"Something's not right. I feel like someone's staring at me with ill intentions."
Ji Mo sensed it and glanced back.
Ying Tianbao, standing beside him, chuckled, "Brother Mo, there are plenty of people staring at you. Look at those girls, their eyes are practically devouring you."
"Ah, Xiao Bao, you speak such blunt truths."
Ji Mo was quite pleased, feeling a surge of delight. He no longer bothered with the ill-intentioned gaze. Perhaps it was just a maiden with a crush on him.
Ying Tianbao, familiar with the route, led Ji Mo to the grandest and most luxurious inn in the city.
"Heavenly Realm!"
Upon seeing the inn's sign, Ji Mo's heart quickened. He had misjudged Xiao Bao earlier; the fellow was truly considerate, knowing to bring him to such a fine establishment.
Filled with excitement, Ji Mo entered the inn, eager to experience the revelry and indulgence. However, he was greatly disappointed. It was merely an inn, a proper, respectable inn.
"What a waste of such a magnificent name."
Ji Mo felt a pang of disappointment. The inn was luxurious and upscale, but not in the way he had imagined.
"Brother Mo, what's wrong? Doesn't it suit your taste? Whatever you desire, I'll arrange it immediately."
Ying Tianbao had already secured the most opulent residence in the inn – an entire courtyard, decorated like a royal garden. He couldn't fathom why Ji Mo looked so crestfallen, clearly not enjoying himself.
"Ahem, here... do you happen to have any special services?"
Ji Mo finally couldn't hold back, hinting at his desires. He wasn't seeking anything specific, just curious to witness and personally experience what a "man's paradise" was like.
"Oh, so Brother Mo has such tastes! You should have said so earlier, I'll arrange it for you right away."
Ying Tianbao smiled and immediately instructed the innkeeper to arrange for special services.
Subsequently, Ji Mo was subjected to a series of "special services." Opera, gladiatorial combat, poetry... Ji Mo's face grew darker with each passing moment, his gaze vacant. After enduring a few of these services, he was utterly bored and had lost all interest in the so-called special offerings.
"Is this it? What's so special about this?"
Seeing Ji Mo's darkening expression, Ying Tianbao quickly had the innkeeper discontinue the services.
"Indeed, it's rather dull. Next were some vulgar dances, with a group of scantily clad beauties swaying their hips and making suggestive gestures. Nothing much to see."
Ying Tianbao murmured to himself. Clearly, he was accustomed to such dances and no longer found them interesting.
"What? There were such dances?"
Ji Mo's eyes widened. "I just wanted to experience vulgarity! Why didn't you say so earlier? I would have definitely watched."
Alas, it was already too late, and the services had been canceled. Being too shy, Ji Mo couldn't bring himself to ask Ying Tianbao to arrange them again. He could only sigh, regretting the missed opportunity to broaden his horizons.
"Perhaps the master prefers refined entertainment. These are all rather crude affairs, truly difficult to arrange."
Ying Tianbao also sighed repeatedly, finding it challenging to please Ji Mo. He regretted coming to Tianshui City; it was too vulgar and likely to only elicit Ji Mo's disgust. Ying Tianbao felt he had miscalculated. As a supreme master, Ji Mo must surely transcend common tastes and disdain such things. He decided to halt any further arrangements, lest he displease Ji Mo and cause him to leave, resulting in a significant loss for himself. Ying Tianbao had initially planned a comprehensive "one-stop" service for Ji Mo, but now he decided against such elaborate schemes and opted to escort Ji Mo to a meal instead.
The two proceeded to the dining area. Ying Tianbao had already reserved a private room, but upon Ji Mo's arrival, he chose to sit in the main hall. What was the point of two men dining in a private room? Eating here had more atmosphere.
Ji Mo's gaze swept across the hall, taking in the sights.
"A demoness!"
His eyes widened as he stared with intense curiosity at a woman nearby. The woman had a voluptuous figure, fiery red long hair, pointed ears, and a furry tail extending from her posterior.
"Hmm, a member of the demon race. She hasn't fully transformed into human form, but it's also possible she's intentionally retaining some of her racial features, as many demons prefer to keep certain characteristics."
Ying Tianbao merely glanced at her, accustomed to such sights and unfazed. Just a demon, nothing to be surprised about. However, since she could already assume human form, her strength was clearly formidable, at least a Demon Venerable. It was best not to provoke her.
"Is this alright?"
Ji Mo expressed his concern. In his understanding, humans and demons were irreconcilable.
"Ever since Emperor Bai severed the channels connecting the various realms of the Xuanling World, the relationship between humans and demons has eased considerably. Many places now coexist peacefully, and interspecies marriages are not uncommon. Moreover, half-breeds inherit the best traits of both races, possessing exceptional appearance and aptitude. Ah, if only my father weren't so rigid, I would have married hundreds of demon consorts. What a pity."
Ying Tianbao sighed. Being born into royalty meant a lack of freedom. Otherwise, he would have already fathered a large brood of mixed-race children, rather than being in his current state of longing and inability.
Ji Mo listened intently. This was knowledge known only within the cultivation world, and he was hearing it for the first time. He thought of Madam White Snake and Xu Xian, Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen... such tragically beautiful and moving romances, truly inspiring. Wait, Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen's story was about a human-ghost romance. He wondered if a human-ghost relationship was also possible.
Ji Mo's curiosity piqued, and he was about to ask when he suddenly sensed something amiss – a powerful killing intent surged towards him.
"You scoundrel, have you stared enough?"
A voice filled with shame and anger echoed, and a figure lunged towards Ji Mo, drawing a sword with a "clang" and exuding a murderous aura.
"Ah?"
Ji Mo finally snapped out of his daze. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the glinting tip of a sword and then a mass of snowy white curves, rising and falling with each breath – truly dazzling.
Ying Tianbao, standing nearby, marveled, "My Brother Mo is truly bold, staring at the young lady like that, so unrestrained." He too wanted to look at the voluptuous demoness, but lacked the courage, only stealing occasional glances. Ji Mo, however, stared openly, without any reservation. Consequently, the demoness could no longer tolerate it and drew her sword.
"You're still staring? Are you seeking death?"
Yao Weiwei's face turned ashen. This lecherous fellow was so shameless. Even after she had reprimanded him directly, he showed no shame, instead staring even more brazenly. In reality, Ji Mo had merely been lost in thought, reminiscing about Madam White Snake and Xu Xian, and was not intentionally ogling her. It was a misunderstanding.
"Didn't you come over here for me to look at?"
Ji Mo was utterly bewildered. He had just been immersed in memories and feeling a pang of homesickness. Why was this demoness suddenly picking a fight with him?
"Does being busty make you invincible? Does being busty mean you can bully people?"
"No, they're really big..."
Ji Mo's eyes widened as he openly stared at the snowy expanse, his face filled with astonishment.
"Scoundrel, I'll kill you."
The demoness could no longer contain herself and swung her sword.