259 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

Inside the room, several people were already enjoying themselves, drinking spirits and listening to music, occasionally spouting some crude remarks. Compared to them, Ning Songwu appeared extremely out of place. She frowned slightly, lips tightly pressed together. She had to keep toasting the raised glasses and fend off the advances of the women, feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. But Lu Jin didn't seem to plan on sparing her. "Official Ning, no need to be so reserved. We're all friends here. Or is it that you aren't satisfied with these two ladies?" Seeing Ning Songwu's expression of despair, Lu Jin assumed she was displeased with the women. The two ladies in attendance were indeed the more outstanding ones among those present. However, Ning Songwu had come from the capital of the empire, a place of wealth and beauty incomparable to this small county of Pingyang. Ning Songwu hurriedly waved her hand and forced a dry laugh. "No, no, Lord Lu, you're overthinking. Please, enjoy yourselves and don't mind me." Without looking at her bowl, she picked something up and stuffed it into her mouth. "Ahhh!" A strong spicy sensation filled Ning Songwu's mouth, and she quickly spat it back into the bowl. Looking down, she saw it was a piece of hot pepper. "Dear Official Ning~ Here, take a sip of water, it'll help," one of the women said, pouring a cup of water and offering it to her, seemingly intending to feed her. "Thank you, but no need to trouble yourself, I can do it myself." Ning Songwu's hairs stood on end, a shiver running down her spine, and a cold sweat broke out. She took the cup, turned away, took a big gulp, and patted her chest to soothe herself. "Ah, tonight is your special occasion, Official Ning. If you don't enjoy yourself, I would feel guilty for not being a good host," Lu Jin said, addressing the woman beside him. "Go tell Yin Shinang to bring over her two best girls." The woman had just stood up when Lu Jin pulled her back. "Do you have any other instructions, Master Lu?" she asked as she turned. "Bring some Bliss Powder too," Lu Jin whispered into her ear as he got up. Not long after, laughter could be heard from outside. "Honored guests, forgive me for not welcoming you sooner." The door creaked open, the voice arriving before the person. Several ladies followed a middle-aged woman into the room. She had almond-shaped eyes, willow-leaf eyebrows, a voluptuous figure, and an air of seductive charm. Her face held a subtle grace, her ruby lips curled in a smile before even speaking. This was none other than the proprietor of Shihua House, Yin Shinang. "Lord Lu, I apologize for not taking better care of you earlier. I knew that these common beauties wouldn't impress you, so I've brought over some real gems." "You're too kind, Mistress Yin. It's my companion here, from the capital, who has seen it all and finds it hard to be impressed by ordinary ladies," Lu Jin said, indicating the women beside Ning Songwu. "You two, move over here to me." Yin Shinang responded, "Exactly, those used to the finest delicacies find it hard to settle. Now that I've brought these girls and special items, I'll leave you to your entertainment and take my leave." The newly arrived girls scanned the room, their gazes resting on Ning Songwu with evident satisfaction. They waved their handkerchiefs and moved their hips as they sat down next to her. Raising the glass of wine in front of Ning Songwu, one cooed, "Official Ning~ Have some wine." Another offered, "Official Ning~ Have some food." "Please continue, everyone. I need to step out for a moment." Ning Songwu pushed aside the wine and food in front of her, covering her mouth as she made a quick escape. If she didn't leave now, she wouldn't be able to hold on. Her stomach was already churning. "This Official Ning is really dense. Ladies, feed me, I'll take it all, hahaha..." A portly man with greasy features said lecherously. The woman's smile froze momentarily, but she quickly recovered, retracting the wine cup and downing it herself. "Guest, I'm quite thirsty. Allow me to drink first." Meanwhile, Ran Fanyin had left Xiao Liu and wandered the second-floor corridor of Shihua House alone. Her unsightly disguise had the ladies steering clear of her, while Xiao Liu had been pulled into a private room. Wherever she looked, the men were disheveled, wearing light robes and loose sashes, their chests bare and their steps unsteady. Their erratic behavior was quite unsightly. The symptoms were reminiscent of drug effects—could it be the Bliss Powder that Yuniang had mentioned? Ran Fanyin's heart skipped a beat. If they had indeed taken an addictive substance, things would be difficult to handle. The more she roamed, the more familiar everything felt. The decoration, the layout, the names of the food and drinks, and the women's attire—this was an exact copy of the Dust Pavilion! For goodness' sake, they even plagiarized my place. Ran Fanyin had her answer and decided not to linger. She turned towards the room where Xiao Liu was. As Ning Songwu stumbled out of the private room, holding her mouth, her veins bulging and her eyes bloodshot, she tripped and searched for the restroom in a panic. Just then, Ran Fanyin approached from the front. One needing to relieve themselves urgently and the other hastily searching for someone, they both rushed forward, and with a "mmpf," they collided. "Sorry," Ran Fanyin habitually apologized as they brushed past each other. Ning Songwu waved her hand, unable to bother with much, and hurriedly moved forward without looking back. Her hand was already wet with some vomit, and she couldn't hold it in much longer. Why was the restroom so far away? As Ning Songwu passed by, she left behind a mix of perfume, stale alcohol, and a faint hint of gardenia. Ran Fanyin instinctively covered her nose, a flicker of shock in her eyes. This faint flower scent seemed like Ning Songwu's! But she quickly dismissed her thoughts with a bitter smile. Ning Songwu would never come to a place like this. She sped up to find Xiao Liu. It was like searching high and low only to find each other by accident. At Xiao Liu's door, Ran Fanyin raised her hand, hesitant. She feared disrupting his fun and seeing something she shouldn't. After all, there's virtue in allowing others their pleasures, especially when it's not her money being spent. "Knock, knock, knock." She finally knocked on the door, then called out loudly, "Liuzi, I'm coming in!" giving Xiao Liu some dignity and time to prepare. "Young Master Yu, where have you been? Come join us for a drink," Xiao Liu promptly corrected his slip of the tongue, swallowing the word "lady."