[Please enter the Brothel Patron's character name]
"Ji Bochang."
[The character name contains a prohibited word. Please enter it again.]
"?"
"Ji Yaodao."
Mu Ye looked at the Brothel Patron and silently praised him. Damn, he was handsome.
The Brothel Patron cost 150 Paradise Coins, making him one of the more expensive characters.
And naturally, there was a good reason for that price.
First, his looks. In short, he was eight feet tall and exceptionally handsome.
In modern terms, he stood 1.85 meters tall, with a high nose, striking features, and a handsome face. An air of valiant charm radiated from him.
Especially his phoenix eyes, which carried an air of authority while possessing a unique allure.
They were even a little bewitching.
He was the sort of man who could make a wealthy older woman fall for him at first sight—a top-tier gigolo.
Among all the characters, the Brothel Patron's looks were absolutely first-rate.
"With a face like that, what could you possibly want for?"
"Enter the game!"
[You are the impoverished descendant of a once-prominent family. Your ancestors once enjoyed wealth and glory, but by your generation, your parents' extravagant spending has left the family bankrupt. With no other choice, you have drifted to Taiping City. Born into a wealthy household, you inherited your ancestors' good looks. Both your appearance and endowments far surpass those of ordinary men, and you possess an extraordinary talent in one particular area... For this very reason, you enjoy carousing and seeking pleasure...]
The brief introduction ended.
"..." Mu Ye.
Taiping City, familiar streets, familiar faces.
According to the character's background, he had once again drifted to Taiping City.
"Let's take a look at the ability description first."
Mu Ye pondered for a moment.
[Cloud and Rain (Bedchamber Arts): Born into a wealthy household and exceptionally well-endowed, you have gained extensive experience in this area. You know the female body like the back of your hand, and can easily bring women to pleasure and win their favor.]
Got it. A seasoned player.
Mu Ye looked it over and found himself wanting to use the Random Character Ability Treasure Chest to extract this ability.
"Forget it. A true man born between heaven and earth should not linger in the pleasures of the bedchamber."
Mu Ye rejected the idea.
He only had one reward so far: a Random Character Ability Treasure Chest earned for clearing the Tutorial Stage.
It was far too precious.
"Let's go to Zuixiang Pavilion and gather some information first."
Mu Ye cleared his throat and guided the character toward Zuixiang Pavilion.
Zuixiang Pavilion was a brothel, but brothels were not merely ordinary houses of prostitution.
Most of the women here sold their talents, not their bodies. They were skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing.
Even when Emperor Zhengyang was down on his luck, he had come here to enjoy himself. Naturally, he hadn't been after only that sort of pleasure.
Besides, the women here weren't available to just anyone who wanted to see them.
"A high-end club."
Mu Ye summed up Zuixiang Pavilion.
Zuixiang Pavilion stood about five stories tall. There were no girls outside trying to lure in customers like in television dramas; the place was far too refined for that.
The men coming and going were all dressed in fine silk—either rich or noble.
There were no women soliciting customers, only two young attendants at the door, kindly guiding guests inside.
If someone seemed even a little suspicious, they would ask about his identity and wealth before letting him in.
It seemed like the place only catered to regulars.
With a different character, he might not even have been allowed inside.
Before long, Mu Ye spotted a familiar face.
Feng Wuque.
"That bastard actually comes to brothels too?"
Mu Ye followed him inside.
The two attendants took one look at the newcomer and paused. They didn't question him at all. The one on the left hurriedly bowed and said, "Please come in, young master."
"..." Mu Ye.
Mu Ye made the character give a slight nod and calmly enter the brothel.
"Big brother, this guy looks unfamiliar," the attendant on the right said curiously. "Why didn't you ask who he was?"
"Didn't you see his bearing and looks? He's far from ordinary," the attendant on the left explained, passing on his experience. "In my experience, even if he's visiting Taiping City for the first time, he must be a regular at brothels. With looks like his, who knows how many of our girls will fall for him?"
"..."
The first floor of Zuixiang Pavilion.
As soon as he entered, Mu Ye saw a woman seated on the raised platform in the center. Her long hair fell like a waterfall, and a veil covered her face. With delicate fingers, she plucked the strings of a zither made from the finest silk.
The sonorous music carried a hint of languid sensuality as it drifted into his ears.
A faint fragrance mingled with the rich aroma of tea and wine, filling his nostrils.
The first floor was spacious. Each small table was neatly arranged behind a specially made screen. Beside every table sat a lovely woman, pouring tea and wine and gently waving a palm-leaf fan. From time to time, she would explain the origins of the music being played, displaying her literary knowledge and refinement.
"Young master, is this your first time at Zuixiang Pavilion? Would you like me to show you around?"
A woman in a pale yellow dress, a jade sash around her waist and a white gauzy shawl over her shoulders, approached. Her eyes gleamed brightly.
[1, No need. Are you holding an auction today?] [2, Prepare a private room for me in the Heavenly Suite.] [3, I'm here to ask about something.] [4, ...]
Mu Ye scratched his head. Of these options, only 3 looked remotely sensible, and it also suited his purpose.
But it was the stupidest choice, too. Stating his purpose outright wouldn't do; they might even throw him out.
So Mu Ye chose 1.
What did "holding an auction" mean?
"So you're a regular, young master?" The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, keeping her eyes fixed on him. "Sister Yuanshuang will be holding an auction in half a month. With looks like yours, young master, if Sister Yuanshuang gets just one look at you, she might eliminate all the other contenders and make you her chosen companion for the night..."
Uh...
Mu Ye understood.
Though brothels sold talent rather than sex, they still had their own ways of choosing men.
An auction was when a woman selected an admirer she liked and spent the night with him.
Women like that were usually the brothel's most celebrated courtesans.
Mu Ye thought it over.
If word had spread that someone at Zuixiang Pavilion knew the location of the Seven Absolutes Demon, then it must have something to do with the debauchery Emperor Zhengyang had once indulged in here.
But how many years had passed since Emperor Zhengyang's era?
Most likely, the emperor had enjoyed himself here so much—or been so captivated by one of the pavilion's most celebrated courtesans—that in the midst of tender embraces and soft warmth, he had let slip something about the Seven Absolutes Demon.
But the courtesans from that era would have long since turned to dust.
Mu Ye tried option 3 instead.
"What would you like to ask about, young master?" The woman's attitude did not change as he had expected, though her smile faded a little.
Mu Ye reckoned it was because the Brothel Patron was simply too charming.
Since she hadn't thrown him out, he might as well ask directly.
"I heard an emperor once visited Zuixiang Pavilion?"
The woman paused, then covered her mouth and laughed.
"Of course one did."
"Then Zuixiang Pavilion must be quite extraordinary."
"Indeed." The woman sounded rather proud. "Madam says Sister Yuhe may not have been a peerless beauty, but she was certainly as lovely as a flower. There were few in all of Taiping City who could compare to her."
"She was accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
"Over the years, many people have come to Zuixiang Pavilion because of her reputation."
"Sadly, Sister Yuhe passed away years ago..." the woman said. "That emperor was a faithless, heartless man. He promised to buy Sister Yuhe's freedom, then promptly forgot all about it."
Among the common folk, Emperor Zhengyang was widely regarded as a foolish, tyrannical ruler. And with the dynasty long since changed, no one in the streets feared gossip like this.
Yuhe...
He hadn't expected to uncover some of the story already.
"Now that I've told you all this, would you like to choose a girl to attend you, young master?" The woman's beautiful eyes glimmered.
[1, Send me two to have a look.] [2, Are you holding an auction?] [3, Get me a room in the Heavenly Suite.] [4, Leave.] [5, ...]
Mu Ye figured there must be plenty more to learn, so he would have to keep asking around.
And to ask around, he would have to spend money.
It was all for the sake of gathering information.
Mu Ye chose 1.
"Two?" The woman was taken aback, then smiled. "Do you have a type, young master? The ladies at Zuixiang Pavilion are not only beautiful, but also skilled in several arts."
[1, Do you have anyone mature and alluring, with boundless charm?] [2, I prefer pure and delicate women who are charming and pitiful.] [3, Do you have anyone cold as frost, yet haughty and captivating?] [4, I think you'll do just fine.] [5, Do you have anyone like Yuhe, the woman from back then?] [6, I'll wait for Yuanshuang's auction instead...]
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