Chapter 57: The Red Chamber


    Su Heng’s strength had greatly increased after breaking through another level, leaving him in good spirits.


    He had gathered information about the Luo Family over the past few days, but he was not in a hurry to act.


    The main reason was that today was the River Lantern Festival. Although it was a local festival, it was exceptionally grand, and many people participated.


    If he acted now, it would be easy to overlook something.


    He needed to wait a bit longer.


    Moreover, he had already spent over two days at Jiangyue Pavilion.


    The elder from the Demon Suppression Bureau that Su Li had mentioned still had not arrived. Su Heng wondered whether there was some problem or if it was simply due to low efficiency.


    He cast these doubts aside for the moment.


    Lowering his head as he stepped over the threshold, he came outside, where a figure approached on the quiet path.Just then, another firework exploded in the sky.


    The shing orange light illuminated the figure on the path.


    Her figure was slender, dressed in a fiery red waist-length skirt and simple ck leggings with deer-skin ankle boots, outlining her shapely and long legs. Coupled with her neat, short hair, she exuded an aura of spirited vigor, a martial disposition rarely seen in ordinary women.


    "Master Su."


    This person stopped in front of Su Heng’s separate residence and greeted him with a smile.


    Her name was Chen Murong.


    She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant in Baihua County and was staying temporarily at Jiangyue Pavilion. Due to her hearty nature, they had chatted a few times previously and got along quite well.


    "Mhm." Su Heng nodded and returned the greeting.


    "Are you going out to join the River Lantern Festival’s exhibition?" Chen Murong asked. Seeing Su Heng nod, she continued with a smile, "It happens that I am alone outside. I wonder if Master Su would do me the honor of apanying me."


    "I also have a few invitations to the Red Mansion here. If they are not used tonight, they would go to waste," she said to Su Heng, her voice filled with anticipation.


    "The Red Mansion..."


    Su Heng indeed had heard Su Li specifically mention this matter.


    "That sounds good," he nodded, smiling. "Then I’ll be troubling Miss Chen."


    "It’s no trouble at all." Chen Murongughed heartily. "I am the one extending the invitation, so there’s no trouble at all."


    Thus, the two of them set off together.


    They walked past the ornamental rockery inside Jiangyue Pavilion, following a cobblestone path downhill.


    They passed through the mountain gate and entered the main road at the foot of the mountain, where the crowd gradually thickened. Although it was nighttime, variousnterns and lights illuminated the surroundings as if it were daytime.


    In the sky, colorful fireworks continuously exploded, and the crowd moved forward slowly like a stream.


    On either side of the street, there were variousrgenterns being pulled by majestic horses, moving slowly forward. In an open square, there were dragon dance performances, folk exhibitions, and impromptu poetry writing, making the scene even livelier than Su Heng had imagined.


    Chen Murong was about the same age as Su Heng.


    However, having traveled far and wide with merchant caravans over the years, she had seen much more than Su Heng.


    Pointing to thesenterns and exhibits, she could exin the origin of each image and shared various relevant interesting stories and anecdotes.


    Even though Su Heng was not particrly articte,


    Under Chen Murong’s lead, the atmosphere between them turned out to be very harmonious.


    An hourter, they arrived at the Red Mansion that Su Li had mentioned before.


    The so-called Red Mansion was not an actual tall building, but arge boat. Its head shaped like a dragon’s and its tail like a phoenix’s, the hull was made of red wood. From end to end, it was over seventy meters long.


    One side was concaved downwards, forming a massive hall, while the other side rose upward into a nine-story building, decorated withnterns and colorful banners—these were the spectator stands.


    "This famous Red Mansion of Baihua County is not the tall building people might imagine, but a massive musical hall floating on the river," Chen Murong exined with augh as she saw Su Heng’s slightly surprised face.


    "The first time I boarded the Red Mansion with my father, I was also very surprised," Chen Murong reminisced.


    "It’s truly unbelievable." Su Heng admired.


    Such a grand ship was indeed beyond his expectations, already a spectacle in such an ancient dynasty,


    The two followed the crowd up to the red building, ascending to the highest ninth floor. The view here was broad, the river breeze gentle. Standing at the railing, one could see most of the dock market and experience the feeling of looking down from a high ce, an innate sense of privilege.


    As the crowd gathered, the performance in the exhibition hall soon began.


    First came the dragon and lion dances, with the fierce, uplifting beats of the drums, the lion and dragon heads leapt back and forth on raised poles, moving up and down, eliciting a round of apuse. Then came the acrobatic shows, where various tamedrge beasts took the stage one after another, again apanied by bursts of exmations.


    Su Heng and Chen Murong sat opposite each other.


    They drank while watching the performances on the stage below.


    In the red building’s auditorium, the higher the seats, the more distinguished the guests, and the higher the standard of hospitality.


    The alcoholic drinks here were quite good, being distilled spirits.


    Su Heng himself had a strong physical constitution and could only taste the light fragrance of fruits, yet he felt no intoxication.


    But Chen Murong was just an ordinary person, and after a few drinks, her face turned slightly red, and her eyes became somewhat hazy.


    Whiz!


    The performance reached its climax.


    In the exuberant sound of drumbeats, gold, red, and purple fireworks exploded, like clusters of flowers, their glow fervent.


    "Being with Master Su must feel very safe," Chen Murong remarked softly, seemingly by chance.


    "Is that so?" Su Heng was somewhat surprised.


    He had always thought of himself as ordinary-looking, and with a stature too robust, likely not to be favored by girls.


    Of course, he didn’t mind at all.


    Since mastering the Pure Yang Skill to the breaking limit realm, martial arts had gradually be Su Heng’s sole focus.


    As for the rest, only family could catch his attention.


    But now it seemed…


    Apparently, he was quite likable?


    Su Li had indeed once secretly told him that the other night, Xu Ziyi’s gaze towards him was quite intent.


    "Hee hee, this guest is quite tall and handsome." Seeing that Su Heng’s wine cup was empty, a few pretty maids d in light gauze hurried over to refill his drink and add some snacks.


    One of the maids in green boldly pinched Su Heng’s arm lightly, then widened her eyes in surprise, saying, "It’s as hard as a rock."


    "I’ve seen the generals in the county government, and none have a majestic figure like the young master’s."


    Seeing that Su Heng wasn’t angry,


    The other maids also, while ttering, boldly pinched him and then showed surprised expressions, gathered together, and giggled covering their mouths.


    The red building, although famous, was after all a ce of worldly pleasures.


    The maids working here were also children from poor families, but Su Heng did not see numbness or restraint on these maids’ faces; rather, they were full of natural liveliness and enthusiasm. Clearly, the owner of the red building treated these ordinary maids quite well.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    A light pink curtain fell from the stage.


    As the curtain was drawn, slender figures danced on the stage.


    These dancers were not only graceful and beautiful in motion, but their belts were also wrapped with thin threads, allowing them to perform variousplex movements. Like deer leaping high in the forest, trailing colorful ribbons, they were stunningly beautiful, the atmosphere reaching its climax with the sound of music.


    But just then—crash!


    The sound of something breaking suddenly erupted, and the lively atmosphere in the audience seats suddenly fell silent.