Chapter 25: Assassination at the Tavern

Looking at the table overflowing with wine and delicacies, Liu Xie was overjoyed, yet he still wore an expression of feigned regret.

"So much food and drink—what a waste this will be!" Liu Xie remarked, his face showing a look of pity.

Seeing Liu Xie’s performance, Wang Jingyun felt his own face twitch involuntarily.

"It’s fine, it’s fine! It’s just one meal!"

"Since Young Master Wang is so generous, don’t forget the emotional distress compensation you owe me!" Liu Xie looked at the fat sheep before him and laughed, his eyes glinting with cunning.

"Of course not! Please, just eat and drink to your heart’s content. I will have that gold delivered to your residence in a few days," Wang Jingyun forced a smile.

"That’s good. Come, come! Where are the songstresses? Why haven't they arrived yet?" Liu Xie turned and asked Mother Yang, who was busy serving the dishes.

Mother Yang was beaming; the tab run up by these two gentlemen today was enough to equal several days of revenue for the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Hearing Liu Xie’s query, Mother Yang hurriedly replied with a smile, "Young Master, please wait a moment. I shall go and urge our girls to hurry!"

With that, she turned and stepped out of the private room. With her hands on her hips, she urged a young man who appeared to be a waiter, "Where are Qin and the others? The distinguished guests are waiting!"

"Coming, coming! Don't worry, Mother, I’ll go urge Sister Qin and the others right away!" the young man said with a flattering smile.

"Hurry, hurry! If you delay the distinguished guests' meal, we’ll both be in big trouble!" Mother Yang frowned, looking somewhat displeased. She then turned and walked back into Liu Xie’s private room with a refreshed smile.

The waiter raised his eyes slightly and cast a silent glance into the room, catching sight of the grinning Liu Xie. His expression shifted imperceptibly, and he turned to hurry downstairs.

...

In a private room on the first floor of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the young waiter stood outside knocking on the door.

"Knock, knock."

"Who is it? Come in!" a gentle voice called from within.

"Oh my! Sister Qin, why are you still so unhurried? Mother is urging you from upstairs!" The waiter spoke loudly enough for almost everyone on the first floor to hear.

Inside the room, a young woman was applying her makeup. Before the bronze mirror, she appeared exceptionally gentle and moving, with lips like pearls and skin as smooth as congealed fat. Within her willow-leaf brows and phoenix eyes, her gaze shifted with a charm that seemed to captivate the soul.

This young woman was the top songstress of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion—Qin Wan’er.

"Can’t you see I’m busy grooming myself? What is the rush?"

The waiter, now standing behind Qin Wan’er, glanced around before leaning in slightly to whisper in a voice only the two of them could hear, "It is confirmed. It is indeed that man!"

Qin Wan’er’s expression changed in the reflection of the bronze mirror. She then said loudly, "Very well, Little Su, take me over there!"

She then fumbled beneath her vanity and pulled out a soft sword! With a flash of cold light, she coiled it around her waist.

The waiter acted as if he had seen nothing and retreated from the room, with Qin Wan’er following closely behind. Both wore smiles as they walked unhurriedly toward Liu Xie’s private room.

In a secluded corner of the first floor, two drunken men sat drinking together, watching the direction the pair took. No one noticed that when Qin Wan’er and the waiter reached the door to Liu Xie’s room, their expressions shifted slightly. They knew Liu Xie was in that room, and they knew that Qin Wan’er was no ordinary woman.

The waiter pushed the door open, and Qin Wan’er glided inside with graceful poise. She then closed the door and stood before it, seemingly waiting for instructions.

The two drunken men exchanged a glance. One of them stumbled out of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, causing passersby to avoid him in disgust. The other swayed as he began to make his way upstairs.

...

Liu Xie was momentarily dazed as the charming woman entered; it was indeed Qin Wan’er.

In contrast, Fu Hu, who sat beside Liu Xie, frowned inadvertently, his expression shifting almost imperceptibly. Fu Hu was a martial artist, and as Qin Wan’er passed by him, a sense of danger had risen in his heart. How could a songstress from a tavern bring him such a feeling of crisis? Fu Hu looked at Qin Wan’er’s seemingly frail figure, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Young Master, this is our Drunken Immortal Pavilion’s top star—Qin Wan’er! Everyone in Luoyang knows her!" Mother Yang said with a flattering smile, her face full of pride as she introduced her.

Even Wang Jingyun looked at Qin Wan’er with a slack-jawed expression. "Brother Xie! Miss Qin is the most famous songstress in Luoyang! Her beauty and talent are unparalleled!"

Liu Xie arched an eyebrow upon hearing this. Qin Wan’er had indeed stunned him when she first entered, but compared to Shou’er back home, she was nothing special.

Qin Wan’er walked slowly to the other side of the room and sat cross-legged before a prepared zither. After a slight nod to Liu Xie and the others, her slender fingers rested gracefully upon the strings.

Then, her ten fingers moved, and a sound like heavenly music resonated through the room—crisp and clear, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

It was the first time Liu Xie had heard such beautiful music, and for a moment, he was mesmerized. Having grown accustomed to the pretentious pop music and chaotic rock of the modern world, listening to Qin Wan’er’s zither performance was an absolute comfort to the soul.

It was not just Liu Xie; everyone in the room had fallen under the spell of the music, their faces filled with intoxication. Even Fu Hu was nearly lost in the melody.

*Wait! This is a hypnotic, illusory sound!*

Alarm bells rang in Fu Hu’s heart. Before he knew it, Qin Wan’er had risen, wiped her waist, and a shimmering, cold soft sword appeared in her hand.

The Qin Wan’er from moments ago—gentle and lovely—was gone. Her face was now cold as frost, her eyes burning with murderous intent. She lunged forward, her sword aimed directly at Liu Xie!

Yet, Liu Xie, Wang Jingyun, and Mother Yang remained immersed in the melody, sitting dazed and motionless!

"Young Master, watch out!"

Fu Hu roared, shaking the three of them awake. Liu Xie’s face turned pale with shock, for Qin Wan’er was already upon him with her blade! Liu Xie could practically feel the chill of the steel.

At the critical moment, Fu Hu lunged with lightning speed, throwing himself in front of Liu Xie and grabbing the blade with his bare hand. He struggled to divert the trajectory, driving the sword into the wall nearby, though his own palm was left dripping with blood!

"Young Master, run! I will hold her off!" Fu Hu yelled, immediately engaging Qin Wan’er in combat.