Everyone saw me come here with you, and yet you are flirting with a dancer right in front of me!
Where do you place me?!
At that moment, I felt utterly humiliated, a feeling so intense that it overwhelmed me, making me feel neither sadness nor grief. I was seething with anger when I suddenly heard a woman's voice say, "This young master is truly eloquent..."
Her voice was soft and sweet; it was obvious it was Hua Ye.
I looked up at the stage and saw her gazing at Xiao Zuo with her eyes that seemed to drip with water, and softly asking, "May I ask how you should address me, young master?"
"My name is Meng Fei, also known as the 'Qingfeng Swordsman'!"
Cough cough, what? He actually claims to be Meng Fei, the unparalleled number one swordsman of the Huashan Sect!
I turned my head in surprise, only to see Xiao Zuo looking around at everyone with arrogance, deliberately speaking in a nonchalant tone: "I became famous at a young age, and I believe that most of you who have traveled the martial world have heard of this name."
Although none of the guests sitting around the stage responded, it was easy to tell from their expressions that they had all heard of the Qingfeng Swordsman's reputation. In particular, several men who had previously resented him for stealing their thunder now quietly lowered their heads, no longer daring to cast provocative glances at him.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Zuo's smile grew even more smug; he was practically treating himself like Meng Fei!
Look at his self-satisfied expression! I stared at him in disbelief: Good heavens, there really are people in the world who lie without blushing... Well, in terms of fame, the titles "Qingfeng Swordsman" and "Number One Spendthrift in the World" are really hard to distinguish!
The thought almost made me burst out laughing, but I managed to hold it in when I heard Hua Ye exclaim in surprise, "So it's Young Hero Meng!"
She raised her beautiful eyes, her expression one of great surprise: "I have long admired the name of the Swordsman Qingfeng, but I never imagined I would actually have the chance to meet him today..."
She lowered her chin hesitantly, her pretty face flushed, displaying the innocent look of a young girl meeting her hero. After a long while, she said in a sweet voice, "Although I am a courtesan, I have no great longing for the chivalrous world of martial arts. I wonder... if Young Master Meng would be willing to move to the villa so that we can talk about our experiences in the martial arts world all night long?"
Upon hearing this, the guests couldn't help but show expressions of great disappointment. Some even sighed and immediately paid their bills and left.
On the way to Zuiyan Tower, Xiao Zuo had already told me that Hua Ye, as the top of the three most famous courtesans in the world, not only rarely performs, but also only one lucky person can become her intimate guest after each performance.
Therefore, while the reason these people gathered together tonight was certainly to enjoy the dance performances, their main purpose was probably to stand out from the crowd and become one of the lucky few.
However, tonight's lucky winner will obviously not be them.
"To have caught Miss Hua Ye's eye is truly an honor for me..." Xiao Zuo's face was full of smiles, but there seemed to be a sharp edge flashing in his eyes. He said lightly, "However, I am just a name without substance, and I am afraid I will disappoint you."
Not bad, not bad, isn't he just "all talk and no action"? I was secretly laughing so hard I almost burst out laughing—if Hua Ye found out that his one-in-a-hundred guest wasn't Qingfeng Swordsman at all, but the number one spendthrift in the world, he would be so disappointed he'd probably kill himself!
However, judging from Xiao Zuo's expression, it seems that it is not just a simple prank. What tricks is he planning to play?
Just then, Hua Ye laughed and said, "Young Master Meng is too modest..."
As she spoke, she raised her wrist, revealing half of her slender arm beneath a pale pink water sleeve, and pointed backstage, whispering, "Please—"
With the situation hopeless, many guests sighed in disappointment. Suddenly, Xiao Zuo lowered his head and whispered to me, "You should go back to the inn first."
His tone was extremely serious, and I nodded involuntarily. He then smiled at me before turning away.
As I watched his retreating figure, a very ominous premonition welled up inside me, as if something terrible was about to happen.
Volume 1, Chapter 7: A Startling Dream in Crane City (2)
Section Two: Nightmare
Not long after Xiao Zuo and Gong Feicui left, a person came to the inn's entrance, staggered to the counter, fell to the ground, and shouted loudly, "Hua Ye... Hua Ye..."
The innkeeper stamped his foot and yelled, "You little brat, you're drunk again! Hurry up and carry the young master back to his room!" Several waiters rushed forward to help him up, half-dragging, half-lifting him away. All the while, he kept shouting, "Miss Hua Ye, I've come to see you! I want to see you..."
Upon seeing this, Baili Chenfeng suddenly beckoned the innkeeper over and asked, "Who is he talking about?"
The innkeeper said with a forced smile, "My son is drunk and has disturbed your peace. I'm truly sorry..."
Baili Chenfeng interrupted him: "He's talking about Hua Ye? Did I hear that right?"
I glanced at him. What, was he also interested in this beauty, the most famous of the three great courtesans in the world?
The innkeeper winked and chuckled, "Who else could it be but Hua Ye? She arrived in Hecheng this morning, and she really shook up all the big shots here. She's at Zuiyan Tower now. If you're interested, you can go and see her, but the entrance fee isn't cheap—it'll cost twenty taels of silver..."
Baili Chenfeng frowned slightly, said nothing more, and waved for the boss to leave.
"Miss Hua Ye is stunningly beautiful. Since we have such an opportunity, why not go and witness the charm of this famous courtesan?" I kindly suggested, but he gave me a cold look in return. He answered "no" stiffly and got up to go upstairs to his guest room.
Xiao Zuo offended him, yet he took his anger out on me. How utterly boring. I pursed my lips and looked out the window. The streetlights were just coming on, and the stalls on both sides of the street had already closed up and gone home, making the place seem much quieter. A person strolled slowly down the long street, a plain white robe fluttering in the wind, carrying a red lantern in her hand, which cast a pale pink hue on her robe, making her appear even more beautiful.
The moment this man appeared, he attracted everyone's attention, but he seemed oblivious, strolling leisurely along. Suddenly, he stopped and looked up at the sky, and everyone else followed suit, looking up at the sky as well. No one could discern what was in the sky. After a long while, he finally lowered his head, sighed deeply, and said, "Parting has always been painful, especially on this desolate autumn night. Where will I be when I wake up tonight? On the willow-lined bank, in the dawn breeze and under the waning moon..." As he spoke, he picked up his lantern and walked away into the distance.
There are indeed many bored people in the world.
However, his words piqued my interest in exploring Hecheng at night, so I got up and went out through the back door.
The moon was bright and the stars were few; this spring night couldn't be more delightful. A small river flowed gently, and willows lined its banks. As one walked further, the number of pedestrians dwindled, and from the quiet places, a soft, low flute melody drifted up, lingering in the air as if it were nothing.
Well played! I followed the sound of the flute and, after crossing a stone bridge, saw a lantern stuck in a willow tree by the river, its reflection shimmering red in the water below.
That lantern looks familiar. I took a few more steps in that direction and then I saw a child sitting cross-legged on the rocks on the other side, a silver flute in his hand gleaming in the moonlight. Behind him, a man in white robes with long hair stood with his hands behind his back, listening to the flute music with his eyes closed. His long eyelashes cast a shadow on his smooth face. It turns out that men can also be born with such natural beauty.
It was him! The man carrying a lantern who walked past outside the inn.