Future Beast World: Becoming A Pampered Beauty-Chapter 470 - 409: Night Pavilion Master

The young man stared blankly for a moment, his beautifully curved lips parting slightly.

Sang Luo picked up a crystal shrimp dumpling and popped it into his mouth. "See how it tastes."

Yun Qi chewed, swallowed, and smiled happily. "It’s delicious."

"Mmm, so good." Sang Luo’s eyes crinkled into a smile. She slid her stool over, focusing completely on feeding this adorable, well-behaved little fox.

"How about this one?"

"This is delicious, too."

"And this one?"

"Mmm..."

"Do you like this one?"

"I do."

Sang Luo turned to the servants waiting nearby. "Have you all noted down what servant Yun Qi likes to eat? From now on, prepare his meals according to this standard."

"Yes!"

Then, as if she’d thought of something else, Sang Luo added, "This Princess recalls that when the marriage alliance was made with the Nine-tailed Fox Clan, the betrothal gifts were for a Main Husband."

Everyone’s heart skipped a beat. Yun Qi also raised his head to "look" at her, his grip tightening on his chopsticks as his throat worked.

"The ceremonies for marrying a Main Husband are too complex, and given his current condition, it would be too much for him. Let’s elevate him to the status of Concubine for now. From this day forward, everything in the Plum Blossom Garden will be raised to the standard befitting a Concubine."

The Princess had taken five or six servants, and the number of beautiful male attendants she’d shared a night of passion with was countless. But she had never even appointed a single Concubine, let alone a Main Husband.

Once bestowed the title of "Husband," their interests would be completely bound together. Marriage, divorce, or any other incident would be subject to intense public scrutiny. No one would care if she beat a servant or an attendant, but striking a Concubine? That was an atrocity that would draw universal condemnation! The Princess had never been willing to invite that kind of trouble for herself.

With no Main Husband currently in the Princess Mansion, a Concubine would effectively hold the same status!

If servant Yun Qi truly became a Concubine, who would dare to ostracize him in secret? Countless people would be lining up to curry his favor.

Besides, from the Princess’s tone, once his health recovered, she might even make him her Main Husband!

The crowd remained stunned for a long time before an elderly steward finally stepped forward. "Princess, taking a husband is a serious matter. Perhaps you should reconsider..."

"This Princess has made her decision. It is not for others to question!"

Sang Luo swept a cold gaze over them, and no one dared to say another word.

Yun Qi became a Concubine of the Princess Mansion. There was no grand ceremony, only a simple floating-cup wine banquet. Yet, no one in the mansion doubted the Princess’s feelings for him.

’Even the Princess, who had always been so driven by lust and physical beauty, was willing to bend her own rules for this "ugly" servant. This had to be true love!’

Sang Luo became even busier. In addition to her usual search for Refining Materials, she had also promised to help her little fox get his eyes back.

Auction houses are strictly confidential about the identities of their buyers and sellers. However, the Red Fox Clan’s enterprises were spread throughout Qingqiu, and that particular auction house was one of their own. It wouldn’t be difficult for Sang Luo to find the person who had purchased the [Eye of the Spirit Fox].

The Night Pavilion Master.

What the world knew of him was simple: he was a collector whose identity was a complete mystery.

He was known to be eccentric and inscrutable, making him incredibly difficult to deal with. He loved to collect strange and rare treasures, and was known for his extravagant, reckless spending.

Sang Luo had tried repeatedly to request a meeting, but he had always refused.

She tried again, this time extending an official invitation in her capacity as the Princess of the Red Fox Clan.

Several days later, a reply finally came. He would be available to meet the following evening.

The condition, however, was that she must come alone. No one could accompany her.

Sang Luo was suspicious, but she went anyway. As a precaution, she brought an entourage and had them wait outside Yeque Pavilion.

’From a distance, it probably looked like she’d surrounded Yeque Pavilion. ’The Pavilion Master said I had to come alone, but he didn’t say I couldn’t bring backup,’ she reasoned. ’It’s perfectly normal for a princess to travel with an escort, isn’t it?’’

A tall Beastman wearing a demonic mask stepped forward and bowed to Sang Luo.

"Princess of the Red Fox Clan, my master has been waiting. Please allow me to lead the way."

"Thank you."

"You are too kind, Princess. This way, please."

Sang Luo followed the man in the demonic mask through the gate. Behind them, a heavy stone door boomed shut, making a dull, final sound.

Not a single sliver of light penetrated the seal, plunging her into absolute darkness.

"Don’t be afraid, Princess. The Master dislikes outsiders seeing his true face. Please stay close to me, and whatever you do, don’t get lost..." As he spoke, his voice took on an uncanny, sinister tone, hinting that some terrifying creature lurked in the dark. If she were to lose her way, she might truly never return.

Whether it was her imagination or not, Sang Luo’s nose twitched. She caught the faint scent of blood.

They walked down the long, dark corridor for what felt like an eternity.

Suddenly, with the snap of a finger, a thousand candles flared to life in sequence, illuminating a grand hall at the end of the corridor.

A man was reclining on a high throne. He wore a dark gold brocade robe covered in bizarre patterns that shimmered with a mysterious light, and a cold, somber aura clung to him.

He wore the same kind of black demonic mask.

The mask seemed to seal away all the warmth and life in the world, revealing only a pair of begonia-red eyes. The edges of his pupils were faintly ringed in cyan. They were majestic and strangely beautiful, and to meet their gaze was to feel a tremor in one’s very soul.

"You wish to buy back the [Eye of the Spirit Fox] from me?" His voice was a low, gravelly rasp, like cloth being dragged over stone. It was clearly disguised.

Sang Luo snapped back to her senses and nodded earnestly. "You know why I’ve come, Pavilion Master, and yet you still agreed to this meeting. That must mean there is room for negotiation! Rest assured, if you are willing to part with them, I will give you a price that you’ll find more than satisfactory."

The Night Pavilion Master didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Those eyes are a truly rare beauty. You were the one who sold them, so why do you want them back now?"

"Those eyes are very important to their owner. I... I want to return them to him."

"And you were the one who personally gouged them out, weren’t you?"

"...Yes."

"Heh. What a cruel female you are. First, you gouge out his eyes with your own hands, and now you have the ’kindness’ to return them?"

Sang Luo had no response. She met the man’s deep eyes and asked bluntly, "Pavilion Master, just tell me. Will you sell them or not?"

The Night Pavilion Master rose and descended from his throne. His long, pale feet were bare as he crossed the floor. He stopped before a wall and pressed a hidden switch.

A secret door slid open, and he stepped inside. "Come, Princess. Take a look."

Sang Luo hesitated for a moment before following him.

The door closed behind them once more.

The secret room was vast, filled with row after row of shelves. Some treasures were sealed in jars, while others were laid out in the open. As Sang Luo’s gaze swept across the room, she saw all manner of things: the skull of a giant beast, a lizard’s tongue, a deformed creature with three heads and six arms, and even the corpse of an infant beast preserved in a jar...

The Night Pavilion Master walked to the last row of shelves, pulled open a drawer, and took out a brocade box.

"What you’re looking for is in here."

Sang Luo’s gaze fixed on the box in his hands, and her breath caught. ’It’s in there! Yun Qi’s eyes are in that box!’

The man’s voice held a trace of regret. "Unfortunately... I’m quite fond of these eyes. I don’t think I’m willing to part with them for the Princess’s sake."

Sang Luo said quickly, "Name your price. I’ll trade anything for them!"

"Oh?" The Pavilion Master’s interest was piqued. He stared intently at her. "Then how about you trade them for the thing that is most important to you, Princess?"

Sang Luo froze, blinking in confusion. ’What do I have that’s so important?’

The Pavilion Master padded barefoot to Sang Luo’s side. He reached out a hand toward her face, his voice full of fascination as he said,

"I think your eyes are quite beautiful as well, Princess!"