Ch. 20 - Imperial Descendant

"I’m not in the habit of intruding on others," Vastsky spoke as he sat to the side, sipping tea with a smile. "What if I end up offending the lady?" "This woman’s not simple. Be careful you don’t stumble in a place you think is safe," Xu Zimo warned, saying no more. About three minutes later, the madam returned with a warm smile. She said to Xu Zimo, "Young master, Miss Baiyu said if you don’t mind, would you care to visit her chamber?" "Let’s go," Xu Zimo said casually to Vastsky. Under the envious gaze of everyone present, the two made their way upstairs. Vastsky didn’t enter the room, he stayed posted outside the door. Xu Zimo opened it, and a delicate fragrance drifted out. It smelled like a blend of roses and peonies, subtle and alluring. The room was divided into an outer sitting area and an inner chamber. Xu Zimo strolled in lazily. The outer room was simply furnished. Pink walls were adorned with feminine decorations. Gauzy rainbow-colored drapes hung down, gently concealing the doorway to the inner chamber. Soft zither music flowed from within, calm and elegant, like a stream winding through a garden. The entrance to the inner room was veiled by a thin layer of pink silk. Through it, Xu Zimo could vaguely make out the silhouette of a woman, seated and playing the instrument. "Women always love their theatrics," Xu Zimo said with a smirk as he pulled aside the veil and entered. The inner chamber was clearly a lady’s boudoir: a pink, plush bed, and a vanity by the window to the left. Directly ahead sat a sandalwood table, behind which the woman plucked her instrument with elegant hands, glancing at Xu Zimo with a playful smile in her eyes. The music came to a stop. The woman covered her mouth and laughed gently. "You’re quite the interesting one, young master. When I meet people, they’re usually dazzled by my beauty. But you, you walked in and started inspecting the room instead." "Some things I see with my eyes," Xu Zimo said with a grin. "But some people… I see with my heart." Only then did he take a good look at the woman. She wore a white embroidered dress, the tight bodice hugging her graceful figure. Over it, she had draped a sheer white shawl. Her features were striking, refined and noble. Elegant brows, a tall nose bridge, big dark eyes, and small cherry lips. Her long black hair flowed freely down her back, tied with a pink silk ribbon into a soft bow. "What did you think of my music, young master?" Ji Baiyu asked with a smile. "Your service needs work, you didn’t even pour me tea," Xu Zimo said, sitting cross-legged on the floor. He poured himself a cup and then asked, "Do you know any battle tunes? The kind with real power, blood-boiling stuff. This gentle, romantic kind you just played, I can't appreciate it. Can’t even judge if it was good or not." Ji Baiyu studied Xu Zimo seriously, lips pursed slightly. "You really are different from the others." "What’s so different? I’ve got one mouth, two eyes. It’s not like I’ve got three heads and six arms," Xu Zimo replied with a grin. "You’ve got a unique presence," Ji Baiyu said thoughtfully. "Not charm exactly, but you definitely don’t follow the crowd." "That’s not worth much praise," Xu Zimo said, shaking his head. "I just don’t conform, that’s all." "And what do you think of me?" Ji Baiyu asked suddenly. "What do you mean?" Xu Zimo asked back. "I’m just a courtesan in a pleasure house. Do you see me as some cheap, flirtatious woman, someone not worth respecting?" Ji Baiyu’s voice turned soft, her expression sorrowful. The tone, the sadness in her eyes, it stirred a desire to protect her in anyone watching. "Of course not," Xu Zimo said as he gently set down his tea, smiling at her. "If I were the type to look down on you, the founder of Cloudmist Pavilion, one of the Twenty-Four Sword Immortals, the Sword Dance Immortal Ji Baiyu, then who in this world would be worthy of my respect?" Ji Baiyu’s expression froze for a moment. Then she smiled and said, "So, you knew all along." She sat up straight, no longer playing the delicate, pitiful woman, instead, she revealed a composed and confident grace. "And here I was putting on a whole performance for you, and you didn’t even blink," Xu Zimo said with a smirk. "Then what brings you to me, young master?" Ji Baiyu asked. "If Cloudmist Pavilion has offended you, say the word, I’ll make it right." Xu Zimo didn’t answer. He simply took a sip of tea and let out a long breath. "Good tea." "If you like it, I can give you some," Ji Baiyu replied with a smile. "It’s made with a secret recipe of mine, you won’t find it anywhere else." "Is that so?" Xu Zimo’s gaze turned nostalgic. He said slowly, "I seem to remember tasting this tea a long time ago. I think it was in a place called Forest Cloud City, up in the Northern Continent. And you know what’s funny? There was a small clan there with the same surname as yours, Ji. Word had it they were descendants of the Grand Emperor Fei Yu. A fallen family, really." Xu Zimo clicked his tongue, tone filled with mock regret. Ji Baiyu’s expression instantly changed. Her body trembled slightly as she stared at him, color draining from her face. With forced calm, she asked, "What are you trying to say?" "Nothing much," Xu Zimo replied casually. "Just thinking how odd it is… That family, the Ji Clan, was wiped out decades ago. Hundreds of them, all killed in battle. But there were rumors that the clan leader’s daughter escaped… carrying the legacy of Grand Emperor Fei Yu." Xu Zimo’s eyes gleamed. "And wouldn’t you know it? That girl’s name… was also Ji Baiyu." The moment the words left his mouth, Ji Baiyu’s face went pale. Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, all four of her meridian gates opened at once, and the strength of the Desolate Meridian Realm burst forth. Spiritual energy coiled around her like a dragon, radiating intense pressure. "What’s the matter?" Xu Zimo asked calmly, unfazed. "I was just telling a story. No need to be so jumpy." "Who are you?" Ji Baiyu’s voice trembled as she locked eyes with him. "My father is the Vice-Lord of the True Martial Sacred Ground," Xu Zimo answered with a light smile. "So technically, I’m an official’s son." "True Martial Sacred Ground?" a hoarse voice suddenly rang out behind Xu Zimo. A black-robed elder had appeared silently behind him. "Boy, what’s your purpose here?" the elder asked after a moment’s thought, his pressure slowly pressing down on Xu Zimo. "I didn’t expect you to still be alive," Xu Zimo said, turning to the elder as if completely unaware of the growing pressure.