"I'm treating!"
Zhou Jinfeng gritted his teeth, his heart aching, as if he had made some major decision.
Lu Chen thought about it. He definitely wouldn't spend money to go to Xianyun Pavilion. If he missed this excitement, he probably wouldn't have another chance for someone to treat him.
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Chen nodded and said, "Alright, I'll give you Face."
"Thank you!" Zhou Jinfeng rolled his eyes. Look at your reluctant expression!
In the evening, Xianyun Pavilion was bustling with activity, filled with singing and dancing.
As one of the few entertainment venues in Sifang City, at this time, the city's dignitaries, gentry, wealthy merchants, and Immortal Cultivators would come here for leisure and pleasure.
In the main hall, each table was separated by a screen less than a person's height.
In a corner, Zhou Jinfeng craned his neck, his eyes peering over the screen, watching the courtesans hired by the next table preen and pose.
Compared to Lu Chen's composure, Zhou Jinfeng looked more like a country bumpkin.
"Is this how you treat someone?" Lu Chen looked at Zhou Jinfeng with disdain. Their table was empty.
"It's not that I'm unwilling to spend money, but I have to report back home," Zhou Jinfeng said. "Didn't I still get to see everything?"
Zhou Jinfeng withdrew his gaze and looked at Lu Qiangwei, who was only as tall as the table. "Is it appropriate for you to bring her to this kind of place?"
"I can't even drink a pot of tea with you, so what else can I do? What's inappropriate about it?" Lu Chen pouted.
As soon as he finished speaking, a courtesan swayed her waist, her enchanting figure gracefully approaching.
Seeing the pastries and tea on the tray in her hand, Zhou Jinfeng's expression changed: "I didn't order this!"
"This is a treat from Sister Xiaoxiao." The courtesan covered her mouth and chuckled, "Sister Xiaoxiao said that one of you doesn't dare to spend money, and the other has no money to spend, but you are still guests who have graced us with your presence, so you must not be neglected or receive a cold shoulder."
Lu Chen looked at Zhou Jinfeng with even more disdain and asked the courtesan, "How much do these cost?"
The courtesan arranged the pastries and poured tea for Lu Chen, deliberately leaning forward to reveal her fair skin and perfect curves. "One hundred Spirit Stones, with a complimentary little song."
Lu Chen coughed and said, "Alright, I understand. I was just asking. You can go now."
The courtesan winked at Lu Chen and left reluctantly.
She had never seen such a handsome Young Master. If it were another time, she wouldn't even ask for money.
"You still have the Face to laugh?" Lu Chen glared at Zhou Jinfeng.
Zhou Jinfeng casually ate a pastry and even gave one to Lu Qiangwei. "Ultimately, I'm benefiting from you. I can come out openly at night. This time, consider it your treat. Next time, I'll definitely treat you well!"
"Where is Chu Xiaoxiao?" Lu Chen asked.
"Don't worry, Chu Xiaoxiao will perform her song and dance on stage in a moment. After that, you can go with her to the private room upstairs."
At this point, Zhou Jinfeng's eyebrows danced with excitement: "The opportunity to spend a golden night with the courtesan queen of Xianyun Pavilion has always been for those with money. This is the first time someone has been actively invited by the courtesan queen."
Lu Chen held Lu Qiangwei on his lap and poured her a cup of tea.
"Brother, you eat too." Lu Qiangwei handed a pastry to Lu Chen.
"It's not as good as what you make. I won't eat it." Lu Chen shook his head.
Lu Qiangwei giggled happily.
"What kind of pastry can this little girl make? You know without even tasting it?" Zhou Jinfeng asked.
"I can smell it. This pastry has Spirit Medicine mixed in, which affects the taste." Lu Chen said, pinching his nose.
Not only the pastries, but the tea also had the taste of Spirit Medicine, as did the incense in the air.
Lu Chen, possessing the Mountain and River Diagram, vaguely understood that this kind of Spirit Medicine would "strengthen the body" and cause blood and Qi to surge.
Although there was no harm in it.
"Brother Zhou, I didn't expect to see you at this time and place!"
An unexpected voice slowly approached, and a richly dressed young man walked over, holding a wine cup.
"This is Zhai Xingchen, Young Master of the Zhai Family, a Cultivation Family in Sifang City." Zhou Jinfeng introduced: "This is Lu Chen, an employee of the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild."
Zhai Xingchen sat down unceremoniously and said with a smile, "It seems our four-person team is complete this time. When we compete in the city, please go easy on me."
His narrow eyes scrutinized Lu Chen, looking him over from head to toe. Although his smile was kind, his eyes were full of contempt.
"The competition is two months away, and there's still a month to prepare after the competition. There's no rush to form a team." Zhou Jinfeng offered him tea.
"What, does Brother Zhou look down on me?" Zhai Xingchen's words had a hidden meaning: "Although I don't Cultivate as diligently as you, I'm already at the Refining Body Realm Ninth Level. It's hard to say in two months, but at the Immortal Sect New Disciple Assembly, I will definitely Breakthrough to Qimai Realm."
Zhou Jinfeng's expression was unnatural. Didn't his words imply that no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't be as talented as Zhai Xingchen?
Zhai Xingchen looked at Lu Chen and said, "This brother, rest assured, at the New Disciple Assembly, I will definitely not hold everyone back."
Zhou Jinfeng frowned repeatedly. Even if Zhai Xingchen was the only Cultivator left among the younger generation in Sifang City, he would rather take Mortals to participate in the New Disciple Assembly!
"I am just a farmer, just here to join in the fun." Lu Chen said with a smile.
"Oh? Is that so?" Zhai Xingchen's tone relaxed significantly.
Cheers erupted in the main hall, and colorful ribbons floated down from upstairs.
Zhai Xingchen stood up, "I'm truly sorry."
"What do you mean?" Zhou Jinfeng asked.
"You're here for Chu Xiaoxiao too, aren't you? Tonight, she's mine."
Zhai Xingchen walked towards the table in the center of the hall, his words arrogant and presumptuous, "I hope you two brothers won't bid against me. Give me a little Face, and I'll treat you another day."
"Crack!" With a crisp sound, Zhou Jinfeng gritted his teeth and crushed the porcelain cup in his hand.
If he weren't the City Guard Commander's son, if he weren't the City Guard of Sifang City, he wouldn't give Zhai Xingchen a good Face; he would have already stabbed ten holes in his forehead!
"What a piece of trash!" Zhou Jinfeng gasped for air.
Looking at Lu Chen, who remained calm and gentle, Zhou Jinfeng seemed to be influenced, and his mood eased considerably. "Did you understand what he meant?"
Lu Chen pointed at the shattered pieces in Zhou Jinfeng's hand. "What he meant isn't important. Do you have to pay for the cup you crushed?"
"..." Zhou Jinfeng.
Lu Chen smiled and continued, "Didn't you say Chu Xiaoxiao wanted to see me?"
Zhou Jinfeng slapped his thigh, "That's right!"
Zhou Jinfeng immediately beamed. He looked expectantly at Zhai Xingchen, who was sitting at the most conspicuous table closest to the stage.
"This kid, so arrogant and hypocritical, I've disliked him for a long time. So what if his talent is a bit higher, he has a few more Medicinal Pills, and his Family is a bit richer? Why is he acting so high and mighty! Show off, I'll see how he cleans up his mess later!"
Zhou Jinfeng kept muttering.
Lu Chen was full of black lines. If it was truly as Zhou Jinfeng said, with those "dots," then Zhai Xingchen indeed had the capital to be arrogant.
A figure in red, holding a colorful ribbon, slowly descended onto the center of the stage, like a Heavenly Immortal descending to the Mortal world.
The entire hall erupted in gasps of amazement.
Chu Xiaoxiao scanned the entire hall, searching twice before finding Zhou Jinfeng and the farmer in the corner.
Drum music sounded, and immortal melodies wafted through the air.
Chu Xiaoxiao's graceful dance and ethereal singing captivated everyone.
Her turn and backward glance, capable of toppling cities and nations, further pierced everyone's hearts.
Lu Chen also admired Chu Xiaoxiao: "Her beauty is like a painting, her body as light as gauze, her waist like a slender willow swaying in the wind, and her backward glance in dance shatters the dreams of infatuated men."
"Oh?"
Zhou Jinfeng was suddenly stunned and looked at Lu Chen.
"..." Lu Chen.