She kept her eyes fixed on the two women until she saw ripples appear in the air not far away. An inconspicuous teahouse abruptly materialized within her sight.
Gu Qingyun stared intently at the building. No wonder she hadn’t seen it despite walking back and forth several times. It turned out this small, folded pocket of space required specific conditions to enter; if the time wasn't right or the person wasn't right, it remained inaccessible.
This was a genuine physical space, yet it didn’t quite belong to this world. She didn't know where its master had found it. Because the demon qi was completely isolated, Gu Qingyun had naturally failed to detect it earlier.
Ma Lingyi and the others entered the teahouse without hesitation. The moment they stepped inside, Gu Qingyun followed closely behind them. As the group entered, the teahouse trembled slightly before vanishing silently once again.
Ma Lingyi, walking ahead, didn't notice anyone following them. The women were filled with nothing but anticipation at the prospect of becoming beautiful again.
Looking at the paintings of maids hanging in the building, Gu Qingyun couldn't imagine what kind of person—no, what kind of demon—the master of this place was to be able to make people beautiful. If someone were to open a beauty salon like this in the modern world, they would surely make a fortune.
The air was thick with that intense fragrance, identical to what she had smelled on the various ladies at Caixiang Pavilion.
When she first encountered the scent, she had assumed it was just the common fragrance of cosmetics used by women and didn’t sense anything wrong. This time, however, she’d had a vague suspicion and decided to try her luck. She hadn't expected to actually discover something different.
Gu Qingyun looked at the woman behind the counter—the same one she had met briefly at Caixiang Pavilion—and concentrated her energy into her eyes. She couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
To her eyes, the woman was nothing less than a massive, strange flower. The flower was over one zhang tall, its body a mix of green and purple, covered in hooked thorns.
The colors were vibrant. Each petal was a mixture of black, purple, red, and white, making it surprisingly beautiful. The flower emitted a powerful scent that saturated the entire teahouse.
Gu Qingyun observed the flower carefully for a long time, forced to admit that she was uninformed—she did not recognize this species.
Once she saw Ma Lingyi and the others fall into a deep sleep after drinking the tea, Gu Qingyun finally revealed herself.
“Greetings, Madame of Caixiang Pavilion.”
The Madame, who was about to return to a back room, spun around abruptly, her gaze sharp.
“I didn't expect a little bug to sneak in behind them. Since you're here, you might as well leave your life behind.” The Madame waved her hand, manifesting two vines that shot toward her.
Gu Qingyun stepped forward and grabbed the vines with both hands. Her dense spiritual qi surged directly into them. As if touched by a natural enemy, the woman severed her own vines and retreated several steps, her face filled with terror.
What was wrong with this person? Why could she cause so much damage? Wasn't she just an ordinary human?
Seeing that her first strike failed, the Madame attacked again. She raised her slender hand, and several thick flower branches erupted from the floor, lunging toward Gu Qingyun’s ankles.
Gu Qingyun lifted her foot and crushed the branches. With a light tap of her finger, spiritual light converged into needle-like thin swords that shot straight toward the Madame.
“Ah! It hurts!”
The flower demon cried out in pain. After two exchanges, she realized she had encountered a master of the mystical arts. Knowing she was no match, she gave the teahouse an unwilling glance before transforming into a gust of wind to flee.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Gu Qingyun said calmly. With a wave of her hand, she manifested a barrier that enveloped the entire teahouse.
The Madame was scorched by the barrier and sent flying back to the ground, blood trailing from the corner of her mouth. She struggled to stand up and sneered.
“You forced my hand. Since I can't live, they don't need to live either.” She pointed at the sleeping Ma Lingyi and the others.
“Wait, stop. We haven't reached the point of a fight to the death yet,” Gu Qingyun interjected.
“What do you mean?” The Madame asked, her face full of suspicion.
Gu Qingyun spread her hands.
“I don't mean anything. I just want to ask what kind of flower you are. I’ve been looking for a while, but I don't recognize your true form.”
Seeing that she had no immediate intention of attacking, the Madame felt a sense of relief. However, she kept her eyes fixed on her, fearing a sudden assault.
“I am a Ronghua Demon. My true form is a mutated Datura flower. I cultivate by absorbing human spirit essence and their desire for beauty.”
Gu Qingyun slowly approached her, stopping a few meters away.
“I’ve heard that flowers are hermaphroditic. You…”
The Madame had never met someone like this. But since they could coexist peacefully without fighting to the death, she waved her hand and transformed into a handsome man.
Gu Qingyun studied him for a few moments before waving her hand dismissively.
“You should probably change back to how you were just now. It’s more comfortable to look at.”
The Ronghua Demon felt indignant but dared not speak out. She changed back to her female form.
“What exactly do you want? Do you intend to let me go?”
Gu Qingyun shook her head.
“Don't be in such a hurry. You haven't explained yet how you make these women beautiful.”
The Ronghua Demon raised her head proudly.
“It’s not easy for us plants to cultivate a human form, let alone a mutation like me. My flower nectar is a top-grade material.
“As long as mortals drink the tea I brew, their turbid qi will be temporarily sealed, and their skin will become translucent from the inside out.
“Furthermore, once they drink my nectar, they form a connection with me. I can use those women to obtain the spirit essence of those who share their beds.”
“However, there is a restriction. They must drink my nectar once every half month. If they stop, they will return to their original appearance.”
Gu Qingyun asked suspiciously, “That’s it? No other harmful effects?”
The Ronghua Demon found a chair and sat down.
“I am a demon of my word. If I say there are no side effects, then there are truly none. Besides, I receive money and other benefits; it’s an equivalent exchange. The only downside is probably that their bed partners won't be very capable in the future.”
Gu Qingyun fell silent, momentarily unsure of how to deal with this demon.
Seeing her silence, the Ronghua Demon touched her face and smiled. “I’ve only had this shop open for two months, and I haven't killed anyone yet. The man who died last night brought it upon himself; lust is a blade over one's head. Master, my crimes are not worthy of death.
“Look, if it weren't for my nectar, these ladies would have been despised by their husbands long ago. It wouldn't be like it is now, with their families in harmony.
“And my fragrance is addictive to men—especially on those ladies. The scent is even purer, more addictive than the girls in the brothels.”
Gu Qingyun was speechless.
“Have you ever considered that even if they become beautiful, they won't necessarily be happy? Some men are naturally fickle. No matter how good a relationship is, it will gradually fade with time. Your nectar can't solve those problems.”
“And those two brothels are yours too, right? Since they’ve all drunk your nectar, can you really provide for so many people?”
The Ronghua Demon paused, her gaze lingering on Gu Qingyun for a moment. She knew, of course, that she couldn’t keep up with the demand.
She only wanted to satisfy these women’s wishes. Their determination to be beautiful was very strong, and this pure desire for beauty was greatly beneficial to her cultivation.
“It can't be helped. They are calling out to me. You know, this is a space fragment—ordinary people can't perceive it at all. If it weren't for them calling out to me, I wouldn't even be willing to let them drink my precious nectar.”
Gu Qingyun looked at her and said bluntly, “Isn't that nectar just your spit? What’s so precious about it?”
The Ronghua Demon became flustered with shame and anger.
“Do you have any manners? Your words are so unpleasant. I am a flower—what other treasures could I have besides nectar? Originally, I was a type of poisonous flower, but who knew the mutation would go the wrong way? All the poison I naturally possessed is gone.”
Gu Qingyun: “...” That was indeed quite tragic—losing her greatest weapon.
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