Chapter 212
Chapter 212: Hundred Fragrance Pavilion
“The price might indeed be steep, but it is this humble one’s fortune to have met you both. Spending any amount of silver is worth it,” the scar-faced man lied shamelessly, his eyes shifting expectantly between Li Mu Sheng and the Hemp Robed Elder.
Before either of them could respond, the girl in pink beside them glared at the scar-faced man and said sharply: “Stop talking nonsense! How could my grandfather ever go to a place like that?”
The scar-faced man laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. Li Mu Sheng glanced thoughtfully at the girl and remarked lightly: “You’re young yet quick to understand; it seems you know quite a bit.”
The girl in pink rolled her eyes at him and replied curtly: “If you want to go, then go by yourself. Don’t drag my grandfather along.”
Seeing tension rise at the table, the scar-faced man quickly intervened: “Actually, Hundred Fragrance Pavilion isn’t all that special. Perhaps it isn’t necessary—”
Before he could finish, Li Mu Sheng decisively nodded and announced: “We’ll go. Hundred Fragrance Pavilion it is.”
Suddenly Li Mu Sheng felt that the upcoming battle at Fallen God Peak might turn brutal, and relaxing beforehand wouldn’t be so bad. He wasn’t some bloodthirsty demon cultist, after all. Too much killing could damage a man’s heart, so occasional rest was necessary to keep balance.
Hearing this, the scar-faced man’s eyes lit up with excitement, while the girl in pink shot Li Mu Sheng a disgusted look. Li Mu Sheng ignored her, turning instead to the Hemp Robed Elder at his side.
The elder hesitated, his expression thoughtful. Seeing this, the girl anxiously tugged his sleeve and said urgently: “Grandfather, don’t let them bewitch you!”
The Hemp Robed Elder paused a long moment before replying slowly: “Ever since your grandmother passed away, I’ve sometimes felt lonely. Besides, my days are numbered…”
Hearing this, the girl immediately raised her hand to stop him, her small face flashing between shock, anger, and embarrassment. Finally, she clenched her teeth and said stubbornly: “If grandfather insists on going, then I’ll go too.”
As soon as she said this, the scar-faced man’s expression became incredibly strange—who ever heard of bringing a child to such a place?
…
Half an hour later, after leaving disciples of the Tin Mountain Saber Sect to guard the carriage, the scar-faced man led Li Mu Sheng and the Hemp Robed Elder to an extravagant building illuminated by countless lanterns. The girl in pink trailed closely beside her grandfather, making the group of four seem oddly out of place.
“Hundred Fragrance Pavilion is truly a gold-swallowing pit. It’s said the young ladies inside aren’t ordinary; they’re daughters from noble families, martial dao clans, or even martial heroines of the Martial World, who offended Fallen God Peak and were punished by being sent here,” the scar-faced man explained quietly, anticipation clear in his eyes.
Normally, he wouldn’t dare set foot in a place like this—nor could he afford it. However, today was special. His actions were justified as necessary expenditures to gain favor with Li Mu Sheng and the Hemp Robed Elder. He knew that after returning to his sect, the cost would naturally be reimbursed.
Just stepping through the door cost a gold ingot. Inside, the pavilion was lavishly decorated, bustling with wealthy guests from prestigious backgrounds. The air was perfumed sweetly with powder and fragrance, and beautiful young ladies dressed alluringly passed gracefully through the crowd.
Swallowing nervously, the scar-faced man grabbed a passing servant. Before he could even speak, the servant stretched out a hand, saying bluntly: “One silver.”
With no choice, the scar-faced man handed over a silver coin. The servant pocketed it swiftly, then glanced at their odd group with an amused smile, remarking: “You lot certainly have unique tastes.”
Waving them forward, the servant continued briskly: “I’ll take you to select your ladies first. But a word of warning—the minimum cost for a young lady here is ten gold, with no upper limit. If you choose one but can’t afford her, don’t say I didn’t warn you about the consequences.”
“Rest assured,” the scar-faced man hastily assured him, “I’ve brought enough silver; nothing of that sort will happen.”
The servant turned back, eyeing the scar-faced man skeptically before nodding curtly: “Good. Also, let me remind you—young ladies valued at a hundred gold or more choose their own guests.” With a playful smirk, he added: “If you’re lucky, perhaps one of our flower queens will take a fancy to you.”
Hearing this, Li Mu Sheng thoughtfully rubbed his chin, certain that these words were meant especially for him. With his handsome features, it would be odd if no flower queen showed interest.
But the servant wasn’t finished yet: “Most importantly, remember: Fallen God Peak disciples always have priority. For them, everything here is free, and no one else is allowed to compete for any lady they’ve set their eyes upon.”
Hearing this, the enthusiasm of Li Mu Sheng, the Hemp Robed Elder, and even the scar-faced man visibly dampened. The servant had made it abundantly clear that Hundred Fragrance Pavilion was simply a plaything of Fallen God Peak disciples. What was expensive luxury for outsiders was worthless to them, clearly marking the others as fools to be exploited and subtly reminding everyone of their lower status.
Initially uncomfortable, the scar-faced man quickly accepted the reality—after all, this hierarchy was deeply ingrained. His spirits lifted again swiftly at the thought that he had never before had a Fallen God Peak woman.
At this moment, the girl in pink abruptly spoke in a cold voice: “Let’s leave this place.”
The servant stopped, turned, and scoffed rudely: “Leave quickly if you want to go. Don’t waste my time.”
The scar-faced man paused, uncertainly looking toward Li Mu Sheng and the Hemp Robed Elder. He knew these two weren’t ordinary people—the Hemp Robed Elder possessed unfathomable martial skill, and Li Mu Sheng had directly killed Fallen God Peak disciples without hesitation.
He realized now that although he himself could accept such humiliating rules, the same couldn’t be assumed of these two powerful figures.
The Hemp Robed Elder frowned, contemplating briefly before sighing softly and preparing to leave with his granddaughter. But at that very moment, Li Mu Sheng suddenly reached out, stopping him. Turning sharply to the servant, Li Mu Sheng declared boldly:
“Go now and summon all the flower queens of Hundred Fragrance Pavilion. Tonight, this old man will book every single flower queen in the pavilion.” His voice rang with decisive authority as he added firmly: “And no matter who comes tonight, none will be permitted to disturb this old man’s enjoyment!”