Love & Redemption
Chapter 107: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji - 14 To Ask the Heavens About This Love (2)

Chapter 107: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 14 To Ask the Heavens About This Love (2)

Every bustling city always has some dark corners that are not easily discovered. These places are where all the beggars, ruffians, gamblers, and wanted criminals gather. Simply put, good children will remain forever unacquainted with them.

Yu Sifeng said he was going to meet someone, and from the respectful tone he used, everyone thought it must be some hermit expert, perhaps even clad in a white robe, holding a bamboo tea cup, with the tea within as green as jade. Who knew he would lead them around the city, winding through alleys and end up in such a ghastly place.

When Zhong Minyan saw the low eaves and the narrow alley that only allowed one person to pass sideways, the ground filthy with sewage and trash, reeking unbearably, he immediately frowned.

"Si Feng, that old friend of yours... he doesn’t live here, does he?" He still couldn’t quite believe it.

Xuanji saw that there were many branching paths in the alley, and many people didn’t care about how dirty the ground was as they squatted carefree, some chatting and others smoking pipes. Seeing their group of neatly dressed, handsome young men and women, several peoples’ eyes went wide, some with lecherous gazes, occasionally blowing a whistle and making rude comments.

"What does ’rabbit lord’ mean?" With sharp ears, Xuanji had long heard their indecent remarks and turned to ask Yu Sifeng.

The youths all paused, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. Zhong Minyan snorted, Yu Sifeng pretended not to hear, and Ruo Yu could only offer a dry laugh, "Well... that’s vulgarity from the streets, it’s pointless to know it."

Xuanji noticed that some of the people were puffing on their pipes heavily, the wisp of blue smoke that wafted over carried a medicinal fragrance that was quite pleasant. It reminded her a bit of the scent from the Alchemy Room at the Shaoyang Sect’s Zhongyang Peak when elixirs were being refined.

"It’s Five Stones Powder!" Zhong Minyan’s face paled as he quickly covered his nose. Seeing Xuanji sniffing deeply, he slapped the back of her neck urgently, "Idiot! It’s toxic! Once you’re addicted, you’re neither human nor ghost. Why are you still smelling it!"

Hit by him, Xuanji cried out "Ouch," a numb pain spreading across her neck, she couldn’t help but cover the sore spot, feeling both helpless and sullen as she looked at him. He definitely did it on purpose, still holding a grudge over losing a tael of silver to her that night. Sixth Brother was always petty!

Zhong Minyan coughed to mask his guilt, and saw Yu Sifeng approaching a ramshackle door and knocked twice — the door was so feeble that it fell with his knocking, crashing down with a loud clatter, splashing filthy water high into the air, scaring everyone into hastily leaping away to avoid it.

"Hey! Don’t tell me your friend really lives here?!" Zhong Minyan couldn’t help it anymore. No matter how he looked at it, the place was disreputable. Si Feng’s old friend, couldn’t he be a big villain?

Without moving a brow, Yu Sifeng naturally stepped over the decayed door plank and entered. Inside was a similarly dilapidated courtyard with two pine trees on the verge of death, and around it piled up many pieces of furniture and miscellaneous items whose names they couldn’t even recall.

"Min Yan, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. An expert from the world would... normally not act according to convention..." Ruo Yu struggled to excuse him, when unexpectedly he stepped through a door plank with a crunch, half his foot plunging into the sewage, turning his face as green as could be.

Yu Sifeng knocked twice on the door of the inner room, but there was not a sound from within. Unwilling to give up, he knocked harder — still, no response. In frustration, he kicked the door open and shouted harshly, "Liu Yihuan, get the hell out here!"

Another pitiful door died beneath his foot, and the interior remained silent as a tomb. Curiosity got the better of them, and they peered inside, only to be assaulted by a sour stench. The place inside was in such a state it should be called a "pigsty," and perhaps even a pigsty would be cleaner and more fragrant than this.

Even Xuanji couldn’t stand it and stepped back several paces with her nose covered, nearly dizzy with the stench. Yu Sifeng carefully inspected the room, confirmed that no one was there, and reluctantly exited. He straightened the cracked door and propped it loosely on the doorframe to continue performing its duty as a "door."

Perhaps it was their noise that disturbed the neighbor, but an old man with a walking stick came over and said, "Looking for Yihuan, huh? At this hour, he’s probably still asleep on the pleasure boat down by the river! You might as well look for him there."

Pleasure boat? They all found it odd as such a thing was supposed to be for the rich only. Judging by the man’s house which was utterly impoverished, even a mouse might not deign to visit; still, he could afford to sleep on a pleasure boat?

Yu Sifeng’s expression changed drastically as he urgently asked, "The so-called pleasure boat... couldn’t be Jiaohong House, could it?"

The old man revealed a very lewd smile, looking like the "I knew you lads were up to no good" type, and chuckled, "The pleasure boats of Qingyang, is there any more famous than that place?"

Yu Sifeng’s face flushed and then paled, before he finally stormed off with a curse.

Quietly, Xuanji asked Ruo Yu, "What is Jiaohong House? Do they have food?"

Ruo Yu thought hard before replying with an awkward smile, "Well... maybe, probably, should have... some... but... that’s not a good place."

Of course, it wasn’t a good place, because Jiaohong House was the most famous brothel in Qingyang. Its fame wasn’t because the prostitutes were unmatched in beauty, or that the service was impeccable, but because it accepted all sorts of people, even if you were a prisoner due to be executed the next day; women of any age and appearance could become prostitutes, even if she was a woman over seven decades old. Above all, the prices were unbelievably cheap.

When Yu Sifeng and the others got there, aside from the clueless Xuanji, everyone’s faces could be described as colorfully varied.

Zhong Minyan barely dodged the fawning of a group of cooing girls, and somehow got kissed on the face, leaving behind a smudge of rouge. He looked as though he wished he could peel off a layer of skin, utterly exasperated, sweating profusely, and repeatedly saying, "If we can’t find him, just forget it! Let’s go back!"

Just now, Xuanji had been amorously embraced and kissed by a group of kind and enthusiastic ladies who called her adorable. When she mentioned she was hungry, someone immediately brought her a plate of pastries. She shamelessly took it and found it quite tasty, so she thought Jiaohong House was very interesting, a good place indeed.

The crowd ascended to the second floor of the pleasure boat, where they were immediately greeted by a slave fawning over them with a wide smile plastered on his face, "Oh, look at these young masters, such fresh faces! Not locals, are you? What kind of girls do you fancy? Don’t be shy, treat this place like your own home!"

After he finished speaking, he noticed that Xuanji was holding some snacks, eating while looking around. Her exquisite beauty and luminous white skin made her a rare find, and the slave’s eyes immediately lit up. He hurried over to make small talk while inquiring, "Miss, at Jiaohong House we never mistreat our girls. Clients’ tips and the share of drink sales all go to them. If Miss is interested someday, you are always welcome to consider joining us..."

Before the man could finish his nonsense, Yu Sifeng coldly interrupted, "We are here to find someone."

Realizing then that each one of them was wearing a sword at their waist and had a murderous look on their faces, likely martial artists from the world, the slave didn’t dare to prattle on but could only nervously smile, "Certainly, certainly! Which hero might you be looking for?"

"Liu Yihuan," Yu Sifeng squeezed out these three words through clenched teeth, his tone was full of murderous intent, and it scared the slave so much his legs went weak as he pleaded, "I know nothing... sirs, please make yourselves at home... um... don’t be shy..."

With that, the man scrambled away in a scramble.

With no one to lead the way, everyone had to search each room themselves. It’s needless to say how many deals they interrupted, and the shrieks from the naked courtesans were enough to cause ringing in their ears for three days.

At last, they searched all the way to the last elegant room on the second floor. Yu Sifeng’s face was already as green as a leafy vegetable. He didn’t even bother to knock, kicking through the paper door right away. As expected, another cry from a courtesan came from inside.

However, before her cry could fade, a lazy, deep voice rang out, "How annoying, women always screaming at nothing. With the mouths they’re born with, if they’re not eating, they’re screaming."

Upon hearing that voice, Yu Sifeng took a long deep breath, his face stern, he stepped over the door frame and into the room, stating coldly, "You’ve come to a place like this again! You’re not easy to find!"

Once the others heard that, they realized they had found their man and couldn’t wait to rush in to see who it was they’d spent half the day looking for.

Xuanji was quick and slipped in first. She saw a sheepskin rug spread out in the center of the room with a low table on it. Behind the table, a long-haired man was lying half-sitting, his hair unkempt and hanging over his shoulders, covering most of his face and brows. He wore a half-worn grey robe, partly open at the chest, very majestic looking.

Seeing that Xuanji kept staring at him, the man suddenly looked up at her. A person so indolently negligent, his gaze was as sharp as a knife. It swept over and made Xuanji’s scalp tingle, instinctively making her want to step back.

Yu Sifeng walked over and sat opposite the man. Next to this rogue, two courtesans cowered as if they wanted to escape. However, with one in his grasp, they couldn’t flee and could only shudder miserably.

"I need to talk to you about something," Yu Sifeng said flatly, nonchalantly peeling a grape and popping it into his mouth.

That man—undoubtedly Liu Yihuan—propped himself up lazily and beckoned to the three stunned people behind, "Come sit, don’t be shy. Come... have some fruit!"

With that casual gesture of his, the courtesans took the chance to slip away. Xuanji and the others had no choice but to sit down, staring at him blankly, unsure of what to say.

Resting his head on his hand, he stared attentively at Yu Sifeng for a moment, then chuckled, "Not bad, the mask is off. Congratulations are in order for you!"

Then he turned his gaze towards Xuanji again, who calmed down at the sight of food, obediently stuffing grapes into her mouth.

It had to be her. Liu Yihuan gave a faint smile, slapped the table lightly, and spoke out loudly, "Alright! Now tell me, why have you gone to such lengths to find me? For what matter?"

Yu Sifeng said lightly, "I need you to use the Heavenly Eye. We are looking for a member of the Merfolk."

***************************

<,

Book number: 1014330

This is the story of a young girl fighting in the imperial harem for the sake of revenge.

Born as the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister Residence, Mo Yao encountered the Third Imperial Prince Yun Qimo amidst a spring rain and apricot blossoms when she was fifteen. When they fell in love and pledged their undying promise to each other,

However, on the very night Yun Qimo sought to marry her with the Emperor’s decree, the Emperor, after a drunken spree, took Mo Yao to bed, who was to become his son’s wife. Overnight, Mo Yao went from being a Princess to an Imperial Concubine.

Facing the Empress’ schemes, the Emperor’s favor, and a love that would forever be in the past, Mo Yao clenched her teeth and chose to enter the palace to seek revenge.

What was owed to her, she vowed to reclaim, fully prepared to burn both jade and common stone alike, showing no mercy... (To be continued, if you wish to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. There are more Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)