Hongbin Tower

Li Ye accepted Zhou Bao's invitation.

Zhou Bao was the only friend he'd made since coming to this world. Of course he would see his friend off before he left.

The two of them went down the mountain.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the city gates had only just opened.

A steady stream of people poured into the city.

It was Li Ye's first time seeing the bustle of a city in this world. It couldn't compare to the towering buildings and dazzling neon lights of his previous life, but it was still extraordinarily lively.

Licheng's walls were tall, thick, and sturdy. Inside the city, blue-brick buildings, green tiles, wooden houses, and little towers stretched out in clusters.

"This is the north side of the city, the wealthier and busier part of Licheng. I hear there are lots of starving people in the south, lying in rows along the streets, waiting for handouts."

Zhou Bao filled Li Ye in on the state of Licheng.

In fact, Li Ye already knew a fair bit about the city from the Holy Son's memories.

As they walked, bursts of music drifted from up ahead: pipa and guqin melodies, along with the sweet laughter and playful chatter of women.

"Come on in and have some fun, sir!"

"Take care, sir! Come again next time!"

The faint scent of rouge hung in the air along the street. Li Ye immediately realized what sort of place they were in.

Sure enough, when they got closer, they saw a brothel built in an old-fashioned style.

A row of girls in bright pink, white, yellow, and orange outfits stood along the second-floor corridor, greeting passersby and beckoning them inside.

They had radiant faces and dazzling smiles. Their gauzy clothes slipped halfway down, revealing broad expanses of snow-white skin.

Their skin was so soft and fair, it looked as if you could squeeze water from it.

Their figures came in all shapes and sizes. Some were slender and supple, others full-figured and alluring, and some had curves in all the right places...

Zhou Bao, walking beside Li Ye, stared until his face flushed red. He could barely keep moving.

"Would you like to come up for some fun, sir? Ah, where did these two beggars come from?"

A girl in an orange dress had just been about to call out to Zhou Bao and Li Ye. But when she noticed their clothes, her expression changed at once, and she muttered under her breath about bad luck.

"Do you think the north side of the city is somewhere the likes of you can come? If you're begging, go to the south—"

A woman in white on the second floor scolded them.

Damn it, they were a bunch of viper-hearted demons who'd swallow a man whole and not spit out the bones.

Seeing how the girls had gone from alluring and tender to showing their true colors in the blink of an eye, Zhou Bao was furious.

Suddenly, a scream rang out from one of Yihongyuan's rooms: "Yang Depletion! He's got Yang Depletion! Madam, hurry..."

The girls along the second-floor corridor exchanged glances, then lit up with interest and hurried off to see the commotion.

Zhou Bao asked in confusion, "Young Brother Li Bai, what does... Yang Depletion mean?"

He wasn't young anymore, but with the world in turmoil, he probably hadn't so much as touched a woman.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so flustered just now when he saw those girls.

Li Ye thought for a moment. "It means he's been ruined."

Zhou Bao was even more confused. "But wasn't that man in a girl's bed? How could he have been ruined?"

"Who ruined him? Could it have been one of the girls at Yihongyuan?"

Li Ye had seen the girls here for himself. The ones without customers were all beautiful; the ones with customers were probably even more so.

Sure enough, beauties were never in short supply, no matter the era.

The two of them wandered around the north side of the city before arriving in front of a restaurant.

"Hongbin Tower!"

Zhou Bao cried out in surprise.

He had never imagined Li Ye would bring him here.

Hongbin Tower was one of Licheng's most famous restaurants. The people coming and going were all wealthy local gentry, servants from rich families ordering food, officials from the yamen, or prominent martial artists.

It was nearly noon, and a few distinguished guests were already entering Hongbin Tower. They were all dressed in finery and carried themselves with poise.

Zhou Bao glanced at their own ragged clothes.

"Young Brother Li Bai, this isn't a place for people like us. We'd better go."

Zhou Bao said weakly.

He'd noticed the waiter at the entrance watching them, looking ready to come over and drive them away.

"Just eat and drink without worrying. It's on me," Li Ye said.

Zhou Bao was the only friend Li Ye had made since coming to this world. He couldn't let his farewell feast be shabby.

Li Ye decided to go all in.

"Damn it, chasing that Shadowless Thief has had me trekking over mountains and ridges. I haven't slept in three days and three nights, and I'm about to starve. Brother Zhou, let's fill our bellies before we go after the bastard."

So they weren't beggars, but martial heroes from the jianghu?

They looked so bedraggled because they were chasing some Shadowless Thief?

The restaurant waiter, who'd been approaching with a hostile expression to drive Li Ye and Zhou Bao away, suddenly stopped in his tracks. He looked uncertain.

Zhou Bao was quick-witted. He paused for a moment, then understood what Li Ye was getting at.

"Right, filling our bellies comes first. I spent most of my gold ingots throwing them at that bastard, but luckily I still have one gold nugget left. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be able to pay for a meal."

"Keep your gold nugget to buy yourself a fine weapon," Li Ye said. "I still have a few silver notes."

"Hey, waiter, what are you standing there for? Tell your boss to bring out all the best food and wine you've got. Bring out every jar of your aged wine, too. We've got plenty of silver."

Gold nuggets? Silver notes?

Were they serious, or were these two just bragging?

The waiter was dumbfounded by their words. It wasn't until Li Ye slapped him on the shoulder that the sharp pain brought him back to his senses.

A Body Temperer?

The waiter realized what was going on. As the saying went, the poor studied and the rich practiced martial arts. He no longer doubted what Li Ye and Zhou Bao had said.

"Certainly! This way, honored guests."

The waiter replied, then warmly ushered Li Ye and Zhou Bao into the restaurant.

Hongbin Tower used the finest pillars and the finest timber for its tables. The surroundings were elegant, just as befitted a place frequented by the nobility.

"Would the two guests like a private room upstairs, or...?"

The waiter asked.

Zhou Bao looked to Li Ye. After a moment's thought, Li Ye said, "Let's sit on the first floor. It'll be livelier."

The first floor was spacious. Since it was still early, only five tables were occupied.

"Hey, why has Xiao Li brought two beggars in here?"

A middle-aged man was savoring a dish of steamed sea bass and couldn't help asking in surprise.

"Heh, Xiao Li is famous at Hongbin Tower for being a snob. If he brought them in, they must not be beggars."

The middle-aged man's friend said with a knowing smile.

The middle-aged man nodded, then went back to his fish.

Li Ye and Zhou Bao found a quiet spot and sat down.

Zhou Bao felt as if he were dreaming. He never would have thought he'd one day eat in such a high-class restaurant. He could die happy now.

Zhou Bao admired Li Ye immensely.

Li Ye had even picked a seat by the window, exactly as Zhou Bao would have chosen.

Once they finished eating, they could jump out the window and slip away without anyone noticing. It was so convenient.

Li Ye took a small sip of tea and asked, "Zhou Bao, what are your plans for the future?"

Zhou Bao sighed. "I'll take things one step at a time. If nothing else works out, I'm thinking of going overseas and finding a way to get by in another dynasty."

Li Ye didn't approve. "Going overseas is risky. Why not open a restaurant like this yourself?"

Zhou Bao paused, then gave a bitter smile. "Young Brother Li Bai, don't tease me. If I had that kind of ability, I wouldn't have ended up as a Corpse Incinerator."

As the two of them were talking, a waiter came over carrying a jar of wine.

"The wine is here..."

"Honored guests, this is our Hongbin Tower's treasured aged wine. Please enjoy."

Then came steamed grouper, braised beef, a whole roast chicken, five pounds of roast leg of lamb, and several side dishes that looked to be of good quality.

Zhou Bao stared at the spread, nearly drooling. He'd never had more than three dishes in his life.

But this much food had to cost at least thirty taels of silver. Everything at this sort of restaurant was expensive.

"Young Brother Li Bai, once we've eaten and drunk our fill, you jump out the window first. I'll follow right after."

"After eating all this, I can say I haven't lived in vain."

Zhou Bao leaned close to Li Ye and whispered.

Just then, a voice rang out.

"I'm Chen Hong. I enjoy befriending heroes of the jianghu, and I'm the proprietor of Hongbin Tower."

"I heard from the waiter that two friends from the jianghu had come to visit. It's truly an honor for Hongbin Tower."

A chubby middle-aged man appeared before Li Ye and Zhou Bao, smiling warmly.

What? The proprietor of Hongbin Tower?

Zhou Bao's heart gave a jolt.

Oh, mother! The proprietor himself had come over. How were they supposed to jump out the window now?

It was over. It was all over...