Chapter 148 - 144: Mission: Hundred Flowers Assembly

Chapter 148: Chapter 144: Mission: Hundred Flowers Assembly

Mission!

Hundred Flowers Assembly!

When Zhou Hua took out the exquisite, gold-inlaid invitation, Li Heng heard a system notification and fell silent for a moment.

Li Heng had only just arrived in Li Liang City. He understood perfectly well that the regulars at the Scholars’ Association Hall would naturally help one another, and he saw nothing wrong with that.

’But how should I go about lending him this Wolf Bone Brush? What if this Zhou Hua says he’s just borrowing it, then takes the Wolf Bone Brush and skips town?’

’And this Hundred Flowers Assembly... what’s that all about?’

Li Heng was momentarily stunned, unsure how to react. But when Zhou Hua presented the invitation, the surrounding scholars gasped in unison.

"This is... an invitation to the Hundred Flowers Assembly at Snow Feather Tower!"

"It really is an invitation!"

"Zhou Hua! A single invitation to the Hundred Flowers Assembly can sell for over ten thousand Soul Crystal Coins right now. Are you sure you want to part with it...?"

"I offered you a whole set of the Four Treasures of the Study for it last time, and you refused. Why so willing to bring it out today?"

Listening to the scholars’ chatter and seeing the faint reluctance on Zhou Hua’s face, Li Heng knew this invitation had to be something valuable. Plus, it had triggered a mission.

But Li Heng also knew it was best to stay calm in situations like this. Speaking up later would be more advantageous, giving him time to think about how to handle the loan.

"Of course I want to go to the Hundred Flowers Assembly. But you all know how Demon Sect Mountain operates. If I complete this Demonic Sound Heart Sutra, the benefits will be immense. But if I fail... I might not even survive, unless I never leave Li Liang City for the rest of my life!"

"So, when you compare the two, it’s just an invitation. My life is more important. I wonder, what are your thoughts, Mister Li Heng?" Zhou Hua bowed to Li Heng, presenting the gold-inlaid invitation with both hands.

"How about this! Brother Li Heng is new here. While lending the brush might seem a small matter, he doesn’t know Brother Zhou Hua yet. Why don’t I act as a guarantor, and we can have both parties sign a contract? After all, an item as rare as the Wolf Bone Brush is involved!"

’In truth, the Wolf Bone Brush was just a random drop from grinding a dungeon. I haven’t found any use for it yet. If it weren’t for its ’Rare’ rating, I wouldn’t even mind just giving it to him.’

’Still, it’s a rare item. It’d be a pity to lose it. It feels pretty useless, but at the same time, I don’t want to just give it up.’

’Still, it’s clear this Zhou Hua really wants the Wolf Bone Brush. He’s addressing me respectfully, his etiquette is perfect, he’s offered ’rent,’ and now there’s even a guarantor.’

’I don’t even know what this Wolf Bone Brush is for, anyway. If Zhou Hua runs off with it, so be it. If I lose it, I’ll just have to accept it. On the other hand, this is the first mission I’ve triggered. It might be worth checking out.’

After mulling it over, Li Heng decided there was some potential here. Even if he really did lose the brush, it wouldn’t be a big deal. So, he finally nodded in agreement.

Seeing Li Heng’s agreement, the manager of the third floor of the Scholars’ Association Hall quickly drafted a contract. He had Li Heng and Zhou Hua look it over, and once they confirmed everything was in order, they signed and fingerprinted it before finally exchanging the items.

"Brother Zhou Hua, please return Brother Li Heng’s Wolf Bone Brush at this same time tomorrow," the third-floor manager stated.

Li Heng confirmed the contents of the contract. If Zhou Hua failed to return the brush on time, or simply absconded with it, the Scholars’ Association Hall would cover all of Li Heng’s losses.

The contract was made in triplicate, with each person taking a copy.

"Time is short, so I must take my leave! If you can, Brother Li Heng, please tell us all about the splendor of the Hundred Flowers Assembly after you’ve attended!"

After taking the Wolf Bone Brush, the joy on Zhou Hua’s face was impossible to hide, nor did he try to. He turned and left, adding one last request for Li Heng to tell everyone about the event later.

Meanwhile, Li Heng stared blankly at the exquisite invitation in his hand, lost in thought.

"Brother Li Heng, congratulations! Getting into the Hundred Flowers Assembly at Snow Feather Tower is becoming more and more difficult these days!"

"Exactly! If Brother Zhou Hua weren’t in such a rush to work on the Demonic Sound Heart Sutra, that invitation... probably wouldn’t have ended up in your hands, Brother Li Heng."

"Brother Li Heng, you have no idea how envious we are!"

After Zhou Hua left the third floor of the Scholars’ Association Hall, the surrounding scholars crowded around to congratulate Li Heng. Judging by their expressions, their envy seemed genuine.

Name: Hundred Flowers Assembly Invitation

Category: Soul Energy Items

Value: Rare

Effect:

1. The holder gains entry to the Hundred Flowers Assembly at Snow Feather Tower on the fifteenth of the third month.

"I wonder what kind of grand event this Hundred Flowers Assembly at Snow Feather Tower is?" Li Heng was curious. After carefully putting away the invitation and his copy of the contract, he asked the surrounding scholars.

Other than granting entry, it had no other function, nor could it be upgraded with Soul Energy Points. But even so, it was still valued as "Rare"!

So naturally, Li Heng was intensely curious.

The manager of the Scholars’ Association Hall’s third floor began to explain, "Snow Feather Tower, Moon-Picking Tower, and Qingfeng Tower are the three great towers of Li Liang City, and also the places where the most Soul Masters gather."

"Snow Feather Tower is Li Liang City’s largest pleasure quarter. Over the past two months, four or five new Courtesans have arrived from other cities. It’s a gathering place for all kinds of beauties—there are even peerless stunners who are half-human, half-soul beast!"