With a dark face Jiu Jin looks at the escorts.
"Leacher…"
All of the escorts shudder.
"Womaniser…"
"Cap.. Captain."
"What? Do you have something more to say about my appearance?"
"Pfft!"
Listening to laughing, Jiu Jin looks at Yilu Lok.
"Cough."
Yilu Lok coughs to hide his laugh and says.
"Brother Jin, I am going to my room. If there is nothing, call me at dinner time."
Yilu Lok takes Midnight and walks towards his room.
"Young master."
With a small and weak voice one of the escorts calls Yilu Lok and looks at him with pleading eyes.
Yilu Lok ignores him and enters his room.
"Now, it seems we are lacking discipline in our team. All of you head on the floor."
With resentment for the person whose idea was to prank Jiu Jin in their eyes, all the escorts do what Jiu Jin says.
***
Yilu Lok lays down on his bed and the cat follows him and also jumps at the top of the bed after finding itself a comfortable position the cat curls up.
Yilu Lok turns towards the cat and looks at the cat.
"Hmm… What are you?"
Yilu Lok tries to find something but he is unable to.
Yilu Lok's eyes turn dark blue. The dark blue eyes begin to scan the black cat.
Suddenly Yilu Lok's vision turns black. He is unable to see anything. Yilu Lok tries to look around but a sudden pressure falls on him and his vision returns and he looks at the black cat but this time nothing happens.
"It seems I am too weak to look at your secrets. Huh I should quickly reach the Heavenly Demon Divine cult."
Yilu Lok again lies down and closes his eyes.
"Knock knock."
After some time there is a knock on Yilu Lok's dook. He gets up and opens the door.
"Young master it is time for dinner."
Jiu Jin says.
"Let's go."
With Jiu Jin, Yilu Lok goes to eat dinner. Midnight also follows.
As Yilu Lok reaches the first floor a waiter appears in front of him.
"Dear guests, the gentleman over there wishes to invite you for dinner."
Yilu Lok looks at the direction of the main sitting area.
The main seating area is composed of several private alcoves, each with a low table and floor cushions. These spaces are separated by beautiful golden screens painted with scenes of majestic cranes flying over misty mountains.
On the far right, a long wooden counter is set with an array of teapots, cups, and bowls, ready to serve the patrons. A few guests are scattered throughout the room, quietly sipping tea or gazing out at the magnificent view.
In one of the main sitting areas there is a man. From his looks his age seems similar to Yilu Lok.
The man has a slender build and long, flowing white hair that extends past his shoulders. His hair appears to be in motion, as if being swept by the wind. He is looking to his left with a thoughtful, almost solemn expression when he feels the gaze of Yilu Lok he looks at him and smiles. His eyes are a striking light green color.
He is wearing what looks like a traditional garment in various shades of dark blue and teal. The clothing has a high collar and a dark sash or belt tied around his waist. The style of the clothing appears loose and flowing.
As Yilu and the man's eyes meet Yilu Lok feels the smell of flowers coming from that man. Yilu Lok doesn't know much about flowers so he can't tell anything from the smell.
The man also smiles. For a moment everything around Yilu Lok disappears and in his view he is standing in front of a massive tree. But the next second the scene disappears and Yilu Lok's vision returns back to the main area.
'This feeling.'
Yilu Lok looks at the man and smiles and walks towards him. The escorts also tries
follow but they are stopped by the waiter.
"Sir the gentleman only has invited the young master."
"You…"
"Stop."
The escorts try to refute how they can let their young master have dinner with an unknown person. This is the Tang family territory after all and no one is as good as them in handling poison.
All of them have just arrived here yesterday. Now someone is inviting them. All of them felt suspicious. What if the person has hidden motives and poisons the young master? But before they can say anything Yilu Lok stops them and walks towards the man.
"Thank You for understanding."
The waiter bows and leaves. Yilu Lok reaches the table and sits on the other side facing the gentleman. Yilu Lok cupped his hands and asks in a polite tone.
"Good afternoon gentleman, how may I address you."
The gentleman smiles as he places a cup on his lips and sips the tea.After taking a sip the man looks at Yilu Lok.
Although the gesture is disrespectful to Yilu Lok, he just smiles while waiting for the reply from the man. First they invite him and then ignore him if someone else from a noble family and great sect they would have smashed the table in anger. But for Yilu Lok disrespect doesn't matter as long as it doesn't affect him directly.
The man's eyes shine as he gently places the cup on the table he also cupped his fist and said.
"Good afternoon for you too sir. You can call me Shin. And please forgive me for being disrespectful earlier"
Yilu Lok also smiles and says.
"I don't mind brother Shin. And please call me Lok."
"Thank you for your forgiveness brother Lok."
Shin looks at Yilu Lok and says.
"Brother Lok you really are different from the other young masters of martial art families."
Yilu Lok keeps his composure and says with a calm voice.
"Brother Shin, you misunderstood. I am from a merchant family. Loot at me I can't even train my inner qi."
Shin grabs the cup and says.
"Brother Lok.."
Before he can say what he wants Yilu Lok cuts him off.
"Please forgive me brother Shin but can I ask you something? I wanted to ask since I laid eyes on you."
Shin shivers and covers his chest and says.
"Brother Lok I am not that kind of guy. I like girls."
Yilu Lok is taken aback and says in a hurry.
"Brother Shin, you misunderstood. I also like girls. I just wanted to ask that you must like flowers."
Shin relaxes and says with a playful face.
"Brother Lok from your question it does not seem that."
"It's not that brother there is a faint smell of flowers coming from you."
The playful expression on Shin's face disappears and a slight expression of surprise can be seen on his face.
"I don't have a good understanding of flowers so I can't identify the smell. So brother Shin can you enlighten me."
"Cough.. brother Lok I have lived in the mountains so naturally I am close with flowers and trees. Let's forget about it and take a look at the food."
Shin understands what Yilu Lok is trying to say and changes the topic. Yilu Lok then moves his gaze towards the various dishes on the table.
"Brother Lok this is the most celebrated dish "Jade Dragon's Breath". It consists of a tender fish, said to be caught from the mountain streams, steamed with rare herbs and served on a bed of glistening white rice. The steam from the dish is so fragrant and pure that it is said to resemble the breath of a mythical dragon."
Yilh Lok points at the second dish and says.
"What about this one?"
"Good eyes brother Lok this is another signature dish the "Seven-Star Pheasant". A wild pheasant is marinated in a secret blend of spices and roasted until the skin is perfectly crisp, while the meat remains incredibly juicy. The name comes from the seven meticulously placed star-anise pods that garnish the platter, arranged to mirror the Big Dipper constellation."
Then Shin points at the last dish.
"This one is "Moonlit Lotus Soup." This delicate, clear broth is infused with the essence of lotus blossoms, goji berries, and wolfberries, and is believed to have restorative properties, perfect for a weary traveler or a warrior recovering from a long journey. Each bowl is served with a single, edible lotus flower floating on top, which opens up as it warms."
After showing all the dishes Shin says.
"Brother Lok let's not waste time and enjoy these delicacies. The Azure Crane Pavilion is a famous place, its most famous dishes are legendary within the central plains. They are known not just for their taste, but for the skill and artistry required to create them."
Yilu Lok also takes his spoon and begins to eat.
After taking a few bites Yilu Lok looks at Shin and says.
"Brother Shin eating together is not the only reason you have invited me right."