Myriad Joy Tower is a three-story brick and wood structure with strings of long red lanterns hanging from its high eaves.
A night breeze swept by, causing the long lanterns to sway, and the Myriad Joy Tower seemed to ripple gently under the flowing red light.
Many pedestrians looked at the brightly decorated Myriad Joy Tower from afar, their faces showing envy.
They all knew the fame of Myriad Joy Tower, and knew it was the most expensive restaurant in the city, where spending a thousand or eight hundred taels of silver a night was commonplace.
The pair of stone lions in front of the main entrance of Myriad Joy Tower look like they might bite. Ordinary people don't dare to look at them for long when they pass by. At most, they can only glance at them from afar and fantasize about the extravagance inside the restaurant.
On the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Myriad Joy Tower was at its liveliest.
Several neatly dressed waiters greeted the guests efficiently.
The waiters who can serve as greeters are all clever and quick-witted. They know almost all the prominent figures in the city, and even if they don't know them personally, they can roughly guess the identity of the guests just by looking at their grandeur and manner.
One of the men saw a troop of knights slowly approaching from afar and immediately perked up, saying to those around him, "Third Master has arrived! Go and greet him!"
There are many people in Yunze City who are third in rank, but only one can be called Third Master without his surname: Xie Lingyun.
Xie Lingyun rarely comes to Myriad Joy Tower, but everyone knows how important she is.
Besides, Xie Lingyun had already sent someone over and booked the largest private room.
As a group of waiters went to greet them, another waiter hurriedly returned to the restaurant to report.
When Xie Lingyun and his group arrived at the gate, the innkeeper was already bowing and greeting them. "Third Master, your room is ready, please come in..."
Zhou Wuji glanced at the shopkeeper, whose head was bowed deeply, so all that could be seen was his thin, gray-haired back, but not his facial features.
"Yes, we're having a dinner party for friends today, so please do as usual."
Xie Lingyun didn't even look at these people. He smiled at Zhou Wuji and said, "Their chef is quite skilled, especially his braised fish. The flavor is rich and layered. By the way, their aged wine is also twenty or thirty years old; it's very mellow..."
Zhou Wuji smiled, "I'm a wild man from the mountains, and today I'm going to see the prosperity of the city."
"Ha ha ha ha..."
Xie Lingyun laughed, " Yunze is located in a remote corner, a rather wild place. The food, drink, and entertainment are all quite rough. Wuji won't laugh at us."
He and Zhou Wuji were close, and they entered the restaurant hand in hand.
The shopkeeper and his staff were all listening nearby, surprised and wondering who this newcomer was that Xie Lingyun was so enthusiastic about.
They secretly sized up Zhou Wuji, finding him handsome, refined, and extraordinary, but no one recognized him.
Once inside the private room, the guards and attendants went to the rooms on either side, leaving two guards standing watch at the door.
This was Zhou Wuji's first time visiting such a large restaurant. The private room had a huge round table in the center, and there were soft couches next to it for people to rest and drink tea.
Looking down from the window, you can see the high platform of the central courtyard below.
Several musicians were playing the zither and flute there, their melodious sounds filling the air.
The area around the platform was filled with scattered seats, all occupied by guests. People were eating, drinking, and chatting, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
There are two levels of private rooms surrounding the atrium, and people are moving around in and out of the windows, so the rooms seem to be full.
Zhou Wuji quite liked this lively and bustling atmosphere. From Hidden Dragon Temple to Cloud Dragon Lower Court, and then to Cloud Marsh Lower Court, he had been busy with cultivation and work, but this was the first time he had time to come out and have fun.
Myriad Joy Tower was pretty much what he had imagined, even a bit rougher, but it was lively enough and did have a bit of a New Year's atmosphere.
Xie Lingyun walked to the window, pointed to the high platform below, and said, "We've invited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to perform. They are extremely famous in Chu Province and can be considered the best."
Zhou Wuji didn't know what the Hundred Flowers Pavilion did, but the name itself made people wonder.
The performance quickly began on the platform. Several musicians were changed, and the drumbeats pounded. Two men wearing red bellybands jumped up. Their faces were painted with face paint. They told bawdy jokes and made funny faces and other comical gestures, which drew roars of laughter from the audience...
Zhou Wuji understood. He had thought it was opera, but it turned out to be a relatively simple farce, even inferior to the Errenzhuan (a type of folk opera) of his previous life. The jokes were not only crude but also boring, and there was nothing funny about it.
Xie Lingyun clearly rarely watched this kind of performance; his face was full of smiles, but seeing Zhou Wuji expression, he suppressed the corners of his mouth that were turning up.
"These people are crude and vulgar, and it is precisely because of this that they have become popular among the common people..."
Xie Lingyun added, "There will also be a song and dance performance by the Hundred Flowers Pavilion later, which is said to be exceptional."
Zhou Wuji laughed and said, " Hundred Flowers Pavilion? I thought it was full of beauties?"
"She is indeed a beauty... It is said that the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was originally raised by the Zhang Household, but later somehow she started performing for money everywhere. However, with the Zhang Household protecting her, no one dared to be disrespectful..."
Xie Lingyun knew a little about the origins of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, and since he had nothing else to do, he told Zhou Wuji about it.
"I see."
Zhou Wuji, however, became somewhat wary. In this era, news traveled slowly, yet these traveling opera troupes and dance groups were able to come into contact with powerful figures in various places and easily obtain important information that would not normally circulate.
Beautiful women are incredibly useful for gathering information; they're impossible to guard against.
Besides, these beautiful women don't need to pry into any secrets.
A lot of important information can be gleaned from just a few words exchanged at a banquet.
Zhou Wuji thought about it again and realized he had nothing to be afraid of. He had kept the killing of Zhang Banshan and Zhang Yunfeng a closely guarded secret; even if a beautiful woman were to enter his womb, she would never know these secrets.
As the farce ended, melodious music filled the air, and eight women appeared on the high platform. Their faces were covered with light veils, and they wore beautiful embroidered long dresses, with their arms and feet exposed.
A group of women danced gracefully, their radiant skin glowing beautifully under the lights, their figures slender and graceful, captivating the audience who watched with wide eyes.
Yunze City is not small, but it has never had such beautiful and exquisite song and dance performances. Everyone looked on with a fascination and infatuation.
Zhou Wuji also observed very carefully. These women were agile and at least at the level of Ming Jin ( Manifest Force ), with a few at the level of Hidden Force hidden strength), and two of them had even reached the level of Hua Jin ( Transforming Force ).
It was indeed quite unexpected for him that Seventh Rank Transforming Force cultivator would dance in public to please everyone.
It's worth noting that even Seventh Rank Transforming Force can dominate a county town. Of course, this also requires the support of a powerful Lineage.
Both being at the Seventh Rank Transforming Force, Yang Shuling could only manage a martial arts school, while Zhang Xinhu was able to dominate Siming County.
For a woman to become a powerful figure through martial arts, the difficulty increases tenfold. Even so, he still found it very interesting to see two female martial artists with the Transforming Force dancing.
This further confirmed his judgment: if it weren't for gathering intelligence, why would they send a martial artist at the Transforming Force to do this?
When the song and dance ended, the audience erupted in cheers. Some wealthy patrons even threw silver and copper coins into the stands.
The women remained silent and gracefully descended from the platform in an orderly fashion.
Xie Lingyun smiled and looked at Zhou Wuji: "Do these women still meet Wuji's standards?"
Zhou Wuji nodded in praise, "Graceful and elegant, as ethereal as Flowing Clouds and as light as a flying bird, truly exquisitely beautiful."
"Wu Ji is Wuji; he can praise people so beautifully."
Xie Lingyun called out loudly, "Someone come here!"
Immediately, a guard knocked and entered. Xie Lingyun instructed, "Go and call the two beauties who are in charge to come up and have a drink with us."
The guard immediately obeyed and left.
Although Zhou Wuji felt it was unnecessary, it was normal practice.
No matter how famous Hundred Flowers Pavilion is, in Yunze still have to listen to the Xie Household. To be honest, Xie Lingyun's willingness to see them is a favor to them.
The performance on the platform continued, and then several more men came up and performed various magic tricks, such as conjuring fish tanks, which drew cheers from the audience...
A moment later, the guard knocked on the door and entered, followed by three women.
The woman at the head of the group was around thirty years old, with delicate features, though some wrinkles had appeared at the corners of her eyes. She wore a gold hairpin and a brocade jacket, and before speaking, she smiled and gave a deep curtsy, " Xiao Yun greets Third Master."
Two women followed behind her, bowing respectfully. One wore a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and the other a plain white long dress. One had a soft voice, and the other a clear, melodious voice.
Xiao Yun hurriedly introduced her to Xie Lingyun: "Third Master, this is Peach Blossom."
Peach Blossom wore a bright red vest over a gauze dress, and a pinkish-red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) underneath. She was beautiful, and her large, watery Peach Blossom were full of charm.
Peach Blossom bowed again. " Peach Blossom greets Third Master. May Third Master enjoy good fortune and longevity."
Xie Lingyun's eyes lit up; he liked beautiful and charming women like this.
Although Yunze has beautiful women, they lack the gentle and elegant charm of women in this area.
Seeing that Xie Lingyun was satisfied, Xiao Yun immediately had Peach Blossom sit to Xie Lingyun's left.
A woman in plain clothes also came forward and greeted him softly, " Pear Blossom greets Third Master."
Zhou Wuji observed that the woman had a well-proportioned and dignified appearance, wore no makeup, had skin as white as snow, and possessed a natural air of cool elegance between her brows.
In terms of temperament, she is quite similar to Li Ruyi Li Ruyi, but she has a more tranquil and composed air about her.
Her appearance alone is extremely beautiful, but her beauty is understated and elegant, not as bright and vibrant as that of Peach Blossom.
Xie Lingyun nodded and smiled, " Pear Blossom, not bad. Come, sit next to my friend."
He pointed to Zhou Wuji's right side. Pear Blossom didn't say anything, but walked gracefully to Zhou Wuji's side and slowly sat down.
Although Xie Lingyun, as a military general, rarely attended such occasions, he naturally possessed an air of imperious authority that made people dare not refuse him.
Xiao Yun then took the opportunity to look up and saw that he looked to be in his early twenties. He had a handsome face, wore a jade crown to tie his hair up, wore a dark blue robe, had a tall and slender figure, and had a gentle and refined temperament, as clear as the moon.
Xiao Yun approached with a forced smile, picked up the wine pot, and filled Xie Lingyun and Zhou Wuji's cups. "We have long admired Third Master's name. To be summoned by him today is our greatest honor..."
Xie Lingyun, however, was impatient to talk to her. He waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."
Xiao Yun didn't dare to say anything more and left the room with her back bent.
She went downstairs and found the shopkeeper, asking about the background of the man beside Xie Lingyun.
The shopkeeper, pulled by Xiao Yun's delicate hand, felt his bones go weak and immediately blurted out everything he knew, "We don't know him at all, we only heard Third Master call him Wuji..."
Back in her room, Xiao Yun's beautiful face showed a thoughtful expression. " Wuji? And so handsome and dashing, he must be the Sword Lord Xiaoxiang!"
Xiao Yun couldn't help but click her tongue in admiration. Everyone says this person is good-looking, and it's true.
Although Xie Lingyun was heroic and imposing, he still appeared somewhat crude next to Zhou Wuji.
Such a person is truly unforgettable!
Xiao Yun picked up her pen and wrote in the book, "On the evening of the first day of the first month of the twenty-third year of Tianhong, at the Myriad Joy Restaurant in Yunze City, Xie Lingyun and Zhou Wuji met secretly and chatted without restraint."
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