Chapter 362: 209, Red Dust Pavilion, Establishing Heart between Heaven and Earth, That Little Princess (Chapter 5k2) _3
CLATTER!
With that sound, many Spirit Shells were added to the porcelain bowl.
This porcelain bowl seemed to be a spatial treasure as well. Half a day had passed, and at least a thousand Spirit Shells had been thrown into it by the cultivators on the deck, but the bowl still showed no signs of being full.
"Everyone, farewell for now!"
Scholar Su poured all the Spirit Shells from the porcelain bowl into the Storage Bag at his waist, changed his attire to resemble a scholar on a spring outing, and headed straight for the second floor of the Flying Boat.
On the Flying Boat, there were continuous rows of houses, countless pavilions, and towers.
But the second floor had been exclusively booked by another of the Ten Major Sects.
This sect was the Red Dust Pavilion!
The only openly acknowledged pleasure den on East Huangzhou’s Immortal Path.
"Cultivators of the Daoist Sect: half a day storytelling, half a day consorting with courtesans..."
"What a carefree life!"
"Too bad I know nothing of the literary path; otherwise, I wouldn’t have to struggle so bitterly in cultivation..."
Upon seeing this, the male cultivators present were filled with envy and jealousy.
Although Scholar Su appeared before them merely as a storyteller.
But... his true identity was a disciple of the Ten Major Sects.
He was a figure far beyond their reach.
Red Dust Pavilion... Xu Xing felt a stir in his heart as he gazed at the building.
If he weren’t afraid of exposing his identity, he would have gone in to broaden his horizons and see what the Female Cultivators of the Red Dust Pavilion looked like.
"Fellow Daoist..."
"Senior Brother Su invites you all to the Red Dust Pavilion. He will cover all expenses tonight."
Just as Xu Xing sighed, several graceful Female Cultivators leaped onto the deck and extended an invitation to Xu Xing and the other male cultivators.
"What?"
"Is Senior Brother Su truly so generous? Could there be some trick to this?"
Though a few male cultivators were tempted, the perils of the Immortal Path kept them wary; they weren’t about to rush into the Red Dust Pavilion in a daze.
"Cultivators from the Daoist Sect are always generous; it’s common for them to book the entire place..."
One or two male cultivators shared the hearsay they had gathered with the others.
"A few days ago, when this Flying Boat was docked in the Country of Flowing Light, Lady Mengyun boarded the Red Dust Pavilion here..."
Seeing their hesitation, the graceful Female Cultivators offered this explanation, dispelling everyone’s doubts.
The Red Dust Pavilion had a Rouge List, modeled after the Heaven, Earth, and Human Three Ranks of Yama Temple Shadow Killing Hall, which exclusively featured beauties.
Lady Mengyun was ranked thirty-third on the Rouge List.
Once on this list, the Female Cultivators of the Red Dust Pavilion could enjoy numerous benefits.
Not only could they become honored guests of top male cultivators, but they could also enjoy resource support from the Red Dust Pavilion...
The competition for the Rouge List was similar to that of worldly Courtesans, depending on who was willing to patronize them, the power and influence of their patrons, and so on.
Thus, Scholar Su’s invitation for the cultivators to enter the Red Dust Pavilion this time was largely at the suggestion of Lady Mengyun, the thirty-third on the Rouge List. Spending money to boost her own prestige!
***
Xu Xing did not refuse the Red Dust Pavilion’s invitation.
There wasn’t much difference between scholars consorting with courtesans and cultivators doing the same. It was all a form of entertainment. Visiting the Red Dust Pavilion didn’t necessarily mean one had to seek out a Female Cultivator.
「Shaoqing.」
Inside the Red Dust Pavilion, the group of male cultivators beheld the legendary Lady Mengyun.
Her dark hair was lightly coiled, her rouge subtly applied, and she wore a gown of soft, red gauze. She moved with captivating grace and elegance.
The Red Dust Pavilion was not merely a single structure; within its confines lay a small island, upon which stood another grand pavilion, also inscribed with the name "Red Dust Pavilion."
Along the lakeshore, small gazebos had been constructed for the male cultivators to enjoy the view.
"One can admire from a distance, but not defile by touch..." Xu Xing murmured, shaking his head as he and Wu Miao sat opposite each other in a lakeside kiosk, observing the scene. "The Red Dust Pavilion is not just a pleasure den; it’s also one of the Ten Major Sects."
In the Mortal World, due to the physical differences between men and women, those in power were mostly male. But this wasn’t necessarily true in the Cultivation World. The Red Dust Pavilion and the Cloud Sword Sect, as the only two Female Cultivator sects among the Ten Major Sects, were considered one ’unorthodox’ and one ’righteous.’
The Red Dust Pavilion couldn’t have reached its current status by solely relying on forging connections.
***
Lake Heart Pavilion.
After making a token appearance in the pavilion, Ji Mengyun returned to her boudoir.
She stepped onto an embroidered couch and, looking through a screen and beaded curtains at Scholar Su, who was painting, said, "Senior Brother Su, I heard that the first story you told was that same mortal tale again..."
"From what I’ve heard, you and Song Miyao are not very well acquainted."
The Sacred Heart School of the Daoist Sect. Establish a Literary Heart. When the Literary Heart is successfully cultivated, that is the day one attains the Dao Pill Daoist realm. This method is considered an unorthodox branch of the Immortal Path. A Literary Heart Dao Pill can, at best, reach Second Grade; it cannot achieve the First Grade realm.
"It is rumored in the Daoist Sect that when ’Establishing the Heart for Heaven and Earth,’ the stories told can turn fiction into reality. But, Senior Brother Su, you should know this is merely a rumor..."
Ji Mengyun poured tea and had a Maid serve it to Scholar Su, who was still painting.
She and Scholar Su were old acquaintances. She didn’t want him to waste his energy on such futile matters.
"That’s not necessarily true..." Scholar Su put down his wolf-hair brush, took a small sip of tea, and smiled. "My master once said that Fengxi Country, being merely a minor state, shouldn’t be able to produce so many Immortal Geniuses, yet it did..."
"Facts have proven that Fengxi Country is favored by heaven and earth. And the one favored, according to my master, is Emperor Tiande..."
"The Human King physique appears once every three hundred and fifty years. Emperor Tiande was born a bit early, so my master speculated that he doesn’t have the Human King physique, but rather the ’Human Emperor Body’."
He spoke slowly.
A phoenix never lands where there is no treasure. Conversely, the ’Human Emperor Body’ can make a land abundant with talent and spiritual energy.
Song Miyao and I do share a past connection. In this life, I have no one else to be concerned about, so making her story more complete... why wouldn’t I? Scholar Su was very philosophical.
When the Literary Heart Dao Pill is formed, one can borrow the power of ’Establishing the Heart for Heaven and Earth’ to ’turn fiction into reality.’ Although such a thing is illusory and uncertain, it was an endeavor that cost little but offered potential benefit, and he wasn’t unduly concerned about the outcome.
"This is Scholar Su’s personal affair, and I have no say in it..." Ji Mengyun shook her Qiufu, not intending to discuss the topic further. Then, she looked intently at Scholar Su. "Senior Brother Su, your talent is known throughout the world. I wish to ask you for an opportunity to become famous. Would that be possible?"
A significant reason she had boarded this Sea-Crossing flying boat was to find Scholar Su. For a Courtesan to contend for fame, the circulation of poems and stories from talented individuals was indispensable.
"Your father and I are old friends. Back then, when Emperor Tiande returned to the Mortal World, he and I had a long talk in a teahouse... Emperor Tiande mentioned you."
Scholar Su sighed. He took a brush from the pen rack, dipped it fully in ink, and then paused over the scroll for a long moment.
"I have said that in this life, I will write no more poems. I will not break my promise."
"You come from a renowned family. Why must you value profit over parting...?" He paused, his words tinged with sadness.
He had known the little princess for merely a dozen days or so, yet he still cherished the memory of that girl with bright, captivating eyes and a beauty like a lotus emerging from the water, for she harbored no selfish motives. Yet, though he had known Ji Mengyun for decades, he felt this woman was a stranger to him.