The wealthy young master's words provoked uproarious laughter from the crowd. Even the girls tittered coquettishly, their gazes now tinged with mockery as they looked at him.
"W-what's going on? Hurry and bring out your top courtesan!" The young master, confused, spoke with noticeably less confidence.
"I thought the young master looked unfamiliar—surely you're not a regular at our Cuixian Tower. If I'm not mistaken, this must be your first time here, right?" The woman named Mei Yu giggled softly, her delicate fingers gently stroking the young master's slender face, her teasing intent unmistakable.
"N-nonsense! I'm an old hand at this!" Blushing at having been seen through, the young master stubbornly insisted, though his eyes began to dart nervously, and his bravado waned even further.
He still couldn't figure out what had given him away in front of these people.
"Pfft." Yan Zhi, standing nearby, couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Of course, of course, young master, you're an old hand. But we don't have a top courtesan here. Why not let this sister see what you're capable of?" Mei Yu leaned in close to the young master's unusually fair face, her cheek brushing against his as she playfully nibbled his earlobe.
A tingling sensation spread from his earlobe to every corner of his body. The young master's face flushed deeply, and his legs grew weak.
Just then, a strong, firm hand reached through the crowd, grabbed his arm, and began pulling him away.
"Hey, hey…"
Before the young master could finish his protest, he struggled briefly but found himself unable to break free, so he reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged along.
"Hey! Who do you think you are, pulling me like this—"
His words cut off abruptly as a familiar figure came into view.
It was Li Ye.
"Miss Ruan Yao, this is no place for a woman. If the Director finds out you've disguised yourself as a man to come to Cuixian Tower…" Li Ye had noticed her earlier and found her strikingly familiar. After observing her more closely, he realized with a start that she was Xu Ruan Yao, the daughter of the Director of the Disciplinary Bureau. They had crossed paths a few times before and were somewhat acquainted, but he couldn't fathom why a young lady like her would dress as a man to visit Cuixian Tower.
Before he could finish, Xu Ruan Yao, standing before him, grew visibly anxious, signaling for him to lower his voice. After checking that no one was around, she whispered urgently, "I'm here on important business! My father doesn't know. You mustn't let it slip when you go back!"
"Oh? And what important business might that be, Miss Ruan Yao?" Li Ye wore a helpless expression, clearly unconvinced by her explanation.
From what he had heard from Xu Zhengfeng, his daughter was known for her eccentric and mischievous nature, full of wild ideas and lacking the modesty expected of a young lady. Her visit to Cuixian Tower was likely just another one of her whims—dressing as a man to seek amusement.
"I'm not lying! I really am here on important business!" Seeing his skeptical look, Xu Ruan Yao knew he didn't believe her, and her voice rose a few pitches in frustration.
"Miss Ruan Yao, you should go home now. The Director will be worried." With that, Li Ye took her arm and began leading her out.
"I... I am... Oh dear!" Xu Ruan Yao's face was filled with anxiety. She forcefully shook off Li Ye and stood to the side, puffing her cheeks in frustration.
It seemed that if she didn't reveal the truth, Li Ye wouldn't let her stay in the Cui Xian Lou any longer.
"Forget it, since you're the Shadow Blade, it shouldn't hurt to tell you. Have you ever heard of the Devouring Essence Beast?" Xu Ruan Yao deliberately lowered her voice, leaning mysteriously close to Li Ye's ear as she spoke.
Li Ye's heart sank. How did she know about the Devouring Essence Beast? Could it be...
"Where did you hear about it?" Li Ye asked thoughtfully.
"Not only do I know about the Devouring Essence Beast, but I also know it's the mastermind behind the case at Cui Xian Lou. And besides, a man like you coming here probably has ulterior motives, right?" Xu Ruan Yao said mysteriously, playfully winking at Li Ye.
Li Ye: "..."
So, after all his investigation, it seemed Xu Ruan Yao had a much deeper understanding of the case than he did.
"So? How about letting me investigate the Devouring Essence Beast with you?" The mischievous Xu Ruan Yao raised an eyebrow at Li Ye.
Li Ye, feeling a headache coming on, had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Even if he forcibly sent her back to the Shen Xing Si, this girl would probably sneak out again. It was better to keep her close, so they could watch out for each other. Besides, she might actually have some clues he hadn't discovered yet.
"On the condition that you listen to me," Li Ye said firmly, grabbing Xu Ruan Yao as she eagerly tried to rush ahead.
"Got it, got it, Little Ye Gege."
"Huh? What did you call me?"
"Nothing, nothing. By the way, what exactly did I say wrong earlier? Why was I exposed right away?" Xu Ruan Yao tilted her head, staring curiously at Li Ye. She had been racking her brains but couldn't figure out where she had slipped up.
A girl like you wouldn't know the intricacies of a place like Cui Xian Lou.
Li Ye thought to himself but patiently explained, "The term 'flower queen' is outdated. Nowadays, there's no such title in Cui Xian Lou. Every girl here is personally selected by the madam. Those chosen are all exceptionally beautiful and talented, trained from a young age in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Any one of them, if placed outside, would be considered a lady of noble upbringing. This has created a situation where every girl here is as beautiful as a fairy and exceptionally talented. If it were you, would you willingly give up the title of 'flower queen' to someone else?"
"So that's how it is... So, every girl in Cui Xian Lou could be considered a flower queen?" Xu Ruan Yao suddenly understood. No wonder everyone laughed when she demanded to see the flower queen.
Li Ye was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. Xu Ruan Yao was indeed as clever and unconventional as the Sect Master had said, even her way of thinking was different from ordinary people.
"Master Li, what a coincidence to run into you here again."
Just as the two were talking, a delicate voice suddenly interrupted them. A striking flash of pink caught their eyes—it was Yuan'er, the girl who had shared a moment of intimacy with Li Ye earlier.
Truly, enemies are bound to meet.
Li Ye cursed his luck inwardly. Having Xu Ruan Yao by his side was already troublesome enough, and now Yuan'er had to show up at the worst possible time.
"So it's Miss Yuan'er. What a coincidence, indeed," Li Ye forced himself to greet her.
"Oh my, this young master is quite unfamiliar. His delicate features are even more refined than Young Master Li's." Yu'an walked directly toward Xu Ruan Yao, leaning in for a closer look.
Li Ye had no desire to linger with Yu'an and shot a meaningful glance at Xu Ruan Yao behind him, signaling for him to leave first.
To his surprise, Xu Ruan Yao not only ignored him but also played along with Yu'an's advances. Lifting her flushed face gently with his folding fan, he deepened his voice and said, "I believe the lady here is the rare beauty of the Cui Xian Tower. This delicate face, this slender waist—ah, it truly captivates me!"
"Young master, you certainly know how to flatter." Yu'an covered her mouth with a light laugh, her eyes sparkling with delight.
As the two exchanged words, their distance grew closer, and they flirted and bantered as if no one else was around, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Left on the sidelines, Li Ye's face darkened. If he hadn't known that the wealthy young master before him was actually a woman in disguise, he would have felt like an unwelcome third wheel.
He shot several covert glances at Xu Ruan Yao, but the latter seemed completely oblivious, too absorbed in the flirtatious atmosphere.
"Miss Yu'an, might I have the pleasure of visiting your chambers for a chat?" Xu Ruan Yao asked with an air of propriety, his tone laden with implication.
Yu'an, well aware of the suggestion, giggled with delight and nestled into Xu Ruan Yao's embrace, allowing herself to be half-led, half-resisted up the stairs.
A disgruntled Li Ye had no choice but to follow behind them.
Just as the three were about to enter Yu'an's room, she stretched out a hand to stop Li Ye at the door, hinting meaningfully, "Young Master Li, I must attend to my guest now. Please wait outside."
"Ah, ah, ah, Sister Yu'an, Young Master Li is my friend. How could I selfishly monopolize a beauty like you?" Xu Ruan Yao quickly pulled Yu'an into his arms, discreetly signaling for Li Ye to hurry inside.
"Could it be... the young master wishes for a 'two dragons playing with a phoenix'?" Yu'an exclaimed with a coquettish gasp, her face blushing with shyness.
"Huh? Ah? Two dragons playing with a phoenix? Ah, yes, exactly! Brother Li and I are as close as brothers. We share joys and sorrows, so how could I not share such a beauty with him?" Catching on, Xu Ruan Yao quickly played along with Yu'an's words.
Li Ye couldn't help but roll his eyes. This girl probably had no idea what "two dragons playing with a phoenix" even meant, yet she dared to agree so recklessly.
Good heavens, what kind of mess was this?
Just as he was stewing in frustration, Xu Ruan Yao seized the moment while Yu'an was distracted and struck her sharply on the back of the head.
With a muffled groan, Yu'an's body went limp, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
The sudden turn of events left Li Ye stunned and bewildered, rooted to the spot in confusion.
"What are you standing there for? Come and help!" Xu Ruan Yao grunted as he struggled to drag Yu'an's body, shouting at Li Ye.
Puzzled, Li Ye helped him lay Yu'an on the bed before asking, "Why did you do that?"
"Are you stupid? Knocking her out makes it easier to catch the demon," Xu Ruan Yao panted, fanning himself vigorously with his folding fan.
"What does catching a demon have to do with knocking her out?" Li Ye wondered aloud, pressing further.
Xu Ruanyao rolled her eyes, helpless against him, and patiently explained, "Everyone outside saw that we picked Lady Yuan'er. Tonight, we're taken customers, so those eager ladies won't set their sights on us anymore. We can take this chance to secretly observe the Devourer's movements. As for Yuan'er, you wouldn't want to be held back during the demon hunt, unable to act freely, right?"
After hearing this explanation, Li Ye looked at Xu Ruanyao with a newfound appreciation. It truly surprised him—it seemed this young lady from a wealthy family had her uses after all.
Noticing his astonished gaze, Xu Ruanyao proudly lifted her chin, her haughty demeanor exceptionally charming.
"Alright, no need to praise me. Judging by the time, the Devourer should be showing up soon. We need to be fully prepared." She straightened her clothes, eager and ready for action.
"How do you know the Devourer will appear here today?" Li Ye was puzzled.
Xu Ruanyao paused for a moment, then turned her head and blinked playfully at him. "Guess."
Li Ye couldn't help but laugh. This girl's temperament was truly childlike—innocent and straightforward.
After discussing their plan of action, the two decided that one would go out to observe the situation while the other stayed behind, so they could watch out for each other.
Once everything was set, Li Ye strode out of the room, deliberately raising his voice to announce, "Brother Xu rarely shows such interest, so I won't disturb you further. Another day, we must share a few drinks."
With that, he walked down the stairs and left the Cuixian Tower.
However, he didn't go far. Instead, he hid in a nearby alley, secretly observing anyone suspicious entering or leaving the building.
The night had deepened, and most passersby hurried along—vendors exhausted from a day's work, scholars rushing home, or wandering young masters returning from an evening out.
By this time, the flow of customers at Cuixian Tower had noticeably dwindled, with most patrons already indulging in the pleasures of the inner chambers.
The girls greeting guests at the entrance had lost their enthusiasm, no longer putting effort into showcasing their talents. Instead, they gathered in small groups, chatting about which shop in town had the finest jewelry or the newest cosmetics.
Li Ye focused intently on the customers coming and going from Cuixian Tower during this period, hoping to find any clues.
Time passed minute by minute, and the number of pedestrians decreased steadily.
After what felt like an hour, there was still no sign of anything unusual.
Despite his strong will, Li Ye couldn't stave off the boredom of this tedious task. He yawned repeatedly as fatigue washed over him.
Just as he was about to doze off, a suspicious figure appeared at the entrance of Cuixian Tower.
The man was robust, standing at least eight feet tall, with a broad back and powerful build. His muscles were well-developed, his arms bursting with strength, and his steps were steady, his body as solid as a wall.
Passersby instinctively gave him a wide berth, afraid of accidentally provoking him and suffering the consequences.
Strangely, the man walked with his head deeply bowed, a hat completely obscuring his face. Only a thick, unkempt beard was visible, stretching from his cheeks to his chin, making him appear exceptionally fierce.
At the first sight of this man, Li Ye's entire body tensed up. It wasn't because the man looked fierce, but because he exuded a faint, elusive aura of violence!
Having personally captured demonic beasts over a dozen times, Li Ye had gained some understanding of their habits. Every demonic beast he had apprehended carried a certain degree of this violent aura, along with an indescribable, foul stench. As long as he sensed this presence, he could infer that a demonic beast was lurking nearby.
He sniffed the air—the aura of violence was indeed coming from the direction of the bearded man.
"The Great Path reaches the heavens; the heavens connect all things; all things serve me; to use them, one must be sincere; with utmost sincerity, the path opens!" Li Ye silently recited the incantation. A strange silver light flickered deep in his eyes, faintly taking the shape of a longsword that swirled and danced within them before settling back to normal after a few breaths.
It's you!
Having confirmed his suspicion by activating his Spirit Vision, Li Ye fixed his gaze firmly on the bearded man.
Spirit Vision was an arcane art Li Ye had accidentally developed while cultivating the "Great Path Reaching Heaven Technique." It allowed him to see through appearances to the essence of things. No matter how someone altered their appearance, he could use Spirit Vision to see through the disguise. However, the process was rather cumbersome and time-consuming, so he had largely forgotten about it.
Unexpectedly, it proved quite useful during this excursion.
Since there were many ordinary people around, and the girls of the Cui Xian Lou were defenseless, making a mistake would not only alert the enemy but also disturb the civilians. Thus, he had no choice but to activate Spirit Vision as a precaution.
As expected, the bearded man had been possessed by the Soul Devourer Beast. His consciousness had long been lost, leaving him like a walking corpse.
However, when he used Spirit Vision, he didn't see the beast's true form—only a murky, dark gray mass of energy coiled within the man's body. The man's own soul was trembling in a corner, nearly transparent, a clear sign of severe torment.
Though he hadn't figured out the origins of this Soul Devourer Beast, time was of the essence, and he had no choice but to proceed.
The bearded man strode directly into the Cui Xian Lou. The girls outside, intimidated by his fierce demeanor, dared not approach and could only let him pass.
Seeing this, Li Ye, who had been hiding in the alley, hurried after him.
"Young master, you look familiar. Would you care to join me in my room for a chat…"
"Sir, I can offer you the experience you seek."
"Young master, young master…"
Compared to the bearded man, Li Ye, with his fair and clean appearance, seemed far more approachable. The girls at the entrance instantly swarmed around him, chattering enthusiastically as they vied for his attention. A few even boldly loosened their garments to flaunt their assets.
"I already have an appointment with Lady Yuan'er," Li Ye quickly offered his prepared excuse.
"That girl beat us to it again!"
"Exactly!"
Disappointed, the girls muttered and dispersed, returning to their posts.
Relieved, Li Ye hurried into the Cui Xian Lou just in time to see the bearded man leading a girl upstairs to a private room.
He moves fast!
Li Ye thought to himself that most of the guests in the main hall of Cuixian Tower were there to watch the geisha performances. Although the crowd was sparse, a fight was inevitable later. If innocent bystanders were accidentally caught up in it, the consequences could be severe.
Just as he was worrying, he noticed the door to Lady Yuan's room on the second floor being pushed open from the inside. A furtive figure slipped out and began glancing around cautiously.
Who else could it be but Xu Ruan Yao?
Xu Ruan Yao, who had been waiting anxiously inside the room, grew restless with no news arriving. Unable to bear the suspense any longer, she had stealthily slipped out to assess the situation.
As soon as she steadied herself, she spotted Li Ye standing in the main hall.
Their eyes met, and Li Ye shifted his gaze toward the bearded man ascending the stairs. Then, looking directly into Xu Ruan Yao's eyes, he gave a firm nod.
Immediately understanding the signal, Xu Ruan Yao blinked meaningfully and scrutinized the bearded man. Noticing the fierce aura radiating from him, her expression turned grave.
At this moment, the bearded man was under the control of the Devourer Beast. His movements were stiff, his head lowered, and he remained silent, mechanically holding the woman in his arms as he moved forward.
The woman, completely unaware that the seemingly normal guest beside her was already under the beast's control, nestled against him with a flirtatious expression, her words dripping with seduction.
The two of them entered a room at the end of the second-floor corridor, with Li Ye and Xu Ruan Yao quickly following behind.
With a loud "bang," the door was slammed shut, followed by a woman's startled cry.
Just as Li Ye thought the Devourer Beast was about to reveal its true form and prepared to burst in, Xu Ruan Yao stopped him.
Frowning deeply, she looked directly at Li Ye and shook her head solemnly.
Though burning with impatience, Li Ye didn't understand her reasoning. Seeing her serious expression, he withdrew his hand from the door.
"You're so eager, young master… mmm…"
Moments later, sounds of lustful murmuring emerged from inside. Li Ye and Xu Ruan Yao exchanged awkward glances outside the door.
"The Devourer Beast is a gaseous entity, elusive and skilled at possessing humans to control their minds. It only reveals its true form when it's about to feed. We must wait patiently for that moment, or all our efforts will be in vain," Xu Ruan Yao whispered.
"How do you know so much about the Devourer Beast?" Li Ye asked.
"You'll find out later. Right now, our priority is capturing it. If we, two men, are seen loitering outside someone's door, any passing girl might question us, and we'll risk alerting the beast," Xu Ruan Yao redirected the conversation to the matter at hand.
Li Ye glanced her over, his eyes lingering on the comically exaggerated mustache on her face. At the moment, they did indeed appear to be two men.
"We shouldn't stay here. Follow me," Li Ye said, having already noted the location of the bearded man's room. He pulled Xu Ruan Yao back to Lady Yuan's room.
Lady Yuan, who had been knocked unconscious, still lay on the bed in disarray, her clothes askew.
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Today i'll upload it's extra chapters in my patreon. So stay tuned.