They followed the drain to the Old City and there was sewage in the drains. It was the city sewage, black and horrendously smelly. Xia Lei was still all right but Tang Yuyan and Long Bing were past their limits. 

“How much further?” asked Tang Yuyan, frowning. “You sure this is the right way?” 

“This drain is obviously modern. How can it be part of an ancient drainage system? Xia Lei, review your route - could we have gone the wrong way?” 

Xia Lei turned back to the two women and said with a smile, “You can return to the surface if you can’t take it anymore. I can go on by myself.” As he spoke, his eyes were uncontrollably drawn to their beautiful legs. 

The rancid sewage water had stained their knees and the thighs above the water line were like lotus stalks. Lotus buds sat between these stalks, the shape and outlines of petals plain to see, and very clearly too. 

Tang Yuyan put both her hands between her legs to block the sight. She said fiercely, “You’re a pervert. Keep looking and I’ll gouge your eyes out.” 

Long Bing reacted in a more exaggerated fashion. She put the torchlight in...