Broadening Horizons

Chapter 20: Seeing the World

Zhao Rui listened to the coach's words and let them go in one ear and out the other. This martial arts hall was primarily profit-driven, unlike Li Da Naodai's Jiming Pharmacy.

In the end, no matter how bad Jiming Pharmacy was, it was still a family tradition passed down from master to disciple, with fewer mercenary entanglements.

Around eight in the evening, the scar-faced youth Hong Fei finished his sparring session with Zhao Rui and left the martial arts hall.

Zhao Rui stayed for a little while longer, and seeing that there was no more business, he got up to leave.

As a part-time Sparring Partner, his wages were paid daily. He had earned a few hundred yuan today and had also absorbed two quite decent martial arts skills, making it a fruitful day.

The Taiyi Light Splitting Sword was not low in level, clearly superior to the Taihang Thirteen Palms he had learned. Even compared to the Emei Sect's Wing Chun Inquiry, it was not inferior.

The other martial art was the Wrathful Fiend Skill from the scar-faced youth Hong Fei, a skill focused on combat.

The progress on both of these skills was not high. To fully master them would likely take at least four or five days.

Since it was summer vacation and he had plenty of time, Zhao Rui was not in a hurry.

While being a Sparring Partner at the martial arts hall was effective, the progress was relatively slow. Zhao Rui had already secretly thought of another way to spar.

Since martial arts skills were neither good nor bad, why not absorb some simple and easy-to-learn common ones?

He could also use this to verify whether the same skill could increase progress points by switching sparring partners.

For example, if he absorbed a martial art from Zhang San and gained ten percent progress, could he continue to absorb it the next day from Zhang San's senior brother, who had the same martial art?

This was something he still needed to investigate.

The holiday was long, so there was no rush.

After leaving the martial arts hall, Zhao Rui first went home to change into a handsome outfit, then rode his bicycle to Yang Fan's house.

Yang Fan lived in a high-end residential complex where the price per square meter was twenty to thirty thousand yuan.

Furthermore, he lived in a three-story villa, indicating he came from a well-off family.

Upon arriving outside the complex, Zhao Rui called Yang Fan. Shortly thereafter, a black BMW motorcycle with its headlights on drove out.

Zhao Rui locked his bicycle next to the complex's property guardhouse and then got on the back seat of the motorcycle.

"You with your greasy hair and powdered face, you've really gotten a lot more handsome!"

Zhao Rui chuckled as he saw Yang Fan's hair, slicked back with pomade until it shone.

"That's a must! We have to show the ladies at least a little respect!"

Yang Fan grinned, twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle sped off into the distance.

Half an hour later, in front of a massive twenty-story building, Zhao Rui and Yang Fan dismounted from the motorcycle.

They both looked up at the giant sign hanging on the building before them: "Carefree Pavilion!"

The sign glittered with golden light, surrounded by dazzling neon lights. Intermittently rotating lights created a hazy and dreamlike atmosphere, while the three-dimensional display screen refracted unique visual colors, continuously broadcasting exciting videos of internal entertainment.

Pai Gow, foot massages, and baths, beautiful women, handsome men engaging in competition, brilliant light shows, restless music, and stirring hearts.

At this moment, they all materialized.

"Impressive!"

"Let's go!"

"Let's go!"

The two exchanged glances and strode inside.

As soon as they stepped onto the stairs, they saw two giant golden bronze doors, each carved with a large lion's head holding a gleaming yellow door knocker in its mouth.

At the entrance, two tall men in suits stood respectfully on the left and right.

When guests entered, they would gently push open the thousand-pound doors, revealing them slowly.

However, the strength to lift such heavy doors with apparent ease was not something an ordinary Martial Artist possessed.

Yang Fan's face twitched at the sight, and his steps faltered slightly.

Fortunately, they weren't the only ones stepping onto the stairs. Yang Fan deliberately lagged a couple of steps behind, observed the actions of those around him, and followed suit.

Zhao Rui's eyes were incredibly sharp. He immediately noticed Yang Fan's nervousness and nudged him with his elbow, spitting, "Didn't you say you'd been here before!"

"I was just bragging!"

Yang Fan, thick-skinned as ever, didn't take it to heart.

Zhao Rui was speechless. He had originally hoped Yang Fan had been here before so he could follow him around and get a feel for the place.

Now, they were both novices, and the experience would be entirely different.

This was a place where both the underworld and the legitimate world gathered, and the level of danger was completely different from entertainment venues in his previous life.

Fighting and brawling were commonplace here, and feuds and revenge killings were frequent. Although the security here was undoubtedly top-notch, it couldn't withstand the sheer number of people who knew martial arts.

When one's combat power increased, their temper naturally followed.

With great power comes "great responsibility"!

Without a regular customer to guide them, they would inevitably be more apprehensive.

"Low-key, low-key!"

Zhao Rui shushed him, putting on a familiar air. He tugged at Yang Fan, then they walked side-by-side towards the main entrance.

The two suit-clad guards at the entrance glanced at them expressionlessly before casually pushing the doors open.

Zhao Rui and Yang Fan raised their eyebrows. So, they didn't even bother looking at riff-raff like them.

The two hurried inside.

They passed through a corridor filled with dazzling lights and a generally magnificent, golden splendor, and two smaller doors stood before them.

The doors were open, and four young women in tight, thin qipaos stood at the entrance. The slits of the qipaos went all the way up to the waist, revealing glimpses of their fair, tender legs.

Seeing this blatant temptation, Yang Fan's eyes widened instantly.

He nudged Zhao Rui with his arm and whispered, "Holy crap, even the greeters are this hot!"

"Stay calm!"

Unlike Yang Fan, who was a true novice, Zhao Rui, a seasoned veteran, had seen women before. This level of temptation meant nothing to him.

"Welcome to Carefree Pavilion, we hope our esteemed guests have a pleasant stay!"

As they approached, the four young women bowed in unison. As they bent over, a glimpse of snow-white appeared at the collar of their dresses, sparking the imagination.

Yang Fan felt an itch in his nose and quickly wiped it, afraid he might get a nosebleed.

He had seen adult films before, but watching them was completely different from the real experience.

As the two entered the inner doors, they were met with a golden hall as large as two football fields, resembling a Western palace.

The hall was not level with the entrance but sunk underground, connected by a flight of stairs. It was about five to six meters lower.

This made the entire hall appear even more expansive and towering.

Looking down from the top of the stairs at the entrance, the hall was divided into many areas, each with different activities. Just by sight, they could see various entertainment options like gambling, exotic dances, and a bar.

"Gentlemen, how may we be of service?"

Just as they were marveling at the luxury and grandeur of the internal hall, a clear, melodious female voice sounded beside them.

Zhao Rui turned his head and saw a youthful woman, over 1.7 meters tall, dressed as an ancient swordswoman, looking at them charmingly.

This...

The woman, dressed in pale green, stood out elegantly in the opulent entertainment venue.

She wore a light green, chest-high ruqun, lightly draped with a gossamer gauze robe with large sleeves. The gauze was intricately woven with dark patterns of emerald peacock feathers.

Under the brilliant lights, they shimmered with a verdant luster. Her hair was styled high in a bun, adorned with twelve silver hairpins featuring enameled curling grass patterns. Each hairpin was tipped with a teardrop-shaped crystal, swaying gracefully.

Zhao Rui was momentarily lost in thought. With this martial arts style, if they hadn't been in an entertainment venue, he would have thought he had transmigrated to ancient times.

Yang Fan stared blankly at her exquisite face, momentarily stunned.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen women before; it was just that the contrast was too stimulating, making the swordswoman before him even more beautiful!

"We're here to relax. Could you show us around?"

Zhao Rui collected his thoughts and nodded slightly at her.

"Certainly! Please follow me!"

After speaking, the swordswoman slightly turned and extended her fair, jade-like hand, gesturing for them to follow.

Zhao Rui pulled Yang Fan and stepped forward.

"This is our gambling area. Esteemed guests can experience all the gambling options available on the market here..."

"Our beauties are all carefully selected and meticulously trained. You can rest assured about the service."

(End of this chapter)