Chapter 180: The First Day and Night

The strongest swordsman surely deserved the most beautiful woman.

This was what Kui Yuan thought as he walked through the broad, long streets of the royal city, dressed in black cloud-python patterned robes and cinched with a white jade belt.

He was currently the royal family's strongest swordsman, and recently, news of his impending marriage to the most beautiful woman from the Pleasure House had spread throughout the entire city.

He wore a saber at his waist, its dark gold guard fastened by a clasp. He ran his fingers over the scabbard, made of monstrous scale skin, exuding an imposing aura, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He was a swordsman of the Xingyuan.

The Xingyuan was an organization within the royal family, open only to those who successfully summoned spirits from the Abyss of Time.

He entered the Pleasure House as he always did.

Kui Yuan's arrival caused quite a stir within the establishment. Flamboyant women waved their handkerchiefs at him, their smiles radiant. Some younger maidens, experiencing their first stirrings of affection, were shyer, watching him from a distance, their hands cupping their faces, as if hoping he might cast a glance their way.

But Kui Yuan kept his gaze straight, ascending the stairs to the upper floor.

Su Yanshu was acknowledged as the most beautiful woman in the Pleasure House and indeed, the entire imperial city. She was in the prime of her youth, with a captivating beauty and unparalleled grace. The sight of her cradling her red-lacquered guqin always evoked tenderness. Even in her youth, she had garnered fame, and now she had matured into a devastating beauty. Her "fire basin dance" at the singing pavilion, performed as if on a knife's edge, had previously captivated countless hearts.

Yet, she maintained a dignified aloofness. Regardless of a suitor's status or the amount of silver offered, she would only play her zither and sing for the one who truly captured her heart, inviting them into her private chambers. This held true even if the king himself were to visit.

During the Battle of Opening the Wilds outside the city, Kui Yuan had been the most celebrated figure. He had personally slain the monstrous entity that had obstructed the Dark Snow Path for over a decade, carving open a clear route and allowing members of the royal family to gaze upon the vast, white ice plain for the very first time.

When he arrived at the Pleasure House then, full of triumphant spirit, he was still clad in his battle armor, his robes interwoven with fresh blood, and reeking of gore.

Su Yanshu, however, seemed utterly unfazed. She lit incense and played her zither for him. As Kui Yuan drew aside the curtain, he saw her face, adorned with a faint, enchanting smile, and he too was utterly captivated. This marked the beginning of their celebrated romance.

No one prevented Kui Yuan from proceeding to Su Yanshu's chambers.

He did not, however, anticipate finding other guests in Su Yanshu's chambers today.

It was a young girl and a young man. He recognized the girl as a young member of the royal family who had chosen "Shao" as her surname from the Primeval Stone Tablet; she was known for her considerable talent. The young man beside her, however, was a complete stranger.

The young man was not old, with a delicate face and clean white robes. He also wore a sword at his waist, though it appeared somewhat dilapidated.

Kui Yuan clearly disapproved of another man being in Su Yanshu's chambers. "Who are you?" he demanded.

Ning Changjiu turned to face the man in cloud-python robes with a saber at his side. He offered no explanation, a silence that Kui Yuan perceived as rather provocative.

Shao Xiaoli quickly looked to Su Yanshu, her face etched with anxiety.

Su Yanshu smiled, her fingers gracefully plucking the zither strings. Clear, melodious notes poured forth like ice beads scattering and clinking, resonating beautifully. In a gentle voice, she said, "This young Miss Xiaoli is a friend of mine. She successfully summoned a spirit yesterday and came specifically to the Pleasure House today to share her good news. Please, Master Kui, do not be offended."

Su Yanshu's voice always had a way of calming one's mind.

Kui Yuan looked at the young man. "Summoned a spirit?" he questioned.

He immediately recalled certain rumors, and observing the sword at the young man's waist, he asked, "Are you the Corrupted Swordsman?"

Shao Xiaoli's successful spirit summoning the previous day had caused a considerable sensation. Although this news had been deliberately suppressed by the Grand Chancellor and had not fully disseminated overnight, prominent figures within the royal family had largely caught wind of it. They had scant information about the peculiar spirit, only hearing that it was a person, dressed in white, with a rusted, decaying sword at their waist, thus earning the moniker "Corrupted Swordsman."

Hearing this, Ning Changjiu surmised the origin of his new epithet. It carried a certain historical gravitas, and he found it rather agreeable.

The Spirit of the Sword Scripture sneered, "Fortunately, they didn't call him the 'Iron Tree Brancher'."

This was a mental conversation, inaudible to others.

Shao Xiaoli quickly nodded. "Hero Kui, long time no see! Do you still remember me? I killed quite a few monsters in the Battle of Opening the Wilds back then!"

Kui Yuan shook his head. "I don't remember those who lagged behind," he replied.

Shao Xiaoli's expression flickered with a hint of embarrassment. She glanced at Ning Changjiu, then quickly added, "This is my Divine Spirit, and in the future, I might well become one of your ranks!"

"You've subjugated him?" Kui Yuan asked.

Shao Xiaoli confidently patted her chest. "Of course! I spent the entire night yesterday, patiently coaxing and using every method imaginable, and finally, I made him my Divine Spirit!"

Su Yanshu, accustomed to the ways of the world, couldn't help but let a faint smile touch her lips as she listened to these words, her hand on the zither strings unconsciously plucking two notes.

Observing Ning Changjiu's composed expression, Kui Yuan said with a hint of distrust, "Little girls are always prone to fibs. I don't quite believe you."

Shao Xiaoli scoffed. "I'll demonstrate it for you."

With that, she turned her head, her previously confident expression instantly transforming into one of utter pitifulness. She gazed at Ning Changjiu, giving him pointed winks, while Ning Changjiu simply sat in his chair, beginning to close his eyes and rest.

"What's the matter?" Kui Yuan prompted with a smile, seeing her prolonged inaction.

Shao Xiaoli glared back at him. "What's the rush?" she retorted coolly. "I've only just successfully summoned a spirit and established a contract. I don't have much experience yet, you know."

Ignoring all reservations, Shao Xiaoli decided to try her luck. She snatched a fruit from the platter, placed it atop her head, and declared, "I can command my Divine Spirit to pierce this fruit with his sword, without harming me in the slightest!"

As she spoke, she closed her eyes, feigning the recitation of a scripture, muttering in a barely audible tone, "Boss, please... Boss, I beg you..."

Kui Yuan and Su Yanshu watched her with keen interest.

Finally, the young girl's earnest pleas seemed to move the youthful Divine Spirit.

Kui Yuan's expression shifted almost imperceptibly, and he instinctively gripped the sword at his waist.

For the young man had also placed his hand upon his own sword.

An important code of conduct for those within the Xingyuan organization was never to underestimate anyone; another was to regard anyone outside their own ranks as a potential enemy. Though this latter rule typically applied beyond the city walls.

Ning Changjiu's willingness to draw his sword stemmed primarily from the fervent pleas of the Sword Scripture Spirit and Blood Feather Lord.

"Please, Master Ning, draw your sword! Make this little girl stop chanting..."

Ning Changjiu felt a degree of displeasure. He knew Lu Jiajia was waiting for him beyond the abyss, and he needed to find a way to leave the city as soon as possible. The current events, for him, felt like an undeniable waste of time.

He casually drew his sword and thrust it towards Shao Xiaoli. She instantly squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, the fruit atop her head tumbled down, bearing a clear hole where the sword had pierced it.

Shao Xiaoli breathed a sigh of relief. Fearing she might expose herself if she spoke further, and recognizing the opportune moment to retreat, she quickly said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Sister Su. I'll take my spirit and explore other parts of the city!"

With that, she bit into the fruit, linked her arm through Ning Changjiu's, pulled him to his feet, and together they walked toward the door.

Kui Yuan watched their retreating figures. Shaking his head faintly, he murmured to himself, referring to the young man's recent sword thrust, "Indeed, rumors are not to be trusted."

Once outside, Ning Changjiu easily disengaged from Shao Xiaoli's grasp.

"This is the 'important matter' you spoke of?" Ning Changjiu inquired flatly.

Shao Xiaoli hung her head. "Sister Su is the kindest person to me besides you, Boss—even kinder than my own mother," she apologized. "She's been worried about my spirit summoning for so long, so of course I had to come and reassure her that I'm safe. Please don't be angry."

Ning Changjiu simply grunted in response.

Shao Xiaoli tugged at his sleeve. "So, for now, let's just pretend we've formalized our contract, okay? Please give me some face when we're out in public. When we get home, you can punish me however you like."

As she spoke, she even tilted her head up, batting her eyelashes coquettishly, imitating Su Yanshu's mannerisms.

However, Ning Changjiu remained impassive, like a stone Buddha, showing no reaction to Shao Xiaoli's overtures.

Undeterred, she reasoned that affection always needed to be nurtured gradually.

She continued to seek conversation. "Boss, do you have anything you'd like to ask me?" she probed. "I'll tell you everything I know, holding nothing back!"

Ning Changjiu initially remained silent. Only when they reached a secluded area did he ask, "Do you know of a silver-haired, black-robed woman in your city? Have you heard anything about her origins?"

"Black robes, silver hair? A woman?" Shao Xiaoli paused, bewildered. She folded her left arm beneath her chest, her right thumb pressing against her lips, her teeth gnawing. After much deliberation, she mused, "Perhaps the city has taken such an exotic captive