City Lord Xu hosted a banquet at his residence to welcome the visiting xianzhang.
In the flowery hall, strings and flutes played in gentle harmony as servants filed in, each carrying a jar of fine mortal wine.
The dancing girls spun lightly across the floor, skirts billowing like clouds as they twirled. Their hair ornaments chimed softly, and every movement radiated grace and allure.
Li Lanxiu sat on a floor cushion behind a low table, one long leg bent in front of him with his elbow resting on his knee. He watched the dancers, at ease.
One of them turned and smiled at him, sending a flirtatious glance his way with lustrous eyes.
He smiled back, tilting his head slightly to appreciate the view more seriously.
Chu Yue sat beside him, expressionless, ignoring the music and dancing entirely.
On the other side, disciples of the Loftcloud Sect sat together. Han Qian and his fellow shidi sipped wine while discussing plans to gather information in the city the next day.
Jiang Zhuo flipped through a booklet from Dreamsaint City, occasionally glancing calmly at the crimson figure across from him.
Beside him, Li Xuanzhen sat upright with his sword in his arms and a neutral expression. He sent a voice transmission and said, “Young Master Jiang, do you truly think Li Lanxiu made sense?”
“I do. What else could I think?”
Jiang Zhuo was not Jiang Jiusi. He had no fondness for beauty. What he admired were chivalrous heroes with upright hearts and broad visions, like Li Xuanzhen. “I think what he said was quite reasonable.”
Li Xuanzhen fell silent, then said, “Young Master Jiang, don’t forget why you’re here.”
Jiang Zhuo nodded solemnly and silently reminded himself: Jiang Jiusi’s infatuation with Li Lanxiu brought shame upon the Jiang family. I came here to find out how he sank to such a state.
The disciples of the Jademaiden Sect had no interest in the performance and rose together to leave.
As Jing Mei passed by Li Lanxiu, she paused and asked, “Daoist Li, what do you think the Red Sect actually came to take?”
“Not sure yet.” Li Lanxiu sat up and adjusted his lazy posture. “I just instructed Lord Xu to keep an eye out for unusual signs in the city.”
Jing Mei faced a gaze as sharp and icy as a blade, yet asked calmly, “Daoist Li, are you planning to conduct an investigation in the city?”
Li Lanxiu gave a slight nod. “Is Lady Jing planning to join me?”
Jing Mei lifted the white veil under her hat and replied righteously, “I intend to do my part in protecting Dreamsaint City. I am ready to follow your lead at any time.”
“Very well. If you’re willing, that would be best.” Li Lanxiu smiled softly at her.
Jing Mei returned the smile and glided away with light steps.
Chu Yue stared at her retreating back. He didn’t see Bai Ying as a threat, because Li Lanxiu didn’t seem to favor men—his dealings with them were all just playful.
But women were different. Li Lanxiu genuinely liked women.
Night deepened. It was getting late. Han Qian greeted Li Lanxiu, then left with the other Loftcloud Sect disciples.
Jiang Zhuo still sat behind the table. He had read the booklet from City Lord Xu three or four times and kept flipping through it, but not out of interest in the content. He remembered little of it—only that Li Lanxiu had been exchanging glances with the dancers the entire time.
If he wanted to understand how Jiang Jiusi had ended up the way he did, he had to observe Li Lanxiu constantly.
Li Xuanzhen stood and patted his shoulder. “Young Master Jiang, it’s time we go.”
Jiang Zhuo felt a faint reluctance. He looked at the righteous and upright Li Xuanzhen, then at Li Lanxiu still flirting with a dancer across the room. The contrast washed away any lingering hesitation.
He stood and left with Li Xuanzhen without a second thought.
Jiang Zhuo couldn’t have predicted that he had just missed his best chance to uncover the truth behind Jiang Jiusi’s downfall—and what he lost was far more than that…
Just as the two of them stepped out of the flower hall, one of the dancers let her gauzy shawl slip from her arm. Her eyes shimmered as she picked it up, then tossed it toward Li Lanxiu like a bridal ball.
Li Lanxiu raised his hand and caught it easily. He looped the shawl once around his palm and tugged at it with a casual, unhurried gesture.
The dancer held the other end with a bright smile, flirting as she played tug-of-war with him.
Chu Yue’s hand on his knee suddenly clenched tight. He leaned close to Li Lanxiu’s ear. “Lord Xu invited this courtesan from a brothel in the city. Do you like her, Young Master?”
He deliberately emphasized the word “courtesan.”
Li Lanxiu glanced at the dancer’s figure and found it rather pleasing to the eye. “I do.”
Chu Yue stared at him for a moment. His voice dropped even lower. “If you like her, why not invite her for a drink? Looks to me like the feeling is mutual. I doubt the courtesan would refuse.”
“Is that so?” Li Lanxiu glanced at him and tugged a little harder on the shawl. With his other hand, he patted his knee in invitation.
Chu Yue’s expression changed at once.
The dancer walked over and sat down, her body soft as she leaned against Li Lanxiu’s knee. “I heard the people in the city say a god-like immortal came to Dreamsaint City, wearing a ghost mask. I never thought I would be lucky enough to see you in person, Xianzhang.”
Li Lanxiu lifted her chin with his shawl-wrapped hand and nodded with a light chuckle.
Miaomiao blushed and poured him a cup of wine with both hands. “Xianzhang, may I share a drink with you?”
Li Lanxiu lifted the edge of his mask, revealing a pale, slender chin. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and sipped the wine from her hand.
Miaomiao stared at him wide-eyed, looking almost dazed. She couldn’t help murmuring, “Xianzhang, you’re so handsome.”
Li Lanxiu laughed lightly, his shoulders shaking. He ran a fingertip across her full, soft lips. “Your turn.”
Miaomiao picked up the cup Li Lanxiu had used, poured herself a fresh drink, and deliberately sipped from the very spot his lips had touched.
Chu Yue suddenly stood up, knocking over a wine pot on the table. The liquid splashed across the carpet. He brushed his robe lightly, then gave a soft laugh. “City Lord Xu is waiting to catch up. I won’t get in the way of Young Master’s enjoyment.”
Li Lanxiu lowered his head and sipped from his cup, completely unbothered. He waved a hand lazily. “Go on, then.”
Chu Yue stared at the pale, slender nape of his neck for a few seconds before turning abruptly and striding out the door. If he stayed another moment, he’d lose control again—and end up getting his palm smacked.
Lord Xu had been waiting outside the hall for quite some time. When he saw Chu Yue coming out in a hurry, he stepped forward and, without a word, dropped to his knees.
Chu Yue caught him by the arm and helped him up. “I’m not the crown prince anymore. No need for such ceremony.”
Tears welled up in Lord Xu’s eyes as he said with emotion, “Your Highness, I have never stopped worrying for your safety. To see you alive and well today… Heaven bless Dongyue!”
Chu Yue had expected him to bring up reclaiming the throne. He withdrew his hand calmly. “I will avenge the slaughter of my family. But the empire of Dongyue is no longer mine. From now on, I’m merely a disciple of Conundrum Sect.”
“Your Highness!” City Lord Xu was utterly bewildered. “The old ministers of the court are all ready to support Your Highness. They only await your command!”
“Why would Your Highness willingly abandon the position of crown prince to become a mere sect disciple?”
Chu Yue turned to look at the lanterns glowing inside the flower hall. “Because I have a goal. And that goal is more important than the empire of Dongyue.”
Lord Xu knew full well that once Chu Yue made up his mind, not even nine bulls could drag him back. He could only smile bitterly. “I don’t know what Your Highness’s goal is, but… to give up the throne for it—can it truly be worth it?”
Chu Yue answered without hesitation, “It is.”
Lord Xu had nothing more to say. After a long silence, he said solemnly, “If Your Highness ever needs anything, just say the word. I, Lord Xu, will give it my all.”
Chu Yue clapped him on the shoulder. The two spoke for some time before he finally returned to the hall.
Inside, the lanterns still blazed brightly. The music had faded. All the musicians and dancers brought in from the brothels were now seated around Li Lanxiu.
He leaned, drunk and hazy-eyed, against Miaomiao’s shoulder. His lashes were damp, and his eyes half-lidded and misty. A sheen of wine glistened along his jaw, and his dark red lips, wet from drink, looked swollen—like they’d been kissed or bitten.
No one knew how much wine Li Lanxiu had drunk—his consciousness was clearly slipping. One of the bolder dancers clung to his shoulder and tugged at his robes, revealing a stretch of pale, slender flesh. Under the lamplight, it was smooth and luminous, like it had been carved from amber.
Even as his clothes were being pulled off, he let out a few soft laughs, the corners of his delicate lips curved in a way that stirred the blood.
Miaomiao stared at him in a daze, leaning in until her lips nearly touched his.
Suddenly—crack.
A sharp, icy sound sliced through the air. The temperature seemed to plummet in an instant, as if someone had thrown open the gates of an ice cellar.
Shrieks broke out all around. The girls and musicians scrambled, their fleeing footsteps in chaotic disarray.
Miaomiao turned her head. A youth dressed in black stood right behind her, a dark blade drawn an inch from its sheath on his back. His eyes—deep, pitch-black—were locked on her with deadly stillness.
She bolted.
Chu Yue shoved the blade back into its scabbard just as Li Lanxiu, no longer supported, began to sway. Chu Yue strode over and caught him by the arm.
Li Lanxiu leaned into him, lifting his eyes hazily. He raised a single finger and poked the tip of Chu Yue’s nose, voice sticky and languid with intoxication. “Where’d you go?”
Chu Yue’s gaze swept over his bare shoulder, Adam’s apple shifting with a swallow. He grabbed the fallen robe and pulled it up to cover the exposed skin. “To see Lord Xu.”
Li Lanxiu blinked his wet lashes and nodded slowly, turning his wrist and extending it toward him. “Take me home.”
Chu Yue wrapped an arm around his, helping him to his feet. He was light—so light—and his body burned hot from the wine. Even through the layers of cloth, Chu Yue could feel the lithe strength beneath his skin, the delicate warmth of flesh pressed close.
Li Lanxiu couldn’t walk straight. Every few steps he staggered—first left, then right—forcing Chu Yue to wobble along with him.
He kept laughing, a soft, breathless sound in his throat, and lifted a hand to pat Chu Yue’s cheek. “Are you mad at me?”
Chu Yue said nothing. Instead, he slipped both arms around his waist, locking him firmly in place, half-supporting and half-embracing him as they continued forward.
The warmth beneath his palm was unmistakable even through the fabric. His waist was so narrow one arm could circle it completely. There was no extra flesh, just pliant, taut muscle. Chu Yue stroked lightly along his side.
The bedchamber was nearby. As soon as they entered, Li Lanxiu shoved his hand away and staggered lazily onto the bed.
Chu Yue knelt to remove his boots. Li Lanxiu let his legs hang motionless, allowing him to serve him. Chu Yue had touched these elegant feet not long ago—their smooth, fine quality invited a lingering touch.
Li Lanxiu drew his legs up onto the bed, his pale, jade-like feet kicking restlessly at the brocade quilt, making the bedding ripple.
He turned to the side, cheek resting on the crook of his arm. His eyes closed and he went still.
"Young Master?” Chu Yue leaned in and called softly.
Li Lanxiu cracked one eye open and murmured a single word with his wine-moist lips. “Get out.”
Then he shut his eyes again.
Chu Yue could tell he was terribly drunk. Those dancers must have poured too much wine into him. He had never seen Li Lanxiu like this.
He leaned down and finished what Miaomiao had not. His lips brushed those warm, damp lips, and then he pressed his tongue down for a deliberate lick.
The taste was exquisite.
Comments
Post a Comment