Teasing Emotions II

Teasing Emotions II

Downstairs, several hundred round lanterns painted with the character for dragon shone with brilliant golden light, forming hundreds of points of light that surrounded a crimson dragon.

The dragon lunged left and right, trying to break out of the lanterns' encirclement. The points of light and the dragon battled without pause, creating an extraordinarily dazzling and lively dragon festival.

Clusters of golden, red, and yellow fireworks continually burst into the sky, their three colors bathing the entire scene in resplendent golden radiance.

Riding the excitement, everyone watched the dragon dance for a while before returning to their table to drink and eat. All those present were offspring of merchants, with not a single one born of an aristocratic family. Their lack of cultivation and refinement immediately showed. Once their spirits rose, all their earlier pretenses of elegance vanished; each threw restraint to the wind, laughing loudly and slapping the table.

"Is the tenth floor open to just anyone now?"

An impatient voice suddenly came from a nearby table.

Everyone's laughter abruptly stopped, and they quickly turned to look.

At the neighboring table, three refined young scholars were gazing coldly in their direction.

The one who had spoken was a fair-skinned scholar with a long, thin face.

"In such an elegant place, they actually let such vulgar people come upstairs. It seems Xunyang Tower is becoming more and more inferior to what it used to be," the scholar said coldly.

Unexpectedly, after Song Zhenguo recognized the speaker, he—usually one to press his advantage whenever he was in the right—rarely made a sound. He merely lowered his head and drank in silence.

Most of the others also lowered their heads without speaking, their voices quickly fading. Even Chen Yunxi bit her lip and remained silent. Among this group, her family background was the best. If even she did not dare to talk back, then those three clearly had no small backing.

"Isn't this Miss Chen Yunxi? As expected of a merchant's daughter—those she associates with are all people who know nothing of etiquette.

"Last time, your elder brother said quite a few good things before me, smiling apologetically as he offered to give you to me as a concubine. I was somewhat tempted then, but looking at things now, it seems I truly made the right choice by refusing." Another young master idly played with a string of Buddhist beads and shook his head with a smile.

Hearing this, Chen Yunxi glanced at Lu Sheng as though shocked by an electric current, then immediately lowered her head. Her entire face and neck had turned crimson, and even her body was trembling.

Yet despite that, among the eight or nine people at the table, not one dared to speak up in resistance.

Lu Sheng shook his head inwardly. Looking at Song Zhenguo again, he saw that Song Zhenguo's fists were clenched tight and the veins in his neck stood out, engorged with blood. He was clearly furious to the extreme.

"A bunch of cowards," the thin-faced scholar spat softly.

"Did your mother never teach you what manners are? Or do you need this young master to properly teach you what breeding is?"

A calm voice suddenly rang out from beside Chen Yunxi.

The thin-faced scholar had originally intended to ignore this group and was just about to lift his wine cup and continue drinking when he heard those words. His eyes flew wide open, and he sharply turned toward Chen Yunxi.

The other two at that table also revealed looks of surprise as they looked at Chen Yunxi.

Song Zhenguo abruptly grabbed Lu Sheng's hand and frantically signaled with his eyes. He himself slowly rose to his feet, cupped his hands toward the three men, and was about to apologize.

Lu Sheng smiled and stood. "Our noise disturbed others, and that was our fault. But maliciously attacking a girl with words, a young woman who has only just come of age—looks like the three of you are no good either."

Coming of age meant reaching marriageable age. For women here, that age was sixteen. Chen Yunxi had only just turned sixteen, a full three years younger than Lu Sheng.

"Bold!" The thin-faced scholar sprang to his feet, glaring coldly at Lu Sheng. "I never thought that in Yan Mountain City, there would actually be—"

"Enough, Su De." The only young master among the three who had not spoken slowly opened his mouth. The instant he did, the indignant expressions of the other two were forcibly suppressed, replaced by looks of gloating delight. Clearly, the man who had spoken had an even greater background.

"It is only a minor matter. Let it end here. The time has come; we should be leaving as well." The young master had regular features and an imposing, composed bearing. His words carried an air of calm magnanimity, as though their dispute was no more than children playing house in his eyes.

"Fine. Since Young Master Rong has spoken! Hmph!" The thin-faced scholar snorted coldly and shot Lu Sheng a vicious glare.

Lu Sheng had already been prepared to directly teach the three a lesson. He had also noticed several fierce gazes directed at them from not far away, but they were merely at the Power Through level. To him, it only meant a few more palms.

There were differences even within the Power Through level. Someone like Uncle Zhao, at the peak of Power Through, could handle two ordinary Power Through martial artists alone. It was like practicing the same martial art—different people attained different depths of skill.

What was more, Lu Sheng was now an internal martial arts expert. His Black Fiend Qi cultivation was effective even against demons and ghosts; if it struck ordinary people, its power would likely be even more terrifying.

Though he had never truly faced them before, three to five Power Through experts amounted to nothing in his eyes. Even the higher Power Intent level was at most equivalent to three Power Through martial artists and was nothing to fear.

The three rose and slowly departed, and the conflict dissolved just like that. Song Zhenguo also let out a fierce breath of relief.

As soon as the three left, Chen Yunxi could no longer remain. Tears filled her eyes as she rose to bid them farewell. Lu Sheng wanted to see her off, but she gently declined, then hurried away.

The others had lost all interest in watching the dragon dance. After Song Zhenguo sent off his female companion, he pulled Lu Sheng and Wang Ziquan toward the riverbank.

The Pine Cypress River was calm and windless at night. One brightly lit pleasure boat after another, hung with Red Lights, drifted slowly across the River Surface.

Familiar with the route, Song Zhenguo led the two aboard a relatively large painted boat. The Boat Woman, still charming despite her age, came forward to greet them.

"Young Master Song, it has been a long time. Ruler has been talking about you in this servant's ear all the time."

The Boat Woman's speech and manner held none of the dusty air of the pleasure quarters, leaving Lu Sheng clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Ruler is free now, yes?" Song Zhenguo asked with a smile as he led the way inside.

"Of course. She has been waiting for Young Master Song to arrive," the Boat Woman replied with a smile. "If the other two young masters have any girls they fancy, you may tell this servant as well."

The three were led into a private small room, decorated with exceptional elegance.

Then a row of roughly a dozen women in thin gauze entered. Each was graceful and alluring, with an elegant bearing like that of a noble young lady. Their beauty was varied, each with her own charms.

"This humble group greets the three young masters." The women all bowed in salute.

"Brothers, pick one each. It is on me tonight." Song Zhenguo put his arm around a woman who had entered later and spoke casually.

Wang Ziquan's eyes had already gone straight, his face flushed red as he had no idea which one to choose.

Lu Sheng, however, remained calm. He casually pointed to one who looked quiet and refined, having her sit beside him.

Once the three had made their choices, some nourishing flower tea to enliven the mood was brought in, followed by scantily dressed girls who played music and danced.

"What happened today... really..." The moment Song Zhenguo mentioned what had happened at Xunyang Tower, his face reddened and the breath caught in his chest refused to go down.

"Brother Song, with beautiful scenery and lovely ladies beside us, why speak such dispiriting words? Come, drink!" Wang Ziquan's hands had begun to wander restlessly, constantly groping the girl beside him. He was already getting impatient.

The three girls giggled as they comforted Song Zhenguo, and Lu Sheng also took the opportunity to persuade him. Only then did Song Zhenguo's mood improve slightly.

"If I was not mistaken, one of the three who mocked us today was Wang Shunyong, the son of Yan Mountain City's Vice General. Others would be one thing, but this Wang Shunyong is different..."

"And that Young Master Rong's background must be even greater," Wang Ziquan added.

Lu Sheng shook his head without speaking. Having seen a larger world, people like these so-called young masters could no longer catch his eye.

"Why bring up such disappointing matters? Keep drinking! Tonight, we will not return until we are drunk!" Wang Ziquan shouted.

Song Zhenguo also cast aside the troubles in his heart and began drinking deeply.

Lu Sheng did not particularly enjoy such occasions, but seeing that Song Zhenguo was in a poor mood, he stayed and drank with him until late into the night.

The painted boat only offered wine and performances, not their bodies. By the time the three emerged after drinking, it was already the middle of the night, around the second watch of the Chou hour—roughly two to three in the morning.

After parting ways with the other two, Lu Sheng felt rather reflective. Rich young masters and ladies like Song Zhenguo and Chen Yunxi did not even dare answer back when they encountered the children of officials. It seemed merchants still held low status in this world.

He had drunk quite a bit. Though he was not drunk, his mind had become much clearer, and he felt no sleepiness at all. Leaving the Pine Cypress River, he headed toward where he lived. He tried hailing carriages several times along the way, but none had any empty seats.

It was too late, and even carriage drivers were scarce; most had returned to rest. Thus, he could only make his way back on foot.

The city streets were cold and empty in the middle of the night, with only a scattered few drunkards muttering nonsense.

The houses on either side were completely dark. Only the lanterns outside the occasional wealthy household swayed in the wind, casting a faint red glow.

The wind wailed as it blew, carrying a hint of chill.

Lu Sheng quickened his pace. When he was halfway home, he suddenly discovered that his Waist Pouch had vanished at some point.

He searched himself from top to bottom but could not find it anywhere.

"It must have been left on the painted boat." Lu Sheng recalled that the Waist Pouch contained the note Duanmu Wan had given him, and his room key was also inside. He could not lose it, so he turned and hurried back toward the pleasure boats.

Walking swiftly, Lu Sheng retraced his route and returned to the Pine Cypress River. By then, most of the painted boats along the bank had finished for the night and taken down their hanging colored streamers. The riverbank had also become rather deserted.

He continued along the way and quickly found the painted boat from which they had disembarked earlier.

The painted boat had already docked. It was cold and empty, without a soul in sight. A yellow lantern on the deck gently swayed in the river wind.

They should be done for the night. The girls have gone home to rest, so this should be cleaning time. Lu Sheng stepped onto the painted boat from the pier.

"Is anyone here?" Lu Sheng called twice as he walked from the deck into the boat.

The interior of the painted boat was completely empty, its floor exceptionally clean. Fine varnish still glinted on the slightly aged wooden boards.

Lu Sheng entered through the entrance to the pleasure boat. Inside was a somewhat narrow passage. Beyond it lay a hall, with rows of private rooms on either side across the three-story boat.

A small swaying lantern hung outside every room. Faint red light shone from them, and that festive color seemed all the more desolate in the deep night.

"Is anyone here?" Lu Sheng looked around, only to find that there was not a single person anywhere on the entire pleasure boat.

"I do not remember there being this many Red Lanterns when we came earlier..." His eyes narrowed slightly, and his heart tightened.

The pleasure boat had three floors, with five rooms on each floor—a total of fifteen rooms. Red Lanterns hung outside every door. Their faint red glow dyed the entire boat crimson, and all was silent.