Don't Pick Up Disciples Randomly by the Roadside - Chapter 11

“It’s fine,” he chuckled playfully. “I’ll pay for Master.”

Shen Chunyi gave a strained smile. “Then why do you insist on sharing a room with me? Didn’t you bring money?”

Xuan Shuangxu changed the subject. “Try this.”

His chopsticks pointed to the large carp that had been fried and then stewed. Its crispy skin had soaked up the broth, the fish itself was golden, the soup clear, and the finely chopped scallions vibrant green—it looked quite appetizing.

Shen Chunyi picked up his chopsticks and took a bite, chewing slowly before swallowing.

“It’s alright,” he finally said.

“Alright means it’s not good.”

“Not exactly,” Shen Chunyi defended the restaurant. “It’s just a bit too oily for my taste.”

Xuan Shuangxu nodded, listening attentively. “What about this dish?”

Shen Chunyi tasted it next, taking his time before replying, “Too spicy.”

“And this one?”

“Too greasy.”

Occasionally, a passing girl would overhear Shen Chunyi’s critiques of the restaurant’s dishes, finding it hard to believe that not a single one met his standards. She thought to herself, This guest’s palate is even more demanding than the emperor or crown prince of old. Just as she was about to step forward to explain, the young man glanced at her lightly, and her feet seemed to take root, freezing her in place.

Lunchtime stretched on several times longer than usual. Xuan Shuangxu asked about each dish in detail, showing no sign of weariness. Instead, he nodded earnestly and said,

“I understand.”

His smile was so lively that even Shen Chunyi couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly. “Are you full? If so, go upstairs and rest.”

Xuan Shuangxu paused briefly, blinking. “Aren’t you coming up, Master?”

Shen Chunyi avoided his gaze. “I’ll go up later.”

After a moment, he added, “You take the third floor.”

Xuan Shuangxu seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent, simply nodding obediently before rising and leaving.

Shen Chunyi stayed seated, watching him ascend to the third floor and enter his room before slowly standing up. Most of the girls in this establishment had rarely ventured outside and would likely crumble under harsh interrogation. That little fox spirit’s aura was too overpowering. If there were any other minor spirits or creatures disguised as humans here, they wouldn’t even need to be questioned—just his presence alone would likely terrify the delicate beauties into trembling and speechlessness. It would probably yield no useful information and only backfire.

Shen Chunyi hurried to the counter in a few quick steps, snapping his fan shut. With a teasing smile, he addressed the girl at the front. “I’ve been here for so long, staying as a guest, and yet no one has sent a girl to serve me tea?”

The girl at the counter had been puzzled earlier. These two had come to a place of pleasure but showed no interest in romance, instead focusing solely on critiquing the food. Could they really be treating this place like an ordinary tavern? Perhaps it was because the sign outside was too formal.

Just as she was thinking this, Shen Chunyi approached with a faint smile, as if finally remembering the true purpose of Jiaoyun Pavilion. The girl quickly bowed with a coquettish laugh, her tone suggestive. “How could we neglect you, young master? Whichever girl catches your eye, we’ll send her to serve you diligently, making your bed and warming it for you.”

With that, she turned slightly and led Shen Chunyi down a long corridor, immersing him in a room filled with powdered and adorned women. Though Shen Chunyi’s features were sharp, he was undeniably handsome. The girls stole glances at him, thinking how rare it was to see someone so striking. They giggled, biting their lips, whispering and murmuring among themselves, though no one could tell what they were saying.

Shen Chunyi unfurled his folding fan, fanning himself as he paced, circling the group of girls. He wondered which one was quick-witted and well-informed, someone he could question more thoroughly. As his gaze wandered, it settled on a girl outside the crowd, tidying up the leftover teacups.

She wore a lotus-colored long skirt, her hair loosely tied up without any jewelry. Fine lines at the corners of her eyes hinted at her slightly older age, likely a bit older than Shen Chunyi. Yet she made no effort to conceal her years, wearing only a light layer of powder that did little to hide the faint wrinkles. She seemed indifferent to discussions about her appearance or age.

For some reason, Shen Chunyi found the way she handled the teacups strangely familiar—every movement graceful and poised, as if he had seen her somewhere before. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t recall.

After a moment’s consideration, Shen Chunyi snapped his fan shut and pointed. “Her.”

The girl seemed taken aback. She withdrew her hands from the teacups, first looking up at Shen Chunyi, then glancing around, unsure how to respond.

A nearby girl nudged her gleefully, teasing, “He’s picking you, hurry up! It’s been so long since we’ve had such a handsome young master—you’re in luck!”

The lead girl looked slightly surprised, covering her mouth as she cooed, “Young Master, why would you choose Hongyun? She’s older and only serves tea and water here; she doesn’t accompany guests. Unless… you prefer older ladies? We have others—”

Shen Chunyi tapped his folded fan against his palm, cutting her off before she could continue. “No need. I prefer younger ones. It’s just that Miss Hongyun looks very familiar. I’d like her to bring a pot of tea and chat with me for a bit.”

But Shen Chunyi had no idea about the unspoken rules of such places. In a brothel, asking a girl to bring tea alone to a room could only mean one thing.

The excuse of “just chatting” was worn-out and cliché—men who came here often said one thing and did another. Refusing once inside the room would only invite accusations of false virtue, and offending a customer was never worth it.

The lead girl clearly misunderstood Shen Chunyi’s intentions. Flustered, she forced a smile and said, “Well… Hongyun really doesn’t accompany guests. You can pick any of the others.”

Seeing his lack of interest, the lead girl suddenly remembered the young man who had arrived with him earlier—insisting on sharing a room, and when that failed, settling for adjacent ones. A realization dawned on her, and she smiled knowingly. “If the young master doesn’t care for girls, we have other options.”

She clapped her hands cheerfully. “I’ll take you to another room later—I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

Shen Chunyi’s mind couldn’t quite grasp the implication. He had no idea what she was talking about, his thoughts wandering aimlessly without reaching any conclusion. Puzzled, he replied, “I know she doesn’t accompany guests—you’ve said it once, I understand. If she doesn’t accompany guests, what does she do in this establishment?”

The lead girl answered cautiously, “She just serves tea, sweeps, washes dishes. Sometimes she sings, but that’s about it.”

Shen Chunyi grew even more confused. “If she’s in the business of serving tea, why can’t she bring me a pot?”

The lead performer choked for a moment, unsure how to respond. Perhaps unable to bear seeing the manager in such distress, Hongyun gracefully stepped in to defuse the situation.

Standing beside Shen Chunyi, she was about to speak when a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She paused briefly, then quickly resumed her usual faint smile. “Since the guest has requested it, Hongyun will come over shortly,” she said.

The lead performer called her name softly, signaling that she didn’t need to go along with it.

But Hongyun smiled and replied, “This was our trade in the past. Even after years away, how could we grow rusty? Don’t quarrel with the guest on my account—it’s not worth it.”

By now, even someone as dense as Shen Chunyi should have understood something. His face flushed with a kaleidoscope of colors, and after a long, awkward silence, he stammered, “I didn’t mean to…”

Didn’t mean to what?

Shen Chunyi was so embarrassed he could have coughed up blood.

Hongyun was remarkably considerate—no wonder the manager got along so well with her. Though she didn’t know what Shen Chunyi was thinking, she tactfully suggested, “Why don’t you go upstairs first, sir? Hongyun will bring tea to you shortly.”

The flock of lively women, seeing Shen Chunyi’s flustered expression, seemed to realize he had likely never been to such a place before. Giggles and teasing remarks rippled through the room, as those standing and sitting alike reveled in the spectacle.

Shen Chunyi nodded hastily. “Alright.”

He practically fled to the second floor, his figure almost blurring with speed.

As soon as he pushed the door open, the cloyingly sweet scent in the room choked him, sending him into a fit of coughing.

The incense in the private room had been lit earlier when he’d given his room number downstairs. A wisp of thin smoke curled lazily from the burner, weaving through the air and enveloping the entire room. Shen Chunyi hurriedly pinched it out.

His sense of smell was keener than most, and he couldn’t stand this scent—it was so sickeningly sweet. The room was spacious but unlike the previous inn, which had tea tables and cushions. The largest piece of furniture here was the bed, adorned with vibrant red bedding and pillows that were almost blindingly bright.

The pillowcases and sheets were embroidered with tangled, indecipherable patterns. Shen Chunyi couldn’t make sense of them, nor did he particularly want to. The mattress beneath was thick and soft, sinking deeply under any weight. If someone were to lose themselves here, they’d likely feel as though they were drifting on waves of crimson pleasure.

Aside from the bed, even the chairs and tables in the room seemed steeped in the atmosphere, appearing soft and languid under the glow of the deep red hues. The sight made Shen Chunyi feel uneasy.

Leaning against the wall, half-dazed by the lingering scent, he mused to himself: If guests here were to collapse mid-act from the overpowering fragrance, wouldn’t that save time and effort? Talk about efficiency.

Shen Chunyi couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something oddly unsettling about the bed. He didn’t want to lie on it, yet it inexplicably tempted him. Instead, he chose a chair nearby and was just pondering how to proceed with his questioning when he heard a cautious, delicate knock at the door.

Opening it, he found the young woman standing there, holding a tea tray. Draped in a lotus-colored shawl, her waist soft and graceful, she gazed at him with serene eyes.

Shen Chunyi coughed awkwardly a few times. “Come in.”

The woman rested one hand on the doorframe while holding the tray with the other. On it sat a small purple clay teapot and two cups—though what tea was inside remained unknown—alongside a lidded soup bowl still steaming with heat.

Shen Chunyi finally seemed to have regained his senses, remembering at last what this place was for. Although he had a strong resistance to poisons, he wasn’t sure whether the specialty concoctions here counted as poison or not.

As for whether his earlier, seemingly nonsensical conversation had given the girl over there any misleading hints, or whether she had taken his indifferent expression as a sign and discreetly added something to the tea—well, he had no idea about that either.

Shen Chunyi didn’t dare drink. He poured a cup for himself and another for the girl, then left them untouched.

Seeing that Shen Chunyi had no intention of drinking, the girl tactfully left her cup untouched as well. Instead, she smiled and said, “If there’s nothing else, sir, I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait,” Shen Chunyi said. “I have some questions for you.”

The girl wasn’t surprised. “What would you like to know, sir?”

Shen Chunyi began, “What’s your name?”

The girl answered honestly, “Hongyun.”

Shen Chunyi couldn’t recall whether the name had ever appeared in his memory. He closed his folding fan and tapped it against his palm, saying, “I feel as though I’ve seen you somewhere before. You look familiar.”

The girl looked him up and down for a moment, then parted her red lips and laughed softly. She was skilled with words and smoothly replied, “I’ve been at Jiaoyun Tower for many years. If you happened to visit once before and caught a glimpse of me among the crowd of beauties, it wouldn’t be strange for you to find me familiar.”

He had only been here once, nearly twenty years ago.

Shen Chunyi chuckled dryly and continued, “In all these years, have you never thought of leaving Jiaoyun Tower to pursue another livelihood?”

Hongyun didn’t mind the question. She spread her hands and smiled. “There’s no choice. The redemption fee for Jiaoyun Tower isn’t easy to save up. Besides, in today’s world, whether you’re selling your strength or your conscience, what isn’t for sale? When people go out into the world, aren’t most of them selling something?”

Shen Chunyi thought it over seriously and found himself unable to refute her. At a loss for words, he decided to cut to the chase. “Have you seen any unusual visitors at Jiaoyun Tower recently?”

Hongyun, unsure of his intentions since he hadn’t undressed or made any advances, still answered honestly. “What do you mean by ‘unusual,’ sir?”

Shen Chunyi thought for a moment. “Women.”

A woman visiting a brothel was indeed unusual. Hongyun smiled and said, “There certainly aren’t any women who come to Jiaoyun Tower for pleasure, but there are plenty who’ve been sold here by their families.”

Shen Chunyi persisted. “Aside from women, have there been any visitors whose faces were hidden or whose gender was unclear?”

Hongyun shook her head with a smile. “Even less likely. The patrons here come for fleeting pleasures. Covering their faces would only dampen the mood.”

“Are you sure?”

“As far as I’ve seen, yes. If you don’t believe me, sir, you can ask someone else.”

“Miss,” Shen Chunyi said gently, “I suggest you tell the truth. Otherwise, if another gentleman comes to ask, he might not be as polite as I am.”

Hongyun fell silent for a moment before replying earnestly, “I truly don’t know.”

Seeing this, Shen Chunyi didn’t press further. Instead, he changed the subject. “Very well, it seems you really don’t know. But I must say, the rockery and pond in your courtyard are quite well-crafted.”

“The owner hired skilled artisans to carve them, so of course they’re beautiful.”

Shen Chunyi nodded and added, “The flowers are blooming beautifully too.”

Hongyun still lowered her gaze and nodded, saying nothing more.

Shen Chunyi clapped his hands, feigning a profound tone, “Alright, after all this talk, it’s time to get down to business.” With that, he cast a meaningful glance toward the bed, signaling Hongyun to go over.

Hongyun was immediately taken aback, thinking to herself that men were indeed all the same. After hesitating for a long while, she steeled herself and took a few steps in that direction.

Just as she was about to circle around the table, one of her hands was suddenly seized by Shen Chunyi. Hongyun looked up in surprise, only to see his other hand pressed against her cheekbone. His wide sleeve slipped slightly, revealing a bright red snakeskin bracelet.

Shen Chunyi said gently, “Since you’re unwilling to tell the truth, I have no choice but to use a little trick. Don’t worry, it won’t be any harsher than the other gentleman’s methods.”

Hongyun struggled briefly, realizing she couldn’t break free, and was about to say something when she suddenly fell silent. She was too frightened to speak.

A crimson thread slithered out from the snakeskin bracelet, winding its way along Shen Chunyi’s wrist and crawling toward her face. It twisted across the bridge of her nose, which was lightly dusted with powder. Only when it drew closer did Hongyun realize—this was no red thread at all, but a slender, deep-red flesh worm!

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