“Yes, Aunt Zhu!” The green-clad girl was startled to hear that Han Li had concealed his cultivation level, but her unease vanished upon the woman’s reassurance. She bowed respectfully and silently retreated from the second floor of the pavilion.
“Please follow me, Fellow Daoist. Since you are a distinguished guest at the Demon Venerable level, it will no longer be the young lady’s stand-in who receives you, but the young lady herself.”
The woman spoke indifferently to Han Li and flicked her sleeve toward the staircase leading to the third floor.
A yellow glow shimmered in the air, and a ripple of energy dispersed, as if some restriction had just been lifted.
At the same time, a gray talisman shot out from the woman’s sleeve, vanishing into the void in a flash.
Han Li said nothing, nodding slightly before following her up the stairs.
The third floor of the pavilion was a grand and opulent hall.
In the center stood a crystal-clear white jade altar table, adorned with divination tools resembling the Eight Trigrams and fortune sticks. Beside it was an exquisite small incense burner, releasing a wisp of white mist that filled the room with the scent of sandalwood.
Behind the altar table sat an astonishingly beautiful young woman in a yellow robe, calmly seated on a large chair, idly playing with a palm-sized jade fan.
On either side of the hall stood four male and four female attendants—young demons dressed as servants, the men tall and handsome, the women petite and delicate, all standing with respectful expressions.
All four possessed cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage.
However, the woman showed no intention of stopping, leading Han Li directly toward the staircase to the fourth floor.
Upon seeing the woman and Han Li, the yellow-robed girl and her attendants rose and bowed from a distance.
The woman waved dismissively without turning her head, and the group resumed their previous postures.
Han Li paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over them with a hint of surprise.
Judging by appearance and demeanor alone, anyone would assume the yellow-robed girl was the “young lady” of Guangyuan Pavilion. Who would have guessed she was merely a stand-in?
With this thought, combined with his prior investigations into Guangyuan Pavilion, Han Li couldn’t help but grow even more curious about the true “young lady.”
A short while later, Han Li and the woman finally ascended to the fourth floor.
As soon as he entered, Han Li scanned his surroundings and couldn’t help but show astonishment.
It wasn’t that the layout was bizarre—rather, everything before his eyes was shockingly ordinary, resembling the simple furnishings of a rural cottage.
A modest thatched hut stood not far ahead, its interior sparsely furnished with plain tables and chairs, along with an aged wooden bed covered with a coarse cotton quilt.
In front of the hut, several piles of straw and a spinning wheel lay scattered on the open ground.
Behind the spinning wheel, a slender young woman in rough hemp robes sat on a low wooden stool, intently operating the device.
Strips of coarse linen steadily flowed from the wheel, piling neatly on the ground beside her.
Han Li’s divine sense swept over the girl, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Her cultivation was not particularly high—only at the early Nascent Soul stage. But when he attempted to probe further, an invisible force repelled his divine sense, preventing any deeper inspection.
Realizing she likely possessed some treasure that shielded her from spiritual detection, Han Li withdrew his senses.
The woman had quietly moved to stand beside the hemp-robed girl, waiting in silence without disturbing her.
Han Li halted at the staircase, observing the girl’s every move with a calm gaze.
He now had a clear view of her partially lowered face—plain and unremarkable.
Yet, if there was anything unusual about her, it was her slightly broader forehead and the strangely soothing aura of her focused posture.
Han Li studied her carefully, silently assessing her.
The girl’s weaving motions were swift and practiced. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she had exhausted all the raw hemp on the spinning wheel.
As the last scrap of linen fell, she exhaled softly, surveying the pile of cloth with a satisfied smile before turning apologetically to the woman.
“Aunt Zhu, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting again.”
Her voice was not particularly melodious, but it carried an inexplicable magnetism that drew one in.
“Young lady, there’s no need to apologize. This old servant hasn’t waited long. However, I must beg your forgiveness for bringing a guest here without your permission.”
Despite the girl’s far inferior cultivation, the woman addressed her with utmost deference, even referring to herself as a servant.
Han Li was inwardly startled, scrutinizing the hemp-robed girl again. Could she be the incarnation of some Demon Ancestor?
“If Aunt Zhu has brought someone to see me, they must undoubtedly be a distinguished guest. I am Lan Ying. May I ask how to address you, Fellow Daoist?”
The girl smiled faintly before turning to Han Li with composed grace.
“My surname is Han. To think that the mistress of Guangyuan Pavilion is you—this is truly unexpected.”
“Oh? Does Brother Han find me unworthy of leading Guangyuan Pavilion?”
The girl’s lips curled slightly in a serene smile.
“In terms of cultivation and appearance, the stand-in downstairs seems far more fitting as the ‘young lady’ of Guangyuan Pavilion. But a stand-in is just that—no matter how convincing, she cannot offer me any real assistance.”
Han Li replied bluntly, without mincing words.
“Brother Han is mistaken. That maid on the third floor isn’t merely for show. She handles ordinary guests perfectly well. Of course, for esteemed visitors like yourself, she would be out of her depth.”
Lan Ying chuckled lightly.
“I see. So, much of your pavilion’s reputation comes from this stand-in’s performance?”
Han Li smirked, neither confirming nor denying.
“It was a necessary measure. Most guests can be handled by her, while those who meet our true standards are rare. You are only the third such guest I’ve met this year. Now, Brother Han, please take a seat. Whatever you wish to discuss, we can speak in detail. As long as you can pay the price, Guangyuan Pavilion will ensure your satisfaction.”
With a nod, Lan Ying gestured for Han Li to sit, her demeanor tranquil.
Han Li glanced around before reaching out with a hand. An old chair flew toward him, landing steadily before him.
He sat down opposite the girl with an air of authority.
“Since you’ve found your way here, Brother Han must already know something of our pavilion. But as per tradition, I must reiterate our rules in your presence. I hope you won’t mind.”
Lan Ying spoke leisurely.
“I haven’t been in Bluefall Lake for long, so my knowledge of your establishment is limited. If Fairy Lan could explain in detail, that would be ideal.”
Han Li replied indifferently.
“In a sense, our pavilion is akin to an information broker. We do not intervene directly in our clients’ affairs but provide intelligence. Guangyuan Pavilion has existed for a long time, and while we cannot claim omniscience regarding the Demon Realm, we are well-informed on major and covert matters.
“Moreover, successive masters of Guangyuan Pavilion have all excelled in divination. Even if we lack certain information, we can perform divinations for our clients. However, as divination consumes lifespan, the cost is naturally high. Generally, we do not encourage clients to request it.
“Additionally, whatever answers you obtain here must not be disclosed to others. Violators will be blacklisted and barred from future business. Beyond these points, other rules are trivial, and I trust Brother Han will not deliberately break them.
“Now, do you have any further questions?”
Lan Ying finished her explanation, her gaze fixed on Han Li as she awaited his response.
“These terms align with what I’ve heard. I only wish to know—how many of your past distinguished guests have left truly satisfied?”
Han Li’s brow furrowed briefly before he countered with a neutral expression.
“I cannot speak for the pavilion’s earlier days, but since I took charge, not a single distinguished guest has left disappointed.”
A hint of pride flashed in Lan Ying’s eyes as she replied coolly.
“Not a single one? Your pavilion must indeed be extraordinary. In that case, I can rest assured.”
Even Han Li was slightly taken aback by her claim, though he maintained his composure.
“Since you have no further concerns, you may now state your request. The fee will depend on the rarity and value of the information.”
Lan Ying’s expression turned solemn.
“I wish to know how to obtain a substantial quantity of high-grade Bloodfang Rice from Bluefall City in a single transaction.”
Han Li cut straight to the point.
“Bloodfang Rice!”
Lan Ying’s expression relaxed, and she let out a soft laugh.
“Oh? Is there something odd about my inquiry?”
Han Li’s eyes gleamed faintly as he asked calmly.
“Not at all, Brother Han. Please don’t misunderstand. To be frank, two or three out of every ten guests who come to Guangyuan Pavilion seek this very information. We do possess the relevant intelligence, but despite frequent demand, the price remains steep.”
Lan Ying replied with a faint smile.
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