The people in the hall were stunned by the remark.
Tonight, she wasn't feeling well and wanted to return to her room early to rest?
Then their money was wasted!
"It's still early, why is Ninth Lady in such a hurry?" Amidst the crowd, a man who was already drunk got up from his wine table. He dispersed the wine fumes with his inner energy and looked at Xian'er Jiu standing in the center, smiling faintly.
"Even if you have to leave, it's not this instant, is it!"
"Yes, Ninth Lady. We traveled a long way to Emperor City and spent so much money just to see you a few more times. Yet, after just one song, you want to leave. This is probably not appropriate!"
The fierce-looking man in luxurious attire, who had been unhappy with Xu Mu earlier, also sat up, tidying his clothes as he spoke indifferently.
"Please forgive me, honored sirs. This humble girl is indeed feeling unwell tonight," Xian'er Jiu said weakly, her voice soft and delicate, as if it soothed everyone's ears and made them feel incredibly comfortable.
At this moment, the plump woman beside her quickly smoothed things over, smiling and saying, "Esteemed patrons, to compensate everyone, all consumption in the hall tonight will be reduced by thirty percent, as a gesture of apology from our Bì Hǎi Cháo Shēng Pavilion."
"Since that's the case, we won't make things difficult for Ninth Lady," the fierce-looking man in luxurious attire said, taking a gulp of wine and smiling.
"But the rules of Bì Hǎi Cháo Shēng Pavilion must not be broken. Ninth Sister is unwell and cannot entertain a crowd, but she can attend to one person."
"I am willing to offer five million taels of gold, requesting Ninth Sister to grace me with her presence on the flower boat to listen to more music."
After speaking, the man took out a large stack of gold notes from his spatial pouch and piled them on the table before him.
"Thank you for your kind favor, young master. This humble girl has indeed prepared a few more songs for tonight, which I am sure will satisfy you."
Xian'er Jiu bowed slightly and said in a delicate voice.
This single remark instantly set the hall ablaze.
Those who had been dissatisfied with her early departure just moments ago now cast all their discontent aside, staring at the courtesan like wolves.
They had come to the eighth floor of Bì Hǎi Cháo Shēng Pavilion not to listen to music. Everyone's objective was the flower boat. Since Xian'er Jiu indicated that the flower boat segment was not canceled and the fees would be reduced by thirty percent, they were no longer angry. Everyone was eager to try.
"I am Yun Ting, the son of the North Commandery's governor. These seven million taels of gold notes are for Ninth Lady's entertainment. I hope you will grant me your favor!" On the west side of the eighth floor, a young gentleman with a folding fan rose and said with a slight smile.
"I offer eight million, hoping Ninth Lady will grant me her favor!" The fierce-looking man who had spoken first roared with a grim expression. This price was already close to his limit.
As they bid, the servants of Bì Hǎi Cháo Shēng Pavilion silently collected the thick stacks of gold notes.
Seeing this, Li Zao's eyes narrowed slightly.
This was the rule of Bì Hǎi Cháo Shēng Pavilion. As long as a bid was made, regardless of whether one won in the end, the money would be collected. This was precisely what stimulated consumption, as no one wanted their money to be wasted.
Just now, within a few words, the price to board Ninth Lady's flower boat had soared to seven million taels. If the fierce-looking man gave up, his initial five million would have been thrown away for nothing. That was why he gritted his teeth and bid eight million.
At this moment, the man's heart was filled with anxiety. If eight million still couldn't secure him the right to board the flower boat, then he would have suffered a great loss this time!
Fortunately, Yun Ting, the son of the North Commandery's governor, after some consideration, did not bid further. An elder beside him patted his shoulder, as if reminding him to be mindful, for their funds were not abundant.
Seeing this, the fierce-looking man in luxurious attire breathed a sigh of relief.
But the next second, a man wearing a gray-black mask, seated in the center, opened his mouth, shattering his hope. He heard him say with a light smile,
"I bid ten million."
"Ninth Lady is unwell. I cannot bear to see you fall into the hands of those vulgar mortals and be ravaged. Tonight, you and I only need to discuss cultivation."
As the man spoke, he stood up, a noble aura emanating from him.
"Pay attention, this is that mysterious person who has repeatedly booked Xian'er Jiu's flower boat for the night. He is known as Young Master Yun Xuan," Li Zao and the other two sat in a corner, feigning infatuation while communicating privately with voice transmission, their expressions slightly serious.
Young Master Yun Xuan was the first and only person to purchase Xian'er Jiu's flower boat for a night for several consecutive times. His identity was a mystery. Outsiders only knew he was the son of a wealthy merchant, but what kind of wealthy merchant possessed such immense wealth?
Xu Mu smacked his lips, gulped down a large mouthful of wine, and smiled, "I don't care who he is. I just want to know if Zhou Yuan will reimburse this money?"
Li Zao rolled his eyes at Xu Mu. Zhou Yuan was a direct descendant prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty. While this amount of money was crucial for those wealthy merchants, what was it to Zhou Yuan?
Moreover, if they could follow the lead of Xian'er Jiu and find evidence of the First Prince secretly managing the Zhi Tian Pavilion, let alone a few million taels of gold, even if Zhou Yuan were to become penniless, he would surely be willing!
"I bid ten million!"
The man in luxurious attire roared, his eyes bloodshot, and he took out all the gold notes from his spatial pouch again. This was the limit he could afford. If he were to bid higher, he would have to sell his precious magic treasures and secret manuals.
Seeing this, Young Master Yun Xuan smiled faintly and was about to bid when he was harshly interrupted by the man.
"How dare you!"
The fierce-looking man staggered to his feet and cursed at Yun Xuan, "I am the chief disciple of the Hun Tian Sect in West Liang Commandery. If you dare to bid again, you might risk your life!"
Everyone in the hall chuckled. Who among those present was not of noble status? The Hun Tian Sect was one of the top sects in West Liang Commandery, but it was not qualified to cause trouble in Emperor City!
The plump woman frowned. The man's words had seriously violated their rules. Normally, she would have intervened or directly expelled him, but today was different.
Young Master Yun Xuan was a regular patron here. He had already purchased Xian'er Jiu's night five times before. His deep affection, formidable financial power, and powerful background made her unable to fathom him. As a shrewd woman experienced in the ways of the world, she understood that she absolutely could not speak in such a situation.
Showing off in front of a lady was naturally something to be left to these men.
"I bid eleven million."
Young Master Yun Xuan, wearing his mask, sat calmly in his seat and said indifferently, without even glancing at the man who had spoken.
"You!"
The Hun Tian Sect disciple trembled with anger, pointing at Yun Xuan. His heart burned with rage. Feeling the mocking gazes of the people around him, he immediately wanted to bid higher.
"What about me?"
Young Master Yun Xuan smiled faintly, turned his head to meet his gaze, and said dismissively, "To speak of background in front of me, do you even know what you are?"
"If you have the ability, bid even higher!"
All eyes in the hall were focused on the Hun Tian Sect disciple, as if countless knives were piercing him, causing him immense burning pain.
"I bid ten million, plus a top-grade lightning-element mind technique of the third generation of generals, and a third-stage defensive spiritual treasure," the man in luxurious attire said, taking out an ancient book and a bronze-colored shield.
"These two items should be worth three million taels of gold!"
"This..." The plump lady's face showed a hint of hesitation. She was not skilled in appraisal and could only bow slightly and say, "This still requires the pavilion's manager to make a decision."
The man's expression soured, and he snorted,
"Then please be quick. My time is valuable."
"There's no need for such trouble," Young Master Yun Xuan smiled faintly, then took out another large stack of gold notes, causing the surrounding crowd to stare.
"Fifteen million."
"Can you bid any higher?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Yun Xuan gulped down some wine and said disdainfully.
The Hun Tian Sect disciple stared at the gold notes taken out by Yun Xuan, his entire body frozen, unsure of what to do.
The current situation had far exceeded his expectations. Although he had heard of the high consumption here before entering Bì Hǎi Cháo Shēng Pavilion, which had led countless people to ruin, and Xian'er Jiu's night could fetch an exorbitant price, the sect elders had specifically instructed him to act cautiously. However, being accustomed to arrogance in West Liang Commandery, he had not paid heed!
"It's over now."
"Not only did I not get to spend the night with the courtesan, but I also wasted all my assets. If I return to the sect, my master will scold me to death!"
The man's face turned pale, and he slumped to the ground, his initial arrogance gone. He seemed to have lost his soul.
Beside him, a man with a fat head and big ears smiled slightly. This Hun Tian Sect youngster had still retained some sense, not gambling away his most important possessions, otherwise, he would have lost everything.
"This kid doesn't even know who he's competing with!"
The others in the hall laughed gleefully. Everyone who came here knew the name of Young Master Yun Xuan. He had booked Xian'er Jiu's night five consecutive times, causing many to go bankrupt. His reputation was well-established.
Tonight, although everyone had come for Xian'er Jiu, the moment Young Master Yun Xuan appeared, they silently abandoned the idea and dared not compete. Only this impulsive youth hadn't seen the situation clearly!
Seeing that no one else was bidding, Young Master Yun Xuan smiled faintly and stood up, saying, "In that case, I shall take Ninth Lady and depart first."
"Wait a moment!"
At this moment, Xu Mu, holding a pot of flower wine, poured it down his throat with both hands, soaking his sleeves. He staggered to his feet, gazing at Xian'er Jiu with infatuated eyes, and mumbled incoherently,
"I bid sixteen million taels!"
"Ninth Lady, you are too beautiful. Come here quickly, let me embrace you."
Xu Mu staggered out of his wine table, but due to a moment's carelessness, he fell to the ground with a bang, accidentally knocking over the wine of Li Zao and Zuo Mingqiu.
"Another fool throwing money away."
The onlookers, seeing Xu Mu's sudden appearance, sighed and shook their heads. Under Young Master Yun Xuan's pressure, this fellow still dared to bid, which could only mean one thing.
He was truly drunk.
Young Master Yun Xuan raised an eyebrow and looked at Xu Mu, saying, "If you want to bid, you must first produce the money."
"It's just money, I have plenty of it!" Xu Mu scrambled to his feet from the ground, then let out a belch and casually took out a large, thick stack of gold notes and gold ingots from his spatial ring, totaling exactly sixteen million taels.
The gold and silver shimmered with a dazzling brilliance, illuminating the eighth floor of Bì Hǎi Cháo Shēng Pavilion. The crowd instinctively narrowed their eyes.
Li Zao and Zuo Mingqiu, however, were stunned. They hadn't expected Xu Mu to carry so much money with him.
Seeing this, Young Master Yun Xuan frowned slightly and said, "I bid seventeen million."
"From now on, no matter what price you reach, I will add another million until you admit defeat!"
This statement was very intimidating. Ordinary gamblers would have cowered and withdrawn upon hearing such words, but Xu Mu would not.
"Stop pretending. I'm not spending my own money," Xu Mu chuckled inwardly, feigning drunken laughter several times. He swayed and walked up to Young Master Yun Xuan, making a motion as if to vomit. The latter was startled and dodged backward.
But unexpectedly, Xu Mu held it in.
He swayed and took out another, larger, and more dazzling mountain of gold from his spatial ring, causing everyone's pupils to contract in shock.
"I bid forty million!"
Xu Mu, appearing completely drunk, slumped onto the mountain of gold and provocatively said to Young Master Yun Xuan,
"Do you dare to bid forty-one million!"
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