Notes on Longevity

Chapter 19 Music accompanies the dancing figures, the wine cups never cease.

"Looking for a friend?" One of the women chuckled and teased Yang Youan, "What's the name of your friend, young master? Maybe we know him too."

"Yes, since you've come to Drunken Flower Pavilion to see a friend, your friend must be a regular here, and you might even have played together before. How about my sister and I keep you company tonight?"

This was the first time Yang Youan had ever encountered such vulgar language, and his face turned deathly pale instantly.

In the past, he had heard people say that the women in brothels were as fierce as jackals and tigers in their actions and words. But after coming in and seeing them today, he realized that they were not just jackals and tigers, but ferocious beasts and monsters.

These words, spoken by them, were like sharp teeth, each one terrifying.

Another woman reached out to touch Yang You'an's face, but Yang You'an instinctively tried to dodge. Just then, a voice came from beside Yang You'an.

"Hey ladies, since you have this free time, why don't you go and greet some customers at the door?"

Yang Youan and the two women looked over at the sound and saw Li Chengru leading a girl who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old towards them.

The woman had a pair of bright, dark eyes beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, which twinkled like stars in the sky.

A long blue robe accentuated her mature face. Under the bright lights of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, her expression was slightly shy as she followed Li Chengru to the group.

"Young Master Li... Young Master Li." Upon seeing that the newcomer was Li Chengru, the two women's expressions clearly began to panic, as if they had seen some extremely terrifying monster. Their previous teasing demeanor instantly turned into that of frightened demons trying to flee.

"What, are my friends so easy to tease?" Li Chengru stared at the two women with a cold face, his words filled with anger.

"No, no, if we had known that this young master was your friend, we two would not have dared to provoke him like this, even if we had the guts of a leopard."

The two women knelt and bowed to Li Chengru in terror, their words revealing their fear.

"The Drunken Flower Pavilion is getting more and more unruly," Li Chengru said, frowning angrily. "Should I go with you to the madam and have a word with her?"

"Young Master Li, please forgive us. We two will never dare to do it again. Please do not tell the madam, otherwise we will be punished."

"You shouldn't be saying that to me," Li Chengru said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the two women were taken aback for a moment, then bowed to Yang You'an and said with a sob in their voices, "Please forgive us, young master. We were ignorant of the rules and offended you. Please be magnanimous and do not tell the madam."

Yang Youan wanted to help the two up, but then he remembered that although this was a brothel, the etiquette of men and women not touching each other should not be violated. So he could only say to the two, "This is my first time in this place of pleasure, and I am not familiar with the rules."

"roll!"

No sooner had Yang Youan finished speaking than Li Chengru shouted angrily.

"Yes." Upon hearing this, the two answered repeatedly, and then fled from the group's sight with their faces full of grievance.

"Thank you for helping me out, Brother Li." Yang Youan bowed to Li Chengru after the two women left.

"It's nothing, just have a few more drinks with me later." Li Chengru smiled and patted Yang Youan on the shoulder.

"But my behavior when drunk is unseemly, and I'm afraid that drinking too much would be an insult to my refinement," Yang Youan said to Li Chengru after a moment's hesitation, wanting to decline again.

"Drink as much as you want, I won't force you." With that, Li Chengru chuckled and led the girl upstairs. Yang Youan, seeing this, didn't say anything more. After all, Li Chengru was the one who had helped him out of that predicament. He figured that since they were already there, they might as well have a drink. Li Chengru and the girl walked into a room on the second floor with practiced ease, while Yang Youan followed behind them.

As he entered the room, looking at the spacious, ornately decorated, yet dimly lit space, a slight ripple stirred within him.

As soon as the three entered the room, they saw five women quickly walk in, followed closely by a group of women carrying different musical instruments and wearing clothes of different colors. They stood in two rows with their heads bowed.

Yang Youan glanced at them in confusion, then looked at Li Chengru, only to see that Li Chengru and the girl had already sat down at the very front.

Li Chengru was tidying the girl's clothes when she kept winking at him, signaling him to look behind her.

Li Chengru turned his head and saw Yang Youan standing there looking helpless. He smiled.

He stood up, walked to Yang Youan's side, led him to a seat behind him, and pressed him down into a chair. He then laughed and said, "What do you think brothels are all about? Yes, that's what you think, but it's more than that. Besides, who said that brothels can only do those things?"

Yang Youan watched as Li Chengru continued talking to himself, not giving him a chance to speak at all, so he could only listen silently. When Li Chengru released his hand, Yang Youan saw him wave his hand at the women and say, "Pour the wine and dance."

As soon as Li Chengru finished speaking, he walked back to his seat and sat down next to the girl again. The girl took Li Chengru's arm and stared at him with a big smile.

Li Chengru was gently stroking her nose, seemingly saying something unintelligible.

Because a woman had come to his side and poured him wine.

The woman was very close to Yang Youan, almost touching his body.

The woman exuded a fragrance that circulated into Yang You'an's body with his breath. He felt as if he were surrounded by flowers, surrounded by their fragrance.

With a smile, the woman handed the poured wine to Yang You'an. Yang You'an stared at the woman and unconsciously took the wine glass. But the woman refused to let go. She held the wine glass in one hand and placed the other hand on Yang You'an's hand holding the wine glass, slowly pushing it to his lips. In this way, Yang You'an drank his first cup of wine in the Drunken Flower Pavilion while his consciousness was blurred.

As the wine glasses were set down, musical instruments began to play. Apart from the three women who were pouring the wine, two other women stood between the woman sitting on a chair playing an instrument and danced to the music.

As the beautiful woman poured wine, amidst the enchanting melody and alluring dance, Yang Youan lost all control over himself.

He drank glass after glass of wine poured by the woman, his eyes glazed over; he gazed again and again at the alluring, unusual dance moves. It was as if all the books he had read had been thrown to the back of his mind in an instant, ignored and unquestioned.

He gradually lost his way... Finally, he slowly slumped onto the table, muttering something under his breath, but it was unclear.

The woman reached out a hand and placed it on Yang Youan's neck, then slowly slid it down his neck to his shoulder.

She tilted her head, slowly bringing her ear close to Yang Youan's lips, and heard him say, "I examine myself thrice daily: 'Have I been disloyal in my dealings with others? Have I been untrustworthy in my interactions with friends? Have I neglected to practice what I have been taught?'"

The wine is still being drunk…

The music is still playing…

The dance hasn't stopped yet...

In the dimly lit room, music accompanied dancing figures, laughter and songs filled the air. Even after the night had fallen, the wine cups remained untouched.

(End of this chapter)