Brothel Fierce Battle (Part 2)

Dugu Sheng, outwardly rough but with a plan firmly in place, immediately set about making thorough arrangements. The finest courtesans from the Drunken Fragrance Tower were summoned to Li Feng's side. Simultaneously, Dugu Sheng began incessantly asking Li Feng what kind of tea, wine, and snacks he preferred, his flattery meticulous and considerate.

Li Feng, meanwhile, nonchalantly enjoyed Dugu Sheng's fawning. He squinted, a wine cup in his right hand, while his left hand caressed a courtesan's thigh. He mused, "Hmm, so this kid has something to ask of me? Otherwise, he's the main host and I'm just a guest, even if he's hosting, he wouldn't need to be this polite, right? ... Oh, didn't they say Zhu Xi is short on money? Why isn't he using such a good opportunity? Opening a brothel behind the scenes, snatching all the most popular courtesans here, and then buying a batch of young girls from the south – the gold and silver would flow in endlessly. Tsk tsk, I, Li Feng, am truly a genius. Without me, Zhu Xi would have starved to death."

Li Feng chuckled gleefully, then tilted his head and gulped down the wine in his cup with a slurp. At this point, Zhu Xi's guards had also settled in. The main hall of the Drunken Fragrance Tower was quite impressive; it could easily accommodate over thirty tables. Northern architecture differed from the south; the north was vast, and the halls were spacious. The earlier guests were ushered into smaller rooms upstairs, leaving the entire hall perfectly set for Li Feng and his entourage to revel.

Dugu Sheng laughed heartily and gestured, "We can only set up thirty-odd tables, the place is still a bit small, and there's no room for the courtesans to sit. But, brothers, having the courtesans sit on your laps, isn't that something you've always wanted? Heh heh, holding delicate beauties in your arms, you can't complain if it gets tiring."

The hall erupted in laughter, while the courtesans playfully cursed back. Over a hundred beautiful women were now nestled in the laps of these gentlemen. Those who weren't chosen were relegated to serving wine.

As soon as Dugu Sheng finished speaking, and while the guards were still making a racket, the madam, accompanied by the madams from neighboring brothels and a long train of courtesans, hurried in. The hall instantly descended into chaos. Those without a woman rushed to grab the alluring ones, while those who already had one, but found the newcomers more attractive, immediately abandoned their current companions and lunged for a more desirable choice. The hall was filled with shouts and curses from the abandoned courtesans, creating a scene of utter pandemonium.

Li Feng stood on the Grand Tutor's Chair, thoroughly amused by the spectacle. He cheered inwardly, "This is it! Back when I was stealing steamed buns on the street, my greatest ambition was to master peerless martial arts, possess inexhaustible gold and silver, and then book out the entire Chunyi Tower for my pleasure. Today, it's as if that dream is coming true." Li Feng grinned and took a swig from the wine pot. Suddenly, images of picturesque mountains and clear waters swirled in his mind. His heart throbbed with intense pain, and his face turned deathly pale.

Li Feng's face darkened as he gripped the wine pot and drank deeply. A cool sensation emanated from the Profound Stone in his chest, suppressing his inner turmoil. Shaking himself awake, Li Feng roared, "Brothers, I, Li Feng, am new to Yanjing. I'll need your support in many ways from now on. Today, I, Li Feng, am treating everyone to some fun. From now on, we are brothers. We'll prosper together, rise in rank together, and when it comes to women, we'll share them... If you're a real man, stop with the nonsense, drink more, play with more women, and fight more. We men of honor don't waste words... Cheers!"

Dugu Sheng frowned, listening to Li Feng's shouts. The words sounded like the manipulative rhetoric used to sway new recruits in a gang. Yet, the guards in the hall were all warriors; who would understand anything more refined? Didn't they all use "old man" and "old lady" as common address? Hearing Li Feng's raw, impassioned speech, they erupted in cheers. The guards in the hall jumped up, shouting their loyalty to Li Feng, and then downed the wine in their pots.

The main doors of the hall opened again, letting in a blast of cold wind. A few guards seated near the entrance drew their sabers, ready to curse, but suddenly cheered. Waiters entered with steaming charcoal stoves, glowing brass braziers, and large platters of thinly sliced lamb. The guards' excitement reached a new peak. They nimbly took the stoves and the mutton-shabu-shabu sets, placed the platters of lamb on the tables, and then clamored for stronger liquor.

Li Feng's table was the first to be set up. A nimble and delicate young girl quickly picked up a few slices of lamb, swished them in the boiling broth, dipped them in sauce, and placed them in Li Feng's mouth. As Li Feng chewed the tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb, he loudly praised it. However, inwardly, he cursed, "What is this? Is such thinly sliced lamb for men? Real men eat a whole leg of lamb! Damn it, are they all pretending to be refined? Do they think thinly slicing lamb makes them sophisticated and respectable?"

Though he thought this, he didn't say it. Li Feng racked his brain, scouring through ancient texts to weave together a torrent of praise, declaring the shabu-shabu lamb to be unparalleled on earth, a single bite of which could lead to immortality. To distract himself from the intense pain in his heart, Li Feng began to babble nonsense, which his companions mistook for high spirits. They all chimed in, and the atmosphere became lively and festive.

The minor leaders among the guards, those holding positions known as "Li Shi" or "Fan Zi" within the Imperial Guard, and those with superior martial skills, stepped forward one by one to toast Li Feng. Li Feng, shielding his profound True Essence within, was unfazed by the alcohol. He drank cup after cup, pot after pot, jug after jug. The surrounding guards watched in stunned silence. Dugu Sheng roared, "Good! Impressive! Deputy Commander Li is truly heroic! The way he drinks, he's a true hero..."

In the time it took for one meal, Li Feng had consumed forty jin of old wine, yet his stomach showed no sign of distension. Dugu Sheng, with his sharp eyes, noticed wisps of ethereal white smoke rising from Li Feng's head. His heart pounded: "Three flowers gathering at the crown, five qi returning to the origin. With such cultivation, one more step and he'll reach the Innate Realm... Heavens, Li brother has already reached this level? What is Murong Tian compared to him? Li brother could cripple Murong Tian with a single palm. But to use such profound power for drinking... this is truly..." Dugu Sheng chuckled wryly, picked up a pot of wine, and drank it down. He muttered, "Indeed, comparing oneself to others is infuriating. I've cultivated internal energy for twenty years and only achieved a hundred meridians flowing freely, qi like flowing pearls. Yet, Li Feng is younger than my Qi Refining years and has already reached this stage. Heh, it seems following him will bring no shortage of benefits."

Little did Li Feng know, his prodigious drinking, coupled with his internal energy cheat, would lead Dugu Sheng to be utterly obedient to him for the rest of his life, never daring to harbor any disloyalty.

The atmosphere in the hall reached an extreme fever pitch. Some guards had already begun to paw and grope the courtesans in their laps. Several courtesans, having drunk too much themselves, were egged on by the lecherous crowd to remove their outer garments, leaving only their inner tunics, and began to dance. The hall was filled with wolf howls and demonic cries as the guards formed a circle, clapping and cheering. Their hairy hands fondled the dancing women, creating a scene of joyful revelry.

With a loud "Bang!", amidst the madam's continuous shrieks, the main door of the hall was smashed to pieces by a punch. A hurricane swept into the hall, carrying the shattered door. A few guards, seated near the entrance and enjoying their meal, were caught off guard and thrown from their seats by the force of the punch, groaning on the ground.

Li Feng watched the commotion in the hall. A blast of cold wind carrying huge snowflakes rushed in, ruining his mood. Especially since it interrupted his drinking at a moment of heartache, a surge of killing intent shot to his forehead. He jumped onto the table, kicked over the hot pot in front of him, and roared, "Damn it, which blind bastard dares to ruin my mood? Damn it, brothers, beat them to death!"

The guards, their lust burning and minds clouded, were suddenly hit by the cold wind, and all their anger turned into cold sweat. Relying on their Imperial Guard status, they were usually the ones acting arrogantly in Yanjing City. Who dared to disturb them while they were having fun? Hearing Li Feng's roar, they exploded into action, drawing their weapons and preparing to charge towards the entrance.

A man standing at the entrance, over ten feet tall, resembling an iron tower and clad in iron armor, let out a hearty laugh. "Haha, greetings, everyone! Looks like you're all in high spirits." He drew a thirteen-sectioned whip, weighing thirty-six jin, from his waist, menacingly struck a pose, and held it across the doorway. The thirty-odd burly men behind him, also clad in iron armor, roared and drew their standard-issue broadswords, forming a small, menacing formation.

Dugu Sheng let out a loud shout, stopping the impulsive guards. He roared, "Lei Zhenyuan, what do you mean by this? Can't you see we're having a good time here? Damn it, smashing the door and barging in, what's the meaning of this? Are you looking for trouble?"

The burly man, Lei Zhenyuan, snorted coldly, his eyes widening like copper bells. He roared, "Damn it, I just brought a unit of soldiers back from training at Xiangshan, and brought a few brothers here for some fun. You bastards actually booked out the Drunken Fragrance Tower, aren't you trying to embarrass me? I don't care who you are, Dugu Sheng, give me a hundred courtesans to take with me, and everything else can be discussed. Otherwise, don't blame my iron whip for showing no mercy... Hmph, hey, if you're a real man, come up and let me whip you three hundred times."

Li Feng saw the guards near the door hesitating. His anger surged. He had just thought of the tragic scene at Qingyun Flat, and his mind was filled with unreleased malice. Now, this imbecile had come to disrupt things, and he felt a murderous intent. But seeing the guards' timidity, he knew something was amiss. He whispered to Dugu Sheng, "Who is this Lei Zhenyuan? Damn it, is he even more arrogant than me?"

Dugu Sheng replied in a low voice, "He's one of the Second Prince's fierce generals. He comes from a background of notorious bandits, and has roamed the southwestern regions for over a decade without anyone daring to oppose him. His 'Thirteen Protectors' Hard Training' and 'Golden Bell Shield' techniques make him impervious to blades. He possesses immense natural strength, capable of lifting a thousand jin cauldron. Damn it, he's a tricky fellow. It seems Murong Tian deliberately sent him to cause trouble for us. Perhaps it's because you, brother Li, embarrassed the Second Prince's people today by playing tricks on him."

Upon hearing this, Li Feng let out a roar, "Damn it, isn't he just a bandit from the wilderness? When I was in Suzhou Prefecture, which bandit crossing my path didn't show me some respect? Damn it, brothers, beat them to death! Whatever the consequences, I'll take responsibility." Li Feng thought maliciously, I can't fight the Second Prince, and that Murong Tian has profound power; I don't want to expose my strength too early. I also don't want to fight. Damn it, beating up a brute like this to establish my authority is exactly what I want.

Li Feng's body moved in an arc. The 'Little Heavenly Star Palm' let out a wail, and a white wave of wind crackled through the air, striking towards Lei Zhenyuan's chest. Li Feng roared, "Brothers, we have more people! Beat these bastards to death! Every one less is one less! I'll take care of this Lei Zhenyuan, and you guys take care of the rest of these scoundrels... Hey, we are the Imperial Guard, and we are here to investigate the people's conditions. These bastards are whoring and not paying, and they even injured the madam and the girls. This is a capital offense!"

The guards understood and roared in unison, "If you're a real man, how can you whore without paying? We'll arrest you and take you to the Prince's court. We're sure to win!" With a clatter, over two hundred and sixty men simultaneously drew their weapons and charged into the Drunken Fragrance Tower's courtyard.

Lei Zhenyuan roared, and the whip in his hand drew hundreds of black shadows, whistling through the air. He managed to neutralize Li Feng's palm strike. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he saw hundreds of people rush out of the hall and surround his subordinates, hacking at them madly. He was instantly terrified. "Ah! That Murong Tian is a bastard! He only told me this scoundrel who insulted the Prince was at the Drunken Fragrance Tower, why didn't he tell me he had over two hundred men with him?" Lei Zhenyuan had thought his thirty-odd men were more than enough to deal with Li Feng's subordinates. Who knew Li Feng was a natural troublemaker who valued showmanship? For a single meal, he had brought out all the idle guards from Zhu Xi's mansion. His men were immediately surrounded and engaged in a fierce battle.

Before Lei Zhenyuan could devise a plan, Li Feng, his face ashen, swung the Dragon Spring Sword and unleashed a wild 'Mountain Splitting Slash'. Several feet away from Lei Zhenyuan, the 'Continuous Mountain Splitting Slash' he had used outside Hangzhou City was clumsily executed again. The waterfall-like sword light instantly enveloped Lei Zhenyuan. With a "swish," Li Feng, his face contorted with ferocity, channeled thirty percent of his internal energy, shooting out sword qi several feet long, cutting Lei Zhenyuan's iron whip into more than a dozen pieces of scrap metal.

With a scream, Lei Zhenyuan was struck in both shoulders and the root of his thigh. The sharp sword qi lifted his body and a fountain of blood, sending him flying over thirty feet. Li Feng, now consumed by killing intent, his True Essence circulating wildly, leaped forward and struck towards Lei Zhenyuan's chest with a palm.

Dugu Sheng, who had been following behind Li Feng, was startled when he saw Li Feng's sudden murderous intent. A private brawl, injuring Lei Zhenyuan, wasn't a major issue. After all, Lei Zhenyuan had brought it upon himself, and such incidents were common in Yanjing City. But if Lei Zhenyuan were killed, it would be a serious matter. After all, he was a general under the Prince of Yan, and if Li Feng killed him like this, the Prince of Yan would likely be enraged.

Dugu Sheng shouted, "Brother, absolutely not!" He rushed forward and made a feint with his palm, intending to deflect Li Feng's palm strike aside. However, as his palm wind touched Li Feng's palm strike, he felt a surge of power, vast and immense like a tidal wave. Shocked, Dugu Sheng was repelled over ten feet. He was horrified, "How strong is this kid's internal energy? Where did His Highness find him?"

Li Feng, however, heard Dugu Sheng's shout. He suddenly realized, "Forget it, what's the point of killing him? He's not that Right Saint. He's just a dog under the Second Prince, instigated by someone to come and bite here. Killing him would only bring trouble upon myself." With this thought, Li Feng crossed his palms, and the surging, powerful internal energy was completely absorbed and vanished. This move startled Dugu Sheng again. To be able to retract a palm strike that had already been launched – what kind of skill was this?

Li Feng walked up, placed his foot on Dugu Sheng's face, and laughed wildly, "Brothers, capture those bastards for me, strip them naked, take all the money they have, and throw them out. Damn it, whoring and not paying, do you think you're the Emperor? Beat them hard... Who do you think you are, Lei Zhenyuan? Daring to fight me? My name is Li Feng. If you see me on the street from now on, you'll kowtow and get lost, otherwise, I'll beat you every time I see you."

Lei Zhenyuan roared in fury, blood gushing from his mouth, and fainted.

Li Feng sneered, stomped fiercely on Lei Zhenyuan's lower abdomen a few times, and kicked him in the soft spots, ensuring he wouldn't be able to get out of bed for three months, before he stopped.

The guards from Zhu Xi's mansion were as excited as if they had taken aphrodisiacs, taking turns to torment the soldiers who were surrounded, making them sweat profusely. These guards had suffered enough from the Second Prince's mansion in the past. Now, with Li Feng, a powerful expert, as their backing, how could they not seize the opportunity for revenge? Over two hundred men cheered and fought for half an hour before the soldiers, drenched in sweat and nearly exhausted, were tied up.

Li Feng sneered, "They're really weak. Not challenging at all. I suppose Murong Tian is also just like this. He dared to send people to their deaths without even knowing my strength. Madam, Madam? Why are you hiding back there? I'm telling you, if anyone from the army comes to inquire, tell them these soldiers found girls for fun and didn't pay, so you took advantage of their drunkenness to tie them up. Understand?"

Seeing the madam's terrified silence, Li Feng's anger was finally vented. He roared madly at the madam's face, less than a foot away, "Didn't you hear me? Here's a bank note for ten thousand taels of silver. If you do a good job, this bank note is yours. Do exactly as I told you. Later, when other customers finish their business, smear their leavings onto these soldiers' lower bodies, understand? Hmm?"

The madam, sprayed with his saliva, was startled and hurriedly cried out, "Understood, understood! I, I, I'll arrange it immediately."

Li Feng grinned wickedly, like a venomous snake staring at a mouse, and said softly, "That's good. I won't treat you badly, hmm? But if you dare leak even a single bit of information, I'll annihilate your entire family and burn down your Drunken Fragrance Tower."

The madam let out a scream and collapsed on the ground, clutching Li Feng's leg and wailing, "Ah, master, whatever you say, so it shall be. How would I dare to mess with your business? I promise I won't say a word more..."

Li Feng smiled with satisfaction and gestured. The guards, fueled by the wine, excitedly stripped the soldiers naked, tied them up, and threw them into the woodshed in the Drunken Fragrance Tower's backyard.

The group roared with laughter for a while, tidied up the messy, blood-stained courtyard, and without bothering about the injured Lei Zhenyuan's fate, returned to the hall to continue drinking. Only Dugu Sheng, still mindful of things, fearing that if Lei Zhenyuan died, it would be difficult to smooth things over, ordered two guards to get some wound medicine for him and tie him up with a quilt