181: Chapter 181: Forgetting Troubles

Su Qinghan still kept herself locked in her room, rarely coming out.

Li Changsheng didn't disturb her either, simply having someone deliver meals to her door every day.

On the evening of the fifth day, Su Qinghan finally stepped out of her room.

Standing in the courtyard, she looked at the brand-new base, a flash of complexity in her eyes.

“Junior Brother Li.”

Li Changsheng walked over. “Senior Sister Su, is something the matter?”

Su Qinghan looked at him. “I want to go to the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Li Changsheng was taken aback. “Now?”

Su Qinghan nodded. “I heard it's very lively there; I want to go and see.”

Li Changsheng thought for a moment. “That's fine. I happen to have some business to attend to there as well. Shall we go together?”

Su Qinghan nodded.

The two transformed into streaks of light and flew toward the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Through the Soul link, Li Changsheng sent a message to Xiao Ran.

“Second Senior Sister is going to the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Xiao Ran, who was currently taking inventory of supplies at the Eternal Night Villa, felt his hand tremble upon hearing this.

“What? What is she coming here for?”

“She said she wants to see the excitement. By the way, be careful she doesn't catch you frequenting the brothels.”

Xiao Ran smiled indifferently.

“Don't worry, I use a stage name when I'm out. She won't find out.”

“Speaking of which, I just remembered—you actually used the name Li Bai. Then what should I use?”

Xiao Ran: “You'll be Du Fu, of course!”

“When we, Li and Du, combine, won't we be invincible under heaven?”

Li Changsheng thought about it and found it made sense.

The two continued their journey.

In the distance, the silhouette of the Sword Qi Great Wall loomed indistinctly in the twilight.

On the other side.

The Eternal Night Demon Sect base.

Xiao Ran took a deep breath and turned to walk out of the main hall.

“Deacon Song, I'm heading out for a bit.”

Song He hurriedly asked, “Where is the Elder going?”

Xiao Ran replied without looking back, “The Sword Qi Great Wall.”

The Eternal Night Villa wasn't far from the Sword Qi Great Wall; Xiao Ran arrived in less than half an hour.

He didn't go to the Wan Hua Pavilion but went to the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce first.

The Wanbao Chamber of Commerce was located on the most prosperous street of the Sword Qi Great Wall. It was a nine-story pavilion with carved beams and painted rafters, looking magnificent and resplendent.

As soon as Xiao Ran stepped inside, a maidservant came forward to greet him.

“What does the customer need?”

Xiao Ran said calmly, “I'm looking for your manager.”

The maidservant was startled. “Does the customer have an appointment?”

Xiao Ran took out the VIP token from the Wanbao Pavilion.

This was a VIP token universal to the entire Wanbao Pavilion, equivalent to an SVIP.

Generally, these were personally issued by the Pavilion Master, and their value went without saying.

The maidservant's expression changed, and she quickly bowed.

“Honored guest, please wait a moment. I will go and invite the manager right away.”

A moment later, a middle-aged man walked over hurriedly.

His face was round, and he had an amiable smile.

His strength wasn't weak either, having reached the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation.

This manager wasn't the true person in charge of Wanbao Pavilion, but rather like a tavern manager; he decided on minor matters.

Major matters would require instructions from above.

“I am Steward Qian Tong, the manager of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce. I didn't know an honored guest was arriving; please excuse my lack of a proper welcome.”

Xiao Ran nodded.

“Manager Qian is too polite. I want to buy a few storefronts at the Sword Qi Great Wall. I wonder if you have any recommendations?”

Steward Qian Tong's eyes lit up. “The honored guest wants to open a shop? That's a good thing! I wonder what kind of business the honored guest wants to do?”

Xiao Ran said indifferently, “Everything—Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, Materials. As long as it can make money, I'll do it.”

Steward Qian Tong thought for a moment.

“There are a few storefronts in the east of the city with good locations and reasonable prices, but...”

He paused.

“However, those storefronts are the property of the Zhao family. If the honored guest wants them, you'll have to talk to the Zhao family.”

Xiao Ran's tone carried a hint of confusion. “The Zhao family?”

Steward Qian Tong nodded.

“Yes, the Zhao family. The Zhao family has operated at the Sword Qi Great Wall for over a thousand years; more than half of the storefronts are theirs.”

“Most of our Wanbao Pavilion only consists of the main pavilion and branch stores; we don't have extra shops.”

“If the honored guest is interested, I can help introduce you to the Zhao family.”

Xiao Ran thought about it. “Then I'll have to trouble Manager Qian.”

Steward Qian Tong hurriedly waved his hand. “No trouble at all, no trouble at all. Honored guest, please wait a moment while I go contact the Zhao family.”

He left in a hurry.

Xiao Ran stood by the window, watching the bustling crowd below.

...

Wan Hua Pavilion, top floor.

The three top courtesans were chatting.

Master Su was playing the zither, Master Liu was fiddling with chess pieces, and Master Hua was leaning over a desk painting.

“Men really are unreliable. Once they get what they want, they don't cherish it anymore.”

Master Liu stopped fiddling with the chess pieces and complained.

As soon as these words were spoken...

Master Su stopped playing the zither, and Master Hua stopped painting.

A single figure flashed through their minds simultaneously.

Li Bai.

The man who had stunned the entire audience with a rendition of High Mountains and Flowing Water at the Wanhua Assembly, the man who had solved the Zhenlong endgame with a single move, and the man whose four words 'Sword Heart Clear and Bright' had made Master Hua feel inferior.

After that night, he had never come back.

The three fell silent at the same time.

It had to be said that they were already addicted.

Sleeping alone these past few days, they tossed and turned, always feeling that something wasn't right.

In the end, they were helplessly forced to resort to tools.

After a long time, Master Su spoke softly.

“Maybe he's busy.”

Master Liu curled her lip. “What could be more important than coming to see us?”

Master Hua put down her brush and looked at the night sky outside the window. “He is no ordinary person; he has his own matters to attend to.”

Master Liu sighed. “I know, it's just... I miss him a little.”

Master Su didn't speak, but her fingers gently plucked the zither strings.

The music was like flowing water, carrying a faint trace of melancholy.

Master Hua walked back to the painting desk, picked up the brush, and continued painting.

In the painting was the silhouette of a back, standing with hands behind it, robes fluttering, looking into the distance.

“He will come again.”

She said softly.

...

Sword Qi Great Wall, city gate.

Li Changsheng and Su Qinghan landed before the gate and lined up to enter the city.

Su Qinghan looked up at the two hundred-foot-tall stone statues, a flash of shock in her eyes.

“Sword Sovereign Li Qinglian, Sword Saint en own.”

“Ten thousand years ago, it was they who built the city here and drove the Yao Race back to the Wilderness.”

Li Changsheng said softly.

Su Qinghan nodded without speaking.

The two entered the city.

As soon as they entered the city gate, the clamor rushed toward them.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and the sounds of hawking, laughter, and bargaining intertwined, making it extraordinarily lively.

Su Qinghan frowned slightly.

She wasn't quite used to such a noisy environment.

Li Changsheng noticed her discomfort and whispered, “Shall we find a quiet place to sit?”

Su Qinghan shook her head. “No need, I want to go up to the city wall and take a look.”

Li Changsheng was stunned. “The city wall?”

Su Qinghan nodded. “I heard that from there, one can see the Wilderness and the Yao Race.”

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

The two crossed the bustling streets and walked toward the city wall.

The city walls of the Sword Qi Great Wall towered into the clouds, built entirely of massive black stones.

The walls were covered with blade marks and sword holes, mottled and ancient.

Ascending the wall, the view suddenly opened up.

Beyond the wall lay the endless Wilderness Lands.

The grayish-yellow plains stretched all the way to the horizon, where the massive silhouettes of Yao Beasts could be faintly seen wandering in the distance.

The air was filled with the scent of blood and desolation—traces left by countless battles over ten thousand years.

Standing on the wall, Su Qinghan looked at the plains, a flash of complexity in her eyes.

“Junior Brother Li.”

“Hm?”

“Do you think killing the Yao Race here can make one forget their troubles?”

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment.

“Maybe it can, maybe it can't, but at least it's better than brooding alone.”

Su Qinghan didn't answer, just looked into the distance.

After a long time, she turned around.

“Let's go to the Wan Hua Pavilion.”

Li Changsheng was taken aback. “Wan Hua Pavilion?”

Is the reversal happening this fast?

Just moments ago she wanted to protect the Human Race, and now she wants to visit a brothel?

Su Qinghan nodded without hesitation.

“Didn't you say that place is the intelligence center of the Sword Qi Great Wall? Since we're here, we should get a sense of the situation.”

Li Changsheng's heart skipped a beat; he had indeed said those words before.

But that was to lay the groundwork for Xiao Ran in advance; he didn't expect it to backfire like this.

Now, he could only helplessly agree.

“Alright.”

The two walked down the city wall and headed toward the Wan Hua Pavilion.