Candlelit Conversations

Nightfall. The moon shone brightly, with only a few scattered stars accompanying it.

The spirit boat continued its journey through the night, powered by disciples taking turns infusing it with spiritual energy. It soared across the skies, passing over countless sects and mountain peaks. Its imposing design, adorned with the Mystic Maiden Palace’s signature red-and-black spider totem, was enough to make anyone who saw it shudder in fear.

—

Inside the spirit boat, Qin Gou had been told his room was in Heavenly Room No. 3. However, this large spirit boat was nothing like the private one Gu Feiyan had piloted before. Its labyrinthine hallways and staircases left Qin Gou hopelessly lost. Having never used such a vessel during his time at Arc Moon Mountain, he wandered aimlessly.

As he wandered, he heard the sound of women laughing and chatting not far away. Thinking he could ask a Mystic Maiden Palace disciple for directions, he quickened his pace toward the source of the voices.

—

But as he drew closer, he realized the sounds weren’t lighthearted laughter. Instead, it was a chorus of soft, alluring moans and whispers. Having recently learned such sounds firsthand from Gu Feiyan, Qin Gou instantly recognized them.

So this is the Mystic Maiden Palace, huh? he thought. They don’t waste any time, do they? The disciples of Ye Qishuang were certainly living up to their reputation.

If Qin Gou’s memory served him correctly, the room producing these tantalizing sounds belonged to none other than the “Saintess of Cherished Flowers,” Gu Caihe. If even the Saintess was this eager, what could be said of the other disciples?

—

Qin Gou decided it was best not to tempt fate. I just got here; better not stir up trouble. He turned to leave but was stopped in his tracks by a system notification.

“Ding. New Side Mission: ‘Ant’s Nest.’ Investigate the Saintess of Cherished Flowers, Gu Caihe, and uncover what she’s doing in her room. Reward: 300 merit points. Time limit: 1 hour. No penalty for failure.”

—

300 merit points? Not bad. But the lack of a penalty made Qin Gou suspicious. It’s been ages since I’ve seen a no-penalty mission. Why is the system suddenly so generous? Feels like a trap.

Before he could decide, the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears. Qin Gou quickly darted into a corner, summoning his Universal Seed to transform into an ironwood tree disguised as a storage cabinet. Hiding inside, he observed the scene.

—

The door to Gu Caihe’s room opened, and five or six maids hurried out. Their faces were pale, their expressions exhausted. They didn’t display the flushed satisfaction one might expect after such intimate sounds. Notably, no men exited the room.

What’s going on? Qin Gou wondered. A group of women just… making noises for fun?

One tall maid headed in his direction. Once she passed the corner, Qin Gou quietly followed her.

—

The maid was cautious. After only a short distance, she stopped and turned around, her face cold. “Why are you following me, Senior Brother?”

Feigning innocence, Qin Gou replied, “I’m lost. Could you kindly point me in the right direction?”

“I’m busy,” the maid said, frowning impatiently.

Qin Gou smirked mischievously. “I’m Qin Yue from the Seed Demon Holy Sect, staying in Heavenly Room No. 3. It should be nearby. If you could guide me there, we could enjoy a rare candlelit conversation aboard this flying spirit boat. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”

—

“Heavenly Room No. 3?” The maid’s eyes flashed with intrigue. Realizing her current weakened state, she decided to seize the opportunity. Smiling seductively, she said, “In that case, I’ll personally escort you, Senior Brother.”

“Please, lead the way,” Qin Gou said politely, gesturing forward.

“This way,” the maid said, grabbing Qin Gou’s hand and deliberately tracing circles on his palm with her fingers. She led him in the opposite direction.

—

When they reached the hallway for Heavenly Room No. 3, they ran into Chi Yu. The red-haired woman immediately began teasing Qin Gou. “Someone was claiming to be a gentleman earlier, but look at him now, showing his true colors at night.” After eyeing the maid beside Qin Gou, she muttered, “At least it’s a woman. Small blessings.”

“What are you doing here?” Qin Gou asked, exasperated.

“I’m your neighbor,” Chi Yu said, pointing to her room. “Don’t let me stop you. A spring night is worth a thousand gold—I get it!”

Qin Gou rolled his eyes and dragged the maid into his room.

—

The moment the door closed, the tall maid eagerly threw herself into Qin Gou’s arms, her hands skillfully unbuttoning his shirt.

“Wait, wait! Don’t be so hasty,” Qin Gou said quickly.

The maid looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean? Are you seriously planning to just talk by candlelight? What a joke!”

“Ahem, you misunderstood. I just wanted to know your name first. And maybe we could try something… new and exciting,” Qin Gou said, coughing awkwardly.

—

The maid smirked playfully. “I’m Wu Qi. What kind of ‘new and exciting’ do you have in mind? Nothing too rough, I hope. You should cherish a delicate flower like me.”

“Then please close your eyes, Wu Qi. I have a surprise for you,” Qin Gou said with a sly grin.

“Alright, but don’t take too long. I’m not very patient,” Wu Qi replied, closing her eyes.

—

Qin Gou immediately pressed a finger to her forehead. “Mirror’s Calm!”

Caught off guard, Wu Qi fell under the illusion. Qin Gou followed up with a precise hand chop to her neck, knocking her unconscious. To be safe, he retrieved several sleeping pills from his spatial ring and fed them to her.

Satisfied, he placed Wu Qi on the bed and carefully arranged the scene. He ruffled the sheets, loosened her dress, and scattered her hair to create the illusion of a passionate encounter.

—

With everything set, Qin Gou activated his Faceless Hermit bloodline ability. Looking in the mirror, he saw himself transformed into an exact replica of Wu Qi, down to the smallest detail.

Clutching his chest dramatically, he muttered, “So heavy.”

—