“Ah, I see.”
Chen Ji had not considered that possibility at all. They were meant to slay demons and eliminate evil, not harm innocent people. If the courtesan were truly just an ordinary person, they would be unable to do anything.
“It does not matter; we will go and see for ourselves! If she is not a demon, then she is not. Either way, we are following that wealthy young master, so we might as well get a free meal out of it,” Chen Ji said, remaining optimistic.
Liu Jingyun was secretly amazed. Chen Ji’s skin was incredibly thick. He had only just met the young man, yet he was already planning to freeload a meal just because the boy was rich. Although Liu Jingyun did not particularly like the idea, he would follow wherever Chen Ji wanted to go.
Now that he had a commission, Chen Ji was no longer sleepy. He led Liu Jingyun into the city. The first thing he did was start gathering information about the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion. Teahouses were always the best places for guests to gossip and chat over snacks.
Neither of them had a single copper, but Chen Ji’s social skills were top-tier. Upon entering a teahouse, his eyes scanned the room and eventually landed on a young gentleman who looked like a student.
Seeing new customers, the waiter approached them enthusiastically. “Welcome! How many in your party, sirs?”
“I am meeting friends. You go ahead and attend to others; no need to mind us,” Chen Ji replied.
“Understood, sir. Please help yourselves.”
Once the waiter left, Chen Ji approached the table he had picked out. “Greetings, brothers. I see the three of you and feel we have a certain destiny together. You would not mind if we joined you, would you?”
The three young men had gentle faces and wore scholarly robes. They looked like the type of scholars who were easily swayed. Seeing Chen Ji’s bright and sunny approach, they felt awkward refusing. “If you do not mind the crowd, please sit.”
“Thank you, brothers.” Chen Ji sat down without hesitation. Looking at them, he let out a soft sigh. “You three have very auspicious faces. You look like kind and virtuous men.”
Hearing this, the three scholars looked at him with a hint of suspicion. Chen Ji’s over-familiarity was already suspicious, but his words made him sound like a traveling fraud claiming to be a divine fortune-teller.
“Sir, we do not believe in divination,” the boldest scholar said.
Chen Ji waved his hand. “I am not telling fortunes. I simply think you three seem like good people. You carry the scent of ink on you, so I assume you just came from your studies for a tea break?”
The three scholars were startled. “How did you know?”
“The secrets of heaven must not be revealed.”
In reality, the imperial exams were approaching, so most scholars in the city were home studying hard. Those at a teahouse were obviously just taking a breather. Did that really require a fortune-teller?
“I heard that Qingyun City is home to many scholars, and as the exams approach, everyone is studying diligently,” Chen Ji said, changing the subject.
The scholars nodded. “Indeed. Ten years of hard work are all for this moment.”
“Alas, I wish my cousin were as serious about his studies as you three,” Chen Ji sighed.
“Is your cousin also from Qingyun City?” a scholar asked.
“Yes. His name is Li Sukang.”
“Li Sukang? You are his cousin?”
Chen Ji acted surprised. “You know him?”
“He is quite famous in Qingyun City. Everyone says that if anyone is to become the Top Scholar this year, it must be Li Sukang. But such a talented man has recently fallen for the temptations of the tender trap and forgotten his duties as a scholar.”
The scholars began to chime in one by one. From their conversation, Chen Ji learned that Li Sukang was indeed a renowned local talent. Half a month ago, he had suddenly become obsessed with Miaoyin, the top courtesan of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, and had been visiting her every night since. He even claimed he would give up the exams, no longer wishing to live like a common man. Since his parents had died early and no one was there to guide him, he had become increasingly reckless in his downfall.
“Is this Miaoyin truly so beautiful?” Chen Ji asked.
“So we have heard.”
“Heard?”
The scholar explained, “One must have money to even see her. Without it, you cannot get through the door.”
“My cousin does not have much money. How can he see her?” Chen Ji asked.
“Because Miaoyin wanted to learn painting. Not only is Li Sukang a great scholar, but his painting is also top-tier. She invited him to teach her.”
“So that is the reason.”
“Sir, I suggest you advise him to stay away from her. This Miaoyin is very strange,” the scholar said mysteriously.
“How so?” Chen Ji asked quickly.
“She is the star of the pavilion. Those who have seen her say there is no woman more beautiful in the world. However, every man who meets her ends up with some kind of minor injury. Some are hurt badly, yet they laugh and say it has nothing to do with her. Some are even willing to spend a fortune just to see her again.”
Chen Ji blinked. “What kind of injuries?”
“Some have swollen faces from being hit, and others have broken legs. Normally, injured people would try to extort medical expenses from the brothel owner, but none of them did.”
Chen Ji pursed his lips. What kind of injuries were those? He had expected something like animal claw marks. Swollen faces and broken legs sounded like they had tried to take liberties with her and were simply beaten for it.
Chen Ji chatted with them for a bit longer, but since the scholars had never actually been to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, everything they knew about Miaoyin was hearsay. He could not get any more useful information. He left the teahouse, planning to find another place to ask around.
Outside, the midday sun was scorching. Chen Ji stretched broadly. Seeing an elderly man struggling with a heavy basket, he hurried over to help. The old man was startled by the sudden hand, but his suspicion faded when he saw Chen Ji’s handsome and gentle face.
“Old man, where is your home? Let me carry this back for you,” Chen Ji said with a smile.
“Thank you, young sir. My home is just at the entrance of the alley ahead,” the old man replied gratefully.
“It is no trouble at all. Just a small gesture.”
Chen Ji escorted the old man to the alley. At the end stood an old residence. As they approached, the crisp voices of children reading aloud echoed from within.
“Young sir, you can leave it here.”
“Grandpa, it is only a few more steps. Let me bring it inside for you.”
“Well,” the old man hesitated, “my master is a teacher at a private school. He is teaching the children right now. When you go in, could you please keep your footsteps light?”
“No problem.”
The old man bowed his back and slowly pushed open the door. In the courtyard stood a massive, ancient banyan tree. Its thick foliage acted like a giant umbrella, shading the children and the teacher beneath it.
Chen Ji looked at the teacher. He was a very handsome man, though he was up in years with white hair at his temples and faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Despite his age, his aura was extraordinary. It was not the mere elegance of a scholar, but rather the refined, transcendent air of a cultivator.
The teacher also noticed Chen Ji and Liu Jingyun, and his gaze turned toward them.