64: Chapter 64 The Girl in Rainbow Clothes

Chen Fan looked at Zhang Shan's composed appearance, filled with all sorts of emotions.

This kid learns way too fast.

In just a few days, he had evolved from a pure-hearted youth who blushed at the sight of a girl into a seasoned veteran of the pleasure quarters who could keep his cool with a girl on each arm.

If he applied this learning ability to the Martial Dao, he probably would have achieved a Breakthrough to the Sixth Grade long ago.

Chen Fan nodded with satisfaction and raised his wine cup.

"Well said. Junior Brother Zhang is so hospitable that it would be rude for me, your Senior Brother, to decline."

The group set off in a grand manner, stepping through the doors of the Yihong Brothel once again.

When the Madam saw these walking money bags, her face lit up with a smile, and she personally led them to the best private room on the third floor.

After several rounds of wine and many dishes...

Inside the private room, the music of flutes and strings was pleasant, the dancers' figures were graceful, and the atmosphere was lively.

A Disciple of the Longxing Sect held a wine cup, a hint of sadness on his face.

"Sigh, after tomorrow, we'll be leaving Xiushan Prefecture."

Another person also sighed.

"Yeah, Junior Brother Zhang Shan is also heading to the Heavenly Pool. After this parting, who knows when we'll meet again."

As soon as these words were spoken, the originally lively atmosphere turned somewhat somber.

Parting is always an unavoidable topic for those in the Jianghu.

Zhang Shan set down his wine cup and cupped his fists toward everyone.

"Senior Brothers, I will keep today's kindness engraved in my heart."

"If fate allows us to meet again in the future, I will certainly drink with you all until we are well and truly drunk!"

Chen Fan looked at him; in the youth's eyes, that purity still remained, not yet eroded by these few days spent in pleasure quarters.

It seemed he had only learned to wear a mask, but his true heart remained unchanged.

This allowed Chen Fan to breathe a sigh of relief.

He didn't want to be the reason a Child of Destiny was led astray.

Of course, when he brought Zhang Shan to the brothel, it was all 'vegetarian'—at most just flirting, nothing serious actually happened.

Just then, a massive clamor suddenly erupted from downstairs, drowning out the music in the private room.

"What's going on?" one Disciple poked his head out.

Soon, he pulled his head back, his face filled with immense excitement.

"Everyone! Huge news!"

"A top-tier Courtesan has arrived at the Yihong Brothel!"

"A Courtesan?" Everyone's interest was piqued.

The Disciple lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I heard she came from the Imperial City. She's a peerless beauty, truly breathtaking!"

"From the Imperial City?"

"Then why would she come to a small place like our Xiushan Prefecture?"

"That's what you don't know," the Disciple said, keeping them in suspense. "Supposedly, this Miss Courtesan came here for the sake of half a poem!"

For half a poem?

Now, even Chen Fan felt a bit curious.

The Disciple continued, "This Miss Courtesan has put out the word that she came to Xiushan only to find a kindred spirit who can complete the other half of her poem."

"Whoever can complete it can become her personal guest!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire private room erupted.

"There's such a strange occurrence?"

"Go, go, go, let's go down and see!"

A group of hot-blooded Jianghu men could no longer sit still and stood up one after another, swarming downstairs.

Chen Fan and Zhang Shan exchanged a look and followed them.

The main hall of the Yihong Brothel was now a sea of people, packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through.

In the very center, on the high stage, a gauze curtain had been set up.

A graceful figure was faintly visible behind the curtain, and the sound of a pipa echoed, plaintive and moving, making one's heart itch with anticipation.

A woman dressed as a Madam walked onto the stage, her face glowing with delight.

"Gentlemen, quiet down, quiet down!"

She cleared her throat and said loudly, "Our Miss Nishang has traveled thousands of miles from the capital just to find a kindred spirit."

"The poem is right here on the screen behind me."

"If any Young Master can complete the second half, our Miss Nishang will belong to him alone tonight!"

The crowd instantly boiled over.

Countless scholars who considered themselves romantic and refined rubbed their hands together, eager to try.

They scrambled to the front of the stage to see the lines of poetry on the screen.

However, with just one look...

Everyone's movements seemed to be frozen by a binding spell, and they went stiff where they stood.

The crowd that had been boisterous just a moment ago fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone who had seen that half-poem had a look on their face that was a mix of wonder, infatuation, and... shame.

They backed away silently, shaking their heads with faces full of bitterness.

"Can't complete it, it simply can't be completed!"

"Such a beautiful line is a gift from heaven! How can a Mortal complete it?"

"Just looking at the first half, it's already a masterpiece! Simple folks like us should just avoid humiliating ourselves."

This scene made those in the back even more curious.

Just what kind of shocking poetry could make this crowd shrink back?

Relying on his Internal Energy, Chen Fan easily squeezed to the front.

He looked up at the elegant screen.

He saw two lines of text written in a bold, flowing script.

"Clouds bring to mind her robes, and flowers her face; the spring breeze brushes the balustrade as the dew thickens."

Chen Fan's body suddenly stiffened.

This poem...

Memories of his time as Lin Shou came rushing back like a tide.

It was back when he was Lin Shou; he had taken the Princess Consort out of the manor, and she had taken a fancy to a Phoenix hairpin at the Treasure Pavilion. Thus, he had composed this poem to exchange for that hairpin to give to her.

There were many people present at the time, but the only one who could have heard the full poem was the Princess Consort.

How could it have spread so far?

And where did this Courtesan get it from?

Countless questions swirled in his mind.

Zhang Shan also squeezed over. He looked at the lines on the screen and murmured to himself.

"A good poem, truly a good poem."

He turned his head, looking at the retreating scholars and then at the moving figure behind the gauze curtain, his eyes full of curiosity.

"Senior Brother Chen, what kind of peerless beauty do you think this Miss Nishang is?"

Chen Fan snapped back from his chaotic thoughts.

He glanced at the curious Zhang Shan and suddenly gave a playful smile.

"What? Is Junior Brother Zhang's heart stirred?"

Zhang Shan's face turned red, and he quickly waved his hands.

"No... no, I'm just... just purely curious."

Chen Fan leaned in close and lowered his voice, sounding a bit mysterious.

"Want to see her?"

Zhang Shan was stunned.

Chen Fan continued, "If you want to see her, I, your Senior Brother, might be able to help you."

He was the one who had plagiarized this poem; completing the second half was no problem at all.

Zhang Shan seemed a bit tempted but ultimately shook his head.

"Senior Brother Chen, I cannot do something like forcing others against their will."

He thought Senior Brother Chen was going to use force. While that might work, it would ruin the beauty of the moment.

One's reputation in the Jianghu was still very important.

"What are you thinking? If you don't want to see her, then forget it."

Chen Fan saw right through Zhang Shan's thoughts and felt dissatisfied.

Is this how you see your Senior Brother Chen?

Zhang Shan gave a sheepish smile and didn't say much more.

Then, the two of them turned their gazes back toward the center.

Although the first half of the poem Miss Nishang put out was a peerless masterpiece, under the allure of beauty, there were still people who wanted to step forward and try.