My Xianxia Harem Life-Chapter 56 Horses

Leia couldn’t help but laugh at that.

"You make me sound like a desperate whore," she said, shaking her head with amusement.

Chloe chuckled, too, but her tone quickly grew serious.

"Well, aren’t you? Desperate, I mean."

The laughter faded from Leia’s lips as Chloe’s words struck a nerve.

She glanced back at Riley, her expression contemplative.

There was no denying the truth in her friend’s blunt statement.

She sat in silence for a long moment, her thoughts turning over Chloe’s advice.

The sight of Riley smiling at the beautiful woman across from him only deepened her turmoil.

Was she truly willing to let this opportunity slip away?

Leia’s fingers tightened around her chopsticks as a decision began to take shape in her mind.

She wasn’t sure if she could follow through, but one thing was certain: the time to act was running out.

Time passed, and the night unfolded with laughter and cheer.

The food was exquisite, and the drinks even better, leaving everyone in high spirits.

The disciples couldn’t help but dream of visiting the Drunken Immortal Pavilion regularly, though they knew the distance from their sect made it impossible.

Before leaving, several disciples approached Veronica, their hopeful expressions evident.

"Miss Veronica, this place is amazing! Could you consider opening a branch at the Stone Mountain Sect?"

The lovely hostess merely smiled, her answer as noncommittal as it was polite.

"I’ll think about it."

As the night stretched toward midnight, and the group began preparing to leave, one brave disciple addressed the lingering question on everyone’s mind.

"Elder Riley, what happened to Daoist Midnight Lotus?"

The room fell silent, all ears turning toward Riley.

"Nothing," Riley replied with a casual shrug, adjusting Katherine in his arms.

He carried her effortlessly in a bridal carry, her figure limp and peaceful in her drunken slumber.

"She’s just had too much to drink."

His nonchalant demeanor didn’t invite further questions, and he turned toward the group, his tone brisk.

"Let’s go. You can all enjoy yourselves tomorrow as well. We’ll be staying in the sect for another week."

Excited murmurs broke out among the disciples.

"Really? That’s fantastic news, Elder Riley!"

"This sect is amazing. So much better than ours!"

"I agree. The Heavenly Sword Sect is leagues ahead of our Stone Mountain Sect. They’re so much wealthier!"

The chatter continued as they returned to their courtyard.

Once there, Riley carried Katherine into his room, laying her down gently on the bed.

With a practiced hand, he began to set up a small but powerful little eternal fortress formation around the courtyard, ensuring its security.

"This should be more than enough," Riley muttered to himself, satisfied with his work.

The formation would keep everyone safe while he attended to something important outside.

With one final glance at the sleeping Katherine, he stepped out into the cool night, ready to handle the matter that awaited him.

***

Riley returned to the pavilion and found Veronica waiting for him near the entrance.

She gave him a slight nod and gestured for him to follow.

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Without a word, the two disappeared into the private quarters of the establishment.

The main hall was still lively, with patrons enjoying their meals and drinks, served by the myriad of attentive waitresses and waiters.

However, the sight of Veronica leaving with Riley didn’t go unnoticed.

A wave of despair washed over the crowd, and hushed murmurs filled the room.

"There she goes… I think tonight’s the night Lady Veronica takes a lover."

"Yeah, it’s crying time, boys. We’ve lost her."

"No! I refuse to accept this! Lady Veronica is mine!"

The voices of lament grew, but despite their frustration and jealousy, none dared to act.

They were in the heart of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and every business here operated under the sect’s protection.

Any disturbance would result in a lifetime ban—a punishment that could destroy their connections and ambitions within the sect.

Forced to accept the situation, the patrons could only drown their sorrows in their cups, their hearts heavy as they imagined the beautiful Veronica with another man.

"She’s too perfect… and now she’s out of reach," one patron muttered bitterly, raising his glass in a half-hearted toast to his unfulfilled dreams.

"Drink up," another replied grimly.

"What else can we do? Just cry and move on."

As the night carried on, the laughter and camaraderie in the hall continued, but for many, it was tinged with a bittersweet note.

All they could do was drink, their gazes occasionally darting toward the direction where Veronica and Riley had disappeared, their imaginations running wild.

***

Veronica led Riley into her private room on the second floor of the pavilion.

It was spacious and elegant, yet surprisingly minimalistic.

The furnishings were limited to what was strictly necessary—a large bed, a desk by the window, and a single wardrobe.

Everything was arranged with precision, and the lack of clutter made the room feel open and serene.

The faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, a subtle but alluring reminder of Veronica herself.

"You’ve got a good setup here," Riley remarked, letting his eyes wander over the pristine space.

"I like it—very efficient. And it smells nice… just like you."

Veronica didn’t respond, and Riley’s gaze returned to her, curiosity sparking at her silence.

When his eyes finally landed on her again, he froze.

His breath hitched as he realized why she hadn’t replied.

Veronica was already on the bed, her clothing discarded and her body laid bare.

Her skin glowed softly under the warm light, highlighting every curve and contour of her figure.

She was breathtaking—a vision of confidence and beauty that commanded attention.

"Let’s get this over with, Riley," she said, her voice calm and businesslike, as if this were just another task in her busy day.

"I still have work to do downstairs."

Without hesitation, she moved to the edge of the bed, sitting gracefully.

Then, with a deliberate motion, she spread her legs wide, her posture leaving nothing to the imagination.

Her boldness was staggering.

There was no shyness, no hesitation—only the quiet certainty of a woman completely in control.

For a moment, Riley could only stand there, stunned by the audacity of her display.

His heart pounded in his chest, and he struggled to find his voice.

"You… don’t waste time, do you?" he finally managed, his voice tinged with both admiration and disbelief.