Dragon's Pool and Tiger's Den

The group had their own thoughts, and Wu Wencai initially felt a bit guilty. But then he thought, wasn't the other party here for pleasure too? Since they were all kindred spirits, what was there to feel ashamed of!

With this thought, he became even more self-righteous.

"Is this your first time here, Brother Xu?"

Seeing Xu Qing nod, Wu Wencai immediately put on a knowing air and said, "Today is the day Shuhuang Pavilion selects the Kui Gu Ling. Besides the examinees from all over, there are also many romantic talents who have traveled from afar to attend."

"This is a rare event that happens only once every few years. We are here to make more friends and experience the customs and characters from all over the land."

"It's absolutely not for the sake of pretentiousness or chasing after fame and fortune. And it's certainly not for indulging in a life of debauchery and seeking fleeting pleasure."

Beside him, Wu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

Only the little fatty who was treating them was confused. What were they talking about? Didn't he bring them here to sleep with women? If not for fleeting pleasure, were they really going to sit here all night composing poetry?

In that case, he might as well go home and bet on crickets now!

Xu Qing naturally didn't believe Wu Wencai's nonsense. If he had arrived a moment later, he might have been able to harshly criticize their behavior in place of Wu Yaoxing, and then give them a mild pardon, saying it wouldn't happen again.

But that unreliable method of throwing a shoe to find the way had actually led him to their destination before them!

Now, even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn't wash away the fact that he was a decent person.

The little fatty, Zhu Huai'an, was clearly a regular here. He casually handed a silver note to a servant, who then respectfully led them to the inner hall where the Kui Gu Ling selection was taking place.

Seeing the familiar scene again, Zhu Huai'an sighed with emotion, "The Kui Gu Ling is selected every five years. When it was held last time, I was only thirteen. I managed to sneak out of the house with great difficulty, but who would have thought that halfway through the Kui Gu Ling selection, I'd run into my father and my uncle."

At this point, the little fatty still felt a lingering fear. "Fortunately, my uncle persuaded them, otherwise I fear I wouldn't be alive today."

Xu Qing fell silent upon hearing this. Father and uncle visiting a brothel, what kind of combination is that? Does your mother know?

"Did your mother know at the time?" Wu Wencai blurted out.

Xu Qing silently looked at Wu Wencai. This child's mouth really is fast!

"Of course my mother didn't know. If she knew I went to a brothel behind her back, she would have beaten me to death!"

Zhu Huai'an seemed not to have caught the subtext of Wu Wencai's words and continued, "My mother is very fierce. My father and uncle are both afraid of her. That year, after watching the Kui Gu Ling, if the three of us hadn't been quick-witted and coordinated our stories, we would have been in big trouble!"

"For example, if my mother found out I brought you three here to have fun today, she would have someone break your legs and then give each of you ten thousand taels of silver."

"How much?" Wu Wencai's eyes widened, as if he was seriously considering having his legs broken for money.

Xu Qing was also extremely surprised. Did this little fatty's family own a silver mine? How could they be so extravagant?

However, he had no interest in these things. There were very few entertainment activities these days. Everyone came out to relieve boredom and have fun, not to make friends with rich people.

Furthermore, no matter how rich a person was, after enduring the ravages of time for a century, they would eventually turn into a handful of grave dirt.

Perhaps he would be the one to officiate the funeral.

The group found empty seats and sat down. Xu Qing watched the selection of the Kui Gu Ling on the stage with great interest.

The Kui Gu Ling was a special grand event held by Shuhuang Pavilion every five years.

Its purpose was to select girls who were outstanding in both talent and appearance.

In this grand event where beauties competed, the one who could outshine all others and win first place was the Flower Queen. The second to third place were considered Flower Drums, and the fourth to tenth place were Flower Orders.

During the selection, all the girls participating in the Kui Gu Ling must be women who had not yet been "combed" (betrothed) within the last five years by Shuhuang Pavilion to be able to perform on stage. At that time, officials and romantic talents in the audience would give "combing gifts" to the women they favored.

Gold, silver, jewelry, calligraphy, paintings, and rare treasures – anything valuable was accepted.

In addition, to accommodate the talented women who were about to be betrothed, there would be an additional talent test segment as a bonus.

After the rankings were decided, those talented women would then choose one of the talents who supported them to spend the night with.

After learning these rules, Xu Qing thought, what's the difference between this and a popularity contest?

However, this was the first time he had encountered such open solicitation.

At the tea table, Zhu Huai'an was coaxing the Wu brothers to help him pass the "talent test" round.

"To be honest, brothers, ever since I first saw Miss Wan'er, I felt that if I don't spend a night with her in this lifetime, my life would have been in vain!"

"It's a pity that although I have some money and a certain amount of talent, it's still a little bit short of winning Miss Wan'er's favor."

"Brothers Wencai and Zhiyuan, you are both exceptionally talented. When I met you at the government office, your impromptu poem, 'Awakening Spring,' was no less impressive than what Zhuang Zijun, the top scholar of the prefectural city, could compose."

"Miss Wan'er loves poetry the most. I hope you two brothers will lend me your full support and fulfill my wish to be with Miss Wan'er."

Wu Wencai, feeling indebted, immediately agreed, "No problem. My cousin is the best at writing poetry. Leave this matter to us."

Xu Qing did not get involved in their conversation. His attention was completely focused on a tea table not far away.

There sat a graceful young man with rosy lips and white teeth, sitting alone and pouring himself drinks.

Xu Qing found the person familiar at first glance, and recognized his identity with a second glance.

Last month, when he returned to clear the Corpse Laborer's Mill, he had helped a Brothel Lounger find peace. From that lounger, he had obtained a Hundred Beauties Erotic Scroll, which was used to scare people, and he had learned a secret: the County Magistrate's daughter disliked men and preferred to cross-dress as a man to play with girls.

And the person Xu Qing was currently observing was precisely that young lady with the "Tofu Grinding Holy Body."

This is interesting. I wonder which talented woman this County Magistrate's daughter has taken a liking to.

Xu Qing's gaze shifted between the stage where the talented women were performing and the impossibly handsome "young gentleman" at the other tea table.

He felt like there was drama everywhere!

As Wu Zhiyuan began to exert his strength, when the renowned Miss Wan'er appeared, Zhu Huai'an summoned servants to bring the finest ink, brushes, and paper for Wu Zhiyuan to showcase his talent.

Xu Qing glanced over and saw that the poetry flowed like spring breeze caressing dew, imbued with an indescribable tenderness. It was no less impressive than the poems he remembered.

"I never expected the bookworm from the paper craft shop next door to be such a talented young man," Xu Qing thought with great emotion. He felt that he wouldn't be able to write such poetry even if he lived two lifetimes.

After the ink dried, Zhu Huai'an placed a jade bracelet worth a thousand gold pieces on the gift tray and said, "This is a treasured bracelet my mother left for her future daughter-in-law. It shows how much I truly like Miss Wan'er."

Xu Qing couldn't help but ask, "Are you not afraid your mother will settle the score with you later for secretly taking her bracelet?"

The chubby young man dismissed it, "We'll worry about the future when it comes. Besides, my mother has prepared seven or eight bracelets, saying that as the only heir of the Zhu family, I'll have to marry seven or eight wives."

"I'm only taking one, it's nothing."

"..."

Xu Qing silently withdrew his simplistic question.

On stage, one of the previous year's Flower Order Maidens was announcing the gift list for Miss Wan'er.

When she reached Zhu Huai'an's "comb-dressing" gift, the Flower Order Maiden clearly paused for a moment.

"Young Master Zhu of Changling Prince's Estate gifts Miss Zhen Wan a golden jade bracelet bestowed by the Emperor, worth a thousand gold pieces."

Below the stage, Xu Qing turned to look at Zhu Huai'an. He had initially thought it was just a valuable bracelet, but he hadn't expected it to be an imperial gift.

But what was the meaning of Changling Prince's Estate?

Could this chubby young man be...

Just as Xu Qing was guessing the other's identity, another voice suddenly came from the stage: "Young Master Zhang gifts Miss Shuyu a jade pendant, worth a hundred taels."

A server holding a tray lifted the cover, displaying all the comb-dressing gifts to prove that the Kui Gu Ling's selection was neither false nor fabricated.

Xu Qing glanced over, and his attention instantly shifted from the chubby young man.

The jade pendant presented on the server's tray was none other than the Yin Ghost Jade he had been searching for!

Xu Qing's gaze searched for the Young Master Zhang mentioned by the Flower Order Maiden. Although he couldn't find him, he saw someone who shouldn't have been there.

"Excuse me, I suddenly remembered I have some urgent matters to attend to. I'll take my leave now. Please don't be offended, my brothers."

Without a word, and ignoring the questioning looks from the Wu brothers, Xu Qing stood up to leave.

Just moments ago, he had spotted the Demonic Cultivator Bai Luo from the Tianxin Cult in a corner.

Quickly walking towards the corridor, Xu Qing hadn't gone far before he encountered five or six people approaching.

The leader was an old man over sixty, and beside him, a pale, beardless, effeminate man stayed close. A person dressed as a Taoist priest scanned their surroundings.

Xu Qing didn't recognize the old man or the effeminate man, but he immediately recognized the Taoist priest.

This person was none other than Zuo Zixiong, the Baihu of the Divine Machine Battalion who had pursued the Tianxin Cult Demonic Cultivators!