Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 153 – Layout of Aoki Castle

The early morning sun streamed through the window lattice into the room. Lin Fan opened her eyes, her first reaction a frown.

This bed was as hard as a stone slab.

She turned over, her dark green hair spilling across the pillow. A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed her golden, vertical pupils.

“The Simmons mattresses on Blue Star were so much more comfortable…”

Lin Fan sat up and stretched her shoulders.

Although Long Ningshuang’s body was formidable, even the strongest physique couldn’t withstand this wretched bed.

She began to miss the large bed back at the Hangzhou City base.

But on second thought, the corners of her lips curled into a smile.

The bait had been set for Hu Lie.

Now, all she had to do was wait for the fish to bite.

It was a matter of who had more patience.

“Sister Ning Shuang, are you awake?”

Su Xiaoxiao pushed the door open, carrying a basin of hot water for washing up.

Her fox ears were pricked alertly, and her fox tail swayed gently, showing she had already grown accustomed to her role as a handmaiden.

Lin Fan nodded and rose, walking to the bronze basin.

Su Xiaoxiao skillfully helped her wash up, her movements gentle and meticulous.

Lin Fan closed her eyes and enjoyed the service, sighing inwardly.

No wonder the officials and nobles of ancient times were never without their attendants.

It really was the good life.

After she had washed up, Su Xiaoxiao retrieved the set of black and gold fitted attire and the horse-face skirt she had worn when they arrived.

“Sister Ning Shuang, let’s wear this today. It’s more convenient for moving around.”

Lin Fan glanced at it and nodded in agreement.

The cheongsam was stunning, but it wasn’t suitable for long periods of wear.

She had business to attend to today, so the fitted attire was more practical.

Su Xiaoxiao helped her dress and put on her shoes and socks, then carefully arranged her hair.

Lin Fan stood before the bronze mirror, examining herself.

The black and gold attire outlined the perfect curves of her body, while the horse-face skirt was elegant yet heroic.

On her feet was a pair of embroidered white cloth shoes, paired with flesh-colored stockings.

Her dark green hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing a smooth forehead and the pair of small Dragon horns.

Her golden, vertical pupils glinted coldly in the morning light.

“Let’s go. We’ll take a walk.”

Lin Fan turned and pushed the door open.

Su Xiaoxiao followed closely behind her.

The streets of Azurewood City were already bustling.

Merchants of various clans were hawking their wares, and the aroma of food filled the air.

Lin Fan drew countless gazes as she walked down the street.

Her appearance was too outstanding, and with the addition of her Dragon horns, it was difficult not to attract attention.

But Lin Fan didn’t mind.

She was of the Dragon Clan now. In this city, no one dared to provoke her.

“Sister Ning Shuang, there’s a barbecue shop over there. It smells so good!”

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Su Xiaoxiao pointed to a shop on the street corner, her fox ears twitching with excitement.

Lin Fan followed her finger.

A sign hung above the shop’s entrance, on which was written “Hu’s Barbecue.”

She raised an eyebrow.

Hu’s?

It seemed to be a business owned by Hu Lie’s family.

“Let’s go. We’ll try it.”

The two entered the shop.

Business was good, and many customers were seated inside.

The moment Lin Fan entered, the clamor in the shop instantly died down.

Everyone’s eyes fell upon her.

To be precise, they fell upon the Dragon horns on her head.

“My… My Lady of the Dragon Clan!”

The shop owner, a burly Tiger Clan man, hurried over, his attitude exceedingly respectful.

“My Lady, please take a seat. I will prepare the best barbecue for you right away!”

Lin Fan nodded and sat down at a table by the window.

Su Xiaoxiao obediently sat beside her.

Soon, the shop owner brought over a platter of barbecue.

The meat was tender and fragrant.

Lin Fan took a bite.

The taste was indeed excellent.

As she ate, she observed the other customers in the shop.

Most were from the Tiger Clan and Jackal Clan, with a few from the Pig-man Clan and Snake-man Clan.

There were no Fox Clan or Cat Clan members.

Lin Fan understood.

This was the consequence of possessing beauty without the great power to match it.

“Sister Ning Shuang.”

Su Xiaoxiao leaned close to her ear and whispered, “A message came from the village chief.”

Lin Fan’s gaze flickered.

“What is it?”

“There’s a Fox Beauty Tavern in the west of the city. The proprietress is named Su Yue. She’s from the Fox Clan and used to live in Green Hill Village.”

Su Xiaoxiao lowered her voice.

“The Fox Clan can pass messages through a secret art. Sister Su Yue opened this tavern here to save more of our Fox Clan sisters.”

Lin Fan put down her chopsticks, lost in thought.

Fox Beauty Tavern…

That was a good place.

“After we finish eating, we’ll pay her a visit.”

The Fox Beauty Tavern was located in the west of the city, a three-story building.

Red lanterns hung by the entrance, and the decor was quite elegant.

Lin Fan pushed the door open and entered.

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The tavern was doing good business, filled with customers.

The servers were all Fox Clan girls, each as beautiful as a flower, wearing uniform long green dresses.

They moved between the customers carrying drinks, their smiles sweet yet professional.

“Honored guest, please come in…”

A Fox Clan girl came forward to greet her, but she stopped mid-sentence and froze when she saw the Dragon horns on Lin Fan’s head.

“My… My Lady of the Dragon Clan?”

Her voice trembled slightly.

Lin Fan looked at her and said coolly, “I’m looking for your proprietress.”

The girl nodded hastily.

“Please wait a moment, My Lady. I’ll go inform her right away!”

She turned and hurried upstairs.

In less than a minute, a woman in a long purple dress descended from the upper floor.

She looked to be around thirty, with a stunning face and a mature feminine charm in her every move.

Her foxy eyes, in particular, were alluring without being vulgar.

“My Lady of the Dragon Clan, this humble woman is Su Yue. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner.”

Su Yue walked up to Lin Fan and curtsied slightly.

Lin Fan sized her up.

This woman was no simple character.

She was at least a level-four Evolved being.

Moreover, the aura about her was clearly that of someone who had seen the world.

“Proprietress Su Yue, my name is Long Ningshuang.”

Lin Fan got straight to the point.

“I have some dealings with Village Chief Su Changfeng of Green Hill Village.”

Su Yue’s eyes lit up.

“So it’s you!”

Her expression immediately changed, her smile becoming more sincere.

“That old fellow Changfeng sent me a message, saying you’ve taken Green Hill Village under your protection. This humble woman is endlessly grateful.”

Lin Fan waved her hand.

“You’re too kind. I came today to discuss a matter with you.”

“My Lady, please come upstairs to talk in detail.”

Su Yue made an inviting gesture.

The third floor was Su Yue’s private room.

It was elegantly decorated, with several works of calligraphy and paintings on the walls and a tea set on the table.

Su Yue personally poured a cup of tea for Lin Fan.

“My Lady, if you have any instructions, please don’t hesitate to speak.”

Lin Fan picked up the teacup and took a sip.

“I need intelligence.”

She set the cup down and looked directly at Su Yue.

“Intelligence about Azurewood City. City Lord Hu Lie’s movements, the relationships between the major powers in the city, and… the situation at the Slave Market.”

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Su Yue was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

“I can provide all of that.”

She paused, then asked tentatively, “My Lady, are you planning to…”

“I need to establish a foothold in Azurewood City.”

Lin Fan said coolly.

“But I don’t want to clash with Hu Lie. At least, not right now.”

A sharp glint flashed in Su Yue’s eyes.

She understood.

This lady of the Dragon Clan was planning to lay her groundwork in Azurewood City in secret.

And her Fox Beauty Tavern was the best intelligence hub.

“This humble woman understands.”

Su Yue smiled.

“From this day forward, all intelligence from the tavern will be delivered to you at the earliest opportunity.”

Lin Fan nodded in satisfaction.

She took out several Crystals from her Storage Space and placed them on the table.

“This is a deposit.”

Su Yue’s pupils constricted slightly as she looked at the Crystals on the table.

Three level-four Crystals and two level-three Crystals.

Such a grand gesture…

She took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed solemnly to Lin Fan.

“Rest assured, My Lady. Su Yue will not fail your trust.”

Lin Fan stood up, preparing to leave.

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.

“Oh, right. There’s one more thing.”

She turned her head and looked at Su Yue.

“How many of the Fox Clan are in the Slave Market?”

Su Yue froze, and her expression darkened.

“At least… twenty.”

Lin Fan nodded.

“I want them all.”

She took out all her remaining level-three Crystals from her Storage Space and handed them to Su Xiaoxiao.

“Xiaoxiao, you and Su Yue will go to the Slave Market and buy all the Fox Clan members.”

Su Xiaoxiao took the Crystals and nodded firmly.

“Yes, Sister Ning Shuang!”

Su Yue looked at Lin Fan, her eyes turning a little red.

“My Lady… you…”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Lin Fan cut her off.

“I’m no saint. I have a use for these Fox Clan members.”

She paused.

“After you buy them, arrange for them to work at your tavern. Pay them the market rate, but they must obey my orders.”

Su Yue nodded quickly.

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“Su Yue understands!”

Lin Fan turned and left.

As she walked out of the tavern, a smile touched her lips.

The Fox Clan intelligence network was now in her hands.

When she returned to the inn, Long Yan was practicing his punches in the courtyard.

He was bare-chested, his muscles clearly defined.

Every punch he threw carried the sound of tearing air.

Lin Fan stood at the entrance, watching him quietly.

Long Yan’s strength was recovering faster than she had expected.

That level-four Crystal had been quite effective.

“Ning Shuang.”

Long Yan stopped his punches and turned around.

His forehead was covered in sweat, and his black hair was plastered wetly to his face.

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

Lin Fan walked over.

“What is it?”

Long Yan took a deep breath.

“I want to go to the Mist Forest.”

Lin Fan’s gaze flickered.

“What for?”

“To hunt for Crystals.”

Long Yan’s voice was firm.

“I need to recover my strength through combat. Besides… we both need Crystals right now.”

He paused and said with a bitter smile, “My Dragon Bone was dug out, so I can’t absorb Spirit Energy naturally like I used to. I can only rely on Crystals to improve.”

Lin Fan was silent for a few seconds.

She knew Long Yan was telling the truth.

Moreover, letting him go to the Mist Forest to train also fit into her plans.

“Alright.”

Lin Fan nodded.

“But you have to promise me that if you encounter danger, you’ll run immediately.”

She walked up to Long Yan, raised her hand, and gently took his.

“Brother Long Yan, you’re not as strong as you used to be. Don’t try to be a hero, understand?”

Long Yan looked at her, his throat feeling a little tight.

“I know.”

He squeezed Lin Fan’s hand.

“I’ll be careful.”

Lin Fan slowly withdrew her hand and turned to enter her room.

The moment the door closed, the gentleness on her face vanished instantly.

Only those who carve out their own destiny from countless dangers are worthy of being called the Child of Heaven’s Mandate.