The next day.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
...
A loud, clear rooster's crow echoed across the land, quickly setting off a chain reaction of crowing from all directions.
Li Ye struggled to open his eyes, habitually dressed, got out of bed, washed up, and after tidying everything, hurried out the door to embark on the long journey of demon hunting.
He had spent the entire previous night at Cuixian Tower, not only failing to uncover any clues but also being teased by the courtesans, leaving him covered in the scent of rouge. In the end, he had no choice but to hastily toss down some silver and make a rather awkward escape.
Cuixian Tower was far from the Li family's old residence, and on foot, it would take several hours to return. He had considered spending the night at the Judicial Bureau, but after glancing at the pastries in his hand, he decided to go home instead.
By the time he crossed half of Jinling City and reached home, the sky had long since darkened.
Of course, before entering, he used a minor immortal technique to rid himself of the lingering scent of rouge and powder. Only then did he dare step inside.
If Chu Qingyi were to find out that he had gone to Cuixian Tower for demon hunting, given her temperament, she might not explode on the spot, but she would undoubtedly find some way to trip him up later, leaving him unable to voice his grievances.
Sigh... He could only hope to find some useful clues today.
Li Ye sighed. If it weren't for this case involving Cuixian Tower, he would probably never set foot in such a place of pleasure in his entire life.
Out of necessity, all the clues he had now pointed to Cuixian Tower, and for the time being, there was no better approach than waiting for the demon to show itself.
Snapping back to reality, he looked up at the sky. The rooster's crow had just faded, and the horizon was tinged with the pale light of dawn. The warm, soft glow of the orange-red sun slowly rose from the eastern horizon, enveloping the small town in a hazy golden veil, ethereal and enchanting.
The gentle sunlight bathed Li Ye's tall, slender frame, adding a touch of warmth and refinement to his already transcendent demeanor.
The morning air carried a cool, moist freshness, infused with the unique fragrance of grass and trees. He took several deep breaths, circulating his immortal energy to expel the impurities from his body, then quickened his pace toward the Judicial Bureau.
Since Cuixian Tower only operated at night, his only option now was to head to the Judicial Bureau to investigate relevant records.
Before he could get close, he spotted a slender figure pacing near the entrance, occasionally glancing around as if waiting for someone.
As he drew nearer, he recognized the person as Xiao Wu, the coroner from the constabulary.
"Lord Li Ye, you're finally here!" Xiao Wu exclaimed upon seeing him, immediately jogging over and launching into a detailed account of the autopsy results. "The coroner's report is out. The chief constable sent me early this morning to deliver the news. The cause of death for yesterday's victim is identical to the previous ones. From a physiological perspective, the deceased engaged in intense physical activity shortly before death, leading to shortness of breath, palpitations, and other symptoms. This caused a sudden cessation of cardiac blood-pumping function, resulting in severe hypoxia and ischemia in the organs, ultimately leading to sudden death."
Li Ye, however, was dumbfounded. He had no understanding of the technical terms Xiao Wu was spouting.
"Speak... speak in a way I can understand."
"Oh, so these individuals engaged in intense physical activity before their deaths. Considering the circumstances, it appears they were with the courtesans at the Emerald Immortal Pavilion and failed to exercise restraint. Their frequent, vigorous movements led to the depletion of their essence, a decline in bodily functions, and ultimately death from exhaustion. Of course, one could also interpret this as what common folk refer to as 'death by excessive indulgence.After listening to Xiao Wu's explanation, Li Ye fell into deep thought, the space between his brows furrowing tightly into a character "river.""
Death by excessive indulgence again... An occasional case or two might be understandable, but over a dozen people dying from this in just one week, all at a pleasure house like the Emerald Immortal Pavilion, was simply unreasonable.
"Lord Li Ye? Lord Li Ye?"
Xiao Wu called out several times before Li Ye snapped back to reality.
"Hmm, ah, Xiao Wu, right? Thank you for your help this time. Without you, I'd probably have been staring blankly at the corpses for days without any results. It's truly surprising—despite your youth, you possess such unique and profound insights into anatomy. Your future prospects are bound to be limitless!" Li Ye praised, patting Xiao Wu on the shoulder.
"You flatter me, Lord Li Ye. I was merely fulfilling my duties," Xiao Wu replied sheepishly, scratching his head. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. The Chief Constable is waiting for my report."
"Go ahead, and please send my regards to your Chief Constable."
As he watched Xiao Wu depart, the smile on Li Ye's face gradually faded, replaced by a heavy heart.
He was now certain that this case was the work of a demonic beast, though the specific type remained to be investigated.
This was indeed quite troublesome.
Just as he was feeling stumped, a sudden idea flashed through his mind. He hurried into the Hall of Strict Justice.
"Lord Shadowblade."
"Good morning, my lord."
...
It was breakfast time, and the hall was bustling with activity. Those who were more familiar with Li Ye greeted him politely, to which he responded with a slight nod.
"The Archives... this is the place."
Li Ye murmured to himself as he stood before an imposing, ornately carved two-story pavilion.
Shortly after his arrival, he had learned from Xu Zhengfeng that the Archives housed a vast collection of texts and records, preserved for centuries without decay. Nearly every demonic beast handled by the Hall of Strict Justice had files stored here, along with records of some rare and unusual creatures.
Having served for just over a month, this was his first time visiting the Archives.
Creak.
The heavy, dull door swung open. Contrary to his expectations, the Archives were not spacious and bright but instead pitch-dark, without a trace of light. Shelves several meters high stood everywhere, each layer densely packed with books.
Clearly, the Archives had been unattended for a long time. Thick dust danced wildly in the light streaming through the doorway, and the air was filled with the strong scent of old books mixed with the choking smell of dust.
Muttering an incantation under his breath, Li Ye rubbed his finger over his ring. Moments later, a night-pearl the size of a chicken egg materialized in his palm, emitting a clear, white glow that provided just enough light to see by.
This ring was a small spatial storage device, entirely black and engraved with ancient, mysterious patterns that faintly shimmered with an unusual light.
There were two identical rings—one worn on his hand, the other in Chu Qingyi's possession.
Apart from its immense intrinsic value, this was also a wedding gift from his master, Chu Xiongzhi, to the couple, symbolizing their eternal love and companionship—a token of profound significance.
This luminous pearl was something he had fortuitously obtained a few days prior and casually tossed into his spatial storage device, never expecting it to come in handy at this moment.
Holding the luminous pearl, he walked deeper into the archives, his firm, resonant footsteps echoing through the hall.
"Ghost-type demonic beasts, animal-type demonic beasts, ethereal-type demonic beasts, and the unknown..."
He moved along rows of bookshelves, each marked with bold, charcoal-black characters indicating the types of demonic beasts recorded there.
Beyond their hierarchical ranks, demonic beasts were also categorized by type. The most common were animal-type demonic beasts—creatures that had cultivated into demons or manifested in animal forms.
Ghost-type demonic beasts were the souls of the deceased, neither ascending to heaven nor descending to hell, wandering the mortal realm until, over time, they cultivated into demons.
Ethereal-type demonic beasts were the rarest, lacking concrete forms and appearing as elusive as mist and clouds—truly here one moment and gone the next.
Additionally, there were demonic beasts unknown to the secular world, not fitting into any of the above categories, hence classified as "the unknown.""
Li Ye couldn't help but marvel inwardly. Had he not come here, he would never have known there were so many types of demonic beasts.
"Enchanting Serpent: capable of subduing hundreds of ghosts and spirits, forcing them to reveal their forms. Measures seven to eight zhang in length, specializes in bewitchment, can conceal its form, feeds on vital energy. Avoid if encountered..."
Casually flipping open a scroll on animal-type beasts, he was met with the vivid image of a fierce, menacing serpent—triangular eyes gleaming with malice, a slender forked tongue flicking out, so lifelike it seemed ready to leap from the page.
"But how does such a terrifying appearance manage to bewitch people's minds... I don't get it, I just don't get it," Li Ye muttered to himself as he browsed through the texts.
The archives were dim and gloomy, making it impossible to sense the passage of time outside.
"Found it!"
After what felt like an eternity, an exclamation echoed through the archives, stirring ripples of sound.
"Yuan-Devouring Beast: Feeds on the masculine vitality of men. Its emitted aura induces lust, clouding the mind and igniting desires for intercourse, like thunder meeting fire—unstoppable once ignited. It can also attach itself to human bodies, concealing its form. Highly peculiar—exercise caution."
This was it!
Li Ye's heart surged with elation. The characteristics of the Yuan-Devouring Beast described in the book perfectly matched the victims' frenzied copulation and fatal exhaustion of vitality. His arduous search had not been in vain.
He stretched, rubbed his sore neck, and stood up to leave.
Pushing the door open, he realized the sky had already darkened—he had spent several hours inside the archives.
This was perfect. It was time to undertake some significant tasks under the cover of night.
Straightening his robes, Li Ye headed west toward the Cui Xian Pavilion.
As the name suggested, the Cui Xian Pavilion was a place of pleasure—the largest and most extravagant brothel in Jinling City.
The entire structure was exquisitely carved and adorned, located in the bustling city center. It consisted of two floors: the first was a grand hall with singing and dancing stages for courtesans to showcase their talents, while the spacious area served as a venue for the women, under the madam's direction, to charm and attract patrons.
In the center of the main hall stood a staircase wide enough for four or five people to pass through at once. On either side, it led to private rooms on the second floor. Along the mid-landing hung a row of red wooden plaques, each inscribed with the stage names of the courtesans—names like Jade, Peony, and Rouge, mostly assigned by the madam after the girls entered the brothel.
To enjoy a night of pleasure in the upstairs rooms, patrons first had to select a plaque from the landing, after which the corresponding courtesan would escort them to their chamber.
Every evening, the Cuixian Lou was ablaze with lights and bustling with activity. Inside and out, the air was thick with the delicate, coquettish voices of the women and the boisterous shouts of customers drinking.
The reason Cuixian Lou reigned as the unrivaled top brothel in Jinling City was its exceptionally beautiful courtesans. With cherry-red lips and slender willow-like waists, they moved with an enchanting sway, their eyes sparkling like spring waters. Every smile and glance captivated the soul, leaving men who sought them out utterly spellbound.
Li Ye, hurrying to the scene, hadn't even caught sight of Cuixian Lou's facade when, from a distance, he heard the playful, teasing laughter of the women and caught the heavy scent of rouge and powder wafting through the air—so strong it made his head spin.
As he rounded the corner of the street, a two-story ornate building came into view. Decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, pink silk curtains fluttered overhead. Crowds of pedestrians lingered here, almost all of them men.
Standing at the entrance were several women dressed in revealing, alluring attire. With light laughter, their delicate bodies trembled slightly as they boldly cast flirtatious glances at the men around them, openly teasing and enticing. Those watching below stared, mesmerized, as if their souls had been hooked, and they drifted almost involuntarily toward the brothel.
"You wretched scoundrel! How dare you sneak off to this den of vice behind my back!"
A loud shout suddenly erupted from the crowd as a stout, burly middle-aged woman charged forward, rolling up her sleeves and cursing furiously.
At the sight, the onlookers quickly stepped aside, clearing a path for her.
"I work myself to the bone at home, looking after the children, and here you are, squandering my hard-earned money in this wretched place for your own pleasure!" The woman grabbed one middle-aged man by the ear while planting her other hand on her hip—as thick as a barrel—and unleashed a torrent of abuse. Her furious expression made her resemble nothing less than an enraged tigress.
Her spit flew in all directions, spraying wildly through the air. Those standing nearby hastily retreated a few steps, afraid of being splattered.
"Ouch, ouch! My dear, I was just looking, just looking! In my heart, no other woman can compare to your flower-like beauty!" The man, his ear firmly in her grip, hurriedly pleaded for mercy, terrified that this tigress might escalate her fury.
"Pfft! What kind of flower is that sturdy? Looks more like a man-eating plant to me!"
A mocking voice, its source unclear, rose from the crowd, sparking a wave of laughter.
"What's so funny?! Which bastard is spouting nonsense? Step forward if you dare! I'll break your legs!" The woman, fearless and fierce, momentarily forgot about disciplining her husband. With hands on her hips, she glared around at the crowd, her eyes blazing with rage.
Fearing they might be wrongly implicated, the onlookers quickly averted their eyes and scattered, pretending nothing had happened.
The woman then grabbed the man by the ear again, scolding him all the way as she dragged him back home.
"That woman is absolutely terrifying..." Li Ye muttered under his breath, watching her retreating figure with lingering fear.
Just imagining the man's position in his own household sent chills down Li Ye's spine. Thankfully, his Qingyi Fairy was both breathtakingly beautiful and understanding.
The brief incident at the entrance of Cuixian Tower was soon forgotten by Li Ye. He straightened his clothes and swaggered into the establishment with an air of nonchalance.
"My, what young master is this? So strikingly handsome—even an old woman like me can't help but feel a flutter in her heart," cooed a slightly plump woman, her face heavily made up yet unable to conceal the marks of time. Crow's feet at the corners of her eyes and yellowish spots around her nostrils betrayed her true age.
Without a doubt, this was the brothel's madam.
She swayed her hips as she approached Li Ye, a round fan painted with the "Scene of Women's Joy" fluttering in her right hand. A thick wave of rouge and powder followed her.
The overpowering scent made Li Ye's head spin, and he instinctively took a few steps back.
"Oh dear, it seems the young master isn't fond of my type. How heartbreaking, boo-hoo," the madam said, noticing his retreat. She stopped in her tracks, covering her face with the fan and pretending to weep.
"I—"
"Yuanyuan, come quickly and attend to this young master!"
Before Li Ye could respond, the madam's demeanor shifted instantly. Beaming with delight, she called out toward the private rooms on the second floor.
"Coming~"
A delicate, coquettish voice answered from upstairs. A seductively dressed woman, her eyes brimming with flirtation, swayed her hips exaggeratedly as she descended the staircase, gently waving her fan.
"If it isn't Young Master Li! You left without showing me any affection yesterday—I've been missing you terribly..." Yuanyuan purred as she drew closer to Li Ye. Her provocative eyes, glistening with desire, fixed on him intently.
"Oh, it's you, Miss Yuanyuan. What a... coincidence," Li Ye stammered, a shiver running down his spine as he recalled how eagerly she had groped him the day before.
"It seems the young master hasn't forgotten me either, since you keep coming back to see me..." Yuanyuan pretended to lose her balance, leaning forward until her entire body pressed against Li Ye's chest. Her fingertips traced circles over his heart, her gaze tender yet filled with a hunger to devour him whole.
Her gentle touch seemed to possess a magical quality, piercing through his robes and sending tingling sensations across his chest. Li Ye quickly seized her restless hand and urged, "Miss Yuanyuan, let's continue this in your room."
With that, he pulled her along and hurried up the stairs.
A playful giggle followed them from behind. "Who would have thought the shy and reserved Young Master Li from yesterday would be so impatient today? Don't worry, Yuanyuan will take good care of you later."
Locked in their mutual tug-of-war, the two ascended the stairs and entered Yuanyuan's private chamber.
As soon as they entered the door, Yuan'er pressed Li Ye against the wall with an almost domineering air. Her soft, supple body pressed tightly against his, burying her head in the crook of his neck. She extended her moist, agile tongue to lightly lick his neck, while raising her delicate leg to skillfully rub against the bulge between his thighs. Her intentions were unmistakably provocative.
The dual stimulation sent a buzzing through Li Ye's mind. His manhood abruptly stiffened, and a fire seemed to ignite in his lower abdomen, setting his entire being ablaze with desire that gradually spread from between his legs to his whole body.
"Yuan... Yuan'er, miss..." Li Ye's handsome face flushed crimson, and he panted slightly.
"Shh, don't speak. Just enjoy it," Yuan'er placed her index finger on Li Ye's lips, signaling for silence. Her flirtatious words were like an aphrodisiac, utterly enchanting.
Feeling the prominent bulge in his trousers, she let out a triumphant chuckle and replaced her leg with her small hand, reaching down to firmly grasp his erection.
"This cannot be..." Li Ye jolted as if struck by electricity, his consciousness instantly clearing. He abruptly pushed Yuan'er away.
The fragile Yuan'er couldn't withstand such a push. With a gasp of surprise, she stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
"I was only... only trying to make you comfortable, young master... Why... why do you treat me like this..." Tears welled up in her eyes as she hid her face behind her sleeve, leaving only her tearful gaze visible. She looked pitifully at Li Ye, a sight that could melt anyone's heart.
"Miss Yuan'er, I acted rashly in the heat of the moment just now. I didn't mean to offend you. I am already married and deeply in love with my wife. Moreover, I came here on important business and absolutely cannot... cannot engage in such improper acts with you." Li Ye, feeling entirely guilty, hurriedly helped Yuan'er up from the ground. His handsome face flushed red with remorse as he repeatedly explained.
What an innocent man, Yuan'er thought to herself. Her dark, grape-like eyes darted around, and a plan quickly formed in her mind.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, pretending to lose her footing, and fell backward once again.
This time, however, her arms tightly wrapped around Li Ye's neck, pulling him down with her.
"Are you alright, miss?" At the critical moment, Li Ye chivalrously twisted his body, placing Yuan'er on top of him as he took the brunt of the fall. Yuan'er in his arms remained unharmed.
So considerate... Yuan'er stared dreamily at his face, feeling a twinge of envy for his wife.
But she quickly snapped out of it. Women like her, who lived in the world of pleasure, should never develop feelings for men.
Yet she had to admit that among the men she had entertained, most were lecherous and repulsive. A man as pure and considerate as Li Ye was as rare as a phoenix feather or a unicorn horn.
Such a rare treasure... How could I let him slip through my fingers when he's right in front of me?
A sly smile crept onto her face as she pressed her lips forcefully against Li Ye's.
"...Mmm..." Caught off guard, Li Ye struggled, but before he could defend himself, a nimble, fragrant tongue slipped into his mouth.
Just as he was about to resist, Yuan'er's tongue retreated like a slick little snake, and the warmth of her lips vanished without a trace.
When he opened his eyes, he found Yuan'er gazing at him intently, a playful smile gracing her lips.