Chapter 80: How Much is Little Aunt’s Favor Really Worth?

“Here’s your Abyssal Frost Goblet, Dove Soul Powder, and three catties of Blood Spirit Grass…”

In the Respectful Wood Elegant Abode, the red-gowned girl lounged lazily behind the curtain, a Red Kite Mask  obscuring half her charming face, her voice light and teasing. Due to the demon tribe totems on her skin, when receiving guests, she usually let her loose red gown fall to cover her, trying her best not to reveal her legs, feet, or even arms, collarbones, and her unadorned face…

But after all these years of being high and mighty, with clients practically groveling at her feet for priceless treasures, she still couldn’t kick the habit of sitting with her legs crossed beneath her gown, one delicate foot playfully swinging, jiggling her leg. And whenever she jiggled her leg, the bells tied to her ankle would sway, producing a series of delightful chimes that emanated from behind the curtain. Over time, this unique jingling became the signature sound of the Bai Ling Pavilion Master .

Rumors on the Western Region’s black market often said: no matter how rare or priceless the divine medicine, as long as the client heard those pleasant bells ringing from the Pavilion Master’s foot, it meant the deal was as good as done – eighty to ninety percent certain!

Today, Holy Son Zichen, kneeling before the red-gowned girl, also felt a thrill of excitement upon hearing those melodious chimes. He’d gotten what he came for!

“There, that’s your stuff.”

Behind the curtain, after reading out all the items on the commission list, the girl stopped the playful movement of her jade foot and casually tossed an exquisite, noble-looking storage ring onto the floor. This storage ring was engraved with the emblem of the Jianlan Sect; it was the sacred ring personally bestowed upon Ji Zichen by his Sect Master when he was promoted to Holy Son.

And now… his most prized ring, tossed onto the ground so dismissively?! Moreover, judging by her condescending posture, she clearly expected Ji Zichen to crawl over and pick it up from her feet!

“Holy Son Zichen, you don’t want it anymore?”

Behind the curtain, the girl lay languidly on the chaise lounge, one hand propping up her cheek. Beneath the Red Kite Mask, her pair of pale golden eyes held a distinct蔑视 (mièshì – contempt), as if she were watching a filthy stray dog licking up leftover scraps she’d thrown at its feet.

“Bastard…” Ji Zichen clenched his fists, glaring venomously at the red-gowned girl behind the curtain. When he had first visited the Bai Ling Pavilion Master a week ago, the sect elder who had referred him had explicitly warned him: this Pavilion Master was notoriously arrogant, with connections in both legitimate and illicit circles. She had a rather wicked sense of humor when dealing with guests. Whether they were esteemed elders from immortal sects or riff-raff from various evil cults, anyone who came to Bai Ling Pavilion to see her had to kneel at her feet; otherwise, they wouldn’t be received.

Ji Zichen had initially thought the elder was exaggerating. How could any merchant humiliate their customers like this? Especially a petite, delicate-looking young woman? It wasn’t until now, kneeling personally before the Bai Ling Pavilion Master’s curtain, that he truly understood the pained, constipated expression his referring elder had worn when recounting his own experience.

“I… Of course, I want these medicines…” Ji Zichen gritted his teeth. Faced with a seller who held all the cards – this was the only shop in town for this stuff – even the proudest genius had to eventually swallow his pride as a Holy Son. He leaned forward, crawling on his knees towards the curtain, and bent down to pick up the storage ring, slipping it onto his finger.

After a quick check to confirm that all the medicinal herbs in the ring were correct, the previous humiliation was instantly forgotten. A thrill of excitement surged through him. “Th-Thank you very much, Pavilion Master!” Ji Zichen gulped, unable to hide the triumphant smile spreading across his lips.

“Scram, get lost now~” The red-gowned girl behind the curtain said with disgust, jiggling her leg under her gown as if shooing away a dirty street cur. “To think the dignified Holy Son of Jianlan Sect has such lecherous eyes… just as disgusting as that elder who brought you here.”

With the treasures securely in hand, Ji Zichen couldn’t be bothered to argue. He nodded obediently, took three steps back to create some distance, and was about to get up and leave. But then, his brow furrowed. He realized one particularly anticipated medicinal ingredient was missing from the storage ring—

“Pavilion Master, what about the Western Region specialties, the Buddha’s Kiss and the Fallen Immortal Powder? Why aren’t they here?”

“…?”

His words fell into a sudden, awkward silence that filled the luxuriously decorated hall. Behind the curtain, the red-gowned girl opened her pale golden phoenix eyes. Her previous simple disdain had now morphed into an expression of utter exasperation and contempt for this… waste of space.

Seeing he was still expecting an answer, she could only take a deep breath and say flatly, “Bai Ling Pavilion doesn’t stock such… low-grade aphrodisiacs. Turn left outside, go next door to the Fallen Immortal Pavilion, and ask for Madam Yue.” She waved her hand dismissively, clearly unwilling to waste another second on this Holy Son Zichen. So young, and already a dignified Holy Son of Jianlan Sect, yet he’d already ruined his own lower body with debauchery, even seeking out such drugs all the way in the Western Regions… pathetic.

“Un… Understood.” Ji Zichen wasn’t an idiot. He could clearly see the instinctive contempt in her eyes, the primal disdain a female might feel for an inferior male. His lips twitched, and he was almost bursting with shame and anger. But after a long, tense silence, Ji Zichen finally lowered his head, forcing a strained smile. “Thank you, Pavilion Master.”

CRASH—!

The sound of a door slamming violently echoed. Not a few minutes later, another angry shout erupted from the top floor of Xuanfeng Pavilion.

“You useless trash! Can’t you watch where you’re going?!”

He Yimo, standing at the entrance to the top-floor spiral staircase, was suddenly accosted and found himself stunned in place, completely baffled.

Just moments ago, he’d been huffing and puffing his way up the endless stairs, his legs aching, cursing this damn cultivation world under his breath. They could build bloody Spirit Boats, but they couldn’t be bothered to install a decent ‘Spirit Elevator’? This entire spiral staircase was utterly useless apart from looking aesthetically pleasing. Xuanfeng Pavilion was a staggering twenty-seven stories high! Climbing all the way up felt like a nightmarish flashback to scaling Ranshan Peak; he’d nearly coughed up a lung.

Fortunately, ever since his time on Ranshan Peak under Mo Yuyan’s… rigorous daily training, his physical fitness had noticeably improved. Even the previously non-existent definition in his abdominal muscles had become much firmer. After passing through several security checks manned by attendants on each floor, He Yimo, along with Yun Jin, had finally made it to the top.

Yet, before he could even find a place to catch his breath, he was unceremoniously bumped in the shoulder by a man wrapped in a black robe, and then, before He Yimo could even react, he was being cursed out.

“Motherf—” He Yimo sucked in a sharp breath, about to curse back. But the words died on his lips. As his eyes met the icy, razor-sharp gaze of the young man beneath the black hood, He Yimo’s previously clenched fists instantly relaxed. He forced a subservient, slightly forced smile. “My apologies, my apologies! This lowly one was blind… Didn’t see you there…”

“Watch it next time. Scram!” Ji Zichen sneered, finally regaining some of his imposing aura as the Holy Son of Jianlan Sect from this cowardly Earthen-Potatoes’ humble apology.

He Yimo secretly pursed his lips, watching the arrogant young man’s retreating back. `Damn punk… Go on, keep acting tough… You’re just the Jianlan Sect’s version of Gu Wanglan. You won’t live more than a few years anyway before you become loot for the protagonist.` He Yimo couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight with a mid-game villain who was destined to die. Besides, He Yimo was still in the early stages of the main storyline, not even at Core Formation yet. Ji Zichen, on the other hand, was already nearing the peak of Nascent Soul stage, practically on par with Mo Yuyan. Why would He Yimo provoke him and unlock a mid-to-late game difficulty instance prematurely?

“Young Master He…?” Yun Jin, who had been following behind, gently poked He Yimo’s arm. Her voice was small; she was worried he was angry and wanted to comfort him. But when He Yimo turned around, his eyes were clear, showing no trace of anger despite being provoked, only an abnormal rationality.

“I… I thought Young Master He would surely not let such an insult slide…”

“When you’re away from home, it’s best to avoid unnecessary trouble. Besides, Senior Sister Mo is still back in Northfall Snow Mountain; she can’t protect us here in Xizhou City.” He Yimo shrugged, unconcerned, and continued walking towards the elegant abode deeper on the top floor.

Yun Jin observed He Yimo’s expression with curiosity, nodding obediently. She was constantly struck by how He Yimo possessed a rationality far beyond his peers. If it had been someone with Chen Jianxin’s temperament, they would have definitely started a fight with that man by now… No, not just his peers; even many senior brothers and elders were often too proud and arrogant to exercise such restraint like He Yimo.

“Yun Jin, when we go in, don’t say anything. Just listen to me, okay?” As they approached the elegant residence Jinyu had described, He Yimo couldn’t help but whisper another reminder.

Behind him, Yun Jin nodded obediently, instinctively wanting to reach out and take He Yimo’s hand. But before she could, a tall, masked woman in black emerged from the shadows behind a wall, blocking their path.

“So this is him? The one the Pavilion Master so often speaks of? The infamously renowned Seventh Young Master of the Grand Tutor’s Mansion?” she said coolly, arms crossed, her tone laced with a teasing lilt, as if she had been waiting there for a long time.

He Yimo blinked in surprise. The woman was dressed in a tight-fitting black infiltration suit, her face covered by black cloth, revealing only a pair of sharp, phoenix-like eyes and a high, sleek black ponytail cascading down her back. Honestly… it was the most bog-standard Night Guard outfit imaginable; practically every Night Guard across the land wore the same getup. He Yimo couldn’t recognize her as any specific character from the original story, but judging by her curvaceous figure under the tight suit and the two… large thunders… tightly bound beneath the fabric strips on her chest, her cultivation level was likely only one realm below Mo Yuyan’s!

Because, according to the spiritual energy settings of the “Fallen Immortal” world, the higher a female character’s cultivation, the greater the energy density stored in her chest. Simply put, powerful female cultivators generally possessed… assets of great magnitude. And indeed, apart from a few non-human races and special characters, the vast majority of high-level female immortals in the later stages of “Fallen Immortal” were generously endowed. He Yimo had later dubbed this phenomenon the “Great Thunder Law.”

Although He Yimo didn’t know her identity, based on the First Law of Great Thunder, he estimated this black-clad woman was probably at the Core Formation stage. His assessment that she wasn’t as high as Mo Yuyan was because her ‘thunders’ weren’t as… perky as a true “Chosen Daughter of Heaven’s.” Lacking that confidence, she naturally lacked some of the imposing aura!

“Young Master He, you seem to live up to the rumors I’ve heard… a profligate and lecherous young master, aren’t you?” Seeing He Yimo staring intently at her, the black-clad woman frowned slightly, a hint of disgust unhidden in her cold, beautiful eyes beneath the mask.

He Yimo coughed into his fist to cover his embarrassment, then, pretending nothing had happened, he took out the jade pendant carved with golden filigree from his robes. “In the Immortal Alliance Tavern, a girl named Jinyu gave me this jade pendant. She said if I showed this pendant—”

“No need for further explanation. Yu’er has already informed me.” Without waiting for He Yimo to finish, the black-clad woman let out a disdainful snort and pulled open the large doors to the Bai Ling Pavilion. But as He Yimo stepped through, she suddenly blocked the ahoge girl following behind him.

“The Pavilion Master will only receive Young Master He. This young lady, please wait here.”

“Ah… Th-this…” Yun Jin was momentarily at a loss. This was her first time in such a high-class establishment; if He Yimo wasn’t there to lead the way, she’d probably get lost just trying to find her way out!

He Yimo also turned back, a hint of concern in his eyes.

“Young Master He, rest assured. All who come are guests. The Pavilion Master has already instructed me to see to this young lady’s accommodations.” The black-clad woman said flatly, giving He Yimo a cold, perfunctory glance.

Honestly, He Yimo was getting a bit annoyed by her attitude. Although her words were superficially polite, her expression practically screamed: `Someone like him gets to be personally received by the Pavilion Master?!` and `If it weren’t for the Pavilion Master’s orders, I wouldn’t bother with trash like this!` The dual disdain was practically written on her face.

“Many thanks. Please trouble yourself to prepare some local Xizhou City specialty snacks for her for the evening.” He Yimo gave a slight, cold smile and nodded his thanks. But before the black-clad woman could turn to leave, He Yimo spoke again, suddenly. “Speaking of which, I still don’t know how I should address you?”

“Young Master He, as the Pavilion Master’s honored guest, you have no need to know the name of a lowly servant like myself.” She stopped, letting out an annoyed sigh, her tone polite yet laced with a sarcastic, cold refusal.

He Yimo quietly watched her retreating back, her high ponytail swaying, his expression unreadable, only a faint smile playing on his lips. “Alright then. I’ll be sure to put in a few good words for you with the Pavilion Master.”

“…?” Upon hearing this, the black-clad woman’s body visibly trembled. She turned back, her cold eyes now filled with a mixture of confusion and unease as she stared at He Yimo. But in the end, she merely bit her lip beneath the mask, her expression returning to its icy, emotionless state. Without another word, she turned and led Yun Jin away.

“Hmph. And here I thought you were so proud. Turns out you’re just another maid who fawns over her master’s pleasing, ” He Yimo snorted dismissively, then stepped into the luxurious, elegant wooden palace.

***

“So, Young Master He, what wish do you have?”

Behind the curtain, the red-gowned girl sat elegantly, her tone light and playful, yet her pale golden phoenix eyes beneath the red kite mask held a hint of allure.

He Yimo knelt before her, recalling the various pills from the Bai Ling Pavilion event page in his past life, and cautiously tested the waters: “Pavilion Master Bai Ling, these paper cranes… are they truly as my Little Aunt said, one crane counts as one favor?”

“Naturally.” The girl let out a rather proud, cold humph, and even the jade foot beneath her skirt couldn’t help but lift slightly, the bells on her ankle jingling pleasantly. However, she quickly remembered something and stopped her leg from jiggling and her foot from swinging.

“So for one favor, you, Pavilion Master, can grant me one wish?”

“Indeed. But Young Master He, please don’t be absurd. It must be something within this Pavilion’s power to provide.” The girl gently fanned herself, her tone teasing.

Seeing her so confident, the corner of He Yimo’s lip, which he had been pressing down for a while, finally couldn’t help but curve upwards: “Rest assured, it will definitely be something within the Pavilion Master’s capabilities!”

“Speak then.”

“I’d like to first request three Nine Revolutions Soul Tempering Pills. I wonder how many favors the Pavilion Master would require me to pay?”

“?”

“Alright, perhaps I’m being a bit shameless. Actually, Pavilion Master, just one pill would be fine for me…”

“?”

“If it really comes down to it, how about I trade this entire bottle of paper cranes for just one pill?”

“You—?!”