"Young Master, up ahead is Liao City. Tomorrow morning, we'll enter the city and search for Miss Isabelle's whereabouts."
John Chou yawned. The two of them had traveled through the night, reaching Liao City as quickly as possible.
"Zane, when we get there tomorrow, let's start by checking The Velvet Phoenix."
Zane Zhuang's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment he looked at John Chou with awkward embarrassment.
"Young Master, how do you know about that place?"
John Chou smiled, then lay down on the bed.
"Isn't there a place like that in Dingtown too? I asked my teacher once what the women there do, and he told me a little. It's a place where men go for pleasure."
Zane Zhuang responded with an "oh," then lay down as well. All these days, John Chou hadn't complained about being tired even once.
Soon, after watching John Chou fall asleep, Zane Zhuang walked to the window. He remembered that snowy day six years ago, when he brought Isabelle Frost here. He hadn't expected to return now, and everything that happened along the way was still vivid in his mind. If it hadn't been for the little girl glowing with red light who guided him, he would never have been able to save Isabelle.
"That must have been Miss Isabelle, a bit older. Some things really are impossible to explain."
A chill swept across his face, and in an instant, Zane Zhuang's eyes widened in disbelief as he felt himself floating upward, rising all the way to the rooftop.
"Three-Eyed, why are you here?"
Three-Eyed leaned against the rooftop.
"Zane Zhuang, I knew you were coming, but you passed by without saying hello. That's why I came to find you."
Zane Zhuang smiled helplessly. At that moment, a pot of wine and two cups floated over, the wine filling itself. One cup landed in front of Zane Zhuang, and he picked it up and took a sip.
"Good wine."
"Of course. This wine has been buried underground for many years. I'll teach you how to make it when I have time."
Zane Zhuang laughed heartily and nodded.
"There's no need to trouble you this time, Three-Eyed. I don't want the Young Master's journey to end with nothing accomplished."
Three-Eyed nodded.