Treating Guests (3)
The second floor had guest rooms; Yue Qianchou had stayed here before. They didn't know what the third floor was for. The group followed the innkeeper to the top floor, the fourth floor, and pushed open an antique-style, carved rosewood door. A spacious and bright private room appeared before them. The innkeeper asked them to wait a moment, then smiled and withdrew.
The group peered out the window, looking out. Since there were no taller buildings around, the Hundred Flower Valley a Hundred Flowers under the hazy night sky was right before their eyes. They believed that if they were here during the day, it would be a completely different scene.
Looking around the room, everything was exquisitely crafted, quiet and serene, exuding a subtle elegance and nobility. The night breeze carried the faint fragrance of a hundred flowers. The inner room even had a daybed for quiet contemplation, as well as separate small rooms for toilets and bathing. The so-called private room was essentially a luxurious suite where one could rest peacefully.
"I never expected there to be such a wonderful place in Hundred Flower Inn!" Xiong Hui said with some surprise. He was now completely relaxed, having let Yue Qianchou take over the bills downstairs. As for the matter of vying to treat everyone, he wouldn't even mention it again.
"As expected of a private room." Bi Zicong looked around and nodded, then shook his head and said, "It's just that we really can't bear to let you spend so much money, a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones is too much."
"What's so special about this? I've been to all sorts of luxurious places in my past life." Yue Qianchou waved his hand calmly and said, "Let's not talk about money tonight. That stuff is bastard, it's too much of a downer to talk about." The others were speechless.
A moment later, the door was pushed open, and six beautiful women in palace attire entered, carrying wine vessels and dishes. After several rounds of comings and goings, they filled the brightly lit table inside and then respectfully invited the guests to take their seats. Once the guests were seated, one woman served each of them individually, pouring them wine.
Yue Qianchou frowned and waved his hand, saying, "You can leave! We have something to talk about and don't want anyone to disturb us."
"Yes." The women bowed and put down the wine jugs they were carrying. The woman behind Yue Qianchou took a golden bell off the collar around her neck and gently placed it on the table, saying softly, "If our honored guest needs to summon us, please ring this bell." Yue Qianchou around, saw that she still had one on her collar, nodded, and dismissed the women.
"My goodness! What are these things? They actually cost a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones?" Xiong Hui exclaimed, poking at his chopsticks as soon as the girls left.
"Even if it's expensive, it's just food, a gimmick to make money!" Yue Qianchou gestured for everyone to eat and chat.
It would be a shame not to try such expensive dishes. The group ate a few bites of each dish, but couldn't find anything particularly special about them. They all shook their heads in regret, thinking that a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones was indeed a bit too much.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group became acquainted and began addressing each other as brothers. Jing Zuo, Wu Licheng, and Tan Fei also introduced themselves. When Yue Qianchou learned that the four were direct descendants of the Four Great Families, he was not too surprised. Ordinary people wouldn't bother going to Hundred Flower Inn.
With something on his mind, Yue Qianchou put down his wine cup after the others had gotten to know each other and asked, "Brother Bi, I think I heard you talking about Liu Zhengguang the Qingguang Sect practicing dual cultivation down below. You said his dao companion is very beautiful. I'm really curious, I wonder which woman would be a dao companion with a eunuch?"
Bi Zicong pointed at Tan Fei and said, "You'll have to ask him. He's the one who said it, and he's seen her." Tan Fei smiled and said, "I did see her a few years ago when I went to the Qingguang Sect with my father. She was a disciple of the Qingguang Sect and was indeed quite beautiful. As for her name, I can't remember it."
Yue Qianchou's heart sank, but on the surface he chuckled and said, "Brother Tan, you don't know, but I've always been quite interested in stunning beauties. Please think carefully about their names. I must go to the Qingguang Sect to see them when I have the chance. People may be afraid of the Qingguang Sect, but I'm not."
You even dared to hit the direct grandson of someone else's sect leader, so naturally you have nothing to fear. The group looked at Yue Qianchou with grins, giving him a "I'll support you" smile.
"I see! Let me think." Tan Fei held his wine glass and pondered for a long time before finally saying, "Oh, I can't remember the full name, but I think the surname is Xu."
"Is she really surnamed Xu? You're not mistaken?" Yue Qianchou pressed. Thinking back, he remembered that the Qingguang Sect did indeed have a rather attractive female disciple surnamed Xu.
Tan Fei frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "It should be right. I heard several female disciples of the Qingguang Sect call her Senior Sister Xu."
Having received confirmation from him, Yue Qianchou's anxious heart immediately relaxed. He raised his cup to everyone and said with a smile, "Alright, I'll remember this. I must go and see the beautiful Xu from the Qingguang Sect when I have the chance. I can't let that eunuch get away with it. Come, everyone, let's drink to this cup!"
Once he loosened up, the atmosphere among them instantly changed, and they ate and drank to their hearts' content. The six of them stayed up until late at night before finally preparing to leave, their enthusiasm waning. A golden bell rang, and six women filed in. Yue Qianchou waved his hand generously and said, "The bill!"
Upon hearing the bill, the other five were startled, only then realizing that the meal cost a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones! Even the four members of the Four Great Families, including Bi Zicong, felt a pang of regret.
A moment later, the innkeeper rushed in and said respectfully with a smile, "Mr. Yue, the total for the two tables below is 1,000 and 35 high-grade Spirit Stones. Since you are a distinguished guest, the two tables below are complimentary. Please come again in the future. You only need to pay 1,000 high-grade Spirit Stones."
"Hundred Flower Inn is indeed wealthy and generous, waiving the thirty-five high-grade Spirit Stones as if it were nothing." Yue Qianchou sneered, casually taking out another Storage Bag from his Storage Bag and throwing it over, saying, "Count it and see if it's a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones, and see if I've shortchanged you."
"Yes, yes, yes!" The shopkeeper took the Storage Bag and nodded repeatedly. He injected his Divine Sense to check it and was immediately surprised. There were indeed a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones inside. He immediately smiled and said, "Mr. Yue, please wait a moment. I will help you clear out the Storage Bag right away."
Xiong Hui clicked his tongue in amazement. He had originally prepared himself to dine and dash with Yue Qianchou, but who knew that he would actually pull out a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones! Goodness! That's no ordinary amount of money.
Bi Zicong and his companions, unaware of the details, dared to come and eat a meal costing a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones, entirely because they trusted the prestigious reputation of Fu Xian Island. Now, seeing that they had actually paid that much money, the four exchanged glances and thought to themselves, "The disciples of Fu Xian Island are indeed extraordinary. They casually throw out a thousand high-grade Spirit Stones without even blinking an eye."
"Forget it, you can waive thirty-five high-grade Spirit Stones for me, why would I care about this tattered bag?" Yue Qianchou said and walked out. Normally, he would make sure you got your money back even for a single low-grade Spirit Stones; he wouldn't pretend to be generous when he needed to be. But today he was genuinely happy. Knowing that Liu Zhengguang's dao companion wasn't Qu Ping'er made him feel much lighter. Deep down, he was afraid the woman he had fallen for would betray him. There was another reason: he had made friends with the direct descendants of the four great Four Great Families the Cultivation World today. He'd already spent a fortune; why would he lose face over a mere bag?
"Shopkeeper Chen, which distinguished guest has booked the best banquet at my Hundred Flower Inn? Why don't you introduce them to me?"
Yue Qianchou had only taken a few steps when a voice suddenly came from outside. He paused briefly, and Yan Zhuixing walked in with a beaming smile. Upon seeing Yue Qianchou, Yan Zhuixing cupped his hands in greeting and said happily, "I wondered who the distinguished guest was, it's Brother Yue!"
"Brother Yan!" Yue Qianchou cupped his hands in greeting. Yan Zhuixing frowned at the shopkeeper and asked, "Shopkeeper Chen, how much money did you charge Brother Yue?"
Shopkeeper Chen respectfully handed over the Storage Bag in his hand and said, "Young Master, I have received one thousand high-grade Spirit Stones."
"Nonsense!" Yan Zhuixing took the bag and shouted, "Shopkeeper Chen, since you didn't know anything about this, I won't pursue the matter this time. But remember this: Brother Yue is my friend. From now on, whenever Brother Yue comes to my Hundred Flower Inn, all expenses will be on my tab, understand?" Shopkeeper Chen nodded repeatedly.
Yan Zhuixing snorted coldly, looked at Yue Qianchou and smiled, "Brother Yue, if you consider me a friend, please take this Spirit Stone back."
Yue Qianchou smiled silently, arms crossed, glancing between his master and the shopkeeper. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Friends? Heh! It seems we've only just met, only just spoken! I have personal experience with your sister, so we're not friends, but brothers-in-law. Heh! This kid's interesting. He didn't come earlier or later, but right after I paid. It seems it's already the middle of the night! Quite punctual. This kid knows how to handle people, quite interesting!"
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