Chapter Ninety-Seven: Supreme Bliss Plucking the Stars

Xue Shan was not particular at all; he only required one meal at noon, and left the choice of dishes entirely to me. Old Master Xue, being advanced in age, never left the house and had his meals specially attended to. Both he and his wife had designated attendants, and none of their needs required my involvement. For several days after arriving at the manor, I did not see Xue Shan return, and thus found myself with nothing to do. I spent my idle hours wandering about, taking stock of my surroundings and chatting with others to learn more. The Xue family estate appeared much like any aristocratic residence; after several days, I found nothing amiss.

"Madam, you are truly blessed," remarked a young kitchen hand as he assisted.

"What blessing are you speaking of?" I asked.

"You've been so difficult with Young Lord Xue Shan, yet he still invited you to be the cook," he replied.

"Has your Young Lord always been so good-tempered?" I pressed.

"Not really. When he was little, his temper was terrible. Everything had to go his way, and if not, he'd get so upset that his heart ailment would flare up, leaving him writhing in pain and fainting on the floor. Old Hai and his parents tried every remedy for him," the young man explained.

"And how did he become so gentle now?" I asked.

"Old Hai arranged for him to study under the Emperor of Central Divine Lands. Years of training tempered his character," came the answer.

So he was Senior Brother's disciple—no wonder he was willing to spend a fortune on pears from Jade Purity Realm, and no wonder the air and manner of Jade Purity Realm permeated his speech. By rights, he should address me as 'Uncle' now.

"Does he often go out?" I asked.

"Ever since the West Sea fell on hard times, he returned from Central Divine Lands to manage family affairs and matters outside. He's terribly busy, and though his temperament has improved, his heart condition remains untreated. When he's suffering in his room, clutching his chest, he says not a word. It would be better if he vented his frustration like he did as a child," the young man sighed.

"Doesn't he have those medicinal pills?" I inquired.

"They only calm his spirit and ease the pain but cannot cure him. Our young lord is so kind-hearted, always striving to help the people of West Sea. Why is fate so blind?" he lamented.

"Indeed, why is fate so blind..." I murmured.

"Madam, if you know of any dishes that soothe and heal the heart, please make more for our young lord. I thank you on his behalf," he said earnestly.

"You are a loyal servant," I praised.

"I'm not so loyal. When the young lord first returned, I resented him for the beatings he gave me as a child. My family was poor and I couldn't afford medicine for my mother's chronic illness, so I stole one of his pills while he bathed. When his heart ailment struck, he endured it in silence. Later, he sent someone to cure my mother and gave her money to recover. After such kindness, how can I not be loyal to him?" Tears welled in his eyes.

"Senior Brother is truly a good mentor," I thought inwardly, but felt no tears myself.

Given he is my junior and suffers from such an affliction, though I cannot shed tears, I can certainly put my heart into his meals. Whenever Xue Shan returned home, I prepared a sumptuous lunch for him. After half a month, one day he invited me to dine with him.

He ate silently, saying nothing. I took a few bites and watched him closely. I mused, "This young lord, so composed for his age—he must have trained for it. Senior Brother learned from his master, and Xue Shan learned from Senior Brother."

While eating, Xue Shan chatted about ordinary matters—why I had no home, and so forth. I spun a tale to deflect his questions.

"Madam, your home is in South Sea. Do you know Lord Spring Breeze?" Xue Shan asked.

"Who doesn't know Lord Spring Breeze? Even those not living in South Sea know of him," I replied.

"Do you know he has a son?" Xue Shan asked again.

"The lord never announced his marriage or children to me, so I cannot pry into his private affairs," I laughed.

"Oh? Madam, do you know Lord Great Harmony?" Xue Shan continued.

"Not familiar," I said.

"I would very much like to meet him someday," Xue Shan said calmly.

"Why do you wish to meet him?" I asked.

"Gratitude and respect," replied the young lord.

I smiled. "At the moment, you ought to be grateful for this meal from me."

Xue Shan laughed. "Madam speaks truth."

That night, Xue Shan ordered some goods brought in, and others taken away. The estate was bustling. Afterward, he changed into dark attire, took a folding fan, and leisurely stepped out.

What were those goods? Where was he going at such an hour? I followed him out.

Through streets and alleys, Xue Shan walked with unhurried ease. He arrived at a glittering seaside, and boarded a flower boat, folding fan in hand. The boat was filled with music and song, wine and games—a place for pleasures.

I quietly flew aboard. The scene was lively, with beauties of every kind, some alluring, some charming, entwined with drunken men, exchanging cups, flirting, whispering intimately. My face flushed from embarrassment, but I could not find Xue Shan. I fumed inwardly, "This sickly youth comes to a pleasure house for fun!"

"Madam, did you follow me here for a midnight snack?" came Xue Shan's voice from behind.

He had discovered me!

"Is Young Lord here for a midnight snack?" I smiled.

"I never eat midnight snacks. Madam, you are quite bold," Xue Shan replied.

"And Young Lord's courage is just as remarkable," I retorted.

"Madam, do you dare accompany me?" Xue Shan said.

"What is there not to dare?" I answered.

I thought, "Let’s see what tricks you have up your sleeve. At worst, I’ll enforce the Jade Purity Realm’s family law."

With a wave of his hand, Xue Shan transformed my appearance into that of a man, added three locks of beard.

"Now you look like an old steward," he said.

"Why dress me as an old steward?" I wondered.

"We’re going to a brothel," Xue Shan replied.

"To... to a brothel?" My composure faltered; in thousands of years, I had traveled to countless places, but never to a brothel! The scene on the flower boat was already enough to make me shy—what was this youth planning?

"Madam, do you regret it? If you wish to back out, it's not too late," Xue Shan teased.

"I won’t regret. Why are you going to a brothel?" I asked.

"To find someone," he answered.

I thought, "Of course! If not to find someone, would he really be going for a midnight snack?"

Two gorgeously dressed beauties approached us, draping their arms over Xue Shan’s and mine. "Will the two immortals stay and enjoy themselves?" Their voices were seductive.

Goosebumps prickled my skin; I quickly shook off the woman’s hand.

"We won’t stay," Xue Shan said coldly. The woman who clung to him, seeing his indifference, left in a huff. Another woman cursed me, "Useless old thing."

The flower boat docked at a brightly lit island, and Xue Shan and I disembarked. Some immortals left the boat for the shore, others remained onboard. Nearby, several more boats arrived, releasing more immortals onto the island. Many flamboyantly dressed spiral-shell immortals greeted the arrivals with utmost enthusiasm.

"Ah! Young master and old steward have come to Leisure Island! We have private rooms at Bliss Pavilion, the very best for immortals," a spiral-shell immortal bowed and smiled.

"Let’s go, Steward Bai—we’ll head to Bliss Pavilion," said Xue Shan.

The spiral-shell immortal beamed, "Excellent! Your sedan awaits! Peach Blossom, Willow Green, Apricot Rain, Pear Cloud—take your pick!" He summoned two sedan chairs and had us carried off.

"What is this sickly youth really up to? Bliss Pavilion... Is he sneaking off to a place of pleasure behind his elders’ backs?! Isn’t he afraid his heart ailment will worsen? Why bring me along?" My mind raced.

We rode along in the sedan for a while before alighting. The curtain parted, revealing a splendid five-story pavilion halfway up the hill, neon lights flashing, lanterns gleaming. Silk and music, beauties, immortals, desire and temptation, all swirled in a haze of intoxicated luxury... Even the willows swaying by the roadside seemed like seductive bodies, and the stars above appeared dreamlike...

Face flushed, I stood behind Xue Shan. A shell immortal steward approached, "Gentlemen, which floor would you like to relax on?"

"Xue, Star-Plucking Pavilion," Xue Shan replied.

"Honored guests! Right this way!"

Xue Shan was clearly well acquainted.

The steward brought forth a great gull, and the three of us stood atop it. The gull soared, circling upward, until we reached the highest, protruding chamber of Bliss Pavilion.

"Here we are—please mind your step," said the steward, guiding us off the gull onto the balcony.

A slender, elegant, and beautiful immortal woman greeted us, "Star Yao pays respects to Young Lord Xue Shan."

Xue Shan nodded, introducing me, "This is Steward Bai."

"Star Yao pays respects to Steward Bai," she said.

I nodded in return. Unexpectedly, this place was not all vulgar beauties—there were women of refined temperament as well.

"Star Qi, come greet Steward Bai," Star Yao called another lovely woman over, whose grace was a touch less than Star Yao’s.

Star Yao accompanied Xue Shan, Star Qi accompanied me. The four of us traversed a sky bridge, winding through mountain caves to a secluded, elegant pavilion in the rear forest. Star Yao turned and waved her hand; the path we had taken transformed into a flock of seabirds and flew away. Star-Plucking Pavilion was not atop Bliss Pavilion after all—there was something secret here.

Such elaborate arrangements—surely shady dealings take place here, I thought.

"I haven’t seen Steward Bai before—is this his first visit?" Star Yao asked Xue Shan.

"Yes. He is one of us," Xue Shan replied.

"The young lord trusts me quite a bit—two heartfelt meals are all it took," I mused.

"Steward Bai, please take your time," Star Qi said, gently supporting me and flashing a bewitching smile. All my feathers stood on end.

Inside Star-Plucking Pavilion, the hall was set with tables and wine. An octopus immortal was already seated, smiling as he greeted us, "Young lord, welcome! Please sit, please sit. Our honored guest will arrive soon! And this is...?"

"Steward Bai, who manages affairs for me," Xue Shan said.

"Ah, excellent! The young lord brought an assistant—looks like you’re ready to take delivery of this shipment," said the octopus immortal.

"If your honored guest is willing to release the goods, I’ll take them however he wishes," Xue Shan replied, seating himself at the head table and placing me nearby.

"This time, both sides are showing utmost sincerity," said the octopus immortal.

Xue Shan nodded, exuding authority.

"For this meeting, I had all the utensils in Star-Plucking Pavilion replaced, including everything in the rooms..." the immortal said with a smile.

Xue Shan said nothing, calmly sipping his tea. Star Yao poured tea for him and asked gently, "Has the young lord been well lately?"

"Well."

"Has your heart ailment recurred?"

"No."

...

I thought, "This little rogue—he had an episode just days ago. Then again, perhaps he’s been here already since then..."

"Steward Bai, please have some fruit," Star Qi said, placing a peeled tangerine in my hand.

The delicate hands that peeled the tangerine carried with them the powdery scent of the pleasure house—how could I eat it?

I pulled a gold leaf from my sleeve. "I don’t care for tangerines; I prefer to watch fine people eat them. If you eat this tangerine, I’ll give you this gold leaf," I said.

"Ah, you are truly amusing. How could I eat such a large tangerine?" Star Qi laughed, snatching the gold leaf from me, then took the tangerine and began to eat it, leisurely piece by piece.

"Ha! Steward Bai is generous! If the young lord's steward is so lavish, today’s deal will go smoothly," the immortal laughed.

Xue Shan smiled faintly.

At that moment, the beaded curtain was lifted, and an immortal, guided by a shell steward, stepped around the screen.

"Ha ha, our honored guest has arrived!" The octopus immortal rose to greet him.

This guest looked very familiar!