My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

That's Willow Flower Lane.

Lin Zhenyuan pointed to the bright spot and whispered to Ye Qingfeng, his expression somewhat complicated under the flickering lamplight.

Ye Qingfeng gave an "oh," his gaze falling on the bustling scene, his eyebrows slightly raised.

"This place is quite lively, unlike any other street or alley."

He asked casually, "Chief Escort Lin seems quite familiar with this place?"

"Uh..." Lin Zhenyuan's expression instantly became somewhat subtle. He coughed lightly, raised his hand to touch his nose, and his eyes darted around.

"Well... traveling all over the country doing business, it's inevitable... there will inevitably be some social occasions... I know a little bit about them."

He spoke vaguely, trying to brush it off.

Zhao Damang, who was standing nearby, happened to overhear the conversation and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

He winked and nudged Lin Zhenyuan, nudging him with his elbow and speaking in a low, teasing voice.

"Brother, why are you pretending to be so proper in front of the Taoist priest? Does your wife know you often come here for 'socializing'?"

Oh right, my sister-in-law passed away early... but that kid Yunfeng came here to 'socialize,' did he learn that from you, his father?"

"Get lost!" Lin Zhenyuan blushed, feeling embarrassed and angry after Zhao Damang exposed his son's words.

He no longer cared about maintaining his dignity in front of Ye Qingfeng and retorted in a low voice.

"Zhao Damang, stop pretending! Last time at the 'Hundred Flowers Pavilion' in Jingyang Prefecture, who was it that your sister-in-law dragged out by the ear?"

Should I write a letter right now and ask my younger siblings to come to Wen'an County and "take care" of you?

"Hey, no, no, no!" Zhao Damang's expression changed, and he immediately cowered, chuckling awkwardly as he took a half-step back.

"Big brother, I was wrong! I'll shut up! I didn't say anything!"

The two usually imposing leaders of the security escort agency were now bickering like two street urchins arguing over each other's weaknesses in front of the Taoist priest, creating a somewhat comical scene.

As Ye Qingfeng watched this scene, the gentle smile on his face deepened, and a hint of understanding and amusement flashed in his eyes.

In this mundane world, the simple things of food, drink, and sex are commonplace.

Although these two chief镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) were heroes of the martial arts world, they were not immune to the mundane realities of life.

They are much more lovable than those hypocrites who spout benevolence and morality while secretly engaging in despicable acts.

He gently shook his head and turned his gaze back to the brightly lit Willow Flower Lane, especially the few most conspicuous painted boats.

The sounds of string and wind instruments, laughter, and oars paddling through the water mingled with the gentle night breeze.

Beneath this seemingly bustling and noisy surface, he clearly sensed a faint yet deeply rooted aura of filth and resentment, like an undercurrent quietly swirling beneath the surface of water.

Especially in the direction of the largest and most brightly lit pleasure boat—the Moon-Viewing Boat—the aura was the most subtle yet the most solid.

"Lan Yue Fang..." Ye Qingfeng repeated the name in a low voice.

Lin Zhenyuan and Zhao Damang stopped exchanging barbs and their expressions turned serious again.

Lin Zhenyuan stepped forward and whispered, "Daoist, Yunfeng said that he met Su Wan'er on that Moon-Viewing Boat."

Ye Qingfeng nodded, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Let's go," he said calmly.

"Now that we're here, let's go and see what kind of scenery this Moon-Viewing Boat is that can make people linger, even... become obsessed, and almost lose their lives."

Having said that, he took the lead and walked towards the riverbank where the lights were most dazzling and where the darkness was most profound.

The figure in the blue Taoist robe blended into the edge where the warm light and darkness intertwined, like a drop of clear water about to fall into a vortex of thick ink and rouge.

Lin Zhenyuan and Zhao Damang exchanged a glance, gripped their waist knives, took a deep breath, and followed closely behind.

The night in Liuhua Lane has only just begun.

......

In the night, Liuhua Lane in Wen'an County is so brightly lit that it seems impossible to see through the darkness.

The Lan Yue Fang, a three-story building resembling a painted boat, is built on the water. Its upturned eaves are adorned with glass lanterns, which reflect the shimmering water of the river in front of it, making it appear as if it were daytime.

The vermilion gate was wide open, and the sounds of string and wind instruments, mixed with the scent of cosmetics, wine, and bustling voices, poured out, creating a stark contrast with the cool night outside the alley.

Ye Qingfeng, dressed in a gray-blue Taoist robe, stood with his hands behind his back at the bottom of the stone steps in front of the door, looking up at the plaque.

The three gilded characters "揽月舫" (Lan Yue Fang) gleamed with a warm luster under the lantern light, their elegant brushstrokes revealing an indescribable craftsmanship.

It's so neat, it looks like it was drawn with a ruler.

His eyes gleamed slightly, and his Qi-observation technique silently activated.

The entire building was bathed in a soft, pinkish glow, a light that ordinary people could not see, but which made the place feel warm and enchanting.

However, under the Qi Observation Technique, wisps of gray-black aura were entwined deep within the pink light, spreading upwards from the building's foundation like a spider web.

"Master, this is it." Lin Zhenyuan lowered his voice.

The trio is just too conspicuous.

A Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly wisdom and two men who were clearly martial artists stood at the entrance of the brothel—they drew the attention of every passing guest.

Several middle-aged men who looked like wealthy merchants, who had just stepped out of the sedan chair, lingered on Ye Qingfeng's Taoist robe for a moment, and revealed strange smiles on their faces.

They whispered among themselves, "Even Taoist priests come here for fun," and "He's probably just a hypocrite."

Ye Qingfeng remained calm, only nodding slightly to Lin Zhenyuan: "Go in."

"Gentlemen, please come in—"

The woman who greeted the guests at the door was around forty years old, with thick makeup and wearing a peach-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). When she saw the three of them approaching, she put on a professional smile.

But when his gaze fell on Ye Qingfeng's Taoist robe, his smile visibly froze for a moment.

"This...Taoist priest?" the woman asked hesitantly. "Where are we...?"

"I am Qingweizi, a Daoist priest. I have heard of the elegance of the Lanyue Pavilion and have come to see it for myself."

Ye Qingfeng's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable composure.

He raised his right hand slightly, his wide sleeves swaying gently in the wind, and faint blue flowing patterns flashed by on the cuffs, which was the outward manifestation of the natural flow of Qi.

At his level of cultivation, he was fundamentally different from ordinary people.

The woman felt that although the Taoist priest in front of her was young, he had an indescribable air of authority, and she swallowed the words that were about to come out.

She instinctively stepped aside: "Then, please come in... But, Master, according to our rules, weapons must be temporarily stored at the gatehouse."

Lin Zhenyuan and Zhao Damang exchanged a glance, then each unfastened the swords from their waists and handed them to the servants beside them.

Ye Qingfeng noticed that when the two were handing over the knife, the cuff of their left sleeves moved slightly, and a small knife was quietly hidden in their sleeves.

Upon entering, a wave of noise and heat hits you.

The hall is laid out in a "回" shape, with a circular stage about half a person's height in the center.

The stage was covered with a scarlet carpet, and gilded candlesticks stood at the four corners, each with nine red candles as thick as a child's arm burning.

At this moment, four dancers dressed in light gauze are gracefully dancing on the stage. The gauze is as thin as a cicada's wing, and as they spin and flutter, it reveals their smooth calves and slender waists.

The stage is surrounded by three tiers of circular stands.

The innermost circle consists of twelve round tables made of rosewood, each with four carved chairs, and all the seats are now occupied.

The middle section is slightly higher and has twenty-four square tables, which are almost all full.

The outermost circle against the wall consisted of dozens of small tables and benches, which were also crowded with people.

There were about two hundred people sitting in the hall.

There were merchants in fine clothes, scholars wearing square headscarves, and a few government officials dressed in their uniforms mixed in with them.

Everyone had food and wine in front of them, cups clinked, and laughter, cheers, the sound of pipa, and the coquettish voices of women mingled together, creating a noise that made one's eardrums throb.

The air was filled with the aromas of wine, rouge, incense, and a cloyingly sweet spice.

Ye Qingfeng's nostrils twitched slightly, but the sweet and cloying fragrance made him frown.

There's something wrong with this fragrance; if an ordinary person smells it for too long, it might affect their mind and spirit.

"Master, there are no seats available." Lin Zhenyuan glanced around and frowned.

Indeed, all the tables in the hall were occupied, with some even having seven or eight people crammed into one table.

Waiters carried wine and dishes through the crowd, while singers and dancers giggled and urged guests to drink, creating a lively yet somewhat chaotic scene.

"Gentlemen, I'm truly sorry, but today is the day of the courtesan competition, and all the seats were booked three days ago."

The woman who had led the way smiled apologetically, "How about... the three of you come another day?"

Ye Qingfeng did not answer, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire room.

Under the aura observation technique, the aura above the heads of the guests varied, and those with a pale yellow aura of wealth were likely merchants.

Those with a dark red, restless aura are often those who have indulged in excessive sexual activity, while those with a grayish-white, sickly aura are those who are unaware of their depleted vital energy.

What is most striking is that almost all the guests' energy was connected to the direction of the stage by wisps of pink mist, as if they were being drawn together by invisible threads.