Chapter 20: The Great Escape and a Mischievous Plan

“What the hell! An alarm?”

“Run!”

Given the sheer abundance of treasures, it was foolish to think they would simply be left so securely within the shop.

They had barely gathered a few items from the second floor before the alarm was successfully triggered!

The colossal tolling of a bell abruptly shattered the silence, instantly alerting them to the imminent danger.

Snatching a few of the more substantial items, Ahoge Dragon quickly instructed Mao Yuxia to guide their getaway.

Fortunately, the most formidable artifact users had already departed, leaving the lesser guards utterly incapable of detecting their presence.

Ahoge Dragon and Mao Yuxia successfully made their escape.

****

“Ahoge… I’m at my limit…”

Mao Yuxia had maintained her invisibility for an exceptionally long time, and even with Ahoge Dragon’s continuous supply of magical energy, her fragile body was struggling to cope.

Within a gloomy, narrow alley, Mao Yuxia finally dispelled her invisibility, her weariness painfully apparent.

“We’re out. There’s no need to worry; we’ll be perfectly fine!”

Ahoge Dragon, however, remained remarkably optimistic. What did it matter if they were no longer invisible? If anyone dared to lay a hand on them, she would simply blast them to smithereens!

Ahoge Dragon produced a bun-like object, its surface intricately carved with complex magical runes.

She had certainly not been stingy in acquiring these from the shop earlier.

The explosive power of a single bun bomb was sufficient to pose a significant threat even to a Three-Star Artifact User!

This world certainly had no shortage of fascinating inventions.

She just wondered if they had developed airplanes and cannons as well.

“It’s so uncomfortable lingering in this gloomy alley! I certainly don’t want to spend the night here!”

Gazing across at the brightly lit, bustling street, Ahoge Dragon puffed out her cheeks in a pout.

“Little Ahoge, don’t be reckless. That area is surely swarming with the Crown Prince’s lackeys; we’ll undoubtedly be discovered.”

Mao Yuxia quickly interceded, stopping Ahoge Dragon from doing anything foolish.

“You’re being dense, Mao Mao! When those people come searching, they’ll inevitably check these secluded alleys, thinking someone might be hiding from the crowd.

If we just foolishly stay put here, aren’t we simply waiting to be caught?!”

“As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is often the safest. Let’s find a shop owned by the Gudou family and head there; who knows, we might even make a profit.”

Ahoge Dragon’s words held surprising logic. Yet, Mao Yuxia couldn’t shake the feeling that she had heard these exact words somewhere before.

“In any case, be careful. And, please allow me to recover some strength here first, so that if we’re discovered, I won’t be utterly powerless to escape.”

“Yay! Yay! Then hurry and recover, Mao Mao; I’ll go keep watch at the alley’s mouth!”

“Whatever you do, don’t go off by yourself.”

Seeing Ahoge Dragon about to depart, Mao Yuxia worried she might simply run off if she spotted something enticing on her own.

“You can rest assured! Without your invisibility, Mao Mao, how could I possibly cause trouble?”

With that, Ahoge Dragon turned and offered Mao Yuxia a reassuring smile.

She then observed Mao Yuxia retrieving a magic stone to aid in her recovery.

Ahoge Dragon frowned slightly, and in an instant, several magic crystals materialized in her hand.

“Mao Mao, we’re practically rich now; stop using those cheap magic stones for cultivation.”

“I can’t even use these magic crystals, so you should take them!”

“This… this is too much…”

Mao Yuxia stared, dumbfounded, at the five magic crystals cradled in her arms. These alone were worth fifty thousand magic stones!

She had only ever used one of these once before, and that was during a breakthrough!

“Five is too many? Mao Mao, I have so many more here! If I didn’t think you couldn’t carry them all, I’d give them all to you.”

Ahoge Dragon’s magical energy recovered at a staggering rate of ten thousand stars per hour.

She genuinely had no idea what to do with all these magic crystals.

Buy pineapple buns?

A single magic crystal could probably buy her a month’s supply of pineapple buns!

“Then thank you, Little Ahoge.”

While following Ahoge Dragon entailed considerable risk, the rewards were undeniably immense.

Magic crystals, once an unattainable dream, were now hers to use as she pleased!

“No need for thanks! We’re good sisters, aren’t we? Hehehe! I’m off to keep watch. Come find me when you’ve fully recovered!”

Ahoge Dragon cheerfully skipped away.

Upon reaching the alley’s mouth, she donned a black cloak and observed the sparsely populated street.

Ahoge Dragon felt a surge of disdain. Of all the people on this street, who among them could claim to possess more treasures than she currently carried?

It was a distinct feeling of superiority!

“Oh? Isn’t that the boss from when we conned that kidney-deficient man? Eheh~”

Having encountered an acquaintance, Ahoge Dragon instantly conjured a mischievous plan.

After tailing the man for half a street, she watched him enter a grand establishment named ‘Tulan’.

“Ehehehe, it would be lovely to spend the night sleeping here.”

Subsequently, Ahoge Dragon returned to retrieve Mao Yuxia.

“Go *here*? Little Ahoge, do you even realize that Tulan is the most renowned hotel in this entire area? We’ll definitely be recognized if we go inside!”

Seeing Ahoge Dragon’s intent to enter Tulan, Mao Yuxia was so terrified her soul nearly fled her body. She quickly grabbed Ahoge Dragon’s tail, trying to drag her away.

“Why should we run away? This place is perfect! We’re stopping here!”

Ahoge Dragon had set her sights on this place and was determined to go inside and have some fun. It was even rumored that a beautiful rabbit-girl with a captivating singing voice performed here.

She was truly looking forward to it.

“Hey, Manager Wang! We meet again!”

Upon hearing this, the manager’s body stiffened. Everyone here addressed him as ‘Steward’, so only one person would call him ‘Boss’—their Third Young Miss!

Others might not know how Gudou Toutian had achieved his breakthrough, but he certainly did! It was all thanks to this Third Young Miss, who had given him a sword art.

The manager’s face lit up with delight, a fawning smile spreading across his features.

He quickly spotted Ahoge Dragon, who was still engaged in a tug-of-war with Mao Yuxia.

“Third Young Miss, are you also here to attend the Second Young Master’s celebration?”

“Oh? Of course!”

Ahoge Dragon’s lips curved into a smile, seemingly anticipating another free meal.

With that, the two were escorted into the grand establishment.

Observing the exquisite and lavish decor, Ahoge Dragon couldn’t help but lavish praise.

“Oh, Manager Wang, who are these two young ladies?”

A flamboyantly dressed auntie noticed Manager Wang leading Ahoge Dragon and Mao Yuxia directly towards the Wang-tier room section, immediately surmising their extraordinary status.

“I’m Gudou Juetian, and she’s Gudou Chatian!”

Fearing her identity would be exposed, Ahoge Dragon provided them with false names.

“Uh…”

The auntie looked at Manager Wang, puzzled.

These names were clearly fabricated. The women of the Gudou family always had ‘Di’ in their names, while ‘Tian’ was reserved for the men.

“Ahem! The Third Young Miss and our Second Young Master share a deep bond. It was thanks to the sword art gifted by the Third Young Miss that our Second Young Master achieved a rapid dual breakthrough!”

Manager Wang, having served these prominent figures for many years, was quite astute.

His words subtly conveyed to the auntie that the names were inconsequential; what truly mattered was the extraordinary background of these two guests.

Upon hearing this, the auntie’s eyes immediately brightened!

These individuals were destined to become honored guests of the Gudou family and deserved the utmost hospitality!

She clapped her hands three times, and immediately, several beautiful older sisters, graceful and alluring, appeared, ushering Ahoge Dragon towards a private room.

Ahoge Dragon observed the beautiful older sisters, many of whom were fox-girls!

They were even more enticing.

However, Ahoge Dragon still felt a hint of dissatisfaction. She cleared her throat and asked,

“Auntie, why aren’t there any lolis?”