Chapter 5: Celestial Blossoms

"Never met before, and you trust us this much?" Xiao Se was curled up in his fox-fur coat, lazily leaning inside the carriage. 

Tang Lian sat across from him and shook his head. "I don't trust you. I just trust him," he said, pointing outside. 

At that moment, Lei Wujie, clad in light red clothes, was baring his chest against the wind and snow, vigorously driving the horses. If you could see him from the front, you would see a young man with a full smile, as if he were riding through a gentle spring breeze, having found the springtime of his life. 

"That, I have to agree with," Xiao Se sighed. "This kid's martial arts are high, but his brain is not good enough to be a liar." 

Tang Lian lowered the curtain, blocking out the wind and snow. "And you?" 

"Me? I gave you my two best Night North horses to pull your cargo, and you still don't believe me?" Xiao Se said, dissatisfied. 

"Brother, ignore him!" Lei Wujie called from outside. "He's just a horse dealer. We've traveled together all this way, and all he does is brag about his horses." 

Tang Lian pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Brother Lei, you haven't officially joined our sect yet, so calling me 'senior brother' seems a bit premature." 

"Got it, senior brother!" Lei Wujie responded cheerfully, urging the horses to speed up, cutting through the snow. 

Tang Lian could only sigh helplessly. 

"So, you really don't know what's inside this coffin?" Xiao Se tapped the golden coffin beside him. 

Tang Lian shook his head. "Master didn't tell me. He just instructed me to deliver it to the Jiulong Temple in Biluocheng. He also said one thing." 

"What did he say?" 

"Do not attempt to open this coffin," Tang Lian replied, slapping Xiao Se's hand away from it. 

"Biluocheng is near the Thirty-two Buddhist Kingdoms of the Western Regions. The Jiulong Temple is the foremost Buddhist temple on the border. Could it be that it contains some emperor or high official seeking salvation?" 

"Don't be interested in it. We've already encountered over a dozen assassins on this journey. Many are interested in its contents. Possessing it is extremely dangerous." 

"Were you injured by those assassins?" 

"It was just Yueji and Minghou. The other assassins were just…" Tang Lian stopped, recalling the white-haired, jade-sword-wielding scholar, feeling increasingly uneasy. 

"Where are we headed next?" 

"Sangu City, the Mansion of Beauties!" 

"Sangu City? The Mansion of Beauties?" Xiao Se frowned, feeling the name was familiar but unable to recall where he had heard it. 

"I know!" Lei Wujie shouted from outside. "In Sangu City, 'The World Laughs in the Red Dust, Drunken in the Mansion of Beauties.' It's a famous... brothel!" 

Xiao Se paused, looking at Tang Lian, and slowly said, "Brother Tang... quite the taste you have." 

"Not at all," Tang Lian corrected sternly. "Sangu City is on the way to Jiulong Temple. We have people there to meet us." 

"Beautiful City is remote, yet it has such a charming name." Xiao Se observed the graceful women in light silk dresses carrying wine jugs, marveling at the scene. 

"It's the necessary stop on the way to Biluocheng, the gateway to the Thirty-two Buddhist Kingdoms. It started as a few inns but grew as wealthy merchants passed through, turning into this charming city. It's also one of the empire's top…" Tang Lian explained. 

"Casinos?" Xiao Se squinted, noticing a group of wealthy merchants around a long table, a seductive woman in red shaking a dice cup enticingly. 

The merchants placed their bets—gleaming pearls that lit up the hall. 

"The Mansion of Beauties is the largest brothel in Sangu City, frequented by the wealthiest merchants. Their bets are too large for imperial currency, so they use pearls. A small basket of these pearls could buy a large shop in the busiest part of Jinling City. Something ordinary merchants could never earn in a lifetime." 

"Why not use the merchant guild's gold notes?" 

Tang Lian pointed to a burly man among the merchants. "Not all merchants here are from our country. They don't trust our notes. Besides, merchants believe a basket of pearls showcases their wealth and grandeur." 

"If we're here, why not place a bet?" Xiao Se suggested lazily. 

"I have no money," Tang Lian replied. 

"Of course, we do." Xiao Se smiled. "We have a solid gold coffin." 

"Shut up!" Tang Lian hissed. "The merchants here hire top guards. Whisper, and they'll hear everything. We must remain unnoticed." 

"Oh, isn't that Lian?" a melodious voice interrupted. 

Tang Lian and Xiao Se looked up to see a woman in red gracefully descending from the ceiling, surrounded by a shower of red petals. The hall fell silent, all eyes on her. 

"It's the Celestial Blossom!" someone exclaimed. 

The woman smiled, gathering the petals into a rose in her hand. 

"Well done!" someone cheered. 

She tossed the rose lightly, leaping off the red silk. As her feet touched the rose, it exploded into petals, scattering as she landed gracefully before Tang Lian and Xiao Se. 

"Didn't you say not to draw attention, senior brother?" Xiao Se looked around. "Now everyone's watching us." 

Tang Lian's face darkened. "Blossom…" 

"Lian, it's been sixteen months and seven days since you last came. Don't you miss me?" Celestial Blossom asked, clutching her heart dramatically. 

"You're called Blossom, and he's Lian. Sounds like old lovers," Xiao Se teased. 

Celestial Blossom glanced at Xiao Se, smiling. "Such a handsome young man. Didn't you want to gamble?" 

"I have no money," Xiao Se replied. 

"No, you must be wealthy," Celestial Blossom insisted. 

"Oh? Why?" 

"Ordinary people would be dazzled by the grandeur here. Ordinary people would be captivated by someone like me. But you seem indifferent, as if immense wealth and beauty are commonplace to you. So, are you wealthy?" Celestial Blossom smiled. 

"Blossom!" Tang Lian interjected, "Now isn't the time for this…" 

Celestial Blossom stepped closer, hugging Tang Lian. He froze as she whispered, "Your contact hasn't shown up, but top assassins have flooded Sangu City. You want to stay unnoticed? The city is full of people wanting you dead! They're here for you, not business!" 

Tang Lian's heart sank. The golden coffin was valuable, but its contents were evidently priceless, even in the wealth-laden Sangu City. 

Celestial Blossom released Tang Lian, turning to Xiao Se. "Young Master, would you still like to gamble?" 

Xiao Se nodded. "I have a manor called 'Snowfall,' worth ten baskets of pearls, near the peach blossom forest outside Jinling City. Can you lend me some money?" 

"Of course." Celestial Blossom clapped, and two burly men brought a basket of pearls each, placing them before Xiao Se. Another two carried over a long redwood table. 

"Today, this young master has reserved the Mansion of Beauties. Those who wish to gamble, stay. Those who don't, please leave," Celestial Blossom announced. 

"A joke! Two baskets of pearls to reserve the Mansion of Beauties?" A gold-robed merchant stood up. "This young master seems new, unaware of the rules. How could Celestial Blossom be so foolish?" 

"Foolish?" Celestial Blossom smiled, leaping into the air, her long sleeves fluttering beautifully. The crowd gasped, seeing the glint of blades hidden within her sleeves. She landed before the merchant, her twin blades poised to strike. 

The merchant was paralyzed with fear. As Celestial Blossom's blades neared his chest, two swords intercepted—a black one and a jade-white one. 

Celestial Blossom smiled, lifting her right leg. The black-sword-wielding assassin saw a flash and retreated, realizing Celestial Blossom had an extra blade besides the two in her hands. 

"Triple Blade Dance?" someone exclaimed in awe.