Zuixiang Eighteen Hands

"These three have extraordinary backgrounds..."

Mu Ye glanced over. "Feng Wuque, I'll leave them to you to deal with."

Come to think of it, this Wind King Leg is truly overpowered for bullying the weak. With over three hundred Divine Apertures in his legs combined with the Light Body Technique, he was practically ghost-like; those two were finished before they could even react.

Back at the Feng Mansion that day, Mu Ye hadn't used his own secret martial arts, relying entirely on the inherent toughness of a Demon Sealer, his saved memories, and spells.

He hadn't expected this Wind King Leg to be so effective when paired with simple spells.

After repelling the three, Mu Ye snuck into Zuixiang Pavilion.

Zuixiang Pavilion had five floors. As one went higher, the quality and skills of the ladies naturally improved.

It was currently the hour of the Rat. While the dynasty once enforced a curfew, it no longer existed, so this was actually the busiest time for Zuixiang Pavilion. Most of the rooms in the five-story building were lit.

Truly extravagant, Mu Ye thought to himself.

After a brief observation, Mu Ye noticed that on the fifth floor, only three rooms had dim candlelight.

The other rooms were mostly brightly lit, and if one listened closely while no one was around, faint melodies could be heard drifting out.

At the same time, there was a martial artist of about the second rank patrolling each floor.

Brothels usually have backing, and this Zuixiang Pavilion surely has significant connections...

Of course, the security at Zuixiang Pavilion was still inferior to that of the Feng Mansion.

Since he could come and go from the Feng Mansion as he pleased, this Zuixiang Pavilion was naturally a breeze.

Among the three rooms, there was a high probability that one belonged to Yuanshuang, who had yet to make her debut.

Which one should he go to?

[1. Go to the one on the left.]

[2. Go to the one in the middle.]

[3. Go to the one on the right.]

After a moment of contemplation, Mu Ye went to the one on the right first.

He gently picked the lock and entered, only to find the room extremely crude. As soon as he took a step forward, various hidden crossbow bolts shot out from the darkness, and a sturdy net descended from above.

This room is a trap... Is this Zuixiang Pavilion also guarding against thieves?

Mu Ye glanced at it, and with the Light Body Technique bolstered, his figure flickered, easily dodging the mechanisms and traps.

Moving further ahead, one would discover the room filled with famous zithers, flutes, and numerous musical scores. It appeared to be the place where Zuixiang Pavilion kept its prized treasures, which explained why so many traps had been designed here.

After some fumbling and exploration, Mu Ye made an unexpected discovery.

[You have obtained the Secret Martial Art: Zuixiang Eighteen Touches.]

[Zuixiang Eighteen Touches: Also known as Zuixiang Eighteen Hands, an assassination secret martial art of Zuixiang Pavilion. Through palm force exerted by the fingers—using techniques such as kneading, twisting, flicking, bouncing, pulling, and vibrating—one can freely manipulate instruments. When cultivated to a profound level, one understands the structure of the human body and can cause an enemy to die unknowingly at the tips of one's fingers. Later, it was altered into bedroom techniques within Zuixiang Pavilion... it is rare for anyone to reach a high level of cultivation...]

"..." Mu Ye.

An assassination secret martial art?

The origins of this Zuixiang Pavilion were truly not simple.

Maintaining an attitude of diligent study, Mu Ye observed it for a while and was greatly shocked.

[You have learned the assassination secret martial art: Zuixiang Eighteen Touches.]

Mu Ye placed the Divine Aperture Secret Martial Art Map back in its original spot.

The difficulty of cultivating this secret martial art was extremely high.

Why was it so high?

It was simple: this secret martial art required mastering a vast amount of practical human anatomical data. The various techniques also required long periods of practice, while simultaneously demanding a certain level of proficiency in miscellaneous arts, such as zither, flute, calligraphy, and painting—skills that relied on the fingers to operate.

Generally speaking, a normal martial artist would not have the opportunity to cultivate this. For one, their body could not withstand it, let alone the requirement to improve their own artistic skills.

However, it was undeniably powerful. This type of secret martial art could kill within a single breath without leaving a trace. Upon reaching the highest realm, the force at the fingertips could penetrate bone marrow and meridians, striking a fatal blow through the body's weak points. It was formidable.

At the same time, it could additionally open dozens of divine apertures in the palms, continuously strengthening them and providing extra bonuses to many palm, fist, and finger-based secret martial arts.

Mu Ye exited this room and turned to enter the second room.

This room was more conventional. A faint fragrance drifted through the air, with beaded curtains and jade screens; it was clearly a lady's boudoir.

There was also a faint scent of books. Ahead stood a screen, and behind it was a large bed draped in pale white gauze. Moving a little closer, Mu Ye saw a woman whose appearance could be described as stunningly beautiful, currently resting.

The woman had delicate features and looked like a cultured lady from a scholarly family, yet there were three cinnabar dots between her brows, adding a touch of allure. The quilt covering her rose and fell significantly, and her breathing was even, resembling a painting of a beauty in slumber.

Mu Ye was about to leave when he noticed a line of small characters carved by the bedside: 'Red sleeves generate vital energy, frost arrives to become spring mud.'

"Huh, could this person be Yuanshuang? She is indeed stunningly beautiful..."

Mu Ye nodded slightly.

At this moment.

[1, Have some fun.]

[2. Wake her up and interrogate her.]

[3. Do not disturb, look for other clues.]

[4. ...]

"..." Mu Ye.

What is the meaning of these options?

I am a dignified Thief; am I the kind of shameless scoundrel described in options 1 and 2?

Providing such options is an insult to a Thief!

Mu Ye chose 1.

An insult is an insult; being insulted in a game doesn't matter. At worst, he could just spend some time starting over.

In truth, Mu Ye didn't have any particular feelings for Yuanshuang; he mainly wanted to see what this option would trigger.

The Thief climbed onto the bed, about to commit that illicit act.

At this moment, it seemed to disturb the latter. Yuanshuang suddenly opened her eyes, but instead of showing much panic, she smiled enchantingly:

"Young Master, you are truly impatient... This humble one still needs some time before I am ready to be wed..."

A pure and artistic face, yet possessing a bewitching voice.

[You have been charmed.]

Mu Ye was greatly shocked. Immediately after, he saw Yuanshuang lightly brush her fingertips, and the clothes on both of them vanished completely, rolling together into a heap...

After a long while.

[Dead]

"..."

"This is a demoness!"

Mu Ye looked at the dark game screen, his heart sinking.

The experience was wonderful, but he had been played to death.

He had enjoyed himself, but he was gone.

It was a trap, as expected.

However, this option also provided Mu Ye with a key piece of information: this Yuanshuang was extraordinary and not an ordinary woman.

"The technique resembles the Zuixiang Eighteen Touches... and the moment she speaks... there seems to be a secret martial art similar to a seductive voice..."

These types of secret martial arts require opening the Divine Aperture in the throat and trachea. The throat Divine Aperture belongs to the torso Divine Apertures and is extremely rare.

These secret martial art Divine Apertures have poor combat capability, but they are incredibly powerful when used for support.

The Lion's Roar, Demonic Sound Technique, and others circulating in the martial arts world all belong to this category of secret martial arts.

"Moreover, this Yuanshuang has a somewhat special constitution... A dignified third-rank expert, just like that, drained dry..."

"She has a bit of the flavor of a budget-version Hehuan Sect enchantress..."

Starting over, this time Mu Ye chose 2, directly grabbing the latter by the neck to threaten and interrogate her.

However, the situation was not much different from 1. With a few words from Yuanshuang and continuous seductive sounds, the character quickly fell into a charmed state...

Facts proved that as a Thief, one cannot engage in such filthy and base acts.

Otherwise, it is easy for things to go wrong.

As for those three Men in Black, I wonder if they learned specific secret martial arts to be able to abduct this Lady Yuanshuang?

Mu Ye chose 3. After searching the room for a while, he discovered a treasure box. Upon unlocking it, he saw a special landscape painting.

[Calligraphy and painting skills are insufficient; unable to discern key information within the painting.]

"This must be the clue."

Mu Ye realized.

[1. Take it out and find someone to appraise it.]

[2. Do not move it.]

Mu Ye chose 1.

However, the moment he touched the scroll, a prompt indicated that the character had been poisoned. The intense toxin quickly eroded the body's Divine Apertures, and before long, he died.

"..." Mu Ye.

Fine, the sequence is clear now.

This Yuanshuang is indeed the key, and this painting requires extremely high calligraphy and painting skills.

There are actually many ways to break the deadlock. If one only has second-rank strength, then honestly stay at Zuixiang Pavilion to increase favorability and improve calligraphy and painting skills.

If one is strong, say fourth-rank, and has opened the liver Divine Aperture, one could directly take the scroll away.

There is another way: "persuade" Lady Yuanshuang to help unlock the secrets of the painting.

This is likely quite difficult. This Yuanshuang has a special constitution, is well-versed in the Zuixiang Eighteen Touches, and has learned advanced seductive secret martial arts. I fear only a Brothel Patron with deep pockets could battle her, and even then, he might not necessarily be able to "persuade" her.

Starting over again, after obtaining the clues, Mu Ye went to the leftmost room. This room had nothing special, just some stored money, but it was guarded day and night. If one snuck in, they would be discovered by the people inside, and then the entire Zuixiang Pavilion would be alerted, with all sorts of thugs and servants swarming in.

Relying on his agile movements, Mu Ye escaped from Zuixiang Pavilion.

This trip was still quite rewarding.