Twin Sisters, Laughing Heartily in Chang'an

Their height, appearance, hairstyle, clothing, even their every movement and subtle expression—these two were identical, as if perfectly replicated.

The most terrifying part was that even their scent and aura were exactly the same.

Such a pair of twin sisters truly made it difficult to tell who was who.

But Chen Chang'an knew very well—the one who arrived later was the same person who had just spoken to him about a token of love at the Pleasure House.

Standing side by side, they both turned to look at Chen Chang'an and asked in unison, "How did you guess?"

Sure enough, even their voices were indistinguishable.

"Actually, if you pay close attention, there are differences between the two of you," Chen Chang'an replied.

"The first time I noticed something was off was still back in that little wooden hut."

"When I discovered the black robe carried your unique scent, I had Da Huang sense whether you were still in the Pleasure House."

"The answer was yes—you were there and had never left."

"That was when I began to suspect something was amiss."

"So, in every conversation afterward, I deliberately said certain things to observe your reactions and demeanor."

"Though the two of you mimic each other flawlessly, your temperaments differ slightly."

"Do you remember the last time you got angry?"

"Hey, the one who got angry last time was me, not my sister," one of them interjected.

"Ah? Ahem, my apologies. I got confused for a moment," Chen Chang'an said awkwardly, rubbing his nose. Even knowing they were sisters, if they stood still and silent, he still couldn’t tell them apart.

"So just because of anger, you concluded there were two of us?" the elder sister asked, puzzled.

"Because if it were the younger sister, she would have responded with teasing sarcasm," Chen Chang'an explained.

"Seductive charm is your natural gift, but the outwardly flirtatious demeanor is just a disguise—a performance for others."

"The younger sister likely presents herself as the proprietress most of the time, so she’s more accustomed to that persona."

"But the elder sister is different. You’ve mostly acted under the identity of the Asura, so your integration with the proprietress persona isn’t seamless. That’s where the cracks appeared."

"I suspect even your subordinates once doubted your identities, but they never imagined the City Lord Asura was never just one person."

"That’s precisely what dispelled their suspicions."

"Am I right?" Chen Chang'an asked with a faint smile.

His words made the sisters gasp in shock. Chen Chang'an’s keen observation and sharp reasoning were downright terrifying.

They even felt as if standing naked before him—utterly exposed, with no secrets left.

"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant," one of them said.

"Chen Chang'an, I truly find you more and more inscrutable."

"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Murong Qingrou, and this is my younger sister, Murong Qingwu."

Murong?

The surname existed, but it was rare. Chen Chang'an had once known someone with that surname.

"So, the two Murong ladies. I once knew a man named Murong… Murong Tianhai, I believe."

"Perhaps you’re even distantly related," Chen Chang'an joked.

"You… you knew our ancestor?"

Huh?

No way. He was just making a joke—were they actually descendants?

"You… you’re really Murong Tianhai’s descendants?"

"This… what are the odds?" Chen Chang'an asked, stunned.

"We are indeed descendants of Ancestor Murong Tianhai. But… he passed away over three thousand years ago. How could you have known him?"

"Just who are you?"

The sisters stared at Chen Chang'an in shock. Few in the world even remembered Murong Tianhai’s name after so long.

Yet Chen Chang'an had spoken it casually.

If he had known Murong Tianhai… just how old was he?

"Well… we crossed paths a few times. You could say we were acquaintances, but not close," Chen Chang'an admitted helplessly.

"You truly knew our ancestor?"

"Junior pays respects to Senior. Please forgive our earlier disrespect."

Without warning, the Murong sisters knelt before him, catching Chen Chang'an completely off guard.

Even if he knew their ancestor, was kneeling necessary?

Did they have a thing for this?

"What are you doing?" Chen Chang'an frowned.

"Since Senior had ties with our ancestor, we beg for your assistance."

Assistance?

What the hell? Chen Chang'an sighed inwardly. He’d only come here to gather information about the fetal pearl. How had things escalated like this?

"Get up first, then we’ll talk," he said.

"If Senior doesn’t agree, we won’t rise."

Huh?

Were they seriously resorting to coercion now?

"If you enjoy kneeling, then kneel as long as you like."

"Good girls, stay right there. This Senior has questions for you."

Chen Chang'an leisurely took a seat, his reaction leaving the sisters dumbfounded.

How… how was he so unaffected? Was this how a normal person would react?

What now? Stand up? That wouldn’t be proper. Stay kneeling? Were they really going to kneel indefinitely?

They were trapped in their own scheme—Chen Chang'an wasn’t giving them an out.

"Senior, ask whatever you wish," Murong Qingrou said, frustration creeping into her voice.

"My purpose in coming to the Chaotic Zone is singular—to find one thing."

"Do you know of a crystal-clear pearl that emits no aura, no energy fluctuations?"

"Indestructible, impervious to any method of damage."

A pearl?

Seeing the confusion in their eyes, Chen Chang'an’s heart sank. Had his instincts been wrong?

Wasn't the fetus in the Chaotic Zone after all? Had all of this been in vain?

Senior, is the pearl about this size?" Murong Qingwu gestured with her hands—precisely the pearl's dimensions.

"You know of it?" Chen Chang'an’s spirits lifted instantly.

"If it’s truly that size, then yes, I do."

"But…"

"Senior, if you wish to obtain this pearl, we hope you’ll agree to one request. Will you?"

Now they were bargaining?

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll just take it by force?" Chen Chang'an asked with a smirk.

"I believe Senior isn’t that kind of person. Am I wrong?"

Oh? They had that much faith in his integrity?

Chen Chang'an gave Murong Qingwu an approving glance, while she inwardly sighed in relief—it seemed her judgment hadn't failed her. Chen Chang'an must indeed be an upright man.

"Your discernment is remarkable."

"Yet your judgment is utterly off the mark!"

Hmm?

What did he mean by "off the mark"?

"I despise being threatened by others."

"Senior, we didn’t mean it that way, it’s just—"

"My apologies. I’ll retrieve the pearl immediately."

Murong Qingrou hadn’t expected Chen Chang'an to be so unorthodox in his ways. Left with no choice, she reluctantly handed over the item.

As soon as Murong Qingrou presented the pearl, Chen Chang'an recognized it at once—this was indeed the fetal pearl he sought.

But why was it in Murong Qingwu’s possession, while Murong Qingrou remained unaware of it?

"Senior, is this the one?" Murong Qingwu asked.

"Indeed, it is. Where did you acquire it?" Chen Chang'an inquired curiously.

"Well… someone who once pursued me gave it to me as a trivial token."

"I found it peculiar, so I kept it, though I never paid it much mind."

Hah?

His precious fetal pearl had been treated as a mere trinket to win a maiden’s favor?

"Very well. I’ll take it for now. Both of you may rise."

"As you command, Senior!"