My Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden

It's all just a pipe dream, all show and no substance!

……

When Song Yuntao and the girls arrived at Zuiqingfang, they all surrounded him and rubbed against him as soon as they saw him.

These women all wanted Song Yuntao to write poems for them so they could raise the price of seafood.

Song Yuntao is now rising to fame in the Great Yun Dynasty, and is rumored to be a poet saint.

Song Yuntao smiled gently, then politely declined the women of the night and led Qi Yu upstairs.

"Qi Yu, you've never been to a brothel before, have you? Last time we went, you came out faster than all of us. Are you impotent?" Song Yuntao teased.

Qi Yu watched Song Yuntao's retreating figure and said, "Not bad!"

Song Yuntao sensed the distance in Qi Yu's words, smiled, and didn't take it to heart.

"I've invited the most beautiful courtesan from Zuiqingfang to keep me company today, so feel free to have fun. It's on me!" Song Yuntao said with a smile.

Qi Yu gave a faint "hmm" and didn't reply.

When Qi Yu and Song Yuntao arrived at the private room, they saw Wang Defa already waiting there.

Upon seeing Qi Yu arrive, Wang Defa rose from his seat and laughed, "You really came? Aren't you afraid of your wife's martial arts anymore?"

Upon seeing Wang Defa, Qi Yu finally smiled; at least one thing remained unchanged.

"Isn't it normal for a real man to visit a brothel? Why would I be afraid of my wife?" Qi Yu laughed.

"Oh? You didn't say that last time!" Wang Defa said with a suspicious look.

"Stop talking about me, how have you been lately?" Qi Yu asked.

"Not bad, but Old Song has also resigned, and I'm getting a bit bored being all alone in the yamen!" Wang Defa said.

Qi Yu wasn't surprised that Song Yuntao resigned; it would have been strange if he hadn't.

"Stop talking, sit down and have a drink!" Song Yuntao interrupted the two of them and said.

Wang Defa nodded and sat down again, with Qi Yu sitting down opposite him.

"Today we'll drink until we drop, let's drink and have fun to our hearts' content!" Song Yuntao raised his glass and declared boldly.

Wang Defa raised his glass and looked at Qi Yu.

Qi Yu raised his wine cup, gestured to Wang Defa, and then drank it all in one gulp.

"Come in!" Song Yuntao said to the door after finishing his drink.

Amidst a rustling sound, a group of dancers dressed in sheer veils entered.

Two beautiful women, of superior appearance, sat down next to Qi Yu and Wang Defa, and then picked up the wine pot to pour wine into their empty cups.

Both of them are famous courtesans at Zuiqingfang, and they usually choose their clients based on their looks and status.

The person who came to keep me company today must be Song Yuntao, or rather, it's because of Chang Lian.

Wang Defa was quickly captivated, downing one glass of wine after another.

The woman next to Qi Yu held up a wine glass and looked at him with a pitiful expression.

Qi Yu glanced at the woman, took the wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

The woman didn't smell of makeup, which seemed to be a deliberate arrangement by Song Yuntao.

If you're going to drink, then drink!

Song Yuntao and Wang Defa kept talking about interesting things from the past, then teased each other and occasionally brought up Qi Yu.

After several rounds of drinks, Wang Defa was already drunk and was helped out of the private room by the dancer.

Qi Yu raised his hand to stop the woman who wanted to persuade him to drink more, and then looked at Song Yuntao.

"Old Song, have you been having a good time these past few days?"

Song Yuntao's cheeks were slightly flushed, and his eyes were unfocused; he was clearly a little drunk.

Song Yuntao waved his hand, and the dancers left, leaving only Qi Yu and him in the private room.

"Hiccup! You're asking me if I've had a good time these past few days? My answer is..."

"It feels amazing! I've lived for over twenty years and I've never felt this comfortable as I have these past few days."

Do you know what it feels like when your neighbors, who used to look down on you and gossip about you behind your back, suddenly kneel down in front of you, fawning and flattering you?

Do you know the joy of having beautiful maids serve you when you get up every day, speaking to you in sweet, coquettish voices?

"Do you know what it feels like to take a bath inside a banknote?"

"I am now the Poet Saint of the Great Yun Dynasty. Many great figures who were once unapproachable now have to fawn over me with utmost respect."

"I couldn't be better!"

Seeing Song Yuntao's infatuated appearance, Qi Yu said nothing more, straightened his clothes, and stood up.

"Then you can keep dreaming!" Qi Yu turned and walked towards the door.

"Qi Yu! Are we still friends?" Song Yuntao shouted.

Qi Yu paused for a moment, but did not turn around.

Don't you already have the answer yourself?

Song Yuntao was stunned for a moment, then covered his forehead and burst into laughter.

After a long pause, Song Yuntao looked at Qi Yu and said with a smile, "Brother Qi, farewell! I hope we never meet again!"

The two words "Brother Qi" are enough to explain the situation.

The reason he said "never again" was because he didn't want to kill Qi Yu; it was a warning and a final act of goodwill.

Qi Yu walked out of the private room without saying anything.

This was not the last time he saw Song Yuntao, but it was the last time he saw Wang Defa.

------------

Chapter Eighty-One Farewell

After leaving Zuiqingfang, Qi Yu went to a pastry shop and bought a chestnut pastry.

This has become a habit; if Su Yue likes to eat it, then we'll buy it.

When they returned to the courtyard, it was already getting dark, and a few wisps of smoke were rising from the chimney. Qi Yu pushed open the door and went inside.

Several dishes were already laid out on the table, and they looked quite appetizing.

Su Yue has a strong learning ability. She can master anything after being taught it only once and then doing it herself once.

Once inside the courtyard, I drew a bucket of well water, washed my face, and also sobered up a bit.

"Husband, dinner's ready!" Su Yue called out, carrying a plate of dishes.

Qi Yu turned around and straightened his clothes.

As with countless days before, the two sat facing each other eating, occasionally serving each other food without speaking, yet the atmosphere was neither dull nor awkward.

After finishing her meal, Su Yue got up to clear the dishes and then went into the kitchen.

After a while, she came out, sat back in her previous seat, and looked at Qi Yu.

Qi Yu, feeling scrutinized, coughed lightly and said, "I just went to Zuiqingfang and had a drink!"

"Are those older sisters pretty?" Su Yue blinked and asked.

Qi Yu scratched his chin and said, "It's alright, but not as good-looking as you!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Su Yue said casually.

Qi Yu said helplessly, "My wife, Song Yuntao is still my friend. Even if we can't be friends anymore, we should part ways amicably."

"He's hosting a banquet for me at Zuiqingfang. I know you'll be angry, but I have to go!"

Su Yue looked into Qi Yu's eyes, then sighed helplessly and said, "So, do you still consider him a friend?"

Qi Yu thought for a moment and said, "We're probably not friends anymore! He's probably thinking about how to kill me now!"

"Oh? Why?" Su Yue understood as soon as she asked the question.

Because "Song of the Wanderer" was originally written by Qi Yu, Song Yuntao only plagiarized it.

Song Yuntao's current status and power are largely due to the poem "Song of the Wanderer".

In order to consolidate his power and position, he could not let people know that he had copied "The Wanderer's Song".

Therefore, Qi Yu was an unstable factor that could shake his power and position.

As long as Qi Yu is around, Song Yuntao will live in constant fear.

The safest solution would be to kill Qi Yu and let "The Wanderer's Song" truly become his own poem.

"Power is a magnifying glass for desire; it can magnify the darkness hidden in people's hearts countless times," Qi Yu remarked.

……

In Jiangzhou City, Song Yuntao entered Chang Lian's residence.

Chang Lian sat under the eaves, looking at the sketchbook, occasionally picking up a pastry and putting it in his mouth.

Song Yuntao arrived, but he didn't turn around.

"Have you all said goodbye?" Chang Lian asked.

Song Yuntao nodded without saying a word.

“I have already arranged a house for you in the capital. You can bring Meixiang and your mother, along with your maids and servants. They have all been provided for you. When you arrive in the capital, you can all move in together!” Chang Lian said.

"Thank you, young master!" Song Yuntao bowed.

"You are the future Poet Saint of my Great Yun Dynasty. You must have the integrity of a scholar and never bow down easily, understand?" Chang Lian glanced at Song Yuntao, his tone indifferent.

Song Yuntao was taken aback, then quickly straightened up and nodded.

Chang Lian nodded, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Besides Qi Yu, you seem to have another friend named Wang Defa, right?"

Song Yuntao nodded and said, "That's right!"

"Does he know that you and Qi Yu have fallen out?" Chang Lian asked.