Chapter 10

Outside the Yan Feng Tower, guests entered in twos and threes.

At a corner of the street, there were two young men, dressed simply but neatly.

“Old Wang, are you really going in? Just sitting down for a cup of tea costs one tael of silver, and we earn only one tael after two months of hard labor!” The two young men looked at the Yan Feng Tower, where the alluring figures of the courtesans could be faintly seen.

“I can take care of myself without worrying about my family. As long as I can hear the ‘Autumn Fairy’ play a tune, it will be worth it. Are you coming or not? If you don’t go, I will.” A man with thick eyebrows and big eyes urged.

“I, I still have to support my family. No, I won’t go. If Yingzi finds out, she will definitely scold me.” The other shorter and stockier man hesitated and shook his head.

“Your yellow-faced wife? She scolded you all night last night, and you picked up a nobleman’s money bag, which the nobleman rewarded you with one tael of silver. Your yellow-faced wife doesn’t know! Let’s go, let’s go.”

“You go, it’s too expensive.”

“You won’t regret it.” The man with thick eyebrows and big eyes immediately strode forward and quickly entered the Yan Feng Tower.

The stocky man watched from a distance, feeling itchy inside. Finally, he gritted his teeth and turned to leave: “One tael of silver can buy more meat, making life a bit easier. Yingzi will be very happy to see one tael of silver.” Thinking this, the stocky man’s face also showed a smile.

Qin Yun and Tian Bo rode their horses to the entrance of the Yan Feng Tower.

“Master Tian, it’s been a long time since you last came. Please, please come in.” A rather attractive madam called out loudly. This madam must have been a beauty in her youth, and a pimp immediately came forward to lead the horses.

“We’re going in.” Tian Bo dismounted and led Qin Yun inside.

“Please come in, guests.” The madam led them warmly.

A young and petite servant girl immediately came to greet them: “Master Tian, please come in. Is this gentleman your first time at our Yan Feng Tower?”

“This is Master Qin. Arrange a position closer to the stage for us.” Tian Bo instructed.

“Don’t worry, we wouldn’t dare to neglect Master Tian’s instructions.” The servant girl smiled.

The Yan Feng Tower consisted of five buildings: the main building, the East Building, the South Building, the West Building, and the North Building. The main building usually welcomed guests from all directions, while the other four buildings were reserved for nobles and wealthy guests.

At this moment, Qin Yun and Tian Bo entered the main building and were led to a position near the railing.

The railing surrounded a central stage, where musicians played behind it, and two courtesans were dancing gracefully on the stage.

“Brother Yun, these are just ordinary girls. Later, famous courtesans will come out. We are quite close to the stage.” Tian Bo said as they sat down. There was a small table in front of them, and Tian Bo, very familiar with the place, said, “Bring out the fruits and pastries, and brew a pot of tea.”

“Go quickly.”

The young servant girl helped brew the tea and instructed other servants to bring the fruits and pastries. She then naturally began to massage Tian Bo’s shoulders: “Master Tian, does Master Qin need a sister to attend to him?”

“No need.” Qin Yun said. Having traveled the world for six years, he naturally understood the rules of the brothel. In a place like the Yan Feng Tower, the servants only provided services like shoulder massages and leg rubs, but did not sell themselves.

“Will Little Frost come out tonight?” Qin Yun asked.

“Xie Shuang changed her name when she entered the brothel.” Tian Bo said, “Her stage name is now ‘Dust Frost.’ She entered to pay off a debt, so the Yan Feng Tower often has her meet guests.”

“Dust Frost?” Qin Yun whispered softly, feeling a sharp pain in his heart. The young girl from back then was now forced into the brothel.

Inside the Yan Feng Tower, seating arrangements were also important.

The wealthy and noble guests either sat in private rooms, which were more secluded but farther from the stage, or they sat closer to the stage, where beautiful servant girls would massage their legs and feed them fruit. The seats at the back were much smaller, and only the most basic tea was served without any attendants. That was the lowest cost of one tael of silver!

...

Time passed.

On the stage, performers took turns.

As the sound of the flute rose, the most famous courtesan of the Yan Feng Tower, Qingqiu, dressed in green, sat quietly and played. The flute’s sound was low and gentle, peaceful and soft, like a lament, drawing people into a dream. The hustle and bustle of the world seemed to fade away, and even Qin Yun was captivated and listened quietly.

When the flute music stopped, Qingqiu stood up, holding the flute in her delicate hands, and turned to leave.

“Where is the Autumn Fairy?”

“It was like a dream. When the dream ends, the Autumn Fairy is gone.”

Many people around them felt a sense of loss and sighed, while others were amazed. A young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes in a corner seat was particularly excited: “To be able to hear the Autumn Fairy play a tune, it’s worth it, it’s worth it.”

Qin Yun nodded slightly, acknowledging the remarkable skill.

“The Autumn Fairy’s flute playing is even more extraordinary. I think she will win the title of Flower Queen this time.”

“Is the title of Flower Queen so easy to win? Since the Autumn Fairy came to our Guangling city, she has only been selected as one of the top three in the last two Flower Queen selections, but has never won the title.”

“Last year, Xiangyi could surpass the Autumn Fairy and win the title. The year before, the ‘Dream Pavilion Master’ also won the title, which was very unfair.”

The discussions around them were lively.

“Selecting the Flower Queen?” Qin Yun knew that Guangling was a city of hundreds of thousands of people, and selecting the Flower Queen was a grand event. All the famous brothels would strive to win, and even just entering the top ten among the courtesans would greatly increase their fame. In the brothel world, fame meant silver.

“The Yan Feng Tower is also striving to win the title of Flower Queen. The Qingqiu girl we just saw is the top courtesan of the Yan Feng Tower.” Tian Bo said, “She was originally from an official family, but her family fell into decline, leading her to the brothel. However, she quickly gained a great reputation. The Yan Feng Tower brought her from the Wu region, and even though she is a famous courtesan, she remains free to leave whenever she wants. To see the Qingqiu girl, one must pay a hundred taels of silver, and even then, it depends on whether she is willing.”

“The Yan Feng Tower is doing everything to help Qingqiu win the title of Flower Queen, but unfortunately, she hasn’t succeeded in the past two years.” Tian Bo shook his head.

“What about Little Frost? Is she participating in the selection?” Qin Yun asked.

“Xie Shuang, when she first entered the Yan Feng Tower, didn’t have enough fame to be a candidate. Last year, she became a candidate but didn’t make it into the top ten.” Tian Bo said, “This year, there’s no hope either, as she is only ranked fifth in the Yan Feng Tower.”

Qin Yun nodded and didn’t say more.

Although there were plates of pastries and sliced fruits in front of him, Qin Yun didn’t touch them, only drinking tea. After two cups, he finally saw:

“Huh.”

A spirited figure in red flew out from behind, a sword slicing through the air, and finally landed gracefully on the stage.

The ‘Dust Frost’ girl of the Yan Feng Tower, performing a sword dance!

“Little Frost.” Qin Yun’s hand tightened around his teacup. The girl who was only thirteen when they parted was now nineteen, a young woman.

The young Xie Shuang, innocent and carefree in her youth. If her father’s death was due to a long illness, she was mentally prepared. But the death of her only relative, her older brother Xie Lei, was a huge blow. She had to step forward to compensate the family of the deceased man, and eventually sold herself to the brothel to raise the money.

“Grown up, a young woman.” Qin Yun whispered, noting the significant changes in Xie Shuang.

Her eyebrows were bold and full of spirit, and even when wielding a sword, she exuded a sense of sharpness. However, her demeanor always carried a faint sense of fragility.

Her spirit and fragility were fused into one.

“The sword techniques I taught her have been transformed into this.” Qin Yun shook his head lightly, feeling a mix of emotions.

As the music played, Dust Frost turned and thrust her sword, catching sight of the table in this direction.

Dust Frost was taken aback.

That figure... the man sitting with Tian Bo...

Memories flashed through her mind.

“Little Frost, this sword technique should be performed like this.” The young Qin Yun, only thirteen at the time, was teaching her.

“Brother Yun, I got it, I got it. I’ll try it again for you to see.” The eleven-year-old Xie Shuang, excited, wanted to try again.

“You must practice well. Your brother Yun is now at the realm of man and sword as one, even more skilled than your big brother.” Xie Lei, who was already quite strong at fourteen, laughed heartily.

...

Dust Frost’s eyes welled up with tears.

Qin Yun also looked at her.

Their gazes met, and Qin Yun smiled and nodded slightly.