Chapter 41: Dinner Is Ready
Thump!
The sound came from the wooden door of the private washroom as it clicked shut, sealing Lu Feng off from the playful banter outside and plunging him into a warm, mist-filled sanctuary.
Instead of a standard, cramped basin area, the villa’s bathhouse was designed like a luxurious mini-sauna. Thick clouds of fragrant, steaming vapor drifted lazily across the room, carrying the soothing scent of herbal oils and crushed pine needles.
Along the tiled interior, the facility was cleverly divided into multiple sections: a deep soaking tub filled with steaming hot water, a dedicated enclosed room functioning as a dense steam bath, and a separate, crystal-clear stone basin holding a refreshing cold bath to shock the pores and invigorate the spirit.
Lu Feng stripped off his travel-stained garments and stepped directly into the hazy, humid atmosphere of the steam bath.
He lowered himself onto a smooth, heated stone bench, letting the thick, billowing steam envelop his skin. The heavy moisture immediately set to work, opening his pores and softening the stubborn, dried layers of grime, dirt, and microscopic blood spatter that he had accumulated during the brutal, relentless journey through the bandit-infested wilderness.
As the heat slowly worked the tension out of his tired muscles, Lu Feng leaned his head back against the tiled wall, resting his arms along the stone ledge as he closed his eyes and began to think deeply.
Now that they had successfully arrived at Crimson Vale City, the foundational phase of his survival plan was complete, but the real chess game was just beginning.
He needed to map out his next moves carefully.
Crimson Vale was a massive regional hub, controlled by intricate webs of merchant guilds, martial factions, and underground syndicates. Staying at Lin Laifu’s mini-estate bought them temporary shelter and zero overhead costs, but it was merely a stepping stone. Han Lin was already tasked with finding them a proper, highly defensible private estate where they could establish deep roots without constantly looking over their shoulders.
At the same time, Lu Feng needed to leverage his unique system inventory—specifically the thousands of refined alchemical pills sitting idly in storage—without drawing the destructive attention of major appraisal houses or greedy local clans. That was precisely why cozying up to a well-connected, morally flexible loan shark like Lin Laifu was such a brilliant maneuver. If he could manipulate Lin Laifu’s greed, establish a lucrative financial partnership, and bleed the man of valuable insider information and rare resources under the guise of an alliance, it would pave the way for his rapid rise within the city.
A quiet, confident smirk touched the corners of Lu Feng’s lips as the steam swirled around him. The pieces were slowly falling into place.
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Meanwhile, on the opposite wing of the spacious guest villa, the two women were experiencing their own restorative routine.
Han Lin and Ye Chenxue had decided to utilize the villa’s secondary, equally well-appointed bathing chambers. Working with quiet, synchronized efficiency, they quickly washed away the accumulated exhaustion of the road.
Though the multi-room villa offered plenty of isolated sleeping quarters, the unspoken bond forged through surviving multiple life-or-death ambushes together had drawn them closer. After finishing their baths and wrapping themselves in soft, clean linen robes, they collectively decided to bypass the other rooms and share the massive master bedroom on the upper floor for the duration of their stay.
Standing before a tall, polished bronze standing mirror in the bedroom, they began the process of dressing for the evening banquet.
Han Lin wore a flowing, elegant dress of deep sapphire silk that hugged her figure gracefully, embroidered with subtle silver thread patterns along the cuffs and hem. She brushed out her long, damp dark hair, letting it cascade freely down her back in soft, glossy waves.
Beside her, Ye Chenxue fastened the last buckle of her dark, high-collared martial tunic, choosing attire that was sleek, practical, yet refined enough for a formal estate gathering. Her pale, flawless skin practically glowed from the warmth of the bath, and the intense blush from earlier had completely faded, replaced by her usual composed, ethereal beauty.
Han Lin turned her head, catching a reflection of the cultivator in the mirror, and a genuine smile of appreciation spread across her face.
"You know, Chenxue, even when you’re trying to look completely detached from the world, you manage to look breathtaking," Han Lin teased softly, stepping closer to adjust the collar of Ye Chenxue’s tunic with gentle familiarity. "If we aren’t careful, every young master in Crimson Vale City is going to break down our gates just to catch a glimpse of you."
Ye Chenxue let out a soft, dismissive sigh, though the sharp edge of her usual coldness was entirely absent. She reached out and lightly smoothed down a stray fold of sapphire fabric on Han Lin’s shoulder.
"You look radiant yourself, Lin," Ye Chenxue replied quietly, her voice smooth. "If Master Lin is half as easily distracted as he appears, he might forget his own ledgers the moment he sits down at the dining table."
Both women shared a brief, warm laugh, taking comfort in the rare moment of absolute peace.
Just as they finished gathering their composure and prepared to head downstairs to check on Lu Feng, a sharp, clear sound echoed through the silence of the villa.
*Knock. Knock. Knock.*
Someone was at the main front door.
Exchanging a quick glance, Han Lin walked lightly down the winding wooden staircase and crossed the ground-floor receiving hall. She unlatched the heavy deadbolts and swung the solid timber door open just a fraction.
Standing on the threshold was one of Lin Laifu’s trusted estate workers—a neatly dressed middle-aged man holding a polished wooden clipboard, bowing respectfully.
"Pardon the intrusion, esteemed guests," the worker spoke politely, keeping his gaze lowered. "My master, Master Lin Laifu, sends his warmest regards. He wishes to inform you that the banquet is prepared, and he cordially invites you all over to his personal building to dine with him this evening."
Han Lin acknowledged the message with a graceful nod of her head. "Thank you for the notification. Tell Master Lin we will be there shortly."
"Very well. I shall inform him," the worker bowed again and stepped back down the stone steps, hurrying off to handle other estate duties.
Han Lin closed the front door firmly, securing the latch behind him. She turned on her heel, briskly walking back toward the rear corridor where Lu Feng was still occupying the private washroom.
She tapped lightly against the wooden door of the bathhouse.
"Young Master!" Han Lin called out clearly. "One of Lin Laifu’s workers just stopped by. We’ve been formally summoned by the loan shark. Dinner is ready at his building whenever you are prepared."
From behind the thick wooden barrier, the sound of splashing water momentarily ceased. A deep, steady voice answered back through the steam.
"Understood, Han Lin. I heard you. Give me just a few moments to finish up out here," Lu Feng replied.
Hearing his acknowledgment, Han Lin turned back toward the main room where Ye Chenxue was waiting, confident that the message had been delivered.
Inside the steaming oasis of the sauna, Lu Feng stood up from the heated stone bench. He stepped out of the steam room and briskly crossed over to the cold stone basin, submerging his body for a brief, bracing moment to close his pores and sharpen his senses before stepping out of the water entirely.
He dried his skin thoroughly with a thick, plush towel and quickly slipped into a clean, well-fitted set of robes he had laid out on the wooden rack.
He had no intention of lingering too long or keeping Lin Laifu waiting for an extended period. In the delicate art of building leverage and manipulating powerful, self-serving men, timing was everything.
Leaving a wealthy, paranoid host waiting too long bred impatience and suspicion—and that simply wasn’t how one properly built a lasting, profitable relationship with someone like Lin Laifu.