Chapter 107: Volu 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 14 To Ask the Heavens About This Love (2)
Every bustling city always has so dark corners that are not easily discovered. These places are where all the beggars, ruffians, gamblers, and wanted criminals gather. Simply put, good children will remain forever unacquainted with them.
Yu Sifeng said he was going to et soone, and from the respectful tone he used, everyone thought it must be so hermit expert, perhaps even clad in a white robe, holding a bamboo tea cup, with the tea within as green as jade. Who knew he would lead them around the city, winding through alleys and end up in such a ghastly place.
When Zhong Minyan saw the low eaves and the narrow alley that only allowed one person to pass sideways, the ground filthy with sewage and trash, reeking unbearably, he imdiately frowned.
"Si Feng, that old friend of yours... he doesn’t live here, does he?" He still couldn’t quite believe it.
Xuanji saw that there were many branching paths in the alley, and many people didn’t care about how dirty the ground was as they squatted carefree, so chatting and others smoking pipes. Seeing their group of neatly dressed, handso young n and won, several peoples’ eyes went wide, so with lecherous gazes, occasionally blowing a whistle and making rude comnts.
"What does ’rabbit lord’ an?" With sharp ears, Xuanji had long heard their indecent remarks and turned to ask Yu Sifeng.
The youths all paused, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. Zhong Minyan snorted, Yu Sifeng pretended not to hear, and Ruo Yu could only offer a dry laugh, "Well... that’s vulgarity from the streets, it’s pointless to know it."
Xuanji noticed that so of the people were puffing on their pipes heavily, the wisp of blue smoke that wafted over carried a dicinal fragrance that was quite pleasant. It reminded her a bit of the scent from the Alchemy Room at the Shaoyang Sect’s Zhongyang Peak when elixirs were being refined.
"It’s Five Stones Powder!" Zhong Minyan’s face paled as he quickly covered his nose. Seeing Xuanji sniffing deeply, he slapped the back of her neck urgently, "Idiot! It’s toxic! Once you’re addicted, you’re neither human nor ghost. Why are you still slling it!"
Hit by him, Xuanji cried out "Ouch," a numb pain spreading across her neck, she couldn’t help but cover the sore spot, feeling both helpless and sullen as she looked at him. He definitely did it on purpose, still holding a grudge over losing a tael of silver to her that night. Sixth Brother was always petty!
Zhong Minyan coughed to mask his guilt, and saw Yu Sifeng approaching a ramshackle door and knocked twice — the door was so feeble that it fell with his knocking, crashing down with a loud clatter, splashing filthy water high into the air, scaring everyone into hastily leaping away to avoid it.
"Hey! Don’t tell
your friend really lives here?!" Zhong Minyan couldn’t help it anymore. No matter how he looked at it, the place was disreputable. Si Feng’s old friend, couldn’t he be a big villain?
Without moving a brow, Yu Sifeng naturally stepped over the decayed door plank and entered. Inside was a similarly dilapidated courtyard with two pine trees on the verge of death, and around it piled up many pieces of furniture and miscellaneous items whose nas they couldn’t even recall.
"Min Yan, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. An expert from the world would... normally not act according to convention..." Ruo Yu struggled to excuse him, when unexpectedly he stepped through a door plank with a crunch, half his foot plunging into the sewage, turning his face as green as could be.
Yu Sifeng knocked twice on the door of the inner room, but there was not a sound from within. Unwilling to give up, he knocked harder — still, no response. In frustration, he kicked the door open and shouted harshly, "Liu Yihuan, get the hell out here!"
Another pitiful door died beneath his foot, and the interior remained silent as a tomb. Curiosity got the better of them, and they peered inside, only to be assaulted by a sour stench. The place inside was in such a state it should be called a "pigsty," and perhaps even a pigsty would be cleaner and more fragrant than this.
Even Xuanji couldn’t stand it and stepped back several paces with her nose covered, nearly dizzy with the stench. Yu Sifeng carefully inspected the room, confird that no one was there, and reluctantly exited. He straightened the cracked door and propped it loosely on the doorfra to continue performing its duty as a "door."
Perhaps it was their noise that disturbed the neighbor, but an old man with a walking stick ca over and said, "Looking for Yihuan, huh? At this hour, he’s probably still asleep on the pleasure boat down by the river! You might as well look for him there."
Pleasure boat? They all found it odd as such a thing was supposed to be for the rich only. Judging by the man’s house which was utterly impoverished, even a mouse might not deign to visit; still, he could afford to sleep on a pleasure boat?
Yu Sifeng’s expression changed drastically as he urgently asked, "The so-called pleasure boat... couldn’t be Jiaohong House, could it?"
The old man revealed a very lewd smile, looking like the "I knew you lads were up to no good" type, and chuckled, "The pleasure boats of Qingyang, is there any more famous than that place?"
Yu Sifeng’s face flushed and then paled, before he finally stord off with a curse.
Quietly, Xuanji asked Ruo Yu, "What is Jiaohong House? Do they have food?"
Ruo Yu thought hard before replying with an awkward smile, "Well... maybe, probably, should have... so... but... that’s not a good place."
Of course, it wasn’t a good place, because Jiaohong House was the most famous brothel in Qingyang. Its fa wasn’t because the prostitutes were unmatched in beauty, or that the service was impeccable, but because it accepted all sorts of people, even if you were a prisoner due to be executed the next day; won of any age and appearance could beco prostitutes, even if she was a woman over seven decades old. Above all, the prices were unbelievably cheap.
When Yu Sifeng and the others got there, aside from the clueless Xuanji, everyone’s faces could be described as colorfully varied.
Zhong Minyan barely dodged the fawning of a group of cooing girls, and sohow got kissed on the face, leaving behind a smudge of rouge. He looked as though he wished he could peel off a layer of skin, utterly exasperated, sweating profusely, and repeatedly saying, "If we can’t find him, just forget it! Let’s go back!"
Just now, Xuanji had been amorously embraced and kissed by a group of kind and enthusiastic ladies who called her adorable. When she ntioned she was hungry, soone imdiately brought her a plate of pastries. She shalessly took it and found it quite tasty, so she thought Jiaohong House was very interesting, a good place indeed.
The crowd ascended to the second floor of the pleasure boat, where they were imdiately greeted by a slave fawning over them with a wide smile plastered on his face, "Oh, look at these young masters, such fresh faces! Not locals, are you? What kind of girls do you fancy? Don’t be shy, treat this place like your own ho!"
After he finished speaking, he noticed that Xuanji was holding so snacks, eating while looking around. Her exquisite beauty and luminous white skin made her a rare find, and the slave’s eyes imdiately lit up. He hurried over to make small talk while inquiring, "Miss, at Jiaohong House we never mistreat our girls. Clients’ tips and the share of drink sales all go to them. If Miss is interested soday, you are always welco to consider joining us..."
Before the man could finish his nonsense, Yu Sifeng coldly interrupted, "We are here to find soone."
Realizing then that each one of them was wearing a sword at their waist and had a murderous look on their faces, likely martial artists from the world, the slave didn’t dare to prattle on but could only nervously smile, "Certainly, certainly! Which hero might you be looking for?"
"Liu Yihuan," Yu Sifeng squeezed out these three words through clenched teeth, his tone was full of murderous intent, and it scared the slave so much his legs went weak as he pleaded, "I know nothing... sirs, please make yourselves at ho... um... don’t be shy..."
With that, the man scrambled away in a scramble.
With no one to lead the way, everyone had to search each room themselves. It’s needless to say how many deals they interrupted, and the shrieks from the naked courtesans were enough to cause ringing in their ears for three days.
At last, they searched all the way to the last elegant room on the second floor. Yu Sifeng’s face was already as green as a leafy vegetable. He didn’t even bother to knock, kicking through the paper door right away. As expected, another cry from a courtesan ca from inside.
However, before her cry could fade, a lazy, deep voice rang out, "How annoying, won always screaming at nothing. With the mouths they’re born with, if they’re not eating, they’re screaming."
Upon hearing that voice, Yu Sifeng took a long deep breath, his face stern, he stepped over the door fra and into the room, stating coldly, "You’ve co to a place like this again! You’re not easy to find!"
Once the others heard that, they realized they had found their man and couldn’t wait to rush in to see who it was they’d spent half the day looking for.
Xuanji was quick and slipped in first. She saw a sheepskin rug spread out in the center of the room with a low table on it. Behind the table, a long-haired man was lying half-sitting, his hair unkempt and hanging over his shoulders, covering most of his face and brows. He wore a half-worn grey robe, partly open at the chest, very majestic looking.
Seeing that Xuanji kept staring at him, the man suddenly looked up at her. A person so indolently negligent, his gaze was as sharp as a knife. It swept over and made Xuanji’s scalp tingle, instinctively making her want to step back.
Yu Sifeng walked over and sat opposite the man. Next to this rogue, two courtesans cowered as if they wanted to escape. However, with one in his grasp, they couldn’t flee and could only shudder miserably.
"I need to talk to you about sothing," Yu Sifeng said flatly, nonchalantly peeling a grape and popping it into his mouth.
That man—undoubtedly Liu Yihuan—propped himself up lazily and beckoned to the three stunned people behind, "Co sit, don’t be shy. Co... have so fruit!"
With that casual gesture of his, the courtesans took the chance to slip away. Xuanji and the others had no choice but to sit down, staring at him blankly, unsure of what to say.
Resting his head on his hand, he stared attentively at Yu Sifeng for a mont, then chuckled, "Not bad, the mask is off. Congratulations are in order for you!"
Then he turned his gaze towards Xuanji again, who cald down at the sight of food, obediently stuffing grapes into her mouth.
It had to be her. Liu Yihuan gave a faint smile, slapped the table lightly, and spoke out loudly, "Alright! Now tell , why have you gone to such lengths to find ? For what matter?"
Yu Sifeng said lightly, "I need you to use the Heavenly Eye. We are looking for a mber of the rfolk."
***************************
Reviews
All reviews (0)