Chapter 261: Who Exactly Is It

Ji Yuan finished speaking softly to Zhang Rui without looking back. Soon after, the madam, clutching her fan and lifting her skirt, hurried to catch up, with Wang Li naturally following close behind.

"Oh, sir, you are truly robust and quick-footed! I can barely keep up after just a few steps. Sir, although Miss Hongxiu is currently playing the zither for someone else, I imagine she will be free soon. I will go ask for you in a moment. Please have some tea in the boat first, hehehehe..."

Ji Yuan looked at the madam, offered a slight smile, and nodded.

"Very well, I appreciate your trouble."

"Oh, no trouble at all, no trouble!" The madam put on a charming, smiling demeanor, fanning herself several times faster than usual, betraying her slight excitement.

Wang Li, standing beside Ji Yuan, remained silent. Only then did it occur to him that this old immortal must have heard what he had whispered to the madam earlier.

Ji Yuan, of course, knew what Wang Li had said. There was no need to guess; with his hearing, it would have been impossible for him not to hear. However, since the matter was somewhat helpful, there was no need to expose it.

The Grand Show Pavilion was indeed quite large, featuring numerous courtyards and elegant chambers, representing the pinnacle of brothel business. The madam led Ji Yuan and Wang Li towards the back, diligently introducing Ji Yuan to the various talents of the girls in each courtyard and highlighting those who were both skilled and beautiful.

However, Ji Yuan largely kept his gaze straight ahead, and even when he occasionally glanced around, he seemed indifferent. The madam immediately deduced that this gentleman must be accustomed to stunning beauties, and ordinary women would not impress him.

Soon after, the group passed through the Grand Show Pavilion and reached the water's edge. They walked along a wooden walkway over the Su River, with the Grand Show Boat of the inner courtyard visible ahead.

"Esteemed Sir, and Mr. Wang, that is the Grand Show Boat ahead! Our finest ladies are all inside! Hehehe... Please follow me aboard!"

The madam fanned herself, covering her mouth with a soft chuckle. As she led the way, she cautiously glanced back at Ji Yuan, just as he chuckled softly and then followed, swinging his sleeve. That swing of his sleeve unexpectedly gave the madam a feeling of sweeping away dust. The bright moon in the sky happened to reflect on the water beside him.

Truth be told, as a madam, she had been in the business for a long time and had seen countless men. While this esteemed gentleman was certainly handsome, there were definitely many more refined men she had encountered. However, his natural ease, indifference, and a subtle hint of world-weariness were unlike anything she had ever witnessed.

In an elegant private room on the boat, the madam invited Wang Li and Ji Yuan to sit. After instructing someone to serve tea, she excused herself.

"Please make yourselves comfortable here and enjoy your tea. I will go check on Miss Hongxiu at her pavilion now..."

The madam rose to leave. After slowly walking out of the private room, her steps immediately quickened as she hurried towards the pavilion where Hongxiu resided.

The private room was quiet; even the servants stayed outside, waiting.

Ji Yuan lifted his teacup, inhaled the aroma, and then drank the tea. Wang Li and Zhang Rui sat on either side, kneeling, with the calm surface of the Su River visible outside the window.

"The scent of cosmetics on this boat isn't as overwhelming," Zhang Rui remarked. She picked up Wang Li's teacup and brought it to her nose to sniff. A wisp of white mist was drawn away. Being skilled in concealment and protected by Mr. Ji's decree, she had no fear of her presence being revealed.

Seeing this, Wang Li looked at Ji Yuan, then took a new teacup and poured himself some tea, while also glancing around the elegant room of the Grand Show Boat. The only other time he had been on the Grand Show Boat was when he was invited to tell stories. After seeing Hongxiu once, he was utterly captivated. After his storytelling, Miss Hongxiu even offered him a cup of wine and quietly told him he could call her "Wan'er." From then on, Wang Li became a regular at the Grand Show Pavilion, constantly thinking of Hongxiu. Of course, he also appreciated the various charms of the other girls in the brothel.

"Mr. Ji..." Wang Li began timidly, unsure how to proceed.

"Speak, Mr. Wang, I'm listening," Ji Yuan replied. He savored his tea, not looking at Wang Li. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a book. In that moment, Wang Li didn't even notice how unusual it was for a book to be hidden in his sleeve.

"Mr. Ji, you, you said that the current Miss Hongxiu is... something unclean?"

Ji Yuan turned two pages of the book, searching for where he had last stopped reading. Without looking at Wang Li, he said, "Whether she's clean or not, I'll need to see her first."

"Mr. Ji, to be honest, I'm deeply smitten with Miss Hongxiu. After I saw Wan'er—after I saw Miss Hongxiu more than a year ago, I've always felt that such a woman shouldn't be in a place like this. If Miss Hongxiu truly is being coerced by a demon, then you..."

"Yes, yes, I understand. I won't ignore it," Ji Yuan said, continuing to turn the pages of his book. It was his own deduction, and sometimes even he found it marvelous when he re-read it.

"Uh, hehe, I..." Wang Li stammered.

"Are you going to finish, Mr. Wang? What exactly do you want to say? Mr. Ji isn't impatient, but I'm getting annoyed!" Zhang Rui interjected impatiently from the side.

Wang Li offered an awkward laugh. "I just feel that this is actually a good opportunity to save Miss Hongxiu. A remarkable woman like her should have been born into a wealthy family, yet she has fallen to this..."

"Oh? So you like her very much, Mr. Wang?" Ji Yuan asked casually, looking at Wang Li.

Wang Li nodded repeatedly. "I just said, I've been smitten with her for a long time!"

Ji Yuan smiled, picked up the teapot, refilled Wang Li's cup, and then poured a cup for Zhang Rui, though only a small wisp of white mist appeared for her. "Mr. Wang, when you usually visit the Grand Show Pavilion, which ladies do you spend time with?"

"Uh... mostly Xiaolan and Chunfang... sometimes Xiaoya too..."

"Oh... I see..." Ji Yuan looked at him. "What about these ladies attracts you?"

Wang Li's face flushed, and he stammered a bit. "Well... they're all very gentle... and they also have talents..."

"Didn't you say you were smitten with Hongxiu?" Zhang Rui scoffed from the side.

Wang Li stammered, "This, this is different..."

Ji Yuan sighed, shaking his head as he looked at Wang Li. This was the first time Wang Li truly saw Ji Yuan's pale, ancient-looking eyes clearly that night. "Mr. Wang, that's not being smitten or in love. It's simply human nature to appreciate beauty and desires. You, well, you're merely lustful..."

"Pfft..." Zhang Rui couldn't help but let out a puff of tea-mist as she laughed. Wang Li, after a moment of stunned silence, was utterly mortified and quickly drank his tea.

After waiting for more than a quarter of an hour, footsteps finally echoed on the boat's walkway outside the private room. The madam opened the door, and her eager, solicitous voice immediately filled the room.

"Oh, my apologies for the long wait, gentlemen. Miss Hongxiu is just finishing her makeup and will be here shortly... uh..." The madam entered the room and saw three teacups. She pondered it for a moment but couldn't make sense of it, so she didn't ask further. Instead, she took a soft cushion and knelt beside the tea table. "Miss Hongxiu always freshens up her makeup before meeting new guests, as a sign of respect. She's very much looking forward to meeting a distinguished gentleman like yourself, who has come all this way. Oh, and of course, Mr. Wang, we are well aware of your talents..."

Ji Yuan did not reply. He picked up a teacup, righted it, and personally poured a cup of hot tea for the madam. This gesture, far from making the madam feel Ji Yuan was lowering himself, instead made her feel honored and flattered.

"Thank you, sir!"

Ji Yuan simply nodded and continued turning the pages of his book. But at this moment, his hand suddenly paused. "Hmm?"

"Mr. Ji, what's wrong?" Zhang Rui and the madam asked Ji Yuan almost simultaneously. He frowned, shook his head, and looked at the madam. "Miss Hongxiu is freshening her makeup?"

"Yes, yes she is!" At this moment, the madam finally clearly saw Ji Yuan's eyes. Half-open, they were ancient and pale, yet surprisingly clear and lustrous, like an ancient well, without a ripple. "Do you have any instructions, sir?" the madam instinctively asked.

"Nothing!" Ji Yuan said. He smiled, then resumed turning the pages of his book. Just now, that extremely peculiar demonic aura had rapidly faded, becoming barely perceptible, almost undetectable. It was worth noting that Ji Yuan's hearing, sense of smell, and certain aspects of his vision were extraordinarily keen. He could perceive the true essence of things and detect even faint impurities. For such a change to occur in his presence at such close range was a first for him.

Soon after, light footsteps resumed outside, and a particularly fresh scent drifted into the room. A pair of soft, pale hands opened the door, pausing imperceptibly when it was a third of the way open.

"This humble one, Duan Muwan, greets both gentlemen, and Mother, I am a little late!"

Miss Hongxiu entered the room, curtsied to everyone, and gracefully walked to the table. Her gentle gaze fell upon Ji Yuan and Wang Li. Zhang Rui was by Ji Yuan's side, but Hongxiu seemed unable to see her.

"Well then, please enjoy your conversation. I'll take my leave now?" the madam asked with a chuckle. After Ji Yuan nodded, she walked towards the door.

"Mother, take care!" Hongxiu said sweetly to the madam. The madam nodded and secretly winked at Hongxiu, signaling her to attend to the guests carefully.

Once the sliding door outside closed again, Miss Hongxiu had already refilled the teacups for Ji Yuan and Wang Li. "Gentlemen," Hongxiu asked, pointing to the empty seat beside Ji Yuan with a puzzled expression, "before I arrived, there were only three of you, including Mother. Why are there four cups of tea? Was one left for me?"

"As expected of Miss Hongxiu, your composure is excellent," Ji Yuan said calmly. His ancient, pale eyes met Hongxiu's perplexed gaze, and even her surprise at the color of his eyes seemed utterly natural.

Ji Yuan's pale eyes fully opened, calmly observing Hongxiu. "Miss, your makeup is very well done!"

Hongxiu touched her face, looking confused. "You flatter me, sir... No matter how talented we women of the pleasure quarters may be, we can never escape being judged by our appearance..."

Ji Yuan nodded, picked up another cup, and poured some tea for the woman. She thanked him and drank, shielding the cup with her sleeve. "How did Young Master Xiao come to know you? And why did you help him replace something?"

Hongxiu's hand, holding the cup, trembled slightly. After drinking the tea and setting down the cup, she said with surprise, "Sir, you know Young Master Xiao? He hasn't come to see Wan'er in a long time. Even though the capital is far away, still..."

"Miss Hongxiu," Ji Yuan interjected, "did I say 'Young Master Xiao from the capital'?" Ji Yuan let out a cold chuckle, causing the woman before him to abruptly stop speaking.

"Because this Hongxiu only knows one Young Master Xiao, I thought you were referring to him..."

"Hehehehehe..." Ji Yuan suddenly laughed. "I once heard a friend say that those who understand the art of painting skins are few and far between, masters of transformation who take one path and lead the way. Their mysterious abilities are quite remarkable, and seeing it today, it is indeed outstanding."

Hongxiu clutched the teacup tightly, casually glanced at Zhang Rui, then looked at Ji Yuan with a chilling gaze. "Who are you, exactly?"