Chapter 2646 — Recognized

"He's here—I saw him just a moment ago!" As he spoke, You Panhu pulled up a photograph on his phone and sent it to Zhao Qibing. "This is the one. Go in and look for this mask—the man wearing it is Wei Zhao."

You Panhu had already gotten the image of the mask Wei Zhao had worn from You Laosan, and standing at the entrance as he was, he had naturally spotted Wei Zhao the moment he came in. So he could tell Zhao Qibing with absolute certainty that Wei Zhao was inside.

"Oh, good. Then I'll head in. Are you coming?" Zhao Qibing asked.

"I'll wait and see." You Panhu was waiting for Han Jingyi—to see whether she had come to the masquerade. If she had, he could pick her out, and use that to demand the alchemist's notes from her.

He had already stationed Huang Mao to keep watch outside Han Jingyi's villa. If she left the house, he would know at once, along with exactly what she was wearing. Unfortunately, Huang Mao had just called to say Han Jingyi's car was still parked outside the villa: Wei Zhao had come, and so had Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu, but Han Jingyi had not. The conclusion was obvious—Han Jingyi had no interest in attending the masquerade.

As for picking out Wei Zhao himself, You Panhu had no interest in that. True, he could also have demanded Han Jingyi's alchemist's notes from Wei Zhao, but Wei Zhao could simply say offhandedly that the things belonged to Han Jingyi, not to him, and that he could not hand them over—and then You Panhu would have wasted his effort for nothing. Better to leave the opportunity to Zhao Qibing.

After waiting a while longer with still no word from Huang Mao, You Panhu left the masquerade. There was no point in staying any longer.

Zhong Yongliang had come too, bringing Gao Xiaofu along, but he had only one admission ticket in hand and could not bring a guest inside. He was hoping to find someone at the door who was not going in, or who was selling a ticket, and it just so happened that he ran into You Panhu, who was on his way out.

"You Panhu, what are you up to?" Zhong Yongliang called out, stopping him.

"Oh, Young Master Zhong. Is something the matter?" You Panhu put on a smiling face. He had little use for Zhong Yongliang, but the name of the Tomorrow and Tomorrow Sect was set squarely before him, and he did not dare offend it.

"Aren't you going to the masquerade?" Zhong Yongliang asked.

"Me? No. I've got a bit of other business," You Panhu said with a shake of his head, though he did not explain the real reason.

"Then what about your ticket?" Zhong Yongliang asked at once.

"Right here. What do you want with it?" You Panhu blinked, fished out the ticket, and asked.

"If you're not using it, give it to me. I'm short one," Zhong Yongliang said.

"Oh, sure. Here, take it." You Panhu did not much care, and casually handed his ticket over to Zhong Yongliang.

Zhong Yongliang thanked him, and he and Gao Xiaofu went smoothly into the masquerade.

Zhong Yongliang's target this time was Gu Mengyao. At the auction he had been played for a fool by Shen Yushu and had failed to get close to her; this time at the masquerade he certainly could not let the chance slip by. Of course, he would not make any improper demands of Gu Mengyao—that was unrealistic. He only wanted her to agree to a single date with him. Such a request broke neither law nor morality, and would not put Gu Mengyao in a difficult position; it would leave her no grounds for refusal.

"Wow! You're Wang Xinyan—I've recognized you!" The moment the dance began, Shen Yushu dragged Gu Mengyao eagerly over to stand before the "Pleasant Goat" and pointed at her.

"Xiaoshu, stop making trouble. Wei Zhao is cultivating..." Wang Xinyan was caught between laughter and tears. They had come together, and had prepared their masks together; of course Shen Yushu could recognize her.

"I'm not making trouble, Sister Xinyan. You've been recognized, so you have to grant me one request," Shen Yushu said, entirely straight-faced. "Those are the rules of the masquerade. Nothing says you can't go up and claim someone you already knew."

"Well... all right then. What request do you want me to grant?" Wang Xinyan said, a little helplessly, though in her heart she was rather pleased. Xiaoshu coming over to tease her meant that Xiaoshu had gradually come to accept her, and acknowledged her place as a new member of the household.

"Ooh, let Xiaoshu think..." Shen Yushu put on an air of deep pondering, then suddenly said, "Got it, I've got it! Sister Xinyan, be Brother Arrow-Shield's girlfriend!"

"..." Wang Xinyan was taken aback, unsure what to say. "That... I'm Kang Zhaolong's fiancée. Becoming Wei Zhao's girlfriend—that's not something I can do, is it?"

"Oh, I see. All right then, we'll put it on account for now." Shen Yushu had in fact only said it casually, to test the waters; hearing Wang Xinyan refuse, she did not press the matter.

"Xiaoshu, stop fooling around. The four of us being together makes it far too easy for people to recognize us," Gu Mengyao said.

"Okay..." Shen Yushu nodded, and left with Gu Mengyao.

Wang Xinyan was caught between laughter and tears. Just like that, for no reason at all, she owed Xiaoshu a favor?

More and more people filled the hall, and the music struck up. Inside the masquerade one could go to the dance floor, or take some snacks from the free buffet area and enjoy them at the surrounding tables.

Wei Zhao was cultivating when a man in a black hood came dashing over, giving Wang Xinyan quite a fright! This was a masquerade, true, but the newcomer was dressed much like a bank robber, and as she saw him approach, Wang Xinyan asked instinctively, "You... what do you want?"

"Ha, I've recognized you—you're Wei Zhao!" The newcomer was none other than Zhao Qibing. He had no real interest in attending any masquerade; if not for the rule against entering with one's own face, he would not even have bothered with the hood.

Wei Zhao came to himself from his cultivation for no apparent reason, glanced at the hooded man before him, and said, "Zhao Qibing, are you sick in the head? Something you need?"

"I've recognized you, and according to the rules of the dance, you have to agree to one thing for me!" Zhao Qibing said. "You're not thinking of going back on your word, are you?"

"Oh? What thing? Don't tell me you want me to break your legs again?" Wei Zhao frowned and asked.

"Ha, Wei Zhao, you're sharp—that's right, you've got it! Hurry up and break them, I can't wait!" Zhao Qibing was overjoyed that Wei Zhao had guessed his purpose.

"You asking me to hit you—that counts as deliberate injury, doesn't it? That violates law and morality. I won't do it." With that, Wei Zhao closed his eyes and went back to cultivating.

For the fastest updates, please read without pop-ups.