Chapter 105: The Summons Received

Night fell, but the people, still immersed in the day's dance competition, continued to discuss its grandeur.

A drunken patron spoke without restraint, "Dai Zhi, the top courtesan of the capital, is truly a rare gem. If not for today’s grand event, she would likely be in Pingkang Ward entertaining the wealthy. Oh, how fascinating such trifles are!"

Another slammed the table, clearly still reeling from the liquor, "Isn't that the truth? That lady in red—her zither playing was truly exquisite! I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to hear it again in this lifetime."

"You have no ambition! You’ve seen so many beauties in Chang'an, yet you pine for a woman from some backwater town."

"Heh, as if you could afford the company of Chang'an’s beauties. That’s a funny thought."

Luo Gan and his companions sat at the next table, feeling quite awkward listening to such talk. What they had worked so hard for was, to the common folk, merely idle gossip and fodder for jokes.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone was tipsy. Luo Gan looked at Liu Buwen’s face and suddenly started laughing. "Buwen, why does your face look like a red-faced character from a Peking opera after drinking? Even the corners of your eyes are turning red."

Liu Buwen, not understanding, pointed at his own face and asked Yanshan and Xiaozhi with a grin, "What is 'Peking opera'? What is a 'red face'? Help me take a look."

Luo Gan realized then that making such jokes was a mistake; it could easily lead to misunderstandings. If he kept relying on his clumsy knowledge of history, his cover would surely be blown one day.

Juntao twirled her peach blossom fan, fanning herself. Although it was winter and light snow was drifting outside, the room was sweltering, devoid of any winter chill. The clinking of glasses and the clamor of conversation merged, filling the small tavern like a miniature city that never slept.

"The competition is over. What do we do now?" Juntao asked, quite uneasy. As a participant herself, she noticed a tacit agreement among everyone to avoid talking about the day’s events.

After a long silence, Xiaozhi was the first to speak. "The... the competition? We won last time, didn't we?" He poked Luo Gan’s shoulder. "Right, Brother Luo? This time shouldn't be too bad either."

That was the heavy stone weighing on Luo Gan’s heart. According to the task prompts, he had indeed performed on stage, but the outcome remained unknown. Unlike the others, who were worried about the immediate aftermath, Luo Gan was looking further ahead, wondering what challenges awaited him next.

This game was an open world, and he had yet to see any other competitors. Where should he go from here? How should he achieve the game’s objectives? These were urgent questions.

Juntao twirled her fan, lost in deep thought. Seeing her so troubled, Luo Gan wanted to say something but swallowed his words.

As the crowd dispersed, Luo Gan closed his eyes in contemplation. Yanshan had already curled up to sleep; it seemed only he was unable to find rest. He looked up at the ceiling, longing for the vast starry sky, but when he opened the window, all he saw was swirling fog.

He hadn't expected that while modern times suffered from heavy smog, the ancient world would be free of pollution—only to find that with bad luck, one still couldn't see the stars. He sighed, his face filled with sorrow as he leaned against the window, waiting for dawn and wondering what would come after the competition.

Suddenly, several torches flickered. The Wuhou (city guards) arrived on horseback, rushing toward Luo Gan’s location. Ever since he arrived in the Tang Dynasty, these officials had mostly brought him terror—whether it was climbing walls to enter the Sima estate or dodging the guards just to buy lamb in Chang'an.

Seeing the guards approaching, Luo Gan instinctively scrambled to find a place to hide. He searched the wardrobe and under the bed. Seeing the thick dust beneath the bed, he hesitated, but as the footsteps neared and he heard the guards questioning the innkeeper, he hurriedly squeezed underneath.

Luo Gan squeezed his eyes shut, his body trembling uncontrollably. After a moment, he realized something was wrong. This was strange! He hadn't climbed any walls, hadn't trespassed, and wasn't breaking the curfew; he was just staying in his room. Even in the ancient world, the guards couldn't be that unreasonable, could they?

With this thought, he crawled out from under the bed and stood up to brush off his clothes, but suddenly, a hand gripped his shoulder from behind.

"Are you Luo Gan?"

He turned to see the guards and was truly startled.

"It’s me... what’s wrong?"

The guards exchanged glances, leaving Luo Gan feeling quite bewildered.

The night was heavy; besides the torchlight, nothing could be seen. Luo Gan regretted not bringing a thick coat before leaving. He felt helpless as he was led away by the guards.

Before long, they arrived at a city gate. A guard exchanged a look with the gatekeeper, who opened a side door to let them through. Soon after, they reached an official residence.

The guards left him there and pointed the way inside. "We’ve brought you this far. Go in yourself."

Luo Gan looked at the government building, confused. "Just this far? I don't even know what’s happening! You’re just going to leave me here? Hey! Don't go! Hello!"

The guards didn't look back and retreated immediately, leaving a stunned Luo Gan standing there.

If they wanted to arrest him, they should have tied him up. If they wanted to invite him as a guest, their attitude was terrible—they didn't seem like good people, and this couldn't be a good sign.

His intuition told him that the person he was about to face was not simple. What motive could an official have for seeking out a mere commoner? Did they have their eye on him? Had he done something outrageous lately? Could it be that his performance as a courtesan during the day had caught the official's attention, and he was being summoned for service? That would be a blow to his pride... though the prospect of wealth and status didn't sound too bad!

The more he thought, the more uneasy he became. Finally, he decided to knock. The door was ajar, and a path through the courtyard led to a brightly lit living room.

Upon entering, he saw an old man sitting on a bamboo mat, holding a lamp and waiting for him.

Luo Gan bowed first, then fixed his eyes on the man. He was imposing and stern, his face unsmiling; in the lamplight, it was impossible to tell if he was pleased or displeased.

Luo Gan asked, "May I ask who you are..."

The old man replied, "Xiao Yu, Duke of Song."

Luo Gan was shocked. To think he was such a high-ranking official! He became even more cautious. "Duke of Song, did you summon me in the middle of the night because of... a misunderstanding?" he asked, afraid of saying the wrong thing.

"Look at the lamp in my hand," the old man said. "Does it look like a 'Young and Dangerous' gangster?"

"Young and Dangerous?" Luo Gan wondered if his ears were failing him. Could someone actually say that? Did the term exist in ancient times?

"I don't quite understand what you mean..." Luo Gan said, terrified of revealing his identity.

Xiao Yu slumped backward and said, "Stop pretending. Seeing you perform those broadcast gymnastics, I knew you were a player, you brat!"