Chapter 8: Do You Need to Pay for Something Like This?
Confidence!
Unparalleled confidence!
In his younger days, Commander Liu had traveled the capital and seen many heaven's chosen ones, but this was the first time he'd seen a young person as confident as Chen Xuan.
Did this young man not know how to write the word "reverence"?
Master Feng simply shut his mouth. Though he liked to run his mouth, that was only against the weak. But neither the Liyang Gate nor this young man before him were anyone he could afford to offend. Silence was the best choice.
Only Zhao Youqian clapped in praise: "Brother Chen has such spirit! Truly worthy of being the eldest brother of the Wushang Sword Sect's Sword Keeper lineage. You have the bearing of an imperial lineage immortal gate's heir. Since the matter is resolved, tonight I'll treat everyone to the Mianyue Tower for composing poetry and appreciating the arts."
The Mianyue Tower was Dongyang Prefecture's largest and most famous entertainment establishment. Inside were not only pure-artists who sold only their talents, but also proper seductive creatures like fox spirits and female ghosts who only sold their bodies without harming anyone.
One could say the Mianyue Tower was Dongyang Prefecture's greatest money-pit, a paradise for men.
Chen Xuan said calmly: "That won't be necessary."
Zhao Youqian smiled: "Brother Chen, you practice sword every day at the Sword Tomb - that's not good for your health. Proper balance of yin and yang will give you more insights in cultivation."
The three beside them nodded in agreement, showing the look of regret at meeting too late. This Zhao Youqian was indeed a fascinating person - why hadn't they discovered this before?
"You misunderstand."
Chen Xuan said seriously: "I mean, does going to the Mianyue Tower even require spending money? Don't the young ladies inside pay you instead?"
At these words, the deck instantly fell silent.
Everyone looked at Chen Xuan's incomparably handsome face and transcendent temperament, unable to think of a single rebuttal. It was too heartbreaking!
"Brother Chen, say no more. I shouldn't have mentioned this in front of you."
Zhao Youqian suddenly felt his mood sour considerably. He needed to enter sage mode to calm down.
Chen Xuan smiled as he patted Zhao Youqian's shoulder: "Brother Zhao, I won't steal your spotlight. Remember to have them deliver the task reward to the Wushang Sword Sect tomorrow."
"Alright then."
Zhao Youqian said with regret, turning to address everyone: "Tonight's expenses at the Mianyue Tower are on Young Master Zhao. Who else isn't coming?"
The three exchanged glances, all showing excited smiles as they spoke in unison: "Since Young Master Zhao so graciously invites, how could we refuse?"
"Good, let's go."
With that, the group left the Red Pavilion and rode the patrol boat back to Dongyang Prefecture. After they departed, that Red Pavilion slowly sailed upstream, disappearing into the night.
Early summer night, bright moon with few stars.
It was dozens of li from Dongyang Prefecture to the Wushang Sword Sect. Chen Xuan leisurely walked home along a small path, occasionally admiring the scenery.
He walked a small road surrounded by dense forest, with basically no people in sight, only occasionally hearing insect calls.
After all, this path only led to the Wushang Sword Sect. Who would wander up the mountain in the middle of the night for no reason? If they encountered an evil spirit or ghost by chance, that would be the end of them.
Of course, Wushang Sword Sect cultivators were an exception.
Walking deep into the tall grass, Chen Xuan suddenly felt something was wrong.
Birds were startled from the dense forest. Though some birds were active at night, these birds were clearly frightened.
It seemed uninvited guests had come to this forest. Because this dense forest had once been where the Wushang Sword Sect laid formations, and as the sect declined, the formations fell into ruin.
But one couldn't let others snore beside one's bed. The Wushang Sword Sect still regularly sent disciples to clear out emerging spirits or intruding evil creatures from this forest.
"I wonder what's wandered into this woods?"
Chen Xuan gripped his longsword and slowly walked in the direction the birds had flown from.
It wasn't that he wanted to meddle, but this path led to the Ask Sword Pavilion at the end. He'd encounter them sooner or later - better to act early.
After walking just a few steps, he heard rustling sounds. They were here!
Chen Xuan placed his hand on the sword hilt, ready to strike at any moment.
Crash!
Suddenly, a white figure floated down from the air and leaned against a tree. In the moonlight, a flawless face came into Chen Xuan's view.
A fairy descended to earth.
Even as a university graduate, this was the only phrase that came to Chen Xuan's mind to describe this white-robed woman who had suddenly appeared.
She seemed injured. As soon as she sat down, she took out a porcelain bottle, opened it, and swallowed a pill. Only then did she look at Chen Xuan with confusion.
Just then, a sinister laugh came from the darkness: "Heh heh heh, Fairy Yunmeng, you can't escape. You've been hit with my Joyous Union Sect's Dragon-Overturning Phoenix Powder. Within twelve hours, you'll feel your whole body burning, and you won't be able to use your cultivation.
Today, I, Chu Shaofeng, will experience the pleasures of the Wangqing Palace's true disciple. Let's see whether your Wangqing Palace's Supreme Forgetfulness is more powerful, or my Joyous Union Sect's Joyous Great Method is superior."
As the words fell, a figure landed not far from Chen Xuan's side.
Chen Xuan subconsciously glanced at the person. He saw a scholar's attire - white robe, green hat, particularly eye-catching, holding a jade flute.
Beneath the green hat was a handsome, dashing face - its level of handsomeness only slightly inferior to his own.
Chu Shaofeng also sized up Chen Xuan. He had no trace of cultivation - just a mortal. The only thing that displeased him was that this fellow was handsomer than him. He had to kill him!
"Kid, are you Fairy Yunmeng's lover, or trying to play the hero?"
"Don't misunderstand. I'm just passing through. If nothing else, you continue - I'm going home."
Chen Xuan turned to leave. He hadn't thought about playing hero at all - too dangerous. Besides, this Chu Shaofeng was clearly an evil cultivator. He didn't want trouble.
That white-robed woman was beautiful, but she wasn't his wife. Whether she lived or died had nothing to do with him.
Fairy Yunmeng hadn't spoken from beginning to end. The moment she landed, she could see this handsome youth was a mortal without cultivation. She held no hope for him at all.
The Joyous Union Sect's Chu Shaofeng had Heavenly Essence peak cultivation, his strength equal to hers. Even without the drug, subduing him would take considerable effort.
Chu Shaofeng paused. He had thought Chen Xuan was some chivalrous young hero of the martial world - otherwise why would he casually carry a sword with his hand on the hilt?
He couldn't immediately find an excuse to kill this kid. But evil cultivators didn't need excuses to kill: "Stop!"
Chen Xuan halted: "Is there something else?"
"Kid, how do I know you won't spread today's events? Only the dead can keep secrets." Chu Shaofeng didn't give Chen Xuan a chance to explain. He raised his jade flute and began to play.
As the music played, Chen Xuan's surroundings underwent a complete transformation. The dense forest became a hell of fallen souls, the ground beneath his feet became a sea of blood.
Fairy Yunmeng's appearance became a pink skeleton, and Chu Shaofeng transformed into a demon shrouded in demonic qi. Just looking at him was terrifying.
Chen Xuan didn't move, just quietly watched Chu Shaofeng perform.
The next second, he felt the earth shake. Countless evil ghosts crawled from underground, crawling toward him.
Seeing Chen Xuan unmoving with no fear on his face, Chu Shaofeng showed a mocking smile and continued playing.
This time, Chen Xuan acted. He casually drew the sword from his hand.
Clang!
Chen Xuan casually swung. A sword strike slashed toward Chu Shaofeng.
Disdain!
Chu Shaofeng's eyes showed thick disdain. A mere mortal daring to swing his sword at him - courting death.
The thought had just flashed when Chu Shaofeng saw a sword light before his eyes. The music abruptly stopped. What was happening?
Why was the flute broken?
No, it wasn't just the flute that was broken. His body was also split open. How was this possible? He was clearly just a mortal - why couldn't he take a single sword strike? Chu Shaofeng looked at this young man in shock. In his dying moments, he faintly heard one last sentence.
"Isn't living good enough?"