Chapter 37: You Disgust Me

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In a panic, Hokusai, still dripping wet, hurriedly got up and pulled a cloak from the clothes rack to wrap around herself. Then, feeling a chill from below, she quickly put on her knee-length pants and skirt.

Clang clang~

The sound of metal striking metal came from outside. Startled, Hokusai shrank back, pulled the cloak tighter, and cautiously peeked out, calling, “Ding Chong, are you still there?”

Knock knock.

There was a knock on the door. Instinctively, Hokusai moved to open it, but then Ding Chong’s anxious voice came from outside: “Miss, run quickly!”

Hokusai’s heart raced wildly as she rushed to the window, preparing to escape through it. Suddenly, the window was pried open from outside. A masked man instantly appeared before her.

“Uh—” Hokusai hiccupped in fright.

“Please open the door, thank you,” said Wang Lu, the corner of his mouth beneath the mask curling politely.

As a product of nine years of compulsory education under the red flag, the heir apparent was determined to demonstrate his outstanding moral refinement to these ancient folks.

“Uh—” Hokusai hiccupped again, her face as pale as death.

Wang Lu grabbed Ding Chong, who had already been gagged, and looked at Hokusai. “She can’t get away, do you think you can? Open the door quietly. We’re just here to talk, not to intrude.”

“Your voice... uh... sounds familiar,” Hokusai said in confusion, her hiccups making her appear charmingly naive.

“Same name, same person—Qin Ming,” Wang Lu replied.

“It’s you! Uh—wait a moment.” Hokusai hurried to unlatch the door and just as she was about to call Wang Lu inside, a gust of wind blew past her, and he stood right before her.

“So fast!” Hokusai exclaimed.

“No big deal.” Wang Lu tossed Ding Chong onto the floor, then turned to Hokusai with a hint of regret. “You dress pretty quickly, too.”

“Huh?” Hokusai was taken aback. “Uh—what do you mean?”

“Nothing. Your clothes are wet; weren’t you just bathing?” Wang Lu nodded toward her damp garments. “Close the door.”

Then, as if returning home, he naturally pulled out a chair and sat down. After Hokusai shut the door, Wang Lu smiled, “Your sister cried her eyes out after receiving your letter. She asked me to tell you everything’s fine with her, so don’t worry and just help me with this.”

Hokusai’s heart leapt at the mention of her sister; she wanted to ask more but quickly caught herself and warily glanced at Ding Chong.

Wang Lu laughed softly, “Don’t worry, I’ll pack her up and take her with me shortly. If anyone asks, just say you’ve never seen her.”

Thinking of how the letter had made Wang Lu suspicious when Ding Chong disappeared midway on an errand, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

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Ding Chong glared fiercely at Wang Lu, her heart filled with anguish.

Yesterday, he had snatched Guo Zhen, causing her and her master to lose face in front of Lord Ming. Although Lord Ming didn’t openly call them useless, his words both direct and indirect blamed their incompetence.

Ding Chong, who had always prided herself on her master, felt deeply ashamed.

And now, less than a day later, after finally securing a simple errand, Wang Lu had effortlessly subdued her and traced the matter back to Mr. Hokusai’s hidden residence.

Ding Chong had never suspected Wang Lu knew this place beforehand; she thought it was coincidence that he encountered her and that he had been tailing her all along.

Though ashamed of Hokusai, she hated this lazy eldest senior brother even more.

When the news reached Lord Ming, how would her master hold her head high again?

What irritated her most was that Ding Xiu actually said, “Same name, same person,” without hesitation, claiming his name was Qin Ming.

Ha! Did they think she and her master were fools?

You’re clearly Ding Xiu!

Ding Xiu, you make me sick.

Bang!

Under Ding Chong’s uncomfortable gaze, Wang Lu suddenly pressed his foot down on her neck, pinning her to the floor, unable to move.

Seeing Ding Chong, a skilled warrior, struggle beneath Wang Lu, Hokusai’s fear deepened. She understood clearly that if even Ding Chong was so thoroughly dominated, she had no choice but to cooperate if she wanted to protect her sister and herself.

“Where is my sister now? Uh... can I see her?” Hokusai asked, blushing slightly. Despite Wang Lu being an enemy, she felt embarrassed hiccupping in front of a man.

Wang Lu sheathed his blade and said, “You’ll see her soon enough. No rush. Once this is over, you’ll be with her every day, and no one will interfere.”

Hokusai asked tentatively, so Wang Lu’s answer was not unexpected.

“How did you know I lived here?” she forced herself to ask, suppressing fear.

“My time is tight; I won’t answer useless questions like that. I have a favor to ask,” Wang Lu said calmly.

Hokusai, constrained, quickly replied, “Sir, please speak.”

“Tell those behind you: Guo Zhen is with me. If you want her, prepare two thousand taels of silver by tomorrow at dusk. I will come to collect. It’s an exchange—hand for hand,” Wang Lu said.

“How much?” Hokusai stared at him in shock. “Uh—two thousand taels!?”

“Yes, two thousand. Not a single tael less.” Wang Lu smiled. “If you intend to trade, hang a yellow handkerchief outside. If not, hang nothing and wait for me to hand Guo Zhen over to the emperor. Either way, I gain a future.”

Hokusai’s heart suddenly froze as she realized something and immediately replied, “I don’t know anyone named Guo Zhen. Why would I pay so much silver to redeem her?”

Bang!

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Wang Lu kicked the unruly Ding Chong and said, “Don’t know, fine. Then I’ll take that as your side refusing. Tonight, I’ll meet with Eunuch Wei and hand her over. I’m sure Eunuch Wei will treat me well.”

Hokusai’s thoughts raced, but aside from painting, she could think of no useful strategy. She lowered her brows and said, “I truly don’t know Guo Zhen. But didn’t you say you want the silver tomorrow? Let’s discuss this when you come tomorrow.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting to collect the silver tomorrow,” Wang Lu smiled, stood up, hoisted Ding Chong onto his shoulder, and with a palm strike knocked her unconscious.

“See you.”

Wang Lu was about to leave when Hokusai suddenly called out, “Sir, wait.”

He turned back, “What is it?”

Hokusai went to her bedside, opened a box, and took out a silver note, handing it to Wang Lu.

“One hundred taels?” Wang Lu frowned. “I asked for two thousand. Are you playing me or trying to pay in installments?”

“Uh—sir, you misunderstand. I want you to bring this money to my sister. Fifty taels are thanks for helping me find her, and the other fifty are exclusively for her. She must have suffered a lot these years; this should keep her from hardship.”

Wang Lu pocketed the note, smiling, “Don’t worry, I’ll spend all this on your sister.”

“Thank you, sir...” Hokusai bowed her head respectfully.

Wang Lu couldn’t help but glance at a patch of snow-white skin peeking from her clothes, smiled faintly, and turned to leave.

“No trouble at all,” his voice floated on the breeze into Hokusai’s ear.

When she looked up, Wang Lu’s figure had vanished.

Hokusai immediately ran outside to check but found no one else in the dark night.

She quickly returned inside, closed the door, gasping for breath, then rushed to the window to close it.

Just as she lowered the window, her expression suddenly froze.

A slender hand reached toward the window, revealing a finger-sized, glaring hole in the paper.

Hokusai peered through the hole into the room and caught sight of the bath tub she had just soaked in.

“Beast!”

Her ears instantly flushed bright pink.