Bamboo Basket Chapter Fifteen: The Moon Within Reach

Lu Yun put his bamboo hat back on and headed toward the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

On the bustling street, various vendors had set up their stalls, and passersby often stopped to browse.

“Qianjing City really is different from other places,” Lu Yun murmured to himself.

According to Yuan Mo, Baize desired a different kind of wilderness. Could this wilderness be what Baize truly wished to see?

Suddenly, Lu Yun realized that in his memory, Baize had never made such a choice.

Why was that?

It should still be about a hundred years until Chen Ping’an’s time, so why was the course of events different now?

Lu Yun furrowed his brow.

Could it be because of him?

“Hey, watch where you’re going!”

An old, hoarse voice snapped him back to reality, and Lu Yun realized he had accidentally bumped into an elderly man.

The old man’s eyes were tightly shut, and it appeared he was blind.

“Sorry, sir,” Lu Yun scratched his head and asked the blind man, “Are you hurt?”

“Bah, kid, you couldn’t hurt me even if you tried,” the old man waved him off with a hint of annoyance.

Lu Yun said nothing, merely stepping aside slightly to let the man pass.

But the old man suddenly changed his mind, grabbing Lu Yun’s sleeve.

“How about becoming my apprentice? I’m in need of one.”

Lu Yun was taken aback and quickly replied, “No, thank you, sir, I—”

“Ha! So many beg to be my apprentice, and I don’t take any of them, but you actually refuse?” The blind man snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and walked away without another word.

Lu Yun twitched the corner of his mouth.

Qianjing City truly was a place of vast tolerance.

...

Arriving in front of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Lu Yun was about to step inside when he felt someone tugging at his clothes.

He turned around to see it was the blind old man again.

“Sir, what exactly do you want?” Lu Yun said with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

The old man hesitated before saying, “I’ve never been inside the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Take me in to have a look.”

“Are you really unable to see?” Lu Yun asked.

“Do you think I’d lie to you? Young man, even without eyes, I see more clearly than you!” the old man retorted.

Lu Yun had no choice but to lead the man inside.

The first floor of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was spacious, with dancers performing in the center while a circle of young men cheered them on.

Lu Yun had no idea who was looking for him; Dong Sanguang had only said someone would come, but no one had paid attention to him yet.

He sighed and planned to sit here for a while; if no one showed up, he would leave.

“Kid, look! Something good!”

The blind old man had mysteriously vanished after entering, only to reappear now, sneaking close and pulling in his sleeves as he whispered to Lu Yun.

A bad feeling crept over Lu Yun.

Sure enough, moments later, someone pointed in his direction and shouted loudly, “Someone’s stealing!”

Lu Yun was about to leave when he realized the old man was clutching his arm tightly and had shoved a piece of red silk into his hand.

By the time most of the people on the first floor of the Pavilion had surrounded Lu Yun, the blind old man’s figure had vanished.

“Damn it!” Lu Yun looked at the red silk in his hand, unsure of its purpose. He stepped back and held the silk out to the crowd.

“Everyone, this is a misunderstanding. Someone forced this into my hand—”

“Do you know whose red silk this is?!” someone pushed through the crowd angrily. “You dare steal from Young Master An Luo? You want to die?!”

Lu Yun stared at the furious An Luo, stunned.

An Luo was equally baffled, glancing at the youth, then at the red silk in his hand.

...

“This is how it happened...”

In a quaint, antique-style private room, Lu Yun sighed and accepted the tea An Luo handed him.

An Luo looked somewhat embarrassed, freeing himself from the embrace of two alluring women beside him. He leaned in close and lowered his voice, “Brother Lu, you can’t tell my sister about this!”

“Why would I?” Lu Yun patted his chest. “I’m not that kind of person!”

An Luo exhaled in relief. “Brother Lu, this is just a small matter. Since you took my red silk, according to the Pavilion’s rules, you have to visit Miss Deyue’s room...”

“What?!” Lu Yun stood up, ready to leave. “I’m going now.”

“Wait, wait! Brother Lu, I really want to see Miss Deyue. The red silk has been in your hands too long; if I take it now, it’s no good anymore. Could you help me have a look?”

An Luo begged earnestly, “Just a quick glance, nothing more. This red silk cost me a fortune.”

Lu Yun’s expression grew conflicted.

Sensing an opportunity, An Luo pressed on.

“Brother Lu, you don’t want my money wasted for nothing, do you?”

...

For some reason, even though it wasn’t his money, Lu Yun felt a pang of pain upon hearing those words.

He glanced down at the red silk beside him and gritted his teeth. “Just a quick look.”

“Just a quick look!” An Luo nodded vigorously.

...

Without knowing why, Lu Yun found himself standing in front of a door with the red silk in hand.

As he left, he saw An Luo flanked by two women, giving him an encouraging look.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Yun pushed open the door.

As soon as he entered, a faint fragrance filled the air, soothing his mind.

The room was simply furnished yet well-equipped. Behind a screen, Lu Yun glimpsed a figure.

For some reason, that figure seemed familiar.

“Miss Deyue, here is your red silk...” Lu Yun awkwardly placed the silk on a nearby wooden table.

The figure behind the screen suddenly laughed, a sound like tinkling silver bells—delightful and clear.

“Are you shy, young sir?”

“No, it’s just...” Lu Yun’s cheeks flushed red, and he scratched his head helplessly.

Suddenly, someone snorted coldly. Lu Yun felt a chill run through his body, and his flushed face returned to normal.

Senior Shengge...

Just as he was about to explain, he was abruptly expelled, returning to reality.

When he snapped back, he found a pair of eyes locked onto his.

The woman was very close. Lu Yun instinctively took a step back.

“Interesting.”

She stretched lazily, her purple dress clinging to her slender waist, exuding an irresistible allure.

“What kind of look is that?” The woman moved closer again, puzzled. “Am I some kind of monster, or am I just ugly?”

“N-no, Miss Deyue is very beautiful...” Lu Yun’s gaze was complicated as he looked at her.

Such a face—if she were at the Wenmei Pavilion, she would be identical to the mistress of the Deyue Pavilion he had seen before!

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Miss Deyue, the Deyue Pavilion...

Lu Yun felt as though he had uncovered a great secret.