Chapter 291: The Battle Was Intense

After a series of twists and turns, Zui Xian Pavilion finally returned to its former calm.

On the raised platform, dancers swayed gracefully, silk skirts fluttering, accompanied by continuous melodies of silk and bamboo instruments that lingered in the air, while private performances in the private booths resumed as well.

Yet many minds kept flashing back to Fang Jincheng's figure, causing sudden silences in casual chatter.

During this time, the several young noblemen who had forcibly pulled Yuanchen into the front hall did not stay long and soon departed in haste.

From the second floor to the front hall and beyond, though their movements were discreet, they were clearly seen by those on the second floor.

Zui Xian Pavilion was a place for revelry; comings and goings were commonplace, and it wasn't necessarily that these people felt uneasy or anxious—but because of what had happened earlier, they couldn't help but think along those lines.

Ji You was now seated in the private booth, checking whether Yuanchen had suffered any hidden injuries; only after confirming he was unharmed did he relax.

"They say the private performances in the booths are even more thrilling, and the courtesans wear less—why on earth are you refusing to go?"

"What's so interesting about dancing and singing? I want to hear thrilling stories!"

"So he hasn't even entered puberty yet…"

Ji You murmured silently, inwardly praising: good boy, unlike me.

Yan Shuyi turned to look at him: "Was that fellow who ran out just now the great-grandson of Elder Fang from the Heavenly Book Academy?"

After snapping back to attention, Ji You nodded: "After returning from the Dongping Mountains, I got into another feud with them. I tried killing them under cover of night, but failed."

"The Heavenly Book Academy behaves this way—it's no wonder it's declining. Why not consider joining my Ling Jian Mountain? I'll make you a direct disciple of the Mirror Master."

"Then wouldn't I be a rebellious disciple who defies his master?"

"?"

Yan Shuyi's eyes flickered with a hint of hostility.

She had thought taking Ji You as a disciple would ease her fears—Qingyun's thousand-year-old tradition placed great emphasis on respecting one's teacher.

Though she didn't understand the word "chong," when combined with the other three characters, she realized that even as his disciple, he'd still try to get to her.

As her words faded, the small teapot on the table boiled over, releasing a fragrant mist.

Ji You picked up Yan Shuyi's cup, intending to pour fresh tea, but noticed it still held half a cup of cold tea.

Without thinking, he drained the cold tea from the small Mirror Master's cup and poured in the new tea.

Yan Shuyi glanced at him, then took the cup he'd drunk from and took a small sip.

Since their last Winter Solstice, they'd kissed countless times; they'd swallowed each other's saliva so often that this sort of thing hardly mattered anymore.

Ji You then handed the teapot to Ding Yao and sat back down.

He hadn't missed Fang Jincheng—he'd simply noticed him a little too late. He'd planned to draw his sword and kill him, but Fang Jincheng, though jealous and petty, still had some shrewdness.

He fled using spiritual energy, never levitating, but deliberately weaving through crowds.

Under such circumstances, Ji You truly couldn't draw his sword amid the merchants and common folk filling the streets.

Moreover, private booth fees were expensive; after calculating, he decided the success rate of killing him now was too low and the cost too high, so he gave up.

Amid the lingering tea fragrance, the dancing on stage ended; the slender-waisted dancers and musicians dispersed, and then a young servant brought in a small table, upon which an elderly man in a long robe stepped up, lifted his robe, and sat down.

Seeing this, Yuanchen instantly grew excited.

Ji You saw his expression and knew this was the storytelling session he'd been eagerly awaiting.

He, however, preferred dancing and singing.

He'd paid for the private booth, yet wasn't enjoying himself—he was going to sit and listen to some boring tale?

But what Ji You hadn't expected was that Zui Xian Pavilion's storytelling was actually quite entertaining.

The storyteller had now settled in, rolled up his sleeves, picked up the wooden gavel, and slammed it onto the table; his goatee trembled as he began speaking in a loud, resonant voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the New Year approaches, and all things renew. Our gathering today is fate itself—but some of you have heard this tale before, others not. Allow this old man to rewind a few episodes."

"The story we'll tell today is a newly composed one: The White-Robed Blade Master and the Two Sisters."

"We'd planned to tell only two or three segments, but the proprietor says the tips have been plentiful these past two days—so we'll continue."

"Last time, we left off with the white-robed swordsmaster entering the Tian Shan Sect, slashing open the inner courtyard gate with a single blade, then accepting a request from the eldest daughter of the Gem Clan to teach her younger sister swordplay."

"Over time, feelings grew—her sweat-soaked body alternated between dry and damp, her hairpins rose and fell upon the pillow; springs welled in her tiny space, butterflies danced in a whirl of spring amid the flowers."

"But the younger sister didn't know her elder sister had also shared the white-robed swordsman's silken bed, their phoenix and mandarin ducks entwined upon the gauze pillow…"

Ji You's teacup froze mid-air, his eyes slowly widening.

He'd only intended to listen for amusement, but as he listened, his expression grew as solemn as Yan Shuyi's.

In Qingyun, whether novels or storytelling, tales were almost always adapted from real events, meant to glorify the nobility and elegance of cultivators.

But this was just changing sect names, swapping swords for blades, spirit stones for gems.

Damn it, just give your ID number outright.

The most critical part? The later passage was pure fabrication.

Ji You was about to draw his sword when he suddenly saw Lu Qingqiu peek out from the opposite booth on the second floor, lips tightly pressed as she listened intently.

As for Yuanchen, after hearing "sweat-soaked body alternated between dry and damp," Ji You had sealed his hearing with spiritual energy; now he stared blankly at the storyteller's mouth moving soundlessly.

"Brother-in-law, what did the master say?"

"Uh…"

Yuanchen grabbed his arm, anxiously staring: "Did they fight?"

After a long silence, Ji You nodded: "They fought. Very intensely."

Sound travels through vibration, so Ji You's voice could be transmitted via spiritual energy.

Indeed, there had been a "fight."

Ji You turned to Yan Shuyi and noticed she was surprisingly calm.

She'd inquired about this incident recently, wanting to ask if it hurt—but learned it was fake.

Still, upon hearing phrases like "rose and fell upon the pillow" and "springs welled in her tiny space," images involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

Zui Xian Pavilion really knew how to put on a show…

The storytelling continued until evening; aside from a few deliberately ambiguous scenes, most of it was lavish praise of the White-Robed Blade Master.

Patrons from the front hall and private booths departed one after another, stepping out into the chilly air outside, resisting the urge to glance back at the eastern booth.

Some disciples from the Heavenly Book Academy returned in haste, inquired around, and learned Fang Jincheng had re-entered the Mountain Abyss, while the patrol disciples on the mountain path had been unexpectedly replaced by several elders close to Elder Fang.

When Ji You's group left Zui Xian Pavilion, night had fallen; Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu's cheeks were flushed, their minds still echoing with the tale of the White-Robed Blade Master and the Two Sisters—clearly, they'd become deeply immersed.

Only the already timid small Mirror Master now looked even colder and more haughty, refusing to let Ji You walk behind her.

Soon after, the Wulü Trading House began to rise with the scent of cooking smoke; Ji You was preparing food, while Yan Shuyi watched from the side, her gaze sharp and critical.

But in Ji You's view, she simply wanted to be fed.

Yuan Caimei soon arrived at the small courtyard, and upon entering, scolded her younger brother for sneaking out to listen to stories.

Yuanchen hung his head, hiding behind Ji You, suffering silently.

He hadn't listened to any stories—he'd watched an hour-long silent play and had no idea what the storyteller had said.

Standing beside the stove under the night sky, Ji You stirred the dish as he looked at Yuan Caimei: "I heard from Yan Shuyi that Yuanchen is refining his primordial energy—how's his progress?"

Yuan Caimei shed her cold elder-sister demeanor and spoke gently: "He's refined about a third already. I'm less worried than before."

"But you're still too harsh on him. Without rest, he keeps sneaking out. Shengjing is crowded now, and he has no combat ability—he's vulnerable. From now on, give him one or two hours of free time each day; I'll accompany him out."

"Did Yuanchen cause trouble today?"

Ji You told Yuan Caimei about today's events, then added, puzzled: "You're strange too—what have you been busy with these days? I keep not seeing you."

Yuan Caimei snapped back to attention: "Caimei is busy repaying a debt…"

"?"

As soon as Yuan Caimei finished speaking, Yan Shuyi called her over.

Ji You turned his attention back to cooking; once all the dishes were ready, he called Yuanchen and carried the plates into the room.

When they entered, Yuan Caimei and Yan Shuyi were huddled together, whispering.

But when the two women saw Ji You enter, they sat up straight, abruptly cutting off their conversation, then sat together for the meal and departed arm in arm afterward.

Had their relationship truly improved? Were they really going to be sisters for life?

Ji You wasn't sure, but he felt Yan Shuyi's gaze had suddenly grown bolder.

Yet just now, during the storytelling at the teahouse, she'd looked plainly embarrassed.

The next morning, Ji You resumed his usual cultivation in the teahouse beneath the green pines.

As before, the spiritual flame failed to penetrate his skin, burning out as if just one breath short.

When he reopened his eyes, the courtyard remained empty.

Yan Shuyi hadn't come. Neither had Ding Yao or Zhuo Wanqiu. Even the elusive Yuan siblings were absent—as if they'd all coordinated it.

Ji You pondered for a long while, then thought: if they won't come, fine—I'll try again.

Thus, spiritual energy once again gathered in the sky, slowly coalescing into a blue glow flowing downward.

Meanwhile, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu at the Wei family's villa were puzzled, watching the Mirror Master playing chess with Wei Rui in the teahouse, their faces filled with confusion.

The Mirror Master usually clings to the Young Master—why didn't she go today? It's strange.