Chapter 17: Jealousy of Ling Qingshu

She slapped the serving maid standing nearby and reprimanded angrily, “Get out of here! Don't defile this celestial maiden's eyes. Replace all the dishes today with male attendants!”

Fang Yan, who was clinking glasses with Xu Yang in the private room, was unaware of what was happening downstairs. He merely felt it was a bit unusual that the food servers had suddenly changed from delicate maids to male attendants.

“Brother, please excuse me for this. Who knows what’s going on with Drunken Dream Pavilion today? Are they even trying to do business anymore?” As Fang Yan spoke of these things, his spirits were even higher than if he had just acquired a top-grade magical artifact.

“Let me tell you, whenever I used to come here, the ones serving me were always beautiful maids in their prime, each one soft and graceful. Drunken Dream Pavilion certainly knows how to do business; they knew this was my preference. So every time I came to Drunken Dream Pavilion for drinks, the beautiful maids would serve me. I never imagined it would be these male attendants today.”

While Fang Yan was oblivious to the events downstairs, Xu Yang knew everything clearly. His powerful divine sense allowed him to monitor the movements of everyone within Drunken Dream Pavilion. Xu Yang felt he needed to express some criticism towards Ling Qingshu’s actions. Did she really have to be so absolute just because her ancestor came out for a drink? Not only did she forbid any women from accompanying them, but she even replaced the beautiful serving maids with male attendants. Can you even call that drinking? If one truly only wanted a few drinks when visiting a brothel for pleasure, it would be better to find a small tavern in a back alley. Ling Qingshu must truly not trust her ancestor; was she worried he might lose his virtue in Drunken Dream Pavilion? Xu Yang was at a loss for words regarding this sect leader, a descendant of an unknown generation.

However, unlike Fang Yan’s irritation, Xu Yang placed the cloud beast cub on the table. After pouring a cup of wine for the little creature, he listened to Fang Yan boast about his glorious deeds. For instance, peeking at his cousin bathing at six, visiting a brothel at eight, and sleeping with his personal maid at ten. He also talked about 'brothel handbooks' and what made a woman 'top-notch'. When it came to these topics, this wealthy young master was exceptionally proficient. If Ling Qingshu were to know that this scoundrel was saying such things while drinking with her ancestor, she wouldn't care if he was a young master from a prominent family or the 'number one scoundrel'. She would simply draw her sword, cleave Fang Yan in half, and then chop him into hundreds or thousands of pieces to feed to the dogs.

Fang Yan, caught up in his stories, no longer fretted over why male attendants were serving the food. Xu Yang and the cloud beast cub each had a cup of wine. Xu Yang sipped slowly, while the cloud beast cub lapped it up with its pink tongue. For Xu Yang, who had lived for a hundred thousand years, this wine wasn't even considered mediocre. Over those hundred thousand years, Xu Yang had consumed countless immortal elixirs and fine wines, and had no idea how many people had invited him to drink. However, this time, Xu Yang savored it meticulously. A full ten thousand years had passed since his last drink. Before his seclusion, the sect leader of the Tianlan Sect of that era had invited Xu Yang to a cup of immortal brew. They had also wished him a swift emergence from seclusion and successful ascension to immortality. He never expected that his next emergence would be ten thousand years later. His own cultivation was still at the Qi Refining stage, while that sect leader had either ascended or passed away in meditation. In those ten thousand years, vast oceans had turned into fertile lands; not only were the people Xu Yang once knew gone, but the world itself had undergone immense changes. Listening to Fang Yan's words, Xu Yang felt as if he had returned to his life ten thousand years ago, when he, too, had a group of friends with whom he could share a drink.

“This wine is mediocre. If I get the chance, I’ll sneak out my father’s private collection, and we brothers can have a taste.” Xu Yang glanced at the earnest Fang Yan. Their eyes met, and then both burst into laughter. The cloud beast cub seemed to sense the atmosphere between the two men and promptly kicked away the wine cup placed before it. Then, to Fang Yan’s astonishment, the cloud beast cub intermittently exhaled and inhaled clouds of mist. “Brother, what kind of little demonic beast is that? It looks quite amusing.” If he knew that the 'amusing' cloud beast he was talking about would possess Nascent Soul stage combat power upon reaching adulthood, Fang Yan would likely drop to his knees instantly.

Xu Yang had no intention of revealing the cloud beast's extraordinary nature; he simply went along with Fang Yan’s words. “I just picked it up from the roadside; I don’t even know what kind of demonic beast it is.” Although still a cub, the cloud beast was already spiritual. Hearing Xu Yang say this about it, it immediately extended a tiny paw, intending to leave a mark on Xu Yang. Xu Yang detected the cub’s movement a moment earlier. With a slight smile, he flicked his finger, sending the cloud beast's body flying off the table. “Huh, how did it fly?” Fang Yan had already had quite a bit to drink by then and paid no attention to what happened next. The cloud beast’s body arced through the air, looking as if it was about to hit the ground. Suddenly, the cloud beast turned its head and spat out a puff of cloud mist. Using this mist as leverage, it bounced right back in front of Xu Yang. Having learned its lesson, the cloud beast naturally dared not extend its paw again. Its small body rubbed against Xu Yang's hand. The human-like expression in its eyes seemed to be conveying its grievances. Xu Yang paid no mind to the cloud beast’s antics and simply gave it another cup of wine. Fang Yan didn't bother to wonder how the cloud beast returned. After casually tossing a chicken leg in front of it, he resumed boasting to Xu Yang.

By the time Xu Yang and Fang Yan finished their drinks, night had fallen, and to their surprise, there were hardly any customers left in the entire Drunken Dream Pavilion. “Brother, you see? I told you so. If Drunken Dream Pavilion keeps doing business like this, they’ll go bankrupt sooner or later!” Drunken Fang Yan, supported by Xu Yang, shouted loudly upon seeing the current state of Drunken Dream Pavilion. The madam waiting nearby was almost in tears. How could Drunken Dream Pavilion’s business today be worse than before? It was all because of that young man who came with you two, and that celestial maiden. Who knows how many customers were scared away by her presence? The madam was suffering inwardly but couldn't speak her mind. Even the Core Formation stage elders that Drunken Dream Pavilion carefully supported couldn't withstand the Golden Core aura released by Ling Qingshu. From this, one could imagine Ling Qingshu's immense power. When this celestial maiden said no maids were to serve, every server in Drunken Dream Pavilion today was replaced by a male attendant. The fairy also said no women were allowed upstairs, so the madam obediently sent all the courtesans back to their rooms.

“Madam, why isn’t there a single courtesan in your Drunken Dream Pavilion today? This young master was hoping for some action!” Fang Yan mumbled indistinctly. If it weren't for Xu Yang supporting him, he would definitely be lying on the ground by now. Upon hearing this, Ling Qingshu shot Fang Yan another fierce glare, wishing she could kill him. Xu Yang, however, didn't have many thoughts on the matter. After handing the drunken Fang Yan over to the Fang family guards, he left Drunken Dream Pavilion with Ling Qingshu. The two disappeared into the night on the street, leaving Qizhou City.