Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

Chapter 346 - 198: When You Say ’Take a Closer Look’, You Don’t Mean Without Clothes, Right?

The rainy night in early winter was chilly and damp. As the cold wind swept through, the pedestrians on the street couldn’t help but shiver and hurried their steps.

This is Mo Ye City, less than eight hundred miles from the central Henggao City of Zhongyuan Continent. Under the influence of Henggao City, Mo Ye City could be considered a prosperous city, just a step away from being a first-class city. Moreover, the Quhuai River runs through it, adding a touch of rare elegance and scenic beauty.

You Su sat on the second floor of a teahouse, gazing toward the Quhuai River.

Across the riverbank stood a brothel towering over a dozen yards high, named ’Xiao Xiang Pavilion.’

With carved railings and jade steps, resplendent and magnificent, rows of bright red lanterns hung from the eaves.

Through the window lattice, women, be they plump, demure, elegant, or alluring, danced gracefully. Some lay in men’s arms with half-exposed clothes, while others, partially hidden behind curtains, strummed guqin and played sheng softly.

Separated by a rushing river, one could hear the decadent sounds of the brothel’s revelry and even smell the fragrance of cosmetics wafting from the windows.

In this drizzling, hurried, cold rainy night, only here offered that enticing warmth that one couldn’t resist.

"Senior Brother, what are you looking at? Anyone who doesn’t know you might think you’re not blind with the way you’re staring..."

Ji Lingruo lightly tapped the tea bowl, reminding the young man to mind his gaze. Her green dress had been changed to a simpler style, yet it couldn’t hide her natural beauty.

You Su frowned slightly, whispering a reminder:

"Junior Sister, I’ve told you not to call me Senior Brother; call me Mr. Ye, Mr. Ye."

Ji Lingruo rolled her eyes charmingly and helplessly replied, "Yes, Mr. Ye, please enjoy your view. If you can’t hold back, remember to let me know."

Zi Yiyi listened silently, saying nothing, sitting properly to the side, and took a sip of tea with her crimson lips.

After nearly two days of rushing at full speed, the three finally arrived in Mo Ye City the following evening.

To avoid suspicion, You Su decided to disguise his identity, pretending to be an affluent young scion from Chuyun City. However, he was not familiar with which Immortal families were specifically in Chuyun City, so he borrowed the name of Mr. Ye, a disciple under the Third Elder, masquerading as a traveling disciple of the Ye Family.

To present himself as an affluent scion, You Su didn’t need any tokens as proof; Ji Lingruo and Zi Yiyi at his side were his most convincing proof. Even in Mo Ye City, the beauty of the two women was a devastating strike.

Zi Yiyi had no objections to pretending to be You Su’s personal maid. Her purpose in coming was to assist and evaluate You Su’s ability to handle supernatural disturbances. Besides, she was originally a maid and naturally looked down on You Su as a ’master.’

Ji Lingruo, on the contrary, was quite the little imp, hardly fitting the role of a maid. Yet, the contrast between the two women worked surprisingly well. One obedient and silent, the other playful and vivacious, they complemented each other, making passersby inevitably think that this was exactly how an affluent young master from an Immortal family should be—

With one maid lively and one quiet, this young master must know how to enjoy life!

"Is it confirmed that the one killed by the ghost mite was indeed the previous courtesan of Xiao Xiang Pavilion?"

You Su withdrew his gaze and instead teasingly looked at Zi Yiyi, acting completely like a bright-eyed youth playfully teasing his frosty little maid.

Under Zi Yiyi’s Sound Insulation Skill, others in the teahouse couldn’t hear their conversation at all.

"The death was gruesome, resembling a mummified corpse. The ghost mite feeds on flesh, possessing the ability to parasitize, making it hard to detect. Only the Lord of Mo Ye City, who is in the Lower Feather Transformation Realm, has seen its appearance; others present did not. So it is likely that only those in the Feather Transformation Realm can see it when it remains invisible, but seeing it doesn’t guarantee capture. Even Mr. Xiang couldn’t capture it."

Zi Yiyi stated the information mechanically.

"From what I know, without the nourishment of Profound Qi, demons dislike mortal flesh. So why would the ghost mite target a courtesan? Could it be that this worldly courtesan was a cultivator?"

If she were a cultivator, she shouldn’t have fallen to the point of becoming a brothel woman.

"It’s not only mortals who enjoy visiting brothels; many disciples of Immortal families also indulge in such matters. The former courtesan was famous, known as Qiao Xiuying. It’s said that Mr. Xiang’s only son was infatuated with her and treated her as a possession. He paid a great price to help her open her meridians. But due to family reputation, he couldn’t redeem her, nor could he make her his Dao companion, so he left her in the Xiao Xiang Pavilion. Qiao Xiuying was content with this, waiting quietly for him until seven days ago when she died, parasitized by the ghost mite."

Zi Yiyi recounted the story calmly, while Ji Lingruo, upon hearing this, became somewhat melancholic:

"Unexpectedly, he led her onto the path of immortality, thinking he was doing her a favor, only to bring such misfortune upon her. Do you think, from her perspective, this was fortunate or unfortunate?"

Being a maiden, Ji Lingruo naturally had more subjective thoughts regarding the complex tales of romance.

Hearing this, You Su was silent for a moment before speaking: "Fortunate or unfortunate, it’s not for us to say; only she can decide."

With slight sadness, Ji Lingruo rested her face on her hand and said no more.

"Even after such a big incident with the courtesan’s death, is Xiao Xiang Pavilion still in business?" You Su continued to ask.

"When Chuyun City encountered a supernatural disturbance, wasn’t the first thought to suppress it?" Zi Yiyi retorted.