I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 177: Lanxiang Garden

Ximen Kankan picked up a piece of mung bean cake, took a bite, when suddenly a black shadow darted out from beside his feet. Ximen Kankan’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "How did this hedgehog get so fat?"

More than a month ago, in Liu’s House, Ximen Kankan had already played with this little hedgehog. But it had only been a bit over a month, and the little hedgehog had obviously grown much chubbier...

Ximen Kankan picked up the little hedgehog. Startled, it curled up into a ball, but because it was too fat, when its limbs shrank back, its fleshy parts bulged out.

Ximen Kankan tickled its protruding fat with his fingers. The hedgehog struggled a bit, retracting its fat into its spiky shell, but a hind leg popped out again...

Ximen Kankan took the opportunity to grab that leg, hanging the curled-up hedgehog upside down...

With its leg grabbed, the little hedgehog flailed wildly, urgently squeaking...

Ximen Kankan laughed until his eyes scrunched into lines...

Duan Rong was intrigued as it was his first time hearing a hedgehog’s cry, surprisingly similar to a baby’s wails...

Jiang Qingyu quickly grabbed the leg Ximen Kankan was pinching and placed the little hedgehog back on the ground. Startled, the hedgehog immediately dove into the underbrush behind the willow tree, refusing to come out.

Jiang Qingyu angrily said, "You rascal, why bully the hedgehog for no reason?"

"I was just playing with it." Ximen Kankan rolled his eyes at Jiang Qingyu and said, "Look at you, so fussy like a woman!"

"You..."

"Alright, alright, let’s not argue over small matters." Duan Rong pulled them to sit down and began jokingly recounting some amusing stories from his recent journey escorting the goods.

Before setting out with the goods, Duan Rong often fed the little hedgehog. Because he was away for over a month, he left a small basin of beef jerky in the pavilion for it.

Perhaps he left too much, because when he returned, the little hedgehog had finished the whole basin of beef jerky and turned into a ball.

After chatting for a while, Jiang Qingyu said, "Brother Duan, ever since you bested Luo Zhoucheng at Weiyang Square over a month ago, he indeed honored his promise and hasn’t bothered Miss Lan Ying again."

"Miss Lan Ying was pleased to finally shake off that nuisance and casually mentioned it to me during a chat. I told her the whole story from start to finish."

"Miss Lan Ying is really grateful to you, Brother Duan. She wants me to invite you to Huaying Building to express her thanks. But recently, you were away escorting goods, and you weren’t around when I came by a few times."

Ximen Kankan also chimed in with a laugh, "Tonight was originally Jiang Qingyu’s date with Lan Ying. He insisted on bringing me to check if you were back. Who would have thought you actually returned? Isn’t this perfect?"

As they spoke, both of them looked at Duan Rong with bright eyes.

Duan Rong smiled slightly. These two fellows, clearly intending to drag him to Huaying Building for some flower wine.

Given his obsessive training habits, he naturally wouldn’t want to go, but seeing the anticipation in his good friends’ eyes and thinking of how he’d neglected them recently, Duan Rong couldn’t bear to refuse and said, "On a fine evening with a gentle breeze, why not take a trip to Huaying Building?"

"Precisely the plan!" Upon hearing this, both stood up with smiles.

Ximen Kankan looked at Jiang Qingyu, smugly saying, "See, I told you Brother Duan would go. One hundred silver notes, quickly!"

"You’re right, you’re right!" Jiang Qingyu pulled out a silver note and slapped it into Ximen Kankan’s hand. Though he lost the bet, he was still happy Duan Rong agreed to the invitation.

Watching the laughing Ximen Kankan and Jiang Qingyu, Duan Rong rubbed his nose, speechless.

These two guys, betting on him?

Outrageous!

When night fell, Huaying Building became the most bustling and radiant spot on the streets of Xianggu County.

The tall wooden structure of the two-story building loomed magnificently. The sound of string instruments and faint laughter drifted out, carried by the night breeze, touching the hearts of the lovesick and forlorn...

On the second floor of Huaying Building, inside Lanxiang Garden.

Lanxiang Garden is where Lan Ying resides in Huaying Building, with a bedroom connected to a spacious front hall adorned with embroidered screens and trailing drapes.

At this moment, the tables in the front hall were laden with various dishes and fruits as Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, and Jiang Qingyu sat around them, with two maids pouring wine from silver jugs beside them.

Not far from the tables, on the raised, curtain-draped platform, Lan Ying played the zither and sang, her delicate hands strumming the strings, her voice sorrowful and melodious. Amid the sweet, glutinous notes occasionally rang a few clear tones, complementing her exquisite beauty and her slightly furrowed brows, utterly captivating!

Duan Rong glanced at the nearly petrified Jiang Qingyu beside him and couldn’t help but smile. He now finally understood why the young man was so infatuated with Lan Ying.

Had he not undergone several life-and-death experiences, honing his heart to be quite resilient, he might also have found it hard to resist the natural touch of melancholy between Lan Ying’s brows...

Lan Ying’s personal maid, Hong Xue, stood behind Lan Ying, gently fanning her with a round fan.

The weather was getting hotter day by day, and Lan Ying, being frail and unable to endure extreme temperatures, was most prone to illness during the transitional seasons of sudden cold and heat. Whenever she fell ill, Hu Huanhuan would undoubtedly summon Hong Xue for inquiries, so she dared not neglect her duties. If Lan Ying coughed occasionally, Hong Xue would be more anxious than Lan Ying herself.

Hong Xue, while fanning, occasionally let her gaze sweep over the faces of the three seated at the table.

By now, Duan Rong had calmed his heart’s stirrings and began sampling the delicacies on the table.

The chef at Huaying Building wasn’t inferior to those at large restaurants, though naturally the prices were exorbitant because here one wasn’t just paying for the ingredients and taste...

After finishing her piece, Lan Ying felt somewhat tired. Burdened by melancholy, she sighed softly, stepped down from the stage, and joined the table...

As Lan Ying approached, a faint fragrance wafted past everyone, as Duan Rong, with his mouth greasy from devouring a chicken leg, was eating heartily.

Lan Ying glanced at Duan Rong, coolly commenting, "Sir has quite the appetite!"

Lan Ying seldom played the zither, much less sang while playing. Jiang Qingyu had also rarely heard her. She did it to thank Duan Rong for his help, but Duan Rong focused solely on the food, oblivious to her gesture.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Lady’s voice is elegant, but the song is rather sad and decadent, which adds to your sorrow. Wouldn’t it affect your health to sing such a melancholic tune?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Ying coldly chuckled and retorted, "A song in a brothel, if not decadent, should it be elegant and upright? If you hold such noble principles, why come to the brothel for flower wine?"

Momentarily paused by her words, Duan Rong replied, "The lady’s melancholy burdens the body. When the body is heavy, nothing pleases the heart. Such a vicious cycle, when will the body be at ease?"

Lan Ying was startled by Duan Rong’s words, her expression blankly staring at him.

From behind, Hong Xue suddenly laughed, "Sir’s words are quite similar to what Doctor Gu said..."

Lan Ying, seemingly irritated by Hong Xue’s comment, turned to glare at her. In return, Hong Xue, when met with Lan Ying’s glare, quickly averted her gaze and stuck out her tongue playfully.