Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 337- Zhao Lusi [2]

The inn’s interior was even more extravagant than the street outside.

Silk curtains embroidered with phoenixes and cranes flowed down from crystal chandeliers.

The tables were carved from spiritwood, polished enough to reflect one’s face. Perfumed incense curled through the air, carrying hints of lotus and wine.

Zhao Lusi swaggered in like she owned the entire establishment.

"Private room," she declared to the trembling attendant, "and bring us your finest wine. No, the most expensive one. The thousand-year peach blossom brew. And food. The best ones."

The attendant bowed and then left.

Moments later, the table was filled gleaming plates stacked high with dishes Fang Yuan had never even heard of.

Spirit beast meat infused with qi-rich spices, shimmering nectar fruits, golden rice steamed in starlight essence...

Fang Yuan could feel his cultivation gently rising just from the aroma.

Zhao Lusi was already pouring herself a massive cup of radiant pink wine, humming happily.

He shook his head helplessly.

Hopeless master.

Still... the food smelled divine.

With a resigned sigh, Fang Yuan picked up his chopsticks and dug in.

Juicy meat melted the moment it hit his tongue.

A wave of warm qi rippled down his meridians.

He had barely finished his first bite when

DING!

A familiar light-blue screen flickered into existence before his eyes.

[New System Mission Detected]

Reclaim the Elder Seal of Zhao Lusi

Reward: Talent Root Enhancement Shard

Failure Penalty: Hao Lo will encounter a major fortuitous opportunity.

Fang Yuan choked.

"Cough—! Cough!!!"

A nearby servant rushed behind him in alarm, patting and rubbing his back repeatedly.

"Y-Young master, are you alright!?"

His eyes bulged as he saw the penalty again.

Hao Lo!? Why was the failure punishment that guys reward?

No. Absolutely not.

There was no way Fang Yuan would allow that walking disaster to gain a lucky encounter because of his failure.

The servant continued rubbing his back frantically.

"Do you need tea!? Medicine?! Should I call a physician?!"

Fang Yuan waved him off, face reddened for all the wrong reasons.

Across the table, Zhao Lusi took a slow sip of her wine, eyebrow raised.

"You ate one bite and already dying?" she smirked.

Fang Yuan lowered his bowl, his expression tightening for a moment before he masked it.

The young girl beside him gently rubbed his back, worry written across her face.

"It’s fine," he said, forcing a small smile. "Thank you."

He gave a subtle nod, signaling for her to head out. She paused, then bowed lightly and slipped through the door.

The moment it closed behind her, Fang Yuan’s gaze sharpened. He inhaled sharply and looked at his master with narrow eyes.

"...Master."

"Hm?"

"Where. Is. Your. Seal."

Zhao Lusi blinked innocently.

"Oh? Didn’t I already tell you? I traded it~"

"For wine," Fang Yuan gritted out.

She beamed and raised her cup.

"To wise investments!"

Fang Yuan pressed his fingers to his temples.

Heaven preserve me.

He then wiped his mouth with a napkin, his gaze firmly stuck on Zhao Lusi.

"Master, I need that seal."

Zhao Lusi paused mid-sip. Her eyes flicked toward him over the rim of her cup, as though she had been hoping he’d just... forget.

She took another long drink. Then another.

Finally, she let out a great sigh and slumped in her chair.

"Aahhh... I can’t believe I ended up with such an annoying disciple."

She jabbed a finger toward him. "Fine, fine. I remember where it is."

She coughed into her fist, cheeks turning noticeably pink.

"...Drifting Blossom Pavilion."

Fang Yuan blinked.

She continued, voice dropping as if confessing to a crime:

"I spent a night there in exchange for the seal."

Her ears reddened. Her gaze drifted away, clearly recalling... details she’d rather not.

Fang Yuan didn’t want to know. He made a mental note of the name and stood.

"Master... can I leave first?"

Zhao Lusi froze.

She stared at her cup.

Then at him.

Then back at her cup again.

An obvious war raged in her eyes, disciple or wine... disciple or wine...

She looked like she might cry having to choose.

"I’ll meet you here in six hours," Fang Yuan said, already rising to his feet.

Zhao Lusi lifted her head slowly... then bargained,"Twenty-four hours. Give me twenty four hours."

Fang Yuan stared at her, utterly speechless.

Any normal master would be curious why their disciple needed six hours.

But her? Instead of being curious she instead wants twenty-four to herself...

His gaze slid to the wine jug.

Then back to her flushed, hopeful expression. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Fang Yuan suppressed a sigh.

At least having this much freedom benefits me.

He turned and walked out of the private room, leaving his master happily drowning herself in peach blossom brew.

Outside, lanterns glowed like crimson moons.

The laughter of courtesans spilled over the balcony as women leaned out, beckoning boldly:

"Oh~ handsome young man~ come enjoy yourself~"

"So cold! One smile and I’ll warm you up!"

But Fang Yuan walked straight past them, ignoring every flirtatious call.

He stepped into the night-lit streets, lantern glow brushing past his sleeves.

He had gotten himself out of the inn... but now he stood still.

No idea where Drifting Blossom Pavilion even was.

Ask for directions?

He glanced around and all he saw was drunken cultivators, flirtatious courtesans....

He slowly shook his head.

Absolutely not.

His hand brushed against the spatial ring on his finger.

It was tidy. Perfectly organized.

Or rather...

Well, empty was the most apt term for his situation right now.

He had tossed everything he had to his aunt before Zhao Lusi picked him up.

Now, only ten Hollow Spirit Pills sat in that vast internal space, there was nothing he could use to bribe out information.

A sigh escaped him.

What kind of Hollow Spirit Realm cultivator walked around poorer than a mortal beggar?

He spread his divine sense outward, a soft ripple of awareness.

The world sharpened instantly.

People bustling, qi fluctuations bleeding into the air, shop signs gleaming with spiritual inscriptions, and then his attention stopped at an auction house.

It was large, grandeur and looked very prosperous.

His eyes lit but just then another divine sense slammed into his.

It was vast and brutal like a mountain crushing the sky.

BOOM.

Fang Yuan dropped to one knee, vision swimming as pain stabbed behind his eyes.

Cold sweat rolled down his spine.

"What I did was rude, sure..." he muttered through clenched teeth, "but isn’t this a bit... excessive?"

He forced himself upright and dusted off his robe.