said apologetically, ”Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it. I hope you can forgive me.”
The woman was kind and friendly. She smiled and said, ”It's alright.”
Noticing Jun Huang's magnanimous att.i.tude and handsome face, the woman got into a conversation with her. Jun Huang pretended to not know why the security at the city gate had suddenly grown tighter. The woman said with a smile, ”Don't you know? The city lord lost something. He insisted that the thief had an accomplice, and that he hadn't recovered the lost item. He worried that it would be taken out of the city, so he tightened up the control at the gate this morning. Everyone coming and going has to be checked thoroughly.”
”Doesn't that count as an abuse of power?” asked Jun Huang. ”What if the emperor knows of it?”
The woman patted Jun Huang's shoulder commiseratingly. ”Do you know why he's known as the city lord? The city is under his rule. Generals may ignore the emperor's words while they're on battlefields. It's the same in this case. No one dares to oppose him here, so he's free to do whatever he wants.”
Jun Huang nodded, chewing over this new found information. She slowly made her way out of the crowd. Nan Xun rushed to her. She told him everything she knew while he listened, his brows furrowed in bemus.e.m.e.nt.
Nan Xun was reminded of something. He clapped himself on the back of his head and looked around before dragging Jun Huang to a place without unwanted ears. He whispered, ”Before we came to Eastern Wu, I met with someone from the House of Heavenly Fiends. He mentioned that we had comrades in Eastern Wu as well. We can seek them out for help.”
Jun Huang looked up at him and asked, ”How do we contact them?”
Nan Xun silently led her away from the city gate. Jun Huang followed without asking any questions. They came to a teahouse. The sign looked familiar to her. She realized that the icon appeared on the sign of the teahouse in Yun Town as well. It belonged to the House of Heavenly Fiends. No one would notice if they didn't know what they were looking for.
The clerk's eyes darted between these two graceful and good-looking men. ”Have the gentlemen made an appointment?”
Nan Xun looked around to make sure that no one was watching. He made a gesture at the clerk. The clerk nodded. ”Come with me, gentlemen.”
The clerk took them upstairs and asked for the owner of the tea house. The owner was on high alert seeing two unfamiliar faces. ”What do the gentleman want from me?”
Nan Xun knew the owner was a member of the organization. He took out his token without hesitation. Stunned, the owner dropped down to the floor and bowed to Nan Xun.
Nan Xun helped him up. ”The city is on high alert. We cannot leave through the gate, but we must. I hope you may be able to solve this problem for us.”
The owner didn't ask any more questions. He nodded. ”I can help, but we have to wait until the afternoon. This teahouse sends people to the neighboring city to buy tea leaves every day. You can just go out with our staff.”
Jun Huang took out the box in her bag and met the owner's surprised gaze. ”This is what the city lord is looking for. We are leaving with it.”
”Understood. I'll make the arrangements.” The owner left. A few servants were ordered to bring them some snacks. The sight of the osmanthus cakes made Jun Huang stomach rumble. Her hunger was somewhat sated after a few bites..
Nan Xun poured her a cup of water and sighed. ”Don't worry. We'll leave safely. You should trust the ability of the House of Heavenly Fiends.”
”It's not that I don't trust them; I just have a bad feeling.” Jun Huang let her concerns shown. Nan Xun wondered if she was still reeling from what happened the past couple of days. He didn't respond.