After Crossdressing and Provoking Long AoTian

Yu Qingtang’s mouth fell open in shock. “A Th-Thundercrest Leopard?”

Scholar Xiao looked thoughtful. “Brother Yu, you know about this unusual demonfolk bloodline?”

“Their kind weren’t born Thundercrest Leopards. They descend from a black leopard that swallowed liquid lightning and somehow survived. Generation after generation, the Thundercrest Leopards chased lightning and used it to strengthen themselves, gradually developing a secret art for controlling it.”

“It is said that the first Thundercrest Leopard bore nine strands of Nine-Heavens Thundercrest and could roam freely even within the lightning tribulation of the Nine Heavens.”

He tapped his folding fan lightly against his palm.

“Once cultivators advance beyond the Out-of-Body realm, every further breakthrough requires them to endure a lightning tribulation. With a Thundercrest Leopard’s assistance, they would at least be assured of surviving it.”

“So that’s why.” Chi Yantian finally understood. “I thought they’d all lost their minds over her beauty and forgotten that she had a Demon King behind her...”

He frowned, clearly uncomfortable.

“But she’s already sentient. Even outside Nanzhou, no one openly sells sentient demonfolk. Are auctions in Great Wilderness Mountain really this lawless?”

“Of course not!” Canglang clenched his fists. “The strong preying upon the weak may be instinctive among demonfolk, but selling one of our own kind into slavery is unheard of!”

“And then there is the contract they’re offering...”

A trace of wariness flashed through his eyes.

“Whether anyone dares accept it or not, the fact that they dared propose such a transaction means this auction house must have a Demon King backing it.”

Yu Qingtang turned toward Ye Chenyan, looking as though he wanted to say something but did not know how.

Ye Chenyan noticed his gaze and was suddenly seized by an ominous premonition.

After gathering his courage, Yu Qingtang leaned closer and quietly asked, “Do you want to know the name of the girl lying down there?”

“I don’t,” Ye Chenyan answered without hesitation.

Yu Qingtang grabbed him. “I’m not teasing you. I’m serious!”

He lowered his voice.

“It’s Ziyun!”

Ye Chenyan: “...”

He had already guessed that she was probably one of Ziyun, Girl in the Bamboo, or Li Ji.

His brows drew together slightly, but with everyone else present, he refrained from asking for details.

“Her entrance is different, though,” Yu Qingtang muttered.

That was why he had not recognized her immediately.

In the original story, Ziyun escaped from Great Wilderness Mountain on her own. Hoping to divert her pursuers toward someone else, she fled toward the border between Great Wilderness Mountain and Nanzhou City—the territory inhabited by the demon race.

She secretly followed Candle Nine Yin and somehow blundered into the Immortal-Bewildering Forest, where Ye Chenyan and Candle Nine Yin caught her red-handed.

Yu Qingtang remembered this particularly clearly because, on Ziyun’s very first day in the Immortal-Bewildering Forest, Ye Chenyan had grilled seventy-four whole fish for her.

Seventy-four!

Yu Qingtang could not help sighing. Raising her could not have been easy for the Thundercrest Leopard clan.

That particular plotline had barely mattered recently, so he had almost forgotten about it.

Ye Chenyan had emerged from seclusion ahead of schedule. By the time Ziyun went to the Immortal-Bewildering Forest, he had already left. The Heavenly Dao had clearly gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure the two of them met anyway.

Yu Qingtang narrowed his eyes.

The Heavenly Dao’s little abacus was clacking again. The gears of fate had begun turning once more!

When he remained silent, Ye Chenyan assumed he was imagining something ridiculous again. He turned toward him and quietly began to clarify, “I didn’t—”

Yu Qingtang leaned close to his ear. “Stay calm. Something will probably happen soon. We’ll use the opportunity to rescue her.”

Ye Chenyan gave him a strange look. “You want to save her?”

Yu Qingtang stared at him in shock. “You weren’t planning to?”

Ye Chenyan glanced toward the auction hall, perfectly composed. “We’ll save her.”

“But since they’re using a water mirror to conceal the location, the treasury Scarlet is in may not be anywhere near us.”

“An astute observation, Brother Ye.” Scholar Xiao chuckled as he waved his fan. “If they had kept its location perfectly hidden, there would indeed be nothing we could do. But just now... someone traveled from that treasury to our room.”

Yu Qingtang immediately understood. “That guard! But he left a while ago...”

“Ahem.” Scholar Xiao’s eyes curved with his smile. “This unworthy scholar made a small preparation earlier.”

He raised his hand.

The Heavenly Eye Pearl lay in his palm, and within it was an image of the treasury. Scarlet’s tail had swept past the top of the pearl several times. It was evidently lying right beside him.

Chi Yantian’s eyes widened. “As expected of someone with so many schemes!”

Scholar Xiao inclined his head modestly. “You flatter me. You flatter me.”

He gave the others a meaningful look.

“We should prepare now and get out as soon as possible.”

Canglang glanced outside. “How?”

“Leave it to me!” Yu Qingtang volunteered.

He opened the door. The guard outside turned around warily, then bowed with respect.

“Does our honored guest require—”

“Hehe.” Yu Qingtang held out a book with a dazzling smile. “Take a look at this!”

The guard instinctively did as instructed.

The next instant, a cloud of pink mist burst into his face, and he collapsed bonelessly to the floor.

Chi Yantang recognized the sight and exclaimed, “Isn’t that Amorous Secrets?”

Scholar Xiao reminded them, “Bring the rabbit demon. He may prove useful as a hostage later.”

The group filed out of the room.

Ye Chenyan took Amorous Secrets from Yu Qingtang and strode toward the next guard.

Yu Qingtang was about to warn him that he could not possibly approach so openly when Ye Chenyan expressionlessly slapped the book against the guard’s face.

Bang!

The guard dropped unconscious.

Ye Chenyan frowned slightly and stared at the book in confusion. “Why didn’t any mist come out?”

Yu Qingtang woodenly mimed opening a book.

“Could it possibly be because you didn’t open it?”

Ye Chenyan suddenly tilted his head.

Another guard had appeared around the corner.

Ye Chenyan raised his hand and hurled the book. It struck the guard squarely in the face before he could make a sound, sending him toppling backward.

Yu Qingtang: “...”

He desperately wanted to ask who had taught Ye Chenyan to use books like that.

On second thought, the guards had still been knocked unconscious. What did it matter?

Yu Qingtang obediently followed behind him and retrieved Amorous Secrets from the floor.

As expected of something that could be used as a magical artifact. At least it was sturdy.

“Come on.” Ye Chenyan opened the auction house’s main door.

The group leaped through it and reappeared before the tree hollow they had entered earlier.

“I’ll lead the way.” Scholar Xiao confidently moved to the front, smiling with restrained pride. “The Heavenly Eye Pearl cannot actually reveal its location, but this unworthy scholar never forgets anything he has seen. I remember every sight along the guard’s route, so naturally I know the way.”

“The guard had time to reach us during a pause in the auction, so it cannot be far.” Canglang surveyed their surroundings vigilantly. “Be careful.”

He could not resist looking at the group again.

“Are you really going to help rescue her? Aren’t you afraid of offending the Demon King behind the auction house?”

“Afraid of what?” Chi Yantian scoffed. “If you’re afraid of everything, you might as well stay home!”

Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “We aren’t going solely to rescue her.”

Canglang blinked. “What else are you going for?”

Ye Chenyan gave him a peculiar look. “What else would anyone do after finding an auction house’s treasury?”

His answer was perfectly righteous.

“Rob it while we have the chance.”

Canglang: “...”

His brows furrowed. “Are you people actually good?”

“Hahaha!” Scholar Xiao laughed and waved his fan. “Neither black nor white. We play fair with the fair and dirty with the dirty.”

“We shouldn’t rush in yet.” Yu Qingtang winked at Ye Chenyan, signaling for him to be patient. “We’ll hide nearby and watch first. We might gain something unexpected.”

Since Ziyun had managed to escape on her own in the original story, something must have gone wrong here. The novel simply had not described it.

Yu Qingtang tried to make his face look cunning and intelligent.

“We’ll sit back and reap the spoils!”

“It’s here!” Scholar Xiao pointed at the level ground ahead.

A wave of spiritual power swept aside the fallen leaves, revealing a seemingly bottomless pit beneath them.

“If we aren’t charging in recklessly, then...” Scholar Xiao chuckled. “Shall we wait for the snake to come out of its hole?”

“Appropriate.” Canglang spread his wings and took flight. “There’s no cover on the open ground, but the surrounding trees are dense. How about hiding above?”

“Let’s go!” Chi Yantian could barely contain his excitement. “This is my first time robbing an auction house’s treasury!”

Each of them chose a suitable branch and craned their necks toward the hole, waiting for Scarlet to emerge.

Before long, a crimson figure shot out.

Compared to his earlier appearance, Scarlet was no longer writhing and posing as though he had no bones. He also wore storage rings on all ten fingers.

Two guards followed behind him, carrying the cage containing Ziyun, the Thundercrest Leopard.

Scarlet glanced back, his expression grave. “Still no word from Xuerong?”

“No!” One of the guards hurried to keep up. “And that isn’t all. They still haven’t delivered the spirit stones from the other location...”

Nervousness spread across his face.

“Lord Scarlet, could something have happened?”

“Something happened?” Scarlet sneered. “More likely that brat Xuerong decided to pocket the guests’ spirit stones and flee with them!”

“I wondered why he insisted on separating the treasury from the auction house. I thought it was merely a rabbit’s habit—three burrows for every crafty hare. So this was what he had been planning!”

The guard paled. “H-how could he dare?”

“What wouldn’t he dare?” Scarlet narrowed his eyes. “I always knew that brat had rebellion in his bones. Bah! Four-legged, furry creatures really can’t be trusted!”

He pointed at the guard.

“You. Keep your wits about you and go check the auction house.”

“Yes!”

The guard immediately sprinted away in the auction house’s direction.

Scarlet tightened his grip around the storage rings on his fingers, visibly irritated.

“We could have made a fortune. Damn rabbit!”

Up in the tree, Chi Yantian repeatedly signaled to the others, nearly losing control and leaping down on the spot.

It really was a scam!

The earlier legitimate auctions had all been preparation for this one enormous haul.

Scholar Xiao and Canglang held him down from either side, preventing him from acting impulsively.

Below them, Scarlet had just turned to leave when a scream rang out behind him.

The guard who had sprinted away came flying backward. He rolled across the ground twice and did not get up again.

Scarlet instantly went on full alert. “Who’s there?”

The newcomer made no attempt to conceal his appearance.

He was tall and elegant, with features like carved jade and a pair of dragon horns rising from his forehead. A folding fan swayed in his hand, but its surface was covered in such a riot of flowers that it looked anything but refined. Rather than elegance, it radiated the desperation of someone trying too hard to appear cultured.

“Me,” the newcomer answered.

A row of hired fighters spread out behind him.

He chuckled.

“Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me.”

Scarlet’s expression changed several times before he finally laughed softly.

“My, if it isn’t the Young Dragon King. You came personally?”

“Hahaha. The Young Dragon King.” The dragon-horned youth smiled pleasantly. “That isn’t what you called me on the auction stage.”

He pointed his folding fan at Scarlet.

“Trying to swindle people out of their money was bad enough. You even dared use my name to sell places at the Mountain-Shaking Ape King’s funeral banquet, then slandered me and mocked the decline of the dragon lineage...”

A calculating gleam entered Scarlet’s eyes.

He apologized in a soft, coquettish voice.

“How was I supposed to know? I merely repeated what the people above me told me.”

“Don’t be angry, Young Dragon King. How would you like to punish me?”

He raised his eyes, his gaze seductive and his every movement naturally alluring.

“That’s easy enough.” The Young Dragon King’s smile did become much friendlier.

He pointed with his folding fan.

“You stole a secret treasure of the dragon lineage, slandered this young master’s reputation, and even dared writhe around until you polluted my eyes...”

“Beat him!”

“Hmph!” Scarlet’s expression changed.

His tail suddenly expanded, sweeping violently sideways as he spun and transformed into his true form.

“Do you truly think I’m afraid of you? The one backing me is someone the dragon lineage cannot afford to provoke anymore!”

“Attack!”

More guards rushed from the underground chamber and clashed with the Young Dragon King’s fighters.

Chi Yantian grew restless. “When do we join in?”

“Now!” Ye Chenyan barked.

The Young Dragon King had been watching the battle while casually waving his fan. His eyes suddenly narrowed when several people entered the fray without warning.

Their targets were perfectly clear: Scarlet’s ring-covered hands and the cage containing the Thundercrest Leopard behind him.

He froze for a moment, then shouted, “Who are you people?”

Yu Qingtang remained at the rear with his qin over his shoulder, guarding the others as he greeted the dragon youth enthusiastically.

“Fellow professionals!”

“Whatever we manage to grab is down to our own ability!”

It took the Young Dragon King a moment to understand.

He flew into a rage.

“Who is in the same profession as you?! I came here to seek justice!”

Yu Qingtang immediately put on a righteous expression.

“Exactly!”

He pointed at the Thundercrest Leopard inside the cage.

“We’ve also come to seek justice for this poor young lady!”

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