93: Chapter 93 Chinese-style Copy

A vortex appeared on the mirror's surface once again, spinning faster and faster.

It was as if a drop of dew had landed on the surface of the mirror, causing the ripples to smooth out and the mirror to gradually quiet down.

The image within it changed.

Chen Mo could no longer see his own face; instead, he saw a completely new scene.

The image was somewhat blurry, with poor quality, like a smartphone screen that had been shattered in half.

"What is this? Ancient times?"

The mirror started with a close-up shot.

Golden glazed tiles reflected shimmering, iridescent beams of light under the sun.

The eaves curved slightly upward, shaped like a bird spreading its wings, with beautiful and fluid lines.

The vermilion gate, several meters high, was inlaid with gleaming golden door studs, with a bronze door knocker hanging in the center.

It looked very much like a city gate from ancient China; to be precise, it should be called a City God temple gate.

Usually, in TV shows and movies, such a gate wouldn't survive half an episode, because it would soon be smashed open by a thick battering ram.

Then, a large group of warriors clad in golden armor would charge in, brandishing their swords and roaring.

Immediately after, Chen Mo's vision followed a skylark as it glided in from the top of the city.

This was undoubtedly an ancient imperial palace, with carved beams and painted pillars, magnificent and resplendent.

The ceiling was carved with exquisite cloud patterns, all depicting myths and legends.

The pillars were carved with coiling dragons and auspicious clouds, the dragons curling and soaring into the sky, their claws grasping at the mist.

The skylark flapped its wings, and a few ink-colored feathers drifted past Chen Mo's eyes, leading him to a private chamber within the palace.

It raised its neck, tucked in its wings, and gripped the branch firmly with its feet.

Everything Chen Mo saw at this moment was what the skylark was seeing.

His vision penetrated the chamber before him, passing through a half-hidden screen to reveal two men in ancient attire, drinking and chatting freely.

Although it was somewhat blurry, Chen Mo had a deep memory of his father's voice.

"Brother Longevity Like Southern Mountain, have you considered the plan I told you about?"

"We have to face the job advancement next. We're about to reach level 20. If we don't keep moving forward, the next batch of people to die might be us!"

"Brother Jian, there is no need to say more. Instead of living in fear every day, why don't we go to the Jiaofang Division to amuse ourselves first?"

"I heard a new enchantress recently arrived at the Jiaofang Division. She plays the pipa beautifully and is quite a beauty herself. Why don't we go and see for ourselves?"

"No, we've only been in this dungeon for a month, how have you started talking like an ancient person? We are people from the 21st century!"

Hearing this, Chen Mo understood.

Longevity Like Southern Mountain was his father; the dungeon his father had entered at this moment was a Chinese-style dungeon.

At first, Chen Mo had suspected whether this soul-summoning ritual had specifically created a fake illusion to lead him astray.

However, seeing his father—who, even after traveling to ancient times, wouldn't tie up his hair in a bun, leaving his long black hair draped loosely over his shoulders—

and who would always interject with some dirty jokes whenever he chatted with fellow men,

Chen Mo could confirm that this was indeed his father.

The Jiaofang Division, essentially, was where the wives and daughters of ancient high-ranking officials would be sent to serve as courtesans after their households were confiscated.

It was the highest-end nightclub.

It was different from modern nightclubs; modern nightclubs were only about flirting and catering to customers to attract tips.

But in the Jiaofang Division, the women chose the men.

To sleep with a woman from the Jiaofang Division, you had to be learned and talented; only after successfully making the lady interested in you would you have a chance to go to the second floor.

But if the woman remained strict about her boundaries and only wanted to mooch off the government-provided meals, that was not allowed either.

The Jiaofang Division was established, firstly, to demonstrate punishment and warn the world.

Secondly, it was to please those officials and earn some silver.

Therefore, the women in the Jiaofang Division had monthly quotas.

Countless officials and wealthy merchants came every day, all wanting to experience the pleasure of being a "Cao thief".

Thus, the women would first set challenges for these men.

For example: "Compose poetry, match couplets, paint landscapes, etc..."

Finally, the women would grade their works one by one; the ones with high scores could go upstairs to enjoy the full service.

Chen Mo knew his father's character well; although he often told dirty jokes, he only dared to talk big.

When his mother appeared holding the ultimate prop—a washboard—his father would surely become as obedient as a lapdog.

His father loved to drink, holding a jade cup and taking a small sip.

Then he held a jade wine vessel and poured a cup for the brother opposite him.

The jade vessel was an ancient wine bottle, ornately decorated, used for holding wine, but purely to display the user's status and position.

"This ancient wine is about the same as beer; it's not satisfying! Not satisfying at all!" his father said, waving his hand in disdain.

"No, Brother Longevity Like Southern Mountain, can you stop drinking? I'm trying to discuss serious business with you. It's about to get dark soon, and that thing is coming again. By then, I can only return to my own room."

His father raised his wrist, didn't see a watch, and shook his head.

He turned to look at the incense; it had burned two-thirds of the way down. There was one-third of an incense stick's time left before nightfall would descend.

"Brother Longevity Like Southern Mountain, come find me in my room after you've discussed it with Sister Wild Chrysanthemum. There are only three of our teammates left alive. I hope we won't be the ones to die tonight!"

Having said this, Brother Jian lifted the hem of his long robes, gripped his sword hilt, and hurried back to his room.

Sister Wild Chrysanthemum? Persian Wild Chrysanthemum? That must be my mom's game ID.

Chen Mo didn't even need to think to blurt it out.

When the incense stick opposite his father burned out, the originally sunny palace interior—

suddenly turned dark. A sinister wind rose, sweeping up the fallen leaves on the ground and forming all sorts of strange shapes in the air.

Immediately after, Chen Mo's vision changed to what his father was seeing.

His father was drinking while looking at the scene outside through a wooden window frame inscribed with the character "Fu".

A strange "clatter-clatter" sound reached his ears, as if someone were deliberately stomping on the floor with their feet.

His father put down the jade cup. Chen Mo could feel his father's adrenaline surging, and cold sweat breaking out on his back.

That eerie "clatter-clatter" sound drew closer and closer; at first, it was at least tens of meters away.

But at this moment, the "clatter-clatter" sound seemed to be separated by only a single layer of window paper, ready to break through at the slightest poke!

His father pressed his eyes to the gap in the wooden window frame and scanned the area outside his room.

To the left was an empty veranda; the same was true for the right.

In front were rugged rockery decorations planted with plum blossoms.

Finally, his father's gaze looked down, bit by bit.

His breathing seemed to stop.

His pupils were filled with bloodshot veins.

Chen Mo saw the source of the eerie clattering sound.

A pair of three-inch embroidered shoes, stitched with delicate peonies, were standing right under the window frame.

No one was wearing the shoes, but they were stomping up and down, making a "thump-thump" sound.