Chapter 10: A Deceptive Glance

Yang Zhan and Qiu Yun watched for a while.

Qiu Yun remarked, "Aren't you going to play the hero saving the damsel?"

Yang Zhan smiled playfully, "She's keeping her head down; I can't tell if she's a beauty or not."

Just then, however, the young woman raised her head.

Seeing this, Yang Zhan was genuinely surprised. Such a beautiful girl, and she hadn't been snatched up by some nobleman or royal official yet?

Qiu Yun shot him a look. "Well? Is she beautiful or not?"

"Beautiful!"

"Then why aren't you going over?"

"She hasn't cried for help yet. Perhaps she enjoys it?"

Qiu Yun was left speechless. She reached out and pinched the flesh at Yang Zhan's waist, twisting hard.

"Ouch..."

Qiu Yun cried out in pain herself.

Yang Zhan retorted irritably, "What are you pinching for? I’m made of tempered steel!"

At that very moment, the girl began to wail, "Help! Help me!"

The two hooligans grew excited.

"Oh, listen to that voice. How sweet!"

"Haha, brother, I’ll go first!"

Qiu Yun clutched her fingers, tears welling in her eyes. "She’s crying for help! Aren't you going?"

"Heh, what a coincidence."

Yang Zhan chuckled, picked up his two roasted chickens and two jars of wine, and walked over.

"What are you doing? Even in broad daylight, there are limits to such behavior!"

As Yang Zhan spoke, the two hooligans stopped in their tracks. The young woman seized the opportunity to run straight to Yang Zhan's side, grabbing his arm. An outsider might have thought she was after his roasted chickens!

"Which one of you is tired of living, daring to ruin our fun?"

But when the two hooligans turned around and saw Yang Zhan in his jailer’s uniform, they immediately lost their nerve. One of them bowed deeply, "Official, it's a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! We were just teasing her; we wouldn't dare do anything truly untoward!"

"Get lost!"

Yang Zhan couldn't be bothered to say another word. The two men bowed and scraped as they scrambled away.

Playing the hero was just that simple.

***

Yang Zhan looked at his jailer’s uniform; naturally, it wasn't something ordinary people dared to provoke.

"Thank you, sir, for saving me. Otherwise..." Her soft voice was choked with sobs.

Yang Zhan had a soft spot for such tender, gentle girls.

"It’s alright, miss. You should head back now."

Yang Zhan noticed that her clothing wasn't exactly common, but her appearance was truly, absurdly beautiful. Her brows were like a painting, her nose perfectly shaped, and her cherry-red lips were especially enticing. Her face was full and youthful; it made Yang Zhan want to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

The girl curtsied and said, choked with emotion, "Sir, you saved me, and I have no way to repay you. I have some silver..."

Before she could finish, Yang Zhan interrupted, "Just a few taels of silver will do."

The girl was stunned, then shook her head. "No, it's not that. I wish to invite you for a drink to thank you for your chivalry."

Yang Zhan looked her over and smiled. "Where to?"

"It’s up to you, sir."

Yang Zhan grinned. "Alright then, let's go to the Wangyue Pavilion. It's not far."

The girl nodded. "Thank you."

Yang Zhan glanced back at A-Yun’s Roast Chicken Shop and saw Qiu Yun with her hands on her hips, looking like she was watching a villain lure away an innocent girl. Yang Zhan smiled and waved at her before walking off with the girl.

Qiu Yun slammed a cleaver into the cutting board with a *thwack* and muttered, "Men! None of them are any good!"

***

The Wangyue Pavilion was nearby, just across from the prison. Because of its height, one could see the prison clearly from its top floor.

It was freezing on the top floor, so there weren't many people. Yang Zhan chose a window seat. It offered a grand view, perfect for taking in the stunning sight of a world frozen in ice and snow for a thousand miles.

Yang Zhan muttered, "The snow is getting heavier."

The girl looked at him, her eyes clear and seemingly filled with innocence.

Yang Zhan turned to her and asked, "What's your name?"

"Oh, sir, my name is Qin Yin."

"A fine name. Paired with fine music, it would surely be a perfect match."

Qin Yin’s expression flickered as she looked at him, then she turned away. "Waiter, bring us your best wine and dishes."

Qin Yin ordered, but Yang Zhan paid no mind. Through the window, he could see the main gate of the prison about a hundred paces away.

He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and laughed. "Miss, you’re spending a lot!"

"It is no trouble. You saved me with such chivalry; I have no other way to repay you but to offer you this drink."

Yang Zhan looked at her. "Actually, there's no need for such trouble. You could just convert the cost of this meal into silver and give it to me. That would be much simpler!"

Qin Yin didn't answer, instead asking, "May I ask your name, sir?"

The wine arrived, along with two cold appetizers. Yang Zhan didn't answer. He picked up the wine pot, sniffed it, and immediately looked disgusted.

"This really is watered-down wine. It's fine for a lady like you, but for a brute like me, it doesn't quite hit the spot."

Saying this, he pushed the pot toward Qin Yin and pulled out his own wine gourd. He tilted his head back, took a deep swig, and looked with satisfaction at the girl who was so beautiful she seemed almost dreamlike. She truly didn't look like someone from this world.

Qin Yin said helplessly, "Why must you drink your own wine? Regardless, this is a token of my gratitude." She began to pour wine for him.

Yang Zhan didn't stop her, just watched her slender, jade-like fingers move the pot before his eyes.

Once the wine was poured, Qin Yin raised her cup. "Sir, I offer you a toast."

Yang Zhan smiled. "How is it that you don't seem like a sheltered young lady, but rather someone from the martial world? You have that 'jianghu' spirit."

Qin Yin smiled brightly. "You might not know this, sir, but since I was young, I’ve longed for the martial world. I’ve always wanted to see the world the storytellers talk about—the vast, distant world where heroes and gallant men dwell!"

Yang Zhan laughed aloud, "The swordswoman plays a light tune on her flute, the swordsman plays his pipes; together they play, and the sorrows of the world vanish into thin air!"

Qin Yin's eyes lit up. "I never imagined you had such literary talent, sir!"

Seeing the look in her eyes, Yang Zhan was momentarily taken aback.

"Haha, you flatter me. I was just spouting nonsense."

Being praised by such a beautiful girl, Yang Zhan felt a bit embarrassed. After all, he’d heard that at the Yuhong Pavilion; he hadn't written it himself. He couldn't help but think that the girls at the Yuhong Pavilion were quite talented—they composed well and sang even better.

"Sir, my arm is getting tired from holding this."

Only then did Yang Zhan notice she was still holding her cup up. He clinked his cup against hers and downed the wine in one gulp.

Qin Yin watched him drink, her smile growing even more radiant. She finished her wine as well, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

Yang Zhan looked back toward the prison gate.

Qin Yin asked, "Wearing that uniform, are you on duty at the prison across the way?"

Yang Zhan nodded. "Yes, and drinking with you here is a dereliction of duty."

Qin Yin smiled slightly and poured him more wine. "Thank you for the honor. Though, you still haven't told me your name."

"Yang Zhan. You should have known that already."

Qin Yin was stunned. "Why would I have known that?"

"You've arranged quite a bit, though it’s all rather clumsy. It was fake at first glance."

Qin Yin pursed her lips and smiled. "How can you say that, Master Yang? I am truly grateful for your kindness."

Yang Zhan turned back to face her, a smile playing on his lips. "Do you think that without me at the prison, there would be no one left to stop the people from the Night-Watching Bureau?"