A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

As night fell.

Fenjiang County finally sank into silence.

The shops on both sides of the street had long since turned off their lights and closed their doors, with only the occasional bark of a dog coming from the deep alley.

However, Chunxianglou in the southern district is like a bright pearl embedded in the darkness, brightly lit and bustling with people, tearing a noisy opening through the silence of the night.

Two large red lanterns hung high in front of Chunxianglou, their candlelight flickering and reflecting off the golden signboard above the door.

Guests arrived in an endless stream, including wealthy young men in fine clothes and merchants and gentry with protruding bellies, pouring into the building in twos and threes.

The pimps and servants bowed low, their faces plastered with obsequious smiles, constantly saying "Please come in, sir" and "The ladies are waiting," as they ushered the guests into the main hall.

Young women, some leaning against the stair railing, others weaving through the crowd, were exquisitely made up, their clothes fluttering in the breeze. Some covered their mouths and chuckled, while others cast flirtatious glances, laughing and joking with the guests, their voices a symphony of sweet chatter.

As soon as Su Bai stepped into Chunxiang Pavilion, the madam spotted him with sharp eyes, abandoned the customers she was attending to, and greeted him with a beaming smile.

She was fair-skinned and plump, her voluptuous figure wrapped in a long crimson brocade dress. She held a round fan in her hand, and her eyes were full of worldly shrewdness.

Although Su Bai had only visited once, to the madam, this constable from the county government was an important figure she couldn't afford to offend. She personally served him that time and remembered him well.

"Oh, Master Su, what a rare guest!" The madam hurried forward, gently waving her fan, her eyes narrowing into slits with a smile. "Please come in, there's a fine room left on the second floor, reserved especially for you."

"Yes, take me upstairs. We'll serve a good meal and wine first. Miss, you don't need to come yet. We'll talk after everyone is here." Su Bai nodded slightly, his expression indifferent.

He was wearing a faded blue long gown, with a sword hanging at his waist.

"Alright, please come in, Master Su!" the madam replied cheerfully, personally lifting the curtain and leading Su Bai up the stairs.

Chunxiang Tower has five floors, each with a different view.

The lobby on the first floor was the liveliest, with dozens of mahogany square tables arranged in a staggered pattern, on which fruits and snacks were laid out. Guests were either drinking and chatting or flirting with girls.

In the center of the hall was a circular platform about half a person's height, covered with a scarlet carpet and surrounded by light gauze curtains. Candles were lit, making it the venue for the nighttime performances.

The second floor features private rooms with carved partitions and half-rolled beaded curtains. Each room is located by a window, which not only isolates the noise downstairs but also offers a panoramic view of the hall.

As for the third floor and above, these were the residences of the young ladies, maids, and servants. The corridors were deep and secluded, and one could faintly hear the sounds of music and laughter.

Su Bai took a seat in a private room on the second floor. A round pear wood table was placed by the window, and tea set had already been prepared on it.

He sat sideways, his gaze passing through the half-open window, which gave him a clear view of everything below.

The hustle and bustle of the hall, the light and shadow on the high platform, and the surging of the crowd were all within sight.

At this moment, a dance is being performed on the high platform downstairs.

More than a dozen young women, dressed in sheer long dresses with their breasts partially exposed and arms swaying gently, danced gracefully to the music of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments.

The candlelight reflected in their shifting eyes, and their snow-white skin was faintly visible through the swaying veils.

The guests below the stage watched intently, some holding their wine glasses and forgetting to drink, while others craned their necks as if they wanted to climb onto the stage.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent dance and music!" A fat, big-eared businessman slammed his fist on the table and shouted his approval.

"Is it said that today is Miss Yu Luo's wedding day?" someone chimed in, their tone full of anticipation.

"Chunxiang Pavilion has been advertising for a month now. I heard that the girl is as beautiful as an angel and plays the zither very well. I wonder how beautiful she is. I guess after this performance, Miss Yulu will come out, right?" Another young gentleman waved his folding fan, his eyes burning with desire.

"I wonder if there's any chance of winning Yu Luo's virginity..." someone whispered, eliciting a burst of ambiguous laughter.

The audience below the stage buzzed with discussion, all their attention focused on the mysterious Yu Luo.

Su Bai picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and remained calm on the surface.

He knew this was a common tactic used by Chunxianglou—the so-called "pure courtesans" were girls bought from various places by the madam from a young age, taught music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and raised in seclusion. When they came of age, they were publicized extensively, attracting wealthy gentry and high-ranking officials to spend lavishly.

If one encounters someone exceptionally talented, they might even feign refinement and compose a poem to add to the merriment.

However, the courtesans in this small county town weren't so particular; as long as they spent enough money, they could win the heart of a beauty.

The dance on the high platform finally came to an end, the dancers gracefully withdrew, and the curtains gently closed.

A moment later, the curtain was drawn back, and the madam, beaming, walked onto the platform, cleared her throat, and announced in a loud voice:

"Gentlemen, today is a momentous day for our Chunxiang Pavilion—the wedding of Miss Yulu!"

As soon as she finished speaking, thunderous applause and whistles erupted from the audience.

As everyone eagerly awaited her arrival, a woman wearing a veil gracefully stepped out.

She wore a plain white dress with delicate orchids embroidered on the hem, her waist was slender, and her steps were light.

Two servants in blue robes followed behind, carrying a guzheng together and carefully placing it in the center of the stage.

Although the woman covered the lower half of her face with a veil, the exposed eyebrows and eyes alone were enough to captivate anyone's heart.

She slowly sat down, her slender fingers lightly lifting to pluck the strings.

The melodious sound of the zither, like a clear mountain spring or a whisper under the moon, instantly quieted the noisy hall.

Everyone held their breath and listened intently, only the sound of the zither echoing between the beams.

When the music ended, the lingering melody faded away, and only after a long while did thunderous applause erupt.

The madam, seizing the opportune moment, reappeared on stage, beaming, and announced the price for the wedding: "The starting bid for Miss Yu Luo's virginity is one hundred taels of silver, with increments of ten taels! Gentlemen, don't miss out!"

As soon as the madam said this, the young lady Yu Luo removed her veil, revealing her beauty.

This also allows these gentry and wealthy merchants to properly assess the value.

One hundred taels of silver is an astronomical figure for ordinary people; if they lived frugally, they could make a living for several years.

However, most of the guests present were quite wealthy and didn't care about this amount of money.

Soon, some people couldn't contain themselves and started shouting out bids.

"Young Master Wang of Yuchun Pavilion is offering 150 taels of silver!" the madam announced at the top of her lungs.

"Young Master Li of Peony Pavilion is offering 180 taels of silver!" someone immediately chimed in.

"Master Zhao of Yulan Pavilion is offering two hundred taels of silver!"

The calls for price rose and fell, the madam's voice rising higher and higher, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

The price climbed steadily, to two hundred taels, two hundred and thirty, two hundred and sixty... When the number jumped to two hundred and eighty taels, the pace of bidding slowed down significantly.

People began to hesitate, looking at each other and considering whether it was worthwhile to increase their bets.

"Young Master Wang of Yuchun Pavilion has bid three hundred taels! Are there any other young masters who wish to bid?" The madam's voice rang out again, tinged with a hint of incitement and anticipation.

There was a moment of silence in the hall. People whispered among themselves, but no one responded.

The madam looked around and raised her voice: "Young Master Wang of Yuchun Pavilion has offered three hundred taels. If no one else..."