Chapter 1840 - 1838: Beating Drums and Clanging Gongs

The inn had never been as lively as it was today, and Tang Rao woke up quite early, all thanks to the noise outside.

One could hear the sound of gongs and drums, the joyful cheers, followed by the explosions of a series of fireworks.

"Hahaha, look at those lion dancers, they're as short as winter gourds, and those stilt walkers, they're already tall, is this a circus act or what?"

Outside the inn, it was bustling with activity. Tang Rao knew that the inn's servant had completed everything he instructed, so he only needed to stick his neck out from the rooftop to enjoy the show.

Outside the window, there were quite a few people like Tang Rao who wanted to enjoy the spectacle. A large group of people wearing red clothes with yellow belts around their waists were beating drums and gongs, creating a lively atmosphere. Another group wore black robes, holding banners that read 'Wishing you a hundred years of harmony' and 'Love that moves heaven and earth'.

Just from these words alone, one couldn't detect anything unusual, and outsiders had no idea what they meant to convey. But upon careful consideration, one could sense something was off.

In the massive procession, there wasn't a single loose-lipped person. No matter how others asked, they kept their mouths shut, claiming to know nothing. If asked again, they simply turned their heads aside, ignoring the gossipmongers.

As for those shouting and joining the excitement, they didn't slack off at all.

"Sir, I've done everything you asked. Rest assured, the people invited know nothing. The only leader among them has been bribed by me. The people of Cimu Mountain have no other virtues, but their lips are sealed tight, they absolutely won't spill even the tiniest bit."

With the servant's assurance, Tang Rao felt at ease.

But even if the truth were to come out, what could happen? The servant was the one who did the work; as long as Tang Rao refused to admit anything, the servant wouldn't want to take all the blame on himself.

"Excellent, here's your reward. We've settled your share completely. Next, I'll treat you to a good show for free."

Tang Rao snapped his fingers at the servant, signaling him to enter Illusion City first.

Upon entering Illusion City, the large headline was glaringly obvious.

"The two of us are having an affair!"

The cover of the main page of Illusion City was this headline, with a fiery photo of two people alongside.

The subtitles were one thing, but the photo was the real hit. The photo showed the two embracing and kissing passionately; another was a screenshot from Tang Rao's recording capturing an image of drugging and coercing someone.

The evidence was overwhelming; even without the individuals involved appearing, this set of photos alone was enough to make them infamous.

"Junior Sister, it's so lively outside!"

The man had held the woman through the night; things he only dared to think about before, he fully indulged in last night.

Having not slept well at night, he thought he'd sleep a bit more during the day, but the noise outside persisted, forcing him to get up and take a look.

Outside, with all the noise and banners, one would think it was someone's happy occasion, and he was delighted, feeling that someone was as fortunate as he was to win over a beauty.

This happiness lasted only a short while before the woman pounded on his back, though it was just a symbolic tap, not serious. What she wanted to say was the real focus.

"What's there to be happy about? Check Illusion City and see whom you've offended. Who's behind this?"

The woman was almost frantic; she didn't even dare enter Illusion City now.

"Who did what? Tell me clearly."

The man didn't understand at first. He closed the window, opened Illusion City, and a single glance was enough to understand why his junior sister was so furious.

"You ask me who did this, how would I know?"

The man's hand shattered a cup with such force, the floor was littered with shards, startling the woman into stepping back, too afraid to speak.

"I don't want my father to know about me and you being romantically involved. This isn't something respectable. Now that we've seen this news, how can my father and my family remain ignorant?"

The woman was on the verge of panic, but the man acted as if nothing had happened.

It was the woman who suffered, not him. At most, he would propose to her father later; if he refused again, he'd just stop bringing it up. After all, he'd tasted what he wanted, and that taste could linger for a while. When he wanted to savor the taste of the woman again, he could easily find a substitute for the same thrill.

"So what if they know? We were going to tell your father sooner or later. What's the difference if it's now or later, wouldn't you agree?"

The man didn't bother to pursue who leaked the secret or who took the photos and how. Delving into such questions seemed meaningless now.

"How can you say such things? You promised me to keep this a secret, didn't you? How can you be so untrustworthy?"

The woman cared most about her reputation. In the worst-case scenario, she planned to finish her mission and report back, using her merits to talk about their relationship. Even if her father didn't agree right away, he wouldn't strongly resist, and being together would just be a matter of time.

She never imagined everything they did seemed to have someone watching them closely, catching every detail. That short video captured all sorts of explicit content; now, she wasn't worried about whether the marriage would happen, but if her father would still acknowledge her when she returned home.

"And what am I supposed to say? Whom do I ask to remove the stuff on Illusion City? I don't know anyone. They've already publicized it like this, I'm powerless to refute it. You solve it; I have no ability to do so."

After getting upset, the man simply tossed the responsibility onto the woman.

Now, with the responsibility thrown on her, she felt her legs weaken, the man who used to be gentle with her now seemed unrecognizable.

"What should I do? What should I do? Did you even think about what I should do? Yan Moyi, you're the most heartless man I've ever known."

The woman gritted her teeth; her hatred for Yan Moyi far exceeded the years of sentiment built between them as junior and senior apprentices.

"Even if I am, what can you do? Instead of blaming me, why don't you look outside? The people outside are fueling the fire, trying to find out who the real mastermind is. Go, ask around earnestly. I'm sure they'd tell you, provided you establish yourself as a deeply affectionate woman. Don't let yourself be seen as a wanton woman, or I'd like to see how you fish out the mastermind."