"I wonder what Young Master's name might be?" the she asked, tilting her head.
"Xu Yuan" Yuan murmured, eyes darting away
"Oh! So you are Young Master Xu. I've heard quite a few tales, but you look nothing like the rumors" she said, her fingertip tracing a lazy arc along his cheek.
"Heh-heh…" Yuan chuckled, half-smitten, half-mortified.
Across the low table, Wu Jian locked his fingers around a jade cup and watched, deadpan 'What in the heavens am I seeing?'
"Tell me, Young Master Xu… are you always this shy around women?" the lady beside him asked with a teasing glint.
"Only when they're as stunning as you" Yuan replied without thinking and immediately looked away like a startled rabbit.
He coughed, pretending to take a sudden interest in the ceiling beams "So, um, what's your name?"
Wu Jian almost choked on his drink seeing his blushing and flirting skills.
"Tang'er" she said, bowing slightly "But you may call me whatever you wish, Young Master"
She leaned in a touch closer, her breath warm against his neck "Tell me—what kind of woman is to Young Master Xu's liking? Delicate and quiet? Bold and wild? Or perhaps…" her voice dropped to a whisper, "someone who can teach him things he's never even dreamed of?"
'Control yourself' he scolded internally and replied clearing his throat "Ahem! Well, I'm, uh… open to learning"
Just then, a troupe of dancers passed by, silk ribbons trailing behind them like banners in the wind. At the center of the formation walked a lady. Yuan's eyes flicked toward them instinctively
'Hmm... who's this?' Yuan squinted slightly 'System! Show their info'
Above their heads, five glowing prompts appeared. He scanned their names and eyes stopped on lady in the center, wearing verdant green robes, Lu Xueyi.
...
Name: Lu Xueyi
Age: 32
Physique: Nine Yin Constitution
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment – 3rd Realm
...
Yuan shot up from his seat like he'd been stabbed "Fuck!"
After days of scouring this dusty town, he'd finally spotted a rare physique! Wu Jian and Tang'er both rose in alarm.
"Young Master, is there an issue?" Wu Jian asked cautiously.
"Ah! It's nothing, nothing." Yuan forced a smile and sat back down. He turned to Tang'er and asked, "Miss Tang'er, can you tell me who that young lady was?" He pointed toward the dancers ascending the stairs. Wu Jian's eyelid twitched. He sighed inwardly. 'Here we go again…'
"Oh my~ Young Master, why so curious about them?" Tang'er asked playfully. "Those three ladies walking in front are disciples of the Seven Perfume Hall. The one in the middle is Lady Lu Xueyi, accompanied by two disciples from the Luyao Pavilion."
"Hmm... Is that so?" Yuan replied, eyes lingering just a second too long.
He threw a glance at Wu Jian, wearing the kind of polite smile that made your back sweat. Wu Jian nearly gasped. Yuan then stood, tossed some spirit coins onto the table, and said, "Let's go."
Tang'er gave him a coy wave "You're always welcome, Young Master~"
As they walked off, she called after them, "Come again, please~!"
....
On the way back, Wu Jian cast a sideways glance at Xu Yuan, who had been grinning to himself like a man who'd just discovered a secret treasure vault behind the bathhouse.
'What is this pervert cooking up in that brain of his…' Wu Jian had no idea
Then, as if reading his thoughts, Yuan suddenly spoke "Wu Jian, do you know Luyao Pavilion?"
"Luyao Pavilion? Of course. It's quite famous for its medical practice and alchemy. Their Pavilion Master is at least an advanced-grade alchemist. And… you're quite familiar with him?"
Yuan's grin widened "And what about Miss Lu Xueyi?"
Wu Jian let out a long sigh "She's a well-known alchemist and healer from the Luyao Pavilion. Reserved. Talented. Also… the granddaughter of the Pavilion Master."
Yuan stroked his chin like a sagely pervert "Mmm… so you're saying she's single"
"That is not what I said" Wu Jian stared at him.
"But you didn't say she wasn't either" Yuan nodded to himself, as if solving a divine riddle.
Wu Jian pinched the bridge of his nose "Young Master… her cultivation is around Foundation Establishment. If this turns into another bathhouse incident—"
"I'm hurt that you think so little of me," Yuan said, hand over heart "I am a gentleman of culture"
Wu Jian stared at him, speechless and walked silently with face blank.
.....
{Next Day Morning}
Inside the rocking comfort of their modest carriage abode, Yuan lay sprawled like a noble cat, one arm lazily thrown behind his head, the other toying with a peach he had no intention of eating. His robe was only half-tied, revealing a chest. Wu Jian, sat at the front, reins in hand, guiding the spirit beast pulling them along the road.
"Master" Wu Jian called over his shoulder, "we're heading toward the Luyao Pavilion now"
Yuan yawned, stretching like a lazy cat "Hmm… lately, I've been thinking... alchemy. Isn't it such a noble path? So pure. So... hands-on. Wouldn't it be great to learn a bit about it?"
Wu Jian's eye twitched 'Having trouble at Luyao Pavilion will be very problematic...'