A Visit at the Door

Bai Yujun searched for a while longer and found the scent growing fainter and fainter. The demon must have left.

"Wolf's gone."

Since it had left, there was no need to chase it. Dealing with heretical cultivators and wicked demons was the business of the local cultivators. It was like a special forces soldier strolling down the street and spotting traces of a criminal—if circumstances allowed, they could help with the arrest, but if the criminal ran away, it had nothing to do with the soldier. It was entirely the local constabulary's affair.

Most cities under heaven had cultivators specifically assigned to handle such matters. Since the demon had left, Chu Zhe paid it no mind and continued touring Qingyuan.

The three people and one demon never imagined that they would meet that wolf demon again...

At Qingyuan's entrance, an inconspicuous man turned back and cautiously glanced at the four figures in the crowd. Especially the three among them—the aura they gave off made his entire body tense even from so far away, forcing him to leave early. He knew he had encountered true masters today. His figure vanished into the crowd as he hurried away.

"Let's go look at those poems." Chu Zhe suggested looking at the scholars' works. Once poems were written, they would be hung up for people to admire. Naturally, anything of mediocre quality was too embarrassing to display. There were no masterpieces destined to be passed down through the ages; most were merely for amusement.

"Okay, okay!"

Xu Ling was delighted and took the lead toward the corridor where the poems were hung.

Bai Yujun went over to take a look as well. The poems could only be said to be readable. As for shaking the past and dazzling the present, they fell far short. Compared to famed figures like the Poet Immortal Li Bai, the gap was more than merely the distance between different worlds.

"They really are all such wonderful poems. It really is more interesting than the mountain." Xu Ling was overjoyed.

"No, there are many fine poems on the mountain. You simply never pay attention to them. For example, there is a stone inscription below Lotus Peak, composed by Daoist Wuwei, one of our sect's seniors."

Yang Mu wore an expression that plainly said he knew she remembered nothing.

"Really?"

Xu Ling found it hard to believe.

"Absolutely true."

Those words provoked Xu Ling. She shot Yang Mu a fierce glare, then immediately put on an adorable expression when she turned to Chu Zhe. The speed with which she changed faces left Yang Mu in awe.

The poems were written on paper and hung along both sides of the corridor. A light breeze drifted through, carrying a rich scent of ink.

Ancient ink was nothing like those pungent, foul-smelling concoctions mixed from chemicals in modern times. If one ate that chemically synthesized ink, one might very well suffer organ failure. Ancient ink could be considered safe; even if swallowed by accident, it would not cause much of a reaction.

Her footsteps shifted lightly. When Bai Yujun reached a certain poem, she finally stopped. The poem was good, and so was the calligraphy. Though somewhat unpolished, it was still rare to find. Especially with so many ordinary works around it, it stood out like a crane among chickens.

People flowed endlessly through the corridor, scholars and young ladies alike gathering before the poems they favored, lingering there unwilling to leave.

Just as Bai Yujun was about to turn and depart, she unexpectedly stepped on someone's foot.

The scholar slowly turned around, wearing the calm manner of a refined young gentleman. Even after having his foot stepped on, he remained so composed, a smile at the corner of his mouth. Clearly, he had practiced this countless times in daily life.

"Sorry." Bai Yujun made an effort to finish those two words.

The scholar froze, then quickly relaxed.

"No matter. Does this young lady fancy my calligraphy? If you like it, please take it. To meet is fate. May I ask your lovely name and where your household resides?"

Bai Yujun looked around, only belatedly realizing that the scholar was calling her "young lady." But why was this routine so cliché? Stepping on his foot just now had been deliberate, hadn't it?

At once, the calligraphy she had thought rather good moments ago became more and more unpleasant to look at. Too lazy to answer him, she turned and left.

The scholar grew angry and reached out to grab Bai Yujun's shoulder.

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and someone appeared before him to block the way. Yang Mu gave the scholar, who looked to be around thirty, an annoyed glance. Inwardly, he sighed that the unofficial histories and trashy books had indeed been right: among these scholars, the good ones were so good that all under heaven knew it, while the bad ones were so bad they inspired admiration. He had deliberately struck up a conversation and now even wanted to make a move. If Big White were angered, would she give him a dose of snake venom to clear his head?

Seeing that the unfamiliar young man before him possessed an extraordinary bearing, the scholar could only restrain himself lest he offend someone important. The girl from before wore no valuable jewelry and no costly fabric. She was surely either the daughter of a poor household or a maidservant or dancing girl from some wealthy family. It would not be difficult to find her master and say a few flattering words to ask for her.

In ancient times, exchanging concubines was common.

Having gone far away, Bai Yujun paid no attention to the unpleasantness from before. Happily, she went to watch the literati in the pavilion sit by the windows and compose poems. Whenever a fine poem was produced, it drew a chorus of praise from the people nearby. Scented sachets and handkerchiefs from young ladies of unknown households were sent up as well. The courtesans of the city's brothels, especially their celebrated beauties, would also invite them warmly to their fragrant chambers to converse. Perhaps, upon a chance encounter with a talented scholar, they would willingly offer themselves.

The poems continually drew cheers from the crowd, but Bai Yujun alone found them quite ordinary.

Fortunately, the food satisfied the snake greatly, and the prices were fairly reasonable. Bai Yujun had no money, and Xu Ling had not brought any either, but Yang Mu had somehow obtained a pile of silver. He bought heaps of sweets, and they ate with all their might.

Chu Zhe watched Bai Yujun pick up pastries, stuff them into her mouth, and swallow them without even chewing, feeling somewhat speechless. Xu Ling wanted to compete with Bai Yujun to see who could eat faster, but she was defeated in no time.

In truth, the poetry gathering was not very interesting. The more ordinary poems one heard, the more numb and bored one became.

This was an exclusive grand gathering for scholars, elegant ladies, and unmarried young women awaiting marriage. The scholars did everything they could to attract the ladies' attention. Finding it somewhat dull, the three people and one snake decided to return to the inn and rest. After much difficulty, they squeezed through the crowd and left Qingyuan.

Inside Qingyuan's pavilion.

The scholar who had approached Bai Yujun earlier was currying favor with a richly dressed young man in brocade robes.

"Young Master Zhang, what did you think of that girl just now?"

The young man in brocade nodded upon hearing this.

"Not bad. Her pure and delicate appearance is unforgettable. Her waist is slender, and her legs are slender too. She is my type. Do you know which household she belongs to?"

"In reply to Young Master Zhang, someone saw her at Jufu Inn on East Street. She should be from out of town."

"Where has Brother Lang gone? Have him bring that little girl over tonight. Tell him not to touch her recklessly, or he need not continue mingling in Liu City. This young master is not joking."

"Yes, Young Master Zhang."

A servant went to deliver the message. Inside the pavilion, they continued watching the singing and dancing, embracing beauties and drinking wine, as though the poetry gathering downstairs had nothing to do with the upper floor.

Late at night.

A Black Shadow ran and leaped soundlessly across the rooftops. It paused briefly atop a certain tower, standing at its peak to confirm the direction of Jufu Inn.

Inside the inn.

The doors to four guest rooms opened, and the three people and one snake stepped out.

Bai Yujun and the other three sensed something approaching, while Chu Zhe had already detected that person's location. With a faint smile, he swiftly formed a peculiar hand seal and cast a spell to conceal their auras. Yang Mu and Xu Ling yawned repeatedly. Afraid? There was absolutely no need. Standing beside them was the Chunyang Palace Master's foremost personal disciple. To put it bluntly, perhaps even Chunyang Palace's elders could not defeat Chu Zhe. Unless a top expert from the demonic sect came personally, there was truly nothing to fear.

Seeing Qingxu Palace's two personal disciples looking so unconcerned and lazy, Chu Zhe shook his head. Or perhaps... he should stand aside with folded arms and watch them show what they could do?