Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1487 - 930: Beneath the Skin

Wen Hanwei's words aside, Bai Yuanduo’s facade was far from innocent as it seemed.

Li Bansheng deliberated briefly, concluding it would be best to conduct further inquiries once nightfall arrived.

The Demon Sect's Puppetry Technique was exceptionally cunning, making its puppets indistinguishable from genuine individuals.

It was plausible that the Bai Yuanduo encountered today was merely a decoy, a phantom conjured to deceive onlookers.

That very night, as the gloaming deepened, the moonlight cast a cold and sparse luminescence.

Like a wisp of smoke, Li Bansheng materialized outside Bai Yuanduo’s chamber window, her presence utterly silent and unperceived.

Down the corridor, a lively throng of patrons bustled to and fro; yet, not a single soul registered the presence of Li Bansheng, garbed as a debonair young gentleman in verdant robes, poised by the window.

Li Bansheng's cultivation had reached an exceedingly profound level. Were she to choose to cloak her essence from the world, even Wen Hanwei's renowned Sword Heart Clarity would struggle to discern her true form.

Bai Yuanduo’s residence, perched atop a terrace, presented an image of particular elegance and serenity beneath the clear moonlight, a stark, almost incongruous, contrast to the brothel's typical atmosphere.

Li Bansheng’s eyes emitted a faint gleam as her spirit platform ignited, activating her spiritual vision.

The doors and windows before her dissolved into a transparent spiritual projection, seemingly coalesced from the very essence of the Ruishui River, rendering them utterly clear and see-through.

Within, Bai Yuanduo appeared utterly oblivious, two lamps burning on his desk, casting a subdued radiance upon the curtains and suffusing the air with a delicate aroma of incense.

By day, she lay upon the beauty couch, tending to a courtesan; now, she was nestled in Bai Yuanduo’s arms.

Clad in a loose, alluring robe that left her chest exposed, her posture was captivatingly seductive.

In the dim candlelight, her brows were as finely drawn as ink, a faint flush gracing her cheeks, rendering her irresistibly charming.

She nestled languidly within the man’s embrace, her words, perhaps a product of her brothel upbringing, were exceptionally winning.

Her repeated endearments of "husband" sounded as sweet as nectar.

While Bai Yuanduo possessed a capricious heart, he did not indulge excessively; the very same woman attended to him both day and night.

Faced with a woman from the brothel, even if her affections were feigned, the profound tenderness in his gaze was undeniable.

He presented a delicate golden jade bowl, appearing to contain something akin to steamed egg custard, yet far more refined.

Its color was vivid and rich, crowned with a drizzle of what resembled sesame oil, a deep, lustrous yellow.

Such a painstakingly prepared delicacy clearly bespoke considerable effort and affection.

However, upon beholding it, the woman’s smile instantly faltered. She turned her head away with a bitter expression, lamenting, "I truly cannot stomach this 'beauty soup' any longer."

Bai Yuanduo hastened to placate her, his voice gentle.

The woman twisted her body in annoyance, chiding him, "I knew it! All you truly adore is my face. You insist I consume this harmful, burning concoction, showing no regard for my future well-being whatsoever."

Bai Yuanduo quickly interjected, "That's untrue. My love for you transcends your appearance.

It is evident that I cherish every facet of your being, fearing even the slightest displeasure on your part.

This soup required immense effort, and I endured significant hardship to procure it – you bore witness to it all.

How could you possibly bear to see my endeavors go to waste?"

Hearing these words, Li Bansheng's expression shifted subtly.

From his declaration, it appeared Bai Yuanduo had known this courtesan for a considerable duration.

Eventually, the woman relented, consuming the soup with visible reluctance, leaving not a single drop behind.

As she set down the empty bowl, a clear trace of disdain lingered on her features.

Bai Yuanduo, with the utmost tenderness, wiped her mouth with his sleeve. Witnessing a cultivator treat a mere brothel woman with such sincere devotion was indeed a rarity.

It was uncommon behavior for cultivators, typically known for their formidable pride.

Yet, Li Bansheng remained perplexed. It was evident that Bai Yuanduo harbored genuine emotions for this courtesan.

Given his capabilities and resources, why had he not sought to redeem her sooner?

Surely, no man would wish for his cherished woman to remain amidst a parade of men and patrons.

As for the courtesan's demeanor and the look in her eyes, beneath the veneer of affection, a palpable sorrow and resentment towards Bai Yuanduo were undeniably present.

It was as if she suffered greatly from his passionate yet fickle affections.

As a seasoned master of romantic liaisons, Bai Yuanduo could not possibly overlook her sentiments. He gently tucked her into the brocade quilt, whispered intimate words, and began to share soft, private murmurs.

Before long, the two of them tumbled onto the plush couch, soon followed by the sounds of rustling linens and the woman’s soft moans and sighs filling the room.

The lamps burned brightly, and Li Bansheng, a thought striking her, experienced a prickling discomfort, averting her gaze.

The courtesan, who had appeared so delicate and yielding moments before on the couch, now seemed transformed, radiating an untamed wildness.

Even Bai Yuanduo, a man engaged in cultivation, found it challenging to match her fervent rhythm.

Their heavy, subdued breaths gradually signaled a depletion of stamina.

She truly lived up to her brothel origins, exhibiting a striking dichotomy in her conduct both on and off the bed.

Li Bansheng, who typically maintained rigorous self-discipline, found herself pushing the boundaries of the Xuan Sect’s stringent rules by venturing into such a locale, an act that already stretched her comfort zone.

The furtive act of observing from the shadows only amplified her sense of disgrace.

A layer of brocade fabric shielded the occupants, yet the scene unfolding beneath it surpassed anything she could readily countenance.

Witnessing the illicit coupling within, Li Bansheng’s thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the recent disturbance involving two unwelcome intruders in the Taixuan Sect’s sacred spiritual pool.

A memory she had consciously tried to suppress now surged back with startling clarity.

The mental image, in particular, of a youthful figure within the pool—possessing skin as pale as freshly fallen snow, a lithe waist, and unnaturally long limbs—caused Li Bansheng’s complexion to burn, her inner turmoil intensifying with each passing moment.

"Utterly shameless!" she muttered under her breath, averting her gaze with a mixture of mortification and ire, her intention to depart immediately firm.