Visiting a Brothel Disguised as a Man!

When Ning Que returned, he found Yin Jiuyou and Qi Shanhe looking for him.

Seeing that Ning Que was unharmed, they immediately breathed sighs of relief.

"Young Grandmaster, you scared me half to death... Where did you go?"

Ning Que smiled and changed the subject. "Where are we going next?"

Qi Shanhe thought for a moment, then smiled. "Where would you like to go, Young Grandmaster? Qingzhou City has 'four must-visits' and 'four forbidden places.'"

Ning Que grew interested. "Which four must-visits? And which four forbidden places?"

Qi Shanhe said, "The four forbidden places are Qingzhou City's four restricted areas, places ordinary visitors can't enter—the City Central Office, the Escort Guild, the Cave of No Worries, and the Temple of Five Viscera."

Qi Shanhe then gave him a rough explanation of what those four places were.

"The City Central Office is where the Zhuge Family, who hold the post of Qingzhou prefect, reside. Soldiers and officials are everywhere. It's the seat of power for all of Qingzhou City.

"The Escort Guild, as its name suggests, is where armed escorts gather. Escort agencies line both sides of the street. As long as you pay, they'll transport anything. Of course, outsiders prying into their secrets is also the thing escorts resent most..."

Ning Que nodded repeatedly as he listened, waiting for Qi Shanhe to continue.

"The Cave of No Worries and the Temple of Heavenly Secrets are much more sinister. Rumor has it that downstream from Qingzhou Lake, where the current is strongest, there's a cave connected to an underground waterway. Countless underworld factions gather there. It's a lawless place within Qingzhou City, where you can kill anyone you please without breaking the law. The Cave of No Worries is also known by the saying, 'Above ground and below, two different worlds.'"

After hearing Qi Shanhe's explanation, Ning Que understood.

Every city had its own dark side, and the Cave of No Worries was Qingzhou City's.

"The last one, the Temple of Five Viscera, is the eeriest of all. It's a dilapidated temple enshrining a wild god from the mountain villages. You can go in and pray, and the wild god's spiritual power will grant your wish, but no one knows what price you'll have to pay... In any case, ninety-nine out of a hundred people who pray there die mysterious deaths not long afterward. Meanwhile, the temple gains plenty of internal organs offered in worship."

By the time Qi Shanhe finished, goose bumps had risen all over his arms.

He even felt as though a chill wind had swept past.

Yet the smile on Ning Que's face only deepened. He never believed in such supernatural hocus-pocus. It was probably some trick, or the work of cultivators.

"What about the four must-visits?"

"The four must-visits are naturally Qingzhou City's four great local attractions: opera, the pleasure quarter, Qingzhou Lake, and the last one... heh heh... brothels, of course!"

A smile that every man understood spread across Qi Shanhe's dark face. "The brothels are actually what Qingzhou City is most famous for! The girls there are big and fair, and they even sing 'The Eighteen Caresses'!"

"Yes, I've heard that too. The brothels really are one of Qingzhou City's defining attractions! Nowhere else in the entire Great Li Dynasty can compare!"

To Ning Que's surprise, even Yin Jiuyou chimed in.

Was this the legendary saying that men remained boys until the day they died?

Ning Que never specified where he wanted to go, and the three simply wandered at leisure.

As they passed an alley entrance, Qi Shanhe pointed inside. "The Escort Guild is in there. Strange... the agencies should all be open during the day. Why has every last one shut its doors?"

Ning Que looked inside. The street was deserted, without a single person in sight, yet it exuded the grim, murderous air of martial practitioners.

Not only were the escort agencies closed, but each had a notice posted outside—no commissions accepted for three days!

It would make sense for one agency to refuse commissions, but all of them? Had something major happened?

"Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!"

Soldiers also passed along the main road leading to the city gate from time to time, making that grim atmosphere all the more palpable.

"Quick! We must find out where the young lady has gone!"

The officer leading them looked extremely serious, with a trace of helplessness.

After walking for who knew how long, they came to a street of flowers and willows.

Women in all manner of dazzling attire crowded the brothel entrances, laughing coquettishly as they solicited customers.

"Come on, let's go in, listen to some songs, and relax."

Ning Que entered a brothel called the Flower Delight House with Yin Jiuyou and Qi Shanhe.

In an instant, it felt as though they had stepped into another world, with girls of every kind appearing before their eyes.

Innocent, seductive, mature, aloof...

A profusion of blossoms threatened to dazzle the eye.

Ning Que ordered some tea and food, then sat below the stage.

Several girls danced gracefully onstage to the music. According to the nearby patrons, the star courtesan would appear shortly.

"Hmph! Vulgar!"

But Ning Que's attention fell on a figure standing in a nearby corner.

A jade-faced scholar stood there with a sword clasped in her arms, watching the girls onstage pose and preen with a flushed face. She could not help spitting out that remark.

Ning Que studied her closely.

She had bright eyes, pearly teeth, skin as fair as jade, willow-leaf brows, a melon-seed face, and no Adam's apple...

Huh?

No Adam's apple?

A woman?

Disguised as a man?

Ning Que froze.

Why would a woman visit a brothel?

And dressed as a man, at that?

Ning Que instantly grew curious about her, though he did not approach her.

"The star courtesan is here!"

"Miss Ningzhi!"

Someone shouted, and the atmosphere instantly grew lively.

Ning Que looked over as well and saw a graceful figure slowly emerge from behind a screen.

Her alluring face was a work of nature, her limpid peach-blossom eyes so moist they seemed ready to spill water, her waist slender, her bosom full and high.

An ink-green dress covered her exquisitely curved figure. Her long hair, which should have cascaded like a waterfall, was pinned up with a hairpin, revealing a long, snow-white neck.

This woman bloomed like a peach blossom. A single glance was enough to leave a man entranced.

The star courtesan, Liu Ningzhi!

"Miss Ningzhi, I'll buy your freedom!"

"Miss Ningzhi, you're mine tonight!"

"Miss Ningzhi!"

"Miss Ningzhi..."

"..."

Liu Ningzhi truly deserved the title of star courtesan. Her mere appearance sent many of the patrons into a frenzy.

Quite a few were willing to buy her freedom.

Just then, a madam came in, swaying her ample hips, with a seemingly troubled expression.

In truth, her mouth was nearly crooked from smiling.

"Gentlemen, I understand perfectly how much you wish to share wine and conversation with Ningzhi."

"But Ningzhi only came here five days ago. If I let someone buy her freedom just like that, how am I supposed to stay in business?"

"However, Miss Ningzhi will soon choose two lucky gentlemen at her leisure. If either of you truly wins her heart, you really could take this beauty home!"

Ning Que could only laugh. How could he fail to recognize a business tactic meant to drive up the price?

Whoever got chosen would be the unlucky one!

As he thought this, Liu Ningzhi had already begun choosing.

First, she extended a finger toward the fair-faced scholar disguised as a man in the farthest corner.

"Huh? Me?"

The fair-faced scholar was dumbfounded.

"Pfft!"

Ning Que nearly sprayed out the tea he had just drunk.

Two women coming face-to-face?

Now that would be a scene to remember...

But before he could enjoy himself, Liu Ningzhi's finger pointed at him.

The madam announced loudly, "Our second lucky guest is this gentleman!"

"..."

The smile on Ning Que's face slowly froze.