Chapter Seventy-Three: A Fortune Cast for the Fairy
Wei Juan was actually an elder of the Venom Manor!
It seemed she was the most formidable person in the entire Spring Rain Pavilion.
Qu Yiqiu gazed at Wei Juan, who was laughing and bantering with the guests below, and her eyes inadvertently swept over Jiang Shuangyan’s face.
This person, disguised as a man, was sitting right behind Wei Juan, staring intently at her.
Qu Yiqiu was startled.
Before she had time to ponder why Jiang Shuangyan was here, she caught sight of He Yuman, also in male attire, standing by the window lattice in a private room opposite, her gaze fixed on Jiang Shuangyan below.
Jiang Shuangyan seemed completely unaware.
On the high platform, the music of the ancient zither began, and graceful female cultivators took the stage to dance, immediately captivating all the guests.
Composed beneath her veil, Qu Yiqiu, flanked by Jin Yiqiu and another companion, made her way backstage.
Behind the crimson drapes, Qu Yiqiu quietly lifted a corner, scanning the main hall.
The guests in the private rooms emerged, drawn by the music. Jiang Shuangyan, still disguised, suddenly vanished into the crowd.
Her confidant, Fei Zhongda, slipped into her place.
He Yuman soon exited her room as well, circling around to the back door, her destination unknown.
Then, at the half-opened door of the private room, there appeared once more those opulent, luxuriously jeweled boots of sharkskin.
Qu Yiqiu quickly averted her gaze, already certain of the person’s identity.
Young Lord Tang was none other than Huo Tangsheng!
The disciples of Wuhui Peak had arrived—were they planning to act ahead of schedule?
Thinking this, Qu Yiqiu glanced again at Fei Zhongda, who was posing as a guest.
Clearly, people from the Dailuo Peak lineage were here as well.
Tonight was bound to be lively.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile played at Qu Yiqiu’s lips.
Though she didn’t know the real reason Wuhui Peak had decided to act early, judging by He Yuman tailing Jiang Shuangyan, it was likely both sides were competing for the credit of destroying Spring Rain Pavilion.
This would be interesting.
The zither’s notes intoxicated the soul, and the dancers’ movements flowed like drifting clouds, drawing all eyes to the high platform.
A pure white sacred lotus descended from the ceiling, each petal unfurling to reveal a graceful woman at its heart.
With a light tap of her toe, Qu Yiqiu soared from the center of the lotus, catching the ribbons and swaying elegantly. Her skirts fluttered, her silhouette enchanting, stirring countless hearts.
Unable to restrain themselves, many rose abruptly, their burning gazes tangled in her figure, mouths watering, swallowing audibly.
Qu Yiqiu leaped into the air atop the colored ribbons. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting her veil and sending it drifting into Huo Tangsheng’s hand.
Her features were pure, her crimson dress incomparable among the beauties, her gaze alluring, stealing souls with a glance.
Sighs and gasps rippled through the crowd.
Huo Tangsheng held the veil, smiling as he watched her.
“I am willing to pay three million mid-grade spirit stones for a night with Fairy Yiqiu,” he announced.
A fresh wave of exclamations rang out.
“Three million mid-grade spirit stones? Is he insane?”
“Where did this man come from, throwing money around like that?”
“I’ve been at Spring Rain Pavilion for so long, but never heard of the courtesan queen fetching three million a night!”
“This Fairy Yiqiu truly stands apart—graceful as an immortal, far more alluring than those coquettish demonesses!”
“Tsk tsk, I swear she’s even more beautiful tonight than when she paraded the streets by day. Worth every moment!”
Behind the pink drapes, Jin Yiqiu gritted her teeth at the chatter.
All this glory should have been hers!
Just a pretender—she might fool everyone tonight, but not forever!
Her eyes reddened as she glared at Huo Tangsheng. Three million mid-grade spirit stones!
It was the price she had negotiated in the Elegant Room! Now, it would go to an impostor for nothing!
Bai Shulan could hardly believe her ears.
The flower queen’s company for one night was worth three million?
She’d thought Jin Yiqiu’s usual price of ten thousand low-grade spirit stones per guest was already extravagant.
Who could have foreseen such an outrageous offer tonight?
She couldn’t help stealing another glance at the young man.
Qu Yiqiu landed lightly beside Huo Tangsheng, her eyes full of charm, her voice soft as silk: “If Madam agrees, tonight I am yours.”
With that, she feigned shyness, lowering her head and, escorted by her maids, returned to her elegant chamber.
“Don’t go! I haven’t had my fill yet!” someone shouted.
“Fairy Yiqiu, let us see you just once more!”
“Madam Wei, your flower queen leaves too quickly. With Fairy Yiqiu this stunning tonight, why not let us gaze a while longer?”
Wei Juan covered her mouth and laughed, her sagging cheeks trembling with mirth.
“All right, all right. If any of you can match even half of Young Lord Tang’s offer, I’ll have Fairy Yiqiu brought back for you to admire!”
“Forget it, none of us have that kind of wealth! Let him enjoy his prize—just don’t lose all your cultivation in the process, ha!”
Soon, the crowd declined her offer.
Wei Juan was unfazed—three million mid-grade spirit stones was an astronomical sum.
Such wealthy patrons were rare indeed.
She chuckled, “Such interesting guests! Our Spring Rain Pavilion has many fairies to choose from. No need to fixate on just one!”
“Hahaha, Madam Wei, bring them all out! We can hardly wait!”
Wei Juan laughed, “At once, at once!”
Jin Yiqiu and Bai Shulan followed Qu Yiqiu back to the Elegant Room, forced to wait outside the door as maids.
Qu Yiqiu sat by the bed, speaking with the Gold Ghost King.
“Did you pour all the Paralysis Powder I gave you into the wine barrels?”
A cloud of black mist slowly coalesced into the ghostly figure, who replied respectfully, “Mistress, I followed your orders and emptied all the powder in. No one noticed.”
Qu Yiqiu smiled. “Did you find the location of the dungeon?”
Timid, the Gold Ghost King answered, “Yes, and it’s just as you suspected. Two golden core cultivators are lurking nearby. They’re not Spring Rain Pavilion’s people—no one can get close.”
Qu Yiqiu nodded, satisfied. “Well done. Once chaos erupts inside Spring Rain Pavilion, those two golden core cultivators will have to make a move.”
“Mistress, I also noticed others secretly watching the dungeon,” the Gold Ghost King said.
Qu Yiqiu smiled. “It’s fine. I know who they are. There are three golden core cultivators here—they can deal with them.”
Three golden core cultivators?
The Gold Ghost King looked at her in confusion, inwardly awed by her keen perception.
In such a short time, she had grasped the full power of Spring Rain Pavilion.
Were it not for his ghostly form, perfect for hiding, he might not have discovered those shadowy figures himself.
After her questions, Qu Yiqiu put the Gold Ghost King back into the Soul Suppression Banner.
She rose from the bed, took out Jin Yiqiu’s Paralysis Powder, and poured it into a teacup.
Watching the poison dissolve in the cup, she frowned with concern.
The three golden-skinned puppets Huo Tangsheng commanded could slay even Nascent Soul cultivators—just a little powder might not escape his notice.
If he retained even a breath of resistance, she could be killed instantly by the puppets.
For safety’s sake, she would have to find a way to subdue Huo Tangsheng completely!