Within North Desolation City stood a structure known as the North Desolation Hall.
Anything that could be called a “hall” was naturally quite luxurious.
It was also the only palace within the entire city.
The one qualified to reside here was naturally one of the Thirty-Six Hall Masters of the Abyssal Burial Palace… Hall Master Xing Xiuyuan.
The North Desolation Hall was located on a gentle slope in the northern part of the city. Its elevation was slightly higher, and from any street within the city, one could look up and see its bluish-gray roof.
Like a dormant beast, it quietly overlooked the entire small city.
The hall was not large, but it was built extremely solid.
The entire structure was constructed from bluish stone quarried deep within the Northern Wilderness Mountains. The material was rough and unpolished, yet it gave off a sense of primitive strength.
At this moment, Xing Xiuyuan was embracing two beauties, drinking and enjoying himself.
The beauty on his left fed him grapes, while the one on his right poured wine into his mouth. He looked utterly content.
“Reporting to Hall Master Xing, there is urgent news!”
A loud voice came from outside the door.
“Come in!”
Xing Xiuyuan waved for the beauties to temporarily withdraw.
A disciple of the Abyssal Burial Palace entered and cupped his fists, “Hall Master Xing, the Palace Master has issued an order. The entire city is to be thoroughly searched for the Young Master. His portrait will arrive soon.”
Xing Xiuyuan felt a bit speechless. That useless Young Master had been missing for 9 years… and they were still searching?
With such a luxurious lifestyle, how could he possibly be hiding in a remote place like North Desolation City?
“Understood. Anything else?”
Though he thought so inwardly, he naturally did not dare disobey the Palace Master’s orders.
The disciple continued, “Hall Master Xing, the leaders of two small gangs in the city were both killed by a single person. Now the Black Cloud Gang and the Iron Hand Gang have been unified under one individual.”
“Oh?”
Xing Xiuyuan raised his cup and slowly took a sip, “Who did it?”
The disciple replied, “His name is unknown. He is the husband who sells Nougat.”
Xing Xiuyuan was somewhat surprised, “Isn’t he just a pretty boy? Seems he’s been hiding something. After unifying them, what did he do?”
The disciple answered, “He didn’t do much. It seems he even released some of the kidnapped boys and girls.”
Xing Xiuyuan nodded slightly, “Since he hasn’t caused any trouble, let him be.”
Such trivial matters were beneath his concern.
Two petty gangs without even a single cultivator… whoever wanted them could have them.
As for the woman selling Nougat, Xing Xiuyuan had gone to observe her once. Her demeanor did not seem ordinary at all.
Moreover, he could not gauge Murong Wanyin’s depth, so he judged that she might very well be a hidden expert living in seclusion.
That pretty boy also carried himself with a decent bearing, and now it was proven he had been hiding his strength.
Then naturally, his wife could not be an ordinary person either.
As a Hall Master of the Abyssal Burial Palace, Xing Xiuyuan had seen countless storms. The ones he needed to be most wary of were precisely these hidden figures.
After the disciple withdrew, the two beauties returned from the inner chamber.
“Come here, beauties!”
Xing Xiuyuan pulled one into each arm, thoroughly enjoying himself.
The real show had begun…
…
Ye Wudu had barely slept the entire night.
He simply could not fall asleep, yet he did not dare make a move on Murong Wanyin.
In the end, he endured it through sheer will.
After Murong Wanyin left, Ye Wudu went to the bath on the second floor and soaked in cold water.
But the effect was not very obvious. With both bull whip and Flood Dragon Meat combined, the effect was almost like taking some kind of stimulant… excessively intense.
Ye Wudu soaked in the cold water for 30 minutes before the sensation gradually eased.
He felt this could not go on.
The Flood Dragon Meat was beneficial to his body, so he could not stop eating it.
But if he ate it and did not release the buildup… he simply could not endure it.
After thinking for a while, Ye Wudu decided that tonight he would visit the Brothel and relieve himself there. He did not have the habit of solving it on his own.
Otherwise, if this continued, he would eventually ruin himself.
Just as Ye Wudu came down from the second floor, someone knocked on the door.
“Gang Leader, it’s me.”
It was Li Mazi’s voice from outside.
“Come in!”
Li Mazi pushed the door open. Ye Wudu gestured for him to sit in the pavilion and have some tea.
Soon, the two sat on the stone stools.
Li Mazi took a big gulp of tea before speaking.
“The Liu family’s two guest elders are at late 1st stage Qi Refining Realm and peak 1st stage Qi Refining Realm. Old Master Liu often remains in seclusion and hasn’t made a move for years. His cultivation is probably around the 3rd stage Qi Refining Realm.”
Li Mazi reported the information he had gathered.
Ye Wudu nodded slightly. He was currently at mid 2nd stage Qi Refining Realm. It seemed the Liu family’s head was somewhat stronger than him.
Directly attacking the Liu family was not feasible. He would need to develop quietly first.
Li Mazi continued, “There’s another piece of news. Liu Long has arranged to go to the Brothel tonight with several wealthy young masters.”
Ye Wudu’s eyes flickered slightly, but he nodded calmly.
After Li Mazi left, Ye Wudu decided he would also go to the Brothel tonight to listen to music.
However, it would be best to keep a low profile. Going to such a place… he feared Murong Wanyin might get jealous, which would affect her favorability.
Since he did not know disguise techniques, Ye Wudu went out and bought a bamboo hat with a black veil.
Before leaving, he even roasted some Flood Dragon Meat and ate until he was full…
When Murong Wanyin returned home after closing her stall, she did not see Ye Wudu anywhere.
Previously, she had found his constant surveillance extremely annoying.
But now that he no longer paid attention to her and could not even be found, she felt a slight sense of discomfort.
She discovered that Gu Shuang’er was playing the zither and was not with Ye Wudu.
She felt that Gu Shuang’er’s appearance was acceptable, but compared to herself, there was still quite a gap.
Murong Wanyin returned to her own courtyard. Not knowing where Ye Wudu had gone, she could only wait at home.
At this moment, she unexpectedly found herself missing the days when she was being watched… at least she could see him at any time.
Murong Wanyin shook her head, casting aside these strange thoughts…
…
There was only one Brothel in North Desolation City… Drunken Flower Pavilion.
Inside the Drunken Flower Pavilion, it was lively beyond measure.
Round redwood tables stood close together. The men were already half drunk, their eyes glazed with intoxication.
The women were all dressed seductively, draped in thin gauze, their collarbones and shoulders half-hidden, exuding irresistible charm.
A young noble-looking man was playing a drinking game with a woman.
When the woman lost, she had to remove a piece of clothing.
Soon, only a chest wrap remained. Her snow-white shoulders and back glowed softly under the dim yellow light.
Yet she showed no shame. Instead, she smiled playfully, holding wine in her mouth and leaning toward him.
The young noble wrapped an arm around her waist. Their lips met, and wine spilled from the corners of their mouths, dripping down their chins…
The surrounding companions cheered loudly, and even the two guards behind him revealed amused smiles.
Such scenes were everywhere in the Drunken Flower Pavilion… nothing unusual, and no one paid it any mind.
But Ye Wudu, seated in a corner, kept staring at that young noble… because he was Liu Long.
The stronger the wine grew, the deeper the intoxication.
Soon, a tall woman slowly stepped onto the stage.
Her name was Zhou Yuanyuan, the courtesan queen of the Drunken Flower Pavilion.
The moment she appeared, every man’s gaze fell upon her.
Zhou Yuanyuan possessed an extremely alluring face. She wore a long water-red dress that trailed along the ground, covered with a thin gauze of the same color, faintly revealing the lines of her shoulder blades.
As the music began, she started to dance.
She gently raised her right hand. The long sleeve slipped down, revealing a fair wrist.
A white jade bracelet slid along her arm, lightly striking near her elbow with a crisp sound.
The sound landed perfectly on the rhythm of the drums, and she began to spin.
Her flowing dress blossomed in motion like a fully blooming peony, layer upon layer…
Zhou Yuanyuan’s dance was indeed beautiful, mesmerizing the men below.
Ye Wudu only glanced at her a few times. His attention remained fixed on Liu Long.
Though the courtesan queen was impressive, compared to Murong Wanyin, she was far inferior… not even half as striking. At best, she was on the level of Gu Shuang’er.
Having spent so long beside someone as breathtaking as Murong Wanyin, his standards had naturally risen far above ordinary men.
Ye Wudu stared at Liu Long, his gaze gradually turning cold.
Enjoy your last night…