310: Hard to earn money

The interior was cleverly designed. Directly ahead was a raised stage where seven or eight graceful women danced with alluring movements. Their slender, pale legs peeked in and out between the swaying motions, adding to the seductive atmosphere.

Below, the space was partitioned by screens into over twenty private compartments. Each entrance faced the stage, allowing occupants to admire the dance while engaging in intimate activities.

Inside each compartment was a wide chaise lounge and a wooden table. On the table sat a pot of clear wine and several plates of snacks.

The chaise was spacious enough for more than three people. At the moment, Xu Sanyan was lazily reclining on it, with a secret realm fruit tucked behind his back.

A young woman lay beside him. She picked up a snack from the wooden table and gently fed it into his mouth.

"Young Master, is it delicious?" the young woman asked softly.

"Delicious."

Xu Sanyan's hand slid beneath the young woman's waist. With a slight pull, he drew her tightly against him.

"Young Master, don't be in such a hurry~ Why not enjoy the sisters' dance first?" The young woman shyly squirmed, her unintentional touches only stoking desire.

"How old are you?" Xu Sanyan asked casually.

"This humble servant is forty-seven," the young woman replied, lifting a wine cup to his lips.

"Over forty..."

Xu Sanyan looked at her delicate face. This was the benefit of cultivation—someone in their forties could look no different from a teenager.

Her cultivation wasn't high, merely at the Heavenly Human Realm. Of course, if her cultivation were higher, she wouldn't be here doing work meant to please others.

"Since you're so young, why not find a good Family to marry into?"

Pushing the virtuous into the trade while urging prostitutes to reform—it was a common male affliction, and Xu Sanyan was no exception.

"Sigh... it's a long story. This servant grew up in this city. With low abilities and no special skills, what else could I do but this kind of work?"

"Are you also from the Wang Family?" Xu Sanyan's hand on her waist slowly slid downward.

A hint of dejection tinged her voice. "Just a branch Family member. Although I bear the Wang surname, we have long lost connection with the Wang Family of the Inner city. We can't even enter the Inner city."

Then, a trace of comfort appeared on her face. "Fortunately, this servant has a younger brother. His talent is quite good; he's already reached the Heavenly Human Realm in his thirties. Two years ago, he was accepted into the Wang Family's martial hall and has a chance to be reinstated in the Wang Family genealogy."

Xu Sanyan nodded. Reaching the Heavenly Human Realm in one's thirties—the talent was indeed passable. A thought then struck him, and he asked curiously, "What about your parents?"

Hearing this, the young woman's expression darkened considerably, her voice growing slightly heavy. "My father passed away when I was little. My mother's health is poor and requires constant medicine to sustain her vitality."

Xu Sanyan frowned slightly. Her story sounded somewhat familiar.

A deceased father, a sick mother, a brother in school, and her own broken life.

Did everyone in this profession use similar scripts?

Xu Sanyan didn't know if it was true, but he felt pity nonetheless. He patted her shoulder silently in comfort. "Sigh... you've had it hard."

Mist seemed to swirl in the young woman's eyes, as if a sore spot had been touched. She couldn't hold back a soft sob.

Xu Sanyan pulled her into his embrace, comforting her in a low voice. "Don't cry. Tonight, give it your all and serve me well. I'll give you extra money."

It seemed he'd be doing two good deeds today, getting tomorrow's out of the way as well.

"Uh..." The young woman was taken aback. After saying all that, she had thought she might receive some extra reward. In the end, she still had to earn her keep through skill.

But she couldn't show her disappointment. Instead, she smiled and nestled into his arms, saying sweetly, "Thank you, Young Master."

While comforting her, Xu Sanyan lifted the hem of her skirt. "I forgot to ask, what are the rates here?"

"If the Young Master wishes to stay the night, it's only ten Spirit Stones. If you just want this servant's company, you can tip according to your mood."

Quite cheap. Xu Sanyan nodded inwardly in approval.

Since that was the case, he decided not to get a free ride this time. His hands grew bolder, his touch confident and justified—this money couldn't be wasted.

On stage, the women danced gracefully. They were also cultivators, their bodies supple, effortlessly executing various difficult poses that were extremely stunning, drawing cheers from the audience below.

Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes slightly, immersing himself in the scene, feeling none of the urgency of a man on the run.

Beside him, the young woman looked curiously at the tightly wrapped spherical object and couldn't help asking, "Young Master, why do you always carry this thing?"

Xu Sanyan opened his eyes, a flash of coldness passing through his pupils. He reached out, lifted her chin with a finger, and spoke softly with thin lips, "Your professional standards are lacking."

Meeting his gaze, the young woman couldn't help a slight tremble, a chill shooting straight from her heart to the crown of her head.

She knew she had spoken out of turn. In this line of work, asking too many questions was a major taboo. She hurriedly apologized, "This servant spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Young Master."

"Heh, that's more like it."

The coldness in Xu Sanyan's eyes faded, replaced by a warm expression. The finger pinching her chin gently patted her cheek, and he led her upstairs, arm around her.

*Thud—*

The wooden door closed. Faintly, a woman's surprised gasp could be heard from inside the room.

Soft panting mingled with the music and dance from downstairs. Listening closely, it was like the chirping of cicadas in the rain—amidst the pattering water, one could always catch that one sharp, high-pitched cry.

This pleasure house was a place for leisure. Such activities didn't require a specific time; they could happen whenever the mood struck.

But the young woman never expected that the customer she had casually taken would have such abundant stamina.

Thus, the cicada song lasted half the night, until the voice grew hoarse. A servant adding tea and water passed by outside several times. Hearing the increasingly feeble chirping, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a twinge of pity rising in his heart.

Truly, money isn't easy to earn, and shit isn't easy to eat. The work of spreading one's legs for customers wasn't as simple as imagined.

...

Meanwhile, as dusk began to fall,

Deep within the Wang Family estate in the Inner city, inside an elegant young woman's boudoir, Wang Zixuan lay pale-faced on the bed, her left arm tightly bound with a splint and slung across her chest.

Four other people were in the room: besides the sisters Wang Qingyu and Wang Ruixin, there was also a woman and an elderly man.

The elderly man finished treating Wang Zixuan's injuries and stood up, looking at the woman. "It's nothing serious, just shattered bones. I've applied medicine for her. She just needs to rest for a while."

The woman looked at her daughter on the bed with heartache, her eyes slightly reddening. Hearing this, she also breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the old man repeatedly. "Thank you, Seventh Uncle. Let me see you out."

"No need," the old man said before turning to leave.

"Thank you, Seventh Grandfather."

Wang Zixuan offered her quiet thanks, sighing inwardly. To get herself married off, she had certainly suffered some hardship.

"Rest well, Xuan'er. Your mother will definitely find the one who injured you. To dare lay hands on you within our Wang Family's territory—they're truly seeking death!"

The woman grew angrier as she spoke. She took Wang Qingyu and the other girl by the hand and headed out, wanting to get a detailed account of the situation.

The three young women exchanged subtle glances, their eyes flickering slightly. They had already coordinated their story and wouldn't slip up.