Chapter Seventy-One: Zhu Sisi… (Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival)

The surrounding girls wore expressions of disbelief; some watched with amusement, others covered their mouths, stifling laughter. Bamboo Sisi, upon hearing the words, paused slightly in her graceful movement with the palace fan, a flicker of malice passing through her eyes.

When she regained her composure, her face was still adorned with a gentle smile, both coy and teasing as she replied, “Master Xu, you jest. With so many delicate blooms around, you ignore them all, yet I, with mere willow-like charms, how could I possibly catch your discerning eye?”

“Do I look as though I’m joking?” Xu Boqing replied, his face stern. “I know the world frowns upon such peculiar tastes, but from the moment I first saw you, madam, your allure captivated me.”

He paused, feigning a lovesick fool, and asked, “Would you be willing to lower yourself for me?”

The smile on Bamboo Sisi’s lips froze, and she said, “There are sisters in this Siqing Pavilion more mature than I, their charm far surpassing mine. If Master Xu desires, I can help you choose…”

“No, no, madam, you misunderstand me…” Xu Boqing shook his head, speaking with utmost seriousness. “I do prefer maturity, and I admire others, but the one I like most is your unique charm, which none other possesses.”

A burst of laughter erupted from the girls nearby. Seeing their mistress’s discomfort, some could not help but laugh aloud until they caught her glare and restrained themselves.

“Madam, will you accept me or not? Give me a clear answer,” Xu Boqing said with some impatience. “If you accept, we’ll be dew-and-water companions for a night, and I promise not to linger after. If you refuse, then please dismiss your girls and do not obstruct my path. Let us part amicably.”

“Master, calm yourself…” Bamboo Sisi glanced at the gathering crowd, even some patrons drawn by the spectacle. Her vanished smile returned, and as she covered her mouth with her palace fan in a laugh, her crimson lips blew gently upon its surface before she playfully waved it at Xu Boqing.

“For one such as myself to earn your favor, Master, is a fortune cultivated over three lifetimes; how could I refuse?”

Xu Boqing, upon realizing he had stumbled into a “Spider’s Den,” had been using his “Celestial Sight.” He clearly saw Bamboo Sisi breathe an invisible mist onto the palace fan, and as she waved it, the mist seemed almost sentient, slipping entirely into his body.

His consciousness blurred for a brief instant. In that moment, he felt himself losing control, while the enchantress before him transformed into the most important person in his life. Yet it was but a fleeting lapse.

As the furnace flames within him surged, the mist was instantly burned to ashes! He regained his senses.

Yet although Xu Boqing returned to himself, he made no outward sign, pretending instead to be dazed, as if under the mist’s influence.

“Master Xu~~” Bamboo Sisi, seeing his vacant expression, smiled softly and called out, “Master Xu, do you still wish for my company?”

Xu Boqing, “dazed,” nodded, muttering, “I want… want… I dream of it…”

Bamboo Sisi’s cheek twitched. The crowd grew larger, some shouting provocatively, “Is the madam finally taking a lover?” “Madam, marry him!” “This lad is truly passionate!” and similar remarks.

Though she still wore a smiling face, her eyes glinted with malice as she gritted her teeth and said to Xu Boqing, “Master, please follow me. I shall serve you well.”

Xu Boqing nodded vacantly and, seeing her lead the way, thought for a moment before following her up to the second floor of Siqing Pavilion.

Just then, a door to a private room upstairs opened, and out stepped a dissolute, drunken old man. He sported a large, ruddy nose, a wine gourd at his waist, a cup in hand, and lipstick marks still visible on his neck. His steps were unsteady, clearly fresh from a night of debauchery.

The old man, seeing Bamboo Sisi escorting a dazed youth upstairs, flashed a fierce look through his drunken gaze and blocked her path, hiccuping as he spoke, “You… you are… hic… the madam?”

Bamboo Sisi frowned slightly at the drunk and nodded with a professional smile, “I am indeed the madam of Siqing Pavilion. What may I do for you, esteemed guest?”

“Do… do for me…” The old man wrinkled his nose, grinning drunkenly and pointing at himself. “Madam… you have good taste… so… do you think I’m handsome?”

Bamboo Sisi felt her temples pulsing, thinking today was truly strange, encountering such oddities. The peculiar Xu Genshuo she could ignore, at least he was young and pleasant to look at. But this old drunk, nearly at death’s door, still came to Siqing Pavilion for pleasure, and even asked if he was handsome?

Even Xu Boqing nearly failed to contain his amusement, tugging at his lips, though he followed closely behind Bamboo Sisi and she did not notice.

Seeing the old man’s displeasure, Bamboo Sisi mustered a professional smile and nodded, “Esteemed guest, you are vigorous despite your age, naturally handsome.”

“You… you’re deceiving me… I don’t believe you…” The old man squinted at her, dissatisfied. “Madam… bring me a mirror, I want to see for myself.”

Bamboo Sisi was so exasperated she could only laugh, took a deep breath to compose herself, then nodded, “Please wait here for a moment, esteemed guest. I will fetch you a mirror.”

She turned and entered a nearby private room.

The old man, meanwhile, fixed his blurry gaze on the “dazed” Xu Boqing, his expression growing odd.

He had once been a Daoist master of the Celestial Sect, who in his youth had fallen into a forbidden romance with a fox spirit. The Celestial Sect’s creed was “Thunder Law for the world, eradicate all demons.” His situation was at odds with their doctrine.

Eventually, the secret was exposed. He argued his case, wanting to prove that not all demons were evil. He narrowly escaped death by his master’s thunder law, but his fox spirit lover was not so fortunate, perishing utterly in the lightning’s wrath.

Expelled from his sect, he drifted aimlessly for years, but the matter gnawed at him like a heart demon, ever longing to prove that not all demons were bad.

Sensing demon aura in Hongyang City, he lingered at Siqing Pavilion for days, investigating the resident demoness. He found her neither good nor bad. Even the local City God did not interfere, so he had no intention to intervene.

As he prepared to leave, he saw the demoness escorting a young man with righteous, pure energy, strong in Yang, upstairs—seemingly about to commit some evil act.

He therefore sought to drive the demoness away then help the young man escape.

Yet this youth was most peculiar! Very peculiar!

During his act, the young man was clearly suppressing laughter, obviously sane and clear-minded. The dazed appearance was pure pretense!

With the Celestial Sect’s “Divine Eye,” he could not be mistaken.

More astonishing still, the youth pretending to be dazed appeared just like an ordinary mortal—his Divine Eye could not discern any cultivation at all!

He believed his own cultivation exceeded that of the demoness, otherwise she would not fail to see through him. Yet he himself could not see through this “ordinary yet not ordinary” young man!

Could he be a master playing at mortal life?

He pondered, then tentatively said, “Junior was unaware of Senior’s presence and disturbed your pleasure—please forgive my presumption.”

“Hm!?” Xu Boqing frowned, glancing at the red-nosed old man.

He hadn’t noticed the old man’s aura before, but the terms “Senior” and “Junior” raised his suspicions. Using his Celestial Sight, he perceived a pure, righteous energy unlike martial internal force; it was deep and unfathomable like ninefold thunder from the heavens, awe-inspiring to behold.

The old man, seeing “Senior” glance at him with piercing eyes, felt a chill in his heart, growing more certain of his guess.

The Celestial Sect possessed its own Divine Eye, so he was sensitive to eyes—never before had he felt so exposed, not even before his masters. Now, he truly experienced it.

What level of cultivation must this Senior possess?

Seeing “Senior’s” frown, he considered the situation, “realized” with a nod, and clasped his hands in salute: “Then Junior will not disturb Senior’s pleasure any longer.”

With those words, his figure faded like a mirage, vanishing instantly without a trace of worldly presence.

“Ah!?”