Chapter 505 – Return – Crossover Side Story – Squirrel, Cat, Fox, and the Hundred-Flower Pavilion (18)
Ever since Jiang Liangwu took over dealing with the aftermath of the war between the Heavenly and Demon Realms, he was hardly ever home. By the time Bai Tang woke up, Jiang Liangwu had already left. And when Bai Tang fell asleep, Jiang Liangwu would only return, his clothes damp with the night dew.
It wasn’t that his husband had fallen out of love with him, but they barely had any time to spend together these days. The little squirrel couldn’t help feeling a little lonely. But A-Wu was dealing with important matters—after all, people’s lives were at stake. The little squirrel understood the situation well. Since he couldn’t help A-Wu or lessen his burden, the only thing he could do was avoid disturbing him and let him focus on his work.
“Sigh~”
The little squirrel sat on a pine tree somewhere in the Northern Forest and sighed. Life as a squirrel is so boring. It feels like I’m just wasting my time.
Seeing that Bai Tang was so downhearted, Qiu’er tried everything he could think of to cheer him up, but he couldn’t get even a smile out of Bai Tang. Qiu’er was worried sick. Since Qiu’er was unhappy, Xiao A wasn’t in much of a good mood either.
In the end, the three of them sat side by side on a tree branch, all looking glum as they gazed at the sunset in the distance and sighed. The scene was filled with endless melancholy.
Qiu’er was the kind who could never sit still. He had already finished all the TV shows in his collection, so he formed a spell and conjured a water mirror to observe the daily happenings in the mortal world, hoping to find something interesting that might make Bai Tang smile.
After the war between the Heavenly and Demon Realms ended, the mortal world gradually regained its vitality as well. On the streets that day, many people were carrying ladders and climbing to higher places to hang red silk decorations.
Bai Tang was drawn to the festive decorations and asked, “Is there some kind of celebration going on down there?”
Xiao A checked the date and replied, “Today is the Qixi Festival. There will be a lantern festival and fair in the mortal world. Young men and women will leave their homes and go out to enjoy the festivities.”
Bai Tang’s eyes lit up.
“A festival~”
He hadn’t gone out to have fun in a long time. Even though he preferred peace and quiet, he was starting to feel restless from the desolation of the Northern Forest.
“Qiu’er, can I—”
“No!”
Before Bai Tang could finish, Qiu’er immediately rejected his proposal.
“The mortal world is dangerous. Tang Tang, you might not know this, but the young master of the Netherworld disappeared during the war between the Heavenly and Demon Realms. He might have ended up somewhere in the mortal world. And the Northern Emperor isn’t here either. I heard that the Netherworld’s young master hasn’t even come of age yet, so he can’t fully control his power. Our Northern Forest is also responsible for suppressing the Netherworld. What if the young master of the Netherworld holds a grudge against us and launches a sneak attack? Be good~ We’re not going, okay~?”
Qiu’er tried his best to persuade him.
If it were an ordinary member of the Netherworld, Qiu’er would have accompanied Tang Tang without a second thought. But this was the young master of the Netherworld. Qiu’er didn’t dare take that risk.
Bai Tang looked aggrieved, pouting as he reached out and tugged on Qiu’er’s paw.
“Good Qiu’er, my strength isn’t bad, you know. I also have the magical treasures A-Wu gave me. You and Xiao A will protect me too. Don’t you think you’re bored as well? It’s the Qixi Festival, you know~ I heard that couples who celebrate the Qixi Festival together can stay together for a long, long time. You and Xiao A haven’t celebrated the Qixi Festival before either, right…?”
Bai Tang used Xiao A as his example, and Qiu’er was tempted by the idea. After all, he really had never gone on a date with Xiao A before.
“But…” Qiu’er looked troubled. “There could be hidden dangers in the mortal world…”
Bai Tang waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. A potential danger doesn’t necessarily mean there will actually be any danger. It’s not like we’re guaranteed to run into trouble. Besides, while you and Xiao A go on your date, I can find Susu and go have fun with him. Susu often tells me how busy the Demon Lord is and how bored he gets staying in the Demon Palace…”
After Bai Tang persistently coaxed and pleaded with him, Qiu’er finally nodded and agreed to Bai Tang’s request. The latter eagerly sent a message to Bai Chuanxiu at the Demon Palace, inviting him to go to the mortal world and celebrate the festival together that evening.
Since the people of the Heavenly Realm were willing to cooperate, the people of the Demon Realm naturally couldn’t fall behind either. There were still many matters waiting for the Demon Lord to deal with, and Bai Chuanxiu had also found it difficult to see him lately. After informing a servant, he changed his clothes and hurried out.
The two agreed to meet outside Chongshan City in the mortal world. Qiu’er and Xiao A also followed them down.
As evening fell, the lanterns along the streets lit up, and the lantern festival was bustling with activity. There were so many people that even carriages had difficulty making their way through the streets.
Bai Tang abandoned the carriage Qiu’er had prepared for them and walked through the streets hand in hand with Bai Chuanxiu.
“Oh, you two can go have fun. You don’t need to worry about us. We’ll meet back at the place we were just at later. If there’s any danger, I’ll have a paper crane notify you.”
Seeing Qiu’er following closely behind them, while Xiao A clearly wanted to spend some time alone with Qiu’er but didn’t know how to bring it up, Bai Tang decided to play matchmaker and give the two of them a little push.
Bai Chuanxiu also chimed in from the side. “Qiu’er, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Tang Tang. Don’t you trust me?”
As the Demon Realm’s Queen Consort, Bai Chuanxiu naturally possessed considerable strength. Thinking this, Qiu’er felt reassured.
“All right, then. If anything happens, make sure to send me a paper crane, okay?”
“Definitely, definitely! Have fun, you two~” Bai Chuanxiu said with a grin, waving them off.
Qiu’er left hand in hand with Xiao A. As he thought about it, he realized that although the little cat-fox was the Queen Consort, he only had a few hundred years of cultivation. He and Bai Tang were more or less evenly matched in strength—neither of them was exactly capable of protecting the other.
After they left, Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu exchanged a glance. They saw the exact same thought in each other’s eyes—
We’re free! No one’s keeping an eye on us anymore!
The two young men were dressed in luxurious clothes and had exceptionally striking appearances. As they walked down the street, they became the objects of admiration for young women and, in the eyes of the vendors, two very fat sheep waiting to be fleeced.
In particular, the two looked completely unfamiliar with the ways of the mortal world. They found everything new and interesting, which only further convinced the vendors that these must be young masters from some wealthy family who had secretly sneaked out to have fun.
As they passed by, the vendors became even more enthusiastic in their sales pitches.
“Young masters, would you like to take a look at these hairpins? It’s the Qixi Festival! Buy one for the girl you love, and you’ll have twice the luck in love!”
The hairpin vendor enthusiastically promoted his wares.
Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu stopped when they heard him and walked over to the stall to examine the hairpins on display. They were all made of wood and weren’t particularly ornate, but their beautifully carved designs made up for their simplicity. They were especially suited to someone with an elegant, refined temperament.
This style wasn’t particularly suited to the gorgeous little cat-fox, but…
Bai Chuanxiu picked up a hairpin and tucked it into Bai Tang’s crown. With its simple, unadorned elegance, it made him look like a lotus blooming from clear water. It toned down some of his natural air of nobility while giving him more of the graceful bearing of a refined young gentleman.
“Does it look good?” Bai Tang asked. He had no mirror, so he couldn’t see what he looked like with the hairpin.
Bai Chuanxiu smiled. “It looks absolutely amazing. It suits Tang Tang perfectly.”
“Boss, I’ll take this one.”
Bai Tang trusted Bai Chuanxiu’s taste. He immediately took out a silver ingot and handed it over, telling the vendor to keep the change. The vendor was so delighted that his eyes nearly disappeared behind his grin.
“Thank you, Young Master! Thank you!”
The two walked away hand in hand.
The vendor sighed with emotion. He had thought the two young masters would buy the hairpin for girls they fancied, but he never expected them to be a couple. And they were unbelievably handsome, too!
Although he had only sold one hairpin, that single silver ingot was enough to buy every hairpin at his stall—with plenty left over.
The two wandered aimlessly through the streets, attracting countless admiring gazes along the way.
Suddenly, they came across an especially lively building. Many beautiful women stood by the windows on the second floor, waving handkerchiefs at passersby. Several women on the first floor were also striking various seductive poses, though they weren’t as beautiful as the women upstairs.
There was even a plaque hanging above the entrance.
As the two approached, they read the words: Hundred-Flower Pavilion.
They looked at each other, equally puzzled.
“What kind of place is this?”
“I don’t know. But judging by the looks of it, it seems a lot like those pleasure houses described in books.”
“I’ve never seen what the inside of one looks like. I heard the women here are all very beautiful, and each of them is skilled in some kind of art—playing instruments, singing, dancing… Why don’t we…”
The two exchanged a glance and smiled.
They immediately came to an agreement.
“You two gentlemen look unfamiliar. Is this your first time here?”
The madam’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu.
What handsome young masters! And such luxurious clothes! Their families must be extremely wealthy.
Bai Tang imitated the swaggering posture of a man who had just walked past them, lifting his chin and puffing out his chest as though he were deliberately sticking out his belly.
“Madam, bring out your finest girls for this young master!”
“Young Master, come here! Pick me! I can play the qin…”
“Oh, please. Do you really think your qin skills are good enough? This young master clearly has refined tastes. I can recite poetry…”
The madam wasn’t the only one who had a discerning eye. The women could also tell at a glance that the two young men came from extremely wealthy families.
Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu were pulled this way and that by the flock of women until they were dizzy. Even worse was the overwhelming scent of floral perfumes and cosmetics emanating from the women. Each woman wore a different kind of rouge, so each had a different fragrance.
The combined scents were so strong that the two could do nothing but sneeze repeatedly.
“Ladies, stop!”
The madam was terrified that the two distinguished guests might be frightened away. From the moment she saw them, she could tell that they had clearly never been to a place like this before.
Big fat fish! They’re perfect targets.
She absolutely had to make the most of them.
“Would the two young masters prefer a private room or the main hall?”
Bai Tang wiped away the tears caused by the overpowering scent of cosmetics with a handkerchief and hurriedly said, “A private room, a private room.”
The two were led to a private room, where they were finally shielded from the overpowering smell of rouge and perfume on the first floor. Only then did their noses start to feel better.
Before long, the servants brought out fine wine and delicious dishes. Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu were generous with their money, immediately handing over three silver ingots.
“Bring us two skilled musicians who are good at playing the qin.”
“Of course, of course.”
Before long, two young women carrying a pipa and a guqin entered with graceful, lotus-like steps. Both behaved with poise and elegance. They bowed to Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu before walking straight to the screen opposite them and sitting down. With their slender, delicate fingers, they began to play.
It had to be said that the musicians at the Hundred-Flower Pavilion were exceptionally talented. Having experienced several modern worlds, even Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu couldn’t help admiring the two women’s mastery of their instruments.
The private room was filled with the delicate fragrance of incense, accompanied by the elegant music of the qin. Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu listened as if they were completely intoxicated by the beautiful melody.
Taking advantage of the Qixi Festival, the Northern Emperor and the Demon Lord had both unexpectedly taken an early leave and gone home to spend time with their beloved spouses. But when they found out where Bai Tang and Bai Chuanxiu had gone, their faces immediately darkened.
Going out to have fun was no problem.
But going to a place to seek out beautiful women?
That was a very big problem.
Could it be that Tang Tang/A Su has grown tired of me?!
The more Jiang Liangwu and Lou Shun thought about it, the more convinced they became that this must be the case. They hurriedly changed their clothes and rushed down to the mortal world.
The two happened to meet on the way. Ever since their last battle, they still hadn’t determined a winner. They had been too busy to fight again afterward, but now, with this matter at hand, each became even more convinced that the other had led their beloved astray.
If finding their spouses hadn’t been more important, they probably would have started fighting right then and there.
Suppressing the battle lust stirring within them, they both decided to head to the Hundred-Flower Pavilion first.
The door to the private room was suddenly kicked open. Just as the two men were completely immersed in the music, a waiter who had rushed in abruptly shattered their peaceful atmosphere.
They turned toward the sound and saw their own husbands standing there, their faces so dark that they looked capable of dripping ink.
The two instinctively swallowed and edged backward.
“A Su, come here.”
The little cat-fox had never been able to refuse the Demon Lord’s requests. He slowly shuffled over to Lou Shun and looked at him pitifully.
“Shun Shun~”
“I’ve been neglecting you. The lantern festival isn’t over yet. How about you come and walk around with me?”
After entering and seeing that the little cat-fox had merely been sitting there obediently listening to music, all of Lou Shun’s anger vanished, leaving behind nothing but affection and tenderness for him.
“Okay~”
Bai Chuanxiu immediately perked up. He turned back toward Bai Tang and said, “I’m leaving with him first.”
Then he happily followed the Demon Lord out.
Bai Tang was on the verge of tears.
No, Su Su, don’t leave me behind!
He turned to face Jiang Liangwu, who had suddenly broken into a smile, and a very bad feeling began to rise in his heart.
Jiang Liangwu waved his hand, signaling the two women to leave with their instruments. The waiter also took the hint, closing the door behind him as he left. Once they were alone in the room, Bai Tang became even more nervous.
He gave Jiang Liangwu a flattering smile. “A Wu, it’s the Qixi Festival today. How about we go out and stroll around too~?”
Jiang Liangwu set up a soundproof barrier around the private room. Without saying a word, he began loosening his clothes. He revealed his well-defined chest as he approached Bai Tang with a smile.
“I think I must not have been doing a good enough job as your husband. Otherwise, Tang Tang wouldn’t have thought about looking for other women. The touch of a woman can’t compare to mine. If you don’t believe me, Tang Tang, feel for yourself…”
He took the young man’s hand and placed it against his chest…
Within the barrier, no one outside could hear anything happening inside the private room.
That night, Bai Tang’s pleas for mercy could be heard again and again. Through his happy, tearful voice, he repeated the same two words more than anything else:
“I believe you… I believe you…”