Chapter 214
Chapter 214: The Courtesans
Hemp Robed Elder waved his hand dismissively, saying: “What’s done is done. More words are useless. Let’s go.” He then turned and started heading upstairs first.
The young girl paused for a moment, staring at her grandfather’s retreating figure, her delicate eyebrows knitting together in sudden suspicion. A strange thought crossed her mind, making her wonder if he might actually be pleased by how things were turning out.
“This is so infuriating!” she ground her teeth furiously and quickly followed, secretly wishing she could beat Li Mu Sheng up for corrupting her grandfather.
The burly men who had initially surrounded them moved cautiously, trailing closely behind, clearly to prevent Li Mu Sheng and his group from escaping.
Soon, led by the bearded man named Hu Qiu, Li Mu Sheng and the others arrived at an extravagant hall on the third floor.
“Where’s the courtesan? Where has she run off to?” The scar-faced man dropped into a mink fur soft chair, took out a pouch of gold from his chest, and arrogantly threw it onto the redwood tea table with a heavy thud. Glaring imperiously at Hu Qiu, he barked out his demands.
Hu Qiu squinted down at the gold pouch and replied with a cold sneer: “If you’re looking for a courtesan, that bit of gold isn’t nearly enough.”
The scar-faced man froze for a moment, then slammed his hand onto the table, jabbing a finger at Li Mu Sheng and Hemp Robed Elder as he roared, “Are you blind? Do you think I’m the only one here? Don’t they have money?”
Li Mu Sheng raised an eyebrow at this. Ironically, the man was right—he truly had no money. On this journey, Hu Rui An and the others had managed all the expenses, and since they had left in a hurry to fight at Fallen God Peak, he naturally hadn’t brought any silver with him. Turning his gaze towards Hemp Robed Elder, he saw an even more obvious situation. Elder’s ragged hemp robes practically screamed poverty.
Hu Qiu glanced at Li Mu Sheng and Hemp Robed Elder but remained thoughtfully silent. Seeing his hesitation, the scar-faced man slammed the table again, this time pointing at the Pink Clad Girl as he shouted: “Do you see her? This natural-born beauty could fetch at least a hundred gold if you kept her here in the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion to pay off the debt!”
“You bastard!” the little girl exploded in rage, thunderous fury in her voice as her hand darted toward the small embroidered pouch at her waist, clearly intent on killing the scar-faced brute on the spot. But Hemp Robed Elder promptly reached out to stop her, shaking his head slowly to calm her.
At that exact moment, a woman in a flowing black gown gracefully entered the hall, swaying gently with each step. Behind her followed the young servant from before and several enchanting young ladies.
“I’ve heard a very important guest wishes to reserve every courtesan in our Hundred Fragrance Pavilion tonight,” she remarked, eyes gleaming with heavy makeup, leisurely waving her hand to dismiss Hu Qiu, who immediately stepped aside. Her seductive gaze wandered over the scar-faced man’s group until suddenly brightening and fixing firmly upon Li Mu Sheng.
“What a handsome man!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands with delight. The heavy makeup cracked slightly with her broad smile, sending powdered rouge drifting downward.
Seeing this, the scar-faced man became instantly irritated, slamming the table so hard it startled the woman slightly. He shouted angrily: “What are you dawdling about? Who’s the one visiting the pleasure house—me or you? Hurry up and bring out the courtesans!” He eyed the beauties behind her greedily and swallowed visibly before continuing indignantly: “Besides, don’t you think I’m handsome too? What’s the use of those embroidered pillows who only look good but lack real substance?”
Li Mu Sheng gave the scar-faced man a sidelong glance, silently thinking: [Speaking like this is practically asking to be killed!]
Surprisingly, the woman in black showed no anger at the scar-faced man’s shouting. Instead, she calmly wiped the smile off her face and responded evenly: “Hundred Fragrance Pavilion has its own rules. Whether you’re here to make trouble or seek pleasure, all visitors are guests. Since you desire the courtesans, I can indeed fulfill your request—but if you cannot afford their costs, you’ll have to face the consequences according to our rules.”
Her words provoked another furious strike from the scar-faced man, shattering the table in front of him. “Are you joking? If I didn’t have money, why would I even request courtesans? Do you think I’m rushing towards death willingly?” Though shouting, the scar-faced man was inwardly despairing. He truly didn’t wish to die, but since Li Mu Sheng seemed determined to drag him down, he figured he’d at least enjoy himself fully before meeting his end.
At this point, the woman in black narrowed her eyes slightly, explaining in a calm voice: “Hundred Fragrance Pavilion has nine renowned courtesans. Three are already attending guests. The remaining courtesans have all been brought here for you.” She clapped her hands, and the six lovely young women behind her gracefully stepped forward, stopping in front of Li Mu Sheng and the others to give a gentle bow.
These young women were strikingly beautiful, each adorned with golden dangling hairpins studded with jewels. As they moved gracefully, their jewelry shimmered gently, enhancing their charm. Their skin was fairer than snow, smooth as jade, their lips crimson, eyes mesmerizing, casting glances that captivated hearts effortlessly.
The scar-faced man trembled, eyes wide with excitement at the stunning beauties before him. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he surged forward impulsively, shouting loudly: “I want them all!” In this instant, he began to understand Li Mu Sheng’s desire to reserve all the courtesans. Spending even a single night with such beauty would make death worthwhile.
However, just as he moved forward, the woman in black effortlessly raised a single hand, stopping him cold. Despite his furious struggling, he couldn’t advance an inch.
“Our Hundred Fragrance Pavilion has another rule,” she calmly informed him. “Women worth over a hundred gold must choose their customers themselves. You must first be approved by the courtesans.”
With a gentle shove, she pushed the scar-faced man back through the air onto his soft chair, causing him to sober quickly. His expression changed dramatically before he sat up, demanding coldly: “According to what you’re saying, if none of them choose us, does that mean we don’t need to pay silver at all?”
Unexpectedly, the woman in black laughed charmingly, though her voice held a hint of dangerous mirth. “According to the rules of Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, whether or not a courtesan selects you, the gold and silver owed by guests cannot be shorted by even a single coin.”
At this, the scar-faced man froze completely, shaking violently with uncontrollable rage, clutching his head in despair. “Damn you! Damn you all! What kind of unfair rule is this?”
In desperation, he suddenly looked up sharply again and declared frantically: “Fine! I don’t want courtesans anymore! Any woman in this Hundred Fragrance Pavilion will do—bring them all to me!” His eyes landed fiercely upon the woman in black, and through gritted teeth, he growled: “Including you!”