Chapter Fourteen: A Fleeting Encounter Leaves a Lingering Fragrance

I had read about Wanfang Pavilion in books, said to be a place where all the women were talented singers and dancers, enchanting countless men. My curiosity was piqued, so I asked Daxian about it. He had never been there either, which only heightened my interest. After much cajoling, I convinced him to accompany me to buy a set of men's clothes, planning to visit Wanfang Pavilion that night.

At night, the most bustling place in the city was undoubtedly Wanfang Pavilion. The lanterns burned brightly, laughter and beautiful music filled the air, and the fluttering red curtains swirled like a vortex, drawing in passersby.

Stepping into Wanfang Pavilion was dazzling. Wooden tables filled with food and drink were scattered everywhere, men's and women's faces flushed from the crimson lanterns. Gorgeously dressed women swayed like butterflies in their colorful attire, making the entire room feel like it was ablaze with candlelight.

I glanced around and coughed heavily. The madam, lazily lying on a wooden chair at the entrance, was nudged awake by a nearby girl. Seeing me and Daxian, she yawned and walked over slowly.

"What can I do for you, sirs?" she asked listlessly.

I took out a money pouch from my waist and deliberately tossed it in my hand. The madam's expression instantly brightened, her eyes lighting up as she grabbed my arm and led us inside, introducing various girls as we walked.

The heavy scent of cosmetics hit me, making it hard to breathe. Covering my nose with my fingers, I cleared my throat and said, "Isn't there a performance by the top courtesan tonight? My brother and I came specifically to see her."

"Oh, that's no problem at all. She'll be out soon, but in the meantime, how about having some girls accompany you for a drink?" The madam's eyes were fixed on my bulging money pouch, and she reached out to pat my chest.

"Ah!" I yelped, jumping back and protecting my chest with both hands, forcing a smile. "Sure, sure, waiting is no problem."

"Such a shy young master. This must be your first time here. Don't be so reserved at night. Enjoy yourselves." The madam patted our shoulders, seating us at an empty table and calling over a few girls to serve us.

"Phew, that was close..." I looked up and saw the young man in blue from the street earlier, watching us with a faint smile.

Wait, isn't that the man we met earlier? Did he recognize me?

From the pavilion, the soft sound of a zither began to play, and light purple smoke rose gently. Two soft clicks sounded from the stage, and the purple mist transformed into scattered petals, revealing a woman hidden within. Her seductive eyes and crimson lips were mesmerizing.

I recognized her immediately—Ji Feng.

"What's wrong? Lost in thought," Daxian said, following my gaze and smiling. "Isn't that Ji Feng from the street earlier? She's actually the top courtesan of Wanfang Pavilion?"

"Surprised, Daxian?" I tilted my head, stuffed a piece of rice cake into my mouth, and propped my chin, staring intently at Ji Feng on the stage.

The young man in blue kept glancing our way, making me uneasy.

As the golden bells on her ankles jingled, Ji Feng threw out strands of purple and red silk, dancing gracefully. Her jade-like wrists raised high, creating waves of a floral ocean, filling the air with a peculiar fragrance that lingered in the mind. Her elegant movements, like a serpent's dance, sparked endless imagination.

The guests were increasingly entranced, lost in her captivating dance. The candlelight flickered in rhythm with her movements, seemingly dancing along with her. The sheer curtains floated gently in the soft breeze, making her silhouette appear even more alluring through the veil.

When the performance abruptly ended, the audience remained entranced, their minds still immersed in the spectacle.

"Highest bidder gets to spend the night with our dear Ji Feng. Starting price, five hundred taels," the madam announced, waving her handkerchief and shouting to the dazed crowd.

Her words jolted everyone back to reality. They scrambled to shout their bids, but the frenzy quickly subsided. All held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

The madam's mouth opened in surprise, but before she could react, a girl beside her whispered in her ear, "Thirty thousand taels, gold."

The bidding ended almost instantly. The idea of slowly increasing bids was crushed under this mountain of gold. I didn't even have a chance to bid before it was over.

I glanced at the highest bidder and saw it was the young man in blue who had been watching Ji Feng.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead with one hand, and said reluctantly, "He doesn't seem foolish, yet he spent so much gold on a girl. Truly, a romantic fool willing to spend a fortune for a beauty."

Daxian sneered from the side, "You can't even afford the starting bid of five hundred taels. You'd better give up."

"So what? There will be more opportunities in the future. I can always follow her," I said, my eyes brightening as I winked at the two figures ascending the stairs.

He looked at me, exasperated. "Where do you learn all these bizarre things?"

"From books," I replied.

Although disciples of the Qiongyun Sect rarely descended the mountain, the library contained a vast array of books detailing the ways of the world. I often took a few to read during my spare time, gaining more "knowledge" than those solely focused on cultivating immortality.

However, the folk tales depicted in books were nothing compared to experiencing the lively atmosphere firsthand. For instance, the unique local delicacies we couldn't enjoy on Qiongyun Mountain, where only bland vegetarian dishes were served. I intended to savor these treats while I had the chance.

These pastries were exquisitely made, emitting a rich floral and fruity fragrance. Picking up a piece and placing it in my mouth, it was sticky and delicious, leaving a lingering sweetness.

Suddenly, I smelled something burning. The scent quickly filled the hall, and flames began to emerge from the upper floor. A courtesan ran down the stairs, screaming shrilly, causing everyone to scatter in panic.

"It's the Xinghuo Sect."

"Daxian, let's go." I signaled for him to take the rear exit and cut off the person's escape route, then dashed upstairs.

The fire seemed to converge from all directions but focused solely on Ji Feng's room. Normally, such a blaze would have already collapsed the building, yet the door remained firmly shut.

An illusion?

I held my breath and chanted a Purification Mantra, and the surrounding flames seemed to cool and lose their ferocity.

I pushed the door open and saw the man on the bed bleeding from his shoulder, while Ji Feng's talon-like fingers dripped with fresh blood. She calmly wiped her hands upon seeing me enter.

The blood-red dress she wore looked ghastly in the weak candlelight, her pale skin flecked with blood. The blood from the bed trickled down to her ankles, making her look like a ghost.

"Qingyue, you really scared me. Too bad I didn't have enough time to extract more blood." Ji Feng caressed the face of the man in blue, her hand slipping into her sleeve.

"What a pity."

Her youthful charm faded, replaced by a deadly sharpness. Like a phantom drenched in blood, she rushed at me. A serpentine dagger emerged from her crimson sleeve, gleaming gold in the candlelight.

I sidestepped and raised my right hand, striking upward to deflect her armed hand while my other hand aimed for her wrist.

To my surprise, the serpentine dagger didn't fly out as expected. Instead, it traced an eerie arc overhead before slashing down at me again.

I realized then that touching her wrist had absorbed some of my strength, her internal energy resilient and hard to break.

The serpentine dagger seemed to come alive in her hand, weaving intricate patterns. A streak of golden light flashed past my ear, and I couldn't dodge in time, my long black hair falling loose.

Ji Feng flashed me a bewitching smile, twirling her crimson dress as she hurled the dagger at me, then turned and leapt out the window.

In that brief moment, I glimpsed a vibrant snake coiled around the blade. The dagger whizzed past me with barely any space to spare, the snake darting toward me with lightning speed.

"Not another snake!"

Reacting quickly, I caught the snake by its neck with two fingers and flung it out the window.

Behind me, I heard faint footsteps drawing closer.