Chapter 915: Passing Through the Door Without Entering

Although they had fought side-by-side in the secret realm, their time together was still short, and their relationship was inevitably somewhat awkward. However, as soon as they started talking about the courtesan, they naturally became much more familiar with each other.

Soon, the group set off for the Red Sleeves Pavilion. Originally, Gao Ying and Pei You had prepared sedan chairs to show formality, but Zu An, accustomed to cars and subways from his previous life, found the confined and bumpy sedan chairs very uncomfortable. So he suggested they ride horses, and as both Gao Ying and Pei You were cultivators, they had no objections.

Normally, there were many rules for riding horses within the inner city, but as they were all scions of major aristocratic families, and Zu An was a new luminary in the capital, no one would typically cause them trouble.

As they galloped on their horses, Pei You said with a laugh, "I wonder who will get the chance to ride Nan Xun's 'rouge horse' today. I'm sure it'll feel a lot better than this."

Zu An raised an eyebrow at his vulgar words. This guy, who usually seemed like a reclusive and gloomy teenager, completely transformed into a social butterfly when the topic turned to such matters. Indeed, beautiful women were truly the most primal motivation for changing men.

Zu An chuckled, "The Red Sleeves Pavilion must be packed today. I wonder if there will even be any space left."

Gao Ying replied, "Since the courtesan Nan Xun is choosing her personal guests this time, men from the capital naturally flock to her, and some even come from surrounding prefectures. However, most are just there to join the excitement. To prevent chaos, the Red Sleeves Pavilion specifically issued 100 invitation cards. Only those who have received a card can enter tonight."

"Only 100 cards?" Zu An was surprised. The number seemed small, considering how many wealthy and powerful people there were in the capital. And a single family could have hundreds or even thousands of members, not to mention those from neighboring prefectures and counties—it simply wasn't enough to go around.

"So, will the Red Sleeves Pavilion be full of high-ranking officials tonight?" Zu An thought back to similar situations in his past life, where most of these 100 invitation cards would have already been distributed internally, with only a very few making it into wider circulation.

"That won't be the case," Gao Ying said with a smile. "After all, it's a place of pleasure, and high-ranking officials fear impeachment by the Censorate. Everyone values their reputation, so generally, the senior figures won't come. Only younger generations like us go to join the fun. Perhaps in a little while, Brother Zu won't find it convenient to visit either."

One had to remember that just a few months ago, Zu An wasn't even a commoner, merely a condemned prisoner. Yet, he had rocketed to prominence, now a Viscount and a favored figure in the Eastern Palace. Crucially, his presence was now undeniable to all factions. In a little more time, he might even be promoted several more ranks, at which point it truly wouldn't be appropriate for him to visit such establishments.

Zu An thought, *So that's how it is.* It was quite a pity that high-ranking court officials couldn't even enjoy courtesans. But then he reconsidered: once they reached those positions, they could simply keep any women they desired, making it unnecessary to visit such places.

"We really owe it to Brother Gao's extensive connections for getting an invitation card," Pei You said, giving credit to Gao Ying at the right moment, which Gao Ying clearly appreciated. "I tried to get one earlier, but I couldn't find one even after searching for a long time."

"I also happened to get one through a transfer," Gao Ying reciprocated, explaining that it wasn't due to Pei You's lack of influence. "After all, this courtesan gained fame around the time we entered the secret realm, so we didn't have a chance to look for these cards back then."

Zu An thought to himself, *No wonder I hadn't heard of this courtesan before; she only rose to prominence after we entered the secret realm.*

A thought occurred to him, and he suddenly chuckled, "Usually, we're the ones choosing the courtesans in the pleasure houses, but today it's like the courtesan is choosing us." It was like in his past life at a club, where he could ask to "change the batch" if he didn't like what he saw. Now, the roles were reversed with Nan Xun; she was the one selecting the guests.

Gao Ying and Pei You couldn't help but laugh as well. "Now that you mention it, it really is quite similar. But once you see that courtesan, you'll understand. She's worth it."

Then Pei You continued, "Brother Zu, we're all life-and-death comrades now, so I'll be direct. Originally, to thank you for saving our lives, we should have arranged for the courtesan to be yours. However, this courtesan is rather special, and even with our family backgrounds, we can't secure her. We'll each have to rely on our own abilities. If you don't manage to win Miss Nan Xun's favor, we'll arrange for another courtesan for you. The Red Sleeves Pavilion has a total of 24 courtesans, all exquisite in both beauty and art, playfully known as the 'Twenty-Four Bridges and Moonlight Nights.' We guarantee your satisfaction."

*Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian, that's what you call life-and-death friends,* Zu An thought to himself. *Who said I was friends with you lot?*

He waved his hand. "No need to worry, gentlemen. I don't have many virtues, but one is that girls tend to like me easily. I'm sure that courtesan will choose me in the end."

Pei You was speechless. He sized Zu An up. If it weren't for Zu An saving his life, with his usual temperament, he would have probably retorted, "So ordinary, yet so confident." It was well-known that Miss Nan Xun was different from previous courtesans. News circulated freely in the capital, and no one had any confidence in winning her favor.

Gao Ying, who was more composed, laughed heartily to smooth things over. "Even a fairy like Miss Chu chose Brother Zu, so his charm is clear to see. Perhaps Miss Nan Xun truly will choose you today."

The group chatted and laughed, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the Red Sleeves Pavilion.

Despite being mentally prepared, Zu An was still somewhat stunned by the vast, brightly lit complex of pavilions and towers before him. The sight reminded him of the architecture from *Spirited Away*, or the night view of Chongqing's Hongyadong. It was several times more luxurious and grand than the Immortal Residence he had seen in Brightmoon City! The Imperial Music Bureau, which he had visited before, was understated and modest in comparison, nowhere near the scale of the Red Sleeves Pavilion. The Red Sleeves Pavilion alone was almost equivalent to the entire pleasure quarter of Brightmoon City combined. No wonder no one could ascertain the background of its hidden owner; to operate on such a grand scale in the capital, it couldn't possibly have an ordinary backing.

Outside the Red Sleeves Pavilion, it was already bustling with noise, and the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd made Zu An feel as if he were back on a train during the Spring Festival travel rush in his previous life. Many were frantically shouting Miss Nan Xun's name, some even holding their breath until they fainted. Many more, knowing they had no hope of entering, put up banners outside, declaring their support and love for Miss Nan Xun, fantasizing that she might see their literary talent on the banners and invite them inside.

Zu An glanced around. Many had written various love poems on the banners. Unfortunately, having been accustomed to Tang and Song dynasty poetry in his past life, he found the quality of these poems rather clumsy, causing only embarrassment and a slight ache in his teeth.

"Make way, make way!" Gao Ying and Pei You were both sixth-rank masters. Without needing to physically harm anyone, a slight outward release of their *yuanqi* was enough to push through the crowd ahead. Soon, the three of them reached the entrance.

Zu An noticed many security guards maintaining order at the main entrance of the Red Sleeves Pavilion, along with numerous constables and yamen runners. *This is truly impressive,* he thought. *A pleasure house can even get government officials to maintain order.*

As he was marveling, a mocking voice suddenly came from nearby. "Oh, isn't that Little You? Why are you coming to a place like this with someone from the Liu family?"

Zu An turned his head to see a young master, surrounded by a group of people, looking at the trio with a mocking expression. The young master was somewhat handsome, but his dark circles and pale complexion immediately suggested he had been drained by a life of drink and women. He appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but there was no hint of maturity about him; on the contrary, he exuded an air of frivolousness.

"Is that any of your business?" Pei You sneered, quietly explaining to Zu An at the same time, "This is Pei Xingyan, from the third branch of my great-grandfather's side."

Zu An immediately realized that the man was a grandson of Duke Linhai, Pei Zheng. Although Duke Linhai Pei Zheng and Pei You's grandfather Pei Ming were brothers, their relationship was not good. In particular, Pei You's and his father's branch were very close to the Bi family and leaned towards the Crown Prince, which made Pei Zheng's side dislike them even more.

*A textbook villain,* Zu An thought with emotion, seeing the provocative look on the man's face. He suddenly remembered that Da Manman's father was Pei Zheng's fifth son, which made this man her paternal cousin. For Da Manman's sake, he decided not to make things difficult for him.

Unexpectedly, the other man didn't even glance at him, instead looking directly at Gao Ying, as if only just recognizing him. "Isn't this the Liu family's nephew? I heard you're always upright and steady. Why are you at a pleasure house like this? Shouldn't it be that good-for-nothing Liu Xian who comes here? Why isn't he here today?" He then looked around, as if searching for Liu Xian.

Gao Ying's face immediately darkened. Being repeatedly called the "Liu family's nephew" already felt like a taunt that he wasn't a true direct descendant of the Liu family, which displeased him greatly. And now, he had deliberately brought up Liu Xian.

He suppressed his anger. "Liu Xian sacrificed himself in the secret realm to protect the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The court has already issued a public obituary for this. What do you mean, 'he's not here'?"

"Oh, so he died? My apologies, I truly haven't been paying attention to such matters recently," Pei Xingyan said, feigning regret, though not a trace of it showed on his face. "By the way, how did you say he died just now?"

Gao Ying said coldly, "He sacrificed himself to protect the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, voluntarily staying behind to cover their retreat!"

"Liu Xian sacrificing himself to protect others? And voluntarily staying behind? Ha ha ha!" Pei Xingyan roared with laughter, joined by his companions. "If a person like Liu Xian were to die in a woman's bed one day, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. But that playboy would willingly sacrifice himself and stay behind to cover a retreat?"

Gao Ying's expression grew increasingly cold. "This is an official announcement from the imperial court. Are you perhaps questioning the Emperor's judgment?" He wasn't one to be trifled with and directly laid a verbal trap.

Pei Xingyan, naturally aware of the trap, said with a smile, "The Emperor is wise and mighty, so naturally, he wouldn't make a mistake in judgment. It's just that His Majesty is more concerned with grand affairs; a minor figure like Liu Xian might not even register with him. In fact, I'm not the only one in the capital who knows Liu Xian well. If you don't believe me, ask them if they think Liu Xian is the type of person who would stay behind and sacrifice himself to cover a retreat?"

His companions all burst into laughter:"How could that be? Liu Xian is notoriously cowardly.""What else can he do besides play with women? In my opinion, his cultivation was too poor, which is why he lost his life in the secret realm. As for how he died, well, only a few of them came out alive, so they can say whatever they want.""That might not be it. I think Liu Xian probably had such poor cultivation that he couldn't outrun the others when they fled, and was therefore forced to stay behind to cover their retreat.""Ha ha ha, Young Master Pei is absolutely right. That's most likely what really happened."...

Zu An, standing by, secretly sighed with emotion. Da Manman's cousin was truly asking for a beating; it made him want to hit him himself.

"Bastard!" Gao Ying couldn't hold back and threw a punch directly.

Pei Xingyan had already prepared and blocked the blow with his palm. After an exchange, Gao Ying remained unmoving, while Pei Xingyan was forced back several steps. However, his companions immediately surrounded them. "What do you think you're doing? Aren't people allowed to speak the truth anymore?"

Pei You and Zu An also calmly stepped to Gao Ying's side, making it clear they wouldn't let him suffer any disadvantage.

An unnatural flush appeared on Pei Xingyan's face, clearly indicating he had suffered a minor disadvantage in the recent exchange. He glared at Pei You and angrily said, "Little You, how dare you help an outsider attack your own kin?"

Many onlookers, not understanding the full context, immediately looked at Pei You with some disdain. In this clan-based society, an accusation like Pei Xingyan's was extremely serious.

Seeing Pei You's face alternate between green and white, unsure how to retort—this clearly wasn't a discussion about pleasure houses—he had reverted to his usual reclusive self.

Seeing this, Zu An helped him out. "Pei You will help comrades he's shared life and death with, but he won't help a petty person who hides behind others, gossiping and insulting soldiers who died for their country." What were clan ties compared to the sentiment of nation and home?

As expected, the onlookers' expressions towards Pei You immediately softened. Pei You likewise cast a grateful glance at Zu An.

"And who are you?" Pei Xingyan sneered at him, his expression like that of a toad.

Pei You, grateful to Zu An, naturally reciprocated by boasting about him: "This is the great hero of this secret realm expedition, the Green Hat Viscount personally ennobled by the Emperor, the Crown Prince's Vice-Adjutant, and Imperial Guard General Zu An, Master Zu!"

Zu An's eyebrow twitched at the words "Green Hat Viscount," but since the other party was genuinely well-intentioned, he couldn't possibly get angry.

"Hmph!" Pei Xingyan snorted disdainfully. "You two are going downhill. Although your status in the family isn't high, you're still scions of prominent families. Yet now you're fawning over a commoner like this? It's truly a disgrace to us people of the capital."

Pei You and Gao Ying's expressions changed. Before they could react, they heard Zu An's cold voice from beside them: "This 'Young Master Xingyan,' did you eat shit before you left home today?"

Pei Xingyan was momentarily stunned, thinking he had misheard. But seeing the expressions of those around him, he knew he hadn't, and he erupted in fury. "What did you say?!"

Anger from Pei Xingyan +588 +588 +588...

"If you didn't eat shit, why are you spewing such filth?" Zu An asked, feigning confusion. "Are you perhaps the legendary shit-making machine?" Having spent years in his past life frequenting online forums and engaging in verbal battles with a bunch of "silly" netizens, he naturally knew what would most easily provoke someone.

The surrounding onlookers immediately burst into laughter. They might not have understood sophisticated humor, but jokes related to "shit, pee, and farts" were universally and instantly understood.

Pei Xingyan almost fainted from rage. "I'm going to rip your filthy mouth apart!"

Anger from Pei Xingyan +723 +723 +723...

With that, he swung a slap. Pei You and Gao Ying were about to intervene when a scream was heard, and the man went flying backward.

Zu An's expression turned cold. "I kill rank-eight fierce beasts as easily as slaughtering chickens. Do you think you're worthy of fighting me? I'll spare your life for the sake of an old acquaintance. Now get lost." This guy was truly useless; even when this furious, his soul fluctuations were barely noticeable.

Gao Ying and Pei You felt a chill. They were so close, yet they hadn't clearly seen how Zu An had struck. It seemed his cultivation had advanced significantly in a short time. Of course, seeing Pei Xingyan's pathetic state, they felt a surge of secret satisfaction. Brother Zu was indeed formidable; he had helped them vent their anger.

Pei Xingyan's companions were about to help, but upon hearing Zu An's words, they suddenly shivered, remembering the rumors about him.

"The Azure Moon Sky Dragon is only rank 7; this guy sure knows how to brag," they muttered inwardly. However, knowing full well they were no match for him, they all abandoned any thoughts of fighting and instead began to speak more reasonably: "How preposterous! In this most prosperous place in the capital, to openly bully others with brute force? Is there no justice? Is there no law?"

If they had known that he had killed not only rank-eight fierce beasts but also peak rank-nine masters, they probably wouldn't have dared to utter such words. However, the onlookers secretly cursed, "Shameless!" These scions of prominent families loved to bully others on a regular basis; now they had the nerve to accuse someone else? Still, they enjoyed a good show and didn't mind if things escalated. Anyway, none of these officials were any good, and it would be best if both sides killed each other.

The commotion finally attracted the attention of the constables maintaining order nearby. A group of constables with sabers approached. "Who is causing a disturbance here?"

Pei Xingyan, holding the blood that had just gushed from his mouth, was about to lodge a complaint, but the turmoil within his body was so severe that he couldn't speak at all. Fortunately, he still had a group of friends who all rushed to accuse Zu An to the constables. In a place like the capital, there were many masters among the constables. Although those present might not have been as strong as Zu An, if Zu An dared to lay a hand on a constable, it would be a huge problem, and the imperial court would never let him off.

At this point, Gao Ying and Pei You also stepped forward to state their identities, while recounting what had just happened. Naturally, their description completely emphasized how aggressive the other party had been.

The leading constable developed a headache. They couldn't afford to offend any of these scions of prominent families. However, they had experience with such matters and simply deflected, saying, "Tonight, we are only responsible for maintaining security at the entrances and exits of the Red Sleeves Pavilion. For other matters, please go to the yamen and file a complaint, and the yamen will handle it accordingly."

Pei Xingyan and his companions were speechless.

Gao Ying and Pei You smiled, then said to Zu An, "Brother Zu, please proceed!"

Pei Xingyan wanted to stop them, but remembering how he had inexplicably been sent flying moments ago, he somewhat dared not.

Zu An and his group arrived at the entrance. Gao Ying handed the invitation card to the doorman for inspection. One invitation card was supposed to allow entry for the bearer and two companions.

The doorman opened the card and examined it, his brows immediately furrowing. "The name doesn't match. No entry. Next!"

Zu An was stunned, completely unprepared for this new complication.

Gao Ying said gravely, "What is the meaning of this? You won't allow entry with invitation cards that you yourselves issued?"

At this point, the constable who was there earlier spoke up: "We've received a notice from our superiors. Given that the issued invitation cards have been resold and prices inflated, and that they might have fallen into the hands of ill-intentioned individuals, for the safety of the venue and the stability of the capital's order, entry will only be granted if the name on the invitation card matches the person actually presenting it."

"This was given to me by a relative who couldn't come. Is that also not allowed?" Gao Ying grew anxious. In all his years, he had never heard of invitation cards being checked by name. Given their respective family statuses, it wouldn't have been too difficult to obtain these invitation cards. However, they had been in the secret realm at the time, so it was naturally impossible for the cards to have been issued directly to them.

"No, it must match the initial invitation list," the constable replied. Knowing their identities, and fearing to offend them, he added, "This is an order from our superiors, and we are simply following the rules."

"Whose superior's order?" Pei You's face also darkened. They had eagerly invited Zu An to come and enjoy himself, and now this had happened. Where would they put their faces?

"I cannot disclose that!" the constable replied. "Please don't block the people behind. Next!"

"Ha ha... *cough cough*... ha ha," Pei Xingyan, supported by his companions, finally steadied himself, coughing and laughing. "I'm dying of laughter. You come here to show off, and you can't even get past the door..."

Zu An gave him a faint glance, and Pei Xingyan immediately dared not continue his mocking remarks. He could only rely on the constables nearby for support. "*Cough cough.* If you don't have an invitation, clear the way. We do."

***

Today's two chapters have been combined. I wanted to say something, but my recent updates haven't been strong, so I'm truly too ashamed to say much. I'll just do my best to build up a reserve and resume regular updates before anything else.

Also, the weather has been getting colder recently, but it's amazing how many bare legs are still visible on the streets.