Previously, on Extraordinary Twins... three hours ago.
"Attention, all units—yes, Simone, don't give me that face, I know it's just you and me, but I like saying 'all units!' Anyway, before we kick off, let's do one last rundown of the plan."
"This genius plan has two sides: the surface and the secret. It's plans within plans, schemes stacked on schemes, and even more tricks outside the box! I'm such a mastermind, so let me sum it up in eleven words: Sneaky, ruthless, decisive, cutthroat, and absolutely shameless!"
"First, let's talk about the surface plan. Here's how it goes."
"Step one: 'Joan, did you sense anything weird from the glowing stone at noon? I've made a huge discovery!' Operation Go!"
"Step two: 'Beyond those mountains and that sea lies a golden opportunity. Miss it and you'll regret it for ten lifetimes!' Operation Go!"
"Step three: 'Joan, I spotted a group acting super suspicious. After tailing them, turns out they're totally The Ace material. Let's go catch her!' Operation Go!"
"Step three (alternate): 'Joan, there are tons of roadblocks this time, and they're tough. Can't do it without you!' Operation Go!"
"Step four: 'Grab The Ace and dash west like maniacs! I know nothing, I'm just here for the wild adventure—carefree, happy, chasing a once-in-a-millennium miracle. Meanwhile, Joan, burning with self-sacrifice, drags her sick self along just to help me out. After fighting through a zillion obstacles, we finally find the Big Destiny Monument.' Operation Go!"
"That's the surface plan. Now for the secret plan—it's way trickier, so listen up and crank up your IQ!"
"Step one: Right after the surface plan's final move, ambush Joan with all the sneakiness, ruthlessness, and rebellious spirit you've got! Tie her up tight, then toss that troublemaker straight into the miracle. Whether she wants it or not, she's getting it!"
"That's the secret plan in a nutshell."
"That shocked look on your face is priceless, but yep, this plan is packed with schemes, betrayals, and trickery. I'm totally playing Joan and her big heart, luring her into my trap, and leaving her high and dry—it's even more ruthless than a pyramid scheme. Just saying it out loud, I feel like I'm about to get struck by lightning... but hey, that's just how evil I am!"
"I'm the Demon King, you're the Enchantress—born to cause trouble! So this wicked operation? We're seeing it through, no mercy allowed!"
"No further questions? Dismissed—let's roll!"
And so, three hours went by.
During those three hours, Jill and Simone were hustling non-stop, doing everything they could to shove Joan into the pit. So, a whole lineup of prepared stunts played out. Jill, the queen of acting, went all in—selling her excitement so hard that Joan was convinced she'd hooked a big fish.
To make it even more believable, Jill even dragged up that recent assassination attempt in the Ciyuan Hall, and claimed the assassin used a special gadget to trigger psychic illusions. Through her secret sources, Jill confirmed that the gadget was one of those glowing stones. If the assassin could use it so perfectly, she must know all the secrets.
And that stone is tied to the second Big Destiny Monument about to appear. It's not some unguarded mystery island—there are people stationed there long-term. If you just rush in blindly, you'll walk straight into a trap. That's why we need The Ace to show us the way.
"So, to sum up: Joan, we have to catch The Ace."
"There's really such a bizarre thing? Hard to imagine." Joan put down her book, took a deep breath, and declared, "Alright, if this thing really matters that much, we can't let it slip by. If what you sensed is right, that opportunity a thousand miles away is just like the one on Mystery Island—a once-in-a-lifetime miracle. No way we let someone else snatch it. Let's scheme up a plan and go catch that slippery 'Ace.'"
"You got it!" Jill flashed a thumbs-up, sneaking a look at Simone, a sparkle in her eye.
Step one: nailed it!
But everything Jill said was basically true—no fake news here, just cold, hard reality. That's why her story didn't have a single flaw. She only left out one thing: her source.
In that dark, other-dimensional world, Jill knew the Sacred Flame spot was packed with mysteries, and yeah, they needed an Ace. But who was the Ace? In her last desperate gaze in the darkness, she managed to snatch a few crucial clues from the blur.
First, she saw a mechanical shell. Then, a familiar black-and-white impressionist world. Third, she saw Chu Yunluo scribbling and painting out of boredom. And last, she spotted the disguised South Sea Immortal, Cao Hong.
For some unfathomable reason, you almost never see the actual fire-holder in the dark world, but those images were enough. As one of the top names on the Evil-Hunting League's bounty list—just below Eagle Lord—Jill definitely knew Cao Hong's face.
Once she had Cao Hong's identity, everything else was easy. Jill's mind raced, and she pieced together most of Fang Hui's plan, confirming that the Ace couldn't possibly be a eunuch or a maid—it had to be one of the concubines in Chu Yunluo's little courtyard. The only snag: which one is the Ace?
Assassins are masters of hiding. Even with Jill and Simone's sharp eyes, no way they could spot a pro who's been undercover for seventy years if she doesn't want to be found. Big Log's probably passed out from exhaustion, so no hoping for backup from him. If brute force won't work, it's time for tricks. Don't know which one's the Ace? Easy—just drag them all over!
If someone claims to be sick and skips out, Jill will just play doctor and check their pulse—she'll know who's faking in a heartbeat.
If someone suddenly bolts, then boom—she's the Ace. Just grab her on the spot.
If nobody acts weird and they all show up at Ganlu Hall, even better. Once the doors close, Ganlu Hall is the one place in the palace nobody dares to mess with. No matter what goes down inside, nobody's asking questions. So... muahahaha! Ace, you can flap your wings all you want, you're not escaping!
First, let me force you to show your true colors... hehehe...
"Stand there—all of you, strip. I want to pick and choose." The Big Boss's voice was full of authority and the kind of swagger that stomps all over dignity: "Why aren't you moving? Strip! Now!"
Yep, it's that classic sleazy rich guy at the nightclub yelling, "Ugly, ugly, ugly—next batch!" In this era of strict religious rules, not even high-class escorts have seen this kind of scene. Anyone picked to be a palace concubine might not be rolling in luxury, but they've all got decent manners.
Sure, they'd all psyched themselves up before coming, but stripping in public—well, semi-public—like livestock for inspection? Even the most ambitious would feel humiliated. And don't forget, the Manichaean Sect and the Song royal family are mortal enemies. The Ace herself is a master at breaking through barriers, so of course she's gonna get mad.
When emotion stirs, energy stirs—and when energy stirs, things get messy.
Faced with six beauties lined up, all sneaking glances at each other and too embarrassed to move, the Big Boss barked from behind the curtain: "Leftmost—you're up first."
The concubine couldn't dodge anymore, so she started undressing, piece by piece, until only her undergarments remained. Her face was flaming red—she wished she could sink into the floor.
But His Majesty wasn't done. That cold voice came again: "Didn't you hear me? All of it—off."