Chapter 56 - Listening to Music at the Brothel
The man wore a dark blue long robe, with the faint, coppery scent of blood still clinging to him. His expression was cold and resolute, his brows sharp and his eyes bright. A long scar ran down the left side of his forehead. His bloodshot eyes still carried a killing intent that had yet to dissipate.
He looked about the same age as Li Guanqi, but his hands told a different story—rough with calluses, crisscrossed with old scars. Sensing Li Guanqi’s gaze, the young man turned slightly. He gave a faint, fleeting smile before raising his cup and downing his wine in one gulp.
Li Guanqi was mildly surprised. He hadn’t expected the other man to notice his gaze. He quickly lifted his own cup, stood, and drained it in silent apology. Though he caught a flicker of doubt in the man’s eyes, he didn’t think much of it.
At that moment, a woman in a pink dress with a light veil over her face gracefully stepped onto the elevated platform in the hall. A guqin[1] lay before her. As her jade-like fingers brushed across the strings, melodious music resonated through the restaurant, amplified by a Sound Amplification Array.
The once rowdy hall fell quiet, save for a few hushed whispers. Listening to the music, Li Guanqi felt like he had entered paradise.
The gentle trickle of a spring, the soft chirping of birds and beasts, a lush green meadow, and the breeze caressing his face. The final note faded, and the lingering echoes left everyone yearning for more.
Li Guanqi chuckled softly and fished out a silver ingot. “Give this to the young lady. Call it a token of appreciation for the tea.”
The woman beside him accepted the silver with a smile, then gracefully descended the stairs. Before long, the guqin player from earlier reappeared, this time accompanied by Qing He, walking straight toward Li Guanqi’s table. Before they reached him, Li Guanqi caught the scent of osmanthus in the air.
The woman in pink walked over with graceful steps and offered a slight bow. Her voice was clear and sweet. “Thank you for your generosity, young master. My name is Xiang Yue. If you’d allow it, I can play a piece for you alone.”
Li Guanqi smiled faintly. “Then I shall thank you, Miss Xiang Yue.”
At that moment, a waiter brought her guqin to the table. As she turned around, Xiang Yue finally noticed the young man sitting beside Li Guanqi. She froze for a beat before hurriedly bowing deeply to him.