He lifted his chin and pointed diagonally ahead.
A brightly lit pavilion with carved beams and painted rafters stood imposingly by the river in the bustling market.
On the pavilion's plaque, three gilded characters sparkled brilliantly: Phantom Sound Pavilion.
As if afraid people wouldn't know what went on inside, a flaunting little flag fluttered in front of the ornate windows facing the street, bearing two flamboyant characters: Brothel.
"We're not staying!"
Before Chai Xiaomi could speak, these two decisive, ice-cold words came from behind her.
There seemed to be a hint of gnashing teeth suppressed in that voice.
The old man, however, laughed. "Young master, don't be so quick to get angry. I am not a man without a sense of propriety. How could I let your young lady truly fall into such a place?"
"It is a special time right now, and the inns are all full. Many traveling strangers, including respectable young women like this lady here, have no choice but to temporarily stay in the empty rooms of these brothels. They just want a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and everyone minds their own business."
He pursed his lips toward the brightly lit pavilion. "Right now in the entire Thousand Mists Town, this Phantom Sound Pavilion is the largest, and they might still be able to spare an empty room. But the price, naturally, will be much more expensive than usual. If you hesitate any longer, I'm afraid even the last bedboard there will be snatched away by someone else."
Chai Xiaomi didn't hesitate at all and made a prompt decision: "We'll stay!"
So what if it's a brothel!
Wouldn't a romantic establishment that receives guests from all over have better scale and facilities than an ordinary tavern?
Not to mention anything else, the beds must be more spacious, softer, and more comfortable than those in the inns.
Otherwise, how could they accommodate people rolling around in them?
"If you want to stay, stay by yourself. Don't drag me down with you!" Wu Li's face suddenly darkened, and it seemed as if two clusters of cold, dark flames were dancing in the depths of his eyes.
Those cheap veils, sticky calls, and the mixed scent of rouge and powder...
Just the surviving fragments of his memory were enough to make his stomach churn.
He would never go to such a disgusting place again in his life; he would rather sleep in a tree.
Chai Xiaomi was baffled by his sudden burst of anger.
How had she offended him again?
What did he mean by dragging him down? It wasn't like she was forcing him into the trade; was there a need to be so agitated?
"Fine, I'll go stay by myself." Chai Xiaomi snorted lightly. If he didn't want to stay, so be it. She would be perfectly happy sleeping in a room by herself, saving her the trouble of having to stagger their times for dressing and bathing.
Seeing the young couple arguing and acting awkwardly because of his words, the old sugar seller felt a bit remorseful. He hurriedly handed over the two hardened sugar figures and smiled to smooth things over. "Miss, don't be angry with your husband. In this world, how many men avoid brothels like snakes and scorpions? Your husband is truly rare."
"How about this, this old man will give you another sugar figure for free. Tell me, miss, what kind of design would you like?"
Chai Xiaomi looked down at the two lifelike sugar figures in her hands, marveling at them. Hearing his words, her eyes lit up. "Uncle, your craftsmanship is truly amazing! Could you help me make another pair of little sugar figures holding hands? Thank you!"
She didn't take it for free, counting out another ten copper coins and stuffing them into his hand.
The old man accepted them gratefully, then turned to persuade the cold-faced youth. "Young master, you should calm down too. Young ladies all need to be coaxed. My old wife, even at her age now, still needs me to coax her all day long, doesn't she?"
"If you don't carefully coax such a sweet-talking and pretty little girl in the palm of your hand, you might lose her to someone else if you're not careful."
Wu Li sneered coldly. "If she runs, she runs."
She was so delicate that her face would turn red and she would be out of breath after walking a short mountain path. Where could she run to?
Even if he gave her a whole day to run, he could catch her and bring her back in less than half an incense stick's time.
Chai Xiaomi held a sugar stick in each hand.
In her left hand was the Li Li standing with crossed arms and an arrogant expression, and in her right hand was the Xiaomi with her hands on her little waist, looking very spirited.
She was looking down and examining them, finding the contrast in their postures truly amusing, and couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.
Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles reached in from an angle.
Without a word of explanation, it snatched away the Xiaomi with her hands on her hips from her right hand.
"Hey!" she exclaimed softly, hurriedly offering the Li Li in her left hand. "Yours is right here."
"I don't want it."
Wu Li didn't even glance at the sugar figure that belonged to him. He just curiously twirled the Xiaomi between his fingers as if he had gotten some rare toy, and even gently poked the sugar figure's puffed-up face with his fingertip. "I want this one."
Chai Xiaomi was speechless with anger and glared at him.
She cleanly and decisively took a bite out of the remaining Li Li sugar figure in her hand, snapping off its head with a crunch.
Then she raised her face, holding the sugar head in her mouth, and mumbled to him vaguely but triumphantly, "Your head is quite sweet."
Who knew, he didn't even bat an eyelid. His fingertips continued to slowly twirl the Xiaomi sugar figure, and his voice drifted over lightly:
"Then you should eat more. Like nourishes like. Just eating one might not be enough. Why don't you have him draw you a whole string of heads?"
Chai Xiaomi: "..."
Half an hour later.
The four people and one cat met up again at the original spot.
The results brought back by both sides were exactly the same. Right now, the only place to stay with empty rooms left was the Phantom Sound Pavilion.
Following a proposal by Jiang Zhiyu, everyone voted.
In the end, there were four votes in favor of staying.
Only one vote was against it.
The objection was overruled.
Youtiao nervously spoke up in Chai Xiaomi's mind: Host, I feel like the villain really wants to hit someone right now.
Chai Xiaomi glanced out of the corner of her eye at Wu Li, who was trailing at the very back.
His complexion indeed didn't look too good.
It was probably because they had to stay in a brothel.
He had just vehemently insisted that he wouldn't stay, but just now, Song Yueyao had softly persuaded him with a few words, saying that there were many male guests in brothels, so it wasn't strange for men to stay there, and that it was only strange for women to stay. Upon hearing this, he had actually silently compromised.
Sure enough, the female lead's words were the most effective.
A trace of inexplicable bitterness welled up in her heart. She pursed her lips and turned her head back.
Just then, Alchemist Ji leaped down from Jiang Zhiyu's shoulder and nimbly jumped onto the eaves to scout the way ahead.
Chai Xiaomi took the opportunity to take a few quick steps, arriving beside Jiang Zhiyu, and handed over the pair of sugar figures she had been carefully protecting in her hands.
On the two bamboo sticks, a tiny male and female sugar figure held hands, the syrup having solidified them into an inseparable whole.
"Brother Yu," she lowered her voice and pursed her lips toward Song Yueyao's back as she walked ahead. "Take this and go coax her."
Jiang Zhiyu took the sugar figures. The gloominess he had felt over the past few days seemed to find a small outlet in this moment.
Before, he had always felt that everyone was drawing boundaries between him and Yaoyao, and even Yaoyao herself seemed to be retreating. That isolated and helpless depression had almost drowned him.
But right now, a supporter had emerged, still standing on his side.
He looked at the girl with a clear smile in front of him, and genuine emotion welled up in his eyes. "I really didn't judge you wrong, my sister, Xiaomi. From now on, in any territory that belongs to me, Jiang Zhiyu, I'll let you walk completely unhindered!"
"It's a small matter." Chai Xiaomi's eyes curved into crescents as she waved her hand. "In the future, on the day of your grand wedding, just remember to let me sit at the main table. It has to be in the most prominent position."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhiyu's tightly knit brow finally relaxed, and his voice became light and brisk. "Naturally! How could my sister not sit at the head table? The success of this joyous occasion depends entirely on it."
