Meng Xin Yi, dressed in blue robes beside her, crossed her arms and watched her with amusement: "Why is it that every time we go to a new town, you're always unwilling to enter during the day? Are you afraid of something?"
Shen Yao Xing glanced at her sideways and started walking ahead: "If we're going into town, let's go. Don't ask so many useless questions."
Meng Xin Yi shrugged and followed leisurely behind her. Looking at the fair nape of the young woman's neck, she couldn't help but sigh again: "Yao Xing, how did you grow such skin? It's even more delicate than those men's."
Hearing this, Shen Yao Xing, walking in front, felt her scalp tingle. Although she had been in this world of reversed gender roles for over ten years, she still couldn't shake the mindset of a traditional 21st-century woman deeply ingrained in her soul.
This kind of comparison simply made her nauseated. Shen Yao Xing turned back with an extremely disgusted expression: "Can you not gross me out?"
"..."
The city was indeed as lively as Meng Xin Yi had said. Shen Yao Xing's eyes sparkled, yet she deliberately acted calm, resisting the urge to look left and right.
The street stalls were calling out to sell various snacks, and the rich aroma made Shen Yao Xing, who was already hungry, let down her guard. She even passed by that place of pleasure without noticing, until a whiff of rouge scent assaulted her nostrils. She quickly pinched her nose, her eyes widening as she watched a scantily clad man approach her.
"Miss, you're from out of town, right? Come in, come sit~ It's so much fun inside~"
Before the person even reached her, that deliberately coy voice had already pierced her ears. Shen Yao Xing felt as if she had seen a ghost, her body stiff as she covered her nose, the corner of her eye twitching as she watched that pink-clothed, white-faced unidentified object draw ever closer.
Just as the man was about to touch the hem of her clothes, she felt a blur before her eyes, and the figure in front of her suddenly disappeared. The speed was so fast that the man was startled; if it hadn't been broad daylight, he would have thought he'd seen a ghost.
He looked towards the other woman, his face, powdered stark white, awkwardly twitching: "Miss, what's the matter..."
Meng Xin Yi glanced at him without saying a word.
The sound of other male courtesans laughing came from behind. The man turned back and glared at them angrily, but when he turned back again, the other woman had also disappeared without a trace.
...
Shen Yao Xing fled, using her lightness skill until she was far from that place before daring to stop, leaning against a wall and breathing heavily.
That suffocating feeling of the air around her being violated made her already empty stomach churn, almost bringing up bile.
"So this is what you're afraid of?" The familiar female voice came from behind.
Shen Yao Xing wiped the corner of her mouth, unwilling to recall the horrifying scene from earlier: "Let's hurry and go eat."
Meng Xin Yi, who had known her for so long, was seeing this expression on her for the first time and found it interesting: "Are you afraid of those men from the pleasure houses?"
The truth was that she was afraid of all the men in this world. Shen Yao Xing's face remained expressionless.
"Alright, alright, I won't ask then." Feeling the resentment emanating from her friend, Meng Xin Yi laughed and waved her hand.
"Come on, I'll take you to eat."
Allowing Meng Xin Yi to lead her to the entrance of an inn, Shen Yao Xing looked up at the sign hanging above the grand door. "Four Seasons Inn," four large characters in gold on a brown background, bold yet elegant. Waves of delicious aromas wafted out from inside.
Shen Yao Xing couldn't help but swallow, her face still composed, but her feet already eager. She directly stepped past Meng Xin Yi in front and walked in.
The liveliness inside the inn was no less than the street market. The first floor was already full of people, and as soon as the two of them entered, a waiter came to greet them: "Welcome, honored guests! Please come in!"
"Give us a private room," Meng Xin Yi ordered with familiarity.
"Certainly, certainly, please follow me!" The waiter smiled warmly, leading the two up to the second floor.
The small private rooms on the second floor blocked out much of the noise. While waiting for the food to be served, Shen Yao Xing propped her chin on her hand, yawning boredly, and glanced at the woman calmly drinking tea across from her: "Do you come here often?"
"Not really, including today it's only been twice."
"Oh."
The wait for the food seemed a bit long to Shen Yao Xing. She walked to the window of the private room and opened it. From this position, she could clearly see the view of the first floor. Shen Yao Xing leaned on the windowsill, looking down at those dark heads from above. Amidst the complex chatter, she vaguely heard mentions of treasure hunting and Deerskin Map most frequently.
Especially the three words "Deerskin Map" were mentioned the most.
"What's the Deerskin Map?" If you don't know, ask. Shen Yao Xing turned back with a face full of curiosity.
Meng Xin Yi paused in pouring tea, raising her eyebrows as if somewhat surprised: "You don't know?"
"Tsk, if I knew I wouldn't be asking." Shen Yao Xing pouted.
Although it was strange, Meng Xin Yi didn't ask further, just assuming she had only recently started adventuring and didn't know about this matter, which was understandable: "Recently, the Four Directions Association will hold a treasure hunting competition, and this treasure is that Deerskin Map."
"Four Directions Association..." Shen Yao Xing narrowed her eyes slightly, lightly biting the three words between her teeth, pondering in her heart. Since she had run away from home, this "association" was what she had heard about the most. Even with her poor memory, she had remembered it from hearing it so often.
Meng Xin Yi nodded: "There are two major factions at the top of the jianghu, one is the Four Directions Association, and the other is the Eternal Life Pavilion. Heroes from all over the world are in the Four Directions, this Four Directions Association is full of masters, following the righteous path. People both admire and fear them."
Wow, sounds impressive.
"Then... what about that Eternal Life Pavilion?"
Meng Xin Yi took a sip of tea, her brows slightly furrowed.
Shen Yao Xing looked puzzled: "What's wrong?"
Meng Xin Yi shook her head, gently placing the teacup on the table, and slowly said: "This Eternal Life Pavilion is quite the opposite. There's little intelligence about them in the jianghu, only rumors that no one who has entered the Eternal Life Pavilion has ever come out alive..."
Is it that mysterious? Shen Yao Xing expressed some disbelief.
After thinking for a moment, she suddenly realized this person hadn't gotten to the main point: "What about that Deerskin Map? What kind of thing is it?"
Just then, the waiter came in carrying dishes: "Please enjoy your meal, honored guests."
After the person left, Shen Yao Xing sat down eagerly, habitually taking out a handkerchief to wipe her hands, grabbed a chicken leg and started gnawing, forgetting the question she had just asked in the blink of an eye.
Meng Xin Yi was long accustomed to this, glanced at the woman's oily hands, and calmly picked up her chopsticks.
Only after finishing the chicken leg in her hand did Shen Yao Xing look at the person opposite: "What were we just talking about?"