Chapter 7

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Spending money like there’s no tomorrow

That white silhouette drifted farther away like a faint fog, leaving behind emptiness.

Still standing in the trees, Huo Linfeng had even forgotten to leave this simple garden and had long lost his desire to continue scouting. He had been thunderstruck, muddled, mesmerized by that person who seemed like an alluring devil, like an immortal banished from heaven.

Who was that?

He was unable to guess, unable to think. Who exactly was that?

To have a garden to himself, and judging from the clothes he wears, he must not be any ordinary disciple. Perhaps, he was one of the Palace Lords. Huo Linfeng pondered deeply. Diao Yuliang is still young, can it be Rong Luoyun?

Suddenly, a group of disciples came to patrol nearby. Huo Linfeng, upon hearing them, turned to leave down the back of the mountain. Mount Lengsang was veiled in darkness, making it hard to tread. If one was not careful enough, they would trip and stumble, yet Huo Linfeng paid no attention and was still caught up on that person.

That storyteller had said the sister was a prostitute and the brother was a bandit.

Rong Luoyun’s sister was the top courtesan of Dusk-till-Dawn, meaning her appearance must be otherworldly. Since this is the case, then Rong Luoyun’s looks must also be remarkable.

After reaching the foot of the mountain, the direction he should be walking towards is the north, where the inn was. Yet, Huo Linfeng decided to head west of the Long River.

Drawing near the hour of chou [1], the building of Dusk-till-Dawn located beside the river bank was lit up so brightly it looked like daytime. Their gates were swung wide open. The esteemed guests were like tides, the prostitutes the boats. Coincidentally, the event of singing and dancing that the shopkeeper had mentioned was happening exactly today. The singing was endless as the dancers on the stage danced for half the night, swaying their hips back and forth.

Waves and waves of people surged. Even fragile old men had come to try to taste a wisp of that sweet fragrance in those fluttering sleeves. Every corner was filled with loud chattering, giving those who listened a headache. There was only one area on all four floors of this establishment that was remotely peaceful.

This was a room on the upper floors, with flowery windows and bamboo screens. A moon-like shadow swept into the room, landing on softly the ground and familiarly searched for a match to light the fires. They strolled to the side of the couch and lit a tricolored lamp.

With only one source of light, its brightness contrasted greatly from that of the outside. This person did not light anymore and went to open a cabinet, picking out a ginger-scented incense stick. He lit it and stuck it in the copper censer. After finishing up, he moved to the bed and sat down lightly.

The noises from the outside was full of laughter and excitement while he sat there calmly. It was almost like he had come to the wrong place. Light footsteps sounded and a delicate hand pushed open the door, revealing a face so beautiful it can bring down a whole country: “Luoyun, when did you arrive?”

The woman asking was Dusk-till-Dawn’s top courtesan, Rong Duanyu. The person sitting quietly on the bed was the Extraordinary Palace’s Second Palace Lord, Rong Luoyun.

“I just lit the lamp,” Rong Luoyun shifted a little, “You came here so quickly, have you been watching for me?”

Rong Duanyu laughed warmly. How can the smelly men downstairs be more important than her little brother? She left, delicately and gracefully, almost like Xuannü [2] had descended to the mortal realm from the Ninth Heaven [3]. She returned soon after with snacks.

The pair of sister and brother sat at the table. She had brought Rong Luoyun’s favorites: a bowl of apricot milk and cow milk pastry. As he ate, his ears moved slightly, listening to the moments in the building. On the days that the special event happens, he would only be at ease if he came here himself to supervise.

He finished the bowl of apricot milk and licked his lips. Rong Duanyu said disapprovingly: “You’re not a kid with no one looking after them. You have a nicely embroidered handkerchief, why don’t you use it?”

Rong Luoyun picked it out of his sleeves and reluctantly wiped his mouth with it. Rong Duanyu laughed in spite of herself. Her delicate hands held out a letter.

Rong Luoyun took it over. The official sent by the imperial court was coming. He opened the letter and took a look. “Huo Linfeng?” He felt that was rather unexpected. The son of the famous Marquis of Dingbei, who was rumored to be outstanding in fighting, had actually been dispatched to Xiqian Ridge.

“How is this person?” Rong Duanyu asked.

Rong Luoyun shook his head. He had never met him, so he wouldn’t know, but those who defend the borders would definitely be ruthless. To have to give up his elite troops in Saibei and command this place’s useless group of soldiers, he suspects that General Huo must not be too happy.

Rong Duanyu asked again, “Would you like to get specific details on him?”

Rong Luoyun answered: “There’s no need. Once he takes up his post, we will get the exact information about the news from Chang’an.” A dragon cannot beat a snake on its home turf. Although Huo Linfeng might be difficult to deal with, he can’t do much alone.

He started feeling a little tired. He burned the letter to ash, rinsed his mouth, and removed his hair crown. Fine black hair cascaded down like silk as he laid on the bed. Rong Duanyu tucked him in properly and touched his cheek: “Sleep, it’s going to be very busy here all night. I’ll call you if anything happens.”

Without even changing his clothes, Rong Luoyun shut his eyes to rest. He was clearly supposed to be an infamous mad lad, but looking at him now, curled up like a young child, made one think otherwise.

Closing the door behind her, Rong Duanyu left quietly. In the corridor, she saw a musician holding a zither. That musician had to sing her voice hoarse and when the gold and jade came showering down, she had to put her zither down and quickly pick them up.

Rong Duanyu glanced down at the sea of men bustling with excitement, all holding heaps of gold and jade to offer to the sisters on the stage. She turned a deaf ear to all the men begging to see her and left to make Rong Luoyun some soup.

Extravagant on the inside and splendid on the outside.

Heads bobbed about as people walked along the Long River. A black shadow slid onto a decorated pleasure boat. It was precisely Huo Linfeng wearing night clothes.

The boat was filled with the noises of clouds and rain [4]. General Huo flushed red. “Pardon me,” he silently thought. He removed his outer robe and after fixing his clothes properly, he went ashore and strutted into Dusk-till-Dawn.

The moment Huo Linfeng stepped in, his ears suddenly filled with the cacophony of voices. Coquettish glances were thrown left and right and delicate bodies pressed against him. Within merely a few steps, he was covered head to toe with the scent of cosmetics. He took a seat and looked around. The surrounding veranda was filled with people, either drunk and tossing flowers or shyly shaking their fans.

He had never gone to the Little Spring Stage in Saibei, yet he had come to Dusk-till-Dawn in Xiqian Ridge. If his father and elder brother were to catch wind of this, he’s afraid that he would be beaten until both his bones and the flogging rod broke.

Suddenly, a tender voice sounded: “Such an elegant, handsome brother. Why are you sitting here all alone?”

Huo Linfeng’s face tightened and went stiff when the girl put her arms around his shoulder. In this brothel, there were different categories of girls. This one in front of him was a prostitute who sold her body. He said expressionlessly: “I’ve heard Dusk-till-Dawn’s beauties are a must-see in this short life [5]. But now that I’m here myself, I’ll have to disagree.”

The little prostitute’s face changed and left with a twist of her hip. Soon after, a musician came. Huo Linfeng shot her a glance. It was a musician that only sold her music. She hugged her pipa [6], even seeming a little shy towards him.

He said: “Just like a servant girl, like those who cook sour soup in the kitchen. You shouldn’t even be playing a pipa.”

Upon hearing this, the musician shed tears. The nearby men flocked over, suddenly feeling protective. Huo Linfeng was not moved, his eyes remained icy cold. He untied a brocade bag, which contained forty hundred-tael ingots of silver, totaling to four thousand taels.

He quietly said: “Those who sell their bodies at brothels will only dirty me. Four thousand taels. Find me someone beautiful to sing me a song. Do you have that someone?”

These words were both shaming and provocative, but it was too tempting. The proprietress came rushing over, saying flatteringly: “Young Lord, please don’t get angry. If Dusk-till-Dawn doesn’t have any beauties, then how would there be any in Jianghu?” As she spoke, she clapped her hands, “Get Lady Bao Luo.”

Huo Linfeng caught the murmurs around him. Seems like this “Bao Luo” is a well-known beauty. After a short while, Bao Luo arrived in front of his table with a fan covering her face, only showing a pair of beautiful apricot eyes and her dangling earrings. She was so dazzling that the guests were all intoxicated by her looks.

Huo Linfeng took a glimpse of her: “The only acceptable thing about you is your pair of apricot eyes. But what a pity. I would much rather have a bite of fresh peach than a basketful of mushy apricots.”

Bao Luo stared blankly, nearly dropping her fan. Seeing this, the proprietress hurriedly called more and more beauties who were usually hard to meet. Yet, Huo Linfeng’s words were like a sword, provoking them so much that their cosmetic-covered faces turned dizzy.

“Oh dear, Young Lord!” The proprietress wiped her sweat, “Young Lord, which type do you like? Big hips or big breasts? Graceful or charming? Please tell me in more detail!”

It was Huo Linfeng’s first time coming to a pleasure house, even posing as a ruthless guest, so how would he know? He didn’t answer for a long time. The proprietress was experienced. She leaned closer and lowered her voice: “Young Lord, can it be that you want a man?”

Huo Linfeng was startled and was embarrassed to the point of anger: “Talk less nonsense, if you don’t have any beauties here then forget it!”

The proprietress considered for a moment. With this many people in the room watching, Dusk-till-Dawn cannot afford to receive such a blow to their reputation. “Go.” She smoothed out her clothes, and said loudly, “Invite the top courtesan, Lady Duanyu!”

The building-full of men looked on in surprise, all craning their necks trying to catch a glimpse. The person herself hasn’t even come out, yet they were already drooling. Huo Linfeng was a little anxious. He waited, and in the next moment, he heard gasps. He lifted his head and saw in the distance the silhouette of a beautiful, graceful woman standing in the long hall. Her beauty was comparable to a goddess.

The proprietress had called her in a hurry, yet Rong Duanyu was calm and steady. She gazed at Huo Linfeng, who was currently surrounded.

The two looked at each other from a distance. Huo Linfeng was surprised. For a woman who was in such a dirty place, her looks were not dirty at all and were more like that of a precious daughter from a wealthy family. Since Rong Duanyu had come, he can finally see clearly. Sure enough, that face resembled that of the moon-white figure.

Could it really be that that person was Rong Luoyun?

Rong Duanyu strolled over to pour wine: “Which song does the Young Lord want to hear?”

Huo Linfeng dazedly pushed the four thousand taels of silver over: “Any song the top courtesan is good at.”

The proprietress hurriedly collected the brocade bundle. Rong Duanyu lifted her dress and stepped onto the stage, borrowing the musician’s pipa. The building was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breaths, gaping as the top courtesan sung. With the strumming of strings and the moving of her mouth, the music sounded divine.

On the fourth floor, Rong Luoyun was having a dream through the hustle and bustle. Unexpectedly, once everything went quiet, he woke up.

He got up and pushed the bed curtains aside. He climbed off the bed with his hair scattered and walked barefoot to the door. He recognized Rong Duanyu’s singing voice and pushed open the door to the corridor. Leaning on the banister, his hair cascaded down in torrents as he lowered his head, covering half his face.

“Long and large grows the zedoary … Alas! Alas! My parents.” The song she was singing was “Flourishing Zedoary [7].”

Everyone was staring at the beauty. Only he listened to her singing. She was up to “cold and bleak is the Southern Hill” when his heart suddenly ached.

Huo Linfeng filled his goblet again, not knowing why Rong Duanyu was singing a ceremonial song. He lifted his head to drink and suddenly caught sight of the silhouette on the fourth floor. That same moon-white robe, the only difference being his silver hair crown was gone.

It’s him?!

At this time, the song ended. The surrounding people all praised and applauded endlessly. He was urged by the proprietress to join in with the praises. “Very nice…” He complimented half-heartedly and lifted his head again. There was not a trace of that man at the railing.

Coming and going, just like a dream.

He suddenly felt bored and asked: “What time is it?”

Someone answered: “It’s almost the hour of mao [8].”

It was nearly dawn. Huo Linfeng turned to leave. The people behind him went back to having fun. He changed back to his set of night clothes and leisurely walked towards the inn.

He brushed past the six-cornered and six-sided Dusk-till-Dawn.

Suddenly, a gale blew past, and from the sky, an item the color of gray ash drifted down. He reached out his hand to catch it and found that it was a handkerchief. It was clean and neat with its corner embroidered with a ginkgo leaf the yellow color of spring. With a sniff, the light fragrance of ginger and cow milk can be smelled.

Does this belong to one of the guests? Or perhaps a lady?

He did not know and was too lazy to guess. He conveniently placed it into his clothes and left with it.

On the fourth floor, Rong Luoyun laid snug on the couch dreaming again. His arm rested on the windowsill. The wind blew and caressed his sleeves.

The author has something to say:

Huo Linfeng: Four thousand taels for a song and happiness.

Lu Zhun: Which devil possessed you?

Translator’s Notes:

Since school is starting soon, I’ll be posting once every weekend starting next week (◠‿◠)

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Notes

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