Twin Phoenix Tower

"Senior, we've been strolling around for so long. How about we take a rest? Twin Phoenix Tower has the best view of Qinglan City."

Seeing that Hao Xiaomeng was already somewhat tired from the journey, Li Mu smiled and made the suggestion to the two of them.

"This... Junior... Twin Phoenix Tower is still..."

Hao Meng looked at the splendid and magnificent Twin Phoenix Tower before him. Countless dignitaries and young masters of Aristocratic Clans came and went, while beautiful, charming singing girls gently waved painted fans in their hands as they attended to them. Their voices were soft and lingering, their fragrance assailed the senses.

How could Hao Meng, a man who had done nothing but cultivate day after day for more than a decade, withstand such a sight? Countless scenes bloomed in his imagination, and his body instinctively began to retreat.

"Wow, so this is Twin Phoenix Tower! Xiaomeng has never been here before. Brother Mu, can we go in and have fun?"

After seeing such breathtaking beauty, Hao Xiaomeng instead began cheering with delight. Clutching Li Mu's arm, she kept shaking it and urging him to hurry into the little tower.

"Junior... Junior, isn't this rather inappropriate? We're still young, and with Xiaomeng here, it isn't very convenient..."

With Li Mu on one side and Hao Xiaomeng on the other, the two dragged Hao Meng toward Twin Phoenix Tower. A dignified Core Formation Realm expert was so frightened that he hurriedly begged for mercy.

"Senior, we're only going to the top floor to drink tea, admire the scenery, and listen to music. How would Xiaomeng be inconvenient? What are you thinking?"

Looking at Hao Meng, who had already reddened to the roots of his neck, how could Li Mu, who had lived two lives, not know what was on his mind? Unfortunately, Li Mu had no such intentions at all. They had merely happened to pass by today, and the beautiful scenery in his memories had stirred him to bring the Hao siblings along to enjoy it.

In the end, Hao Meng could not withstand the two of them dragging and pulling him along, and he entered the foyer of Twin Phoenix Tower. The luxury before his eyes was no less impressive than its exterior.

In the reception hall, cloud-capped sandalwood formed the beams, crystal jade walls served as lamps, pearls hung as curtains, and gold-plated bases supported the pillars. Beauties of every kind glittered with jewels, and their soft laughter and sweet voices made one reluctant to leave.

"Oh my, Young Master Li! How long has it been since I last saw you? You even brought two friends today. This is the first time you've brought friends here to have fun. Don't worry, I'll call over a few of our leading ladies. I guarantee they'll serve your friends well."

A coquettish cry that melted to the bone drifted over. The three turned to look and saw a woman in luxurious palace dress swaying toward them with jade-lotus steps, her waist twisting as she walked. She fanned her chest with the fan in her hand, and the rolling waves beneath made Hao Meng swallow unconsciously.

"Hmph, Brother, you're not allowed to look."

Seeing her brother's embarrassment, Hao Xiaomeng puffed out her cheeks, moved close to Hao Meng, and twisted his arm with a snort. Sure enough, a girl's jealousy knew no age.

"Aunt Hua, please stop teasing me. I brought my friends to Star Picking Pavilion to admire the scenery today."

Li Mu was clearly very familiar with the madam called Aunt Hua. After all, in his previous life, he had spent a great deal of time in Twin Phoenix Tower over the years. From the madam to the servants below, everyone knew Li Mu. Xiaoyu's parents had also been arranged by Li Mu to find work at Twin Phoenix Tower. Thus, Li Mu, who had inherited all the memories of his previous life, was naturally thoroughly familiar with this place.

The three followed Aunt Hua through Twin Phoenix Tower, passing countless prominent figures of Qinglan City along the way. Twin Phoenix Tower had been established only a few years ago, yet it had already become the favored place of entertainment for the city's dignitaries and nobles. No matter what one desired, it could be satisfied here. Of course, what drew guests most were its Four Courtesans.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter were the aliases of Twin Phoenix Tower's Four Courtesans. Very few knew their true identities, yet no one could resist their allure. The four had utterly different styles, but all were unforgettable. Tales often arose of young heirs from Aristocratic Clans fighting fiercely over them.

Before long, Li Mu and the other two reached the top floor of Twin Phoenix Tower. Pushing open an exquisite redwood door, an entirely new world instantly unfolded before them. Thick redwood pillars supported the entire pavilion, while the tables, chairs, and tea stands were all made of agarwood nanmu. The floor was paved with white jade and inlaid with golden pearls, luxurious beyond measure.

Most astonishingly, the entire dome of the pavilion was covered in colorless, transparent glazed crystal. Though standing within the pavilion, one felt as though one were beneath a starry sky. Specks of starlight shone through the crystal ceiling and scattered across the pavilion, making people marvel at nature's wondrous spectacle.

"This is the finest spot in Twin Phoenix Tower for viewing the scenery: Star Picking Pavilion. There are usually no other guests here, and we do not open it to the public. Only when Young Master Li Mu comes do we open this place for picking stars, so that he may enjoy the scenery and drink tea."

Aunt Hua was not surprised by the shock in the Hao siblings' hearts. Star Picking Pavilion had originally been a scenic spot designed and built on a whim by the owner of Twin Phoenix Tower. The vast expanse of glazed crystal paired with the light of the stars and moon truly made for a rare and peerless view.

"The world knows that Twin Phoenix Tower's Four Courtesans are beauties without equal, but who would know that the true breathtaking beauty lies precisely within this overlooked pavilion in the sky?"

Li Mu of his previous life had often lingered here, but the current Li Mu was truly visiting for the first time. Though the star-picking view in his memories remained vivid as though it had happened yesterday, it still fell far short of personally standing within it.

"Please rest here for a moment. I'll arrange some tea and refreshments. Oh, and Young Master Li, Miss Summer happens to have no guests today, so I'll call her over as well."

After saying this, Aunt Hua quietly withdrew. Before long, maidservants arrived carrying tea and all kinds of exquisite pastries. Li Mu and the Hao siblings drank tea, admired the view, and chatted to their hearts' content.

Accompanied by a series of gentle footsteps, the redwood door slowly opened again. A young girl in red entered, holding a pipa in her arms.

The girl's delicate beauty carried a hint of heroic spirit, and she shone brilliantly. She was truly as lovely as spring plum blossoms blooming amid snow, her bearing like autumn orchids draped in frost. She looked to be around eighteen or nineteen, her cheeks warm and glowing like rosy clouds reflected in a clear pond, her eyes sparkling like moonlight cast upon a cold river.

"Miss Summer, it has been a long time. You remain as radiant as ever. Today, my friends and I have gathered here for a small get-together. I must trouble you to play for us. I am truly ashamed."

Li Mu recognized the peerlessly beautiful girl who had entered as one of Twin Phoenix Tower's Four Courtesans, Summer. In the memories of his previous life, every time he came to Star Picking Pavilion to admire the view, Miss Summer had accompanied him. One would recite poetry while the other played the zither; their relationship had been exceedingly close.

But the current Li Mu was no longer the Li Mu of his previous life. After hesitating for a moment, he still cupped his hands and bowed politely to the girl in red, thanking her for coming to play music and add to the occasion.

Upon hearing Li Mu's words, the girl's entire body suddenly stiffened. But she quickly recovered, said it was no trouble, then sat upon a cushion to the right of the three and began to play. No one noticed that the burning gaze she had carried when entering the room became somewhat bleak and sorrowful after Li Mu's carefully considered words of politeness.

Her jade-like hands lightly plucked the strings, and her slender fingers danced back and forth across them. The sound flowing from her fingertips was like a butterfly spreading its wings to take flight, fluttering its nimble wings; yet it was also like a secluded valley deep in the mountains, tranquil and far-reaching, leaving one's heart open and spirit refreshed.

Starlight and moonlight swayed across pale walls, wind carried tree shadows over jade railings; the Twin Phoenix maiden came to play, performing a song of rainbow robes.

When the song ended, she slowly rose and bowed to the three. Holding the ancient zither in her arms, the girl was truly a peerless beauty of the human world, radiant as a flower.

"I heard that Twin Phoenix Tower's Four Courtesans, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, are each highly accomplished in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They usually sell their arts but not themselves, yet countless young heirs of Aristocratic Clans are still captivated by them. Miss Summer's performance today truly left lingering echoes around the beams, with an endless aftertaste."

Hao Meng, too, had been immersed in the wondrous music, and he sincerely praised the girl in red for her skill with the zither.

"Brother, I think you've heard quite a lot of secrets about Twin Phoenix Tower today. Who told you all that?"

Hao Xiaomeng also found the girl in red's music stunning, but she still eyed her brother suspiciously. Her stare made Hao Meng cough awkwardly, his entire face flushing crimson.

Li Mu was also amused by the reactions of the siblings beside him. He took a light sip of tea, only to meet a gaze. That gaze contained complicated threads of affection, yet at that moment, Li Mu felt wave after wave of resentment and sorrow from it.

Just as Li Mu opened his mouth to say something, a burst of piercing shouting and curses rose from downstairs, making all three of them frown.