Ji Baiyu

"Kid, is that any way to speak to my young master?" Before Chang Wei could say anything, his servant Laifu could no longer hold back and stepped forward.

Xu Zimo gave Hei Shisan a look. Everyone heard a sharp clang, and a line of blood sprayed from Laifu's neck.

Then Laifu's body crashed heavily to the ground.

"You killed him!" Chang Wei staggered back several steps in fright and said in horror.

"Junior Brother," Guan Zhenhai beside him also felt this was somewhat improper. Killing someone at the slightest disagreement was far too violent.

"Go back and tell your father that I will personally visit your Chang Family at noon tomorrow," Xu Zimo said with a faint smile.

"You... you..." Chang Wei pointed at Xu Zimo, unable to speak for a long while. In the end, he nodded and said, "Fine. Our Chang Family will be waiting for you."

Watching Chang Wei's hurriedly departing figure, Guan Zhenhai frowned slightly and looked at Xu Zimo. "Junior Brother, why?"

"Senior Brother, eat some more dishes. This food tastes pretty good," Xu Zimo said with a smile instead of answering. He picked up a piece of beef, ate it, and called out, "Shopkeeper, clean up this corpse. It's an eyesore lying there."

"Right away, right away. I'll take care of it now," the Bright Moon Tower shopkeeper hurried upstairs, leading two attendants to swiftly carry the corpse away.

Then he smiled at Xu Zimo and said, "If today's dishes aren't to your liking, please feel free to say so. Consider this meal my treat for all you heavenly geniuses."

"Pay whatever it costs. I don't have the habit of eating without paying," Xu Zimo said, smiling as he shook his head.

After they finished eating, Xu Zimo smiled and asked Guan Zhenhai, "Senior Brother Guan, does Tianjian City have any brothels?"

"What brothels?" Guan Zhenhai hurriedly shook his head. "But in Tianjian City, there is a place many romantic scholars often visit. I can take you there for a look."

"You mean Yunyan Pavilion, don't you?" Xu Zimo asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Looks like Junior Brother Zimo enjoys this sort of thing too," Guan Zhenhai said, nodding quickly. "Unfortunately, the women of Yunyan Pavilion sell their arts, not their bodies.

"If Junior Brother truly has the ability to make one of the women there willingly follow you, that would count as a fine tale indeed."

"Let's go take a look," Xu Zimo said with a smile.

Tang Huaiyuan, Xiao Yu, and Feng Buyu did not wish to go to such a Land of Smoke and Snow, so they returned to the Branch Hall early.

Xu Zimo and the other four headed for Yunyan Pavilion.

Yunyan Pavilion stood beside Tianjian City's moat. It was a small three-story pavilion built from azure cloud bamboo.

At this moment, the spring breeze brushed their faces, ripples dotted the river's surface, and weeping willows on both banks swayed with the wind. The sight was exceedingly pleasant.

Before Yunyan Pavilion, the doorway was as bustling as a marketplace. Two delicate and elegant young women welcomed guests at the entrance—graceful scholars as well as martial artists who licked blood from knife edges.

On the boats sailing across the river, beauties accompanied scholars, composing poems and matching couplets amid the wind, flowers, snow, and moon.

Xu Zimo's group entered Yunyan Pavilion, where the interior was extremely spacious.

Guests filled both sides. In the central area, five slender women played music and danced.

Lin Ruhu put on an extravagant air. He tossed a Spirit Crystal onto the table and shouted, "Madam, bring out your finest girl—your top courtesan!"

"Oh my, this young master looks like an Unfamiliar Face," said the Yunyan Pavilion Madam, a woman whose charm still lingered. Swaying her full figure, she approached with a smile.

"Why so much nonsense? Call out your top courtesan," Lin Ruhu said, looking every inch the pampered young master.

"What's the rush, Young Master? Our top courtesan, Miss Baiyu, isn't receiving guests today." The Madam stroked Lin Ruhu's chest with her hand and chided coquettishly, "How about I find several other girls for you? I guarantee they'll make Young Master enjoy himself."

"Why isn't she receiving guests? Am I not handsome enough, or have I not offered enough money?" Lin Ruhu asked, dashing away his snot with a handsome flick.

"It has nothing to do with either. I cannot interfere in Miss Baiyu's affairs. But if Young Master truly wishes to see Miss Baiyu, there is another way." The Madam paused before saying, "Miss Baiyu once left behind a painting with some calligraphy. She said that if someone could answer the question in the painting, she could fulfill one request for that young master."

"That exciting?" Lin Ruhu said with a smile. "Take me to see this painting."

Xu Zimo, meanwhile, asked with interest, "What is Miss Baiyu's full name?"

"Her surname is Ji. Her full name is Ji Baiyu," the Madam explained with a smile.

"The Sword Dancing Immortal, Ji Baiyu," Xu Zimo murmured, then smiled.

The Madam led them to a side hall, where many talented scholars had already gathered.

A painting hung on the wall directly ahead. It depicted a lifelike white crane.

The white crane stood in a Mud Pit filled with filth. One foot rested on the mud while the other was slightly raised, creating the pose of a golden rooster standing on one leg.

"Miss Baiyu's question is: why is this white crane standing in the Mud Pit in such a posture?" the madam asked with a smile.

"Because the white crane loves cleanliness and doesn't want the Mud Pit to dirty it," Lin Ruhu answered tentatively.

"That answer is very close, but it is not the answer Miss Baiyu wants," the Madam said, shaking her head with a smile.

The scholars nearby also began trying to guess.

"Because this white crane is practicing some strange martial art?"

"This white crane stands in that posture because it wants to display its pride."

"This white crane is taking a dump!"

Everyone scrambled to answer, but the Madam merely shook her head calmly.

Some had already come several times, yet still could not answer the question. They could only sigh softly, their faces full of regret and disappointment.

"You all call yourselves romantic scholars in vain, yet you do not understand a woman's heart," Xu Zimo said with a light laugh, shaking his head.

"Why mock us, Brother? We're all six of one and half a dozen of the other," someone beside him said, looking at Xu Zimo. "Could it be that Brother knows the answer?"

"What is so difficult about it?" Xu Zimo shook his head. "Ruhu actually got half of it right just now.

"The reason the white crane stands on one leg is that it does not wish to be dirtied by this Mud Pit.

"Miss Baiyu is actually comparing herself to the white crane. Though she resides in this Land of Smoke and Snow, she is still like that white crane—doing all she can to raise one foot, emerging from the mud unstained, washed by clear ripples yet never bewitching."

Upon hearing Xu Zimo's explanation, everyone present seemed to experience a flash of inspiration, and the confusion in their minds instantly cleared.

"Young Master, please wait a moment. I will go ask Miss Baiyu," the Madam said hurriedly, surprise flashing through her eyes.

Watching the Madam's departing figure, the crowd erupted as though a pot had boiled over, each person asking Xu Zimo's name.

But Xu Zimo merely shook his head and whispered to Shili Changkong beside him, "Come upstairs with me later. This woman is no ordinary brothel girl!"