Chapter 162: The Flowers Bloom Wildly, Dazzling the Eyes

Below Chunyan Pavilion.

Warm red lanterns hung high, visible for miles; all who came and went at the door were nobility, unlike the brothels out front where courtesans called out to lure customers—here, it was elegant and quiet.

At least a hundred taels a night, just to cultivate that sense of exclusivity.

Even the cost at the Jiaofang Si was lower than this.

There was no Chunyan Pavilion in Qinghe before; it was newly built after the new city was established.

Rumor has it that Chunyan Pavilion isn't just in Anning Prefecture—it even has branches in Yunzhou, and its reputation extends far beyond.

In other words, it's a chain brand; this is merely a branch store.

"Master Qu, you've arrived! Miss Baozhu has been pining for you so badly, she can't even think of tea or food."

The madam, spotting a familiar face, immediately flashed her professional smile and stepped forward.

The wrinkles on her face piled up like folds.

Warmly welcoming every customer who spends heavily—that's basic professional conduct.

Hmm. Professional.

Qu Chengfeng beamed: "Is this true?"

"Absolutely true. Master Qu, just look at Miss Baozhu's waist tonight—you'll see how slender it's become."

Thinking of Baozhu's supple, boneless waist, Qu Chengfeng's blood stirred.

He turned to the middle-aged man beside him: "Brother Xiang, don't keep the beauty waiting—I'll go up first."

Zhuang's bodyguard, Xiang Ting, cracked a smile on his rigid face:

"Master Qu, don't wait for me. Enjoy yourself."

No sooner had he spoken.

Than Qu Chengfeng hurried up the stairs, eager as a dog.

"Greedy."

That was Xiang Ting's assessment of Qu Chengfeng—a virgin who'd just been opened, and in the first few days, he was always impatient.

Men always have special feelings for their first.

More would be better.

Xiang Ting, on orders from County Magistrate Zhuang Renhe, had been shadowing Qu Chengfeng the entire time, ensuring this young man's pleasure trip went smoothly.

Most of the time, he only needed to escort him inside.

He didn't need to be taught—this one learned fast.

When Xiang Ting saw Qu Chengfeng ascend the stairs, he turned to the madam.

"Settle the account for Master Qu's expenses during this period."

Hearing this, the madam's smile widened, her plump hips jiggling again and again—making Xiang Ting's lower belly burn with lust.

"Still a middle-aged woman, but fine."

"Tonight, it'll be her—I'll have to get my hands on her somehow."

Storytellers often say madams all have moles on their faces, old and ugly—but that's the greatest misunderstanding outsiders have of madams.

To become a madam, one needn't have been the top courtesan, but one must have once been the pavilion's most popular girl, sharp-witted and skilled at navigating all sides—only then could one rise above the others to become management.

In the accounting room, the madam endured the tingling sensation between her legs while flipping through the ledger, tapping the abacus—soon she gave the total: "Master Xiang, the total is seven thousand three hundred taels."

Xiang Ting's eyes widened:

"How much?"

His hand froze mid-motion.

The madam repeated, innocent: "Seven thousand three hundred taels."

After confirming he hadn't misheard, Xiang Ting sucked in a sharp breath: "This little Taoist priest plays hard!"

In less than ten days, he'd spent over seven thousand taels!

But remembering County Magistrate Zhuang's orders—that money was no object, to be drawn from the county treasury—he didn't mind.

It was public money, after all.

He laughed heartily: "I'll send someone tomorrow to settle it."

No sooner had he spoken.

The madam let out a soft cry as she was swept up into his arms.

Xiang Ting grinned.

"Master's spent over seven thousand taels—tonight, it's free!"

At the entrance to Chunyan Pavilion's small pavilion.

A tall, delicate serving girl had already heard the news and waited at the door; seeing Qu Chengfeng appear, her voice turned soft and slightly mournful: "Master Qu, my lady has been waiting for you so long, she's nearly fallen ill with longing."

Qu Chengfeng couldn't resist that.

"Baozhu, I'm here."

He rushed into the room in three strides.

The room was brightly lit, candles blazing everywhere—only the truly extravagant would burn so many.

The atmosphere was perfect.

The main bedroom.

Baozhu, dressed in a plum-patterned long dress, lounged lazily on the bed, holding a scroll in one hand, savoring grapes; her maid knelt beside the bed, cradling Baozhu's delicate, pale feet and massaging the acupoints on the soles.

A patron once said, those two jade feet were worth ten thousand taels.

That's how Baozhu got her name.

"Baozhu, have you missed me?"

Hearing Qu Chengfeng's voice outside, the maid quietly stepped aside.

A gust of wind.

Qu Chengfeng pulled Baozhu into his arms.

Baozhu pushed his chest away with one hand, feigning resistance, while pouting: "It's been seven hours—you didn't come. You must've gone to other girls and forgotten me."

Mmm.

Qu Chengfeng's heart melted—he quickly soothed her: "I was visiting Brother Zhuang—he promised me he'd pay to free you."

Qu Chengfeng's status made him popular among the wealthy, but turning that popularity into cash wasn't easy.

He'd gone to great lengths to get Zhuang Renhe to agree.

Baozhu's eyes lit up—she changed her address instantly, urgent: "My husband, is this true?"

"Of course!"

Qu Chengfeng patted his chest.

Baozhu leaned in, pressing her ruby lips to Qu Chengfeng's ear, a sweet fragrance swirling—seven parts playful, three parts shy:

"How should I repay you, my husband?"

At the other end.

Li's residence.

Li Rui sat alone on a cushion in his room, lost in thought.

It wasn't surprising that County Magistrate Zhuang Renhe knew about Wenxian Pavilion—he was a county head, after all; his intelligence network couldn't be weak.

Cultivating ties with Qu Chengfeng made sense.

Seeking immortality and eternal bliss—who in power doesn't desire it?

But.

He stared at the smoke before him.

Qu Chengfeng's choice of companions didn't concern him; which courtesan he slept with was none of his business.

Yet this smoke—its shifting form—was somehow tied to Qu Chengfeng. At first,

Li Rui had merely noticed the smoke occasionally reddened slightly.

At first, he hadn't paid it much mind.

After all, a powerful cultivator passing by might alter the danger level.

But over time,

Li Rui realized something was off—the timing of the smoke's reddening perfectly matched Qu Chengfeng's return times. That demanded attention.

That's why he asked Wu Tu to keep watch on Qu Chengfeng's movements.

Qu Chengfeng's status was noble—but where did he get so much money to frequent Chunyan Pavilion?

Of course, as a senior disciple of Wenxian Pavilion, his status was noble.

Li Rui knew well: a single night at Chunyan Pavilion cost hundreds of taels. Wu Tu said Qu Chengfeng had once even paid for an entire night's expenses—acting like a fool with money.

And not just once or twice—he'd gone over ten times.

At least several thousand taels minimum.

=9+book_bar

Noble, noble—the emphasis is on "noble" before "wealthy."

You could tell from Yao Xue's attire and demeanor.

The two of them weren't particularly well-off.

So the money he spent on pleasure at Chunyan Pavilion could only come from Zhuang Renhe.

"Zhuang Renhe"

Li Rui silently repeated the name.

Qu Chengfeng was only eighth-rank, posing almost no threat to him; the real danger was not Qu Chengfeng, but County Magistrate Zhu Renhe with his hidden agenda.

"What exactly is he planning?"

Li Rui pondered at length, found no answer, and finally gave up in resignation.

He knew too little about Zhu Renhe to analyze anything meaningful.

He glanced toward the northern inner courtyard.

As long as Yao Xue was here as a protective charm, nothing serious would happen within Anning Guard.

He began.

He felt he ought to show some appropriate concern for this inner demon.

A few steps.

Li Rui arrived at Yao Xue's courtyard.

Since that day, Yao Xue had completely withdrawn; for several days now, the girl from Wenxian Tower had not stepped outside her door.

She had resolved to seal herself off completely.

Thud, thud, thud.

Li Rui knocked on the door.

After a long while, the door creaked open as Yao Xue pushed it aside.

Perhaps due to prolonged lack of light or exhaustion from battling her inner demon, Yao Xue's face was pale, yet carried an eerie, delicate beauty.

Yao Xue gazed at Li Rui with complex eyes: "Senior, what do you need?"

Li Rui chuckled.

No wonder she was called an immortal; even after half a month sealed inside, her room smelled faintly sweet, not foul.

"Miss Yao, sealing yourself off is too dangerous. Why not step out for some fresh air? It might help."

A month ago, he would never have said this.

Even if he had, Yao Xue likely wouldn't have believed him.

But now it was different—she had already suffered the consequences of seclusion; her heart must have changed.

Even the right words must be spoken at the right time to take effect.

Yao Xue's expression shifted.

Her eyes flickered.

This stage is called the battle between heaven and man, or the dialogue between angel and demon.

In short, it was crucial.

After a long silence, Yao Xue finally lifted her head: "Thank you, Senior."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Congratulations, Miss Yao, you've taken your first step."

The people of Wenxian Tower truly had exceptional insight—they'd already crossed the hardest threshold so quickly.

The heart's barrier was the most difficult to overcome.

Yao Xue was startled by Li Rui's sudden congratulations; her large eyes widened further, then softened into a knowing smile: "Thank you, Senior, for saving me a second time."

Today seemed ordinary.

Yet it was a pivotal day in her breaking free from her inner demon.

She emerged.

Not just from the room—but from the prison of her own heart.

The inner demon was terrifying precisely because no one knew where it began or where it ended.

"Come on, I know several good places."

Li Rui chuckled.

"Qinghe is small, but it has its interesting spots."

Saying this, he walked out of the courtyard.

A gentle smile appeared on Yao Xue's face, like melting ice—pleasing to the eye.

She followed slowly behind Li Rui.

Just as Li Rui and Yao Xue reached the front courtyard, they saw Wang Zhao leading Wu Tu toward them.

"Brother Wu?"

Li Rui was surprised.

He had drunk with Wu Tu just yesterday; now he had come calling again.

Wu Tu's expression was grave.

He said nothing, but first glanced at Wang Zhao, then at Yao Xue behind Li Rui.

Li Rui immediately understood Wu Tu's meaning.

He already had a guess.

He waved at Wang Zhao: "Xiao Zhao, go attend to the Horse Supervision Hall."

"Yes."

Wang Zhao nodded obediently and hurried out of the compound.

Wu Tu glanced again at Yao Xue.

Only then did Li Rui speak: "It's fine, Brother Wu—say what you need to say."

Seeing Li Rui made no effort to hide anything, Wu Tu took a deep breath:

"Big Brother Li, Qu Chengfeng is dead!"

(End of Chapter)