Chapter 469: Not Accepting Guests?

Xu Sanyan was astonished. He hadn’t realized visiting a brothel involved so many formalities.

Not only did they require payment, but they also had to approve of the client?

“Have you been there before, brother?”

The young man’s face lit up with a hint of pride. “Heh heh, I had the good fortune to accompany Second Young Master Yuan once. It was truly…”

“Tsk tsk.”

The young man’s expression turned wistful, gradually becoming lewd.

This only piqued Xu Sanyan’s curiosity further. Could it really be that enjoyable?

He had to experience it for himself. This was one of his few indulgences.

“When does the establishment open?”

“Soon, soon. It opens after dark.”

Xu Sanyan settled down by the water’s edge to wait, chatting idly with the young man. He learned that his name was Xia Zhi, an illegitimate son of the Xia Family, a prominent clan in the Capital City. Neglected by his family, Xia Zhi often frequented this place to vent his frustrations.

Just then, a group of people approached from the distance. At the head of the group was a pale-faced young man in a purple robe, a pair of jade pendants depicting dragons and phoenixes hanging from his waist. He carried a half-open fan painted with landscapes. Judging by their posture, the seven or eight people behind him clearly deferred to him, suggesting his high status.

The crowd on the lakeside path quickly parted, not daring to block the way.

Seeing the approaching figure, Xia Zhi’s face lit up. He tugged at Xu Sanyan’s sleeve and said, “Second Young Master Yuan is here! Quick, come with me and say some flattering words. If we please him, you’ll surely receive a reward.”

Xu Sanyan tilted his head, curious. “Who is Second Young Master Yuan?”

Xia Zhi looked surprised. “Can’t you guess from the surname?”

Yuan…

Xu Sanyan shook his head. He genuinely couldn’t recall anyone by that name.

“The second son of the current Prime Minister!”

Oh~

Xu Sanyan finally understood why he hadn’t heard of him before—he was just the Prime Minister’s son, after all.

While the Prime Minister held great power, it was a civil position. His cultivation level likely wouldn’t be particularly high, perhaps only at the Soul Refining Realm or the Initial Stage of Void Harmony. In this cultivation world where strength reigned supreme, political power held little real significance.

Xia Zhi pulled him forward but didn’t dare stand directly in front of Second Young Master Yuan. Instead, he bowed obsequiously at his side, a fawning smile plastered on his face.

“This humble servant greets Second Young Master Yuan. Your noble bearing grows ever more extraordinary. Even from afar, I could feel your heroic aura sweeping toward me. When I turned to look, it was indeed you, Young Master!”

Xu Sanyan’s lips twitched. Was this flattery really so direct?

“Hahaha! Well said! I’m pleased. Reward him!”

Second Young Master Yuan didn’t even turn his head, waving his hand with a hearty laugh. A man behind him casually tossed Xia Zhi a dozen spirit stones. Xia Zhi bowed repeatedly, his face beaming, as he watched the group depart.

Xu Sanyan hadn’t uttered a word and naturally received no reward. Xia Zhi glanced back at him, thought for a moment, then divided a few spirit stones and handed them over. “Here, everyone gets a share.”

Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. This kid’s surprisingly decent, he thought. Though he looked down on these few spirit stones, he accepted them anyway. “Many thanks, Brother Xia.”

Xia Zhi waved dismissively. “Hey, Second Young Master Yuan’s a fool with deep pockets. A few flattering words and you get spirit stones for free—why not take the easy money?”

He jingled the remaining spirit stones in his hand. “Today, I’ll show you the ropes. It’ll be worth you calling me ‘Brother Xia.'”

Flower boats were already taking customers. Maidens danced gracefully on sampans to attract patrons, and anyone who caught their eye could simply beckon them aboard. This was far more sophisticated than the traditional “First Master, come play!” approach.

Hundreds of small sailboats lined the shore, ferrying passengers to and fro. Xia Zhi led Xu Sanyan onto one, casually tossed a few silver coins to the boatman, and pointed to a flower boat closer to the edge. “Take us to the Glazed Pavilion.”

“Right away,” the boatman replied, pushing off with his pole.

Xu Sanyan wasn’t entirely satisfied. Since they were already here, he wanted to experience the best. How could ordinary women possibly be worthy of his status?

He spoke up, “No, let’s go to the middle one—the ship Second Young Master Yuan just boarded.”

“Whoa~”

Xia Zhi was startled, his voice rising sharply. “Are you crazy? I can’t afford to take you there!”

Xu Sanyan patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll treat you.”

Xia Zhi hesitated, sizing him up again. “Just having money isn’t enough…”

Xu Sanyan smiled and produced a token from his storage pouch. It was engraved with an immortal mountain shrouded in mist, beneath which three golden characters gleamed:

“Shangyin Mountain”

Xu Sanyan’s storage pouch contained numerous such tokens, representing not only Shangyin Mountain but all five great sects of the central region.

Xia Zhi was stunned. He never imagined that a random traveler he’d met on the road could be a disciple of Shangyin Mountain.

“Brother Xu, you’re actually a disciple of Shangyin Mountain? This humble one has been truly blind. Please forgive any offense I may have caused.”

Xu Sanyan waved his hand dismissively. “We’re brothers who hit it off instantly. No need for such formalities. But does this identity suffice?”

“Suffice? More than enough! With this status, you could enter not just a mere pleasure barge, but even the Prime Minister’s residence!”

Xia Zhi instructed the boatman, “Take us to the Phoenix Cry Pavilion!”

“Right away!”

“Brother Xu, you’re actually a disciple of Shangyin Mountain! No wonder I sensed you were no ordinary man the moment we met. Your mere presence exudes such an imposing aura.”

Xia Zhi’s heart throbbed with excitement. He never imagined he’d actually get to visit the Phoenix Cry Pavilion!

His earlier boast about having been there with Second Young Master Yuan had been pure fabrication. Given the young master’s status, he’d never deign to bring Xia Zhi along. But today, it was really happening!

Xu Sanyan smiled noncommittally, his gaze fixed intently on the flower boat. In truth, his pockets were nearly empty; he’d spent most of the money he’d stolen. But since he rarely needed money for anything, he had little interest in it.

“Young masters, we’ve arrived.”

The boatman steadied the vessel, allowing them to step onto the flower boat’s gangplank. Several young women were already waiting there.

Xu Sanyan’s gaze traveled upward from their bare feet, their toenails painted in playful, colorful hues. He scanned their slender calves, fair thighs, and the scraps of fabric barely concealing their intimate areas, before settling on their slender, delicate waists.

Xu Sanyan nodded inwardly. They were indeed beautiful, and their cultivation levels, though modest, were sufficient. A body trained in martial arts could strike far more alluring poses.

“Young masters, please come aboard,” the woman greeted them as they stepped onto the ship and entered the cabin. Xu Sanyan was surprised to find a hidden world inside: dozens of young women danced gracefully to elegant music. Second Young Master Yuan and his companions, who had arrived earlier, were already moving among the women with unrestrained abandon.

All the women wore veils, the tantalizing ambiguity only fueling the desire to tear them off and reveal their faces.

Gulp.

Xia Zhi’s eyes were fixed on the women, his gaze unwavering. He swallowed unconsciously, looking utterly overwhelmed by the scene.

“You two young masters seem new here. Is this your first time?”

A voice came from beside Xu Sanyan. He turned to see a graceful woman smiling at him, her natural warmth making it impossible to feel any ill will toward her.

Xu Sanyan sized her up, his heart filled with satisfaction. “You’re the one.”

Giggle.

The woman covered her mouth with a delicate hand as she chuckled softly. “Young master, you misunderstand. I never entertain guests.”

Xu Sanyan’s lips curled into a sly smile. “That’s because I hadn’t arrived yet. Now that I’m here, you will.”

(End of the Chapter)