AVL Chapter 45

Xi Jianlan…

 

Fairy Lan was completely embarrassed and angry, bristling: “I said we’re not buying, so we’re not buying! Don’t you understand? Do the Southern and Northern Territories speak different languages?!”

 

Even when faced with cold rejection, the vendor’s enthusiasm didn’t diminish at all. He smiled and said: “Don’t be angry, young master. Your companion there looks very interested.”

 

Xi Jianlan turned his head and sure enough saw Sheng Jiao coldly taking the small cloud lantern and looking down at the characters.

 

Xi Jianlan: “……”

 

Xi Jianlan felt very uncomfortable, both worried that Sheng Jiao would discover the connection in the courtesan’s name and angry that he actually planned to buy a lantern to present to a beauty.

 

He silently ground his teeth, forcing out a man-eating smile: “What, does Sect Master Sheng also want to buy a little lantern to make a beauty smile?”

 

He’d meant to provoke Sheng Jiao, but as soon as the words left his mouth, the usually stingy Sheng Jiao actually took out a spirit stone and tossed it over, buying the small lantern in his hand.

 

Xi Jianlan: “…………”

 

Ying Zhuo raised an eyebrow slightly, half-smiling.

 

Buying a small lantern for a beauty right in front of Xi Jianlan—this Sheng Wuzhuo really was cultivating the Emotionless Path, completely unromantic.

 

Sure enough, Xi Jianlan was angry, saying coldly: “Sheng Wuzhuo.”

 

Ying Zhuo seized the opportunity to step forward and pat his shixiong’s back to calm him: “Don’t be angry, shixiong. That Fairy Lan has jade-like beauty and flower-like appearance. It’s only natural that Sect Master Sheng would be smitten at first sight.”

 

Fairy Lan: “……”

 

Xi Jianlan didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh.

 

Sheng Jiao calmly turned the small lantern around, showing him the crooked characters “Lan Jiaojiao.”

 

Xi Jianlan was immediately speechless, caught between “anger” and “laughter” in a difficult position, with “shame and embarrassment” rushing to his head.

 

…His fighting spirit completely deflated.

 

Though the vendor had only sold one lantern, he was still cheerful.

 

Sheng Jiao was holding the small lantern waiting for change when a voice suddenly came from nearby.

 

“Will Lan Jiaojiao really participate in today’s courtesan competition?”

 

This voice was inexplicably familiar. Xi Jianlan, who had been buried in embarrassment and shame, wishing he could jump straight off the cloud, frowned and looked back.

 

The man speaking wore white clothes and had white hair, standing in an open area almost blending with the clouds behind him. The skull mask on his face reflected golden web-like patterns in the sunlight.

 

Xi Jianlan was stunned.

 

The skull mask from Evil Qi Road—Yu Tuishan?

 

The vendor spotted another big spender and quickly said: “Yes, yes, yes, Fairy Lan will definitely come. Would you like to buy a few, young master?”

 

Yu Tuishan said “oh,” his snow-white, almost translucent fingers pointing down the entire street as he said gently: “Then I’ll take all the cloud lanterns on this street to light for Lan Jiaojiao tonight in the courtesan competition.”

 

Lan Jiaojiao: “……”

 

Xi Jianlan had used Yu Tuishan as a pawn last time to deal with Qin Banban’s gambling father. Seeing the real person now, he was already extremely guilty, and hearing these words, he almost went to fight Yu Tuishan directly.

 

Ying Zhuo had spent several months at Evil Qi Road and knew this person’s unfathomable depths. His expression was cold as he watched him, his hand hidden in his sleeve already silently forming white spider silk.

 

Evil Qi Road was far in the Northern Territory—why would Yu Tuishan appear in Nine Heavens City in the Southern Territory?

 

Could it be that “Abandoned Immortal Bone” had already been sold to the Southern Territory?

 

Even Sheng Jiao frowned slightly, vaguely sensing a bone-chilling aura from Yu Tuishan.

 

“Worthy of Heaven’s Way” was already close to the pinnacle of Heaven’s Way and Tianyan. In all thirteen provinces, very few could make even Sheng Jiao feel threatened.

 

Yu Tuishan didn’t notice the gazes and was still speaking gently to the overjoyed vendor: “Lan Jiaojiao will really go to the courtesan selection today?”

 

The vendor nodded like a pecking chicken—this huge business made him ignore everything else: “Naturally, if you don’t believe it, just go ask Hongchen Shijun Tower.”

 

“Oh.” Yu Tuishan took out a handful of candied fruit and said gently: “I love watching beauties. If these cloud lanterns can make a beauty smile, it’s worth it. But if Lan Jiaojiao doesn’t come today, I’ll be angry.”

 

The vendor was just an ordinary person who had never heard of Yu Tuishan’s reputation from Evil Qi Road. He quickly nodded: “Of course, of course, young master, rest assured.”

 

Yu Tuishan’s eyes curved as he held the candied fruit and began eating.

 

The vendor didn’t know danger was approaching and was still foolishly happy.

 

Yu Tuishan never blinked when killing. Once he discovered he’d been deceived, everyone on this street would probably be turned into dice by those distinct finger joints of his.

 

Xi Jianlan’s face was green as he grabbed Sheng Jiao and Ying Zhuo and left.

 

Yu Tuishan used a wooden stick to poke at the candied fruit. A breeze blew, ruffling his white hair casually tied with a hair band. He looked up at the three walking away, suddenly raised his hand gently, squinted one eye, and pointed his translucent finger at Sheng Jiao’s back.

 

Golden Tianyan spiritual power condensed at his fingertip like a sharp blade about to be released.

 

The cold gleam grew brighter and brighter.

 

Sheng Jiao suddenly turned around.

 

“Worthy of Heaven’s Way” was different from other spiritual-grade xiangwen—it was the most fierce and merciless. Even without using Tianyan spiritual power, its aura was sharp and intimidating. Just one look could make people tremble with fear.

 

“Ah.”

 

Yu Tuishan was shocked by the aura of “Worthy of Heaven’s Way,” his fingertip spiritual power suddenly scattering into golden fireflies. The gentle killing intent in his eyes quietly dissipated as he gently tilted his skull mask, revealing one beautiful peach blossom eye.

 

He smiled and murmured: “I’ve been discovered.”

 

The Tianyan pearls spun rapidly, but for some reason couldn’t stop, spinning so fast they nearly sparked.

 

Xi Jianlan had already entered Hongchen Shijun Tower, standing on the steps calling: “Sheng Jiao?”

 

Sheng Jiao moved his five fingers, tightly gripping the Tianyan pearls that were hot from spinning.

 

Looking again, Yu Tuishan seemed to merge with the clouds, silently disappearing from where he stood.

 

In an instant, all the cloud lanterns on the entire street suddenly lit up.

 

Thousands upon thousands of them, blazing brilliantly even in daylight, nearly blinding Xi Jianlan.

 

Hongchen Shijun Tower was a multi-story luxurious pavilion. The vast hall was ethereally beautiful, with winding streams flowing down from the upper floors. Dancing girls with jingling ornaments stepped on lotus flowers with their toes, their dancing skirts and fans swaying.

 

Truly a place of indulgent pleasure.

 

Xi Jianlan skillfully climbed the steps to the second floor.

 

A charming dancing girl’s skirt fluttered as she leaped over the carved railings like a graceful butterfly. Xi Jianlan raised his hand to support her, and the light beauty danced seductively around him on her tiptoes.

 

Xi Jianlan smiled, like an old hand in pleasure quarters. His fingers lifted a strand of the dancing girl’s flowing hair as he said lightly: “I want to see Xun Niang.”

 

The dancing girl laughed charmingly, her soft hands resting on Xi Jianlan’s shoulder as she said gently: “Young master, you’ve come at a bad time. Xun Niang has the courtesan competition tonight and isn’t receiving guests.”

 

Xi Jianlan said as he went upstairs: “No exceptions for any amount of spirit stones?”

 

Usually when this phrase was spoken, no matter how busy a courtesan was, she would treat the person as an honored guest. But the dancing girl gracefully leaped to the second floor, smilingly blocking Xi Jianlan’s path.

 

“Please wait a few more days, young master.”

 

Xi Jianlan raised an eyebrow slightly and said agreeably: “Alright then, I’ll just sit and listen to some music.”

 

The dancing girl blinked.

 

Xi Jianlan took out a bag of spirit stones from his robes and tossed it over.

 

The dancing girl beamed and finally allowed the three to go upstairs, leading them to a private room where several veiled musicians sat behind a screen playing pipa and singing.

 

Xi Jianlan lifted the bamboo curtain to look down at the bustling first floor, clicking his tongue: “Seems this Xun Niang is quite hard to see.”

 

Ying Zhuo was visiting a pleasure house for the first time. Going up the stairs with a gorgeous dancing girl spinning around him made him so uncomfortable he was getting goosebumps.

 

“Shixiong… how are you so familiar with this pleasure house?”

 

Sheng Jiao remained expressionless throughout, slowly fingering the beads on his wrist.

 

—Using the Tianyan pearls like prayer beads.

 

“Nonsense.” Xi Jianlan looked around and, seeing no dancing girls on the second floor, silently opened the wooden door and whispered instructions: “Xun Niang’s quarters should be upstairs. I’ll go take a look in a moment—don’t act rashly.”

 

Ying Zhuo quickly said: “I’ll go with shixiong.”

 

Xi Jianlan ignored him and tiptoed away.

 

Xi Jianlan was quite bold, daring to leave Ying Zhuo and Sheng Jiao alone together.

 

Ying Zhuo watched Xi Jianlan’s sneaky departure, thinking even his shixiong’s back looked tall, mighty, and mesmerizing when doing bad things. But when he turned to face Sheng Jiao’s coffin-like expression, his demeanor instantly changed.

 

Sheng Jiao looked down at the cloud lantern on the small table, his gaze cold, completely ignoring Ying Zhuo.

 

Ying Zhuo was mad with jealousy toward Sheng Jiao, but knowing that with Xi Jianlan present, he temporarily couldn’t do anything. He could only sit there coldly drinking tea, plotting in his mind how to truly kill this person.

 

Xi Jianlan avoided people and reached the wooden staircase leading to the third floor. Just as he was about to sneak up, he saw a dancing girl coming down from the third floor.

 

He reacted quickly, immediately hiding in a small corner under the wooden stairs.

 

After watching the dancing girl leave, Xi Jianlan was about to dart forward when he belatedly noticed several weak breathing sounds beside him.

 

Xi Jianlan turned his head expressionlessly and saw three bruised young men crouched in the narrow corner. Seeing him look over, they quickly showed him fierce grins.

 

Xi Jianlan: “……”

 

Xi Jianlan crawled out on hands and knees, immediately trying to run.

 

But as soon as he moved, the three young men reached out with six hands to grab him: “Hey hey! Brother! Fellow daoist! Wait, wait!”

 

These young men looked young, seeming like young masters from some family. Each had Golden Core cultivation. Though beaten badly, they were still strong. Xi Jianlan, having no spiritual power, was directly dragged back by his clothes.

 

Xi Jianlan’s robes were nearly torn off by them. He said angrily: “Who are you? Let go of me quickly! Do you know who my dao companion is? I’ll scare you all away if I tell you.”

 

The young men frantically shushed him: “Calm down, calm down! We’re trying to save you!”

 

Xi Jianlan didn’t want to listen to these three seemingly brain-damaged people’s nonsense. He knelt on the ground trying to crawl out, but after crawling a few steps was dragged back again.

 

He didn’t sense any killing intent from these three young men, so he had to stop trying to escape and squeeze into that tiny corner with them.

 

—Fortunately, all four were not particularly imposing in stature, so they could barely hide.

 

Xi Jianlan said coldly: “Save me from what?”

 

The most badly beaten young man rubbed his bruised eyes and sighed: “Are you going upstairs to peek at Xun Niang?”

 

Xi Jianlan looked at him incredulously: “Show some respect when you speak. Appreciating beauties—can that be called peeking?”

 

“See, I told you he’s the same kind of perverted lecher as us, insisting on going to peek at Xun Niang,” the gloomy black-clothed young man in the corner said bluntly.

 

Xi Jianlan: “……”

 

How dare they slander his reputation?

 

“You shouldn’t go,” the yellow-clothed young man earnestly advised. “There’s a very powerful and fierce guard on the third floor. Anyone who goes up gets beaten mercilessly.”

 

Xi Jianlan became interested, sitting cross-legged properly: “What guard? What cultivation level?”

 

“Cultivation… I estimate it’s Nascent Soul.”

 

“Bah, Spirit Transformation stage! Definitely Spirit Transformation!”

 

“How do I feel like it’s Void Return realm?”

 

The three chattered away, all falling silent when they mentioned “Void Return realm.”

 

The other two were about to scold him for wild fantasies.

 

Which Void Return realm expert would be so lustful and shameless as to work as a guard for a courtesan in a pleasure house?

 

Where’s their dignity?

 

But that young man said quietly: “You’re all stupid. A Void Return realm beating us up sounds much more dignified than a Nascent Soul stage beating us up.”

 

The two suddenly understood: “Oh right!”

 

Xi Jianlan: “……”

 

Getting beaten up probably wouldn’t be very dignified to talk about regardless!

 

Xi Jianlan couldn’t stand listening to these three bragging and was about to leave with a green face, but was dragged back by their many hands and feet as they earnestly advised: “Fellow daoist, looking at your sneaky appearance, you’re definitely one of us. We brothers advise you—that third floor really can’t be approached.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…………”

 

Xi Jianlan looked at these three young men who had probably just come of age, expressionlessly grinding his teeth.

 

It was one thing for those bastards from Zhuxing Zhai to mock him for being short, but now young men several years younger than him dared to mock his height and young age…

 

Where was the justice in this?

 

Just as Xi Jianlan was viciously plotting to beat up all three of them, the black-clothed young man in the corner said quietly: “I just overheard that the guard seems to be from the Sword Sect.”

 

Xi Jianlan was stunned.

 

Sword Sect?

 

“Impossible! Sword cultivators from the Sword Sect are arrogant—how could they possibly come to Nine Heavens City as guards?!”

 

“Really, I heard it clearly. That person said he wanted to break through a mental bottleneck, seeking peace of mind to avoid being bewitched by beauty, so he specially came to the pleasure house to temper his mental state and stabilize his cultivation.”

 

Everyone looked at each other.

 

Was this something a normal person would do?

 

People from the Sword Sect were probably all seriously ill.

 

The young man slapped his forehead: “Oh right, I heard he’s also the Sword Sect master’s eldest disciple, named…”

 

Xi Jianlan’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

 

“…named Liu Changxing.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…………”

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)