[Wuxia] The Number One Ding Under Heaven (Complete) - 4

Chapter Twenty-Five: Do What You Love

"Hitting someone... is it... just me? Did you get a knife or..."
"Use whatever you can."
"Then... so-so, ten... ten." Wanrendi scratched his head.
This level... sigh, I can only make do as a henchman.
Pang Yu comforted himself, when Wanrendi suddenly pointed: "Someone like him."
He was referring to Chuixue, who was lying face down, groaning and moaning.
Damn, I could take on eight of these trash!
Pang Yu was furious, slamming his hand on the table and standing up abruptly.
"My name... my name was given to me by my parents, I can't decide that." Despite his size, Wanrendi was terrified of his fierce gaze, shrinking back two steps and stammering.
Just looking at his pathetic appearance made Pang Yu furious, his teeth grinding together: "You, you, you, you, tell me honestly, how did you manage to sneak into the Pang family as a guard?"
"I used to earn money carrying rice bags in the east end of the city. A few days ago, I heard from Brother Er Gou that the Grand Tutor's mansion was recruiting guards. They wanted tall, burly men, and once you got in, you'd get unlimited white steamed buns every meal, as much as you wanted. I thought I was tall and strong, and my name was kind of imposing... so I signed up, and then on the day of the exam, I somehow passed..."
"Enough!" Pang Yu waved his hand to interrupt him,
"From today onwards, you, don't need to be a guard anymore."
"Ah..." Wan Rendi's mouth dropped open, frozen on the spot, his round face overflowing with sadness, pain, sorrow, and despair. It seemed that not having an unlimited supply of steamed buns to fill his stomach was more painful for him than the death of his own father.
"You're promoted to second-class servant. From today onwards, you'll be by my side." Pang Yu raised an eyebrow and waved his hand. "Hurry up and change your clothes. Walking around the young master's courtyard dressed like that—it's embarrassing!"
"Second-class..." Wan Rendi scratched his head, seemingly not understanding what this position, which normally required at least twenty years of service, meant to him, who had only been in the manor for less than half a month and was still on probation. He muttered, "No, I don't want to be a servant. I... I saw it all. Every day, the steamed white flour buns from the kitchen are all taken to the outer residence for us guards to eat... Ugh, if I become a servant, I won't get a single one..."
"Let me tell you! The monthly salary of a second-class servant in the Grand Tutor's manor is enough to eat roasted chicken, pork knuckle, and mutton stew with bread every day until you're stuffed to death!!!"
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"Lord Marquis—"
Hearing that being a second-class servant meant eating roast chicken every day, Wanrendi happily left. Chuixue waited at a distance until Pang Yu finished pounding the table and jumping up and down in his rage, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes to rest. Only then did Chuixue cautiously enter the room, hunched over, hands covering his face, and called out softly,
"What is it?"
"Didn't you want to find a master? How come you even accepted someone like this…"
"Someone like this? What kind of person? You bastard, didn't you find someone for me who said he was some kind of top master—yes, top master, but he's bald, isn't he?" Pang Yu got angry at the mention of it and slapped him hard across the face.
"No, no, no, my lord, please don't hit me!" Chuixue trembled with fear, shrinking back and covering her face, tears welling up in her eyes. "I've been busy with this all night, I've done my part, even if I haven't done anything great..."
"Do your damn thing!" Pang Yu raised his hand and slapped him hard across the face, pointing at his nose and cursing, "When you left me, your right sleeve was empty, how come you came back with a scented red handkerchief? Fuck your damn hard work, it should be diligence, right? Huh? You painstakingly smuggled it back from which maid in which household!"
In an instant, Chuixue's mournful face froze completely, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. After a long while, he stammered and clumsily explained, "My lord, actually... this... it wasn't me who seduced... really... it was Second Madam's daughter, Ajiao, who asked me to give this to her lover, Young Master Cheng, who performs in the Yang family opera troupe at Yinghuang Tower in the north of the city..."
"Edison Chen?"
"No, I think his name is Chen, Chen Long."
"Jackie Chan, my foot! Get lost!" Talking to him, Pang Yu truly suspected he'd shorten his lifespan with anger.
"The matter of the expert..."
"My lord, I'll figure it out myself! Get out, get out!! Don't get in my way!!!"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes." Chuixue had probably never seen the lord so angry in his life; he actually lay on the ground, hands behind his head, and rolled and rolled towards the door.
Once he was out of the room, Pang Yu, still furious, suddenly smiled.
"An expert, huh... hehehe."
In the dim, flickering candlelight, he sat calmly, took a sip of tea, and a wicked smile appeared on his lips against the darkness.
"This time I've decided to outsmart him; one man against ten thousand is more than enough."
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Early morning, another bright and sunny spring day.
The grand and solemn gates of the Grand Tutor's mansion swung open with a roar, and swaggered out a tall, handsome, and imposing... young servant. Brand new blue robes, a brand new cap, brand new leather boots, and a smile brighter than the sun—he was the irresistible charmer of every wealthy young lady and noblewoman in the capital!
The most sunny, most handsome, and most heart-fluttering servant in history—who else could it be but Pang Si?!
Walking proudly down the willow-lined avenue, watching the astonished glances of the crowd around him, he felt utterly exhilarated.
Free! Free! I'm so damn free!
The sky's the limit for fish to leap, the sea is the limit for birds to fly… Maybe I've got it backwards. Anyway, from now on, I can openly enter and leave the Pang mansion. Even if my heartless father issues a thousand or ten thousand decrees, he won't be able to control me.
Hahaha—
Pang Yu wanted to laugh wildly, but for the sake of his image, he ultimately held back.
"Do what you love, even a servant should be competent."
Well, competent servant.
"'A city of Song Dynasty charm, half a city of water, dreams overflowing throughout Bianjing'—how poetic, how poetic!" Standing beside a pavilion with green tiles and flying eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, gazing at the houses stretching along the river in the distance, the white-walled and black-tiled dwellings, the stone-paved roads, the stone arch bridges, the floating boats, the stone wharves, and the boats coming and going on the river, the shimmering water and sails, Pang Yu couldn't help but be inspired to write poetry.
"What a poem, truly a poem! Your Excellency, you are so talented! I admire you so much!" Following behind, Chuixue, whether he understood or not, kept praising with a fawning smile.
A personal servant, if you want to be good, the first rule is to remember—even your master's farts smell sweet!
This time, Pang Yu didn't slap him, but turned to face the antique pavilion with its flying eaves and upturned ridges on the riverbank.
The three golden characters "Seven Shows Pavilion" on the red plaque hanging high in the center gleamed.
"This... is the dance hall that just opened yesterday?"
"Yes, yes." Chuixue nodded repeatedly.
"Come on, let's go in." Pang Yu flicked his robe with a flourish and strode forward.
"Find seven or eight beauties to keep me company while I drink, chat, and sleep in bed—remember, as a qualified servant, finding and testing women for your master is a skill you must be proficient in."

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Young Master Makes His Appearance

"Seven Shows Pavilion, Seven Shows Pavilion, does Seven Shows refer to your seven most popular girls here?" As soon as he sat down, before he even warmed his seat, Pang Yu called over the pretty maid serving tea and asked.
"Pfft—" Chuixue almost choked on her tea. "
Lord Marquis, this...this is too direct!" "
Direct my foot! That's how it's supposed to be when visiting a brothel."
Pang Yu glared at him disdainfully.
The Seven Show Brothel they visited was unlike any other brothel. Its layout and decorations resembled the residence of a scholarly family, devoid of any gaudy or vulgar air. The elegant environment and soothing atmosphere were comparable to the simple, refined, and exquisite mansions of the Jiangnan region.
Seven Show Brothel—Seven Show Brothel sounds like a brothel, is it really necessary to be so elegant?
"Mmm." The pretty maid, no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, nodded, her bright, rosy face and soft, delicate voice both sweet and pleasant.
Pang Yu frowned.
"The Seven Beauties were the seven most famous dancers when our dance troupe first opened in Jinling City. My mother said they were all exceptionally beautiful and talented women. In less than half a year, their fame spread throughout Jiangnan, and guests flocked to our door every day. Whether it was high-ranking officials, noblemen, or literati, everyone considered it an honor to catch a glimpse of their beauty."
"Is that so? How many of the Seven Beauties have come to the capital?" Pang Yu asked her softly with a smile.
"Call as many as they come, to keep our Lord Hou... to keep Fourth Brother company while he drinks and makes merry." Chuixue interjected from the side.
Pang Yu grabbed his cup, ready to smash it.
What's the rush? First, get a sense of the situation from the young girl. Isn't it shameful to just spout nonsense like this? You may be shameless, but I am.
Vulgar!!!
The pretty maid blushed instantly after being interrupted by the shameless Chuixue, clutching the hem of her dress and shaking her head desperately.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, this man is a fool, let's ignore him." Pang Yu showed his gentle side, comforting her softly, and then gently asked, "Little sister, how many of the Seven Beauties from your Seven Beauties Pavilion have come to the capital? My master sent me here to find out, so that I can personally visit and see their beauty."
The pretty maid still shook her head.
Pang Yu kicked Chuixue under the table.
After countless slaps and beatings, Ya finally learned her lesson and blurted out, "Fourth Brother, don't ask her. What would a little girl like her know? We should just call her the madam..."
"No, no," the pretty maid hurriedly explained, "Qixiu was our dance hall when it first opened... That was back in the previous dynasty, during the Southern Tang Dynasty. The Seven Beauties and Thirteen Maidens of Jinling Dance Hall..."
"What? Southern Tang! Forty or fifty years ago?"
"Yes, the Seven Beauties have all passed away. Only Gongsun Da Niang is our boss now. She doesn't easily..."
"Enough, enough!" Pang Yu quickly interrupted, his interest vanishing instantly. Even the greatest beauties forty or fifty years ago would be old women forty or fifty years later. He didn't want to look at them and feel disgusted.
"Hey, you're messing with us!" Chuixue, who had been kicked, was indignant and said angrily, "What Seven Shows? They're just a bunch of old women. Do they think they can fool us with a Seven Shows Pavilion sign? Humph, we're not that easy to fool!"
"No, no, no." The pretty maid's face turned even redder, and she shook her head frantically like a rattle drum, "Although the name Seven Shows Pavilion was passed down from our predecessors, our performances are now even better than before. Not only are the songs and dances of the nine sisters of 'Nine Heavens Flying Immortals' famous throughout Jinling City, but Sister Xiyun is also hailed as the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan..."
Before she could finish saying whether it was a beauty or a concubine, a loud shout rang out from the opposite private room.
"Whether your most popular girl here is Qixiu or some other Jiutian or Xian, call them all out and line them up. Those I fancy will sleep with me tonight; those I don't, I'll still give you a reward. Just name your price. I may not have much else, but I'm rich."
"Excuse me, sir, this isn't a brothel, it's a dance hall. The girls sell their art, not their bodies." A very submissive male voice, apparently the manager of the brothel.
"Go to hell with 'sell art, not their bodies'!" A loud shout rang out, the door to the private room was flung open, and the manager stumbled out, looking exactly like Chuixue every time she got kicked. But while Chuixue usually just lay there groaning or playing dead, this guy, as soon as he regained his balance, immediately put on a smiling face and went to greet her.
"Slap—" This time it was a hard slap across the face, and he was forced back out less than five seconds after entering. Damn
, twice in a row, clearly using this as an excuse to cause trouble.
Pang Yu guessed the manager was about to order the thugs to go in and drag the man away, but to his surprise, the man didn't even touch his slapped face. He simply straightened his disheveled clothes, put on a smile, and went back inside.
"Slap!" He was slapped out again, then went back in.
"Slap!" He was slapped out a third time, and went back in a third time.
"Look, look! This is the model of a servant." Pang Yu poked Chuixue's head and sternly lectured him, "What's wrong with getting a little slap? It's because your master appreciates you. You have to smile, smile happily! When they don't even bother to slap you anymore, that's when you've really reached the end of your life—understand? Learn from this in the future!"
Chuixue wanted to say something, but Pang Yu interrupted him, so he could only repeatedly agree with "Yes, yes, yes."
"Young Master doesn't believe there's anything in this world that money can't buy. If you can't buy it, it's because you haven't paid enough value!" The roar from the private room continued, growing louder and louder, loud enough to be heard throughout the entire Seven Shows Workshop. "Young Master is rich, he's got plenty of money. Tell me, how much does it cost to sleep with that Nine Immortals for one night? One thousand, two thousand, or five thousand or eight thousand—let me tell you, even if you throw out fifty or eighty thousand, if Young Master doesn't even flinch, he's no longer called Qian Shicai!"
Qian Shicai, arrogant and conceited, quite a name.
Pang Yu rubbed his nose, thinking.
Wait a minute, Qian Shicai means wealth, this name is really...
Through the open door, Pang Yu could roughly see the appearance of the "Young Master" inside.
A nouveau riche, a typical nouveau riche!
This was his first impression, and his entire impression.
The noble young master who called himself "Young Master" was glittering from head to toe, as if afraid he wasn't rich enough, luxurious enough, or extravagant enough. Of course, as the number one playboy in the capital, Pang Yu's attire as a marquis was definitely not inferior to that of the noble young master. However, his clothes were meticulously designed by imperial craftsmen, with exquisite tailoring, craftsmanship, and materials, while the noble young master's outfit could only be described as extravagant and wasteful.
It's like buying a car: Pang Yu chose one of only ten Lamborghini Versatile 640 Roadsters in the world—a fusion of speed and style, a perfect work of art. The noble young master, on the other hand, directly bought over ten million worth of gold, using it for the engine, chassis, and body, ultimately assembling the car.
What is vision? What is taste? What is quality playboy style? The difference is immediately apparent!
The noble young master insisted on calling her "Miss," while the male steward, with a smile, kept apologizing and explaining.
Pang Yu was curious about how these two clowns would end up, so he beckoned Chuixue closer and asked, "Hey, what's this guy's background? His arrogance is comparable to mine back in the day."
Chuixue was taken aback, her eyes a little dazed, and after a long while, she whispered, "He is... he is the eldest son of the richest man in Bianliang, the God of Wealth, the number one spendthrift in the capital, and also..."
Before she could finish speaking, the beaded curtain covering the backstage door of the stage used for song and dance performances in the hall suddenly moved, and a soft sigh came from inside: "Does the young master really think that money can buy anything in this world?" The voice was melodious and pleasant, as sweet as a nightingale's song, or even more like countless larks singing heavenly music together!

Chapter 27: Fourth Brother is a Hero, Hero Saves the Beauty.

Updates resumed, here's a 4000-word chapter to whet your appetite. Dear brothers, sisters, and folks, throw your votes at me!
Qian Shicai froze upon hearing the voice.
"Does the young master really believe that money can buy anything in this world?" The voice from behind the beaded curtain asked again, its gentle, flowing quality resonating in everyone's hearts.
Qian Shicai, probably a frequent visitor to brothels, was used to hearing soft, seductive voices. After a moment of stunned silence, he coughed twice to cover his lapse in composure. Chuixue, having witnessed her master's many such incidents, was now somewhat dazed. She stood up blankly, clinging to the railing, staring intently at the high platform, her mouth half-open, drool almost dripping down.
"Ouch!" Another kick landed, nearly sending her tumbling down the stairs. The one
who kicked her was, of course, Pang Yu.
For the Marquis of Anle, whose private collection of AVs could fill an entire 1.5TB RAID 5 array, and who had listened to his voice countless times every day in front of the computer, even the softest, most melodious, and most beautiful voice was commonplace, nothing to be surprised about.
—A man whose voice alone can make him melt is utterly effeminate. What kind of life
could he possibly have? When it comes to judging a woman, looks, figure, and temperament are secondary. The key is whether she knows how to please a man and whether she can keep him happy.
Of course, the handsome and charming Marquis Anle was somewhat interested in the appearance of the voice's owner, so he turned his attention to the stage.
"Cough, cough cough." Qian Shicai snapped out of his daze, coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, strode to the window, and flaunted his folding fan as if to show off. He shouted down, "Hmph, of course! This young master is rich, rich beyond measure! What in the world can't this young master buy with tens or hundreds of thousands of strings of cash?"
Damn, arrogant! Does having money make you so great?
Bah!
Pang Yu was about to jump over and teach him a lesson, to correct Qian Shicai's utterly wrong thinking—clearly, "power" is the most useful thing in the world! Suddenly , a voice came from behind the beaded curtain: "Very well, if Young Master Qian can buy a song by Nangong Qinyi with money, I will give you the entire Seven Show Pavilion."
"Ah..." Qian Shicai was speechless upon hearing this, stunned as if he had been slapped in the face. "How about it, Young Master Qian?" the voice from behind the curtain continued, its gentle tone carrying a hint of aggressiveness. "If you want to try, our pavilion can wait, a month, two months, half a year, or even longer, no problem." Qian Shicai's body trembled as if he had been electrocuted, his previous arrogance instantly turning into beads of sweat, his mouth wide open but frozen in place, unable to utter a single word for a long time! "Hey, who is Nangong Qinyi?" Pang Yu became curious and pulled Chuixue over to ask. A name that was clearly a woman's had actually frightened the young master of the richest family in Bianliang! Damn it, even if it were him—the wise and mighty Marquis Anle himself—he wouldn't have this much intimidation power. "Nangong Qinyi!?" Chuixue's eyes widened, staring at Pang Yu as if he were a ghost. "What? Don't you know I've lost my memory?" Pang Yu raised his hand to slap him. "No, no, no!" Chuixue quickly waved his hands, fawningly leaning closer, "My lord, you can't forget anyone, you can't forget Nangong Qinyi..." " Why? Is she my old flame?" "No, of course not, my lord, if you had the ability to get her into bed, the sun would rise in the west..." Chuixue muttered softly, but seeing Pang Yu's expression, he quickly changed his words, "It's... well, it's the most famous courtesan in the world, Nangong Qinyi, eighteen years old, with both beauty and talent, her zither skills are renowned throughout the land, universally acknowledged..." "Slap—" Before he could finish speaking, he received a slap across the face. "My lord, why did you slap me again..." Chuixue covered his aching cheek, full of grievances. "Slap you? I'm lucky I didn't castrate you!" "Why bring me to Pianxian Pavilion and this place instead of visiting the most famous courtesan in the land?!" Remembering yesterday's erotic but incredibly embarrassing incident, Pang Yu was furious. He shouted angrily, glancing at the teapot as if he wanted to smash it over Chuixue's head. Chuixue turned pale with fright and hurriedly explained, "My lord, you...you...you don't know, you just crawled out of your coffin...you were still recuperating in the manor for a few days when Lady Nangong went to Luoyang to find the score for that Guangling San melody. She hasn't even arrived in the capital yet." "Even before you return, take me to the brothel where she performs, so I can familiarize myself with the environment." "My lord..." "Hmm?" "You...you forgot, Lady Nangong...she doesn't...she doesn't come out..." Chuixue stammered. "What, another one who performs but doesn't sell her body?!" Pang Yu was truly annoyed by this word. "You're a 'prostitute,' what are you pretending to be so high-minded for? Do you think you can elevate your status by using this? Or have you just not met a charming figure like me, someone with both literary talent and good looks, power and wealth, to use this pretense of aloofness to ward off those swarms of suitors?" "My lord, you're mistaken. Lady Nangong…she…she…" Chuixue stammered for a long time, saying "she" three times before finally managing to finish the sentence. "She doesn't even sell her art." "What? What? Such a thing exists? She doesn't sell and yet dares to call herself the number one prostitute in the world!" Pang Yu was furious and almost slammed his fist on the table, causing the pretty maid who had been sent away to fetch the leftovers to keep turning back to look at him. "My lord, you…you don't know, Lady Nangong's zither skills are unparalleled in the world. Countless wealthy merchants, princes, poets, and scholars in Bianliang City want to see her but can't, not to mention those rich and powerful men who would do anything to win her favor." As long as it makes Nangong Qinyi smile and look at him a little more, more than a dozen young marquises and hereditary princes from Bianliang City could volunteer at any time. They wouldn't mind jumping into the sea. Didn't you say back then that you'd be willing to do anything to get Nangong Qinyi...? Pang Yu really wanted to know what "willing to do" meant, but compared to that, Qian Shicai's arrogance, domineering behavior, and unreasonable behavior seemed more interesting. After the initial shock, he came to his senses and thought about how he had been humiliated and rendered speechless by a woman in public, losing all face. He was extremely annoyed. He slammed his fan on the windowsill, strode out, and walked downstairs, sneering, "Hmph, hmph, I can't buy Nangong Qinyi's song, but I can buy this whole street with my money. Then I'll open a dozen brothels around here, opening them every day for one coin a day, welcoming all comers. Let's see if anyone still comes to Qixiufang to enjoy your bird-like songs and dances!" " You..." The voice behind the curtain faltered. "What 'you'? You're not happy? If you're not happy, then pay up." "Young Master Qian, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Actually, we..." The male steward, seeing the situation was getting out of hand, quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile. "Misunderstanding my ass!" Qian Shicai slapped him hard across the face, his style somewhat reminiscent of Pang Yu. The Seven Show Pavilion had just opened, and there were only a handful of customers in the main hall that morning. His outburst scared them all away, while those in the private rooms upstairs hurriedly retreated to their rooms and closed their windows, fearing that if they were to be targeted by Young Master Qian, their future days would be unbearable—of course, the wise and mighty Marquis Pang... no, the handsome servant Pang Si was an exception; he was swaggering out and leisurely watching the show from the railing. "Let me tell you!" "Qian Shicai placed one foot on the chair, looking down at the fallen male steward with an imposing aura, pointing and sneering, 'Here, in Bianliang, anyone who offends the young master will suffer. No matter what kind of brothel you are, if you don't follow the young master's orders, don't even think about continuing to operate in the capital—what, I'm petty and narrow-minded? Wrong, the young master lacks nothing but morality, so what?' 'Shameless and arrogant!' A crisp, delicate rebuke rang out, and the beaded curtain was suddenly flung open, revealing a slender, beautiful woman before everyone's eyes."

She was young, but judging from her figure, she was a beautiful young woman of seventeen or eighteen. She wore a vibrant crimson silk dress, her skin as white as snow, her waist slender, and her delicate features as graceful as a blooming peony. Her cloud-like hair, adorned with emerald hairpins, accentuated her exquisitely beautiful features, which seemed to possess the essence of heaven and earth, rising and falling like mountains… breathtakingly beautiful! Her willow-
leaf eyebrows were shaped like curved mountains, their dark brows exquisitely painted. Beneath her thick, crescent-shaped lashes, her eyes were like two bottomless pools, containing infinite mystery, as if water were about to well up within them with a blink. A thin veil covered her face, obscuring her cherry lips, delicate nose, and fair, radiant cheeks. As the saying goes, beauty is best seen through mist; the veiled beauty only amplified the crowd's desire to see her true face!
Qian Shicai and Chuixue were both stunned by her beauty, speechless and dumbfounded!
"Outrageous!!!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out, and Pang Yu slammed his hand on the railing and stood up!
Qian Shicai, you bastard, you son of a bitch, how dare you bully and intimidate a weak woman in the dance hall just because your family has some money! Don't you understand the meaning of "cherishing beauty"?
A weak woman is one thing, but she's a beauty.
A beauty is
one thing, but I even witnessed it. Bah! A beauty is suffering, who should step in?
A hero, of course!
Fourth Brother is a hero, a hero must save the beauty!!!
Pang Yu jumped out with a clear conscience,
pointing his finger and shouting angrily. Perhaps it was because the slamming on the railing was too loud—no, it was because Pang Yu's shout was too imposing, that Qian Shicai trembled as if electrocuted, and then... his hands trembling, his face twitching, his body shaking, he shakily turned his head.
Upon seeing the dashing figure standing on the second floor, tall and imposing, as majestic as a mountain, like a god... the servant Pang Si, Qian Shicai's breath caught in his throat, his pupils constricted, and he froze in disbelief. His horrified expression, his shocked demeanor, and the astonishment in his eyes were like... like...
like a wicked villain encountering a messenger of justice, an incarnation of a hero!
Wow—no way, could it be that I also possess the legendary protagonist's magnificent aura of dominance, where a single tremor of my body can command the submission of all beings, make subordinates kneel before women, and sing "Conquer"?!
Pang Yu was excited again, not even having time to strike a pose for self-admiration, when he suddenly saw Qian Shicai's mouth gape open in a daze, and with all his might, he shouted out two earth-shattering words:
"Big Brother—"

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Lustful Attraction (

Midnight Update, Requesting Votes! Requesting Votes!! Requesting Votes!!)
"Big Brother!"
"Big Brother!!"
"Big Brother!!!"
He was insane, completely insane.
Without any hesitation, Qian Shicai, like a madman, abandoned the masked woman he was about to teach a lesson, shouting wildly, and ran towards Pang Yu. Along the way, he knocked over two tables, five chairs, and three dumbfounded maids. He was so excited that he didn't even notice his shoe falling off.
Uh, if you can't imagine his madness, you can rewatch the scene in "The God of Cookery" where the rascal selling mantis shrimp, after eating Stephen Chow's "Mantis Shrimp Beef Balls," felt as if he were on the beach, running wildly on the sand wearing a scarf—Young Master Qian's current state is even worse than that!
Pang Yu was dumbfounded.
It wasn't because after Gao Yanei, he suddenly had another extremely spoiled young master as a follower—birds of a feather flock together, and it's easy to imagine what kind of cronies the number one playboy in the Song Dynasty would have around him. Pang Yu was astonished because he was now n times more handsome and dashing than the former Marquis Anle... no, those two values were practically zero compared to his "predecessor," even multiplied a million times. He, Pang Yu, was so handsome and imposing, the complete opposite of the fat pig Marquis Anle of the past, and he had even changed his clothes, so why did Qian Shicai recognize him at a glance?!
Qian Shicai quickly ran upstairs, but unexpectedly didn't pounce on him. Instead, he rushed into the private room, shouting "Big Brother! Big Brother!" while rummaging through drawers and cabinets, almost crawling under the bed to look for him. After a long time of searching without finding anything, he jumped out of the window and grabbed the equally dumbfounded Chuixue, shaking her violently and asking her questions.
"Where's my brother? Where's my brother?! Where did he go?!"
Chuixue was stunned by the shaking, stammering, "Lord Marquis, Lord Marquis is right here..."
"Lord Marquis is recuperating at home and cannot leave the manor for the time being." Pang Yu interrupted him in time, lowering his voice to Qian Shicai, "Hearing that the Seven Show Pavilion was opening, he specially ordered the two of us to come and investigate first, but we didn't expect to run into Young Master Qian here."
"Investigate first? Hahaha—no problem, no problem." Qian Shicai's face flashed with a "knowing all" and "not surprised" look, and he reached out and patted his shoulder very kindly, "I'm just here to scout ahead for my brother. After trying out the girls, we brothers will come here to 'have a good time' with him another day. Come, come, you've worked hard for my brother, take these flowers, don't be shy." He took out a few things that looked like silver notes and stuffed them into the two of them.
"Thank you for the reward, Young Master Qian, thank you for the reward." Chuixue quickly snatched them and hurriedly stuffed them into his clothes.
Damn it, I've never seen money before. The Grand Tutor's mansion never withholds monthly salaries, and there are even bonuses for holidays. You, using my name, eat and drink without spending a penny, and even have your whoring on the tab, and you still have the nerve to take money right in front of me!
Pang Yu wanted to kick him again, but before that, he stuffed the "silver note" that Qian Shicai had handed him into his sleeve.
Nothing strange about it! The Marquis of Anle is "recuperating" in his mansion. If he were spending thousands of strings of cash every now and then, the mansion's accountant would be suspicious and report it to Grand Tutor Pang!
Of course, money offered to him should be accepted; it's meant to supplement expenses, after all. Besides, it's only right for a younger brother to show respect to his elder brother; refusing would only alienate the brothers.
"Pang Si, right? You've already been promoted to first-class soldier just by following Big Brother. Very good, you have a bright future!" Seeing how quickly Pang Yu collected the money, Qian Shicai was overjoyed. He praised him while handing over a few more bills, as if they were just pieces of paper that could be exchanged for money. Pang Yu was too lazy to be polite and accepted whatever he was given.
"Da Jin, did you see that? Learn from me!" He turned around and scolded his follower, "I told you not to just carry the money bag. If you see anyone disrespecting their master, you have to stand up and teach them a lesson. Even if you have to throw money at them, you have to take them down. Sigh, Big Brother's men are really well-mannered. They can be used in a critical moment."
Qian Shicai sighed.
Just as Pang Yu sensed something was amiss, his shoulder suddenly tightened. Qian Shicai slapped him on the shoulder, saying indignantly, "Right, Pang Si? This woman..." He gestured with his chin, pointing towards the veiled woman on the stage, "Too arrogant, too presumptuous, too disrespectful to me! She can't even stand that you're not my follower. Come on, help me teach her a lesson."
Money isn't so easy to take.
In that instant, Pang Yu understood a truth many only grasp when they're in jail.
He also realized that Qian Shicai wasn't some rich, clueless rich kid; he did have some intelligence.
At least he knew how to use money to buy people off.
“Miss, the masked lady—” Pang Yu, holding onto the second-floor railing, waved to the masked woman on the stage. Then, to everyone's astonishment, he leaped down, landing steadily. In a few quick strides, he bounded onto the stage and walked straight towards the masked woman, grinning mischievously. “Listen to me…”
“What are you doing!” The pretty maid in red, who had been standing behind the masked woman, stepped forward to stop him.
“When the master is speaking, what are you interrupting for, little girl?” Pang Yu glared at her, his fierce gaze instantly causing the maid to take two steps back in fright, shutting her mouth and daring not to utter a sound.
“Miss—” he drawled, leaning closer, deliberately appearing very sincere, “This is Bianliang, not Jinling. Many things are different from what you experience in Jiangnan. Young Master Qian’s request is a bit impolite, but weighing the pros and cons…” It wasn’t that he lacked principles; he had just wanted to be a hero and had instantly become Young Master Qian’s lackey. The problem was, he was beholden to him, and he had already accepted the money. How could Pang Yu, a man of principle, not lend a hand?
“However, for the sake of Qixiu Fang’s continued success in the capital, I advise you, Miss…”
“Still what?” The veiled woman didn’t back away; instead, she took a small step forward, bringing with her a faint, lingering fragrance of herbs. Though subtle, it never disappeared. Her slightly translucent skin seemed to be infused with a captivating aroma, and her steps were so light they could almost dance on a palm!
The veiled woman's deep, expressive eyes were fixed on Pang Yu. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, adding an alluring and seductive charm to her phoenix eyes, which seemed to shimmer with celestial nectar. Even the simple veil on her face shone with dazzling beauty!
Everyone, including Pang Yu, was breathless with awe at her extraordinary and captivating beauty.
"So, young lady, you must not give in, you must not change your mind. A person, especially a woman, must have backbone and principles. No matter what, you must never succumb to evil forces! Insist on selling your art, not your body, and make Seven Show Pavilion the most elegant and refined place in the capital… no, in the entire Song Dynasty! I will fully support you!" Pang Yu's speed in changing his stance upon seeing her was astonishing. His previously threatening face instantly softened into a warm smile!

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Taking an Inch and Wanting a Mile -

Voting Requested! Voting Requested! Voting Requested!
The veiled woman glanced sideways at Pang Yu, her contempt barely concealed despite her efforts to suppress it.
If this were Jinling, such an opportunistic scoundrel wouldn't even be allowed to enter the Seven Show Pavilion!
"Oh, right," Pang Yu slapped his forehead, as if suddenly remembering something.
"There's something I've always wanted to ask, miss, why do you wear a veil?"
Having recognized his true character, the veiled woman naturally wouldn't bother with this shameless servant who had no sense of propriety whatsoever. She gracefully turned away, leaving behind a beautiful and alluring silhouette.
"In this world, there are usually three types of women who like to wear veils—" Pang Yu suddenly drawled.
The veiled woman instinctively stopped in her tracks.
"One type is ugly as the sandalwood tree, purely polluting the environment and an eyesore. They'd scare people to death even in broad daylight if they weren't covered up. The other type is decent-looking, but unfortunately, they're unlucky enough to have a scar or birthmark on their face. If they showed it… well, not necessarily scary, but their image would be completely ruined, so it's better to cover up!"
Pang Yu strode over, taking advantage of his tall, elegant figure, and brazenly leaned close to the veiled woman. His breath was hot, even brushing against her delicate ear, making the veiled woman blush slightly and try to move away. A mocking sneer curled at the corner of his lips: "And then there's the type who's born with mediocre looks, not particularly beautiful, but is cunning enough to deliberately cover their face with a veil to make themselves seem like a goddess." "It's like a secret. Especially in the entertainment industry, like nightclubs and brothels, no matter how beautiful you are, customers get tired of seeing your face after a while. But if you're veiled..." Pang Yu paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping unabashedly over the veiled woman's slender waist and firm breasts, finally settling on her delicate nose and cherry lips hidden by the veil. He shook his head repeatedly, "greatly disappointed," "Sigh, who doesn't have curiosity? Seeing you veiled all day, everyone wants to know what kind of face is hidden under the veil, whether beautiful or ugly, stunningly beautiful or utterly hideous. But since they can't see it, of course they have to come back a few more times hoping to get lucky. That's how the so-called 'constant stream of guests' comes about."
"Hahaha—" Pang Yu had just finished speaking when Qian Shicai, who was rushing downstairs to confront him about taking money without doing the job, was already laughing so hard his face was contorted. Chuixue's reaction was even stronger; she clutched her stomach with her left hand, laughing incessantly, and pounded the table with her right hand until her hand was almost raw. " Damn it
, even if what I said was funny, you don't have to do it like this! You can't even flatter properly!"
Pang Yu wanted to kick him again.
Undoubtedly, this statement was a veiled insult to the masked woman, especially coming from the mouth of Pang Yu, a mere "servant," where the contempt and mockery were even more pronounced. The pretty red-clad maidservant serving him blushed instantly, and the male steward was so choked up he couldn't utter a single word—this servant was truly something else, insulting people without using vulgar language.
The veiled woman was usually very well-mannered and rarely angered, but after being threatened by Qian Shicai and Pang Yu's veiled sarcasm, which was more effective than direct insults, even she, with her good temper and usual quiet elegance, couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. A hint of displeasure flashed in her clear eyes when Pang Yu suddenly added,
"However, I still believe that you are the fourth type."
"The fourth type?" Driven by subconscious impulses, the veiled woman couldn't help but ask, realizing her mistake as soon as the words left her mouth.
"Yes, the fourth type. This kind of woman… well, she belongs to…" Pang Yu thought to himself that the fish had taken the bait, deliberately pausing to finish his sentence.
"Belongs to what…" This time, it was the pretty maid who couldn't hold back.
"Uh, the fourth type… this kind of woman… uh…" Pang Yu still didn't speak, his gaze brazenly fixed on the veiled woman's slightly heaving breasts, his eyes and brows filled with lust, drool practically dripping from his mouth.
Just as the veiled woman was angered once again and turned to leave, Pang Yu suddenly raised his voice and launched into a rapid-fire monologue: "These women are born with a face as beautiful as the moon and as radiant as a flower, a beauty beyond compare, otherworldly and extraordinary. So they wear veils, lest their every smile, every gesture, and every expression of their exquisite beauty cause men across the land to lose their souls, willing to sacrifice everything for such a beauty..."
"Think of King You of Zhou, who played with the feudal lords by lighting the beacon fires to win a smile from Bao Si, which led to the downfall of his kingdom; think of King Fuchai of Zhou, who favored Xi Shi and Zheng Dan, which led to the destruction of his country and his suicide to atone for his sins; and think of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, who almost lost the entire Tang Dynasty because of his exclusive favor for Yang Guifei. Then you'll understand why these naturally beautiful women wear a veil over their faces!"
"Take you, for example!" He spoke quickly, not giving the veiled woman or anyone else a chance to interrupt.
"Though your face is veiled, the delicate eyebrows and shimmering eyes revealed through the veil are a beauty I've never seen before, a beauty so exquisite… Let me put it this way, among the many noble ladies and beautiful women of the capital, many are indeed stunningly beautiful, rare indeed, but compared to you, young lady, you are worlds apart! The title of the most beautiful woman in the capital is entirely deserved."
Upon hearing this, Chuixue almost slammed her hand on the table in admiration.
Brilliant, truly brilliant! This, this is what true mastery is!
If it were just simple flattery, the veiled woman would probably be used to it—in Jinling, hordes of men praised her in the same way! This time, however, she was first infuriated by Pang Yu's deliberate sarcasm, and just as she was about to erupt, his words turned into almost flattering praise—or rather, sycophancy. The stark contrast between the initial sullenness and subsequent elevation made her reaction to Pang Yu's compliments all the more intense. For a moment, her heart raced, and even her cheeks, hidden beneath the light veil, flushed.
No matter how cold or aloof she was, she was still a woman! What woman doesn't like to be complimented on her beauty?
Especially when it's done in such an artistic way.
Pang Yu seemed to want to set an example and teach Chuixue what true flattery really was. He quickly changed to a look of infatuation, shaking his head and exclaiming, "Oh my, young lady, have you been to the Tang Dynasty? Why do I feel like there's a poem written just for you—'The beauty of the nation is bathed in the morning light, the fragrance of heaven dyes your clothes at night.' Li Zhengfeng's 'Peony Poem' ostensibly describes flowers, but 'the beauty of the nation and the fragrance of heaven' is actually praising you, a young lady who is even more beautiful than flowers..."
The veiled woman finally couldn't resist, her cheeks flushed, and her blush could be seen even through the light veil.
"Oh, right, miss." Pang Yu, still unsatisfied, shamelessly asked, "What's your name? Could you tell me? I'd love to be so happy I can't sleep for the next three days."
"Zou..." the veiled woman blurted out. Although she reacted quickly and managed to stop herself, her heart was still pounding. She couldn't help but press her hand against it; her plump breasts sank slightly to the touch, feeling surprisingly hot!
"Oh, your name is Zou Xiyun, right? 'The clear breeze and bright moon come and go, the mortal world doesn't fall into Xiyun's heap. You are as beautiful as your name, beautiful, truly beautiful!!!" Pang Yu had a keen ear and a good memory. Just from the veiled woman's tone and attitude, he knew she was the pretty maid who served tea who had mentioned Sister Xiyun. He immediately bombarded her with three "beautiful"s, leaving the veiled woman dizzy. After recovering a little, she stared at him with her big, watery eyes. Although she tried to make her gaze cold, she couldn't hide the coquettish look in her eyes that was neither happy nor angry.
"Fourth Brother's way of praising women is irresistible to any woman."
"By the way, Miss Zou," Pang Yu pressed his advantage, his shamelessness on full display.
"If you don't mind, could you find a place to lift your veil and let me behold your unparalleled beauty?"
...

Chapter 30: After a hearty meal, lust

takes hold. Updated as promised at 8 PM, please vote!!!
"The Flower Queen Contest, another Flower Queen Contest, the damn Flower Queen Contest!!!" Pang Yu slammed his fist on the table, smashing bowls, plates, and teacups, making a mess.
"Yes, the damn Flower Queen Contest!!!" Qian Shicai shouted from the other end of the table, his voice deafening, nearly collapsing the fine mahogany eight-immortal table.
At the best restaurant in Bianliang City, Yu Lu Xiang, Pang Yu, Chui Xue, Qian Shicai, and his Qian Dajin had booked the best private room on the top floor for a lavish feast. After downing five full jars of Zijinchun liquor, Pang Yu and Qian Shicai, their minds beginning to wander, took advantage of the alcohol to launch into a tirade, venting all their frustration from the Seven Show Pavilion earlier. Why
did Pang Yu waste so much breath praising Zou Xiyun to the skies, calling her more beautiful than a fairy?
Was he truly so infatuated with a beautiful woman that he lost control of his tongue?
Pah! Pang Yu had slept with zero women, and admired countless beauties—an infinite number. Even the most stunningly beautiful woman was just another face in the crowd; once they were naked and in bed, with the lights off, there was no difference.
Pang Yu's praise was purely for practice—he'd been in the Song Dynasty for over a month, constantly bombarded with low-class flattery. His ears were calloused, and his first-rate eloquence was probably ruined. He'd seized the opportunity to test his skills. It was just a few compliments; he wasn't blinded by lust or losing his mind at the sight of a beautiful woman.
However, satisfying his curiosity was necessary. Pang Yu, being a common man, also wanted to see if Zou Xiyun, once she removed her veil, was truly a
beauty capable of captivating a nation or was simply wasting her reputation as the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan. Indeed, her reputation was well-deserved. This didn't refer to Pang Yu's eloquence, but rather to this veiled beauty who, at such a young age, could make decisions for the entire Seven Show Pavilion.
Despite possessing top-notch manners, bearing, physique, and appearance, coupled with her undeniably exceptional eloquence, Pang Yu still couldn't persuade Zou Xiyun to remove her veil. Instead, she sternly and unceremoniously ordered him to leave.
At this point, Qian Shicai appeared, employing his usual tactics of coercion and enticement—would he accept her? If not, the young master would shut down the Seven Show Pavilion; if he did, he could have as much money as he wanted.
It sounded like an unsolvable threat.
Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. With no background or backing, how could a newly arrived dance hall, only performing for a living, possibly withstand the relentless pressure from the richest man's son?
Indeed, the newly arrived Seven Shows Dance Hall couldn't afford to offend the wealthy young master.
However, there was someone they could afford to offend
. More accurately, there was something they could afford to offend:
the Flower Queen Competition.
This Flower Queen Competition, held annually in the capital for seven years, gathered the most famous courtesans from across the land.
Every year on the sixth day of the fourth lunar month, renowned courtesans from all over the country would gather in Bianliang, converging at the Phoenix Pavilion by the Jinming Pond in the west of the city, to showcase their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing.
This was the annual grand event of the Song Dynasty's courtesan world, a beauty pageant eagerly anticipated by the city's纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy and powerful families). Not to mention the reigning champion, whose beauty surpassed all others, even the second, third, and even the finalists—every single courtesan was a beauty queen. To have one or two of them as a private favorite, enjoying their exclusive pleasures, was undoubtedly the greatest annual wish of the young men of the capital.
Zou Xiyun only said one sentence—she was there to participate in the courtesan competition; anyone who obstructed or caused trouble would bear the consequences.
Qian Shicai immediately fell silent.
Indeed, he was rich, very rich; he was at least in the top ten of the capital's elite young men.
However, within these wealthy and powerful families, there was an unwritten rule: before the courtesan competition began, no one was allowed to make any kind of trouble for the participating courtesans—especially obstructing their participation, which would be tantamount to challenging the entire capital's纨绔子弟!
It wasn't that no one had the ability.
Pang Yu could.
His triple identity as the son of the Grand Tutor, the Emperor's brother-in-law, and a Marquis granted by imperial decree meant that, aside from a tiny minority who would be utterly insane to do things like harassing the Empress, seducing a princess, or humiliating a royal consort, there was simply nothing in the vast city of Bianliang that Pang Yu couldn't do!
But… Qian Shicai wasn't Pang Yu, so he dared not threaten Zou Xiyun any further.
"Pang Si, I understand you!" Qian Shicai, drunk, slurred, his large hand on Pang Yu's shoulder. At first, he acted like a wealthy young master, quite displeased that Pang Si, a mere servant, was sitting at the same table. But after a few drinks and hearing Pang Yu's silver tongue, capable of turning black into white, he immediately became completely open with him. The young master and his servant, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, almost became sworn brothers.
"That old bastard Pang Fu must have taken the wrong medicine and wouldn't let us brothers into the manor. Our elder brother can't come out, and he doesn't have us to keep him company. He heard that a Seven Show Brothel opened in the city, so he's naturally itching to
go. He sent you and Chuixue to see what that Zou... Zou Yun looks like, so that in the future... hehehe, we'll get her back, won't we?" "No blame, how could we blame you? Since our elder brother gave the order, even if you slap the young master a few times in front of that woman, he'd be happy to do it, let alone sabotage him. As long as it's for our elder brother, we brothers will go through fire and water without hesitation." Qian Shicai chug down another bowl, his chest thumping loudly.
"Oh my—Young Master Qian is truly the Marquis's good brother, a good brother indeed!" Pang Yu waved his thumb in front of Qian Shicai, shouting even louder than him.
“Pang Si, well… after a good meal and drinks, lust takes hold. We’ve eaten and drunk our fill, how about we find a brothel and call a few girls to have some fun?” Qian Shicai patted his round belly, a knowing look on his face.
“Fun?… No, no rush.” Pang Yu hiccuped, his words broken.
“Young Master Qian…”
“Ah?”
“There’s something concerning our Marquis… Pang Si… I just have to get this off my chest, I have to get this off my chest.”
“What is it… tell me, just say it.”
Pang Yu leaned closer.
“Damn it, such a thing happens! A little brat dares to disrespect her elder brother!” Qian Shicai roared, grabbing a wine jar and smashing it on the ground with a loud crash, startling Chuixue so much she almost jumped up.
“Oh dear—Young Master Qian, please keep your voice down, please keep it down! This concerns our Marquis’s reputation, if people find out, it’ll be terrible!”
“Ah, right, that’s right… How come Young Master didn’t think of that…” Qian Shicai sat down, scratching his head.
“You just said that brat lives… where did she live again? Jinxi Inn in the south of the city?”
“Yes.”
“Oh dear, isn’t that the place Young Master’s family owns—” Qian Shicai slapped his thigh.
“Da Jin, go back and tell Mei Renxing to set fire to that place for Young Master tonight. It’s just an inn, it’s gone, Young Master’s family has plenty more. Burn that brat to death to avenge Big Brother!”
“No, no, no, Young Master Qian, the Marquis didn’t mean that.” Pang Yu whispered something in his ear.
“What did you say—” Qian Shicai was startled and looked up in astonishment.
“Strip her naked and send her to the mansion? Sigh, I clearly remember that Big Brother isn’t interested in girls who are too young.”
You don’t know anything, delicate and soft-bodied girls are easy to push over, lolis are the treasures!
Pang Yu, too lazy to instill modern, open-minded ideas in him, mumbled, "Well... anyway, I'll just relay the Marquis's words verbatim. As servants... we shouldn't ask too many questions."
"That's right, that's right. Brother, I hate it when people pry. Here's what we'll do: I'll call the manager of Jinxi Inn tomorrow. Just tell me what to do."
"No tomorrow, let's do it today."
"Today?"
"Yes, Marquis, you're waiting."
"Good, good, good! You're very attentive. Brother, you've really chosen the right person! You've got a bright future!" Qian Shicai patted his shoulder, praising him highly, and handed over two banknotes.
Oh, another bribe! Take it!
Pang Yu accepted it without batting an eye, then the two exchanged a glance and grinned lewdly.
Laughing, Qian Shicai slumped onto the table and fell fast asleep.
Pang Yu's face turned cold, the drunkenness in his eyes vanishing.

Chapter Thirty-One: The Lecherous Thief of the Capital

, Jinxi Inn in the South of the City.
This is one of the most famous inns in Bianliang. Not only are the rooms clean and bright, and the transportation convenient, but the attentive and warm service is also highly praised by travelers and business people.
A good location attracts many guests. It's the off-season now; other inns would be overjoyed if they had half an occupancy rate, but this place is fully booked every day. Even with money, you can't get a room without booking in advance.
Uncle Gu was right.
Where there are people, there is a world of its own.
Actually, we should add:
Where there are many people, there is gossip!
At dinner time, the lobby of Jinxi Inn was packed with people. So many, every table was full. After finishing their meals, no one went upstairs. What were they doing? Chatting and gossiping—the long night was unbearable. Besides going to brothels for pleasure and prostitution, the only other option was to gather together and talk for a bit of fun.
"...This is terrible, absolutely terrible!"
At the most conspicuous table in the center, a fat merchant hunched over, trembling as he spoke, his round, fleshy face shaking with fear.
"Hey, buddy. Is it true? Someone in Qixian is brazenly breaking into people's homes at night, specifically targeting young women?"
"Yes, yes, yes." The fat man nodded frantically.
"Ah, no!" He changed his mind, stammering, "No...not a person, a lecher, I think his name is...something like Qingzishan the Lecherous Bee, the Wild Butterfly...Zhao Yuhe. You guys don't know, people in Qixian are terrified right now, families with daughters aren't even afraid to sleep at night..."
"What the hell are you trembling about? Nobody's going to rob you!" someone at the next table cursed.
"No...no...you didn't see it, you...you don't understand..." The fat man looked terrified, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve. "Falling into the hands of those two lecherous thieves, being humiliated...being humiliated is a good thing. I heard...I heard the locals say that Qingzi Mountain likes to give women a kind of aphrodisiac called 'Golden Wind and Jade Dew.' Once a woman is drugged with that stuff, even the most chaste woman will become the most...bitch, bitch in the world. She won't want anything else, she'll just beg the man to keep...keep...keep...until finally her skin cracks and her flesh dries up and she dies, a living, breathing mummy."
"What mummy?"
"A mummy." The fat man suddenly shuddered and almost fell over, but luckily someone next to him caught him. "His body was like cracked firewood, his flesh was a bloody mess, not an inch of it was intact. It was worse than being scraped by an iron brush, worse...worse..." He said "worse" three times, his face deathly pale, as white as paper, unable to continue.
"Outrageous!" Several guests dressed as chivalrous knights slammed their fists on the table and stood up, some spitting and some cursing, their anger boiling over, wishing they could immediately storm Qi County and grind Qingzi Mountain and Zhao Yuhe to dust.
"Go, you can't go—you can't go—" The fat man curled up, raising one hand and waving it frantically.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Why?"
A dozen voices shouted in unison.
"Zhao, Zhao...Qingzi Mountain...their martial arts are superb, ordinary people in the martial arts world are no match for them, and..." The fat man's teeth chattered, his fat almost jutting out, combined with his naturally kind-hearted and utterly cowardly appearance, guaranteed that a hundred people who saw him would think...
he was truly terrified.
"And I heard they also have a kind of aphrodisiac for men... just like 'Golden Wind and Jade Dew,' no need to force-feed or feed, just sprinkle it on their face and they inhale it..."
"What, male enhancement drugs too?"
"No, no, no." The fat merchant shook his head frantically, his face turning from pale to clear. "Men who are drugged will feel dizzy and lightheaded... stumble when walking, and no matter how good their skills are, they won't be able to use them. Then, after a while, they'll be like, like a boar in heat, their eyes blazing... howling wildly... wanting, wanting to... fuck any woman they see."
"Fuck? You mean..."
"Yes, yes." The fat merchant nodded hurriedly, his horrified expression infecting everyone in the inn. "I heard them, they heard them say that if you can't find a woman to satisfy your craving after being drugged, you'll even fuck a sow... if there's no sow... even if you dig a hole in the wall... you'll still fuck until that thing is useless and can't reproduce...
"
"Pfft—Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!" In the most secluded room on the second floor of the inn, Gao Yanei and Qian Shicai clutched their stomachs and laughed heartily.
"Young Master Gao, Young Master Qian, please keep your voices down. Don't let that guy surnamed Zhan over there hear you, or everything will be for nothing." Pang Yu sat expressionlessly opposite them, his tone calm yet carrying an invisible pressure.
"We know, we know, don't worry." The two readily agreed, turning their heads away but still unable to suppress their laughter.
“I say, Pang Si… Brother Pang Si, I’m truly impressed by you. To be able to fabricate something like this is simply too… too shameless, even more so than my elder brother, your master…”
“Have you no shame?”
“Yes, yes, yes, it’s fucking outrageous. Oh dear, why didn’t I know you sooner…” Qian Shicai slapped him with his big hand, laughing as he put his arm around his shoulder, looking like he regretted not meeting you sooner. “Sigh, if I had known you earlier, I would have taken you under my wing. You wouldn’t have to do anything else, just give me advice on how to deal with those bastards and scoundrels that I don’t like.”
“Young Master Qian, why do you think I asked the Marquis to send Wan Ren Di and then urgently asked you to tell the manager here to arrange for ‘shills’ to cooperate with him in putting on this show outside?” Pang Yu crossed his legs and asked unhurriedly without even looking at him, making Gao Dawei and Qian Dajin, who were serving tea, stare wide-eyed.
" My goodness, the Grand Tutor's Mansion is truly something else! Even a newly recruited servant dares to speak to my young master like that.
No wonder the rumors say that there's nothing the Marquis of Anle can't do!
" "What else could it be? It's just luring that Zhan something and that brat to Qi County, ambushing them beforehand to catch them all in one fell swoop. The men can be framed and thrown into jail, and the women... hehehehe." Perhaps because they were birds of a feather, Qian Shicai didn't care about Pang Yu's rudeness at all, his eyes almost slits as he laughed slyly.
"The women, we'll strip them naked, like little lambs, and send them straight to the Grand Tutor's Mansion for Big Brother to enjoy." Gao Yanei shouted loudly, almost gesturing wildly, before he could finish.
These two纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brats) young masters had done plenty of things like forcibly taking women before, but they always did it by force, relying on their families' power and influence to just grab them. To use a fashionable phrase, it was "completely lacking in skill." Today's three-way collaboration, meticulously planned and executed—of course, Pang Yu was the one who did all the thinking from beginning to end, while the two young masters sat and watched the show. Besides the performance, they even arranged for something never heard of before: "shills"—truly unprecedented.
Fresh, exciting, and impressive!
"Young Master Gao, forgive my bluntness," Pang Yu poured cold water on him, "Those ten so-called 'masters, masters, masters' you found are good at pretending to be lecherous thieves in a small county town in the middle of the night, but ambushing Zhan Zhao? Two words."
"A Pyrrhic victory?"
"They're courting death."

Chapter Thirty-Two: Scheming

Against Zhan Zhao "It can't be that bad!" Gao Yanei exclaimed in surprise, "The ones I found are all elite guards from the Imperial Guard's Mansion; they're more than capable of dealing with ordinary martial artists." "
Is Zhan Zhao, the Southern Hero, an ordinary martial artist?"
"Zhan Zhao... the Southern Hero... who is that?" Gao Yanei and Qian Shicai shook their heads, indicating they had never heard of him.
Pang Yu slapped his face, resting his elbow on the table, looking very depressed as he held his forehead.
Those two playboys and gentlemen are really something else, they don't even recognize Zhan Zhao.
Hmph, if it weren't for my protection, you'd curse him more often than you'd mutter about your own father!
Thinking about how he might soon be heading to Kaifeng Prefecture to face the golden duo of Bao Zheng and Zhan Zhao, Pang Yu felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
Team! Team! No matter how smart, resourceful, or valiant he was, without a few good partners and capable subordinates, it would be a miracle if he had even a 50% chance of winning against Zhan Zhao.
"We can't beat him... then, what do we do?" Gao Ya Nei panicked when Pang Yu didn't speak. "How about I ask my father to send another dozen... no, dozens of men, and we can all gang up on him and take him down!"
"Yes, hurry up, hurry up and call them! If that's not enough—Da Jin, take some money and go to Liu's shop at the west end of the city. There are plenty of down-on-their-luck江湖人 there. Ten strings of cash a day, and they'll kill your own father."
"Young Master, how many should we hire?"
"Hire as many as you have. Is the young master really going to be stingy with this little bit of money?" Qian Shi Cai reached into his pocket, grabbed a large stack of banknotes, and threw them at Gao Ya Nei's head without even looking at them.
"Da Wei, you too, hurry up and go!"
"We'll do whatever our elder brother orders, even if it costs us our lives!!!" They shouted in unison, sounding like revolutionary martyrs in TV dramas swearing an oath to the hammer and sickle flag before going to the battlefield.
"Wait!" Pang Yu shouted, stopping the two servants who were about to leave.
"Do you two gentlemen think this is a brawl? That more people means more power?" He turned to look at Gao Yanei and Qian Shicai, his eyes gleaming with an undeniable, terrifying ferocity.
"If we don't call more people, then tell me... tell me what we should do?" Qian Shicai, trembling under his glare, asked in a shaking voice.
"Martial arts and strength are for brutes. You two gentlemen are both smart men. You're probably just testing Pang Si's brain by saying you'll win with numbers—don't worry, everything is under my control. Who among those who follow the Marquis isn't capable? Who is an ordinary person?" Pang Yu understood the principle of giving a sweet treat after attacking a southern kingdom. After insulting them, he seized the opportunity to flatter them, especially in the last half of his sentence, which praised all three of them in one go.
"Hehe, yes, yes, that's right... we were just testing you." Gao Yanei, shameless as ever, readily agreed without batting an eye, not only not angry at all but also finding Pang Yu's flattery particularly novel—first a disrespectful belittling, then suddenly transforming into subtle praise.
Ah, how incredibly satisfying!
No wonder his elder brother values him so much; his flattery skills are unmatched in the entire capital's servant community!
Pang Yu raised his head and smiled sinisterly: "My plan is simple: lure the tiger away from the mountain—lure Zhan Zhao to Qi County to deal with those two fictitious lecherous thieves, and then, while he's away, we can kidnap that brat from the inside."
"You mean... Oh oh oh oh oh oh!" Qian Shicai was truly not stupid; upon hearing this, he suddenly realized, "No wonder he made up that 'Golden Wind and Jade Dew' story; it was to make that Zhan Zhao hesitate and not dare to bring that brat along..."
"That's right, otherwise, Young Master Qian, why didn't you just throw a hundred or so strings of cash at him and have everyone spread the word that Qi County is full of lecherous thieves? Why bother bringing Wan Rendi and conspiring with the shopkeeper here to put on a show? Young Master Qian, you are truly intelligent, clever, exceptionally clever." Pang Yu responded perfunctorily, while Qian Shicai was extremely pleased, laughing heartily with a proud expression.
"But... will that Zhan Zhao believe it if we just casually tell someone like that?" Gao Yanei expressed his doubt.
"Hehehe—" Pang Yu sneered, his naturally fierce triangular eyes narrowing and then suddenly widening, the chilling aura making Gao Dawei and Qian Dajin break out in a cold sweat. Good
heavens, this kind of person… is both treacherous and domineering, incredibly audacious, and exceptionally intelligent. In the world of servants… in the future, who else could be the top servant in Bianliang if not him!
Two admiring gazes converged on him, fixed on his towering figure, as majestic as a mountain.
On the very first day that Marquis Pang "joined" the ranks of servants, he gained two worshippers ready to kneel and sing his praises.
"I never underestimate my opponents, never." Pang Yu stood up, his brows furrowing, his expression instantly turning serious. "Don't underestimate this young man surnamed Zhan. In the martial world, he's absolutely... to put it another way, just like my lord's reputation as a 'playboy' is renowned throughout the martial world, known to everyone. The name 'Southern Hero' is something that everyone in the martial world has to look up to!"
Damn, is the lord talking about Zhan or praising himself?
Chuixue couldn't help but wipe her sweat.
Pang Yu had incredibly sharp eyesight, never missing a single expression from anyone around him. He turned and glared at him fiercely, scaring Chuixue so much that she immediately dropped to the ground. Then, he turned back to the main topic in a deep voice: "Zhan Zhao is an old hand at this. If he heard it from others, he would be somewhat skeptical, but look at him." He opened the closed window a little wider and pointed outside at the fat merchant Wanrendi, who was surrounded by a group of people, sobbing and denouncing the lecherous villain's misdeeds. "Look at him, look at him, that naturally kind-hearted face, that naturally kind-hearted demeanor, and when he talks about it... that timid and cowardly air about him, tsk tsk tsk, who would think that what comes out of his mouth is false?" "Well, what do you mean?"
Pang Yu couldn't help but praise Wan Rendi, and of course, he was even more impressed with his own discerning eye for talent: "This kind of person is born to be a conman. Lying and deceiving people is so easy for him. He can sell people out and they'll still be foolishly counting the money for him. Even someone as shrewd as Zhan Zhao was fooled by Wan Rendi under my perfect plan! This guy, sigh—it's such a waste that he doesn't sell insurance, run a pyramid scheme, or do Amway or Tiens or anything like that... cough cough, otherwise, would my wise, powerful, handsome, and incredibly intelligent Marquis be so bored as to casually promote a lowly guard who sneaked into the manor to a second-class servant?"
He was talking animatedly, pointing and gesturing, completely oblivious to the fact that a tile on the roof beam had been silently lifted open.
A pair of bright, beautiful eyes peered through that opening, taking in everything that was happening inside—especially Pang Yu's animated "performance" from beginning to end…
all of it!

Also, it's my best friend's birthday tonight, we're out drinking and eating, I don't know how late it'll be, so I'll try to get back early to write, but if I drink too much and get passed out… I'll make up for it this weekend, I definitely will!

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Three Great Scourges of the Capital

One night, sleepless.
Of course, not while disciplining the little loli, but because Pang Yu waited all night.
Waiting in vain.
What a load of rubbish, the Southern Hero!
He slammed his fist on the table and cursed fiercely.
What chivalry, what acts of bravery, rubbish, all rubbish!
So many delicate young girls in Qi County were in grave danger, constantly at risk of being abducted and humiliated by lecherous thieves, yet the dignified Southern Hero ignored them, comfortably sleeping soundly in the inn on a high bed with thick blankets and warm pillows.
Meanwhile, he sat there for four hours, exposed to the cold wind and the darkness.
Four hours! A full eight hours!
What is this! What is this!
He was having a wonderful dream, while I sat there starving!
Pang Yu was furious, nearly smashing the table with his fist.
"My lord, please calm down, calm down!" Chui Xue bowed and smiled obsequiously, trying to appease him.
"Calm down my ass, that's more like venting my anger!" Pang Yu turned to slap him, but seeing the empty, luxurious house without a single maid or servant, he became even angrier, standing up and kicking him.
"Ouch—"
With a scream, Fubuki flew backward as usual, but this time she didn't trip over the threshold and fall. Instead, she crashed into the wall and slumped to the ground like a rag doll, groaning and clutching her face.
"Didn't Da... Da Jin say that Zhan believed Wanrendi's words and was all set to go out last night with his sword?" Fubuki was seeing stars and was almost crying with grievance. "It was... it was that brat who insisted on going with me. Otherwise, if Zhan left, she'd set fire to the house. Zhan had no choice but to..."
"Set fire to the house, set fire to the Grand Tutor's mansion, set fire to Anle Marquis's residence, set fire to my place, right?"
"Yes."
"Yes, you little bastard! She dared to touch my things. If she touched them, I'd fuck her to death."
"What fuck..."
"It's just adding a piece of meat... cough cough." Pang Yu coughed twice, regaining his composure. "Let me tell you, if you want to be a qualified and excellent servant, first of all, you can't just follow the crowd. Qian Dajin said that brat was yelling like that, does that mean that brat was really yelling like that? Impossible! How old is she? At most thirteen or fourteen. Even if you gave a thirteen or fourteen-year-old ten times the courage, she wouldn't dare to cause trouble in the Grand Tutor's mansion, right?"
He pretended to ignore it and not care, but he was quite annoyed inside.
Lawless, utterly lawless! A little girl who hasn't even grown any hair yet, and she's already talking about setting fire to the house. This is so ill-mannered!
Fine, her parents don't know how to teach her, so I'll reluctantly take over. Tomorrow, when I catch her, I'll lock her up and give her a good lesson, teach her how to serve her master, how to be... cough, teach her how to be a decent human being. After all,
I'm an outstanding transmigrated youth from the Song Dynasty, I can't just stand by and watch a little loli harm society.
"My lord, why don't you take a nap first, and then..."
"Sleep? What sleep? Come with me for a stroll."
"Huh?"
"What 'huh'? Back in the day, I climbed over the wall to go to an internet cafe and stayed up for seventeen consecutive nights, only to doze off during English class. The eighteenth day, I was still full of energy, flirting with the junior schoolgirls who had just returned from military training."
"Internet cafe, English, junior schoolgirls... I don't understand."
"That's good, if you understood everything, you wouldn't need to be a servant." Pang Yu glared at him, waving his hand impatiently. "Blue robe, small hat, black boots, hurry up and get ready, or I'll break your legs!"
×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Shopping is actually a very boring thing.
Premise: The person you're shopping with is a man.
Walking along the bustling streets of Bianliang, his eyes sweeping over the rows of shops and buildings, Pang Yu no longer felt the initial awe and shock he had felt upon first seeing this magnificent metropolis of the 10th century. His mind was preoccupied with only one thought:
"Sigh, when will the good days for temple fairs come? Can't there be more Qixi and Mid-Autumn Festivals a year?
What's the use of grandeur and magnificence? Can't it be like the delicate, refined, and elegant scenery of the Jiangnan water towns, with pavilions and terraces everywhere, and the sounds of birdsong and dancing, so we can enjoy life?
" "My lord, where are we going?"
"What do you think?"
"A brothel?"
"Bullshit! Do you think I'm the kind of good-for-nothing who spends all his time visiting brothels, hoping to find a lover?" Pang Yu snapped, ready to flick his wrist, when suddenly he heard a familiar voice ahead.
"Firewood for sale! Firewood for sale! Ten coins a load of the best dry firewood!"
A melodious tone, a soft voice...
It was her!
Pang Yu looked in the direction of the voice and, sure enough, saw a delicate and slender figure not far ahead.
Compared to her grime-covered face and filthy appearance that day, Di Xiuxiang was noticeably cleaner and tidier today—at least her face was clean, and the stains and grime on her body were negligible compared to her previous beggar-like "outfit." Although her clothes were still worn, compared to her former beggar-like image, they only added to her pitiful fragility, preserving her innate, fresh, simple, and natural beauty.
It was completely unaffected!
She stood there softly calling out her wares, without the delicate elegance of Xi Shi clutching her heart in illness, or the sorrowful frown of Diao Chan worshipping the moon, but even in her simple clothes and coarse linen garments, the innate elegance emanating from her could not be concealed. She was undoubtedly the most eye-catching and beautiful sight in the bustling market.
Pang Yu felt guilty.
Even the best of men can make mistakes, and he'd actually misjudged her.
She was clearly a beautiful young woman, why hadn't he stepped forward sooner?
—There's no going back, but the same scene could happen again.
Before Pang Yu could even go over and greet her, or offer a few words of courteous "greeting" while holding her hand, several thugs suddenly jumped out from the roadside and surrounded Di Xiuxiang, who was hawking her wares along the street.
"Hey, little girl, did you pay your head tax while selling things here?"
"What head tax? I...I don't know." Di Xiuxiang hurriedly spread her arms to protect her firewood, revealing her two fair, slender arms, as beautiful as lotus roots, making the thugs practically drool.
"Don't know? Fine, we'll teach you, we'll teach you in bed, hahahahahaha—"
"Judging from your appearance, you can't pay up, so just come with us obediently."
"Not coming? Hehehe, you can forget about staying in Beijing from now on."
A group of thugs approached and began to grope Di Xiuxiang, a weak woman, who was no match for them. She tried to run, but was surrounded from all sides; she tried to call for help, but passersby completely ignored her. "
Hey, hey, hey, how can they do this? They just stood by and watched a young girl being bullied without a single person standing up to stop it! They have no sense of public morality whatsoever! It's a tragedy for society!"
Pang Yu was filled with righteous indignation.
"My lord, you don't know, look at their clothes, gray and white with blue sleeves and a blue wolf tattooed on the chest, that's the biggest gang in the capital, the 'Hung Hing Society'..."
Hearing "Hung Hing," Pang Yu frowned.
Damn! How come there's a Hung Hing Society like Hao Nan's these days?
Hung Hing it is, there are plenty of people with the same name, this guy following me is just a knock-off version of Ximen Chuixue, but... is
this kind of blatant lewdness and humiliation of young girls in the streets something the prestigious Hung Hing Society should do?
Please, even doing bad things requires some skill, okay?
"...They're based in the south of the city, with nearly a thousand members, specializing in extorting and bullying innocent people, and along with..." Chuixue paused, "...they're known as one of the three scourges of the capital, along with the Silver Hook Gambling House. Every poor person hates them, but they can't do anything about it, they can only avoid them to prevent trouble from coming their way."
"Hung Hing Society, Silver Hook Gambling House, you only mentioned two of the three scourges of the capital?" "
Ah..." Chuixue was speechless for a moment.
"And the other one isn't me, is it?" Pang Yu was so clever; he guessed it immediately. His eyes darted around the roadside, as if searching for something.
Chuixue was just worried about what to say, but when he heard his master speak for him, a huge weight was lifted from his heart. Overjoyed, he blurted out, "Yes, that's right. Your Excellency, you are the number one menace in the capital, surpassing even the Hung Hing Society and the Silver Hook Gambling House. The common people hate you and curse you. Everyone wishes you were dead and could be reborn... Ah!?"
Chuixue realized he had made a huge mistake by speaking without thinking. He tremblingly raised his head, but his master was gone.
Was he really gone?
No, he was still there. About
two zhang to his left, next to an open-air noodle stall.
Pang Yu picked up one of the three great weapons of the martial arts world: a folding stool.
—No, it was a bench. Folding stools didn't exist back then.
Charge, swift slash, fatal blow—the bench roared out!

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