Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 485 Investigating Brothels in Central China

The airship flew for a day.

In the evening, we landed on the outskirts of a small town.

The city isn't big; it's called Qing Shi City, but it's quite lively.

The streets were bustling with people, and shops lined the streets, selling all sorts of things—talismans, elixirs, magical artifacts, spirit beasts…

The air was filled with the aroma of various foods, making everyone's stomachs rumble.

Lin Chen stepped off the flying boat, stretched, and his bones cracked and popped.

Just as he was about to say, "Let's find an inn to stay in," Jian Shisan spoke first.

"The Heavenly Sword Pavilion has properties in this city. Would Young Master Lin be willing to stay here?"

Lin Chen glanced at him and smiled, "Okay."

Jian Shisan led the way, and the group walked through several streets until they arrived at the gate of a large mansion.

A plaque hangs at the entrance, bearing the four characters "Tianjian Bieyuan" (天剑别苑), written in sharp strokes, like four swords stuck in wood.

The old gatekeeper was taken aback when he saw Jian Shisan, then quickly opened the door, muttering to himself:

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming, Sword Master?"

Jian Shisan stepped aside to let Lin Chen go first, while the others followed behind.

The house is very large, with six courtyards and over a hundred rooms, quiet and elegant.

Jian Shisan gave the best courtyard to Lin Chen, and then instructed people to prepare dinner.

By the time we settled in, it was already dark.

Lin Chen took a shower and changed into clean clothes, still wearing a moon-white robe.

Almost all of his clothes were this style, like they were copied and pasted together.

After eating, Lin Chen sat in the courtyard for a while, then stood up, patted his robes, and walked outside.

Lingbo poked her head out of the room: "Where are we going?"

"Let's go out for a walk."

"I'll go with you."

Lin Chen waved his hand: "No need, I'll just take a walk by myself."

Lingbo glanced at Lin Chen, her gaze scrutinizing him, but said nothing more.

Lin Chen went out alone, but he certainly wasn't going for a "stroll".

He had already chosen the most bustling street in the city when he entered.

Red lanterns hung at the street corner, and the sounds of string and wind instruments drifted out, along with women's laughter, men's shouts, and the clinking of wine glasses, all blending together in a lively and bustling atmosphere.

There is a very conspicuous building there, with a golden signboard hanging there – Yihong Courtyard.

Lin Chen was very curious: What's the difference between the brothels in Zhongzhou and those in the Eastern Region?

The main purpose was to observe the local customs and culture; there was absolutely no other intention.

At the entrance of the brothel, two girls dressed in transparent red dresses were soliciting customers. When they saw Lin Chen walking over, their eyes lit up.

This man, dressed in a moon-white robe, possessed an extraordinary air and was handsome; he was clearly a wealthy man.

A young woman approached, her voice sickeningly sweet: "Young master, please come in and have a seat~"

Lin Chen smiled and stepped inside.

As soon as you enter, a wave of heat hits you.

The lobby was filled with dozens of tables, some people drinking and playing drinking games, some flirting with girls, and some listening to music with their eyes closed.

The air was filled with the scents of perfume, wine, and barbecue.

The stairs were packed with people going up and down.

The madam, in her forties, still possessed a certain charm, and greeted us with a smile, fanning herself with a round fan.

The madams in Zhongzhou are quite different from those in the Eastern Regions.

The madams in the Eastern Region all wear heavy makeup, as if they want to apply three inches of foundation.

This one, on the other hand, wears light makeup, dresses appropriately, and speaks in a refined, literary manner.

If she weren't standing in a brothel, one would mistake her for the lady of a wealthy family.

"Young master, would you like to listen to music or stay the night?"

"Listen to the music!" Lin Chenshu said calmly.

The madam sized up Lin Chen. He wore a moon-white robe and had an extraordinary air about him. The jade pendant at his waist was obviously worth a fortune.

Her smile deepened as she led him to a private room on the second floor, introducing the room as she went:

"The girls here are proficient in all the arts, from music and calligraphy to playing musical instruments and singing. What kind of girl would you like, young master?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment: "Let's have someone play the piano."

"Oh my, what a coincidence! We have a new girl here. She used to be a disciple of the sect. She plays the pipa exceptionally well, and many customers come specifically for her."

"What's your name?"

"Her name is Su'e."

Lin Chen nodded: "Her it is."

The madam led Lin Chen into a private room on the second floor. The room was not large, but it was decorated very elegantly.

Calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, wine and dishes were laid out on the table, and a burner of sandalwood incense burned in the corner, its smoke curling upwards.

The window was open, and you could see the lively atmosphere in the lobby, but the sound was much quieter through the gauze curtain.

Lin Chen sat down in the chair and poured himself a glass of wine. The wine was so-so, but he could drink it.

A moment later, the door opened.

A young woman walked in carrying a pipa.

Lin Chen glanced at it and mentally gave it a score of eight.

She doesn't have a stunningly beautiful face, but she's pleasing to the eye.

She wore a light green dress, her hair was styled in a bun with a silver hairpin, and she had a faint smile on her face—just right, not too strong, not too weak.

The girls from Zhongzhou are indeed different from those from Dongyu. Putting aside everything else, their cultivation levels are much higher.

With a cultivation level of one rank, he could hold his own in the Eastern Region.

In Zhongzhou—tsk tsk…

The girl sat down in the corner and tuned her instrument.

She tried a few notes, then looked up and glanced at Lin Chen.

"What would you like to hear, young master?"

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and said casually, "Anything you're good at is fine."

Su'e nodded slightly and plucked the strings of her zither.

The music started playing softly and gently, making your bones feel sore.

Lin Chen squinted, his fingers tapping a rhythm on the armrest.

After the piece was finished, Su'e looked up at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen clapped his hands twice: "Not bad. One more song."

Su'e smiled slightly and played another piece.

Lin Chen picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and his eyes never left the girl's fingers.

Those hands were long, slender, and fair, with thin calluses on the fingertips—the result of years of practicing the piano.

Lin Chen had seen many hands, hands that played the zither, the pipa, and the zheng, but Su'e's hands were among the most beautiful he had ever seen.

"The tunes in the Central Plains are quite different from those in the Eastern Regions," Lin Chen said casually.

Su'e paused, her fingers hesitating. "Young master, are you from the Eastern Regions?"

"Um."

"No wonder." Su'e smiled. "I've also learned a few tunes from the Eastern Regions. Would you like to hear them?"

Lin Chen became interested: "Play it for me."

Su'e tuned the strings, took a deep breath, and plucked a string with her fingers—"Zheng!"

With a loud bang, the sound of the pipa was like the clash of swords and the thunder of ten thousand horses, like a fierce battle on the battlefield.

The force and power of that movement were completely unlike what one would expect from a cool and aloof young woman.

Lin Chen's eyes lit up; this girl was something else.

After she finished playing the piece, fine beads of sweat appeared on Su'e's forehead.

Lin Chen clapped his hands: "Awesome!"

Su'e paused for a moment, clearly not having heard of the term before.

But she smiled and didn't ask what it meant.

The two chatted for a few more minutes. Su'e didn't say much, but every word she said was to the point.

Lin Chen asked her about the sect before, and she said that since the Heavenly Rift, the sect had been in turmoil and the people's hearts were scattered.

When asked why she came to Qing Shi City, she said she was looking for peace and quiet, so she just randomly chose a place.

Lin Chen nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Just as I was about to call a few more girls to appreciate their playing and singing, my heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Lin Chen closed his eyes, and his divine sense instantly traversed thousands of miles of void, crossing mountains and rivers, towns and villages, heading eastward.

Then he saw it—Dongshan Villa.

The courtyard was brightly lit.

The maids were coming and going, carrying hot water and towels, their steps hurried, as if they were in a battle.

The screams that came from Wen Ruoxi's room grew louder and more miserable with each scream.

Su Wanqing stood at the door, her face pale, her fingers clenching a handkerchief so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

The old lady sat on a chair under the eaves, rapidly turning her prayer beads while muttering incantations.

Liu Ruyan held Lin Nianjun in her arms and stood in the courtyard. Although her face was calm, her fingers were trembling slightly.

Qin Shuyan held Lin Nianbei, Chu Yueyao held Lin Nianze, Murong Xue held Lin Nianzhao, Su Xiaoxiao held Lin Niansu, Xiao Yulou held Lin Nianying, and Ye Qingying held Lin Nianjie.

They were all standing in the courtyard, and their faces didn't look too good.

Zhao Mingyue, with her pregnant belly, stood next to the old lady, her eyes fixed on Wen Ruoxi's door.

Hua Tuo stood at the door, hands behind his back, looking calm.

The expression and posture made it seem as if she wasn't giving birth inside.

Lin Chen's divine sense lingered on Hua Tuo for a moment—this old bastard, he's quite the actor.

Then his divine sense passed through the door and the wall, landing on Wen Ruoxi.

Wen Ruoxi lay on the bed, covered in sweat, pale-faced, and her lips were bleeding from being bitten.

The midwife beside her shouted, "Push harder, push harder, madam!"

Her hands instinctively gripped the sheets, her nails turning white from the effort.

Lin Chen withdrew his divine sense, opened his eyes, and took out a few spirit stones from his pocket and placed them on the table.

Su'e stared at the several high-grade spirit stones, her eyes widening slightly.

This is outrageously extravagant.

"Young master?"

Lin Chen didn't turn around; he had already reached the door.

"The music tonight was excellent." Lin Chen pushed open the door. "I'll listen again sometime."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chen raised his hand and slashed in front of him.

The void before him was torn open like a piece of cloth, making a piercing tearing sound, revealing a pitch-black crack.

On the other side of the rift lies the sky of the Eastern Region.

Lin Chen stepped inside.

The crack closed up, as if it had never existed.

Su'e, holding her pipa, saw the crack and Lin Chen's disappearing figure.

She opened her mouth, then loosened her grip, and the pipa almost fell to the ground.