There was a lake island in Duzhou that had become quite famous recently, called Luoxia Wenying.

This island was not far from Li’er Kingdom. Ever since Duzhou’s spiritual energy gradually recovered, the previously withered secret realms were slowly becoming rich again. The secret realm in Li’er Kingdom was no longer as popular as before. Merchants with vision turned their attention elsewhere. Some days ago, the cultivation world and the demon realm jointly transformed a lake island, naming it Luoxia Wenying.

It was said that this island had extremely beautiful scenery. The sunset glow on the island was particularly enchanting, and amid the dense forests, there were vast expanses of blooming pink butterfly flowers. Come evening, the ground would be covered in gentle pink snow, with warm flowers and noisy winds, spring filling ten thousand acres.

That very month, it surpassed all other scenic spots to become the number one destination on Duzhou’s list of favorite places for Dao companions to visit.

After learning of this place, Zanxing was eager to try it. Since nothing major had happened in Heishi City recently, she discussed with Gu Baiying about going to this island for a few days of leisure.

Gu Baiying was not one for romantic affairs, but unable to withstand Zanxing’s persistent coaxing, he finally agreed. The next day, after instructing Xiao Shuang on matters to handle, Zanxing and Gu Baiying went to Luoxia Wenying Island.

How to put it… the scenery was truly beautiful, but the prices were truly high as well.

Perhaps because this island was jointly transformed by both the demon clan and human race, the aesthetics of the two races inevitably clashed, sometimes resulting in particularly indescribable combinations. For instance, the pavilions where people could rest had elegant white flowing gauze curtains hanging in them, which was originally quite ethereal, but adding two azure human-faced lanterns made it look rather eerie at night.

The flowers and plants planted throughout the small island were all very elegantly colored, but trimming them into the shapes of fierce beasts could make people feel frightened.

There were also crystal pillars carved everywhere… The demon clan loved these shiny things, but the cultivation world preferred gauze curtains.

Hard versus soft, brilliant versus plain, otherworldly versus distinctive…

The more mismatched, the more they put them together.

However, there were many pink butterfly flowers here. In the evening, when the sunset glow spread over, even the clouds in the sky were soft pink. Many Dao companions came to this place, wave after wave, crowding the entrance until it was impenetrable.

Zanxing picked up the staff that had been knocked away by the crowd and whispered to Gu Baiying: “There are too many people here. Let’s find an inn to stay at first.”

Gu Baiying also disliked places with too many people, so he naturally agreed upon hearing this.

Since Luoxia Wenying was Duzhou’s favorite destination for Dao companions, it naturally offered complete services for sightseeing, dining, bathing, and lodging. The various inns on the island almost dazzled the eyes with their variety. Now that night was falling, lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere, with gauze curtains dancing in the wind. Zanxing found one that looked the largest and most impressive, and walked in with Gu Baiying.

As soon as they entered, a woman came forward with a smile, saying: “Are you two guests looking for lodging?”

Some days ago, the sect leader of a certain small sect had brought his lover to play at this place. When his wife learned of it and pursued them to Luoxia Wenying to catch them in adultery, it became a scandal known throughout Duzhou’s cultivation world. Since then, many Dao companions coming here to play would first cast a face-concealing technique so that outsiders couldn’t see their appearance.

Zanxing and Gu Baiying also used the face-concealing technique. It wasn’t because they feared someone coming to catch them in adultery, but since she was now the Demon Lord and a celebrity in Duzhou, if word got out, it would inevitably cause more reputation troubles. Although reputation wasn’t important to the demon clan, still… better not.

The innkeeper was a kind-looking, plump woman, very amiable and approachable. She wore a dark red long robe, and the pearls in her hair contained faint demonic energy—she was originally from the demon clan.

Zanxing said, “Are there any vacant rooms?”

Hearing this, the innkeeper gestured toward the wall behind her with her chin, while greeting other guests and saying to Zanxing: “All the room plaques are hanging on the wall. Guests can choose first.”

Zanxing looked and saw that on the wall directly facing the front counter, there was indeed a full wall of wooden plaques hanging neatly, about a hundred of them. Reflected by the ethereal pink firelight from the torches on the wall, they immediately added several degrees of romantic ambiguity.

Looking at the names on the wooden plaques made it even richer.

There were rather direct ones, such as “Dark Azure Enchantment,” “Blood Red Clouds and Rain,” “Autumn Encounter,” “Crimson Maple Forest,” “Slate Purple Hot Spring,” and so forth. Such bold color schemes and creativity should have come from the demon clan’s hands.

Some subtle ones sparked the imagination, such as “Fish and Water Study,” “Dream-like Temple,” “Red Wild Hunting Ground,” “Ice and Fire Imperial Tomb”—mainly place names, proper yet containing a hint of sensuality, probably from the hands of sect cultivators.

As Gu Baiying looked, he became increasingly uncomfortable. If Zanxing hadn’t been pulling him along, he probably would have turned and left immediately.

Zanxing was much more composed than him, but the hundred or so plaques were dazzling to look at and difficult to choose from. She simply asked the innkeeper: “Innkeeper, which is the most expensive room in your inn?”

Hearing this, the innkeeper immediately beamed with joy, saying: “The guest has good taste. The most expensive and best room in our inn is naturally ‘Guihai Blessed Land.'”

Guihai Blessed Land? This name was quite proper, with no ambiguous words, like some cultivation secret realm.

“It sounds very ordinary,” Zanxing pondered.

Hearing this, the innkeeper immediately exclaimed: “Not ordinary, not ordinary! The guest doesn’t know—in other rooms, each room only has one type of scenery, but the Guihai Blessed Land is different. Inside the room, there are also multiple choices. Guests can choose whichever type they prefer… Aiya, it’s hard to explain in words,” she pushed Zanxing’s arm and lowered her voice, “the guests will understand once they go in.”

She spoke in a very enticing manner.

“Then let’s choose this room?” Zanxing symbolically asked for Gu Baiying’s opinion.

“One room?” Gu Baiying was stunned.

“Otherwise?” she said. “Several thousand spirit stones per night—if you and I each get our room, wouldn’t that be too extravagant?” Coming to a couple’s inn but getting two separate rooms would probably look foolish to others.

She didn’t want to be a fool.

“I don’t lack money,” he said quietly.

“I do.” Zanxing pulled Gu Baiying’s arm and smiled at the innkeeper: “We’ll take this room.”

“Good, good, good.” The innkeeper smiled until her eyes squinted into slits. “This servant will take you up right away.” She turned around and whispered to Zanxing: “There aren’t many young masters who spend so generously these days. The young lady doesn’t know—some days ago, a guest who came here claimed to be the sect leader of some sect, but was too stingy to even give his lover a large room. When his wife came to catch them in adultery, she broke a stack of our cups and didn’t compensate us either. Very petty.”

“Though I can’t see the young lady’s face clearly, I can sense the demonic energy on her. I imagine, like this servant, you’re also from the demon clan. Since we’re of the same clan, I can’t help but take extra care.” The innkeeper whispered, “I guarantee the young lady will be satisfied tonight.”

Zanxing: “…Thank you.”