Ji Baiyu

Chapter 19: Ji Baiyu

"Kid, how dare you speak to my master like that?" Before Chang Wei could even speak, his servant Laifu had already stepped forward, unable to hold back.

Xu Zimo shot Hei Shisan a glance. The crowd only heard a sharp "clang" as a line of blood sprayed from Laifu's neck.

Then they watched as Laifu's body crashed heavily to the ground.

"You killed him," Chang Wei stammered, stumbling back a few steps in shock.

"Junior Brother," Guan Zhenhai said from the side, also feeling this was inappropriate. Killing someone over a few words—too violent.

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

"You... you..." Chang Wei pointed at Xu Zimo, unable to form words for a long moment. Finally, he nodded and said, "Fine. The Chang Family will be waiting for you."

Watching Chang Wei's hurried retreat, Guan Zhenhai furrowed his brow and asked Xu Zimo, "Junior Brother, why?"

"Senior Brother, have some more food. This dish tastes pretty good," Xu Zimo said with a smile, saying nothing more. He picked up a piece of beef and called out as he ate, "Shopkeeper, clean up this corpse. No need to leave it here spoiling the view."

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

Then he smiled at Xu Zimo and said, "If anything about today's meal isn't to your liking, feel free to speak up. This meal is on me, for all you distinguished talents."

"Charge what's due. I don't have the habit of eating for free," Xu Zimo said with a chuckle, shaking his head.

After the meal, Xu Zimo smiled and asked Guan Zhenhai, "Senior Brother Guan, does Tianjian City have any brothels?"

"Brothels? What brothels?" Guan Zhenhai quickly shook his head. "But in Tianjian City, there is a place many romantic scholars frequent. I can take you to have a look."

"You mean Yunyan Pavilion," Xu Zimo said, narrowing his eyes.

"It seems Junior Brother Xu has a taste for this as well," Guan Zhenhai nodded eagerly. "Unfortunately, the women at Yunyan Pavilion sell their art, not their bodies. If Junior Brother truly has the skill to win one of those ladies over willingly, that would be quite a tale."

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

Tang Huaiyuan, Xiao Yu, and Feng Buyu had no interest in such places of pleasure and returned to the branch hall early.

Xu Zimo and the other four headed to Yunyan Pavilion.

Yunyan Pavilion stood beside Tianjian City's moat, a three-story small tower built from green cloud bamboo.

At that moment, a spring breeze brushed by, the river rippled with tiny waves, and weeping willows swayed on both banks—a very pleasant scene.

Before Yunyan Pavilion, the entrance was bustling. Two elegant, refined young women greeted guests at the door—some were dashing scholars, others were battle-hardened warriors.

On the river's sailboats, beauties accompanied talented men, reciting poetry and enjoying romance.

Xu Zimo's group entered Yunyan Pavilion. The interior was quite spacious.

Both sides were filled with guests. In the center, five slender women were playing music and dancing.

Lin Ruhu put on an air of extravagance, slapping a Spirit Crystal on the table and shouting, "Madam, bring out your best girl—the top courtesan!"

"Oh my, this young master looks like an Unfamiliar Face," the Madam of Yunyan Pavilion said, a woman still retaining some charm. She swayed her voluptuous figure as she approached with a smile.

"Enough talk. Bring out your top courtesan," Lin Ruhu said, playing the part of a spoiled young master.

"What's the hurry, young master? Our top courtesan, Miss Baiyu, isn't receiving guests today," the Madam said, reaching out to touch Lin Ruhu's chest with a playful scold. "How about I find you a few other girls? I guarantee you'll have a good time."

"Why isn't she receiving guests? Is it because I'm not handsome enough, or I didn't pay enough?" Lin Ruhu asked, stylishly flicking his snot away.

"It's none of that. I can't control Miss Baiyu's decisions either. But if you truly want to see her, there is another way," the Madam paused. "Miss Baiyu once left behind a painting. She said that if anyone could answer the question on it, she would grant that young master one request."

"That exciting?" Lin Ruhu laughed. "Take me to see this painting."

Xu Zimo, standing nearby, asked with interest, "What's Miss Baiyu's full name?"

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

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

The Madam led the group to a side hall, where many scholars and talented men had already gathered.

On the wall directly opposite hung a painting. It depicted a lifelike White Crane.

The White Crane stood in a muddy pit, one foot planted in the mire while the other was slightly raised—a pose reminiscent of a golden rooster standing on one leg.

"Miss Baiyu's question is: why is this White Crane standing in the mud in this posture?" the Madam said with a smile.

"Because the White Crane loves cleanliness and doesn't want the mud to dirty it," Lin Ruhu ventured.

"That answer is close, but it's not what Miss Baiyu is looking for," the Madam said, shaking her head with a smile.

Nearby, other scholars began trying their guesses.

"Because the White Crane is practicing some strange martial art?"

"Standing like this is the White Crane's way of showing its pride."

"The White Crane is taking a dump!"

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

Some had come several times already yet still couldn't answer the question above, only sighing softly, their faces full of regret and disappointment.

"You gentlemen call yourselves romantic talents, yet you don't understand a woman's heart," Xu Zimo said with a light chuckle, shaking his head.

"Why mock us, brother? We're all six of one and half a dozen of the other," someone nearby said, looking at Xu Zimo. "Unless you know the answer?"

"What's so hard about it?" Xu Zimo shook his head. "Actually, Ruhu already got half of it right just now.

The reason the white crane stands on one leg is precisely because it doesn't want to be dirtied by this mud pit.

Miss Baiyu is likening herself to the white crane. Though she dwells in this Land of Smoke and Snow, she still, like the crane, strives to lift one foot—emerging unstained from the mud, washed clean but not seductive."

Hearing Xu Zimo's explanation, everyone present felt as if a flash of insight had struck them, the confusion in their minds suddenly clearing.

"Young master, please wait a moment. I'll go consult Miss Baiyu," the Madam said, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, before hurrying off.

Watching the Madam's retreating figure, everyone present seemed to explode into chatter, each one asking for Xu Zimo's name.

But Xu Zimo only shook his head and said quietly to Shili Changkong beside him, "You'll come up with me later. This woman is no ordinary brothel girl."