Chapter 20:

Su Yu glanced at Ao Fugui and came to a conclusion, “You’re sick.”

He pulled up his pants and started walking out. The furious Ao Fugui called after him, “Did I, the Crown Prince, allow you to leave?”

Su Yu, holding up his pants with one hand and pointing at Ao Fugui with the other, retorted, “I come and go as I please. What’s it to you?”

“Even inns charge for overnight stays. You slept in my bed, and now I have to replace the entire set.”

Su Yu gave Ao Fugui a skeptical look. Ao Fugui planted his hands on his hips. “What? Just because I’m rich doesn’t mean I’m a fool. Why should I waste money?”

The moment Ao Fugui realized Su Yu wasn’t a woman, his attitude did a complete 180.

He went from being a generous benefactor to a penny-pinching miser.

Su Yu eyed the massive bed—large enough for a grown man to sprawl across—and shook his sleeves.

No, it wasn’t the breeze—it was the fragrant air from Ao Fugui’s room.

“Fine,” Su Yu said, still holding up his pants. “I’ll keep you company for the night to make up for it.”

Seeing Ao Fugui hesitate, Su Yu immediately boasted, “I don’t just know how to play ‘Chase the Turtle,’ I can also play ‘Fight the Landlord’ and ‘Mahjong.’ Ever heard of ‘Auto Chess’?”

Ao Fugui was utterly intrigued. His childhood had been filled with nothing but dull pearls, gold, and crystals—a boring upbringing. He had always envied other kids who got to play in the mud. Clapping his hands together, he agreed, “Deal.”

His pants fell down again.

They stayed up all night playing games. By dawn, Su Yu left with his pockets full, while Ao Fugui remained in the room, staring gloomily at the two seafood dishes on the floor, planning to cook them.

Behind him, the room was stripped bare—utterly empty.

His father was right: the prettier they are, the better they lie. Men and women alike!

When Xue Ying met Su Yu, he was rubbing his bloodshot eyes and bickering with Bai Zhu. “I didn’t cheat! I won fair and square!”

Bai Zhu tugged on Su Yu’s rabbit ears but let go when she saw Xue Ying, allowing Su Yu to enter. Noticing Xue Ying and Bai Zhu holding hands and heading out, Su Yu asked curiously, “Senior Sister, where are you going?”

Xue Ying replied, “I heard a new shop opened in the West Market. Bai Zhu wants to check it out.”

After the preliminary rounds, there were still a few days before the next stage of the competition. Everyone was eating, drinking, and having fun as usual.

Secluded training? Not a chance. Not when there was food, drink, and entertainment to be had.

The moment Su Yu heard it was shopping, he shrank back. Xue Ying shopping wasn’t scary—Senior Sister shopping was terrifying.

It was like turning women into men and men into beasts.

Xue Ying followed the flyer she’d received the day before to the West Market. The place was impossible to miss—a crowd had already gathered, chattering excitedly. In the air, several women in pale pink gauze dresses danced gracefully. At the center, on a lotus platform, a woman knelt with her eyes closed, as if in meditation.

Her beauty was indescribable. She carried an aura so unique that no one who saw her could forget her—like a fairy, a Buddha, yet also a demon.

“Who’s that?”

“The Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion.”

“That legendary Heavenly Sound Pavilion?”

Like Deer Garden, the Heavenly Sound Pavilion resided in the Realm of Consciousness. Both sects rarely appeared in the Daoist Realm, and they only recruited disciples from among their devotees. For ordinary residents of the Daoist Realm, unless they were particularly drawn to the customs of the Realm of Consciousness, there was little reason to seek out such elite institutions.

Too far, too many rules. Why bother when Taichu and Taixuan were right here?

Compared to Deer Garden, which was full of monks, the Heavenly Sound Pavilion—home to beautiful women—was far more intriguing. The moment their stage was set up, crowds of men and women gathered to watch.

Xue Ying noticed that You Tan and the irritable guardian monk, Li Xiang, were also present.

“Dad.”

“Father, you’re here too?”

Li Xiang and the other monks gave Xue Ying a look. Restrained by the presence of outsiders, Li Xiang didn’t lose his temper but merely said, “Don’t address me so casually.”

Xue Ying didn’t dare provoke the imposing monk and changed the subject. “You’re here shopping too?”

Monks shopping—now that was interesting.

You Tan explained, “Li Xiang wanted me to observe our ‘competition.’”

Competition? The Heavenly Sound Pavilion and Deer Garden.

Li Xiang didn’t elaborate, muttering only, “Witch,” before coldly observing from the crowd.

To be fair, their bald heads stood out.

The sound of a lute began, and the heavenly maiden raised a jade hand. Crimson petals drifted down from the sky. Xue Ying instinctively reached out to catch one, but the moment her fingers touched it, the petal dissolved into fireflies that swarmed toward the maiden.

Countless fireflies gathered in her palm. When the bells chimed, they scattered like a dream.

As the dance ended, the crowd snapped out of their daze. Bai Zhu whispered, “Her technique is… unusual.”

Almost like the legendary art of enchantment.

Li Xiang glanced at Bai Zhu, nodding approvingly. “She practices the Brahma’s Radiant Pearl Technique, also known as the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Art—a secret method of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion. Its principles are unknown, but the deeper one cultivates it, the greater the transformation, affecting all five senses. At the twelfth level, one becomes akin to a celestial being.”

But none of the past Holy Maidens had reached the twelfth level—they all got sidetracked. The last one was obsessed with makeup; this one was hooked on sales and promotions.

Each generation worse than the last. Shameless women!

They were supposed to use enchantment for wicked schemes, but instead, they swindled money from other women. No sense of shame at all.

Amid thunderous applause, the heavenly maiden descended from the lotus platform, barefoot on the red carpet. The once-elegant music shifted to a lively, celebratory tune. The maiden smiled sweetly. “Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Zhang Yue, Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion. You may call me Little Yue. Our pavilion has come to Yunmeng Lake not to compete for rankings but to showcase our products.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, her skin flawless. At least half the men in the crowd were already won over.

“You must be curious about the fireflies just now. Beautiful, aren’t they? They come from one of our treasures—the ‘Flying Flowers and Fireflies’ jade bracelet.”

As she spoke, a disciple brought forth a jade tray bearing an exquisite bracelet. Zhang Yue demonstrated its magic again, eliciting gasps from the female cultivators below. “Would any fellow Daoist like to try it?”

A female cultivator quickly volunteered. Under Zhang Yue’s guidance, the scene of petals turning to fireflies repeated itself.

The cultivator tried it several times, clearly enchanted. Zhang Yue explained, “This treasure has no cultivation restrictions. As long as you have spiritual energy, you can use it repeatedly.”

Some men in the crowd lost interest. “What’s the point of all this flashy stuff?”

Zhang Yue blinked. “It’s pretty.”

For women, that was reason enough!

Bai Zhu, watching eagerly, was tempted. On stage, Zhang Yue announced, “Today’s grand opening sale—all treasures are half price! And for this fellow Daoist, congratulations! This treasure is yours for free.”

After sending off the delighted cultivator, Zhang Yue continued her pitch. “We have many more treasures inside. Feel free to browse. You won’t regret it—just looking costs nothing! No fireworks for romantic dates? The Magpie Bridge Immortal Ring has you covered.”

Behind her, disciples displayed an array of magical items—fireworks, special effects, even skins.

Li Xiang snorted. “Old stock.”

All flash, no substance—just catering to amateurs’ fantasies. Bai Zhu couldn’t resist any longer. Ignoring Li Xiang’s presence, she dragged Xue Ying into the shop. Inside, the selection was even more dazzling, with Heavenly Sound Pavilion disciples demonstrating each item.

Outside, Zhang Yue approached Li Xiang with a smile. Spotting You Tan among the monks, she feigned surprise. “Oh my! Why is the Buddha’s Child bald?”

Li Xiang suppressed his irritation. “The Buddha’s Child shaved his head. He’s not bald.”

Zhang Yue clasped her hands together, her expression serene. “The Buddha is merciful. Deer Garden is willing to gift us a million followers—such kindness, I shall never forget. Since I can’t repay you, how about a wig for the Buddha’s Child?”

Li Xiang couldn’t stand Zhang Yue’s saccharine voice. It made him want to punch her—this sugary menace!

After a few deep breaths, he growled, “No need. Let’s go.”

As they left, a disciple whispered to Zhang Yue, “Holy Maiden, should we hold a meeting?”

To crush these bald monks.

Zhang Yue snapped her fingers. “Draft me a proposal.”

She was confident that with her Brahma’s Radiant Pearl Technique, she wouldn’t just be the top salesperson in the Realm of Consciousness—she’d dominate all three realms!

Inside the shop, Bai Zhu admired a guqin. As a disciple prepared to explain, Zhang Yue stepped in, taking Bai Zhu’s hand with a smile. “You have excellent taste. This is the ‘Flying Flowers and Jade Snow’ guqin. When played, flowers will bloom within ten feet.”

Bai Zhu tried it a few times, utterly smitten. “How much?”

Zhang Yue avoided naming a price. She could tell Bai Zhu was the discreetly wealthy type—people who didn’t care about cost, only exclusivity.

“Oh, this one’s not the best. Look at this—the upgraded version. Not only does it retain the flower effect, but the petals change color with the music.”

“And what’s a guqin without a chessboard? Check this out—the ‘Divine Strategy’ set. Each move summons stars, and capturing pieces triggers ink-wash effects. Only 880 spirit stones! And this—‘Mountains and Rivers Scroll.’ Wear it, and it creates effects as you move.”

By the time Bai Zhu checked out, her initial one-item purchase had ballooned to ten. Xue Ying tried to reason with her. “Isn’t this too much?”

Bai Zhu looked conflicted. It was a lot, but everything was so beautiful…

Zhang Yue quickly interjected, “I think this would suit you perfectly.”

From a corner, she produced a black-and-white jade pendant the size of a palm. Tying it to Xue Ying’s waist, she activated it, causing stars to swirl underfoot while yin-yang fish circled. Zhang Yue gushed, “With this, you look like a celestial descending upon the mortal world—ethereal and unforgettable.”

Others gazed in envy, but Xue Ying remained unmoved. “Obviously.”

She was stunningly handsome—wasn’t that common knowledge? How else would she have earned the title of “Twin Marvel of Taixuan”?

Zhang Yue: “…”

As Xue Ying reached to remove the pendant, Zhang Yue panicked. Her sales record was flawless—she couldn’t fail now! “You don’t want it?”

Xue Ying met her gaze. Zhang Yue pressed, “Today’s grand sale—half off! But of course, I’d never force a sale.”

Xue Ying was blunt. “No.”

“I’ll give you 45% off.”

Zhang Yue gritted her teeth. “30%.”

“10%? Just ten spirit stones!”

This was a loss, but she refused to back down. She *would* pry money from this woman’s pockets!

Xue Ying didn’t budge. “I’m broke.”

Zhang Yue fell silent. A memory surfaced—one she’d tried to forget. A decade ago, a man had visited the Realm of Consciousness. Determined to profit, she’d pitched her wares with all her charm. He remained indifferent—his aura sharp as a winter moon, untouchable. When she asked his name, he’d simply said…

“…Are you a sword cultivator?”

Go away! Her eternal nemesis!