Chapter 21: A Darkened Forehead? A Calamity of Blood?

Bang—

Suddenly, as Qin Lang was dodging the fierce gaze of Su Momo, he abruptly collided with a nearby stall, sending the items atop it crashing to the ground. Realizing his mistake at the sight of the scattered goods, Qin Lang hurried to apologize, his whole demeanor one of utter embarrassment.

The elderly man in gray behind the stall, his eyes rimmed red, glared at Qin Lang with sudden fury. “Young man, what’s wrong with you? Can’t you watch where you’re going? I’m just minding my business here, and you come crashing into my stall. Are you looking for trouble, or do you have a death wish?”

“I’m sorry, truly sorry! I didn’t mean to do it—I never intended to knock over your stall.” Qin Lang, feeling helpless and anxious, quickly bent to gather the fallen items.

“I’ve disrupted your business and damaged your stall. I’ll compensate you. Just name your price and I’ll pay,” he offered sincerely.

“You’ll pay?” The old man looked Qin Lang up and down, a sneer curling his lips. “You’re just an ordinary mortal. How much could you possibly afford to pay me?”

But as soon as he uttered these words, the old man’s expression stiffened. His eyes narrowed, and he scrutinized Qin Lang as if trying to see straight through him.

Under the man’s penetrating gaze, Qin Lang felt a shiver run down his spine, unease prickling at him. Had this old man seen through his secrets?

Setting aside the items, the old man’s tone grew grave. “Young man, I can see a shadow over your brow. Tonight, you are destined for a bloody misfortune.”

“Uh…” Qin Lang’s face twitched, a vein bulging on his forehead. “Elder, even if I knocked over your stall, there’s no need to curse me like this.”

A shadowed brow? A bloody misfortune? What an ill omen to encounter after such a trivial accident. He’d barely bumped into the old man’s stall, and here the man was, cursing him on the spot.

Seeing the misunderstanding deepen, the old man merely stroked his goatee and gave a faint smile. “Young one, I’m not cursing you. Rather, I’m offering you guidance—a way to avoid tonight’s disaster.”

“Guidance?” Qin Lang’s expression remained dark, his tone dry. “Elder, are you truly showing me the way, or just predicting my early demise?”

He possessed only minor cultivation; he certainly had no desire to die so soon. He hadn’t lived long enough, hadn’t enjoyed enough pleasures, hadn’t even shed his innocence.

As the misunderstanding lingered, the old man’s face darkened further. Did he seem so untrustworthy? Unable to watch any longer, Hua Manlou stepped forward to help, though confusion colored his voice. “Elder, even if my friend here knocked over your stall and offended you, you shouldn’t curse him so severely.”

“Ah, those who ignore an elder’s words will soon regret it,” the old man sighed softly, shaking his head.

Soon enough, the stall was restored to order, all items returned to their places, and Qin Lang offered ten supreme spirit stones as compensation.

As Qin Lang and his companions walked away, the old man called after them, “Young man, you truly are fated for misfortune tonight. But worry not; you were born under a hard star. With your fortune and nine destinies as one, no calamity will leave even a scratch on you.”

Hearing the old man’s words trailing behind him, Qin Lang’s face twitched once more. He was tempted to turn back and give the old man a thrashing. He hardly knew this man, so why was the elder so eager to provoke him, almost wishing disaster upon him?

When Qin Lang ignored him, the old man merely shook his head. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a multicolored aura swirling above Qin Lang’s head, with a dragon coiled within it—his heart lurched in shock.

“Strange… How does this boy possess the fortune of a king? Could he be of royal blood?” the old man muttered, frozen in place.

He extended his right hand, calculating with his fingers. Instantly, he was flung backward, slamming into his own stall, blood spurting from his lips, his face ghastly pale.

Onlookers watched in confusion, unable to fathom what the old man was doing—being hurled into his stall and coughing blood for no apparent reason.

“Heaven’s secrets…”

…

Mist and Rain Pavilion rose to a height of twenty-eight zhang, with a length and width of fifteen zhang apiece, spanning seventeen stories in all. The entire structure was built from rare, specially chosen timber, mysterious runes etched into every surface. Lanterns glowed bright, and at the entrance, painted maidens with enchanting figures called out to passing gentlemen, their charms displayed with every gesture.

At the foot of this grand pavilion, Qin Lang narrowed his eyes, gazing up with appreciation—not at the architecture, but at the women assembled by the door.

Beside him, Hua Manlou chuckled at the golden gleam in Qin Lang’s eyes. “Brother Qin, this is Mist and Rain Pavilion—the grandest brothel in Cloudsky City, and the place where that demoness was last seen.”

A sly smile played at Qin Lang’s lips as he flicked open his folding fan. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go inside at once.”

“Ah, Brother Qin, you truly are a man after my own heart.” Hua Manlou pointed at him, grinning mischievously. “Very well, tonight your elder brother will show you how to enjoy the pleasures of a man.”

With that, the two strode up the steps, climbing toward the grand pavilion. Their arrival immediately caught the attention of the women at the door, who hurried over to greet them. Yet the two men did not pause to embrace the beauties, heading straight into the pavilion’s depths.

No sooner had they entered than Qin Lang beheld an array of beauties—skin like porcelain, features as if painted.

At that moment, a richly adorned madam, cheeks rouged thickly, approached them directly. “Young Master Hua, what took you so long? The girls of Mist and Rain have been pining for you.”

Hua Manlou couldn’t help teasing, “Sister Lin, half a year since we last met, and you are as charming as ever.”

This elegant woman was none other than Lin Xian, the madam of Mist and Rain Pavilion in Cloudsky City.

Don’t be fooled by her ordinary appearance or think her easy to trifle with—if you did, you’d be gravely mistaken. This beautiful madam was, in truth, a cultivator of formidable strength.

“Young Master Hua, your tongue is sweet as honey. I wonder how many girls’ nectar you’ve tasted to have honed it so,” Lin Xian replied with a melodious laugh, secretly delighted.

Just then, Lin Xian noticed the elegant figure beside Hua Manlou—Qin Lang. She pushed Hua Manlou aside and widened her eyes, scrutinizing Qin Lang from head to toe in disbelief.

After walking a circle around him, Lin Xian stopped before him. “Young master, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first visit?”

“Sister Lin, you are quite right. This is indeed my first time,” Qin Lang replied with an easy nod and a gentle smile. “Had Brother Hua not brought me, I would never have come.”

“As it is my first visit, I hope you’ll introduce me to some of your loveliest girls, so that I might become acquainted with them—and perhaps deepen the acquaintance.”