Customs and Traditions of Zuixiang Pavilion

[Please enter the character name for Brothel Patron]

"Ji Bochang."

[Character name contains prohibited words, please re-enter]

"?"

"Ji Yaodao."

Mu Ye looked at Brothel Patron and couldn't help but praise him in his heart; he was damn handsome.

The Brothel Patron character cost 150 Paradise Coin, placing it among the more expensive options.

If it was expensive, there naturally had to be a reason for it.

First, there was the appearance. To put it simply: he stood eight feet tall with a magnificent countenance.

In modern terms, he was 1.85 meters tall, with a high bridge of the nose, bold features, and a handsome face, exuding an air of heroic charm.

His phoenix eyes, in particular, carried an inherent sense of authority while possessing a unique allure.

They were even a bit bewitching.

He was the type of top-tier gigolo who could make wealthy women fall for him at first glance.

Among all the available characters, the looks of this Brothel Patron were definitely top-tier.

With a face like this, what could I possibly worry about?

"Enter game!"

[You are the down-and-out descendant of a humble family. Your ancestors once enjoyed wealth and glory, but by your generation, due to your father's extravagance, you have gone bankrupt. You have been forced to drift into Taiping City. Born into a wealthy household, you inherited the looks of your ancestors. Both in appearance and in your assets, you far exceed the average person, and in certain aspects, you possess talent beyond that of ordinary men... It is precisely for this reason that you enjoy seeking pleasure...]

The brief introduction concluded.

"..." Mu Ye.

Taiping City, familiar streets, familiar people.

According to the character background, he had once again drifted into Taiping City.

"Let's check the ability description first."

Mu Ye pondered for a moment.

[Cloud and Rain (Bedchamber Arts): Born into a wealthy family and possessing superior assets, you have accumulated deep experience in this area, giving you a thorough understanding of the female body. You can easily satisfy the opposite sex and gain their favor.]

Got it. An old pro.

Mu Ye took a look, and to his own surprise, he felt a sudden urge to use the Random Character Chest to extract this.

Forget it. A real man born between heaven and earth, how could he linger over the pleasures of the bedchamber?

Mu Ye rejected the thought in his heart.

He currently only had the reward from clearing the tutorial level: one Random Character Ability Chest.

It was too precious.

"Let's head to Zuixiang Pavilion to gather some intel first."

Mu Ye coughed and controlled his character to walk toward Zuixiang Pavilion.

Zuixiang Pavilion was a brothel, but a so-called brothel was not just an ordinary house of ill repute.

Most of the women here sold their talents rather than their bodies; they were proficient in everything from zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting to singing and dancing.

Even Emperor Zhengyang would frequent this place during his down-and-out days, so naturally, it wasn't just about carnal desires.

Moreover, you couldn't just see the girls here whenever you wanted.

"A high-end club."

Mu Ye summarized Zuixiang Pavilion.

Arriving at Zuixiang Pavilion, he saw it was about five stories tall. Outside the door, there weren't any girls soliciting customers like in the movies; they wouldn't stoop to such tactics.

Those entering and exiting were all young masters dressed in fine silk, either wealthy or noble.

There were no girls pulling in customers, only two doormen who greeted guests with friendly expressions and provided directions.

If they encountered someone who seemed a bit out of place, they would inquire about their identity and financial status before letting them in.

It looked like they only did business with regulars.

If he were playing a different character, he might not have even been able to get in.

Before long, Mu Ye spotted an old acquaintance.

Feng Wuque.

This bastard is actually here visiting a brothel?

Mu Ye followed him up.

The two doormen looked at the newcomer and were slightly stunned, but surprisingly, they didn't question him. The one on the left hurriedly said respectfully, "Please, young master, come inside."

"..." Mu Ye.

Mu Ye controlled his character to nod slightly and calmly walked into the brothel.

"Big brother, this guy looks a bit unfamiliar, doesn't he?" the attendant on the right asked curiously. "Why didn't you ask for his identity?"

"Can't you see that this person's bearing and appearance are far beyond that of an ordinary man?" the attendant on the left said, imparting his wisdom. "In my experience, even if this is his first time in Taiping City, he is definitely a regular at brothels. With looks like that, who knows how many girls in our brothel will lose their hearts to him."

"..."

The first floor of Zuixiang Pavilion.

Just after entering, Mu Ye saw a woman on the central high platform. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, and she wore a veil, lightly pressing her jade-like fingers against strings made of the finest silk.

The melodious sound of the zither, carrying a hint of decadence, drifted into his ears.

A faint, refreshing fragrance, mixed with the scent of expensive tea and wine, filled his nose.

The first floor was very spacious. Each small table was shielded by a custom-made screen and arranged in an orderly fashion. Beside every table, a beautiful woman was pouring tea and wine, gently waving a cattail fan, and occasionally explaining the origins of the current musical piece to showcase her literary talent and knowledge.

"Young master, is this your first time at Zuixiang Pavilion? Would you like me to introduce things to you?"

Beside him, a woman dressed in a goose-yellow long dress, with a jade sash around her waist and a white gauze shawl draped over her shoulders, walked up, her eyes sparkling brightly.

[1. No need. Is there any betting open today?]

[2. Help me prepare a Heaven-tier room.]

[3. I have come to inquire about something.]

[4. ...]

Mu Ye scratched his head. Among these options, 3 looked the most serious and aligned with his goal.

But it was also the most foolish; stating his purpose directly obviously wouldn't work, and he might even get kicked out.

Therefore, Mu Ye chose 1.

What did this "betting" mean?

"It seems you are a regular, young master?" The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on him. "Sister Yuanshuang will be opening the betting in half a month. Seeing your appearance, young master, perhaps Sister Yuanshuang will take one look at you, immediately disqualify the other candidates, and make you her guest of honor..."

Uh...

Mu Ye understood.

Although brothels claimed to sell art rather than bodies, it depended on the person.

The "betting" was a setup where the girl would choose a suitor she favored to spend the night with.

Women of this type were usually the top courtesans of the brothel.

Mu Ye pondered for a moment.

Since rumors circulated that someone inside Zuixiang Pavilion knew the location of the Seven Absolutes Demon, it surely had something to do with Emperor Zhengyang having indulged in debauchery here back in the day.

But how many years had passed since the era of Emperor Zhengyang?

If such a rumor existed, it was highly likely that Emperor Zhengyang had been having a grand time here, or perhaps he had been captivated by one of the top courtesans, letting slip a detail or two about the Seven Absolutes Demon amidst the soft jade and warm fragrance.

Yet, the courtesan from that era would have long since turned to dust by now.

Mu Ye chose option 3 again to test the waters.

"What would you like to inquire about, young master?" The woman's attitude did not change unexpectedly; her smile merely faded slightly.

Mu Ye reckoned it was still due to the immense charm of this Brothel Patron.

Since she hadn't kicked him out, he might as well ask directly.

"I heard that an emperor once graced your Zuixiang Pavilion with his presence?"

The woman was taken aback, then covered her mouth and laughed.

"Naturally, that is true."

"Then your Zuixiang Pavilion is truly extraordinary."

"That it is." The woman said with a hint of pride, "The madam says that back then, sister Yuhe was, if not enough to topple cities and states, at least a beauty of peerless grace. There were few in all of Taiping City who could compare to sister Yuhe."

"She was proficient in everything from the zither and chess to calligraphy and painting."

"Over these years, many have come to our Zuixiang Pavilion seeking her reputation."

"It is only a pity that sister Yuhe passed away many years ago..." the woman said, "That emperor was also a fickle and heartless man. He promised to redeem sister Yuhe, but turned around and forgot all about it."

In the eyes of the common people, Emperor Zhengyang was a quintessential incompetent ruler. With the changing of dynasties, the public had no fear of such idle gossip.

Yuhe...

He hadn't expected to uncover some information so quickly.

"Having said so much, would you like to choose a young lady to attend to you, young master?" The woman's beautiful eyes darted around.

[1. Let's start with two and see.]

[2. Do you have any gambling games open?]

[3. Open a Heaven-tier room.]

[4. Leave.]

Mu Ye figured there must be a wealth of information to be gathered, and he needed to keep digging.

If he wanted to gather intelligence, he would inevitably have to spend some money.

It was all for the sake of gathering information.

Mu Ye chose 1.

"Two?" The woman was taken aback, then smiled. "Does the young master have a preferred type? The sisters here at Zuixiang Pavilion are not only breathtakingly beautiful but also skilled in various arts."

[1, Do you have any who are mature, alluring, and full of charm?]

[2, I prefer women who are pure, innocent, and delicately pitiful.]

[3, Do you have any who are cold as frost, proud and moving?]

[4, I think you are quite good yourself.]

[5, Do you have anyone like that Yuhe from back in the day?]

[6, I think I'll just wait for Yuanshuang to open her table...]