txolops Chapter 125 The Imperial City
Chapter 125 The Imperial City
Chapter 125 The Imperial City
Luomei Residence, a refined room in the rain.
A delicate fragrance filled the room, and thin wisps of steam rose gently from the incense burner.
Today, Zhao Mengxi changed into a simple, moon-white, wide-sleeved fairy dress. Her black hair was like a waterfall, with only a few strands loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin.
She leaned against the soft couch by the window, one hand supporting her chin, which made her figure appear even more slender.
Sparse shadows slant across the window, and a few late-blooming plum blossoms peek in, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air.
She glanced at the uninvited Li Qingyi, raised an eyebrow, and her eyes sparkled with a hint of languor and allure: "Oh, what wind has blown the busy Lord of the Pavilion to this humble abode of mine?"
Her voice was soft and sweet, with a slight upward curve at the end, like it had a little hook.
"That damn roast chicken—he's never serious in private." Li Qingyi cursed inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.
He even began to seriously consider whether he should acquire a high-level recording stone or learn a secret recording technique to preserve the fascinating moments of this woman's two different faces, which might become a handle for him in the future.
He ignored her comment and cut straight to the point, his tone flat: "When will we set off for the Zhao family?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengxi's alluring gaze paused slightly.
She didn't expect Li Qingyi to be so straightforward and bring up the matter herself.
She adjusted her leaning posture, the curves of her figure faintly visible beneath her white dress, and spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice lacking some of its former coquettishness: "The Master is indeed in a hurry. At this point, I don't even know the Master's name. To bring you back so haphazardly would be impolite, wouldn't it?"
"Fang Yuan".
"Fang Yuan." Zhao Mengxi repeated softly, then chuckled, "Okay, Fang Yuan. I've got it."
She stopped keeping her in suspense and said, "Seven days from now, at the beginning of Chen hour, outside Luomei Residence, I'll be waiting for you."
Having achieved her goal, Li Qingyi turned to leave.
However, just as he took a step, a white shadow flashed before his eyes, accompanied by a fragrant breeze; Zhao Mengxi had already blocked his way between him and the door.
The two instantly closed the distance, so close that Li Qingyi could see her eyelashes and smell her unique, rich fragrance.
"Master Fang, since you're already here—aren't you going to do something?"
As she spoke, whether intentionally or unintentionally, she leaned forward slightly, and the originally neatly overlapping collar of her dress quietly shifted slightly.
A breathtaking glimpse of snow-white skin and deep cleavage is faintly visible, making it even more striking against the backdrop of the plain white dress.
All of this, combined with her hesitant, misty eyes, her slightly flushed cheeks, and her luscious lips, was enough to make any hot-blooded man's blood boil.
Li Qingyi's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted; he was young and not yet a plant.
The sight of soft, fragrant jade before my eyes, the lingering scent around my nose, is utterly irresistible.
But it was only for a moment.
"What exactly does this woman want?" Vigilance instantly overwhelmed any physical reaction.
Zhao Mengxi's initiative and unusual behavior made him suspect a conspiracy.
This is by no means a simple flirtation between a man and a woman; it's more like a trap.
He can't accept this challenge.
Almost as soon as Zhao Mengxi took advantage of the situation, Li Qingyi raised her arm and pressed it firmly onto Zhao Mengxi's shoulder with a strong force.
"Miss Zhao, please have some self-respect."
Zhao Mengxi seemed surprised by his direct refusal, a hint of astonishment flashing in her eyes. Then, as if losing her balance, she fell into Li Qingyi's arms.
"Master Fang—" She tilted her head back, her eyes glazed, her breath sweet as orchids, her warm breath brushing against Li Qingyi's chin, "Are you truly—completely unmoved by my feelings?"
Her voice was melodious and plaintive, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Li Qingyi felt a surge of anger rising from her lower abdomen.
He took a deep breath, and the sword intent of his mind resonated slightly, instantly dispelling the restlessness.
With another burst of strength, he practically tore Zhao Mengxi off his body and pushed her back two steps.
"I appreciate your kindness, young lady. Farewell." He didn't look at her again, quickly turned around, and hastily opened the door to the private room before leaving.
As Li Qingyi walked out of Luomei Residence, a gentle breeze blew, and she thought to herself:
It's not that I'm not tempted—it's that I'm afraid to act!
Having made up his mind, he stopped thinking about the steamy interlude from earlier and began to consider his next steps.
Time is of the essence; we must set off immediately for the capital to find Qin Xiyue.
He walked quickly toward Lingbao Pavilion.
The most urgent task is to purchase two high-quality Swift Travel Talismans to ensure that we can travel between the Imperial City and Xuan Ce City within two days, saving precious time.
It wasn't that he didn't want to draw it, but rather that time was tight and he didn't have time to draw it.
After passing through the crowded streets, Li Qingyi entered Lingbao Pavilion. Qi Tongwei, as if he had caught a whiff of her presence, quickly came out from the side corridor to greet her.
The moment he saw Li Qingyi, his previously cloudy eyes became crystal clear.
"Oh my! Young Master Li! What brings you here? Come in, please come in!"
Li Qingyi nodded slightly, "Give me two sixth-tier Swiftness Talismans."
He quickly calculated in his mind. With his current cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining, combined with two sixth-order Divine Speed Talismans, he should be able to make a round trip within two days if he traveled at full speed.
However—he touched his storage ring, and the nine low-grade spirit stones he had left inside made him feel quite strapped for cash.
Sixth-tier talismans are not cheap.
Qi Tongwei dared not be negligent in the slightest and quickly led Li Qingyi to a private room.
Interestingly, this time, the place arranged was still the "old spot" that Li Qingyi had visited several times before.
The view outside the window, the furnishings inside, and even the faint fragrance in the air all felt very familiar to Li Qingyi.
A maidservant served the sacred tea, and Qi Tongwei personally instructed someone to retrieve the talisman from the storeroom.
Before long, the maid who had served Li Qingyi before came in, carefully carrying two talismans on a wooden tray covered with brocade.
The talisman was light blue with faint wind patterns and contained spiritual energy; it was clearly not an ordinary item.
Li Qingyi casually picked up a bill and asked, "How many spirit stones?"
Qi Tongwei smiled and said, "Young Master, this sixth-tier Wind-Riding Divine Speed Talisman was carefully crafted by our talisman masters. Once activated, it can greatly reduce the burden of wind-riding, increase speed by about 50%, and last for about six hours."
They typically sell for eleven low-grade spirit stones each on the market.
He paused, observed Li Qingyi's expression, and continued, "However, young master, you are a distinguished guest of my Lingbao Pavilion, and an old acquaintance. Therefore, I will make the decision and only charge you the cost price, seven spirit stones per piece. What do you think?"
Seven for one?
Li Qingyi's lips twitched involuntarily.
Two of those make fourteen, and he only had nine in his entire fortune.
After a moment's thought, Li Qingyi took out a jade bottle from her storage ring. It was the last bottle of pills she had seized from Tian Sha—the Five-Turn Rejuvenation Pill.
Although its effects are far less than those of the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill, it is still a decent healing medicine.
"Elder Qi, what is the appraised value of this item?"
He didn't take out the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill; he had to keep such a life-saving item for himself just in case.
Qi Tongwei took the jade bottle, uncorked it, took a light sniff, poured out a grain, examined its color in his palm, and already had a good idea of its quality.
He was shrewd enough to see Li Qingyi's predicament at this moment.
After these encounters, his feelings towards Li Qingyi were quite complex, including both fear and a touch of admiration, despite her ruthless methods and powerful background.
However, his actions seem to be quite methodical, and he is not simply ruthless and domineering.
After the last incident involving the spirit stone, the other party did not pursue the matter further but instead offered a reward, which made Qi Tongwei feel that this person might be worth befriending.
In the blink of an eye, Qi and Wei had made their decision.
He gently placed the jade bottle back on the table. "Young master, you're too kind. There's no need to use your elixirs for just two talismans."
As an elder of the Lingbao Pavilion, I receive a certain amount of internal discounts every month, but I haven't used them much.
"Perfect timing! I'll give you a discount! These two sixth-tier speed talismans will only cost you seven spirit stones."
Seven? Two? Li Qingyi was slightly taken aback and looked at Qi Tongwei.
While the other party may see the shrewdness of a businessman, it is more of a gesture of goodwill.
Li Qingyi was not one to mince words; after a moment's thought, she understood the other person's intentions.
This can be considered an investment in personal relationships; I really need it now, so I accepted the favor.
"In that case, thank you very much, Elder Qi." Li Qingyi didn't stand on ceremony. She counted out seven spirit stones from her storage ring, placed them neatly on the table, and then put away the two Wind-Riding Talismans that were glowing faintly.
"I will remember this kindness. If you ever need anything in the future, you may come to Luomei Residence to find me."
Upon hearing this, Qi Tongwei's smile widened, and he repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Young master, you flatter me. It's nothing to boast about! Please take care!"
After leaving Lingbao Pavilion, Li Qingyi did not linger any longer.
With a swift movement, he took to the air and sped towards the imperial city.
At the same time, he infused his magic power, activating a newly acquired Swiftness Talisman.
The talisman instantly transformed into countless tiny blue light spots, which then disappeared into his body.
Li Qingyi felt a sense of lightness throughout her body, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
When flying on the wind, the consumption of magic power drops sharply, and the surrounding mountains, rivers, villages and fields fly backward at an abruptly faster speed, with the wind whistling in your ears.
We set off at noon, speeding all the way.
When the majestic outline of the enormous city, its lights shining like a galaxy on the ground, came into view in the distance, the sky had already completely darkened, and the stars filled the sky.
The distance from Xuan Ce City to the Imperial City is nearly tens of thousands of miles, yet they actually arrived in the middle of the night.
There is a decree in the imperial city that prohibits cultivators from flying within the city.
Li Qingyi landed gracefully several miles from the city gate, concealed her aura, and walked on foot toward the magnificent city gate.
Upon closer inspection, the scale and grandeur of the imperial city far surpassed those of Xuan Ce City.
The city wall is over ten zhang high, built of huge bluestones, and its surface is engraved with intricate array patterns that shimmer with a spiritual light in the night.
The city gate tower is five stories high, with flying eaves and brackets, and looks magnificent.
Even the guards at the gate were all composed and had sharp eyes. They all possessed the cultivation level of the early stage of Qi Refining. Their armor was gleaming, their weapons were shiny, and they were strictly disciplined.
After paying the entrance fee, Li Qingyi stepped into the city.
The straight and wide street could accommodate ten carriages side by side, and the ground was paved with neat bluestones, as smooth as a mirror.
The streets are lined with buildings, their eaves connected, and shops and restaurants stand side by side.
Although it was late at night, many shops were still open for business, and bright lanterns and lighting gems embedded in the buildings illuminated the entire street.
There were still many pedestrians, many of whom were dressed in fine clothes. The streets were bustling with carriages and horses, and the noise and bustle exuded the unique prosperity of a grand imperial capital.
"Tsk, what you see in the simulator is ultimately obscured by a layer of mist. This magnificent spectacle witnessed with your own eyes is truly breathtaking."
Li Qingyi sighed inwardly, her feet never stopping, her eyes quickly scanning the signs along the street.
He naturally dared not swagger into the imperial city with his true appearance, so he had already changed his appearance again with a fake human skin during the journey.
Soon, following the memories from the simulation, he found the inn where Qin Xiyue was staying, Mingyue Tower.
The building has four floors, with upturned eaves and bright lights.
The lower two floors are bustling with activity, serving as dining and drinking areas, filled with enticing aromas. The upper two floors, on the other hand, are relatively quiet and house guest rooms.
Qin Xiyue stayed in an upper room on the fourth floor.
Li Qingyi stepped into Mingyue Tower and headed straight for the stairs leading upstairs.