I Can Devour Spirits

A peerless and exquisite visage suddenly emerged!

Duan Rong’s heart stirred; indeed, she was the celebrated courtesan of Divine Cloud Prefecture, a beauty in her prime!

Zhu Peng’s eyes widened, not only because he was dazzled by Qin Xueyin’s beauty, but because he knew that Qin Xueyin uncovering her veil meant she intended to let Duan Rong stay the night.

Staying overnight at the Qin Building is the pinnacle of dreams for the playboys of Divine Cloud Prefecture!

Yet, Duan Rong so effortlessly snatched away the pinnacle of their dreams!

Although Qin Xueyin had been competing in poetry at the Qin Building for years, this was her first time staying overnight; she was still a maiden!

Duan Rong, however, remained oblivious, merely glancing at Qin Xueyin a few times before continuing to drink his wine with nonchalance.

Zhu Peng glanced at Duan Rong enviously, feeling a bit sour inside, yet still leaned forward to quietly remind him, ”Brother Duan, Miss Xueyin removing her veil signifies she wants you to stay the night.”

Duan Rong almost choked on his drink when he heard this.

He coughed a few times, looked at Zhu Peng, and whispered, ”We still have to return to the Ministry of Justice! How can we stay here overnight?”

Zhu Peng raised his voice, ”What’s so urgent at the Ministry of Justice?! Brother Duan, do not be abrupt with the fair lady!”

Duan Rong, hearing Zhu Peng speak so, looked embarrassed and stood up to clasp his hands towards Qin Xueyin, saying, ”Miss Xueyin, please forgive us. We have matters to attend to, and we must take our leave now! I shall discuss poetry with you another time.”

Qin Xueyin was slightly taken aback and asked, ”Sir, do you find Xueyin unattractive?”

Duan Rong tried to pull Zhu Peng away, but Zhu Peng stood there puffed up, blocking his way. He was a bit upset that Duan Rong was so abrupt with Qin Xueyin.

Duan Rong was helpless and had to smile, ”Miss Xueyin is a rare beauty and has absolutely no connection to the word ’ugly’.”

Qin Xueyin said, ”If that’s so, why are you in such a hurry to leave, avoiding Xueyin as one would a plague?”

As Qin Xueyin spoke, a tinge of sorrow appeared on her face.

Duan Rong immediately made a bow with cupped hands, ”Miss Xueyin, please do not be offended. I already have a virtuous wife waiting for me a thousand miles away, longing desperately for my return. Although I am alone here, I dare not betray her! I hope you understand!”

Having been through the ordeal at the ruined temple and starting a family with Xiao Yu, Duan Rong was no longer inexperienced with matters of the heart, and furthermore, his soul had been steeled by past adversity, now steadfast and unwavering.

Besides, he was a married man!

If one day Xiao Yu found out he had been visiting brothels in Divine Cloud Prefecture, wouldn’t that cause chaos in the household?

Upon hearing his words, the sorrow on Qin Xueyin’s face dissipated, and admiration filled her gaze towards Duan Rong. A rare true lover indeed!

”To marry a man like you is truly a blessing.” Qin Xueyin spoke, a faint tear glistening in her eyes.

Duan Rong made another bow, pulled Zhu Peng aside, and slipped out.

As he reached the door, Zhu Peng quickly caught up, saying, ”Brother Duan, meeting Miss Qin means you owe her one thousand taels of silver as a cosmetic fee.”

Duan Rong clicked his tongue slightly. A single meeting costs a thousand taels of silver! What a lucrative business.

”Where do I have silver coins?!”

With that said, Duan Rong headed down the stairs. In his view, he had painstakingly explained ”Early Morning Journey to Shang Mountain” to Qin Xueyin without even charging her tuition.

Zhu Peng had no choice but to turn back and give Qin Xueyin’s maid two one-thousand tael silver notes. Before leaving, Zhu Peng gave Qin Xueyin a deep, reluctant glance.

After Duan Rong and Zhu Peng left, Qin Xueyin sighed softly and returned to the zither stand, gazing at the two poems lying there.

This was her first time discussing poetry so deeply with anyone. The feeling of a spiritual connection was truly wonderful.

Just then, her maid approached slowly with the two silver notes and stood beside Qin Xueyin, muttering as she looked at one of the poems, ”Miss, the one named Duan Rong seems to be the person who summoned the thunder. Everyone outside calls him the Thunder God Duan, don’t they?!”

The maid initially found Duan Rong’s name familiar but didn’t realize it until she heard them mention the Ministry of Justice.

”Is that so? Is it really him?”

Qin Xueyin had heard of this too; after all, the event of summoning the thunderstorm caused a sensation in Divine Cloud Prefecture, and it was related to Li Muping’s death. Li Muping was from Flame Moon Building, and they shared some acquaintance.

”It surely must be him. Miss, didn’t you hear them mention the Ministry of Justice just now? That Duan Rong who summoned the thunder is from the Four Southeast Prefectures, and he is a detective assisting the Ministry of Justice with the case.”

Qin Xueyin smiled slightly. ”Hearing this, it all makes sense. He said earlier he had a virtuous wife a thousand miles away, so he’s from the Four Southeast Prefectures!”

Duan Rong’s face resurfaced in Qin Xueyin’s mind, and she murmured brightly to herself, ”A person of strange deeds and stories, but alas, fate brought us together yet without feelings. It’s my misfortune!”

Duan Rong and Zhu Peng walked slowly along Changle Street towards the Ministry of Justice; it was already evening, and dusk was gradually falling.

At this moment, Zhu Peng’s admiration for Duan Rong surged like a flood.

Duan Rong had not only spontaneously composed two poems, enabling both of them to ascend the building,

but his poetry discussion had directly led Qin Xueyin to remove her veil, inviting him to stay at Qin Building!

Duan Rong seemingly effortlessly became the Star Gatherer of Divine Cloud Prefecture!

Moreover, he actually refused Qin Xueyin!

Amidst such beauty, he remained unmoved!