Chapter 10: A Night Visit to the Courtesan House—Part 1

After the rooster’s crow, Yunsui City, shrouded in mist, welcomed a new day.

Yan Qige returned to the inn to rest, while Yusang yawned and made her way to the back garden of the county office.

Just as she landed in the bamboo forest, she found Huayi staring at her with a knowing smile that made her stop in her tracks.

“What are you looking at me for?”

“I’m just wondering when you started following a man so closely. Could it be that you’ve taken a liking to him?”

“Him? That’s not funny at all.”

Yusang said, leaping onto a thick bamboo branch, which bent under her weight as she lay down sideways.

“Yusang, don’t forget who you are,” Huayi said, looking up at her, the playful tone gone from her voice.

Yusang pretended not to hear and closed her eyes, turning over as she said, “I’m tired. I’ll sleep here for a while.”

“Think of your father and mother,” Huayi sighed as she walked away.

Only when Huayi’s voice had completely faded did Yusang slowly open her eyes, staring blankly at the bamboo leaves in front of her, her eyes filled with a deep and complex sadness.

Yusang took out a white jade brush from her waist and gently ran her fingers over its carvings, as if the brush had only yesterday rested on the desk in her palace. The brush was made from Eastern Bone Jade, the patterns intricately carved by her father himself, and the bristles were made from the entwined hair of her father and mother, making it a unique item in the world.

That day, her father had been at the writing desk by the window, holding her hand to guide her in writing. But as soon as they dipped the brush in ink and made the first stroke, the news of the city gates being breached came from outside the great hall.

An arrow shattered the window, and the jade brush fell from Yusang’s hand. Then came the deafening sounds of battle cries and the slow creaking of the palace doors being pushed open.

Yusang had climbed onto the window ledge to look out, seeing countless armored soldiers pouring into the palace, led by a figure in bright yellow.

“Child, never forget who you are.”

Those were the last words her father spoke to her before she was sent into a protective barrier, plunging her world into darkness.

The memories played like a dream that had haunted her for two thousand years, a dream filled with the flames of war.

Her father, mother, and brother all perished in that battle.

She had hidden inside the black barrier formed by her parent’s blood and spell, unable to see anything, but she could clearly hear the screams of the dying.

Amidst the sounds of death, she also heard a man’s voice giving orders, commanding the slaughter of all Fengjian clan members, declaring his intent to dominate the world and become the sole ruler of humanity.

By evening, Yusang was startled awake from her old dreams.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the sunset hanging on the horizon and the evening glow brilliantly vivid, just like the colors in her memories—blood-red.

“Little demon, what are you thinking about?” Yan Qige’s voice suddenly startled Yusang.

She shifted and fell from the bamboo branch in surprise.

With quick reflexes, Yan Qige leaped down after her, catching Yusang by the arm.

With a light step on a nearby bamboo stalk, he gently brought her down to the ground.

Yusang, recovering from her shock, looked up at Yan Qige, standing with his back to the setting sun.

The crimson light cast a breathtakingly handsome silhouette, and for a moment, she felt as if her heart had been pierced by a needle.

A vision of a figure wielding a sword on a blood-soaked battlefield flashed before her eyes, but it was gone in an instant, a mere illusion.

“Your eyes…” Yan Qige frowned, a look of surprise flickering in his eyes.

Yusang quickly regained her composure, hastily jumping out of Yan Qige’s arms and lowering her head, avoiding his gaze.

“I’ve never seen a demon with eyes of that color,” Yan Qige remarked.

“I’m naturally beautiful,” Yusang forced a smile as she raised her head.

Noticing her unease, Yan Qige swallowed the words he was about to say, turned, and began to walk away.

“Let’s go. It’s getting dark.”

Yusang let out a sigh of relief, quickly catching up to Yan Qige.

Climbing over the wall from the county office, Yan Qige led Yusang to the main street.

The vendors were packing up their stalls, preparing to go home.

Yan Qige and Yusang sat down in front of a noodle shop run by an old woman.

The old woman greeted them with a smile and asked, “What would you like to eat?”

“Anything will do,” Yan Qige handed her some silver, then glanced toward the end of the street at an alleyway.

“What are you looking at?” Yusang followed his gaze.

“It seems someone is watching us.”

“Where?” Yusang craned her neck to see, but the alley was empty.

She laughed and teased him, “Don’t think just because you’re good-looking, everyone wants to spy on you. You’re so vain.”

Yan Qige slowly turned to look at Yusang, his expression showing slight displeasure mixed with a hint of disdain.

He lifted his chin and said leisurely, “I am handsome, dashing, and more charming than Li Nu, with the grace of Pan An. I’m skilled in both literature and martial arts, capable of capturing demons. I have the intelligence of a general, and I have the talent of a scholar. I am the best in the world. How can an ordinary demon like you understand this?”

(T/N: Prominent scholars from ancient dynasties that are known for their good looks and graceful bearing.)

Yusang had only intended to dampen Yan Qige’s spirit, with no deeper motive.

But she never expected him to take the joke so seriously. After hearing his words, Yusang’s mouth gaped open wider than a duck egg, feeling like a surge of lightning and thunder in her mind that couldn’t be stopped.

When the old woman brought out the noodles, Yusang buried her head in her bowl, quickly picking up her chopsticks and slurping the noodles, feeling that only by stuffing herself could she stop the urge to curse out loud.

After finishing her meal, Yusang set down her chopsticks, indicating that she was done.

Looking over at Yan Qige, she saw that he hadn’t touched his food at all.

“Are you full?” Yan Qige asked.

Yusang was about to reply, but before she could speak, Yan Qige stood up and said, “If you’re full, let’s go. It’s getting dark.”

The words she was about to say got stuck in her throat, making her feel slightly annoyed.

The streets of Yuntian were much brighter than those in the north.

Although some shops didn’t operate at night, they still hung lanterns outside their doors.

Yan Qige and Yusang stopped outside the Courtesan House.

The door was closed, as if they knew that no customers would visit during this period.

However, the lights were on inside, and faint voices could be heard.

With no business, three or five brightly dressed women were playing dominoes in the hall, while two servants stood behind them, holding teapots and other items, watching and serving.

Yan Qige pushed open the door, startling everyone inside, making them shrink back in fear.

But when they saw a young and handsome man walk in, the women’s eyes lit up, and they all stood up, straightening their clothes and smiling as they moved forward to greet him.

Yan Qige glanced around the room indifferently and said, “I’m here to see Miss Ranqing.”