Liang Xiucai naturally failed to redeem Hongxiu, though their relationship remained exceptionally close throughout the days that followed.
Consequently, Liang Xiucai kept wondering: back then, when he was in such dire straits, Hongxiu had never looked down upon him. There was no reason she would abandon him the moment he passed the Xiucai examinations.
Yet all of this had come to an abrupt halt on the very eve of Hongxiu’s debut as top courtesan.
Clearly, on the evening before he left the Changle House, the two of them had still been deeply affectionate and deeply in love. Yet the next day, during the courtesan’s street procession, Hongxiu’s gaze toward him had been entirely that of a stranger.
“Can you understand that feeling? It felt as though she didn’t recognize me at all; her gaze was icy cold and utterly unfamiliar.”
Recalling that scene from the past still sent a chill down Liang Xiucai’s spine. At the time, however, he hadn’t thought much of it, simply assuming that Hongxiu had attained sudden wealth and prosperity as a top courtesan and wished to cut ties with him.
Most women in the Changle House were pure courtesans, and the top courtesan was no exception. Unless she willingly chose to descend into the pleasure quarters, the madam wouldn’t easily sell her off and cheapen her own standing.
After all, in the eyes of men, whatever remained unattainable was always the best; something visible yet untouched only fueled an agonizing, itching desire.
Wealthy and powerful men, in particular, were known to spend fortunes scattering gold and silver just to contend for a single courtesan. The madam was hardly foolish enough to sacrifice the patronage of all her other clients merely to pocket the reward money from a single guest.
Li Jian paused for a fleeting second, glanced sideways at Xuan Lang, and nodded hesitatingly. “Perhaps I can.”
When he eventually completed his mission and executed Xuan Lang with a single sword strike, he would likely understand that feeling quite well.
Liang Xiucai continued speaking on his own accord: “Back then, I was simply unwilling to accept it and refused to believe it. Even though everyone around me claimed that she had achieved soaring success and countless men were showering her with wealth for her favor insisting that she couldn’t possibly resist such a life of luxury and naturally wanted nothing more to do with an impoverished scholar like me—I kept telling myself that Hongxiu wasn’t that kind of person. If she cared about wealth and status, she never would have chosen me in the first place.”
Thus, Liang Xiucai devised a way to sneak into the Changle House. Under the guise of composing poetry for wealthy young patrons, he secretly kept watch over Hongxiu for a prolonged period, ultimately uncovering the anomaly.
“She is not Hongxiu. Although that face is identical to Hongxiu’s, and even her dancing is precisely the same, I just know she is not her. She must have been murdered by a demon, and that monster assumed her identity!”
As Li Jian listened to Liang Xiucai deliver his lengthy monologue, a crisp ding suddenly chimed in his mind.
[Side quest triggered: “The Vicious-Faced She-Demon.” Please complete it as soon as possible, Host.]
System 301’s mechanical voice echoed, leaving Li Jian feeling slightly dazed. It had been quite a while since he last heard System 301 speak.
Well, well, the system was finally getting down to work.
Compared to Liang Xiucai’s animated, storytelling-like delivery, the system’s task announcement sounded markedly rigid.
The system informed him that the Vicious-Faced She-Demon harbored a passionate obsession with exquisite human countenances regardless of gender, anyone who caught her eye had to be claimed and possessed.
Those whose faces were stripped away simply vanished without a trace, becoming her dietary nourishment, leaving behind absolutely zero evidence.
During the boat cruise, when the young elites of various prominent families gathered together, the Vicious-Faced She-Demon had instantly cast her gaze upon Immortal Lord Shiyuan’s peerless countenance, and was currently plotting an opportunity to pocket him.
Slapping his thigh, Li Jian thought: Oh no you don’t! I’ve gone to such immense lengths without successfully wooing him yet, and you expect me to let someone else snatch him away?
Anyone attempting to steal his meal ticket had to get past him first; he simply had to personally encounter this demon!
Turning his head toward Xuan Lang, Li Jian lifted his chin slightly and asked, “Care to come take a look?”
Let’s go inspect the origins of this she-demon who dares covet your handsome face.
“Whatever the Immortal Elder decides is fine.” Meeting Li Jian’s eyes, Xuan Lang curved the corners of his lips, his expression remaining consistently gentle.
“You decide. If you say go, I’ll go; if you say no…” Li Jian deliberately hesitated, drawing out his tone as he cast a sidelong glance toward Liang Xiucai.
“…If you don’t want to go, then we won’t go.”
Liang Xiucai’s round eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. Realizing he needed to secure their cooperation, and before Xuan Lang could respond, he dropped straight to his knees with a loud thud, pressing a tearful, snot-streaked face against Xuan Lang’s hem—behaving as though Xuan Lang uttering a single “no” would drive him to hang himself right at the doorway.
He wailed, “Young Master, have mercy! You possess a kind and benevolent heart; you cannot simply stand by and watch innocent maidens lose their lives in vain! Today it is Hongxiu, but tomorrow it could be someone else. Until that demon is eradicated, Zunyang City will never know a moment of peace!”
“Liang Xiucai, please get up first.”
Having been raised as a dependent in the Qi family estate where even the domestic servants treated him like a common errand boy, Xuan Lang had never experienced being addressed with such deference, let alone having someone plead earnestly before him. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, he felt entirely unaccustomed to it and flustered on the spot.
Looking toward Li Jian with a troubled expression, Xuan Lang noticed his hand trembling slightly as he steadied Liang Xiucai as if lifting the boy meant lifting whatever meager dignity he had once possessed.
Lowering his gaze with a faint smile, Li Jian gently placed a hand over the youth’s wrist and addressed Liang Xiucai: “Very well, stop trying to frighten our young master.”
His voice softened, laced with a distinct warmth of pampering and indulgence.
Having accepted the quest and given his word to Liang Xiucai, Li Jian resolved to make a personal trip to the Changle House to confront this Vicious-Faced She-Demon.
True to Liang Xiucai’s description, the moment night fell, the Changle House blazed with brilliant illumination. Window sills glowed scarlet under the reflection of candlelight and silk drapes, filled with the sound of singing and dancing. Even standing outside the entrance, one could clearly hear the coy giggles of the maidens.
Noticing several maidens waving in their direction from the doorway, Xuan Lang kept his head ducked low behind Li Jian, not daring to step inside.
To be frank, Li Jian had never witnessed such an establishment either. While he was a well-traveled modern citizen, he…
Well, establishments of this nature weren’t exactly legal back in his world.
As a law-abiding citizen educated in civic duties and morality, Li Jian felt a brief flicker of hesitation.
While the two of them hesitated outside, the madam swept out through the entrance dressed in an ostentatious gown of bright red and vibrant green. Swaying her hips while fan in hand, she scanned the surroundings with sharp, calculating eyes before turning to instruct her attendants:
“Girls, perk up! Don’t let a single person carrying silver slip past us today. Whether we have a prosperous tomorrow depends entirely on your efforts!”
“Yes, Mother.”
Though none of those maidens possessed devastating beauty, each one outmatched the last in obedience. After receiving their instructions, they immediately stepped forward to solicit passing patrons.
Extremely satisfied with their performance, the madam patted the oversized pearl hairpin adorning her hair and prepared to pivot back inside. Catching sight of Li Jian out of the corner of her eye, she appraised him up and down twice before her eyes suddenly brightened. Instantly trading her expression for an ingratiating smile, she swayed her tightly cinched waist and hurried toward them.
“Oh my, what exceptionally handsome young masters! I’ve never laid eyes on you two before. With such striking features and noble bearing, you certainly aren’t ordinary folk you look like immortals descended straight to the mortal realm!”
Her lacquered fingernails lightly tapped against Li Jian’s arm while her fan half-concealed her smiling face, beaming with absolute radiance.
Her flattery was hardly insincere.
Standing before her were two young men, one dressed in white and the other in black, both possessing extraordinary stature, clear brows, and exceptional grace. In all her years managing the bustling traffic of the Changle House, she had rarely encountered anyone matching their level of good looks.
If there was anyone who could rival them, it would be the renowned young master of the Song family in Zunyang City. But that gentleman was far too lofty and aloof; how could a pleasure quarter ever hope to host him?
“Seeing as it’s your first time here, you might not be fully informed. Tonight happens to be our house’s top courtesan, Miss Qiushui, performing a special dance. All those young aristocrats inside are drawn here precisely for her.”
As they spoke, several affluent young patrons dressed in exquisite garments were welcomed inside evidently regulars familiar with the establishment.
“If the two young masters have nothing pressing to attend to, I have fine wine and delectable dishes prepared inside. Care to step inside and take a look?”
Brimming with familiarity, the madam attempted to shepherd them through the doors, eager not to let potential business slip away, while hastily signaling a few maidens to step forward and serve them.
Xuan Lang wore a freezing expression and refused to let anyone approach. Li Jian, shielding him with a sweep of his arm behind his frame, offered a polite smile to the madam: “My younger brother is stepping out for the first time and feels rather unaccustomed to such places; please pardon us.”
“Ah, I understand! The young master looks quite tender in years, perfectly normal to feel shy on his first outing. Once he gets acquainted, he’ll grow quite fond of it who knows, he might even be reluctant to leave.”
Laughing heartily, the madam ushered the pair inside as if eager to close the deal, immediately assigning a few attendants to attend to them.
Xuan Lang maintained a cold, unapproachable aura that kept everyone at a distance, whereas Li Jian found himself surrounded by a cluster of giggling maidens trying to coax him into drinking. Knowing he lacked the patience to deal with such socialization, he politely waved them off.
They specifically requested a secluded table tucked away in the corner, ordered two jars of fine wine, and kept only a single attendant to pour drinks.
While the maidens dispersed with a hint of disappointment, the sudden commotion at their table attracted sideways glances from several nearby patrons.
Zhao Chengyu had brought a few friends out for a round of drinks, a delicate maiden sitting on his lap gracefully feeding him wine, when one of his companions muttered under his breath:
“Who on earth is that, acting with such airs?”
Hearing the remark, Zhao Chengyu shifted his gaze away from the maiden’s fair cheek and replied indifferently, “Hmm? What is it?”
Pointing toward Li Jian’s table, his companion arched an eyebrow. “Look at that fellow in black—isn’t that Qi family’s freeloader? And the one in white looks rather familiar… who was he again?”
Among the young elites of Zunyang City who frequently interacted with Qi Jingyao, Xuan Lang had long been privately mocked as the “freeloader,” a derogatory nickname that had gradually become his primary label.
Though Zhao Chengyu had little interest in the Qi family’s charity case, he happened to cast his eyes toward the white-robed figure sitting nearby, freezing mid-motion.
Isn’t that?
To think that, usually radiating such an aloof, transcendent aura of pure cultivation, actually enjoyed frequenting pleasure quarters to seek amusement?
The realization caught Zhao Chengyu somewhat off guard. On second thought, however, regardless of his cultivation level, remained a normal man; maintaining absolute asceticism all the time was hardly realistic.
“You don’t remember? That’s the fellow who recovered the divine statue for the Qi family a few days ago.”
The truth was common knowledge across Zunyang City, requiring no elaboration from Zhao Chengyu for his companions to piece it together.
“So it’s him.”
Zhao Chengyu flashed a knowing smile, suddenly recalling: “And during that boat cruise the other day, Song Zhiyuan insisted on inviting him aboard, causing quite a public clash with Qi Jingyao…”
Song Zhiyuan… how could I have forgotten about Song Zhiyuan?
Sensing an opportunity, Zhao Chengyu signaled his personal servant with a subtle gesture of his hand, leaning in to lower his voice with a mischievous grin:
“Go. Tell Song Zhiyuan that… Immortal Li Jian is currently enjoying himself at the Changle House.”