An affront to refinement

Zhou Yi immediately understood what Zhang Cheng had meant by the perks of the Ministry of Works.

It also cleared up his confusion: every one of his colleagues owned property in the Capital, and they spent lavishly whenever they went out.

On his monthly salary alone, Zhang Cheng could not even have gotten through the doors of the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Pills.

Even the lowest-grade Essence Qi Pill was worth a considerable sum.

Yesterday, he had wandered around the Capital and seen pharmacies selling pills. Their quality was less than a tenth that of an Essence Qi Pill, yet they cost dozens of taels.

Zhang Cheng said, "I'll introduce you to a merchant who specializes in buying defective pills and inferior meat. You can use them yourself, but never sell them to just anyone."

Zhou Yi understood at once. The merchant probably had powerful backing; otherwise, he could never have handled the Ministry of Works' business.

"Is there really no problem with doing this?"

If they were caught privately reselling the court's pills, they would probably all face death.

Zhou Yi did not care about the pills, but he could not afford to lose the treasure trove that was the Demon-Slaying Bureau. How dangerous would it be to go out slaying demons himself?

Of course, Zhou Yi had great confidence in his own strength.

Even if he could not call himself invincible, he was certainly among the strongest handful.

He simply preferred to keep a low profile-or, rather, to play it safe. He was no fool.

Demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends were no fools either. If they could not beat you, they would flee, gang up on you, ambush you, set traps, poison you, curse you...

Life and death were separated by a single thread. Strength alone had never guaranteed that one could rampage unchecked through the world.

"When the examination clerks process demonic materials, a little accidental damage is inevitable. And when the pill workshop refines pills, a few defective ones in each batch are perfectly normal."

Zhang Cheng said, "We're just putting waste to good use!"

Zhou Yi asked in puzzlement, "Why not sell them directly and pay us more?"

The Ministry of Works had several hundred minor clerks, and the pills distributed each month were worth an enormous fortune.

The higher-ups could easily have handled the sales themselves and given the clerks more silver. Surely no one would have objected.

"Giving them to us is disposing of waste. Selling them for money is corruption and abuse of the law."

Zhang Cheng gave Zhou Yi a sidelong look and said with rare seriousness, "There are all sorts of twists and turns involved. A little shrimp like you should just drift with the current."

"Thank you for the guidance, sir."

Zhou Yi still had questions, but seeing that Zhang Cheng no longer felt like discussing it, he changed the subject.

"You helped me a great deal recently, sir. Please accept this pill as a token of my thanks."

"You learn fast, brat. Already bribing your superior! Money is the last thing old Zhang here lacks."

Despite his refusal, Zhang Cheng readily accepted the porcelain bottle, his old face creasing all over with a smile.

"Enough of this 'sir' business. Just call me old Zhang from now on."

"Come on, come on! Now that we've been paid, I'll take you to the Spring Breeze Pavilion and broaden your horizons!"

The Spring Breeze Pavilion.

A brothel straight out of legend.

More than half of a man's yearning for ancient times came from places like this.

It stood in Pleasant Ward, the liveliest district in the southern city. Evening had yet to arrive, but customers were already coming and going in considerable numbers.

Zhang Cheng was clearly a regular. The moment he entered, several women tugged him this way and that, taking him straight upstairs.

"Put whatever young Zhou spends on old Zhang's tab!"

Fortunately, Zhang Cheng had not forgotten Zhou Yi entirely. Otherwise, if he enjoyed a free tumble and could not pay, who knew whether he could settle the bill with strips of meat?

The Spring Breeze Pavilion had three floors and a very fashionable open-center design, much like a modern shopping mall.

The first floor hosted singing and dancing performances, while the second and third offered rooms where guests could rest and sleep.

Zhou Yi took a look around. Apart from the women being pretty, shapely, and elegant, there was nothing particularly novel.

He found an empty corner, ordered a few dishes and a flask of wine, and watched the untouched courtesans dancing onstage.

Listening to the boasts of the customers around him, Zhou Yi more or less figured out how the Spring Breeze Pavilion operated. The untouched courtesans still singing and dancing sold their talents, not their bodies.

Once they had built up enough fame, dignitaries would be invited to bid for them. Only afterward would ordinary wealthy merchants get a turn, and later still, they would become the women on the second and third floors.

Why does this process sound a little familiar?

The untouched courtesans took turns performing onstage, while scholars composed poems on the spot, praising their beauty and expressing their admiration to rounds of applause.

The same few phrases kept cropping up-heavenly fairies, peerless mortal beauties, and the like. Who knew whether they were hired shills brought in to drive up the prices?

It went on until the hour of the Snake.

Zhou Yi still had not seen Zhang Cheng come downstairs. As expected of an upper third grade expert, he had gone more than three hours without tiring.

Just as Zhou Yi was about to get up and leave, an enthusiastic cheer suddenly erupted in the hall.

"The reigning courtesan!"

"Miss Bright Moon!"

"A fair maiden, a gentleman's desire..."

Amid the cheers, a figure descended from above, took hold of the colored silk hung in advance, and swept through a circle in the air, drawing even louder cheers.

Great Qian... is far too chaotic!

Spiritual light flickered in Zhou Yi's eyes. The reigning courtesan dancing in midair was, unmistakably, a white fox.

The white fox's strength was roughly in the middle third grade, but her illusions were exquisitely crafted. Even Zhou Yi had not seen through them until he used the Spirit Eye Technique.

With the reigning courtesan's appearance, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Young gentlemen in splendid clothes fought over her favor, competing to lavish her with tips.

The flattering poetry clearly rose a notch in quality. The penniless scholars could not compete with the scions of aristocratic clans in wealth, so they fought back with literary talent.

Books mostly told of reigning courtesans who admired scholars' talents, freely offering not only their bodies but also gold and silver to support their studies. As for what happened later-passing the imperial examinations, abandoning wives and children-such trifles hardly deserved attention.

Zhou Yi shook his wine flask. Not a drop remained, and he was about to call someone over to bring more.

"With the reigning courtesan right before you, all you care about is drinking. You have no appreciation for elegance, sir."

The voice was clear and pleasant. Zhou Yi turned to see a young gentleman slowly approaching.

Every customer now wore a feverish expression, looking ready to throw themselves onto the stage. They were no different from the crazed celebrity fans of his previous life.

Sitting alone in a corner drinking, Zhou Yi stood out all the more.

He studied the newcomer carefully: handsome features, luxurious clothing, but an excessively smooth throat and excessively well-developed chest muscles.

"My surname is Wang, and my given name is Hao. I happen to be alone as well. Shall we share a table?"

"Please, Brother Wang. I'm Zhou Yi, a mere uncouth fellow."

Zhou Yi suddenly understood why, in ancient times, everyone seemed blind to women disguising themselves as men.

When a lovely young woman was drinking with you, who would be foolish enough to expose her?

Wang Hao ordered two flasks of wine-the finest Jade Flask Ice-and drank with Zhou Yi while pretending to be well versed in such things.

"Bright Moon's beauty is renowned throughout the Capital, yet you remain unmoved by her charms, Brother Zhou. You must be a true gentleman!"

"It's nothing special. Once you've seen enough, you become immune."

Zhou Yi said meaningfully, "I work at the Demon-Slaying Bureau. The fox demons, snake spirits, hedgehog spirits, and female ghosts there are no worse than the lady onstage."

Wang Hao looked astonished. "So that's it! An expert from the Demon-Slaying Bureau. Forgive my lack of courtesy!"

Unfortunately, her acting was not up to standard. Zhou Yi slowly put away the identity token lying at the corner of the table, sparing Wang Hao any embarrassment.

Wang Hao glanced at the gracefully dancing courtesan and sighed. "Some people have seen plenty of ghosts and spirits, yet still lose themselves in beauty. Do you have some special technique, Master Zhou?"

Zhou Yi followed her gaze. Below the stage, an exceptionally distinguished young man in blue sat in the front row, wielding his brush as he painted.

Even to someone who knew nothing about painting, the young man's skill seemed impressive.

"Let me ask you: does this courtesan's shit stink?"

"Huh?"

Wang Hao's eyes lit up. She delicately raised a hand to hide her smile. "This courtesan probably doesn't shit, but she's good at letting out foul farts. Particularly foul ones!"

Had this not been his first encounter with a pretty young woman dressed as a man, Zhou Yi would certainly have beaten the effeminate fellow to death.

"There you have it. If even the reigning courtesan lets out foul farts, how can anyone lose themselves in her?"

"Haha! Wait a moment, Brother Zhou. I'll be right back."

Wang Hao slipped nimbly through the crowd and whispered a few words into the blue-robed young man's ear.

The young man's face darkened. Looking again at his lifelike painting of a maiden, ethereal as an immortal, he could no longer find any beauty in it.

"An affront to refinement!"

When I slack off at work on weekdays, the writing flows.

Then I get a whole day off on the weekend-games, shows, hot pot... and I can't settle my mind ε=(ο｀*)))