Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Qionghua Festival, Immortal Traces Under the Moon
"Oh..."
Zhang Kui’s interest was piqued at once.
In this world, demons and spirits are usually divided into two categories.
The first is the organized kind.
They seem to have existed since ancient tis, often entrenched in famous mountains and great rivers, or treacherous places, shrouded in mystery. Humans cannot set foot there, deeming them Forbidden Lands.
For example, within the Qian Dynasty, there is a popular saying in the Jianghu: "Three Mountains, Four Caves, and Five Water Mansions," which ans these places are off-limits to living people.
The Dead Man’s Cave, where the "General’s Tomb" is located, is one of them.
Then there are those scattered beings hidden among humans; so are eradicated shortly after they are born, while others group together.
After all, demons and evil spirits aren’t a monolithic force, and sotis their conflicts are extrely bloody.
Could it be that they stumbled upon a small lair?
Hearing this, Yu Gaishan beca anxious. No matter what kind of evil spirit this was, his son was apparently already a target.
"Taoist Zhang, I am willing to offer a hefty reward for you to eliminate this scourge!"
Zhang Kui stroked his chin,
"No rush, let’s find a place to discuss in detail."
The Yu Mansion was in chaos by now—the front courtyard was filled with Jianghu people discussing fervently, family mbers were terrified in the back courtyard, and even a few enclosing walls seed about to collapse.
Yu Gaishan ordered the fat steward to manage these matters, then found a secluded room where the "Lustful Young Master" also took a seat.
"I am Chen Wushuang, eting Taoist Zhang for the first ti."
He had changed into a new set of clothes, speaking with humility and courtesy, completely devoid of the previous domineering aura.
But it made sense, considering he was entrusted with authority by a prominent martial arts family, it was rare to see soone with such a handso face going around ridiculing others.
Under the gazes of several people, he spoke eloquently:
"You may all know that this region is rich in Jade Flowers. Since 8 years ago, whenever they bloom, a young girl arrives gracefully, bestowing a ’Bitter Heart Pill’ with a wave of her hand, extending life by over a decade."
"Although so alchemy masters can create better things, most are monopolized by the Court, making this ’Bitter Heart Pill’ highly sought after by Jianghu people, leading to bloodshed."
"This girl seems very fond of music, so several major sects secretly agreed to first drive away irrelevant individuals, then have each family perform music and dance at selected locations, relying on fate, forbidding any private conflicts."
Chen Wushuang showed a bitter smile,
"Unfortunately, the place where this demon was seen two days ago is our Celestial Eagle Manor’s chosen ’Golden Wind Tower’.
Saying this, he stood up, bowed, and clasped his hands,
"Taoist Zhang, I have an unreasonable request. My father is elderly, and this ti Celestial Eagle Manor is determined to claim the ’Bitter Heart Pill’. To avoid any accidents, we ask for your discreet handling of this matter. Celestial Eagle Manor is willing to present a Xunfeng Eagle."
"Xunfeng Eagle!"
Aside, Liu Mao’Er exclaid, hurriedly explaining to Zhang Kui, "This Xunfeng Eagle is a treasure of the Celestial Eagle Manor, with only one born every few years, and once mature, it can tear leopards apart."
"Haha, how could I refuse such an offer..."
Zhang Kui felt a tickle in his heart,
"Deal!"
......
Golden Wind Tower, the largest brothel at Sishui Crossing.
This place caters to rchants from both north and south, as well as Jianghu wanderers. Compared to the poetry-reciting and elegance-praising brothels of larger cities, its style is much more straightforward—clearly marked prices and swift transactions...
However, it had changed a lot by now. The previous chaotic and raucous atmosphere, teeming with wealthy guests drinking and gambling, was completely gone. Instead, light gauze curtains and elegant floral arrangents filled the place, with scholars and students talking about poetry and music, markedly elevating its class.
On the stage in the front hall, covered with a woolen carpet, there was a woman in white, sitting and playing the zither. Her skin was fair as snow, her long hair like ink, her face beautiful with a cold yet gentle allure.
The zither’s soothing lody was accompanied by her gentle singing,
"At leisure night’s serenity, bright moon upon the hall, the gentle breeze stirs my robe, raising the silk curtains high, with a cup of fine wine, no need for company..."
Many in the audience stared blankly with intoxicated looks; even the waiters serving drinks stood dazed with trays in hand.
Across the hall, on the opposite second-floor private room, Zhang Kui, now dressed like a wealthy patron, sat with his legs crossed on an armchair. Next to him, the forr star courtesan of Golden Wind Tower, Lian Xiang, fed him wine or grapes from ti to ti.
Zhang Kui was equally captivated, inwardly applauding.
No wonder the ’Lustful Young Master’ Chen Wushuang was determined to get his way; according to him, the girl on stage was a renowned courtesan, Ling Yanchen, invited from the Capital City at great expense. Her talents in both singing and appearance were unrivaled, usually hard for ordinary people to have the chance to et.
Truly extraordinary.
Lian Xiang glanced, feeling a bit jealous. Her eyes rolled, and with a jade hand, she caressed down his chest, looking alard as her expression turned sultry.
"Master Kui, may I serve you tonight?"
Zhang Kui chuckled, pulling her hand away,
"Too bad, I’m practicing the Child Skill."
Lian Xiang pouted, casting a sidelong glance at the stage,
"Perhaps you have other thoughts, not fancying the likes of us ordinary beauties."
Zhang Kui laughed heartily, chugging a mouthful of wine,
"Even the sweetest at is tasteless if not obtainable. Co on, tell
again about that night."
As he spoke, a piece of silver slipped into her perfud hands.
Lian Xiang happily retrieved the silver and stuffed it into her small pouch, "That night, Young Master Wenchang and several others were exchanging poems; I was in charge of pouring tea and wine. They all left shortly after nightfall, but speaking of it, there was sothing odd about a black-robed scholar that night..."
Listening to Lian Xiang’s recounting, Zhang Kui’s eyes narrowed, deep in thought.
After accepting Chen Wushuang’s invitation, he disguised himself as a Jianghu patron and imrsed himself in the Golden Wind Tower, staying there day and night.
It was during the renovations, after Chen Wushuang had rented the place, that he discovered soone spying at night, initially assuming it was a rival causing trouble. After throwing a flying knife at the intruder, leaving only so mud on the knife, the person vanished.
Unfortunately, after several days of searching every corner of the brothel and spending several nights there afterwards, Zhang Kui found no trace of any demon.
However, he did uncover sothing unexpected.
He discovered that Yu Wenchang had visited Golden Wind Tower a few days before being possessed.
A wealthy scholar visiting a brothel wasn’t uncommon.
But coinciding with the sighting of an evil spirit made it too much of a coincidence.
Zhang Kui stroked his chin,
"What did the black-robed scholar look like?"
Lian Xiang furrowed her brow in recollection,
"He was thin and pale, as if ill. Oh, right, he sat far away, but when I went over to pour wine, I vaguely slled a stench?"
"What kind of stench?"
"It was like... like the sll of rotten mud in a ditch!"
A hint of a smile ford at the corner of Zhang Kui’s mouth.
Then he hurried back to the Yu Mansion, instructing Yu Gaishan to gather everyone who drank with Yu Wenchang that night.
It’s a pity that the black-robed scholar Ling Xiang ntioned wasn’t among them. Everyone expressed that they had never seen this person and just assud he was a friend of soone else.
Zhang Kui looked at Yu Wenchang,
"I’m very curious, why did the evil spirits target you alone while the others are fine?"
The weak Yu Wenchang wore a bitter smile,
"Daoist, I am just as confused and feel quite wronged."
The clues had once again run dry.
Having no other choice, Zhang Kui could only first complete Chen Wushuang’s commission. After the "Jade Flower Society" ended, he would resu the investigation.
You ask why soone cultivating immortality needs to earn money?
Even though the system is fancy, in order to quickly accumulate Tao cultivation, one must definitely learn alchemy skills, which would indeed require spending money like water.
...
On April 3rd, the day the jade flowers bloom.
At this ti, the Sishui Crossing street was crowded with tourists, bustling with excitent. Not only were there no longer any wandering Jianghu adventurers wielding weapons, but even the city scoundrels had hidden themselves away.
It was sowhat reminiscent of a future real estate bidding ring, with Celestial Eagle Manor, Lingxiao Temple, and Slaughter Blade Sect, the largest Jianghu factions nearby, clearing the area together to create a scene of peaceful competition.
You ask, where is the fairness?
Heh,
Jianghu may have its code of conduct, but it often values whose blade is the quickest.
However, for the common people, it was indeed a grand event.
Every household competed in performances, the people clapped and watched, and peddlers took the opportunity to do business, making it as lively as a temple fair. In recent years, even towns from around ca to join the fun.
Outside the Golden Wind Tower, a stage was set up with acrobatics and musical performances, creating a scene of liveliness, surrounded by a crowd cheering constantly.
On the second-floor box window seat, Li Dong’Er, childlike in spirit, clapped and cheered from ti to ti.
At the table beside her, Chen Wushuang, impressed and convinced, raised his glass of wine, "Taoist Zhang, your proposal was indeed clever. Now, it’s secure."
Zhang Kui clinked his cup with a hearty laugh,
"This is what’s called hype. Even if Ling Yanchen’s musical talents are unparalleled, it should draw that mysterious woman here, right? With such excitent, the evil spirits are unlikely to appear, and we can’t just take your precious eagle for free."
"Taoist Zhang, you’re joking..."
Chen Wushuang smiled with joy, "The Xunfeng Eagle must first et its master at its unveiling. Please, Daoist, co to Celestial Eagle Manor as a guest in two months."
"No problem, no problem."
Zhang Kui happily drank a bowl of wine.
...
The sky gradually darkened, yet Sishui Crossing was still brightly illuminated, and outside the Golden Wind Tower, rows of windproof lanterns were hung, brightly lighting up the surroundings.
The Courtesan Ling Yanchen had already moved to the high platform outside, her silk veil drifting, her white clothes as pure as snow, her slender fingers strumming the qin, singing a long song to the moon.
She seed just like a fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.
The area was densely packed with people, each lifting their heads with fascination, afraid to disturb this exquisite scene.
"Silver Sword Young Master" Chen Wushuang was so nervous that his hands were sweaty, frequently glancing around.
He had invested greatly this ti, but as long as he obtained the "Bitter Heart Pill
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