The Imperial City at night was ablaze with lights. Most shops lining the streets were open, bustling with business. Colorful lanterns adorned everywhere, and families strolled by, their laughter echoing in the air.
Main Street, East Side.
The sign of the "Bihai Tingchao Pavilion" (Oceanic Tide Listening Pavilion) was visible from afar. Five large characters, arranged with pinkish-purple lanterns, hung at the very top of this octagonal pavilion.
At the entrance of the pavilion, six wide doors were flung open, spanning tens of meters across the street. Each door was adorned with a painting of a beautiful woman, their poses and appearances varied, but all undeniably stunning. Countless drunken male patrons collapsed before these six doors, rubbing their faces against the paintings, fantasizing about spending a night with the women depicted.
"They aren't even that good-looking."
Xu Mu stood at a distance, gazing at the women painted on the six doors. His expression remained calm as he shook his head. The aesthetic of the Great Zhou Dynasty truly clashed with his own. Among the six, only the third one, with her ethereal beauty and refined features, appealed to him. The other five were heavily made-up, which he disliked.
"With Nangong Huaitian, of course, you wouldn't fancy them," Li Zao glanced at Xu Mu, then coldly eyed the painted women. "And you shouldn't underestimate these six."
"According to the information Prince Zhou Yuan gave me, these six women are the top courtesans of the Bihai Chaosheng Pavilion, renowned as the most beautiful women in the Imperial City, and those who best know how to please men."
"Each of them possesses unique skills. Playing instruments and singing are merely their most ordinary talents, and their martial prowess is child's play. These six women are all well-read, knowledgeable about both heavenly and earthly matters. They can discuss literature and elegance with great scholars, and also converse about cultivation with cultivators and espers, for they are cultivators themselves, and quite high-ranking ones at that. Among these six, two have reached the third stage at a young age, while the remaining four are second-stage cultivators, their strength not to be trifled with, having ranked on the Yellow List."
Xu Mu was taken aback.
Ranking on the Yellow List meant they were the most talented youths of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Those on the list were invariably core disciples fiercely sought after by major sects. How could they be willing to be here?
"Perhaps this is why the Bihai Chaosheng Pavilion's business is so good," Li Zao said quietly, suddenly thinking of her master, Mei Chuan.
If Mei Chuan hadn't died, would she one day have been sent to a place like this, to entertain guests and gather information?
Lost in thought, Li Zao shivered involuntarily.
"Remember to give it back to me."
Zuo Mingqiu, unaware of Li Zao's thoughts, mistook her shiver for the chill of the night. He calmly took out a thick, plain silk robe and draped it over the young woman.
Li Zao's eyelashes fluttered, then she returned to her calm demeanor. She offered no explanation, merely murmuring a soft "Mm."
"The one we need to pay attention to is the top courtesan named Xian'er Jiu, our target for tonight, Miss Jiu'er."
Li Zao continued without pause, her expression icy. "Xian'er Jiu is at the same stage as us, the third stage, specifically the upper tier. Her abilities are currently unknown, as no one has ever seen her fight."
"However, the information notes that any man who has seen her, even just once, immediately falls for her. Women, on the other hand, experience intense feelings of inferiority, leading to frenzied illusions. Some have even clawed their own faces in a fit of despair, leaving blood all over the ground."
Zuo Mingqiu and Xu Mu blurted out simultaneously: "Illusion?"
"No," Li Zao shook her head. "The information explicitly states that Xian'er Jiu achieved this without any fluctuation of her abilities."
"How is that possible? Is she a fox spirit, naturally capable of bewitching? But that doesn't make sense either. Bewitching only affects men. What about women?" Xu Mu scratched his head, unable to fathom any explanation other than illusion.
"Perhaps it's an exaggeration. Those people might be stooges hired by the Bihai Chaosheng Pavilion," Zuo Mingqiu said calmly.
Li Zao sighed and shook her head. "No."
"It also clearly states that Miss Jiu appears once every nine days. Each appearance captivates everyone, and all customers spend lavishly, just to earn a smile from her."
"The customer who bids the highest will be taken by Miss Jiu'er onto a flower boat for a lake tour. During this time, Xian'er Jiu will personally play and sing, after which they will spend the night together."
"According to a wealthy merchant who went bankrupt to secure a night with Xian'er Jiu, he felt as if he were floating above the clouds all night, experiencing bliss beyond comprehension. His senses to all beautiful things were amplified a thousandfold, a millionfold. After leaving the flower boat, he didn't sleep for three days and three nights, his consciousness still lost in that rapture, unable to extricate himself."
Xu Mu scratched his head in puzzlement. If that was the case, Xian'er Jiu was truly mysterious. He had never encountered any illusion that could last for three consecutive days.
"She must have tampered with that person's sea of consciousness," Zuo Mingqiu said with a composed expression. "Xian'er Jiu likely cultivates the soul, which is why Zhou Yuan's people didn't detect any ability fluctuations when she charmed the crowd. Her soul abilities must be very powerful. We must be cautious."
"No matter how powerful, she's only at the upper tier," Li Zao's voice was cold. Beneath her delicate, effeminate appearance, a hint of jealousy, originating from an unknown source, surfaced. Looking at Xian'er Jiu's portrait, she said, "We'll proceed with the original plan. Bid extravagantly, win the opportunity for the lake tour, and then capture her for interrogation."
"Which one of us will go?" Xu Mu asked, scratching his head. "My soul strength is quite good, I can withstand any attack she throws. But the problem is, I don't know any soul-searching techniques."
"I'll go. I know how to do it, and I should be able to get some results," Zuo Mingqiu replied calmly. As a Daoist, he had studied the Three Thousand Daoist Canons and naturally learned such techniques.
"No!" Li Zao's voice was chillingly firm as she refused. She stared at Zuo Mingqiu, her eyes full of frost.
"You want to go?" Zuo Mingqiu was bewildered. He looked at Li Zao, his brow furrowed. "But the problem is, you're a woman. When imitating a man, there will always be discrepancies. You might fool ordinary courtesans, but this is a third-stage courtesan who cultivates the soul. Are you sure you won't be exposed?"
Li Zao fell silent, her mind conjuring images of Xian'er Jiu lying disheveled in Zuo Mingqiu's arms, the two of them whispering sweet nothings on the flower boat. An intense killing intent erupted in her eyes, causing both men to momentarily freeze.
"If I say no, then it's no."
"You can't go, and I can't go, so let this fellow go. He's a man!"
Li Zao pointed at Xu Mu, her voice cold.
Xu Mu turned, meeting Zuo Mingqiu's gaze. They both saw utter astonishment in each other's eyes.
"It's possible, but why?" Xu Mu asked, perplexed.
"Because I'm smarter than you. I have my reasons for doing this," Li Zao huffed, unwilling to dwell on the matter. She strode towards the six large doors of the Bihai Chaosheng Pavilion.
Seeing this, Xu Mu reluctantly followed, with Zuo Mingqiu close behind.
Before they reached the entrance, three women, dressed in vibrant colors, with voluptuous figures and slender waists, gracefully approached them from the pavilion's steps, smiling warmly.
"Esteemed sirs, we have been waiting for you so long!"
An overpowering fragrance wafted towards them. Xu Mu blinked, then felt something soft press against his left elbow. He looked down to see the woman in the green dress embracing his arm, shyly rubbing against his body.
"This, this, this isn't quite proper!"
Xu Mu declared righteously, then quite naturally put his arm around the green-clad woman's slender waist. He pinched a soft spot on her waist, causing her to blush deeply and playfully punch his chest with her small fist.
"Oh, sir, you are so wicked!"
"Heh heh..." Li Zao, with the pink-clad woman's arm around hers, glanced back at the scene behind her and couldn't help but think less of Xu Mu.
Zuo Mingqiu watched this unfold, his expression very serious. He couldn't help but marvel, thinking Xu Mu a true prodigy. Despite being a pure-hearted young man, he now acted like a lecherous old pervert who had indulged in women for years. He was truly impressed.
"You, come here!" As they passed the doorway, Li Zao suddenly stopped and turned to the woman who had been holding Zuo Mingqiu's arm.
The woman, thinking she had done something wrong, glanced at Zuo Mingqiu before timidly releasing his arm. She walked over to Li Zao and, bowing slightly, asked, "Esteemed sir, what are your orders? This humble girl will do her utmost to fulfill them."
Li Zao remained silent, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She put her arm around the woman's waist and, mimicking Xu Mu's action, playfully patted the soft, slightly protruding flesh. With a sly grin, she said, "Don't be afraid, my dear. Young master here likes to hold two at once!"
A blush crept onto the woman's face. She lowered her head, coyly murmuring, "Sir, you are so wicked."
"Hahahaha," Li Zao burst into laughter and strode into the Bihai Chaosheng Pavilion, her arms around both women.
Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu stared at Li Zao's retreating back, their expressions blank with shock, as if they had seen a monster, their eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets!