A buzz ran through the halls of Nine Gates of Heaven Inn.
"Come! Come! Something interesting is happening on the fifth floor!" Someone called as people gathered up and down the stairs and halls to see what was causing such a stir.
On the fifth floor, a girl barely at the age suitable for marriage was atop a youth who had not even reached adulthood. They laid conspicuously on the floor, their position causing skeptical stares from the crowd. Immediately, whispers filled the halls. Those in front were the only ones who could see what was happening, but their words carried throughout the entire inn.
"Oh, my!"
"Is that what I think it is?"
"How shameless!"
"That girl sure has some guts!"
"That guy is seriously getting taken advantage of by that little girl? Pfft! What a weakling!"
"Are they also competing in the qualification exams?"
"Impossible! White Cloud Sect wouldn't accept such despicable people!"
Despite the chattering, Xinyu did not utter a sound—even the rate of her breathing could not be distinguished. She stared wide-eyed at the youth in front of her.
Zhaoli's hair was slightly disheveled as locks from his short ponytail sprawled on the wooden floor. Hazel eyes traced down the fringes that framed his boyish face until it reached his neck. The collar of his robe was askew, exposing the fair skin beneath. It looked so white and vulnerable; it made one want to take a bite out of such beautiful flesh.
Her gaze continued down to the small hands that had planted themselves on his lower abdomen. They had found themselves there when she was attempting to get up earlier.
Xinyu blinked.
In contrast to his unusually soft bottom, this boy's upper body was quite well-built! So sturdy! She didn't think this little boy had it in him. He looked so slim and pale! This must be the result of years and years of grueling training. How admirable for someone so young!
Xinyu gave the muscles a squeeze.
Everyone in the hall froze at the action.
Wha-what was this girl doing?! Was she really going to take advantage of this young man?! In front of everyone?! Just the thought was inconceivable! The two youths were still so young!
Xinyu was oblivious to their speculations and gave the muscles a few more squeezes.
"How firm!" She mused to herself. "Each pack isn't well-defined, but it's still there!"
It was only when a cold chill invaded the air that she regained awareness of her surroundings. Xinyu looked back up to the handsome youth.
Although he laid stiffly on the floor, Zhaoli's clear eyes had darkened with murderous intent. The temperature of the room lowered dramatically. Everyone within the vicinity could feel the intensity of his power as cold air plunged at their lungs with every breath.
Xinyu's heart jumped.
What was she doing?! This was the mortal with the unprecedented amount of Qing energy! Was she asking for a death sentence?! She gulped. There was only one thing to do now!
Xinyu cleared her throat inaudibly. A small hand slowly rose into the air.
The crowd held their breaths. What was this girl going to do now?
They watched intently as the hand lowered again.
Those hands! They were aiming for?!
.
.
Pat, pat.
Xinyu lightly tapped on Zhaoli's abdomen.
"Nice muscles," she said coolly before swiftly hopping off the youth's body.
The hall was silent as Xinyu brushed off the imaginary dirt from her plain, brown robes. Incredulous eyes followed her until the girl with the unruly hair disappeared into the room with no doors. The action was so natural, an outsider would have believed nothing of the indecent sort had transpired on the fifth floor of Nine Gates of Heaven Inn.
The two men carrying the table stood dumbly outside the room; their mouths gaped open. They had not moved an inch since bumping into the strange girl. They looked to the ever-so-silent youth.
Zhaoli got up slowly from the floor. Although his head was lowered, his form was imposing. The air was still as piercingly cold as ever as if spring had never arrived.
"L-little master?" One of the men managed to say.
"Just leave the table there. I will get it," Zhaoli answered, his voice calm and even.
"O-of course," he nodded and gestured for the other man to follow suit.
"Young Masters and Young Misses, if you will clear the path, please. There is nothing to see here," the two men politely urged the crowd out of the halls and stairs.
Although reluctant, everyone complied and went back on with their business. A girl resembling a white lotus and a tall, fine man in black were within this group. They followed the stream of people as they returned to wherever they came from. It was not long until the pair finally broke off from the mass of people; their room resided on the same floor as the incident.
A lovely voice sounded once the two were alone in the room, "That was Mudan's candidate, I presume?"
"Young Miss is correct," the tall man answered.
"Hmm," Lingzhu hummed as her slender fingers traced the rosewood table. With graceful steps, she took a seat on a chair made of matching rosewood. She rested her head on a delicate hand and stared thoughtfully at the broken porcelain that still laid on the wooden floor.
"I didn't even do anything yet, and that commoner has already implicated herself. How disappointing," she mused out loud with a mellow voice that felt like the spring breeze. "This is your candidate, Mudan? It seems you have chosen a rock over jade."
A smile slowly blossomed on her lips, lighting up her already-beautiful features. "I guess I should be thankful that that commoner has made things easier for me."
"Xuwen," Lingzhu looked to the man who stood solemnly by the door, "get someone to clean up this mess and prepare a rose bath."
"Of course, Young Miss," he nodded. "Would you like for me to arrange for someone to bring your meal here? Chef Lu should be finished with it soon."
"I don't have an appetite anymore," Lingzhu said as she turned her attention to her hands.
"But you should take care of your health, Young Miss." An emotion flickered on Xuwen's usual indifferent face. "The food is almost finished-"
"I'll be fine," she interrupted him, "Just throw the food out." Lingzhu dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
Xuwen pursed his lips, "Of course. As you wish." He lowered his head before leaving.
On the second floor of Nine Gates of Heaven Inn, Mudan was climbing the stairs back to her room.
"What's all the ruckus about?" She pondered as the last remnants of the crowd stringed out of the stairs. "Did something happen?"
When an inn worker passed by, she asked, "Hey! What's with all the chattering? What happened?"
"Aiyah, you should check it out for yourself, Lady Mudan," the man sighed when he recognized the girl. "It happened with the girl you brought in today. This servant dares not say a thing." He bowed quickly and scrammed away, seeming to not want a thing to do with whatever had transpired.
"Something to do with Xinyu?" Mudan raised a pretty brow. She hastened her pace.
What could have happened when she was gone? She wasn't even out for that long! After that Li Jiafeng had done that unspeakable thing to her, she had taken a stroll outside to cool her head.
"I have already fallen in love with him? How ridiculous!" Mudan cursed inwardly. "Never! That would never happen! Not ever in this lifetime! I only ran away because he caught me off guard!"
When she reached the fifth floor, she hurried to the room. However, as she got closer and closer, a charming laugh rang through the halls. She knew that laugh all too well. Her brows creased.
"Jiafeng! What did you do this time?!" Mudan yelled as she entered the doorless entrance.
The scene in the room caught her by surprise.
The wooden panels that made up the door were neatly put away to the side. The broken table and plates were replaced by a new table. Upon its surface, plates after plates of meat dishes laid out on the wooden platform. There were even more dishes than what was originally ordered.
At the table sat two people. Xinyu was busy stuffing her face with food while Jiafeng was shaking with bouts of laughter. There was one figure that stood desolately at a corner. The usually calm Zhaoli had his arms crossed protectively against his chest as he shot daggers at the freckle-faced girl with his eyes.
"Sweetheart, you're finally back!" Jiafeng gave Mudan a toothy smile that sent her heart racing. A chuckle trickled out of his lush lips as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes. "You missed the most hilarious thing ever!"