Chapter 18: A Peculiar Proposition and a Lavish Inn

Ye Qingfeng paused, her heart skipping a beat.

However, remembering the bounty she was about to claim, an idea instantly sparked within her.

Her eyes curved into a joyful smile, and her charming demeanor was like the ephemeral bloom of an Epiphyllum flower at night, utterly captivating.

“When wealth-bringing spirits deliver themselves to your doorstep, there’s no reason to let them go.”

While Ye Qingfeng maintained her integrity and refrained from banditry, this did not mean her temper was so agreeable that she would merely smile away blatant attempts to oppress her.

“But since we’re sending them to meet the God of Fortune anyway, I’m sure they won’t mind bestowing another stroke of good fortune upon us. After all, ‘good deeds’ should be seen through to the end.”

Starlight twinkled in Ye Qingfeng’s eyes as she confidently straightened her back.

Though her ‘pair of aces’ (TL Note: A playful reference to a flat chest) might not have fully conveyed her strategic depth, her exquisitely beautiful, confidently proud smile and lithe, slender figure still radiated a charm brimming with ‘wisdom.’

“We?”

Though Quan Haoqing was quite tempted, he still teased, “Collaborating with someone who nearly killed me three minutes ago puts me under a lot of pressure. Please allow me to consider it further.”

“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding.”

A flicker of panic danced in Ye Qingfeng’s clear eyes, and her beautiful face betrayed an unsettling tremor.

Her two adorable little hands waved ceaselessly, like kittens separated from their owner.

While he knew Ye Qingfeng would explain, Quan Haoqing couldn’t help but wonder if she was overreacting.

What came next was even more startling for Quan Haoqing, as the words that spilled from Ye Qingfeng’s rosy lips could only be described as horrifying.

“If I truly intended to kill you, why would I employ such a simple, reckless, and disorganized approach?”

“I would meticulously devise a plan, controlling your every move down to the finest detail, delivering a fatal blow when you least expect it.”

“Furthermore, to prevent your resurrection or reanimation, I would immediately cremate your corpse, scatter your ashes across the vast ocean, and send your soul to a Daoist temple or Buddhist monastery skilled in rites of salvation, ensuring your direct reincarnation…”

‘Good heavens, not only would my body be utterly destroyed, but my soul would be scattered as well, wouldn’t it?!’

Quan Haoqing felt a dull ache in his head, primarily because Ye Qingfeng’s way of thinking was entirely unlike any woman he had ever encountered.

“Stop, stop, stop! I’m certain now that it was an accident. Just give me a bit more during the spoils division as compensation, and we’ll call it even.”

Regarding the transaction, Ye Qingfeng was quite attentive, and she instantly reverted to her usual self.

“Hmm, that’s no problem. As a businesswoman, I believe in fair dealings. However, this isn’t the place to talk. Hmm, how about we go to my room?”

“To your room?”

Quan Haoqing froze for a moment. Was he actually being invited to a woman’s boudoir?

He scrutinized Ye Qingfeng from head to toe: her exquisitely beautiful, fair complexion, her graceful figure, her long, slender legs.

To be honest, if anything were to happen, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

Yet, from his few interactions with Ye Qingfeng, he knew that while she sometimes lacked common sense to an alarmingly naive degree, she was not the type of woman to act so casually.

‘She must have been too well-protected by her family, probably only interacting with her father and brothers before, which is why she would invite a strange man to her private room.’

“Oh dear, look at me. That place truly isn’t suitable.”

Seeing Quan Haoqing’s hesitation, Ye Qingfeng began to ponder what might be amiss with her suggestion.

Suddenly, she realized, bringing a small fist to her palm in enlightenment.

“While I had no intention of entrapping Fellow Daoist, my actions certainly weren’t convincing. Does Fellow Daoist Quan have any recommended locations?”

‘Is that the problem?’

Quan Haoqing looked at Ye Qingfeng with a wry smile, his own thoughts scrambled by her eccentric behavior.

Had Ye Qingfeng not reminded him, he would have forgotten to be wary of that aspect entirely.

“I do have a place in mind. It’s an inn specifically for cultivators, and the rooms are soundproofed, making it an excellent spot for a discussion.”

“Alright, let’s go then.

The individuals who had been tracking Ye Qingfeng seemed to have already departed, having lost her trail.

All the way to the Yue Lai Inn, the establishment Quan Haoqing had mentioned, which catered exclusively to cultivators, Ye Qingfeng felt no sensation of being watched.

After letting out a sigh of relief, Ye Qingfeng began to observe the Yue Lai Inn.

The inn was not only tall, but its facade was also remarkably ‘luxurious.’

In front, a ‘colorful celebration gate’ (彩楼欢门), as tall as the building itself, was constructed with long wooden poles.

Each tier featured mountain-shaped flower stands, adorned with floral and avian embellishments, while silk tassels hung from the eaves, creating an exquisite and magnificent display.

Tall ‘wangzi’ (望子), also known as ‘qinglian’ (青帘) or ‘jiuqi’ (酒旗), made mostly of blue and white cloth, hung prominently by the entrance or on the rooftop.

These banners bore the inn’s promotional slogan: ‘Far from dust, far from worldly ways, far from a myriad of mortal thoughts; gathering friends, gathering guests, gathering countless immortal companions.’

The interior layout of the inn, at first glance, seemed no different from an ordinary establishment.

However, the stone carvings of rare beasts, the decorative potted plants, and the arrangement of redwood tables and chairs subtly hinted at the hidden principles of Daoist Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams.

Although the flow of people was not as ceaseless as in mortal inns, such a grand establishment, coupled with its policy of only admitting cultivators, ensured the Yue Lai Inn’s business remained prosperous.

She had heard of the Yue Lai Inn in Xingqing City before.

The inn was protected by a formation, making it impossible for mortals without cultivation to even detect its existence, let alone enter.

Yet, this was Ye Qingfeng’s first time here, and the reason was quite simple.

The Yue Lai Inn was expensive.

It didn’t accept mortal gold, silver, or copper coins, but actual spirit stones.

Quan Haoqing, however, was clearly not bothered by this, as he strode forward with his head held high, exuding the air of a noble young master.

It was then that Ye Qingfeng truly noticed Quan Haoqing’s attire for the day.

Quan Haoqing’s physique was already tall and straight, like a majestic, towering tree.

He wore a sapphire-blue silk robe, intricately embroidered with golden threads that outlined delicate cloud patterns, flowing as naturally as drifting clouds and running water.

Exquisite jade buttons adorned the cuffs, adding a touch of opulence and nobility to his overall ensemble.

A slender black silk sash was tied around his waist, gracefully cinching the long robe to his lithe frame.

Silver-edged pendants, embedded in the sash, shimmered with a faint glow, appearing particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

His lower body was clad in loose, straight-cut black silk trousers, which billowed gently around his long legs.

The trousers were paired with silver-edged black shoes, emitting a faint, clear sound with each step he took.

A touch of golden thread embroidery on the shoes further enhanced the sophistication and uniqueness of his entire look.

In his hand, he delicately held a folding fan, its surface painted with exquisite landscape scenery.

A sachet hung discreetly from his waist, its subtle fragrance wafting gently with the breeze.

To call him a noble young master would leave no room for doubt.

‘Could this guy actually be quite wealthy?!’

Ye Qingfeng’s eyes widened. ‘We’re both rogue cultivators, so why are you doing so incredibly well?!’

‘How did you manage it?! Teach me your ways!’

Unlike Ye Qingfeng, who was lost in her thoughts, the inn’s attendant immediately noticed the arrival of this esteemed guest.

The attendant, wearing a square-topped headscarf and a purple tunic with clean silk shoes and socks, approached with a beaming smile, bowing deeply.

“Fellow Daoist Quan, you’ve arrived! Please, don’t hesitate to speak if there’s anything this humble one can arrange for you.”

Quan Haoqing calmly inquired, “I’ve encountered an old friend and wish to find a quiet place to reminisce. Are there any rooms available upstairs?”

“Yes, yes, yes! May I ask if you prefer a short stay or a long one, and which floor you’d like for your private room?”

The Yue Lai Inn had five floors in total.

The first floor’s grand hall served as a place for diners to satisfy their culinary desires and enjoy performances, while the other four floors were entirely dedicated to guest rooms.

The higher the floor, the more superior the quality of the guest room, and naturally, the price differed accordingly.

With a mere thought, Quan Haoqing provided his answer: “A room on the third floor for a three-day stay.”

“Right away, this way please.”

The attendant immediately led Quan Haoqing towards the third floor.

Just as Quan Haoqing was about to take a step, he noticed that the beautiful woman who had been by his side was no longer there.

Looking back, he found Ye Qingfeng standing dutifully by the entrance, lost in thought.

Quan Haoqing: “……Fellow Daoist Ye, let’s go.”

His voice was filled with an almost comical resignation.

“Oh, oh.”

Ye Qingfeng snapped back to attention and immediately followed.

Led by the attendant, they arrived at a private room on the inner side of the third floor.

As he was about to leave, the attendant inquired at the doorway, “Fellow Daoist Quan, is there anything else this humble one can prepare for you?”

“Not for now, thank you for your trouble. I’ll call for you if anything comes up.”

With that, Quan Haoqing tossed a fragmented spirit stone into the attendant’s hand. “Go on, get busy.”

“Wonderful, wonderful! Just call me if you need anything at all.”

The attendant’s face immediately lit up with joy.

After gently closing the door, he promptly departed.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingfeng was looking around the guest room, which was sumptuously decorated, every detail a testament to luxury.

Redwood furniture was neatly arranged, a brocade quilt embroidered with gold thread lay spread upon the bed, and an exquisite porcelain vase graced the bedside table.

Embroidered curtains hung before the window, woven with golden threads into various beautiful patterns.

It wasn’t that it was bad, but it seemed no different from the top-tier rooms she frequented in mortal inns.

She remarked, somewhat strangely, “It seems quite ordinary.”

“It’s simply a place to rest your head. Are you expecting a spirit-gathering formation to be set up?”

“Perhaps the rooms on the fifth floor might have such amenities.”

Quan Haoqing settled casually into an armchair and said, “To put it plainly, the Yue Lai Inn’s main draw is its reputation for serving only cultivators, who in turn seek that ‘aloofness from the mortal world.’

“But for daily life and cultivation, how many would genuinely choose to stay at the Yue Lai Inn?”

“Certainly not here. While Xingqing City is considered a major city in this vicinity, if you venture further, say to Lingtai City at the foot of the Sky Philosophy Sect, the Yue Lai Inn there is truly exceptional.”

Ye Qingfeng asked curiously, “Is that so? Can the inn there compare to the cultivation rooms of the Sky Philosophy Sect disciples?”

She knew there was a Yue Lai Inn in Lingtai City, but she wasn’t foolishly wealthy.

Why would she stay in an inn when she had a perfectly good sect to reside in, especially since she didn’t have a dual cultivation partner?

‘That sounds a bit sad, doesn’t it?’

Quan Haoqing: “……”

‘Indeed, this must be the eldest daughter of that Sky Philosophy Sect elder.’

“Who would compare the Yue Lai Inn to the renowned Sky Philosophy Sect, one of the world’s great sects? Even an ordinary disciple’s cultivation room would only be comparable to rooms on the fourth floor or higher in Lingtai City’s inn.”