Chapter 161 - 155: Hundred Flowers Assembly

Chapter 161: Chapter 155: Hundred Flowers Assembly

After he finished speaking, Li Heng silently walked over to Han Mu’Er. He reached out his right hand, gently pinching her chin between his thumb and index finger.

"She may not be a Courtesan, but she has a unique charm. Thirty million Soul Crystal Coins isn’t too expensive. If your esteemed tower finds this unacceptable, we can settle the payment right now! The Hundred Flowers Assembly is truly fascinating."

After making that sarcastic remark, Li Heng fell silent, continuing only to stroke Han Mu’Er’s chin.

Although Han Mu’Er was a Soul Energy Grandmaster and Li Heng was only a Soul Warrior, she simply lowered her eyes in response to his forward actions.

Seeing Li Heng’s actions and hearing his words, the middle-aged man froze for a moment before forcing a smile and replying.

"Honored guest, you speak too gravely! Since you’re in high spirits, we can inspect the item later. I only hope that what happened before hasn’t dampened your mood! Miss Mu’Er will attend to you here for now. Please, enjoy these fine wines. I wish you success in plucking a few more flowers tonight! I shall take my leave and not disturb you any further!"

The middle-aged man then departed, taking the Cloud Cold Treasure Sword with him but leaving behind Han Mu’Er, three jars of century-old fine wine, and a pot of Snowflake Brew.

From the moment the middle-aged man arrived until he left, Hongyu and Mo Ya said nothing, merely remaining in a silent, respectful curtsy.

Li Heng noted that the middle-aged man hadn’t produced the main prize, the Cloud Cold Treasure Sword, leaving only some wine and Han Mu’Er. He wasn’t particularly bothered by this.

After all, he hadn’t paid, so it was only natural they wouldn’t hand over the merchandise. This was part of Li Heng’s plan anyway—to see if he could squeeze another treasure or two out of them.

Judging by the middle-aged man’s attitude, Li Heng figured his plan was already halfway to success. All he had to do now was wait for the item he truly wanted to appear on the block and then join the bidding.

But since he’d already started the act, he had no choice but to see it through.

"Mo Ya! Come here and rub my shoulders!" Li Heng had already removed his hand from Han Mu’Er’s chin. He slowly walked to the edge of the wooden bed and settled in to enjoy Mo Ya’s massage.

Seeing Li Heng sit down looking so calm and unconcerned, Han Mu’Er suddenly fiddled with the hem of her sleeve. She then sank into a curtsy before him.

"Honored guest! Mu’Er dares to ask... how did you know that I am not a Courtesan, but from Cold Mountain... Cold Mountain Palace?"

’I didn’t figure it out. The system’s info display told me!’

Li Heng, of course, couldn’t say what he was actually thinking, so he replied casually, "What do you think?"

Han Mu’Er fell silent at his response, remaining quiet for so long that the woman in the red gauze dress outside managed to auction off two more treasures.

As the woman in the red gauze dress started on the third item, Han Mu’Er finally parted her lips to speak. "Honored guest... do you have a past connection with Cold Mountain Palace?"

Li Heng had no clue what Cold Mountain Palace even was, much less any past connection to it, so he was utterly baffled by her question.

But not knowing was one thing; maintaining the act was another.

"Fine wine, beautiful women, and Swordsmanship! The maids of Cold Mountain Palace certainly live up to their reputation!"

Having said his piece, Li Heng ended the conversation with Han Mu’Er and turned his attention back to the auction floor.

The woman in the red gauze dress auctioned off one Mythic-grade treasure after another. One of them, an item that increased one’s affinity with the lightning element, initially caught Li Heng’s eye.

However, it was too bulky, and on second thought, he realized he didn’t have a pressing need for the lightning element right now, so he decided to pass.

Once the bidding on the Mythic-grade treasures concluded, it was time for a Courtesan to take the stage, as was the custom of the Hundred Flowers Assembly.

Hua Meng’Er!

’A Tier Seven Li Hua Demon?’

’What the hell? Is this a soul beast?’

Li Heng had been enjoying Mo Ya’s massage, casually gazing at the Illusory Mountain Stone. But when the Courtesan appeared and he saw the information flash before his eyes, his mind reeled.

’The Beast-eared Maiden from before at least had a tail, but she was more or less a person. Now they’re just bringing out a full-blown soul beast?’

’And a Li Hua Demon, no less?!’

’This "Li Hua"... what kind of flower is that, anyway?’

’This Snow Feather Tower sure knows how to keep things interesting!’

"Honored guests! This is Hua Meng’Er, the leading Courtesan from Miyu Tower in Yangzhou City! The method for winning her favor is to compose a custom poem for her. The content of the poem is unrestricted. The one whose poem possesses the greatest literary aura will become Miss Hua Meng’Er’s guest of honor for the night! The quality of the literary aura will be judged by Miss Hua Meng’Er herself."

’Poetry!’

’Literary aura?’

Hearing of such an unheard-of bidding method, Li Heng’s interest was piqued. He got up from the wooden bed and peered down into the open space in the center of the room.

Unlike the auction for the first Courtesan, where jade flutes had immediately materialized out of thin air, this time Snow Feather Tower fell silent.

The woman in the red gauze dress seemed to sense the awkwardness and began to ad-lib, talking about other matters and giving a more detailed introduction for Hua Meng’Er—essentially saying whatever came to mind.

She did her best to keep the atmosphere in Snow Feather Tower from growing cold.

After a few minutes, a sheet of gilt-edged Xuan paper finally floated out, a five-character quatrain written upon it.

"My thanks to this honored guest for their poem!"

After the gilt-edged Xuan paper appeared, Hua Meng’Er immediately expressed her thanks but offered no further comment.

Although Hua Meng’Er said nothing more, a buzz of discussion and debate concerning the five-character quatrain erupted throughout Snow Feather Tower.

The discussions had hardly gone on for a moment before another sheet of gilt-edged Xuan paper flew out, also bearing a five-character quatrain.

In scholarship, there is no first; in combat, there is no second.

Thus, with two five-character quatrains to compare, the discussions became incessant, a stark contrast to the earlier, delicate atmosphere that had filled Snow Feather Tower.

As the discussions progressed, a continuous stream of gilt-edged Xuan papers flew out. Some guests even used stone slabs as their canvas, carving poems with Sword Intent and Blade Intent.

The materials, whether the gilt-edged Xuan paper or the stone slabs, were all extraordinary. Li Heng watched with great interest, finding some of the poems genuinely impressive.

Although Li Heng’s knowledge of poetry was mostly limited to his compulsory education, even he could tell that these poems possessed a certain artistic depth.

Just as Li Heng was debating whether to participate, a sudden knock sounded at the door.

Hearing the knock, Mo Ya first looked to Li Heng for permission before going to open the door. The person who appeared before them was a woman in traditional robes whom Li Heng found vaguely familiar.

"Honored guest! My Young Master instructed me to show you this fan. He said you would surely remember it."

’The Yin Bone Paper Fan!’

’Hua Lingyan?!’

At the sight of it, Li Heng suddenly remembered. Earlier, upon entering Snow Feather Tower, he had been overcome by the moment and recited Liu Yong’s "Watching the Tidal Bore," which had caught the attention of this "Young Master Hua Lingyan."

Li Heng reined in his wandering thoughts, composed himself, and asked, "I do recall this Young Master. What is the matter?"

The woman in traditional robes holding the Yin Bone Paper Fan bowed deeply to Li Heng upon hearing him speak. With the utmost respect, she said, "We humbly request a sample of your treasured calligraphy, honored guest! Any conditions or compensation you name, we will meet!"