50: Chapter 47 Missed Opportunities 50: Chapter 47 Missed Opportunities Zuixian Pavilion swarmed with a crowd that surged like a tide, and patrons streamed in without pause.
Although night had not yet fallen, the dusk had set in, and the guests at Zuixian Pavilion’s entrance were already coming and going incessantly.
A horse-drawn carriage by the street continually caught the attention of passersby.
The majestic horse was pitch black with a single horn on its head, and between its hooves, one could faintly see flames flickering.
The carriage behind it was even more luxurious, with lavish brocade, and a large Xu character emblazoned on the side.
A dark, coiling dragon wrapped around the body of the carriage appeared lifelike, especially its dragon eyes.
Surrounded by a throng of Protectors, a strikingly handsome young master in brocade robes emerged from Zuixian Pavilion, pulling a graceful lady wearing a bamboo hat into the carriage.
The appearance of the two sparked a flurry of side glances and chatter among the onlookers.
Within the crowd standing by the street, two men of exceptional bearing likewise gazed at the carriage.
One wore black, his face ruggedly handsome.
The other was clad in luxurious white robes, holding a folding fan despite the winter’s chill.
The man in black looked at Xu Changtian who exuded an extraordinary air and curiously asked the one in white beside him,
“Brother Li, why do these passersby have so much to say about that young master?”
Li Muchen glanced at the carriage, lightly shaking his fan as he smiled and replied,
“Brother Qin, being new here, you might not know—that is the Third Young Master of the Xu Family, Xu Changtian.”
Qin Mo murmured softly, “The Xu Family…
Li Muchen shook his head with a smile, “Naturally, the largest one.”
Qin Mo blinked in surprise, murmuring,
“Prime Minister’s Mansion?”
The Xu Family, Prime Minister’s Mansion—these he naturally knew.
But he did not know whether this Xu Family had any connection to the Miss Xu with a gentle demeanor he had encountered on his journey.
Her identity seemed shrouded in mystery.
Amidst the silence, Li Muchen affectionately patted Qin Mo’s shoulder, revealing a smile that men understand, “If Brother Qin is interested in making an acquaintance, I could introduce you sometime.
However, this time you saved me during our business trip, so tonight we shall drink to our hearts’ content!”
Qin Mo nodded slightly, smiling faintly.
The offer of an introduction from Li Muchen was clearly just a pretense.
If Li Muchen were truly on good terms with the Third Young Master of the Xu Family, he would not be standing here just watching; he would have already gone forward to converse with the Third Young Master.
Though Li Muchen came from a wealthy family of merchants, his family’s status was far below that of Xu Yuan’s Xu Family.
However, Qin Mo considerately chose not to call out Li Muchen, accompanying him instead, all the while subconsciously touching the area over his chest.
Seeing Qin Mo’s subtle movement, Li Muchen thought Qin Mo was worried about expenses and said with a smile,
“I’ll host tonight, to welcome you properly.”
“Ah, that’s not it,” Qin Mo said with a chuckle, shaking his head.
“I came to Zuixian Pavilion to look for someone.”
“Looking for someone?” Li Muchen was taken aback, then smiled faintly, “Could it be for a lady you’ve taken a fancy to?”
His words became hesitant, “Though the young ladies in Zuixian Pavilion…”
Qin Mo said softly, “I’m here to find Miss Jin Xuan.”
“Miss Jin Xuan?” Li Muchen’s face showed recognition, but then he seemed to think of something and his expression turned odd.
Qin Mo explained, “Miss Jin Xuan and I had made a bet.”
Li Muchen’s face grew even stranger, “A bet?”
Qin Mo produced a Demon Core from within his robes, chuckling lightly, “If I could retrieve the Demon Core of a spirit beast from Fengya Forest within this month, she agreed to play a piece of music exclusively for me.”
Observing the Demon Core, Li Muchen’s pupils contracted slightly.
As the scion of a family of merchants, he had handled many Demon Cores.
At a single glance, he could tell that the demonic power contained within this particular core was roughly of Seventh Grade.
With the current unstable situation, demons roamed freely, and the various departments under the Monitoring Celestials had no control over the territories.
Local Sects and noble families would only clean up their own doorsteps, and the emergence of a single spirit beast often resulted in the blood debts of an entire village.
Currently, Qin Mo’s aura was long and unbroken, but he should be just an Eighth Grade warrior.
For an Eighth Grade warrior to slay a Seventh Grade spirit beast was not a simple feat.
Such talent was truly worth making a connection with.
However, upon recalling Jin Xuan, Li Muchen shook his head slightly, choosing his words with care and said softly,
“Brother Qin, you might not be able to see Miss Jin Xuan today… no, perhaps you won’t be able to see her ever again.”
Li Muchen finally decided to tell the truth.
Qin Mo’s gaze fixated, and he frowned, “Brother Li, what do you mean by that?”
Li Muchen glanced at the black dragon carriage and hinted no more than necessary, “Because of Xu Changtian…”
Hearing this, a sense of loss and anxiety surfaced in Qin Mo’s heart as he quietly asked, “Miss Jin Xuan holds a special status in Zuixian Pavilion, if she is unwilling, she can choose not to receive guests, right?”
Li Muchen looked around and whispered confidentially, “Indeed, Zuixian Pavilion would never force their Qing entertainers to sell themselves, but…”
With that, Li Muchen sighed slightly, “..but Brother Qin, that Xu Changtian is the Third Young Master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
He has forcefully canceled the arranged day for Miss Jin Xuan’s departure that was set by sending out invitations a few days ago.”
“….” Qin Mo was silent.
Through some coincidences, Qin Mo knew a bit about the forces behind Zuixian Pavilion, but clearly, they would not turn against the Prime Minister’s Mansion over a single woman.
Li Muchen hesitated slightly, then pointed at the few guards who were running along behind the now-moving black carriage:
“Brother Qin, look at those guards beside the carriage.”
Qin Mo focused his eyes on them, “What about them?”
“Each one is above Seventh Grade, and there are even several of Sixth Grade.”
“Sixth Grade and above?” Surprise finally flashed through Qin Mo’s eyes.
The oldest of those guards wasn’t even thirty, and yet, such young cultivators of Sixth Grade were merely ordinary guards…
Li Muchen gave a rueful smile, somewhat enigmatically bitter, “I would guess that these are just the visible protectors; undoubtedly, there are high-level masters of protector-grade in the shadows.”
“Fifth Grade in the Soul Condensation Realm?” Qin Mo furrowed his brows tightly, remembering the strength of the protectors in Li Muchen’s family.
Qin Mo instinctively looked over.
But other than those ordinary guards, one could only see a large bearded man driving the carriage at the front.
The bearded man had an amiable smile, the longsword fastened behind him, nonchalantly holding the reins in his hands.
Before Qin Mo could show his confusion,
the bearded man’s gaze swept over towards Qin Mo!
An amiable gaze with a hint of a smile.
But even so, it still made the hairs on Qin Mo’s neck stand on end.
That look made him realize that the whole conversation he’d just had with Li Muchen had been overheard by the big man.
However, the big man showed no intention of making a move and instead grinned at Qin Mo, mockingly pointing at the carriage behind him.
Seeing the big man’s gesture, Qin Mo was first taken aback, then his pupils slightly narrowed.
Memories of what had just happened flashed through his mind.
The hooded lady that Xu Changtian was leading into the carriage…
Qin Mo’s fists clenched slightly.
And the big man simply turned his head away with a jovial laugh, paying no further attention to Qin Mo.
As if to him, toying with Qin Mo was like amusing himself with an ant when there was nothing better to do….
After Zhou Chen withdrew his gaze, he pulled the reins, prompting the black unicorn horse to take a step forward, and the carriage slowly set off towards the ahead.
Seemingly hearing the laughter outside, a gentle voice from inside asked:
Zhou, why are you laughing?”
Zhou Chen shrugged nonchalantly:
“Nothing much, I overheard two men discussing Miss Su and the Third Young Master.
They seemed to be admirers of Miss Su, and I found it amusing, so I played a little joke on them.”
Jin Xuan is really popular, isn’t she?”
Xu Yuan listened and didn’t seem to care, then softly ordered:
Zhou, if you’re bored, please have someone buy me a few of the latest newspapers.”