Chapter 19 Ransom Note

Zhan Peng had returned to the cottage feeling in high spirits. Finally, his hard efforts had paid off, and he spent the night with Qian Yuxi.
Unfortunately, she had left in the morning.
He had plotted everything, from paying up the courtesan Yonghe, who claimed to only sell her smiles. She had turned out to be an excellent actress, as she had Yuxi believing that they were an item.
Their second time together still ended up painful for Yuxi. He felt bad having to resort to this kind of method to gain her, although he knew it was for the best. He could only seek to satisfy Yuxi’s sensuous nature by having a discreet relationship with her, as he needed to strike when the iron was hot. He had a hunch that Lang Juan was going to reappear, and before that, he had to conquer Yuxi’s heart.
He could try to tell Yuxi Lang Juan’s atrocity when he colluded with the dark inn proprietor to drug her, but the problem was, would she believe him? He had no proof and that night, Yuxi had been unconscious to have heard anything.
Yuxi had probably recognised the fact that, like her, he also had needs that were required to be satisfied. Whether it was the first time or the second time with her, he felt intense pleasure from their coupling. They had fit like a lock and key. This pleasure would only prove addictive down the road. Even with Di Pao, he had never experienced pleasure in this way.
His obsession with the guard was growing each day they spent together. Knowing her nature, she would soon come to him to demand more. He was sure that she would eventually fall in love with him and reciprocate his feelings.
Zhan Peng left the hut and headed back to the cottage, thinking about how they spent the night in each other’s arms until they fell asleep. He entered the cottage, calling for Yang Tian, but his brother never came. Only when he opened the door of Yang Tian’s room, then he realised his brother was not in the room.
Yang Tian had folded the blanket on his bed, and everything else appeared proper. Zhan Peng knew Yang Tian was a neat person and would always ensure everything was in order before he left his room. He deduced from the state of the room that Yang Tian must have not returned the night before.
He remembered that the night before was the festival for unmarried women. Had Yang Tian joined them? He looked about the room for any signs Yang Tian had left anything behind, but there was none. His long sword, along with its sheath, trademark of who he was before he developed amnesia, was always on his person unless he was sleeping.
Suddenly, Zhan Peng heard a loud swoosh, followed by the clink of metal on the desk in the room. Immediately, he realised that someone had delivered a message using the old ‘dart’ method.
The loose strip of paper on the dart had a message, probably from Yang Tian’s abductor.
‘Your friend is in our hands.
If you want him to keep his life, come to us with 1000 silver pieces. Head to the market in an hour and a half, and a bearded man in a black suit will give you directions to my turf.
Bandit Booyeon”
Zhan Peng hastily removed the paper from the dart and tucked it away inside his tunic. He didn’t waste time in running towards Qian Yuxi’s room to report to her what had happened.
Not long after he had knocked, Yuxi opened the door, looking lethargic. He didn’t have the time for an explanation and went directly to the issue.
“Give me a few minutes to dress and we’ll go look for him.” Yuxi said with a worried look. He couldn’t afford to wait in his room, watching her dress quickly. The fact he was watching didn’t appear to bother her much. After all, Yang Tian’s life was at stake, and they didn’t have the time to worry about trivial matters.
“Wait. The person who wrote the ransom note is a notorious figure. We have to be wary of him. Perhaps a male disguise would keep you from harm’s way.”
He watched her hurriedly slip off her robe and wrap her tempting bare torso securely in a thick strip of cloth to shield her voluptuous curves. Sighting her naked skin would remind him again and again of their passionate night. Then she slung on a black suit and pants, followed by tying her loose hair in a high bun like how the men did their hair in Shangyi.
“I’ll settle the score with you next time,” she grumpily stated, before closing the door behind them. Zhan Peng grabbed her hand before she could retaliate.
“We have to go to the market. We have less than an hour before the bearded man appears.”
“What! An hour? What is this all about, Zhan Peng?”
“I told you I didn’t have time to explain.”
“Just tell me what I need to know.”
“He’s in Bandit Booyeon’s hands,” he stated, and Yuxi’s face twisted in dismay.
Bandit Booyeon led a pack of the most feared criminals, whom he assembled from different territories on the island. They believed him to be the last of an indigenous tribe that originated in Xiantan. These men were ruthless creatures. Who knows what Yang Tian's fate was in their hands?
The Bandits of Xiantan, as they were known, were notorious for capturing travelers and performing atrocities for the sake of profit. Gold was the only language they spoke. They had the money, but how could they assure Yang Tian would not come to any harm in their hands?
The other question was, who had given out their location when the arrangement for their stay was confidential and only the king's secret army knew.
He might be interrogated severely or even tortured. Zhan Peng heard of how barbaric the bandits' torture methods were. Raising his hands in worship, he clapped them together as he prayed to the god of Longsu, the Miracle Deity Jinan.
In his heart, he was panicking but his face only exhibited calmness. He knew rushing wasn't a solution and the only way he could help his sworn brother was to find the bearded representative of the bandits at the market.
He also knew that the bandits had a lecherous nature and for Yuxi to stay out of trouble as much as possible, he suggested she don a male disguise.
An hour had passed. They strolled around the market known as the Erlu Central, but there was no sign of any dubious people, much less a bearded man in black. Everyone else seemed to be the average countryfolk carrying out their daily trade and Zhan Peng had even recognised a few of them.
How were the bandits going to find them in the crowd? Zhan Peng was filled with concern for his sworn brother.
The money was on Yuxi's person, but there weren't any instructions to hand it over to the bearded man. Neither could they rob it easily because she had chosen a very special place to hide it in and that robber would have to delve deeply into her clothes to obtain it. No way would he allow that to happen!
"Any news?" Yuxi whispered. A large number of people were circling around a woman who appeared dumped just outside the market. Distracted, she followed the crowd, heading to where the commotion was, and Zhan Peng followed, concerned for her safety.
Just then, he felt a paper being pushed up his sleeve. Turning around swiftly to search the surroundings for the messenger, all he could see was a flash of black cloth as the man disappeared into the crowd.
"Wait!" he cried, but the loud bustle of curious bystanders drowned his voice.
The man was gone.