Chapter 239: Having Money Doesn't Make You Great

Hearing him say that, Zu An became genuinely interested. He wondered just how beautiful this Qiu Honglei must be to drive so many men crazy.

There was no need to mention Ji Dengtu, that old lecher. Even Chu Hongcai, who was usually aloof and stoic, now looked completely smitten.

The three of them then spurred their horses on towards the Immortal Abode. Although Zu An hadn't ridden much before, he had at least observed others. Combined with his improved physical condition after his cultivation, controlling his balance wasn't difficult.

Along the way, both Chu Hongcai and Chu Yucheng seized every opportunity to inquire about Chu Chuyan's specific injuries from Zu An. Zu An understood their intentions and skillfully evaded their questions with witty remarks each time.

Before long, Zu An followed the two men to a street where the air was filled with a strange, alluring fragrance. Chu Yucheng, standing beside him, winked and raised his eyebrows, though his small eyes, buried in his chubby face, made it hard to tell: "Flying Heaven New Alley is actually home to far more than just the Immortal Abode. This street is lined with hundreds of brothels of all sizes and types, truly a man's paradise."

"Hundreds?" Zu An was dumbfounded. "Does Brightmoon City really have such a large consumer market?" Although Brightmoon City was a large city, it was still far from comparable to the international metropolises of his previous life. The population density in cities in this world was also much lower than in modern cities, and many people were poor with little spending power. Could there truly be enough clientele to sustain such prosperity here?

"That's where you're mistaken," Chu Hongcai began, a proud expression on his face. "Brightmoon City is renowned far and wide for its prosperity. It's also a major transit hub for goods from several surrounding prefectures and counties, and our local production of salt and iron makes its wealth known across the land. Not only does Brightmoon City have a large population, but the trade routes connecting to other regions are also constantly busy, which has spurred the growth of various industries and created the prosperity you see today."

Zu An generally understood. It was somewhat similar to ancient Yangzhou in China. The saying "With ten thousand strings of cash at your waist, ride a crane down to Yangzhou" came to mind. He wondered how many people in ancient times longed for such a life. Brightmoon City was currently in a similar situation.

He looked down the street and indeed saw a vibrant array of buildings in all colors. Many scantily clad young women leaned halfway out of windows, some giggling behind their hands, others boldly beckoning... Their methods of attracting customers were as varied and ingenious as the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each employing their unique power.

Chu Yucheng took a deep breath, exclaiming, "Even the air is thick with an ambiguously sweet, indescribable fragrance, likely the natural scent of these ladies. This truly lives up to its name as a man's paradise!"

Zu An couldn't help but say, "Are you sure it's not just the smell of cosmetics?" This chubby man usually seemed amiable, innocent, and even cute, but it turned out he was quite the experienced man about town.

Chu Yucheng: "..." He had been brimming with poetic inspiration, feeling like he could compose some verses, but Zu An's comment instantly deflated him.

Zu An took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. Although Flying Heaven New Alley boasted numerous brothels, the first sight that truly captivated attention upon entering was undoubtedly the Immortal Abode itself. A multi-storied building rose majestically, its grandeur and scale far surpassing all other brothels in the vicinity.

Zu An noticed it not because of its exquisitely carved beams and painted pillars, each architectural detail worthy of being designated a cultural heritage site in his previous life; nor because the three characters 'Immortal Abode' on the signboard above the main entrance were written in a magnificent, flowing calligraphic style, clearly the work of a master. Instead, it was because the area near the entrance was already teeming with people, countless voices frantically shouting Qiu Honglei's name.

Zu An secretly clicked his tongue in amazement. This scene was akin to a popular celebrity appearing in a bustling marketplace in his previous life, and what's more, Qiu Honglei hadn't even shown her face. He wondered what exactly these people were so frantic about. Didn't they realize that the goddess they so madly adored would ultimately become a plaything for the powerful?

Chu Hongcai exclaimed with pleasant surprise, "Luckily, we came early today; there aren't too many people yet."

Zu An blinked, looking at the surging crowd ahead, and thought, 'Big brother, do you perhaps misunderstand the meaning of "not too many"?'

As if sensing his confusion, Chu Yucheng explained with a smile, "These are just onlookers on the periphery; they can't even enter the Immortal Abode. So, second brother isn't wrong; we are considered early arrivals. We can go claim a good spot later." As he spoke, he began to push his way into the crowd. With his ample build, he was a full size larger than an average person. During the family martial arts competition, his fighting style had been like a small tank, and now, facing ordinary people, clearing a path was effortless for him.

With a swing of Chu Yucheng's chubby hand, the people in front were sent sprawling. His actions naturally provoked a chorus of curses, but noticing his formidable strength, they only dared to grumble under their breath.

Seeing the dense crowd around them, Zu An's eyes lit up. These were all living 'Rage points'! How could he let such an opportunity slip by easily? So, he started shouting: "Make way, losers, make way! None of you can get in, so what's the point of gathering here and blocking the path?"

Although they had never heard the term 'losers' before, language often had a universal quality. In this context, everyone seemed to instinctively grasp the sarcastic tone of his words and became furious.

Rage points from Loser A +99!Rage points from Loser B +99!Rage points from Loser C +99!...

Seeing the 'Rage points' messages appearing in his system, Zu An secretly sighed. 'How pathetic,' he thought, 'mere extras not even worthy of a name.'

As the enraged crowd surged forward, Chu Yucheng continuously wiped the sweat from his forehead. Being chubby, he was already prone to sweating, but he knew this particular sweat was brought on by the fright from the fellow behind him. Even Chu Hongcai gripped his sword tightly. Although their cultivation levels were far superior to those around them, he understood the principle that even ants could kill an elephant, especially since there were quite a few cultivators among the crowd. Both men simultaneously cursed under their breath. 'This guy must have a screw loose,' they thought. 'How on earth did Elder Sister Chu Chuyan ever fall for him?'

Rage points from Chu Hongcai +222!Rage points from Chu Yucheng +222!

Fortunately, as they neared the entrance, guards from the Immortal Abode came out to meet them, holding back the furious crowd.

At that moment, a young man's indignant voice came from behind: "Tch, just because you have a bit of dirty money, you think you can do whatever you want?"

Hearing this, Zu An immediately stopped, turned around, and looked at the young man, smiling. "We can enter, while you can only stand there and watch enviously. Sorry, but yes, having money means you can do whatever you want." As he spoke, he struck a classic 'hands-out' mocking pose.

Rage points from Loser A +199!Rage points from Loser B +199!Rage points from Loser C +199!...

Seeing the constant stream of 'Rage points' on his system, even more than before, Zu An almost burst out laughing. He finally understood why villains in films and TV shows from his previous life would speak such blunt and crude lines.

Because... it felt incredibly satisfying!

Grinning, he reached out and slung his arms around the shoulders of Chu Hongcai and Chu Yucheng, saying, "You two should bring me to lively places like this more often!" Targeting one person, even if he exhausted them completely, wouldn't yield much Rage. In contrast, in a crowded scene like this, a casual jab could net him tens of thousands of Rage points.

"Alright... alright..." Chu Yucheng pulled out a handkerchief and continuously wiped the sweat from his cheeks, thinking, 'I'd have to be crazy to invite you again next time.'

The guards of the Immortal Abode, also worried that he might stir up more trouble and incite the crowd outside, hurriedly led their horses away and ushered them inside, scrambling to get them through the entrance.

As he entered, Zu An caught a glimpse of the sparkling river nearby with the corner of his eye and realized that the Immortal Abode was built backing onto the Brightmoon River. He could faintly see several pleasure boats moored along the bank. 'Didn't they have a building here? Why prepare so many boats?' he wondered. 'City folk certainly know how to have fun.' Zu An mused that his imagination was still not vivid enough.

"How much silver does it cost to meet this Qiu Honglei?" Zu An had just noticed that both men had presented exquisitely made invitations to the staff at the entrance, which allowed them to enter without issue.

"It doesn't cost anything to get in," Chu Yucheng said, twitching his eyebrows and giving him a 'you know what I mean' look. "The Immortal Abode sends invitations to influential figures in the city and regular patrons. Each invitation allows the holder to bring one companion. As for the subsequent expenses, that depends on how you choose to enjoy yourself."

The more Zu An looked at this fat guy, the more he resembled Qiao Shan. Zu An grumbled inwardly, then suddenly remembered what the other person had just said, and his mood instantly soured. The Immortal Abode had sent invitations to all the prominent figures in the city, even collateral branch disciples like Chu Yucheng and Chu Hongcai had them, but he, the son-in-law of the main branch, didn't! Were they looking down on him that much? Forget this Immortal Abode then!

With a dark expression, he turned to walk out.

"Ah Zu, what's wrong?" Chu Yucheng was startled and quickly ran over to ask him.

Zu An scoffed, "This Immortal Abode didn't even send me an invitation. It's clear they don't respect me. Why should I bother trying to butter them up? No matter how beautiful that courtesan is, is she prettier than my wife? Forget it, forget it, I might as well go home and enjoy my wife's company instead."

Hearing his words, everyone in the hall turned their heads, wondering who this audacious person was, daring to claim that Miss Qiu was not as beautiful as his wife. 'Was his wife a celestial fairy?' A group of men, already eager for a chance to show off in front of Qiu Honglei, found a perfect opportunity served right to them.

"Who's so shameless, your wife is—" Several of the closest men stood up, about to confront him, but then they suddenly got a clear look at Zu An's appearance. Their faces instantly twisted as if they had eaten dung, and the rest of their sentence was swallowed back. "Sorry to bother you," they mumbled.

This guy's wife truly was more beautiful than Qiu Honglei. After all, Chu Chuyan was publicly acknowledged as the most beautiful woman in Brightmoon City. No matter how beautiful Qiu Honglei was, her status was far inferior.

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor, a young master with red lips and white teeth observed this scene through a curtain, scoffing softly: "He has no tact, behaving like a vulgar rogue. I have no idea what Chu Chuyan could possibly see in him." His voice was soft and melodious, and even when angry, he spoke calmly and unhurriedly, possessing a refined, scholarly air.

At that moment, another handsome young man beside him gave a wry smile. "Sister, don't be deceived by his appearance. This young man is far from simple. Beneath his unrestrained demeanor lies a calm and cunning mind."

If Zu An had been there, he would certainly have recognized the handsome young man as Xie Xiu, the City Lord's son, and the beautiful, red-lipped young master beside him was none other than his sister, disguised as a man.