Chapter 75: 75 Black Lotus

Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Black Lotus

“We have seen the two Lords.”

As soon as Chen Yuan and Wang Ping entered the Yanyu Building, a young serving boy who had been waiting attentively greeted them.

Organized constables and government officials, even in the vast Ping’an County, could be considered to have some status, certainly stronger than some of the petty merchants, so naturally, the serving boy did not dare to neglect them.

“Bring us two pots of your best wine,” Wang Ping said very adeptly as he tossed a piece of Broken Silver.

“Right away, Lords. Please find a seat at your leisure, the wine will be brought to you shortly. Xiaoyue will be performing a dance soon, you’ve come at just the right time.”

The serving boy caught the silver and chuckled.

...

Wang Ping nodded slightly, exchanged a glance with Chen Yuan, and casually found a secluded corner to sit down.

His eyes swept around, restless in his heart, seeming to be full of anticipation for Xiaoyue’s appearance.

“Haven’t you already met that Xiaoyue? Why are you still so impatient…” Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping, who, in his mind, although lecherous, was definitely not the kind of man who couldn’t move his feet at the sight of a woman.

Could it be that an Oiran eliminated from the Prefecture City was really that captivating?

Instinctively, Chen Yuan felt something was amiss. If she were really that captivating, she couldn’t possibly have ended up in such a small county as Ping’an. That would be a step backwards.

Wang Ping smiled awkwardly:

“I… I’ve only seen her dance from a distance, I’ve never actually spoken to her.”

“And yet you said she’s very gentle?” Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

“I feel she’s very gentle…”

“Wang Ping.”

“Hmm?”

“A simp never comes to a good end!”

“???”

Although Wang Ping didn’t understand what the ‘simp’ Chen Yuan mentioned was, he was sure it wasn’t a compliment, and he felt quite certain about that. However, he didn’t argue because he felt that the statement was quite correct.

But for some reason, as soon as he stepped into the Yanyu Building, he was filled with an inexplicable urge.

Chen Yuan and Wang Ping’s entry into the Yanyu Building didn’t cause any stir, with at most only the few people nearby taking notice of them. The rest of the patrons were whispering to each other, wondering why Xiaoyue had not yet come out.

Unobtrusively, Chen Yuan activated his Heavenly Eye, a streak of Qing light flashed, and he surveyed the Yanyu Building from top to bottom, but against his expectations, there were no anomalies.

Not a trace of Qi Fortune.

This puzzled him; could it be that he was overthinking?

Following the clichés of novels and TV dramas, there should be intentional provocations, or he himself might discover something unusual.

Chen Yuan remained silent, feeling as if he might be suffering from some sort of persecution complex.

In reality, ever since he had been transported to this world, apart from yearning for its Martial Arts, he had always been deeply uneasy, because this society was far from harmonious.

It was a terrifying world where Martial Arts reigned supreme and life was as cheap as grass.

Soon, the serving boy who had taken the silver brought a pot of wine. Wang Ping poured Chen Yuan a full cup, whispering,

“Try this, Brother Yuan. This wine is good. You get what you pay for.”

Chen Yuan lifted the cup to his nose, took a light sniff, and indeed, a sweet fragrance wafted over, then he gently sipped a mouthful.

“Not bad.”

Wang Ping cracked a smile and downed his cup in one gulp.

As time passed, more and more people entered the Yanyu Building, some without finding a seat just stood to the side, their eyes brimming with expectation.

“Why hasn’t Xiaoyue come out yet?”

“Exactly, exactly.”

“I’m getting impatient waiting…”

Gradually, some began to voice their impatience loudly.

Chen Yuan watched with a cold eye, as if he were an outsider.

“Zing…”

Suddenly, a deep and melodious sound of a zither emanated from the second floor of the Yanyu Building.

“Brother Yuan, Xiaoyue is about to come out…”

Wang Ping’s gaze was fixed intently in one direction, his eyes unblinking, he even held his breath.

He was not alone. At this moment, the audience seated below, whether they were high-ranking officials or scholarly merchants, wore much the same expression.

Immediately following, the sound of a flute melded with that of an ancient zither.

“Swoosh…”

“Swoosh…”

“Swoosh…”

Three red silks shot out from the second floor, winding around two pillars in the great hall.

The next moment, a long-haired woman clad in red leapt from the second floor, amid a flurry of flower petals. With delicate spins, she danced lightly atop the red silks.

The melodious tones and drifting petals seemed to become one with the woman.

Her graceful figure twirled in the void, supported by red silks, like a fairy.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, his attention fixed on the woman’s movement technique—it was fluid and effortless. This woman must have cultivate martial arts abilities.

Only after extensive training could one achieve such an effect.

No wonder the people of Ping’an County were astounded, but she didn’t captivate Chen Yuan as much.

“Excellent.”

“Miss Xiaoyue is so beautiful…”

Shouts rose from below.

Then, a scroll descended from above. The woman in red tugged on the red silks, unfurling the scroll as a fair young lady poured down a pot of ink.

Afterwards, the woman in red danced wildly with her sleeves, picking up ink, gently flicking it onto the white paper scroll, her skirt whirling as if lotuses blossomed at her feet.

Her willowy waist swayed lightly, ensnaring souls and sending secret glances—truly a spectacle of strings and silks dancing chaotically.

Before long, the music of the flute ceased, and the woman in red completed her final stroke.

It was an ink painting of a lotus, lifelike and spirited.

The woman in red glanced back, sweeping her gaze over everyone present, before slowly descending to the ground, pulling on the red silks.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. This Xiaoyue was indeed extraordinary, with white skin and a melodious figure, her eyes conveying a certain seductiveness, and fine lines at the corners.

Indeed, she was of a certain age, but that only added to her allure.

“Gentlemen, as per the usual, whoever composes a poem that satisfies Miss Xiaoyue will enjoy a spring night with her.”

An opulently dressed madam announced loudly, her body twisting.

“On what theme shall the poem be based?”

A young nobleman dressed in plain Qing attire closed his fan with a snap, smiling as he inquired.

“Pedant.”

Wang Ping huffed dismissively.

Chen Yuan gave Wang Ping a sidelong glance and whispered:

“And what if one cannot compose a satisfactory poem?”

“The highest offer gets her. I heard someone bid thirty silver taels the other day to spend a spring night with Miss Xiaoyue,” Wang Ping’s eyes gleamed with envy.

Chen Yuan shook his head. That was sheer bid inflation—thirty silver taels, do you understand the concept?

The salary of a constable for two years.

Could buy three Tiger Bone Pills.

Of course, when in high spirits, the value did not matter.

“Let the theme be the lotus in this painting.”

The madam pointed to the hanging scroll above and announced.

“Yanyu Building, Lou Yuyan.

Miss Xiaoyue resembles a Black Lotus.

If you ask what’s inside the lotus.

Just pry it open and look!”

A burly man with a bearded face suddenly recited in a loud voice.

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