At the end of their meal and drink, two middle-aged officers walked out of a tavern, chatting amicably. "Hey, that woman likely took the child and is already fast asleep by now," one said with a chuckle.
"Do you have food?" the other officer replied, standing up and exchanging a knowing glance. They both showed the same smile, one that spoke of conspiratorial plans. Bai Qiuran, hidden among them, could hear Sima Yingbo praising the two officers.
"Let’s go, let’s hit the Drunken Immortal Tavern!" they exclaimed exuberantly, as they headed out.
The officer who suggested going to the brothel waved dismissively. "I told him when we left—this is official business. We need to recharge and gather our strength, you understand?"
Once the two officials took their leave, Sima Yingbo stood still for a moment, pondering before returning to his desk to handle the paperwork laid before him. The small boy was, of course, a form Bai Qiuran had taken on.
Upon hearing his colleague speak, the officer who had been drinking paused for a moment. He burped softly, his face flushed, and his unsteady steps brought his focus onto the little boy sitting nearby. "Of course, we guarantee you a full meal!" he called out to the child.
"You see, over the next few days, my brother and I will likely have to travel outside the capital to a place where there are no villages nearby for lodging. While we’re at it, we might as well enjoy ourselves."
In his three thousand years of cultivation, Bai Qiuran had mastered various supernatural abilities, including one that allowed him to shape-shift, transforming into this child to explore the secrets behind the Shangxuan Kingdom.
The other officer nodded, "Let's deliver him first, then we can have our fun."
The officers were far from sober, their heads clouded by drink and thoughts. "Let’s go to the Drunken Immortal Tavern!” they urged again, excitement bubbling over.
In the meanwhile, Bai Qiuran, his consciousness following closely, monitored everything that transpired. The boy timidly asked, "Can I come with you?"
One officer replied warmly, "We are officials of the Shangxuan Kingdom. By the decree of His Majesty, every citizen must be warm and well-fed. We cannot leave you alone on the streets."
The little boy's eyes brightened at the mention of food and shelter as he reached for the officer's rough hand.
“Let’s go! The Drunken Immortal Tavern awaits!"
The officers strolled towards the capital's most bustling brothel, laughter spilling from their lips. Just then, one officer felt a tug at his garment.
"What’s this?" shouted the officer who turned to see a ragged boy clutching his sleeve. The others laughed, the situation amusing to them, and they brushed the child off irritably, thinking little of his pleadings.
"Come here, my little fellow. Come with us!" one of them joked, the significance of the boy's situation going entirely over their heads.
The little boy, though scrappy and covered in dirt, possessed an endearing round face and bright eyes. He blinked up at them, fear mingling with hope.
"Wait, don't go! This child looks like one of those poor little wanderers without parents or anyone to care for them,” one officer pointed out.
"Oh, and isn’t your wife okay with you coming out like this?" asked the other, cautiously.
Before long, they brought the boy into the official's residence. Bai Qiuran was taken to a bathhouse, where two maidservants swiftly cleaned him up, changing his filthy clothes for a fresh outfit before escorting him into a small room.
“I’m sorry, little one. I didn’t see you were just a child,” the officer said, grinning sheepishly as he glanced at his colleague, who reciprocated. They displayed that familiar knowing smile, already plotting their next move.
"Come, Uncle will take you to the government to treat you to a warm meal,” one officer promised, rubbing his hands together gleefully.
“Let’s go!” they laughed, keen on hitting the tavern. They made plans for their future jaunts, exhilarated at bringing a new playmate along, unaware of the cunning twist planned by the boy they thought to be tender and innocent.
In their haze of drunken revelry, they believed they could have their fun unnoticed. Yet Bai Qiuran, floating closely by with his consciousness, closely observed everything unfolding, intent on ensuring his own goals while countering theirs. The child acted meekly but was calculating beneath the surface.
He watched as they wove stories of their planned escapades, carefully plotting to use the officers' ignorance to his own advantage, further entrapping them in schemes that continued unbeknownst to them.
Essence of dreams and shadows flickered around, intertwining the boy's past—and what he sought—even as the officials led him toward his intended fate.