Chapter 41: The Caged Bird Part 2

The waiter grew even more anxious, his voice trembling. “I… I will tell you everything I know.”

Having disguised herself to look plain but possessing a sinister charisma, the indigo-clothed woman lowered her head and laughed softly. “Actually, we’re notorious bandits. Since the Hantian Alliance has been replaced, I wonder where all the alliance’s treasures are being kept?”

Feng Yun’ai knit her brows, casting a suspicious glance at her.

The waiter stammered, “They should have all been taken over by the new Martial Arts Alliance. However, it seems some things were sent to the north of the city to be burned. I don’t know exactly what was destroyed.”

“Could it be the Alliance Leader’s corpse?” Sang Chencao asked bluntly.

Feng Yun’ai’s fingers clenched. A wave of coldness surged up her throat, nearly choking the breath out of her.

The waiter shook his head and whispered, “Leader Feng’s body seems to still be at the foot of Listening Goose Peak. The day the news of her death broke, many people wanted to pay their respects. Some were lucky enough to enter the Hantian Alliance and apparently saw the body. But whether it has been moved or burned since then… I don’t know.”

The waiter paused, his voice turning shrill. “Are you two actually lusting after Leader Feng’s treasures?”

Seeing the man’s indignation and fear, Feng Yun’ai realized he seemed to hold a lingering loyalty toward Feng Rong. Her pressed lips moved slightly. “I heard Feng Rong was wicked at heart,” she said tonelessly. “Why are you so angry that others might covet her belongings?”

The waiter’s waist was still blocked by the sword sheath, but he found the courage to turn his head. “You look like a graceful immortal, yet you harbor the heart of a thief! Whether the Leader was ‘good’ or not, the people of Cloud City know best. During the years Leader Feng was here, the people lived in peace and prosperity. We never suffered a single injustice.”

“Those words,” Feng Yun’ai lowered her eyes. “You shouldn’t let others hear them.”

The waiter huffed, but he didn’t dare say more for fear of his life.

Sang Chencao waved him off. “Fine, go. I won’t kill you.”

The waiter relaxed halfway through the first part of the sentence, but the last three words sent his heart back into his throat. He was certain it was a threat.

“Not leaving yet?” Sang Chencao gave a dark smile.

The waiter didn’t dare stay a second longer. He turned and bolted out the door.

As the door creaked shut, Sang Chencao’s expression softened back into her usual casual indifference. She peered over. “Is Xiuxiu angry?”

Feng Yun’ai didn’t know if this feeling was anger. she was desperate to go to the north of the city to investigate. If she could find Feng Rong’s remains… even that would be enough.

“Wait until later to go to the north city. The sun is too high right now; it’s too conspicuous.” Sang Chencao took the bug whistle from her robes, rubbing it for a moment. “I’ll use the insects to lead the way. If we can’t find Wen Lanxin, we’ll head to the north city.”

Feng Yun’ai’s heart was filled with bitterness, yet her chest felt hollow, as if the wind were whistling through it. She reached up to touch the white silk veil; there was a slight dampness beneath her fingertips. Her hand froze.

Sang Chencao didn’t press her to speak. She walked to the closed window and softly blew the bug whistle.

The sound was very faint. Even Feng Yun’ai, sitting at the table, could barely hear it.

After one short note, there was a rustling outside.

Feng Yun’ai returned to her senses. When she turned her head, she saw Sang Chencao propping open the wooden window. A spider crawled past the frame.

Sang Chencao looked out lazily. Insects and snakes were everywhere within her line of sight, but they were all moving like headless flies, circling aimlessly. They didn’t seem particularly bright.

She closed the window with a bored sigh. “I blew the whistle softly and gave no direction. If Wen Lanxin had fed any insects here, they would feel the summons and rush toward the feeding ground. Since they’re just wandering aimlessly, it means Wen Lanxin isn’t in Cloud City.”

Feng Yun’ai felt a sense of dazed helplessness. Feng Rong had told her to find Wen Lanxin, yet she hadn’t seen a single trace of the woman.

“Or perhaps Wen Lanxin is hiding on purpose and hasn’t fed any insects in this area,” Sang Chencao said, stowing the whistle.

Feng Yun’ai placed Solitary Gall on the table. She no longer knew how she was supposed to return the sword to Wen Lanxin.

About half an hour after sunset, footsteps echoed in the hallway. No one was speaking.

The person approaching clearly knew martial arts; their lower body was extremely stable, and their steps were neither too light nor too heavy.

The Martial Arts Alliance must have sent someone to investigate. They were truly thorough, likely unwilling to let even a moth into the city without scrutiny.

Sang Chencao had already moved away from the window and even changed her clothes. She was now sitting at the table pouring tea. Just as the visitor knocked, she set the teapot down.

Feng Yun’ai went to open the door. Though her eyes were covered, it didn’t seem to hinder her movements. She only paused slightly after opening the door. “Who is it?” she asked calmly.

The person at the door was dressed exactly like the patrols in the city. Upon seeing Feng Yun’ai’s eye veil, he cupped his hands. “The Qiushui Pavilion has arrived quite early.”

Feng Yun’ai did not respond.

The man looked toward the table for a moment, meeting a plain, smiling face. “Sorry for the intrusion,” he said.

“It is fine,” Feng Yun’ai nodded and closed the door.

The woman at the table, now wearing an ink-wash silk dress, let out a light scoff. “Once they’re far enough away, we can go to that ‘north city’ you’re so worried about. There’s a mass grave behind Jade-Fall Heights in the north. Why don’t we look there?”

“You…” Feng Yun’ai looked at her coldly.

Sang Chencao walked back to the window, making a soft “hush” sound as she listened to the movement downstairs. “I know you don’t like people disrespecting Feng Rong’s body,” she said slowly. “But if Feng Rong really is there, then no matter how harsh my words are, they’re justified. So—are you going, or not?”

Feng Yun’ai pressed her sword sheath against Sang Chencao’s shoulder. “Do not speak such nonsense in front of her body,” she said coldly.

Sang Chencao laughed. “Xiuxiu actually has moments where she cares about others. When will you spare a thought for me?”

“Why should I care about you?” Feng Yun’ai said expressionlessly. “To care about how you make fun of me?”

“Is Xiuxiu not having fun?” Sang Chencao teased.

Feng Yun’ai did not want to speak to her.