Originally, a storyteller had opened his hall, and a segment of his opening remarks left Shi Chun secretly sighing with emotion. He wondered if this sort of thing could really be said openly in front of a large crowd? This showed some of the current trends in the cultivation world.
He looked at the hall's signboard, which read "Xianting Hall."
Just as he was listening intently, he heard a gulping sound from beside him.
Wu Jinliang's voice followed, "They're all really fair-skinned, aren't they?"
These words immediately made Shi Chun turn around. Following Wu Jinliang's gaze, he saw three fair-skinned, ordinary-looking women pass by them, chatting and laughing, leaving a trail of fragrance.
Wave after wave of people followed.
Their current stopping point was right at the turn of a bridge connecting two banks, so there were many passersby.
Their ragged appearance didn't attract much attention; most people just glanced at them. All sorts of strange things happened in the cultivation world, and to outsiders, these two clearly seemed to be injured, perhaps having encountered something.
"Chuntian, let's go, find a place." Wu Jinliang winked and gestured with his head.
A single glance was enough for them to understand each other. Without him having to say what kind of place to find, Shi Chun understood immediately and frowned, "You only have a few coins on you, why are you messing around randomly?"
Wu Jinliang chuckled, "I've been inquiring about this for years.
Being reborn, spending a bit of money is nothing."
He didn't wait for Shi Chun's opinion; he immediately turned to ask for directions.
He knew that Shi Chun wasn't interested in such things. He originally thought it was because of Miss Miao, but now it seemed that wasn't the case at all; he simply had no interest.
Soon after, having clarified the location, he immediately turned and waved to Shi Chun, signaling him to hurry.
Although Shi Chun had no intention of doing anything, he was curious about what the legendary pleasure district looked like, so he followed, deciding to observe and broaden his horizons.
However, he still reminded him, "Shouldn't we buy some clothes first?"
There were no outsiders here; they both knew each other well, so there was no need to say something like buying books first.
Wu Jinliang, with a beaming smile, said, "No need.
For such a small matter, there will be someone to run errands and help out where money is to be spent."
"Heh, you really are far-sighted."
Shi Chun was impressed with this fellow; he had even inquired about these things while still in the Land of Exile.
Without further ado, the two looked around, broadening their horizons as they searched for the pleasure district.
Compared to their excitement when they first left the Land of Exile, their emotions were now much more stable.
Before long, the two arrived at Zhaotian City's famous "Liyun Tower."
The majestic building, like a jade palace, was embedded in the stone cliff. Many flamboyantly dressed women stood on the railings of the upper floors, causing the thick-browed and big-eyed Wu Jinliang to grin widely, as if he wanted to bite off his own broadsword with his good teeth.
However, the situation outside the building seemed a bit off. A crowd had gathered and was blocking the entrance, clearly watching some spectacle.
Having just emerged from the Living Prison, any excitement was naturally not to be missed.
They easily squeezed through because they were dirty, and others didn't want to get close.
Upon hearing "excuse me," they turned and, seeing the two, immediately and instinctively moved aside.
Arriving at the foot of Liyun Tower's steps, they saw a man crying profusely, kneeling on the ground, weeping to the crowd.
Beside him, he clutched a box.
"Fifty thousand gold, just lend me fifty thousand gold, I will definitely repay it, I will definitely repay it twofold…"
The man, tearfully begging the crowd, repeatedly kowtowed, so much so that his forehead was bleeding.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were naturally curious. Could someone really be so desperate for Liyun Tower to go to such lengths? Wasn't fifty thousand gold ridiculously expensive? They immediately asked others what was going on.
After someone quietly explained, they learned that this crying, kowtowing man was named Bian Weikang, the son of the Wukang Mountain sect master. Because he neglected his duties, befriended a group of dissolute companions, indulged in debauchery everywhere, and committed many absurd acts, he had accumulated a mountain of debt.
Wukang Mountain was a major sect that refined talismans, primarily specializing in Immobilization Talismans, which were frequently used in combat, so they were quite wealthy.
His father, Bian Jixiong, had helped his son repay that large sum of debt, but was enraged beyond measure.
Not only did he punish his son with sectarian family law, but in a fit of anger, he also expelled him from Wukang Mountain and, as the sect master, issued an order forbidding anyone within the sect from providing assistance or aid, publicly announcing that he had severed their father-son relationship.
Without money or influence, Bian Weikang lost his good friends, and his group of dissolute companions immediately scattered like monkeys.
The disgraced Bian Weikang later drifted here and became involved with Xiang Lan'er, the top courtesan of Liyun Tower. Unfortunately, Xiang Lan'er's bond of indenture was in Liyun Tower's hands.
The most troublesome part was Lü Taizhen, a high-ranking official in Zhaotian City, second only to the City Lord, who had taken a liking to Xiang Lan'er and offered five hundred thousand gold to buy her. Liyun Tower was to send her to him tonight.
Xiang Lan'er refused, and Bian Weikang also couldn't accept it. The unfortunate couple begged and pleaded, and Liyun Tower's madam finally relented, saying she would grant their wish, but she couldn't lose money.
As long as Bian Weikang could produce five hundred thousand gold before Lü Taizhen, she would let them be.
How could a disgraced Bian Weikang possibly come up with five hundred thousand gold? In the end, Xiang Lan'er took out all her savings from over the years and borrowed from every sister she could, managing to collect four hundred and fifty thousand gold, which she gave to Bian Weikang, asking him to find a way to get the rest outside.
Thus, Bian Weikang went around begging people for money. However, this was no small sum.
A better-earning cultivator might make around three thousand Wood Gold a year, so what was the concept of fifty thousand gold? Moreover, Bian Weikang's previous borrowing history was not good; no one would help him repay now.
More importantly, in this Zhaotian City, who would dare to help Bian Weikang compete with Lü Taizhen for a woman? Wu Jinliang listened with a slight sigh, looking at the main entrance of Liyun Tower and muttering, "What's with all these people blocking the entrance? Are they trying to stop business?"
Shi Chun, however, had a different reaction.
From the moment he heard Bian Weikang's identity, his eyes had been flickering non-stop.
At this moment, he deeply sympathized with Bian Weikang and very much wanted to befriend him, though it would be a bit costly right now.
However, he thought this was a good thing. What was the point of a friendship without substance? Wasn't this precisely the time to offer help in times of need?
Alas, fifty thousand gold was simply too much.
Even emptying out his and Wu Jinliang's pockets wouldn't be enough; selling Wu Jinliang might not even fetch that much money.
But he didn't think it would be hard to get fifty thousand gold in this place.
Accumulating "Merit" here was much easier than in the Land of Exile. Places with a lot of money didn't lack money; it would be easy to handle.
The difficult part was getting this money before that Lü Taizhen…
Inside a clean and elegant room on the top floor of Liyun Tower, the madam Feng Chi entered, holding a short whip resembling a horsewhip.
Seated before the dressing table was a woman in resplendent clothes, truly a graceful figure of exquisite charm, clearly skilled in dance.
Her slender fingers were like jade, her skin like snow, her face like a hibiscus, and her eyes held the brilliance of stars, possessing a beauty that could eclipse the moon and shame flowers. It was just a pity that in private, she was as cold as ice.
This woman was none other than Xiang Lan'er, Liyun Tower's top courtesan, known for selling her artistry but not her body.
Madam Feng Chi, holding the whip, seemed somewhat uneasy.
"Holy Maiden, this is too much of a sacrifice for you. Why don't we think of another way?"
Xiang Lan'er glanced at the whip in her hand.
"Just a few lashes, it's not a sacrifice."
Madam Feng Chi turned the whip in her hand.
This was ordinarily used to discipline disobedient hussies, and she never expected to use it on the person before her. She couldn't help but sigh, "A few lashes are minor, but what virtue or ability does Bian Weikang possess to make the Holy Maiden humble herself so?"
Xiang Lan'er was unconcerned, combing her beautiful hair.
"Don't worry, as long as I don't want to, he can't force me. Now that the Heavenly Court is in decline and the Demonic Altar has reappeared, it's a golden opportunity for our Demonic Path to rise again.
The Demonic Altar competition is a major event jointly decided by the three factions. There must be a leader, and ultimately, which family opens the Demonic Altar and commands all demons depends solely on strength and influence.
Wukang Mountain is a major sect for refining talismans, which is very important for us to win the competition. Master places great hopes on this.
If we can successfully enter and control Wukang Mountain, what does it matter if I humble myself to him? It's better than us always living in the shadows. I don't believe in divine punishment for demons.
Who is righteous and who is evil has always been decided by the victors!"