Chapter 59: The Celestial Fragrance Fairy (Please Vote)

“Tianxian Pavilion.”

Zhou Chen gently clenched his right hand, his thumb lightly stroking his chin as he appraised the lavish, vibrant building before him.

A true den of decadence!

“Young master, please come in quickly!”

Inside, several beautiful young women greeted Zhou Chen with bright eyes, waving embroidered handkerchiefs and smiling sweetly.

They were youthful and lovely, their figures graceful and alluring.

“Sisters, look!”

“What a handsome gentleman!”

“Is the young master shy and hesitant to enter?”

“Ah, he’s so handsome!”

“Hehe, don’t fight over me!”

“Why not? What if he doesn’t like you?”

...

Zhou Chen stood at the entrance, and within moments, a few young girls emerged from inside, surrounding him and linking arms as they led him into Tianxian Pavilion.

Immediately, Zhou Chen felt a wave of warmth and softness.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, it was as if he had stepped into another world.

Outside was a bustling marketplace filled with ordinary folk; inside were the melodious songs of nightingales, delicate scents, and refined elegance.

As far as the eye could see, aside from the customers, all were young, beautiful maidens, far surpassing those in the Xueyue House of Qinghe City or the Qinghe Tower in quality and charm.

“Is this your first time here, young master?”

The woman in red, holding onto Zhou Chen’s arm on his left, smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes shining as they rested on him.

Zhou Chen stood tall at nearly six feet, with broad shoulders and a slender waist, a statuesque figure. His skin was as fine as jade, his eyebrows sharp as swords, eyes bright like stars. Dressed in pristine white robes of luxurious silk, spotless and elegant, his aura was extraordinary.

Even among the young noble sons, wealthy merchants, and powerful elites who frequented Tianxian Pavilion, he stood out as a unique presence, the most favored by the courtesans.

But the prerequisite was a purse full of wealth.

No matter how handsome, if one’s pockets were empty, appearance counted for nothing.

“Indeed, it’s my first time.”

Zhou Chen nodded, pulling his arm free from the warm embrace, then slipped two silver coins into the bosoms of the two girls.

“You’ve certainly come to the right place.”

The woman in red smiled wider, her enthusiasm burning like fire. “Do you know why our place is called Tianxian Pavilion?”

“Because it ensures our guests’ happiness is like that of gods, as if they were immortals in heaven!”

Zhou Chen smiled, unable to deny the truth.

“I heard you have a Tianxiang Fairy here, a renowned beauty on the Hundred Flowers List. Might I have the honor of seeing her?”

“You’re in luck, young master.”

The woman in yellow, holding his arm on the right, smiled alluringly and gently said:

“The Tianxiang Fairy performs only one piece each day, and the time for her performance is just about to begin. You won’t be disappointed.”

“Listening to music in a theater is enjoyable, but I prefer something more direct.”

Zhou Chen withdrew his hand and gave each of their shapely hips a firm pinch, grinning:

“I mean a private meeting!”

“Ah!”

Both women’s eyes sparkled with mischief as they shot him a playful glare. The woman in red smiled charmingly:

“It’s quite difficult to see the Tianxiang Fairy alone, young master.”

“Don’t misunderstand us; it’s not that we want to trouble you. It’s just that countless people want a private meeting with her every day, but there is only one Tianxiang Fairy. If she met with everyone, how could she manage?”

Zhou Chen looked at them with amusement, teasing: “Is it because I don’t have enough money, or my status isn’t high enough, or perhaps my martial skills are lacking?”

“You’re mistaken, young master. The patrons who come here are all wealthy and influential.”

The woman in red shook his arm gently:

“And you, as a prodigy of the Qingyun Sect, are top-tier in status, identity, and martial prowess.”

Though Zhou Chen wasn’t wearing the Qingyun Sect uniform, he arrived on a Jiaolong horse, so they naturally recognized him as a disciple of Qingyun Sect.

They likely assumed he was an outer sect disciple.

Even as an outer sect disciple, he was considered quite prominent outside.

“But Tianxian Pavilion is a place for enjoyment. If we start comparing martial skills, wouldn’t that spoil the mood?”

The woman in red laughed:

“The Tianxiang Fairy is gifted in poetry and literature. If you can compose poetry that she likes, you may be able to see her.”

She lifted her hand, pointing to a nearby desk:

“That desk is where the Tianxiang Fairy’s calligraphy set is prepared. Those interested may leave their literary works there. A special attendant will deliver them for her appreciation.”

“If the poem is exquisite, it will be framed and displayed nearby for all guests to admire, spreading fame far and wide!”

Zhou Chen glanced toward the desk, where many scholars and literati gathered, showing off their talents.

Some were hoping for a stroke of luck to catch the fairy’s favor.

Others sought to build their reputation by displaying their skills.

Though this extraordinary world valued martial prowess above all, poetry, painting, calligraphy, and music still flourished, with many martial arts derived from them.

Zhou Chen recalled Ru Yan mentioning once that the Tianxiang Fairy’s martial talent was no less than that of an inner sect disciple of Qingyun Sect.

She practiced the Heavenly Dragon Eight Tones, a supreme martial art with formidable power.

Otherwise, how could a courtesan be ranked alongside the likes of Qingyun Sect’s leader Qing Yuyao or the Sacred Maiden of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Jian Xiong, among the Hundred Flowers List of heavenly beauties?

“The Tianxiang Fairy is coming out!”

A sudden exclamation arose. Zhou Chen caught a strange, delicate fragrance wafting through the air, intoxicating and refreshing.

He looked up to see a graceful figure descending from above, holding a guqin and trailing a red silk ribbon, spinning gently before landing at the center stage of Tianxian Pavilion.

She moved with elegance and poise, sitting cross-legged like a celestial deity fallen to the mortal realm.

The guqin spun twice in her fair jade hands before resting horizontally on her lap.

The once noisy pavilion seemed to pause, the air suddenly silent as everyone stared at the figure on stage.

She was like the center of the universe, drawing all eyes.

When the Tianxiang Fairy appeared like a goddess from a dreamlike, shadowy valley, no one in the hall—man or woman—could tear their gaze away from this enchanting courtesan.

Zhou Chen’s eyes shone unabashedly as he studied the Tianxiang Fairy.

She possessed a natural elegance as if she were an immortal, yet carried an enigmatic, dreamy beauty. These two qualities blended perfectly into a unique and extraordinary charm.

Beyond her long, well-proportioned figure and graceful demeanor, what captivated most was her pair of enchanting, soul-stirring eyes.

Their tender gaze, paired with a shy, gentle smile at the corners of her lips, was simply irresistible to any man.

Zhou Chen didn’t know how other heroes looked at beauties with crystal-clear eyes that impressed them; his gaze was no different from any other man’s.

Thud!

Her slender, fair hands raised and lightly plucked the strings of the guqin, as if she were stirring the hearts of all present.

“This guqin seems to be a divine weapon...”

Though mesmerized by her beauty, Zhou Chen focused more on her martial prowess. The guqin she played was likely a fourth-rank divine weapon.

“Definitely wealthy!”

Zhou Chen mused. Fourth-rank divine weapons were not easy to obtain; for example, Li Changhen struggled greatly to craft a fourth-rank divine bow.

But with the Tianxiang Fairy’s fame and the success of Tianxian Pavilion, it was clear she was no ordinary courtesan.

At that moment, the music shifted. Dressed in simple white silk with a light rose shawl, the Tianxiang Fairy began to sing softly:

“Pearl tears fall, wetting silk and gauze,
The young master’s heart bears many debts.
Sisters once clearly warned,
Do not give your true heart to him.
Think carefully,
Is indifference truly better?”

Her singing conveyed a sense of recklessness, languor, and a dark, haunting melancholy, a unique and unmatched delicate charm.

“In the bridal chamber, deep and silent,
Embracing emptiness, soul lonely and still.
When he comes, pray earnestly,
Do not cling to the wild flowers of youth.

Light makeup, minimal socializing,
Only for the distant nobles of the Five Tombs.
Snow on the chest, bitten by you,
Fearful of buying laughter for a thousand gold.”

Her voice led everyone into a strange realm of music, her melodious tones shifting through various styles, presenting a rich and elusive depth.

At its gentlest, it evoked sorrow and longing, like surging tides flooding the very souls of all listeners.

But what was most captivating was her natural, effortless beauty, as if lazily rising to paint her brows or taking her time with makeup and hair—an unrestrained grace that charmed all.

When the song ended, the music ceased abruptly.

After a long pause, thunderous applause erupted, filled with awe.

“This melody should only exist in heaven; how rarely can one hear it on earth!”

“Today, hearing your song is like hearing celestial music, briefly enlightening my ears!”

“Tianxiang Fairy, I love you!”

...

(P.S.: Tianxiang Fairy says: If you love me, give me your ticket! Mwah!)