Gathering Intelligence

Bai Qianshuang nodded. "Mm, let's enter the city first."

The flying sword slowly descended outside the gates of Fengyu City. The two of them sheathed their swords and followed the crowd toward the entrance.

The guards at the city gate wore uniform armor, longswords hanging at their waists. Their sharp but not overbearing gazes swept over the two as they briefly checked their identities before allowing them to pass.

This clearly wasn’t an ordinary mortal town. Even though Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang both radiated spiritual energy, the guards didn’t bat an eye.

Fengyu City was evidently home to many cultivators.

As soon as they stepped through the gates, a wave of liveliness washed over them—shops lined both sides of the street, vendors loudly hawking their wares. Some sold elixirs and magical artifacts, others spirit fruits and demon beast meat, while cultivators set up stalls offering talismans and cultivation manuals… The bustling crowd included both plainly dressed mortals and cultivators brimming with spiritual energy, coexisting peacefully without conflict.

"It’s really lively here," Ye Chuan remarked, glancing around.

He quite enjoyed browsing small stalls like these for hidden treasures. The jewelry he’d bought back in Xiluo Kingdom had been a hit with the girls.

"…" Bai Qianshuang gazed at the familiar cityscape before her, her tense nerves finally relaxing. Her eyes softened slightly.

She brushed a strand of her long hair aside, her lashes fluttering faintly above the teardrop mole near her eye.

Everywhere she looked, nostalgia washed over her.

Ye Chuan walked beside her, watching as she occasionally paused, her gaze lingering on the spirit herb stalls. A faint smile tugged at his lips—Qianshuang seemed genuinely happy to be back in her homeland.

"…"

If he were to transmigrate to the Tianxuan Continent one day, he’d probably be even more overjoyed than Bai Qianshuang if he could return home.

Ye Chuan mused silently.

"Ye Chuan, look at these spirit herbs. Back when we were cultivating, we’d often come down the mountain to buy cheap ones for personal use or ask senior sisters who knew alchemy to refine them into pills," Bai Qianshuang said, her beautiful eyes unusually bright with amusement as she reminisced.

She spoke softly, but Ye Chuan’s heart sank.

After all, the Jade Void Sect had been annihilated. He worried that dwelling on the past would only hurt her more.

Thinking this, Ye Chuan changed the subject. "By the way, Qianshuang, shouldn’t we find a place to gather information?"

"Mm, you’re right. We should look for a flying ship or teleportation array that can cross the Endless Demon Sea," Bai Qianshuang agreed softly, refocusing on their mission.

If they wanted to return to the Donghua Divine Continent, they needed reliable intel.

"Qianshuang, come with me." Ye Chuan seemed to have spotted something. Stroking his chin, he took Bai Qianshuang’s soft hand and led her toward a nearby pavilion.

Bai Qianshuang followed his gaze and saw an ornate building with upturned eaves, draped in crimson silk lanterns. Through the windows, glimpses of graceful female figures flitted by, accompanied by the faint sounds of music and laughter.

Most eye-catching was the gilded plaque above the entrance, its characters glowing suggestively under the lantern light: "Flying Immortal Drunken Spring Pavilion."

Bai Qianshuang tilted her head, a stray strand of hair sticking up in confusion. A few seconds later, her expression froze, and she instinctively took a step back. "Y-you… why are you bringing me here?"

Her voice was noticeably higher-pitched than usual, her ears tinged red.

Though Bai Qianshuang knew little of the modern world, this was the Tianxuan Continent—she knew exactly what kind of place this was.

In the Jade Void Sect, she had been taught strict ascetic discipline and had only ever seen serene meditation halls. She had never set foot in such a… pleasure house. Just standing at the entrance made her skin crawl.

"To gather information, of course." Ye Chuan pointed matter-of-factly. "Think about it—places like this attract all sorts: cultivators, merchants, travelers from all over. The gossip here is even juicier than in teahouses."

With that, he tried to pull her inside.

But the moment he tugged lightly, he felt Bai Qianshuang’s wrist tremble. Her head was bowed, strands of hair obscuring most of her face, leaving only her tightly pressed lips visible.

Her entire body was tense with resistance.

"No!" Bai Qianshuang dug in her heels, her voice urgent. "This kind of place… it’s not for us! How could a female cultivator like me associate with such vulgar entertainment? If word got out—"

"Ye Chuan, you’re awful!" Her face flushed even deeper.

Ye Chuan blinked, momentarily stunned by her rare, flustered cuteness.

But it wasn’t like he was forcing her into prostitution, right?

They were just gathering intel!

Before Bai Qianshuang could finish, a young woman in a light green dress stepped out of the pavilion. Around eighteen or nineteen, her eyes were lively, and she held a silk handkerchief.

Spotting the pair, she looked surprised for a moment before approaching with a coy smile. "Young masters, would you care to come in and rest? We have fine spirit wine and ladies skilled in music—perfect for easing fatigue."

Her gaze lingered on Bai Qianshuang, taking in her refined yet simple attire with curiosity, though she didn’t pry.

Bai Qianshuang squirmed under the scrutiny, fingers clutching her robes, her breathing growing uneven.

"If you’re uncomfortable, you can wait outside. I’ll go in alone to ask around," Ye Chuan suggested telepathically, ensuring their conversation remained private.

Wait outside…

Images flashed through Bai Qianshuang’s mind—Ye Chuan surrounded by women, drinking, and then…

"Gathering information" was just an excuse.

Her expression cooled, the blush fading as her usual aloofness returned. "No. I’ll go with you."

Without waiting for his reply, she looped her arm through his.

Her sudden boldness surprised Ye Chuan—his elbow was practically buried in her embrace. The old Bai Qianshuang would never have dared.

Was being back home making her bolder?

Decision made, they strode past the green-clad woman and into the Drunken Spring Pavilion before she could say another word.

The moment they stepped inside, a wave of fragrance—powdered rouge and spirit wine—washed over them, starkly different from the outside air.

The hall was brilliantly lit, dozens of crystal lanterns hanging from the beams, casting a soft, warm glow over the polished jade floors that mirrored the figures around them. Red silk ribbons coiled around the pillars, their tassels swaying gently in the air, adding to the alluring atmosphere.

At the center of the hall, a stage held a woman in flowing sleeves, dancing gracefully to the accompaniment of strings and flutes. The audience below clapped and cheered between sips of wine, the scene lively despite it being broad daylight.

Bai Qianshuang froze, her breath catching. Her hands clenched the hem of her robes, her head bowed so low she nearly buried her face.

"Relax, just stay close to me," Ye Chuan reassured her before turning to the green-dressed woman.

"A private room, please. Send in a few chatty attendants, along with good wine and food."

"Of course, young master~"

Hearing Ye Chuan's smooth and practiced manner, Bai Qianshuang was visibly taken aback.

"How are you so skilled at this?"