Chapter 30: Ten Thousand

How should he put it? Bian Chunzhou had some rather one-sided stereotypes about brothels.

But that did not dampen his enthusiasm to visit Biyu Tower to broaden his horizons. Besides, they were here on a mission. With such a legitimate excuse, even if they ran into fellow disciples from Yonglu Mountain, they wouldn’t feel the slightest bit guilty.

Of course, Yonglu Mountain was full of overachieving workaholics. There was no way any disciple would be bored enough to come down the mountain just to visit a brothel.

“Don’t pull such a deadpan face. We’re already here, so it doesn’t matter if we look the part or not. As long as we can pay, we’re the bosses here.”

Just as Bian Chunzhou was brainwashing Chen Zuizui, a sharp-eyed madam approached them. A strong scent of perfume wafted over, and Chen Zui barely resisted the urge to draw his blade and slash her.

“Keep your distance. This young master is visiting your Biyu Tower for the first time. Is there anything novel to see?”

Bian Chunzhou’s inner actor was triggered, and he played the role of a spendthrift young master to perfection. Coupled with his gold and silver accessories and his generous spending, the madam naturally had no doubts. “Oh, distinguished guests! Rest assured, young master. Whether you want someone witty or someone to play music, we have whatever you desire. We even have Immortal Ladies!”

Once inside Biyu Tower, Bian Chunzhou realized that although most of the clientele were ordinary men, the decor was quite interesting. Even the singing and dancing performances in the first-floor lobby used talismans to enhance the show. Although they were only the lowest-grade talismans, the flight, fire, and white mist effects were blended beautifully. The stage design and choreography would easily blow modern productions out of the water.

A cultivation-themed brothel. No wonder Biyu Tower’s business was so booming at night.

“Immortal Ladies? Could it be…” Bian Chunzhou played the part of an ignorant, spendthrift young master who had never seen the world.

Seeing his interest, the madam immediately waved her handkerchief and pitched her services. “It is exactly what you think, young master! The Immortal Ladies of our Biyu Tower are the most clever and sensible on this street. Although they aren’t real immortals, their skills… I guarantee you will be so happy you won’t want to go home!”

Ugh, his goosebumps! He could barely keep them under control!

But after listening for a while, Bian Chunzhou finally understood. These so-called Immortal Ladies were just playing up the immortal persona. It wasn’t real female cultivators coming down to earth to work. Similarly, the building opposite had Immortal Gentlemen, which followed the same pattern, all to satisfy ordinary people’s curiosity and desire to peek into the lives of immortals.

It was worth mentioning that the Immortal Ladies and Immortal Gentlemen only sold their talents, not their bodies.

Bian Chunzhou casually tossed two spirit stones over. In truth, his heart was bleeding for his money, but he kept a straight face. “Then this young master wants to see the most clever and sensible beautiful fairy you have here!”

Chen Zui: … Is this guy possessed by a demon? Can I slash him?

“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and follow.”

Chen Zui followed in silence. Having received the spirit stones, the madam was naturally delighted and enthusiastically led the way. Before long, they bypassed the decadent, bustling lobby and were led to a quiet, pleasant-smelling room.

The so-called pleasant smell meant there was no vulgar, overpowering scent of cosmetics. At least Chen Zui felt his nose was much better off.

“Please wait a moment, young master. I will call the Immortal Lady over right away.”

The two sat down. Once the madam left, Bian Chunzhou jumped up to look around. In fact, opening the window on one side of this private room offered a full view of the lobby’s performances. Coupled with the curling incense smoke in the room, it really gave off a disjointed feeling of building a cottage in the human realm, yet hearing no noise of horses and carriages^[1].

“They actually used a silencing talisman here.”

Bian Chunzhou whined, “So expensive! You don’t need to remind me of the fact that my purse is being robbed today!”

Chen Zui showed no sympathy. “You were the one who insisted on coming in.”

Given their status, it was just Biyu Tower. To find out the background of two thugs, there was no need for such trouble. It was clearly just Bian Chunzhou wanting to have fun, which was why he insisted on coming in to suffer this.

“You don’t understand. We cultivators aren’t ascetics. Money is meant to be earned and spent so it keeps flowing,” Bian Chunzhou said. Although he felt the pinch, he didn’t actually mind that much. “Besides, we agreed not to expose our identities as Yonglu Mountain disciples. We’ve been walking around all day today. We have some gains, but really not much. I wonder how Wen Xuxu is doing on his end?”

Hearing him bring up proper business, Chen Zui’s head began to ache. “We actually had gains today?” How come he didn’t know? When did this happen?

“Of course. We spent quite a bit of money in the West Market today. Didn’t you hear what those street vendors said? In the past, villagers from Wushan Village would come to the city to sell mountain goods. Especially now in winter, it should be a good season to sell firewood. If it were just a normal pregnancy and they were expecting a new family member, there would be plenty of expenses. There’s no reason for them not to come to the city to work.”

Chen Zui asked, “So, you concluded that the pregnancies in Wushan Village are unusual?”

“Not just that. Wen Xuxu went to ask beggars and the poor for information, while we went to the marketplace. Do you know how ordinary families react when a woman gets pregnant normally?”

Chen Zui naturally did not know. His mother had never taught him such things.

“When people in a village get pregnant one after another, the village’s midwives definitely won’t be enough. But today, didn’t I pretend my sister-in-law was pregnant and ask a midwife for information? She said there were absolutely no bookings for Wushan Village among the midwives. Plus, we bought a lot of things at the silk shop today. Didn’t I ask the shop assistant if many people were buying red silk lately?”

“What about red silk?”

“Around Langyuan City, whenever a newborn is born, most families who can afford red silk will use it as swaddling cloth. Even if they don’t buy a whole piece, they’ll buy a square cloth. Do you remember what the shop assistant said?”

Chen Zui recalled, “He said yes, and also said the red silk in their shop was the most vibrant. Most of the red cloth for weddings and births in the city came from their shop.”

“Right, but then I casually asked if families outside the city bought a lot. I said I had a distant cousin who married into Wushan Village, and I wondered if she had conceived.”

Waiters in establishments like this were always sharp as tacks. He immediately told them that no one from Wushan Village had come by recently.

“So, hiding a happy occasion like that means they must be up to no good.”

In an ordinary village outside the city, if villagers were getting pregnant one after another, such a happy event would have spread far and wide long ago. Yet they hadn’t even prepared midwives or red silk. Bian Chunzhou was now almost entirely certain that something was amiss.

He just didn’t know if it was truly related to the evil cultivator who made men pregnant. That was why he had dragged Chen Zui to Biyu Tower; at the very least, the two thugs who had kidnapped people must have had some connection to Biyu Tower before they died.

Besides, the fact that they had died right inside the jail was simply too suspicious.

As Bian Chunzhou was thinking this, the door to the private room was pushed open again. The enthusiastic madam led in a rather tall Immortal Lady. Judging by her height, she was almost as tall as him.

“Young Master, this is Lady Zanxue of our tower. She is unmatched in both poetry and the arts, and is highly skilled in the art of talismans. Are you satisfied, Young Master?”

Up close, Bian Chunzhou realized that Lady Zanxue was indeed exceptionally tall. Her features were elegant and cold, and her expression was aloof and inscrutable. For some reason, he actually felt… a faint urge to drop to his knees.

Help, he hadn’t been targeted by some kinky roleplay talisman, had he?!

Seeing his reaction, the madam immediately understood and closed the door to the private room. As for a young master bringing a guard along for amusement, that was a trivial matter. The customer who paid was king-that was the golden rule everyone on this street had to follow.

“Um, Lady Zanxue, you…”

“I do not play the zither, nor do I sing, let alone compose poetry or paint. If you wish to see me perform such tricks to please men, I fear you have come to the wrong person.”

Oh my god, she even has a persona! Is she going for the aloof, mature older sister vibe?!

Bian Chunzhou considered himself quite eloquent, but at this moment, he was actually at a loss for words. He couldn’t help but look at Chen Zui beside him. Sigh, this guy’s soul had probably already drifted off to practice his saber.

Suddenly, he missed Wen Xuxu a little :).

“Have you ever seen the extreme cold of the northern snowlands, Young Master? If not, I can show it to you!”

Who came up with these lines? It’s so cringey, what should he do? His toes were practically curling into the floor. Why did it have to be talismans! These Ice Snow Talismans and Blazing Fire Talismans… No, no, he couldn’t think about it anymore. If he did, he would remember his days as a tool enslaved by his master!

However, Lady Zanxue had already begun her performance. There was likely an illusion array layered over the private room; the moment she raised her flowing sleeves, the elegant room instantly transformed into a snow-swept mountain peak.

In an instant, the three of them were standing atop the mountain, looking down at the mortal world blanketed in heavy snow.

“Do you like the view before you, Young Master?”

Bian Chunzhou: … aba aba aba^[2].

Bian Chunzhou began to miss Wen Xuxu again. Just as he was racking his brain for something to say, the ice and snow suddenly melted away. The biting wind and snow vanished in an instant, and someone was shoved in from outside, nearly crashing into Lady Zanxue.

Bian Chunzhou instinctively reached out to steady her, but… he missed. She stood perfectly upright, not even shifting her posture.

Instead, the person who had been shoved in stumbled heavily.

“Huh? Aren’t you-“

Bian Chunzhou was also startled. Seeing that it was that unreliable, extortionist spiritual physician, and fearing he would blow their cover, he immediately rushed forward to cover the man’s mouth. “Yes, yes, yes! Cousin, don’t shout! If my mother finds out, I’m dead meat!”

Hearing this, Spiritual Physician Ming immediately took advantage of the situation. “Cousin, you’re not being very honest. Want me to keep my mouth shut? Simple. Pay for my drinks today, how about it?”

The thugs outside had clearly heard their conversation as well. One of them immediately said, “Since you know each other, even better. Pay up.”

“How much?” He would just consider it paying to make his troubles go away.

“Ten thousand.”

Ten thousand? What kind of wine was this? A celestial brew? Nectar of the gods?

“Not silver, not gold. Ten thousand spirit stones. Thank you for your patronage.”

Bian Chunzhou immediately threw the man out with a cold expression. “Actually, we’re not that close. He’s just a poor relative who came to leech off my family. You can tie him up and make him perform on the street, or sell his body for all I care.”

Ten thousand spirit stones? Why don’t you just rob me? You can fool him, but you absolutely cannot touch his precious money! This was definitely a honey trap. Biyu Tower was absolutely dirty! His eyes saw right through them!

Chen Zui: …How long are you guys going to keep acting? I’m tired of watching.