Follow the Course, Remain Mortal; Defy It, Become Immortal

For some time afterward, Adam devoted most of his energy to comprehending the mysteries of the Tai Shang Eighty-One Transformations.

He divided the rest between writing the Immortal volume of Flower Wandering, selecting the Flower Wandering Sect's first-generation disciples and teachers, and choosing a site for the sect.

To that end, Adam spent heavily to poach several renowned Courtesans and Bawds from the mortal world. They had originally insisted that they sold their talents, not themselves, but the facts proved that the price simply had not been high enough.

The Bawds were fine, but the Courtesans had accepted enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, only to find not a single patron before them, but a group of children no older than twelve or thirteen... along with one grown girl who seemed somewhat out of place?

"From now on, they will be your teachers of the arts."

Adam introduced the group of children before him, then turned to the Courtesans and Bawds.

"Your task from now on is to teach them what you are skilled at. Besides dance, music, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea, teach them how to be graceful and sociable, and how to deal with people."

Unlike the entertainment industry of later times, it was not easy to become a courtesan in this era. Anyone who wished to rise above the rest needed genuine skill.

"Master, is our Flower Wandering Sect a... pleasure house?"

It was not only the Courtesans who were stunned; even Yun Ya was somewhat taken aback.

She had actually wanted to call it a brothel, but seeing those beautiful Courtesans, she could not bring herself to say it.

But that was not important. What mattered was—how had things circled back to this again?

*So in the end, I