"Heh, outsiders are all like that. They come to Prisoner Continent and head straight for the most fun place."
The driver drove fast, bobbing and swaying as he went. If Li Xingkong hadn't smelled anything strange, he really would have thought the man was addicted to drugs.
Soon, thanks to the driver's swaying driving style, Li Xingkong arrived at the entrance to Beautiful Lady.
The moment he got out of the car, Li Xingkong noticed a clear difference. Compared with most urban areas on Prisoner Continent, this place was undoubtedly much livelier.
Even though it was already night, the crowds coming and going were packed tight. In the short time it took him to get out, several cars had piled up behind the taxi and were honking.
The pedestrians along the street were all at ease, seemingly without any of the caution the city called for. Li Xingkong was particularly careful in places like this, because he had no way of knowing whether the guy standing next to him was smoking a cigarette or some addictive substance. Although Li Xingkong had already begun Qi Refining, he hadn't reached the point where he no longer needed to breathe.
Given his current physique, there was almost nothing that could get him addicted. But addictive substances were subject to the strictest controls in Divine Land, and he was still a little afraid of them.
He had been dropped off right at the entrance to Beautiful Lady. The building looked luxurious enough from the outside: its tall floors rose straight from the ground, and the entire exterior was in a magnificent Gothic style, accented with touches of modern architectural art that made it look even more spectacular.
The entire club was lit in soft shades of pink. Beams of light shone from its windows, reaching high into the endless night sky.
The building's entrance had to be five meters tall. Two men in black suits stood guard there, driving away drunks and people high on drugs who tried to get in. They didn't turn away anyone whose clothes and demeanor were normal, though. Apparently, there was no membership system or anything of the sort.
Li Xingkong kept as far away from the crowds by the street as he could while making his way toward the entrance. When he reached it, the two doormen nodded to him and stepped aside to let him in.
Li Xingkong didn't hesitate and walked straight into the club. Just inside, he saw a small counter facing the entrance, where two beautiful women were lounging lazily on a sofa, fiddling with their phones.
When they saw Li Xingkong come in, neither got up. One of the women raised a hand and pointed to a doorway hung with several layers of curtains, indicating that he should go through.
Li Xingkong was naturally somewhat at a loss. He really hadn't been to places like this much before, and now that he was inside, there was no one to receive him. He didn't even know what to do.
Following the woman's directions, Li Xingkong went through the doorway leading farther inside. Beyond it was a corridor that wasn't particularly long. After he had taken a few steps, he heard a clamor coming from within.
When he reached the end, a bright sight greeted him. Inside was an expansive hall, packed with countless men and women singing and dancing. Mixed with the music and singing, the noise was deafening. The disco balls hanging from the ceiling danced along with the music, and the whole hall seemed utterly wild.
Li Xingkong naturally hadn't come to have fun, but just coming in and seeing the place had already left him plenty stunned. If he hadn't begun Qi Refining, he might really have been tempted to come and have some fun.
Looking around everywhere, Li Xingkong followed the crowd to the bar. It was a little quieter here, sparing his ears some suffering.
Copying the people around him, Li Xingkong ordered a drink. He had just sat down, intending to drink first and then figure out how to find Ellie, when he felt someone sit down beside him.
"Handsome, is this your first time here?"
Li Xingkong looked over. It was a woman wearing very heavy makeup, and the smell of her perfume was like a sword stabbing into his nose. Her clothes were also very revealing; she looked like someone who worked at the club.
"I'm looking for Ellie. Is she here now?"
Without wasting words, Li Xingkong asked her directly.
"Handsome, if you're going to ask me a question, shouldn't you buy me a drink first?"
When the woman heard Li Xingkong asking for someone else by name, a trace of displeasure flashed in her eyes. But her professional conduct still prompted her to keep smiling.
"Order one."
Li Xingkong also knew that if he wanted someone's help, he would have to give something in return. The woman didn't stand on ceremony at all and picked the most expensive drink.
"Ellie? She doesn't work here anymore."
Her words gave Li Xingkong an even bigger headache. When other people made a move, their enemy's whole family, young and old, came right up to their faces. Yet when he wanted revenge, he had to search everywhere for his enemy.
"But it's a good thing you asked me. I know where she lives."
The woman swirled her glass and took a sip.
"If you choose me tonight, I'll tell you."
Li Xingkong frowned. This woman really knew how to ask for a mile when given an inch. He pulled some more money from his pocket and tossed it on the table. "Just tell me, and all this money is yours."
The woman's eyes lit up at the sight of the money. She hurriedly picked it up and counted it, then stuffed it into her cleavage in satisfaction.
"There's a slum over by Tree-lined Street. She's in there now. When you get there, just say someone from Beautiful Lady is looking for her, and she'll come out to see you."
Now that Li Xingkong had the information, he naturally had no reason to linger. He finished his drink, then got up and headed out. When he had first come to a place like this, the visual impact had left him deeply stunned. But after sitting there and having a drink, he had instead begun to feel that it was a little too noisy. He preferred the quiet feeling of being alone on the farm at night.
At this hour, the club had only just opened, and most people were only starting to come in. Seeing Li Xingkong walking in the opposite direction, many of those entering cast curious glances at him.
Under so many people's gazes, Li Xingkong felt a little embarrassed. He put on his hat and walked more hurriedly.
Once he was outside the club, it was suddenly much quieter. Li Xingkong checked the map and saw that this so-called Tree-lined Street was not far away. He didn't plan to take a taxi; he would run there directly and take the opportunity to test his current abilities again.
At first, there were still quite a few people along the street, so Li Xingkong kept to an ordinary person's pace. After he had gone some distance, there was practically no one left by the road, and he began to run.
He set off toward his destination at what he considered a fairly slow running speed. After running for a while, he estimated his speed at about twenty kilometers per hour, roughly the same as a household electric scooter. At that speed, he could keep running for a long time with virtually no effort.
"I'm one-eighth of a Dai Zong now, haha."
Calculating how fast he could cover ground, he reckoned that at his current speed, he would have counted as a knockoff Divine Traveler back in ancient times.
Enjoying the pleasure of running while keeping an eye on the streets to avoid running too fast and missing a turn, Li Xingkong ran for a few minutes and arrived at the so-called Tree-lined Street.
Although this place was only a few streets away from the club, its surroundings could be said to have deteriorated to a considerable degree.