Meng Qi inwardly cursed Gu Xiaosang. Suddenly, he sensed several gazes upon him. Looking up, he saw Mi Zijing and Bai Wenyuan staring in astonishment, soon replaced by lecherous grins. They raised their cups, drank first as a gesture of respect, clearly implying that “Crazy Blade” Su Meng was into such things. Appearances can be deceiving—seawater’s depth cannot be judged by its surface. Though seemingly heroic and upright, he was actually hypocritical, indulging in even darker pleasures than the both of them.
Bai Wenyuan placed his cup down and clasped his hands in admiration.
Wang Zai wore an expression of shock, as if seeing Meng Qi in a new light, with a hint of disdain, as if embarrassed to be associated with him.
They were all cultivators of at least the Seven Orifices stage, possessing keen hearing and sight. Even though Nian Xue deliberately leaned close to Meng Qi’s ear, speaking softly, and despite the continuous music within the private chamber, nothing escaped their notice!
Buzz… Meng Qi’s head felt as though struck by a giant hammer, ringing loudly:
My reputation… my reputation!
If Gu Xiaosang appeared before him now, he would give her a strike of “Heaven’s Thunderclap” without hesitation!
“Nian Xue, truly the queen of flowers, adept in all manner of arts. You’ve certainly broadened my horizons,” Meng Qi forced a dry laugh, scrambling to explain while pretending complete ignorance of the situation.
Mi Zijing smiled amiably: “Though Nian Xue mostly sells her artistry rather than her body, having emerged from the mundane world, she has encountered all sorts of people, naturally attuned to each customer’s preferences. Truly worthy of being the flower queen.”
Though seemingly agreeing with Meng Qi’s explanation, his words subtly implied, This is simply your preference, and she’s merely catering to you.
“To be honest, I thought I’d have to grow older to appreciate such pleasures. Who knew Su Brother’s heart was so mature,” Bai Wenyuan, his rough, wild-man’s face filled with admiration, had even changed his address to “Su Brother.”
Why do my eyes always well with tears? Because this world is too cruel, and misunderstandings cannot be explained… Meng Qi inwardly raged, though outwardly maintaining calm composure. Better to lose face than lose dignity!
“Perhaps Nian Xue was only joking. Su Xian merely asked why she chose him, nothing more,” Wang Zai recalled the previous moment and felt he had misjudged Meng Qi, speaking up in his defense.
Meng Qi immediately gazed at him with burning eyes. Wang Zai, you’re truly a good person! Friends are easy to find, but a true soulmate is rare!
Startled by Meng Qi’s intense gaze, Wang Zai stiffened as Nian Feng approached, instantly sitting upright with eyes forward, no longer resembling someone in a pleasure house but rather a minister on duty at the government hall.
Meanwhile, Nian Hua and Nian Yue each chose Mi Zijing and Bai Wenyuan, and soon laughter and chatter filled the room.
Seeing this, Meng Qi whispered secretly to Nian Xue: “What did that girl ask you earlier?”
Nian Xue picked up the wine pot, slowly pouring wine as she casually replied: “Recently, I met a peculiar guest.”
“A peculiar guest?” Meng Qi played along.
Mi Zijing and the others also turned their attention, eager to hear tales of romance.
“He visits every few days, always requesting my company,” Nian Xue brought the cup to Meng Qi’s lips.
“Haha, that’s quite normal, isn’t it? If I could visit every few days, I’d also request only Nian Xue’s company,” Mi Zijing chimed in.
Beside him, Nian Hua immediately looked on the verge of tears: “Master Mi, you, you think I’m inferior to Nian Xue?”
“Not at all! Nian Xue plays the qin beautifully, while you’re charming in serving wine…” Mi Zijing quickly comforted her with gentle words.
Nian Xue smiled: “What makes him peculiar is that he never lays a hand on me. He only asks me to play the qin while he drinks cup after cup. Though his gaze burns intensely, he never utters flirtatious words or makes advances.”
“That truly is a strange man! Facing such a beauty, he only drinks and listens to music!” Bai Wenyuan exclaimed in astonishment.
Beside him, Wang Zai stiffened at this, once again shifting sideways to distance himself from Nian Feng and focusing solely on drinking.
I’m like that too… Meng Qi knew that Gu Xiaosang wouldn’t go through such trouble just to mock him with such a person. He chuckled: “What does he look like? What did he say?”
“Perhaps he’s just an ugly man, afraid of defiling beauty, thus keeping his distance,” Bai Wenyuan guessed.
Nian Xue smiled slightly: “He’s somewhat presentable, around forty, dressed as a scholar, with a cold and eerie aura. He has a few small flesh nodules on his face. Every time he drinks deeply, he stares at me, softly calling out ‘Xiaoyue,’ as if he carries a tragic story. His burning gaze seems as if he wants to devour me alive.”
“I also want to ‘devour’ you alive…” Mi Zijing added ambiguously. In such a romantic setting, he was completely different from his usual self, exuding a carefree and unrestrained charm.
Xiaoyue… around forty… dressed as a scholar… cold and eerie… flesh nodules… these words echoed in Meng Qi’s mind, gradually shaping a figure.
He turned to Nian Xue, his gaze deep and contemplative, filled with scrutiny. She was delicate and refined, gentle and charming. Though a flower queen, in another setting, one might mistake her for a young lady from a noble family or a young matron. Such an identity, such a demeanor—he had seen someone similar before…
Xiao Yue, a leader of the Yangxia Left Path, proprietor of Flower Street, renowned as “Crimson Delicacy Hand”!
She was the lover of Lao Zhongtou, a Myth member, ultimately devoured by Lao Zhongtou, who both loved and hated her while cultivating the Tianmo Cultivation Method.
Was this scholar Lao Zhongtou? The Lao Zhongtou who cultivated the divine technique capable of achieving the Tianmo Golden Body? The same Lao Zhongtou who escaped from Ruan Yaoguang?
So Gu Xiaosang had found traces of the “Myth”…
Nian Xue felt uneasy under Meng Qi’s scrutiny and softly asked: “Young Master, is there something on my face?”
“No, I was just thinking that this strange man’s ‘Xiaoyue’ must resemble you somewhat,” Meng Qi averted his gaze, inwardly musing: Lao Zhongtou’s “devour” wasn’t the metaphorical kind but literal—consuming flesh and essence, merging them into one. Fortunately, Gu Xiaosang discovered him, exposing his whereabouts. Otherwise, given time, she might not escape his fate.
“Ai, what is love, that it stirs the world so?” Hearing of Lao Zhongtou, Bai Wenyuan couldn’t help but sigh. He must have truly loved Xiaoyue, though the reason for their separation remained unknown.
Though rough in appearance, Bai Wenyuan was young at heart, easily moved by sentiment.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I think,” Nian Xue signaled the musicians to stop and had the steward bring in her qin.
“By the way, do you know how often this peculiar guest visits and what time he prefers?” Meng Qi casually asked.
Nian Xue pondered: “Not sure exactly. Sometimes seven days, sometimes one or two. He always comes at noon when no one else is around.”
Has Lao Zhongtou been in Ying City this long? Meng Qi slightly frowned. The Myth would only target him after learning of the Xingyun Banquet, arriving at most half a month earlier in Ying City unless they already had agents here.
“When was the earliest time he came?” Meng Qi asked.
Nian Xue recalled: “About two months ago.”
Two months ago… Even before the Xingyun Banquet was announced. Calculating the time, it was around when Lao Zhongtou escaped from the Dongyang Secondary Mansion. Did he directly flee to Ying City? Meng Qi remained expressionless: “And when was the most recent visit?”
“Just at noon today, half an hour before you gentlemen arrived,” Nian Xue honestly replied.
“Su Meng, why concern yourself with a man? Come, drink!” Mi Zijing, breaking from his usual demeanor, urged him with boldness.
Meng Qi had already asked all he needed and raised his cup, joining them in drinking.
After Nian Xue played a piece, Meng Qi chuckled self-mockingly: “Only today, visiting Yanyu Mountain, did I learn Ying City was the former dynasty’s capital. Truly ignorant of history.”
He used this to steer the conversation.
“Ai, fleeting glory always fades with time. Ying City no longer resembles its former grandeur centuries ago,” Mi Zijing sighed. “In the former dynasty, my Mi family was merely a rural nouveau riche, insignificant in Ying City. Only after the upheaval did we establish our fortune.”
Probably absorbing much of Ying City’s former aristocratic legacies… Meng Qi mused thoughtfully, smiling: “Such an ancient capital surely has countless enduring legends.”
“Of course,” Mi Zijing, a native of Ying City, spoke with pride when mentioning his hometown’s past glory, his interest piqued. “Regarding the Han Clan of Ying City, there are hundreds of legends. Some say that in the final moments, Emperor Ai, seeing the great clans abandoning him one by one and unable to personally subdue them, realizing he could barely hold on, secretly dispatched trusted men to hide the Han Clan’s heritage and secret treasures elsewhere, waiting for the storm to pass so escaping Han descendants could retrieve them.”
“Others say he, unwilling to see the city fall and the dynasty collapse, desperately ordered the excavation of the Dragon Platform, seeking the Emperor’s Sword. Though he didn’t find it, he still gained something, seemingly forming a secret treasure. Yet in the end, he crashed himself against Yanyu Mountain’s peak, proving the treasure useless.”
“Some say he had no time to relocate the treasures, ordering Han Clan loyalists to flee with the young heir and heritage, hoping for revival in the future.”
“Others claim he, in despair, sought to ally with the nine evil sects to resist the traitorous clans and some involved martial sects.”
Meng Qi listened intently, combining Wang Siyuan’s hints. Was the Crown Prince after the secret treasure or the hidden wealth?
Certainly, someone from the Han Clan must have survived. After centuries, where were they now?
Wang Zai was also interested in the former dynasty’s affairs, continuously asking questions that struck Mi Zijing’s fancy, making him speak endlessly.
After hearing the legends of Ying City, Meng Qi noticed Mi Zijing and Bai Wenyuan already entwined with courtesans beside them. Seeing Nian Xue seemingly about to lean closer, he abruptly stood, clasping his hands: “Su suddenly remembers an urgent matter yet to be handled. I must take my leave first.”
This was the truth. He needed to inform Jiang Zhiwei to beware of Lao Zhongtou. The Myth might fear Su Wuming, but cultivators of the Tianmo Method were often irrational and unpredictable.
Moreover, he needed to station someone to monitor Xiuyue Pavilion, waiting for Lao Zhongtou’s return.
Mi Zijing hesitated: “Leaving amidst such warmth and softness?”
“Matters of great importance require my immediate attention,” Meng Qi replied firmly.
Seeing his unwavering resolve, Mi Zijing and Bai Wenyuan refrained from detaining him, nodding in agreement.
Meng Qi turned: “This task is perilous. I humbly request Brother Wang’s assistance.”
“Agreed!” Wang Zai felt immense relief, almost tearfully grateful.
Nian Xue and Nian Feng escorted the two out of the private chamber. As they neared the exit of the pleasure boat, Nian Xue leaned close to Meng Qi’s side, softly chuckling: “That girl also said, if you didn’t make any advances, she’d have me praise you on her behalf.”
“Eh?” Meng Qi instinctively felt it wouldn’t be good news.
But Nian Xue had already spoken:
“Master is a fine monk…”
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