Chapter 329

Li Qingluo had already discerned that this person was precisely the Young Master Zong from the upstairs elegant room—the one she had served bathing and dressing, and whom she had knocked unconscious.

Upon seeing him, Li Qingluo's heart gave a jolt.

Could he be looking to settle scores with me now?

If he shouts that the person who knocked him out intended to escape prison, then I would be walking straight into a trap.

Young Master Zong naturally was the first to recognize Li Qingluo.

However, in Young Master Zong's eyes, Li Qingluo was still an androgynous, identity-uncertain little turtle slave.

Although she made his teeth itch with anger, at this moment he could not quarrel with her.

After all, he too was now locked up…

However, compared to Li Qingluo's agitation and anger, this Young Master Zong at this very moment was propping his head and lying on his side on a bed strewn with straw.

He seemed like an official who had come to inspect, yet accidentally ended up locked in the cell.

"Don't even think about it. The secret dungeon of the Spring Banquet Tower isn't a place you can just leave whenever you want."

Seeing that he didn't seem intent on exposing her, Li Qingluo had no time to think and hurried to the cell door, grabbing the thick chain.

This chain can be opened only with a key.

Li Qingluo could only look again at Elder Wu; although he had reservations, considering the urgency he still nodded heavily.

As he spoke, Elder Wu suddenly acted like a madman, gathering all the straw from the floor and scattering it wildly.

Seeing this, Li Qingluo understood his meaning and quickly followed suit, imitating him.

Soon, straw was flying everywhere in their cell.

Young Master Zong saw this and curled his lip in disdain: "Madman."

But after the straw slowly settled, there was no trace of anyone left in the cell.

The two of them had actually vanished into thin air!

Young Master Zong instantly sat up, staring at the empty cell, his eyes wide.

Afterwards, the Spring Banquet Tower returned to its former lively prosperity.

The dancing girls wore light, sheer gauze robes, and as the melodious music played, they fluttered in dance across the floor.

The patrons embraced lovely courtesans, raised their cups and drank freely, laughter and chatter filling the air.

The ladies in the hall, each dressed in gorgeous, revealing gauze, either accompanied drinks with chatter or played the lute and recited poetry, each exuding myriad charms that ensnared the soul.

In the opulent, bright hall, at this very moment a blood-soaked woman hung from the center.

Yet no one cared whether she was dead or alive, or even whether she was real.

Until the madam of the Spring Banquet Tower, Granny Hua, came out swaying her hips, accompanied by the steward.

"Gentlemen—this is our Spring Banquet Tower's newly debuted costume‑type entertainment act—the Red‑Clad Lovely Maiden!"

"Don't be put off by the blood—it's actually all fake!"

"It's merely to let you gentlemen find a bit of unusual excitement here today at our Spring Banquet Tower."

"Do you gentlemen still find it satisfactory?"

Some shouted their approval, then pinched the cheek of the beauty in their arms and kissed her.

Others felt disgusted and objected, urging them to put the woman down, lest they have nightmares later that night.

Still others suggested: "Why not roll out a stab‑the‑female‑ghost act, give each patron a small dagger, and whoever pierces the ghost gets an extra hundred taels today? How about that?"

However, Granny Hua waved her handkerchief and said, "Oh dear, gentlemen, you're truly ruthless—if you really stabbed her, would this young lady still have a life?"

"Hehe, but gentlemen, don't rush. We still have something even more splendid to show you."

After Granny Hua finished speaking and clapped her hands, there appeared another blood‑soaked woman, her hair already white‑gray, kneeling on the ground and being led out like a dog.

If she didn't move, a whip would lash her body instantly.

Though she was clearly trembling all over from pain, she uttered no sound, lifted her head, her eyes full of wounds, glanced at the woman hanging in the center above, gritted her teeth, and then had to keep crawling forward.

And the red‑clad woman hanging in mid‑air, seeing this scene, suddenly began to struggle violently.

She even emitted muffled "wu‑wu" cries from her mouth.

The old woman on the floor, her eyes blood‑red as if dyed with blood, glared furiously at everything around her and roared angrily.

Many people were frightened by this sight.

Even the courtesans of the Spring Banquet Tower shrieked and huddled into the patrons' arms.

Those patrons also slightly changed their complexions.

Granny Hua clapped her hands while laughing, bending over: "Hahaha, hahaha……"

"Look, look at how each gentleman reacts—didn't you all get scared?"

Don't worry, gentlemen, these are just the performances we at Chunyan Lou specially arranged for you gentlemen; what you just saw were also all fake!

In an instant, the great hall, which had just been shocked into dead silence by that scene, again sent out lively echoes.

It's all fake!

You guys really know how to stir up trouble. Indeed, it's you Chunyanlou, every performance is uniquely creative.

This time really scared the hell out of me. I thought it was real.

Isn't that right? This young master was ready to ditch the beauty and hurry home, after all we came to Chunyanlou to spend a spring night embracing a beauty, not to watch these nauseating things.

Even if it's fake, it's too disgraceful to scholars. We're here to have fun; such bloody horror, what propriety is this?

Below, a heated discussion ensued, but Flower Mama paid no attention.

She merely gave a glance to the steward beside her, letting all the thugs hiding in the hall watch everyone's every move.

If anyone acted abnormally, seize them immediately!

Li Qingluo, hiding in the dark, upon seeing those two blood-soaked figures clearly were Que'er and Deng Mama's, felt her blood surge straight to her head!

She almost rushed out heedlessly, but Wu Gonggong grabbed her tightly.

"Miss Li, you must not act rashly!"

Wu Gonggong nervously looked left and right: "I just glanced over—there are at least forty or fifty ambushers hidden here, no less than twenty or thirty!"

"If we just rush out like this, it's like using an egg to strike a stone, throwing ourselves into the net."

"Let's think it over a bit longer; at least we've rescued the people, we must also get them out, we can't all perish here again."

Li Qingluo's chest heaved violently, the look in her eyes turned utterly hateful.

Her eyes glanced lightly, suddenly she looked toward the tall candlestand beside her.

Then she looked toward the curtains on the second floor.

Among the crowd were martial artists carrying large knives and swords, coming to enjoy themselves.

Li Qingluo's eyes narrowed; she already had a plan in mind.

She turned to Wu Gonggong, gesturing and saying: "Do you have a way to contact the people of Prince Su's mansion?"

Wu Gonggong touched his body: "I was seized suddenly, hadn't time to bring any token; even if I had something, it was all taken by that damned Sha Lei."

But I just saw two familiar faces… if I send them on an errand, with my status it's not difficult.

Li Qingluo nodded firmly, gesturing quickly; Wu Gonggong kept nodding: "Rest assured, I will do everything I can to accomplish what I can."

Just then, two more people entered the Chunyanlou.

They were Nan Gongdi and steward Wu De.

Nan Gongdi: "Only this kind of place remains unsearched for Luoluo's whereabouts; I truly hope not to see her here."

Wu De sighed: "We must try anyway, in case the girl has been harmed by villains and trapped here unable to escape."

The beauty waved her handkerchief, like a boneless soft snake lunging at them.

"Sir—"

As soon as Nan Gongdi entered the great hall, he saw a striking young lady hanging there, her whole body stained with blood.

Her disheveled hair almost covered her whole face, but she occasionally twisted and struggled, not seeming feigned.

The courtesan beside her covered her mouth and laughed, explaining: "Sir, don't worry, those bloodstains are fake… just some amusement devices we Chunyanlou designed for our guests."

"Sir, so mighty and strong, you surely aren't afraid, are you?"

Nan Gongdi lifted his gaze: "That's also fake?"

In the hall there was also an old woman, equally drenched in blood, being led like a dog, crawling on the ground.

Anyone who saw her could give her a hard kick.

The courtesan: "Of course, this old thing is born a lowly life; to earn a kick from you, sir, is her blessing."

Nan Gongdi gave a cold 'heh,' neither confirming nor denying.

Suddenly, in an unnoticed corner, a flame crept beneath the curtains like a dragon snake, silently climbing upward.

By the time someone smelled the smoke and saw the fire, the flames had already reached the top of the pillar.

"Fire! —"

After a shout, the five‑tier‑high lamp stand 'Boom—' collapsed toward the hall center; as the opposite high curtain was torn down and thrown into the fire, the blaze instantly rolled along the carpet forward.

Everyone in the hall seeing this was stunned.

After reacting, they began to scream and flee.

"Fire, fire! —"

Wu Gonggong hid in a dark corner and gave a cold chuckle: "Why rush? The good show hasn't even started."

He finished speaking, glanced at the crowd, then precisely locked onto one person, and taking advantage of the chaos, strode forward quickly.

Seeing the fire, Flower Mama, though a flicker of surprise crossed her face, quickly steadied herself and directed people to come fight the fire.

"What's going on? Hurry and check!"

With so many people, none noticed how the fire started—truly strange.

The dancing girls were about to retreat when suddenly a 'Bang!' loud sound.

A round object was thrown onto the table's exact center.

The dancing girl accidentally stepped on it and fell.

Before the dancing girl could even get up, she saw clearly what that round object was.

It was a head, eyes wide open, dead!

This person was precisely the guard Li Qingluo had encountered on the second floor, whom she had stuffed money into.

The dancing girl let out a startled cry.

Immediately after, the dancing girls on stage all screamed in fright.

The guests still present naturally also saw this scene.

In the hall, instantly it became utter chaos, people crashing into each other, and amid the obstruction the fire spread uncontrollably and ignited completely.

Li Qingluo stood on the second floor holding a blood‑dripping great blade.

Her aura was cold and sharp, her gaze icy and piercing as she gazed upon this splendid hell.

Today, even if she dies, she will utterly destroy this Spring Banquet Hall!

Although she uttered not a word, her gaze repeatedly demanded in a stern voice: "Since it's all fake! Look, is this head fake or not!?"

Granny Hua shuddered with cold.

She saw an unfamiliar turtle‑slave suddenly appear at the second‑floor railing, his whole body drenched in blood like a demonic rakshasa!

Granny Hua instantly guessed her identity and, losing composure, cried out: "Is it you——? Did you do this——?"

"What are you waiting for? Hurry and seize this lowly wretch!"

The thugs downstairs immediately surged upward in a rush.

Li Qingluo quickly stepped onto the railing, grabbed the curtain from the pillar and wrapped it tightly around her arm; seeing her push off with her feet, she flung herself fearlessly toward the red hue hanging in the hall——!