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墨書 Inktalez
The carriage made its way toward the city gate, and the Fragrant Blossom Pavilion was the largest brothel in East City. With the support of the Grim Reaper, it had a much grander setup than other establishments.
Inside the carriage, Jun Chong sat with half-closed eyes, feigning sleep. I was curious and peered out, noticing Little Bugs walking alongside the carriage. I lifted the curtain and quietly asked, "Is this grand display really necessary?"
"Every time a top courtesan leaves Fragrant Blossom Pavilion, it's always like this. We're heading to North City for the competition, so our display can't be less impressive than those from the other cities. Sister Mu Yan said we must outshine everyone else," Little Bugs replied.
"So we're going to North City for a contest?" I asked.
Little Bugs nodded. "Tomorrow is North City's Flower Festival. Every year on this day, the top courtesans from the other three cities are invited to compete, determining who will serve the King of Hell for the year."
I looked down at my own attire in surprise and asked, "It can't be me, right?"
"Not at all!" Little Bugs pointed to the largest carriage ahead. "The top courtesan is in there."
I leaned forward and could only make out a slender figure surrounded by lavish decorations; I couldn't recognize her from behind, and it wasn't Mu Yan. Mu Yan was seated in the first carriage, wearing a pink embroidered long skirt.
At that moment, the carriage suddenly stopped. I noticed some commotion ahead; Mu Yan had gotten out of her carriage. I caught a glimpse of her red robe fluttering but couldn't discern what was happening. Just as I was about to look again, Jun Chong yanked me back and pulled down the curtain.
"Sit tight and don't speak."
The commotion in front grew louder, mixed with Mu Yan's anxious voice filtering through.
"Lord Lianchi, there are only courtesans from Fragrant Blossom Pavilion here; there are no others! Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"
I had only seen Mu Yan twice; she was a capable woman whose every move exuded the confidence of a big sister. It was said that Jun Chong trusted her abilities immensely.
Under the thin veil, I could vaguely see her anxiously looking in my direction while I sat stiffly in the carriage, silent.
"Am I someone who would misjudge?" Lianchi had donned the blue robe of the Grim Reaper, holding a sword in one hand, the open collar revealing a flamboyant demeanor. Her hair was loosely tied back, and she pointed at me from across the carriage, "Just two more left. You're so anxious; could it be that there's something fishy going on?"
"Of course not. It's just that this girl is inexperienced and quite shy. I'm afraid she might offend someone if she hasn't seen a noble before."
"Does a noble seem like someone without grace? Today, I'm under orders to escort the ladies of Fragrant Blossom Pavilion out of the city. If anything happens on the way, I won't have a good explanation. It's better to clarify things first." Lianchi raised an eyebrow and said to those beside her, "Lift the curtain."
With a flick of her red sleeve, my back stiffened slightly as I trembled. My eyes were fixed ahead, where Qin Ling's wooden and cold face was the first thing to catch my sight.
His sharp gaze swept through the carriage before he said to Lianchi, "No one here."
No one?
A chill ran down my spine. Just a moment ago, I felt Jun Chong beside me, but now there was no trace of him at all; I was alone in the carriage. My palms were clammy with sweat, and my breath gradually eased.
"Oh, isn't this the Girl!" Lianchi squinted with a smile, pushing past Qin Ling as she attempted to step into the carriage. Mu Yan quickly intervened, "My lord, what are you doing?"
"Since I'm escorting you out of the city, I'm tired too. It’s better to sit with familiar people in this carriage." Her eyes shifted slightly to Mu Yan's face, a smirk playing at her lips that carried an icy chill. "Are you going to interfere with that?"
Mu Yan shivered; though reluctant, he stepped back. "Mu Yan wouldn't dare."
"Enough chatter; let's get ready to depart."
Lianchi boldly sat down in the carriage, looking at me with a bright smile. "Beauty, it's nice to see you again. Tsk tsk, is this outfit meant for waiting for your brother?"
“……”
“Shameless Scoundrel Is this all you have when it comes to flirting with women? The women you've flirted with must be really foolish.”
For some reason, every time I saw Lianchi, I couldn't help but retort, always unwilling to be at a disadvantage. With Jun Chong absent and no idea where he had gone, I felt anxious inside, which made my words come out without much thought.
“There are very few ghosts like you in the Underworld,” Lianchi said, leaning in slightly with a smile in his eyes. “I remember every ghost I've encountered. You have a strong Eerie Aura, clearly indicating you've been a ghost for quite some time, yet I've never seen you before. Moreover, your Eerie Aura feels strangely familiar.”
His words made my heart sink after a brief moment of pride. The Eerie Aura on me belonged to Jun Chong. If he discovered Ni Duan, it would cause trouble for Jun Chong.
In the short silence, my mind raced through various thoughts. Although I was reluctant, I still managed a slight smile at him. “I’ve lived in the countryside since childhood and was only recently brought here by Sister Mu Yan.”
“The countryside?” Lianchi frowned slightly. “Are you referring to the Underworld?”
“Yes, that place.”
I had heard about this place from Little Bugs. It was said to be filled with many Vengeful Spirits and Malevolent Ghosts, with a poor environment where many abandoned souls were thrown away—a truly terrible place.
Suddenly, Lianchi grasped my hand. His palm was calloused, and the sensation against my skin was somewhat ticklish. I wanted to pull away but held back upon seeing his expression, thinking to myself that if he dared to take advantage of me again, I would make him regret it.
“That must have been tough for you,” Lianchi said as he leaned closer. I caught a whiff of a pleasant floral scent emanating from him, which only deepened my disdain for this man.
Yet I forced a smile on my face. “Do all you reapers escort Courtesans to participate in competitions?”
“This is an order from above; this time of year sees the most beautiful women gathering,” Lianchi gazed at me with affection. “Of course, in my eyes, there’s only you.”
“……”
I suppressed the feeling of wrongdoing and turned my head, pretending to admire the scenery as I lifted the chain. What caught my eye, however, was a figure in red amidst the darkness. My heart suddenly stirred, and I turned to Lianchi, asking, “Who is that Qin Ling? I’ve heard others say that it’s rare for a ghost to ascend to the Fourth Level Death God position in one go. Is he really that powerful?”
“Are you interested in him?”
Seeing Lianchi's smiling face, I knew I wouldn’t get much out of him. Just as I was about to change the subject, he chuckled and said, “That person walked straight out of the Underworld Palace. Giving him a Fourth Level Death God title is actually a bit of an insult.”
I was taken aback. “So he is one of the seven guardians of the King of Hell?”
“No.” Lianchi glanced at the tall figure of Qin Ling with a smile, narrowing his eyes slightly. “In short, he is very dangerous. You’re better off with me.”
You’re the real danger!
After that, no matter how much I tried to inquire about Qin Ling, Lianchi skillfully avoided the topic. I didn’t want to press too hard, but deep down, I felt there was some connection between Qin Ling and Molin.
It wasn’t just because they looked alike; they gave off entirely different vibes. It was completely unlike when Jun Chong had amnesia back then—it felt as if one entity had been split into two halves.
Yet I couldn’t shake this belief from my mind and planned to find an opportunity to probe further.
As we reached North City, we suddenly encountered an obstacle ahead—it turned out to be a Vengeful Spirit. It seemed rather troublesome, and Lianchi was urged by Mu Yan to go protect everyone, leaving me free.
Before I could catch my breath, a chill swept over me. Startled, I turned to look and found it was undoubtedly Jun Chong; I finally relaxed.
“Jun Chong, where did you go just now?”
“Lianchi, I'm here, but I can't show my face.”
“After what he just did to me, aren't you worried that he might take advantage of me?”
Jun Chong squinted at the battle ahead, his tone dark and heavy like the depths of hell. “I've placed a curse on you. If he dares to touch you, he will suffer the consequences.”
At that moment, the situation over there was nearing resolution. Lianchi waved and walked over, while Jun Chong gradually faded away. “When he comes over, pour him some wine and take his waist token.”
After saying this, Jun Chong vanished. I wasn't sure if he had seen everything; a sudden discomfort settled in my heart. I shook my head, trying to push away the unpleasant thoughts. Lianchi had already gotten into the car.
“How did it go?”
Lianchi glanced at me and smiled lightly. “Don't worry, it's all taken care of.”
“I was scared to death.” I patted my chest and looked at the tea set before suddenly asking, “Is it true that drinking a bit of alcohol can calm your nerves when you're scared?”
Lianchi's eyes twinkled as she smiled charmingly, her fair fingers lifting the curtain to call outside, “Bring some wine.”
Before long, Little Bugs brought the wine over. I had never tasted the wine here, but I had smelled it before; it was fragrant. There was a particular type brewed from Red Spider Lily, which many ghosts couldn't handle—no one could last past three cups.
When Little Bugs served it, I understood.
I poured a cup; just inhaling its aroma made me feel a bit dizzy. I didn't know how to drink; I would definitely get drunk, so I poured a cup and handed it directly to Lianchi.
“You drink first.”
"Why?"
"I'm just checking if there's poison."
Lianchi paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "No one here would dare to poison anyone."
"That may not be the case. What if you poisoned it? Wouldn't that put me in danger?" I stubbornly held out my wine glass in front of him, feeling quite displeased. "Drink it, or I'm leaving."
"How could I refuse wine offered by a beauty?"
Lianchi took my hand, lightly caressing it in his palm before holding my hand and drinking from the glass. I saw him squint his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was a hint of wavering in his dark pupils.
"Is this Red Spider Lily?"
"Can Red Spider Lily even be brewed into wine?" I feigned ignorance and poured another glass. "Why don't you try again?"
Lianchi didn't argue and drank another glass. The ripples in his eyes grew larger. I concocted countless reasons for him to keep drinking until he had consumed more than half a jug. He was now leaning back on the soft couch, his face flushed, contrasting beautifully with his fair skin.
"Lianchi? Lianchi?"
I called out to him several times and even tentatively poked him a few times without any response. Considering it was the right moment, I reached for the badge on his waist belt. Just as I was about to take it, a hand covered mine.
"What are you doing? Hmm?"
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