"The Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelation City: the Azure Dragon Envoy Li Xinyue is the inheritor of the Heart Sword and the mistress of the Sword Tomb; the Vermilion Bird Envoy Sikong Changfeng is the third city lord of Snow Moon City and the only Spear Immortal in the world; the Black Tortoise Envoy Tang Lingyue is the top disciple of the Tang Sect in this generation and the future successor of Old Master Tang. These three guardians are all renowned. But the White Tiger Envoy alone wears a ghost mask and has white hair—no one knows his true identity." Su Muyu looked at the tattered paper umbrella in his hand and turned to Su Zhe. "After that battle just now, Uncle Zhe, do you have any guesses about his identity?"
"The Infinite Staff is a treasure of Huanglong Mountain," Su Zhe said slowly. "Could this person be from the Daoist sect?"
Su Muyu lowered his head in thought for a moment, then shook his head. "He shouldn’t be from the Daoist sect. I have a bad feeling—he’s more terrifying than Li Xinyue."
"Oh? You think the White Tiger surpasses the Azure Dragon?" Su Zhe asked, puzzled.
"Li Xinyue’s heart is only set on the stability of Heavenly Revelation City. As long as I don’t cross her bottom line, she won’t act against us. But this person is different. I can’t fathom why he came just now, nor why he left. He has his own purpose, and his mind runs deep." Su Muyu sighed softly.
Su Zhe waved his hand with a laugh. "Don’t dwell on it. In the past, we were the ones causing trouble for others. Now it’s others causing trouble for us. What goes around comes around. When are you calling that brat Chang He over?"
"Not yet," Su Muyu shook his head.
"Ah, don’t be so grim every day. Since you’ve come to Heavenly Revelation City, let me take you somewhere interesting for a change?" Su Changhe patted Su Muyu on the shoulder.
Su Muyu was taken aback. "I’ve already visited all the famous places in Heavenly Revelation City these past few days."
"Like where?" Su Zhe asked.
"The Thousand Gold Platform, the Directorate of Astronomy, the Heaven-Inquiring Stone, the Dragonrise Garden…" Su Muyu listed them one by one.
Su Zhe hastily waved his hands. "Stop, stop, stop! What kind of lousy places are those!"
Su Muyu scratched his head. "They’re the most famous places in Heavenly Revelation City…"
"Bah!" Su Zhe cursed crisply. "The most famous place in Heavenly Revelation City is obviously…"
Su Muyu thought for a moment. "The imperial palace?"
"The Imperial Music Academy!" Su Zhe declared loudly.
As the sun set behind the western mountains, lanterns were lit one by one.
Most of Heavenly Revelation City was slowly falling asleep at this hour, but this place was just waking up.
The Imperial Music Academy, Thirty-Two Pavilions.
Beneath a vast array of red lanterns hanging in the air, Su Zhe walked unsteadily, holding a Buddhist staff with a jade wine bottle dangling from it. "Moyu, you’ve come to Heavenly Revelation City and didn’t even think to visit here?"
"I…" Su Muyu didn’t know how to respond. After a pause, he said, "I didn’t know the way."
"Fair enough. Places like this are easy to get lost in alone." Su Zhe swayed the staff, spilling some wine, then tilted his head back to catch a sip. "The wine doesn’t intoxicate—the drinker intoxicates himself."
"Uncle Zhe, since when do you drink like this?" Su Muyu asked, puzzled.
"…" Su Zhe laughed awkwardly. "Because it looks dashing."
"Uncle Zhe, why is your Mandarin suddenly so good again?" Su Muyu pressed.
"…" Su Zhe laughed awkwardly once more. "Why do you care so much, huh?"
"Then, Uncle Zhe, where are we going now?" Su Muyu asked again."At Hundred Flowers Brothel, a hundred flowers bloom, and when the flowers bloom, beauties come." Su Zhe shook the wine gourd hanging from his Buddhist staff. "Naturally, we're going to Hundred Flowers Brothel."
Hundred Flowers Brothel.
A riot of color.
Graceful, stunning women in sheer gauze waved peony-embroidered silk fans, moving leisurely through the pavilion to the melodious strains of Guqin music. Some chatted among themselves, some approached favored gentlemen to offer wine, while others stood alone, lost in the music. But when Su Muyu appeared, all eyes turned toward him.
Su Muyu stood alone under those gazes, somewhat bewildered.
He had once stood in perilous places, facing thirty-six bloodstained longswords with perfect composure.
Yet at this moment, all he felt was confusion.
Su Zhe gave a bitter smile. "Ah, it seems I should have come alone."
"Uncle Zhe, what should we do next?" Su Muyu asked hesitantly.
"What would you like to do?" Su Zhe smiled faintly.
"I'd like to leave..." Su Muyu was certainly speaking the truth.
"..." Su Zhe was at a loss for words.
A beautiful woman in purple robes descended the stairs with elegant grace. She seemed to have been the manager of Hundred Flowers Brothel since long ago, maintaining her charming demeanor through the years. Time had left no excessive marks on her face—she remained as alluring and captivating as ever. Glancing at Su Muyu, she smiled gently. "Is this your first visit, young master?"
"Yes," Su Muyu replied.
"A jade-like young master gracing Hundred Flowers Brothel can have anything he desires. Today, you need not spend a single tael of silver—you may do whatever you wish. What would you like to do?" the purple-robed woman asked softly.
Su Muyu tilted his head slightly in thought before answering, "I'd like to listen to this music."
The woman in purple blinked, then smiled warmly. "I wouldn't mind if you drank our finest wine or slept with our most beautiful girls—but listening to music worries me. The last young man who came here to listen to music ended up taking away my most profitable girl."
"Hmm?" Su Muyu wasn't sure if this was refusal or consent.
"Go on," Su Zhe nudged Su Muyu gently with his Buddhist staff. Stumbling slightly, Su Muyu saw the purple-robed woman already turning to ascend the stairs, and he quickly followed.
On the second floor was a raised platform veiled in white gauze, where a woman sat playing the guqin. Though her face couldn't be seen, the music was exquisitely tender and gentle—surely the player must be as soft as water.
"Young master understands music?" the purple-robed woman asked with a smile.
"A little," Su Muyu replied quietly. They arrived outside the platform, where all but a few seats were occupied. Among the listeners was one particularly engrossed man, swaying his head in deep immersion with the melody.
When the piece ended, the man opened his eyes, tossed a peanut into his mouth, and then turned—only to see Su Muyu.
He nearly slid off his chair in fright.
"It's you," Su Muyu said in surprise—it was Butcher Second Master from Thousand Gold Platform, who had been following him days before.
Butcher Second Master looked at Su Muyu, his voice trembling slightly. "I wasn't following you this time, I swear."
"Don't worry." Su Muyu walked over and sat beside him. "I'm just here to listen to the music too.""Young Master Su..." Butcher Second Master pondered for a long while before coming up with a phrase, "What refined taste you have."
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