Chapter 101: When Tinder Meets Flame

After leaving the hiding spot, Chen Hao received a messenger pigeon from Honest Dealer, saying he had already contacted someone to help with the quest. Arriving at the market to meet Honest Dealer, Chen Hao saw a thin, pale-faced player standing beside him.

Honest Dealer pointed to the player beside him and said, "This is my friend, Bai Yutang. He put all his free attribute points into Diplomacy. I think he should be able to complete your quest."

Chen Hao nodded. "Then there shouldn't be a problem. Here are fifty silver dollars. Give them to an NPC named Zhao Mingwu and have him seduce a young married woman named Huang Xian'er who lives in the East District. Once you successfully persuade him, I will pay you."

Bai Yutang glanced at Chen Hao and said, "This is going to take up quite a bit of time. A reward of ten silver dollars is too little. I want twenty."

The difficulty of this quest wasn't actually that high. Seeing Bai Yutang demand such an exorbitant price before he even knew the dangers involved left Chen Hao with a poor impression of him. However, as long as he could eliminate County Magistrate Liu Ziyuan, Chen Hao would be willing to pay an extra hundred silver dollars, let alone ten. But agreeing too readily might arouse suspicion, so he looked at Honest Dealer with a dissatisfied expression and said, "Old Tong, didn't we agree on ten silver dollars?"

Honest Dealer replied helplessly, "Brother Bai and I only have a business relationship. He was originally in the middle of another quest, but he abandoned it to come here when I called him, so..."

Chen Hao said with feigned reluctance, "Fine, twenty silver dollars it is. But those fifty silver dollars must be handed over to the NPC Zhao Mingwu so I can complete my quest. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Bai Yutang said impatiently, "As long as I persuade the NPC, it's fine. Why are you being so chatty?"

Chen Hao's impression of Bai Yutang soured even further. He sneered inwardly, sure that Bai Yutang would embezzle a portion of the fifty silver dollars. However, once County Magistrate Liu Ziyuan was dead and the Denglai Military Defense Circuit sent constables to investigate, Bai Yutang would definitely be implicated.

Upon learning that the NPC Zhao Mingwu was at the Spring Fragrance Pavilion, Bai Yutang took the silver dollars and left. Chen Hao pretended to head in another direction, but after walking a short distance, he doubled back and took a different route toward the Spring Fragrance Pavilion. Having trained in Qinggong, his speed was much faster than Bai Yutang's. He sat in a tavern opposite the Spring Fragrance Pavilion for a short while before Bai Yutang finally arrived.

The Spring Fragrance Pavilion was crowded and full of prying eyes, so Bai Yutang did not go inside to look for Zhao Mingwu, choosing instead to wait outside. After about half an hour, Zhao Mingwu, dressed in a silk robe, walked out. He spat toward the building and muttered, "Whores are heartless and actors are faithless. Little Peach Blossom was clinging to me just a few days ago, but now that my pockets are a bit tight, she ignores me entirely..."

Chen Hao had already described Zhao Mingwu's appearance and clothing to Bai Yutang. Thus, the moment Zhao Mingwu stepped out of the Spring Fragrance Pavilion, Bai Yutang recognized him and hurriedly approached, saying, "Oh! If it isn't Young Master Zhao?"

Zhao Mingwu looked at him suspiciously. "Who are you?"

Bai Yutang smiled warmly and said, "I am the Outworlder Bai Yutang. I've heard that Young Master Zhao is handsome, elegant, and the most romantic figure in the East District. I have a small matter I'd like to ask for your help with."

Having suffered humiliation at the Spring Fragrance Pavilion due to his empty pockets, Zhao Mingwu was in no mood to help anyone. He waved his hand dismissively. "Go away, go away! I'm busy. I don't have time for you."

Bai Yutang jingled the money pouch in his hand. "If Young Master Zhao is willing to help, I certainly won't let you work for free. Why don't we find a place to chat?"

Hearing the clinking of silver dollars inside Bai Yutang's pouch, Zhao Mingwu swallowed hard. He pointed to the tavern where Chen Hao was sitting. "Let's go up there and talk."

Bai Yutang led Zhao Mingwu to the second floor. However, when they came up, Chen Hao was facing the window looking out at the street. Since he was wearing basic novice clothes, Bai Yutang did not pay attention to him. The two sat at the table behind him. Chen Hao couldn't hear their conversation clearly, but he caught Bai Yutang mentioning thirty silver dollars, only for Zhao Mingwu to shake his head.

Bai Yutang told Zhao Mingwu that he had spotted a beautiful young woman in the East District. He had spent a lot of money on her, but she put on airs of virtue and refused to let him touch her. In his anger, he wanted to find someone to help him seduce her. Zhao Mingwu, a lecherous scoundrel at heart, grew instantly aroused upon hearing Bai Yutang describe Huang Xian'er as beautiful as a flower with a slender figure. However, he was not about to miss an opportunity to extort money, so he immediately demanded eighty silver dollars.

Having only received fifty silver dollars from Chen Hao, Bai Yutang naturally could not agree to Zhao Mingwu's terms. He offered thirty silver dollars, which Zhao Mingwu rejected. Eventually, Bai Yutang added another ten silver dollars. After some thought, Zhao Mingwu agreed, and the two left the tavern.

Ignoring Bai Yutang, Chen Hao followed Zhao Mingwu all the way to the East District. Zhao Mingwu bought a bracelet and swaggered over to Huang Xian'er's residence. He knocked on the door, and an old maidservant opened it. "How may I help you, young master?"

Dallying with women was nothing new to Zhao Mingwu. He was not in the least bit anxious as he said loudly, "I heard that my cousin, Huang Xian'er, lives here. My mother hasn't seen her in a long time, so she sent me to check on her."

Zhao Mingwu was fair-skinned with red lips, and he was dressed in luxurious clothing. The old maidservant did not suspect a thing and quickly went inside to inform Huang Xian'er. The bored and lonely Huang Xian'er was currently in a foul mood. Hearing the maidservant mention a cousin visiting, she thought to herself, *Only my brother and I are left in our family. Where could a cousin have come from? Could it be one of my former lovers?*

At this thought, Huang Xian'er's face flushed hot, and a sense of anticipation grew in her heart. She instructed the old maidservant to bring Zhao Mingwu inside. Seeing Zhao Mingwu's fair skin, red lips, and handsome features, Huang Xian'er's heart fluttered. She dismissed the maidservant and said with a shy, delicate expression, "We haven't been in touch for so long that I've forgotten what my cousin looks like. May I ask where you reside now?"

Huang Xian'er had no recollection of anyone like Zhao Mingwu. She had been promiscuous in the past and had been with many men, so she couldn't be sure if she had met him before. However, even if they hadn't met, it didn't matter. Having lived like a widow for so long, Huang Xian'er felt her passions stir upon seeing Zhao Mingwu. Since he had come to her door, she would find a way to make him stay.

Zhao Mingwu also found Huang Xian'er to be as beautiful as a flower, far more alluring than the women in the Spring Fragrance Pavilion. He took out the bracelet he had bought for twenty silver dollars and offered it to her, saying, "To be honest, I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of you a few days ago and was instantly captivated by your heavenly beauty. I lied about being your relative just to see you. Please forgive my presumption..."

Huang Xian'er smiled coquettishly. "Cousin, you are indeed thoughtful. Since you've come all this way, why don't I have Mother Huang prepare a few dishes so we can share a drink?"

Overjoyed, Zhao Mingwu replied, "It would be my absolute honor."

Chen Hao did not know what was transpiring inside the courtyard, but after waiting for half an hour without seeing Zhao Mingwu emerge, he knew the plan had succeeded. He would let Zhao Mingwu enjoy this stroke of luck for a few days, then find a way to bribe an informant. When Liu Ziyuan was about to arrive, he would have the informant warn the illicit lovers that their affair had been exposed. They would surely know what to do then!