Chapter 109: Tianteng City
Ye Yunfei urged his Red Flood Demon Horse onward, traveling swiftly.
After continuing without rest for three days and three nights, Ye Yunfei finally began to feel some fatigue.
Moreover, while the Red Flood Demon Horse was a magnificent steed, after three days and nights of non-stop travel, it too finally started to show signs of exhaustion.
"Alright, let's find a place to rest properly.
Then, we'll continue," Ye Yunfei said resignedly, forced to make this decision.
"This body of mine is truly too weak," he thought ruefully. "In my past life as a Heavenly Emperor, I possessed the divine power to tear the void with my bare hands and traverse the very planes of existence. A mere empire, or even a whole cosmos, could be traveled in moments."
Soon, a city appeared ahead.
"Good, we'll rest within this city."
Ye Yunfei rode the Red Flood Demon Horse directly into the city.
This city was called Tianteng City, and its scale far surpassed that of Yuanyue City—being at least more than ten times larger!
In comparison, Yuanyue City was practically a backward, remote backwater.
It was said that in the Great Qin Empire, aside from the Imperial City, Tianteng City was one of the most populous and grand cities. Ye Yunfei had heard of it before, but he hadn't expected to arrive here on this journey.
The city of Tianteng was bustling and prosperous. It was a melting pot of all walks of life—throngs of people, the lowly and the distinguished intermixing—yet still vibrantly lively.
Alchemy shops, weapon shops, auction houses, taverns… everything one could wish for was present! Furthermore, martial prowess seemed to be highly valued. Martial artists were as numerous as ox hair; even women, children, and toddlers a few years old practiced martial arts. On the main streets, Earth Realm experts could be found by the fistful! In Yuanyue City, an Earth Realm expert would hold a high position in any family.
Ye Yunfei, however, had no interest in appreciating Tianteng City's prosperity; he only wanted to rest before continuing his journey.
"Let's find a place to eat something first," he mused aloud as he walked along the lively main street.
After three days and nights of travel, all he'd eaten were dry rations; he was long tired of them.
"Whoa! What kind of horse is that? So magnificent! It's definitely not an ordinary horse!"
"Haha, you don't know, do you?
That's a Red Flood Demon Horse, a fifth-tier demonic beast. This kind of demon horse can cover thousands of miles in a day without issue. Spending millions of Spirit Crystals might not even be enough to buy one."
"Generally, only the four great sects and the major clans in the Imperial City have the means to afford raising such horses."
"In that case, that young man has an extraordinary background. We'd best not provoke him."
...
Ye Yunfei, leading the fiery-red Red Flood Demon Horse on the main street, was an eye-catching sight, attracting numerous gazes and inciting discussion.
Soon, a three-story wooden tavern appeared ahead, quaint and classical in style, with three large red lanterns hanging outside. The words "Drunk Heavenly Immortal" were written boldly on them.
"Master, are you looking to eat?
I want to taste human delicacies too," Hu Miao's voice suddenly transmitted into his mind. "It's been several hundred years since I last tried mortal cuisine."
Although she remained within the Demon Core, she was well aware of everything happening outside.
"Alright," Ye Yunfei smiled.
The Primordial Heavenly Fox race shared many lifestyle habits with humans. They particularly loved human delicacies.
A wisp of green demonic aura quietly materialized. Then, a fragrant breeze caressed his face as Hu Miao, in light pink attire, appeared beside Ye Yunfei—her tall, curvaceous figure and slender, graceful form utterly captivating.
Her breathtakingly beautiful face, her innate coquettish charm, coupled with skin fairer than frost or snow, made her seem like the very definition of a country-toppling beauty.
"Let's go in," Ye Yunfei said, leading the Red Flood Demon Horse and Hu Miao to the front of the Drunk Heavenly Immortal tavern.
A server immediately ran out, bowing and scraping as he offered service, eagerly taking Ye Yunfei's horse.
After helping Ye Yunfei tie up the horse, the server asked, "Honored guests, first floor or second?"
"Second floor," Ye Yunfei said.
"Good, good, we happen to have one empty spot left on the second floor," the server promptly ushered Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao upstairs.
The second floor was almost packed with diners, with only one table empty. At a glance, guests drinking, playing guessing games, and talking boisterously filled the space with clamor and lively noise.
However, the moment Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao stepped onto the second floor...
Whoosh!
The atmosphere on the floor abruptly plunged into utter silence.
All eyes fixed dead on Hu Miao as if they'd been petrified.
Hu Miao was already a breathtaking beauty, but added to that was the innate allure of the Primordial Heavenly Fox race—charm seeping into the very bones, possessing a fatal attractiveness to men.
At this moment, nearly every man on the second floor stared at Hu Miao with greedy gazes fueled by primitive desires, utterly unable to look away.
Tee-hee...
Seeing this scene, Hu Miao found it immensely amusing and couldn't help but cover her mouth with a light laugh.
Little did she know, her laughter only enhanced her allure, causing the surrounding men to stare with ever-more-entranced eyes.
"A beautiful woman is a harbinger of disaster, indeed," Ye Yunfei thought, inwardly shaking his head.
After Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao sat down, they ordered a few dishes and a jug of fine wine. Hu Miao specifically ordered a dish called "Prince Heavenly Immortal Chicken."
Not long after, the food and wine arrived, and Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao proceeded to eat and drink heartily, finding it quite enjoyable.
A moment later.
"Hey… Hey…
Honored ladies, there really aren't any seats left on the second floor," the anxious voice of a server echoed from the staircase.
Then, a fresh sight greeted everyone's eyes as two stunningly beautiful young maidens walked up together.
Instantly, the eyes of every man on the floor brightened again, staring straight at the two girls.
They looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. One wore red robes; she had an oval face, eyes that held an innocent, lively, and mischievous glint, skin that outshone snow, lovely features, and a string of pearls around her neck emitting a soft luster that complemented her jade-like beauty. The other wore white robes; her skin was jade-white and flawless, eyebrows finely shaped, dressed in elegant white garments that gave her an ethereal quality, possessing a graceful, pear-blossom-like purity.
These two beauties—one lively and innocent, the other serene and fairy-like—coupled with Hu Miao's inborn charm, represented three distinct styles of beauty.
"Senior Sister Xuexi, it's true, there's no seat on the second floor either.
But I'm so hungry," the red-clothed maiden said, her voice tinged with disappointment after scanning the floor. "My stomach's growling."
"Let's sit there," said the white-clothed maiden. Spotting Hu Miao, her eyes lit up as she strode directly towards Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao's table.
The red-clothed maiden followed.
"Dear sister, may we share your table?
The seats on both the first and second floors are full; we have nowhere else to sit," the white-clothed maiden said to Hu Miao.
"Yes! Beautiful sister, we haven't eaten all day; we're starving. We don't have the energy to find another tavern," chimed in the red-clothed maiden.
"Dear beauties, it's not up to me.
You'll have to ask my Master," Hu Miao replied, smiling while covering her mouth.
"Master?"
Both girls looked at Ye Yunfei with surprise. They noticed his clothing was simple and common, nothing eye-catching about it. In contrast, Hu Miao possessed the kind of beauty that could overthrow cities and kingdoms. Moreover, as a Primordial Heavenly Fox, an ancient demon beast race with exceptionally noble blood, though naturally charming, Hu Miao had an undeniable air of nobility within her coquettishness. She hardly seemed like someone's servant.
"You're joking, dear sister," the white-clothed maiden laughed.
"Sit," Ye Yunfei suddenly spoke, his tone indifferent.
Though well-concealed, Ye Yunfei could tell at a glance that these two extraordinary beauties possessed Heaven Realm cultivation. Having such strength yet behaving so politely and humbly made him not dislike them.
"My Master says you may sit here," Hu Miao said with a smile.
Inwardly, she transmitted teasingly, "Master, have you taken a liking to these two? Want me to help?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Eat quickly, then we're back on the road," Ye Yunfei replied with a mental snort.
"Thank you both!
Hehe, finally some food! Yay!" The red-clothed maiden cheered happily.
Soon, the two girls ordered a full table of dishes and began eating.
Women are naturally good at chatting. In no time, the two maidens and Hu Miao were chattering away.
Surprisingly, these two girls were also on their way to the Imperial City, merely passing through Tianteng City.
More astonishingly for Ye Yunfei, their reason for going to the Imperial City was to participate in the Alchemy Competition too!
"Damn! That kid is only Late Stage Earth Realm!
How does he get such luck with women—three beauties gathered around him!"
"Look at his clothing—common and unremarkable. Probably has no notable background.
To have such great beauty beside him—he must have stumbled upon heavenly fortune!"
...
The male patrons on the second floor watched Ye Yunfei, surrounded and fawned upon by three peerless beauties, and felt waves of envy and jealousy boiling within them.
Suddenly.
A few burly men stood up and walked towards Ye Yunfei's table.
"Hey, kid! Get lost!
Give up your seat! My young master needs a place to sit!" one of them—a muscular man in his thirties with a large curved blade on his back and a savage face—said to Ye Yunfei with a vicious smirk.
"Kid, be sensible," chimed in another with rat-like features. "My young master is the Eldest Young Master of the Xu Family of Tianteng City! If you want to walk out of this tavern alive, cooperate nicely.
Otherwise, we'll cut you down on the spot!"
"Hmm?"
Ye Yunfei raised an eyebrow and glanced towards a table near the window where a young man of about twenty-some years sat, dressed in white robes, handsome, greedily eyeing Hu Miao and the two maidens while gulping repeatedly.