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Beijing is teeming with hutongs and alleyways, but the Eight Great Hutongs are particularly famous both domestically and internationally, as they were once synonymous with brothels and red-light districts. In the past, many of Beijing's prostitutes frequented these eight hutongs, and they were divided into two types: the "Southern Class" and the "Northern Class." The "Southern Class" consisted mostly of women from the Jiangnan region, known for their beauty and talent, such as the famous Beijing courtesans Sai Jinhua and Xiao Fengxian. The "Northern Class" primarily consisted of women from areas north of the Yellow River, who were beautiful but less talented. Now, all of this is gone; the old brothels and buildings have been converted into hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants.

On the front wall of this restaurant hangs a portrait of Chairman Mao, while on the side wall is a neat and elegant calligraphy and painting depicting a young, beautiful woman playing the zither, her beauty ethereal and refined, though a faint sadness lingers on her face. The inscription reads: "I do not believe that beauties are destined for tragic fates; since ancient times, chivalrous women have emerged from the dust of the world." The owner claims this calligraphy is an authentic work by Cai E, but its authenticity is unknown. In any case, the restaurant uses this as its signboard, naming it "Little Phoenix Fairy Restaurant."

At eight o'clock sharp, the leader, wearing a beige trench coat with the collar turned up, walked into the store. His sharp eyes swept around the room before he sat down at the table in the corner and smiled slightly at Mr. Qiao.

"Mr. Qiao, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," the leader said.

Mr. Qiao chuckled and said, "Chief, Mr. Qiao will have the same three dishes today: fried dough sticks, stinky tofu hot pot, and a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor)."

"That would be best." The leader took off his trench coat and draped it over the back of the chair.

Fried dough twists are a traditional Beijing snack. The dough, made from mixed beans and beans, is filled with cilantro, carrots, and chopped scallions, cut into squares, and deep-fried until golden brown. The result is a crispy, savory, and fragrant treat. Stinky tofu mixed noodles are actually a type of mixed noodle dish. Sesame oil is used to fry some Sichuan peppercorn oil, which is then poured over Wang Zhihe stinky tofu blocks (also called "green squares") from Beijing. At this point, the tofu blocks immediately soften at the slightest touch. This is then placed at the bottom of a large bowl, and hot, cooked noodles are added. A pungent aroma, carried by the steaming hot water, hits the face directly, creating a truly unforgettable experience. It's amazing how perfectly the pungent and fragrant can combine. These two snacks are said to have been favorites of Empress Dowager Cixi. The fried dough twists and stinky tofu mixed noodles at the "Xiao Fengxian Restaurant" are considered a specialty of Beijing. It's said that Mr. Qiao always ordered these two simple snacks when meeting with leaders and high-ranking officials.

"Sir, what happened?" Master Qiao asked.

The leader calmly said, "An assassin has infiltrated the capital and needs to be dealt with."

Master Qiao nodded and asked, "What is your background?"

"They came from Myanmar, and we don't know their names, ages, or physical characteristics," the leader replied.

"Hmm..." Master Qiao pondered, "...Those from East Asia and Southeast Asia, do they know any witchcraft like casting spells or using poisons?"

"I don't know either," the leader replied.

"Alright, leave this to me, Master Qiao. Should the body be preserved?" Master Qiao asked.

"No, we won't keep them," the leader said calmly.

Chapter 54 of the main text

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, many extraordinary individuals emerged in the martial arts world, such as Zhang Baosheng, Yan Xin, and Fan Wubing (Master Haiteng), each possessing unique qigong skills, making them a remarkable phenomenon in the Central Plains martial arts community. Although Master Qiao kept a low profile and his name never appeared in the media, those in the martial arts world knew that he was a true master who kept his abilities hidden.

The leader walked out of the "Little Phoenix Fairy Tavern," turned up the collar of his trench coat to cover half of his face, and walked along the stone alley. It was late spring, the night wind was still cold, and there were few pedestrians on the road.

Soon, he realized he was being watched; a figure, seemingly close yet distant, was silently following him not far behind. The commander chuckled inwardly, thinking how quickly they had arrived, and quickened his pace, turning into a dark alley.

The follower quickly caught up, and judging from the lightness of his footsteps, he seemed to be a martial arts expert.

Just as the man turned into the alley, the leader suddenly darted out from the shadows and kicked him in the back of the knee, at the Weizhong acupoint, the joint between the thigh bone and tibia. This is one of the nine major acupoints on the human body. A strike to this point will instantly numb the entire leg and render it insensitive, ensuring that the opponent cannot move and loses the ability to attack.

The man's feet suddenly leaped from the pressure point to the roadside, he took two steps forward, and then calmly turned around to face his superior.

This person is undoubtedly a master. My own martial arts skills are not weak to begin with, and I have spent several years immersing myself in the teachings of Master Jia at Baiyun Temple. Just now, when I kicked him, the other party seemed not to have even noticed. I must be careful tonight, the leader thought to himself.

"Sir, I am Lou Yi, Mr. Qiao's assistant, here to protect you in secret," the man said.

The commander stared at him with sharp eyes. Under the dim streetlights, the man appeared to be in his thirties, with a frail build, sallow complexion, and sunken eyes, looking like an opium addict.

"I just finished eating with Mr. Qiao, how did you get here so quickly?" the leader asked, looking puzzled.

"Commander, I sensed the call of Master Qiao's biomagnetic field, so I rushed over. Fortunately, I'm not late," Lou Yi replied respectfully.

"Sense? Where were you at the time?" the commander asked in surprise.

“Dongdan,” Lou Yi said.

"It's not too far," the commander thought, then said, "Do you know the mission you've come here for?"

“Yes, I understand. I will protect your safety and eliminate the assassins who threaten the commander,” Lou Yi said.

Looking at Lou Yi's small stature, the leader knew that one cannot judge a book by its cover and that Master Qiao's assistant must have extraordinary abilities, but he still couldn't help but have some doubts.

Lou Yi understood the leader's meaning, so he said, "Lou Yi's specialty is 'Small Movement.' Just now, when the leader touched my Weizhong acupoint with his foot, I used 'Small Movement' to neutralize it."

"Hmm," the leader knew about the Taoist theory of teleportation, and although many people practiced this technique, very few actually mastered it. It seemed that this person had some skill. After thinking for a moment, he casually asked, "Your name is a bit strange."

Lou Yi smiled faintly and said, "When I was a child, I was too weak. My family named me this because they thought 'even ants cherish life,' hoping that I could live on strongly."

The leader smiled slightly, said nothing more, and walked out of the alley. This time, Lou Yi followed closely behind him.

After leaving the Eight Great Hutongs, we arrived at the Dashilan parking lot. Under the lights, there was a black Toyota Crown 3.0 sedan, the official car of the leader. It was one of the first cars imported into China not long after the reform and opening up.

The leader personally drove the Toyota onto Chang'an Avenue. Whenever there was an important matter, he always drove himself and never needed a driver or attendants. Lou Yi sat in the passenger seat, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

The car turned into the western part of the city. There were few pedestrians on the road, and occasionally workers on bicycles hurrying to their night shifts could be seen passing by. Finally, the car stopped close to the Prince Gong's Mansion on the north bank of Shichahai Lake in Xinjiekou. The leader turned off the ignition and shut off the engine.

"I'm going to meet someone here. You wait for me in the car," the commander said before getting out of the car.

Lou Yi quickly jumped out of the car and said, "Commander, my duty is to protect your safety. You should let me accompany you."

"No need, just keep an eye on things..." The commander waved his hand.

"Help!" Just then, a woman's terrified scream echoed through the pine forest of Shichahai, reverberating in the silent night sky.

The leader glanced at Lou Yi out of the corner of his eye.

Lou Yi's wary eyes scanned the surroundings, ignoring the cries for help from the pine forest.

"Lou Yi, didn't you hear me?" the leader asked curiously.

"I heard you, but that's not my job. Lou Yi's duty is to protect the leader's safety," Lou Yi replied calmly.

The leader nodded approvingly and smiled slightly, saying, "Alright, you can go now."

Lou Yi glanced at the leader, looking somewhat hesitant.

"Go now!" the commander said sternly.

"Yes." Lou Yi took off running into the pine forest, moving extremely fast and making very little noise.

Under the pale moonlight, a young man with a buzz cut straddled a woman, his pants already pulled down, about to rape her. Torn work clothes and an aluminum lunchbox lay scattered on the grass beside them, suggesting the victim was a night shift worker.

"You, get down," Lou Yi said coldly.

The man glanced back and saw a thin, unremarkable man. He then dismissively said, "Don't worry, buddy, he's yours once I'm done."

"Help..." the female worker, pinned beneath Lou Yi, cried out in despair.

Lou Yi stepped forward, grabbed the man by the back of the collar, and forcefully pulled him down...

"You little brat, you're asking for it..." The crew-cut man flew into a rage, pulled out a long-bladed spring knife from somewhere, and stabbed it straight at Lou Yi's chest.

Lou Yi chuckled coldly, grabbed the wrist holding the knife, and with a twist and a thrust, the sharp blade pierced between the fifth and sixth ribs of the man with the flat-top haircut. Then, he pushed the tip of the knife diagonally upwards, piercing through the man's heart.

"You, go." Lou Yi said to the dumbfounded female worker.

The female worker, trembling, pulled up her pants, grabbed her shirt and lunchbox, and hurriedly ran away.

"Dude, you...you're so ruthless..." The crew-cut guy uttered his last words, his head lolled to the side, and he died.

The knife was still stuck in the man's body, blood gushing from his ruptured heart into his abdominal cavity, but his clothes were clean, without a single drop of blood. Lou Yi carried him to the water's edge and threw him into the icy Shichahai Lake. Then, by the moonlight, he examined himself and, finding himself spotless, straightened his clothes and calmly walked out of the pine forest.

When he arrived at the Toyota sedan, he discovered that the leader was gone.

Chapter 54, Part 2

Prince Gong's Mansion is the world's largest courtyard house, covering more than 80 acres. It is divided into three parallel sections: east, central, and west. The three main buildings in the central section are the main hall, the rear hall, and the extension building. The extension building is 160 meters long from east to west and has more than 40 rooms. The east and west sections each have three courtyards. Behind the mansion is a large garden, with ever-changing scenery and winding paths leading to secluded spots. It is said that the garden of Prince Gong's Mansion was the model for the Grand View Garden in Cao Xueqin's novel *Dream of the Red Chamber*, and many of the scenes described in the book can be found in the garden.

The Prince Gong Mansion was originally the residence of Heshen, a Grand Secretary during the Qianlong reign. In 1799, Heshen was convicted and his residence was confiscated by the government. Emperor Jiaqing bestowed it upon his younger brother, Prince Qingxi Yonglin, and it became known as the Prince Qing Mansion. During the Xianfeng reign, the Prince Qing Mansion was taken back and given to Yiyi, and it was renamed the Prince Gong Mansion.

The central rear hall, Jiale Hall, had been called the "Temple of God" within Heshen's residence since his time. Its architecture was exactly the same as the shamanistic shrine in the Kunning Palace of the Forbidden City. According to Ji Yun (Ji Xiaolan), a compiler at the Hanlin Academy during the Jiaqing era, a female ghost named Guo Ke'er would appear in the rear hall of Heshen's residence every midnight on the night of the full moon. She was skilled at seducing men into having sex with her, and any man who had sex with her would die within a few days.

Later historians have argued that this was merely Ji Xiaolan using supernatural tales to satirize Heshen, and should not be taken seriously.

At this moment, a bright moon hangs high in the night sky, its light cool and clear. The shadows of flowers in front of Jiale Hall are dappled and projected onto the blue brick wall, creating a mottled and colorful scene. Only a few crickets chirp from the cracks in the bricks, otherwise, it is extremely quiet.

Under the moonlight, the leader stood silently beneath a crabapple tree...

After a long silence, he faced Jialetang and slowly said, "Guo Ke'er, I know you're here. Heshen has been dead for two hundred years, and you're still keeping that secret. Ke'er, if you have any unfulfilled wishes, I will help you fulfill them. Tonight is the 12th moonlit night, and you still won't come out to meet me?"

The dark Jiale Hall was quiet, without a sound, not even the crickets chirping in the cracks in the walls had stopped.

“Ke’er, I believe that what Ji Xiaolan wrote in ‘Notes from the Thatched Cottage of Close Observation’ is true. I am willing to have intercourse with you and fulfill all your requests, only asking that you tell me that secret…” the leader continued.

It remained silent, eerily quiet.

"Sigh, Ke'er, I have to go now. I'll have to wait until next full moon night..." the leader said with a sense of loss, then turned to leave.

Just then, the lights came on in the Jiale Hall, and a woman let out a long sigh, mournful and plaintive, which made people feel a pang of sorrow.

“Come in…” the woman said.

Chapter 55 of the main text

The leader was suddenly stunned, then a surge of joy welled up in his heart. A year had passed, and his persistent efforts had finally paid off. He stepped lightly up the stone steps and pushed open the door.

Under the flickering lamplight, a woman sat at the table. She was about thirty years old, with delicate features, wearing glasses, short hair, and a black cashmere sweater. She was looking at him with alluring eyes…

The leader seemed a little nervous and licked his dry lips.

"My name is Guo Ke'er from Hedong, Shanxi. I greet you. My husband has waited for me faithfully for twelve months, which has deeply moved me. That is why I have come out to see you tonight." The woman stood up, gave a deep curtsy, and spoke softly in a simple, ancient voice.

The leader stepped forward, reached out and helped Guo Ke'er up, and said in a refined manner, "Since Ji Xiaolan's 'Notes from the Thatched Cottage of Close Observation', for two hundred years, high-ranking officials, rich kids, and commoners have come here every full moon night to seek Ke'er like a swarm of locusts crossing a river. But they all come for the girl's beauty and lust for the union of humans and ghosts. I am different. Please, Miss Ke'er, see the truth."

Guo Ke'er blushed, her almond eyes gleaming with a hint of flirtation, and said softly, "Since I was forcibly married by Heshen and brought to the capital, I have tasted all the riches and honors, but in the end, it was all an illusion. How can it compare to the hardships and affections shared by ordinary people? As for Ji Xiaolan's claim that I am a ghost after death and can be married to anyone, it is merely out of jealousy. Please, my lord, see the truth."

The leader chuckled and said, "Whether it's human harmony or ghostly union, as long as there is true affection in the world, how can we be bound by mere feudal ethics? We Communists don't believe in evil, we'll 'cross the river by feeling the stones,' and we dare to try anything." After saying that, he teasingly pinched Ke'er's slender arm.

Guo Ke'er glanced at the chief with a shy and charming look, and said with a slight reproach, "My lord is so good at talking. Aren't you afraid that, as described in 'Ji the Pipe's' book, one's lifespan will only be a few days after mating with a ghost?"

The leader replied cautiously, "You are a gentle woman, and even as a ghost, you must be kind. Folk tales should not be taken at face value. Don't you agree, Miss Ke'er?"

Ke'er sighed and said sadly, "All things in the world are born with yin and yang, one waxes and the other wanes, in a cycle that repeats itself. A person's life is only sixty or seventy years, and the difference between yin and yang is negligible. Now, Ke'er has been a ghost for more than two hundred years, and the old yin in my body may have absorbed your yang energy and harmed your life."

The commander solemnly said, "Ke'er, I have waited twelve moonlit nights just to see you. If I could have your touch, even if I die here, it would be a worthy death..."

The dim light of the oil lamp illuminated Ke'er's pretty face as she said in a plaintive tone, "Doesn't my husband still have a wish?"

Upon hearing this, the leader's spirits lifted, and he quickly replied, "I hope Miss Ke'er will grant my request."

In the side room was an old rosewood carved bed, fully covered with bedding. Ke'er slowly took off her cashmere sweater, unbuckled her belt... until she was left with only pink briefs and a bra. She jumped onto the bed with a "whoosh," crawled under the covers, and casually tossed them out, saying, "My lord, come here. This is the official bed that Heshen slept on."

The leader smiled slightly and said, "I'm going to relieve myself, I'll be right back."

The cool moonlight shone on the courtyard, and the crickets chirped merrily again. Although the spring breeze was a little chilly, the leader felt warm inside.

"Splash, splash..." He stood on the stone steps and relieved himself, touching his penis in his hand. He sighed inwardly, thinking that although he was over fifty, he was still vigorous, a fact that many veteran comrades in the Party envied. To be able to have intercourse with a female ghost was simply too exciting. When he was a child, reading Pu Songling's *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*, he often fantasized about being that pale-faced scholar in the book, encountering a beautiful female ghost on a moonlit night—that was the dream of every young man just beginning to experience love.

The leader took out a small, yellowish-brown bone bottle from his pocket. It was the "Returning Soul Water" from the Bon religion, given to him by Elder Anxi years ago. It could resist the old yin energy and ensure that his yang energy would not dissipate. It would be put to use tonight.

The leader tilted his head back and swallowed all the "resurrection water" in the bottle, then turned and walked back into the house.