Chapter 46

The night in Hangzhou was always resplendent and magnificent.

Hangzhou, where countless pleasure seekers gathered, was a city without night, with its numerous brothels and the waves of colorful lanterns.

Amidst the splendid streets of Hangzhou, a group of people was moving.

The rowdy ruffians, who had been causing trouble among the drunkards, turned pale and quickly made way when they saw the group approaching.

The group, which had captured everyone's attention, stopped in front of the most luxurious and largest of the many brothels lining the street.

It was the Xianxiang Lou, known as the "First Tower of Hangzhou."

Soon, the sound of a door being slammed open echoed, and the head of Xianxiang Lou, Chao Luzhu, rushed out in his slippers.

"Oh, welcome! We are truly grateful for your return to our Xianxiang Lou!"

He had rushed out, abandoning his meal, upon hearing that the man who had been causing a stir throughout Zhejiang Province recently had arrived at the establishment.

"It's been a while, Chao Luzhu."

Liu Xinyun smiled and spoke.

However, Chao Luzhu's expression was tense in contrast.

He swallowed hard.

The reason for his severe tension was one.

He had heard the rumor that the man before him had cut off the arm of the son of the Yellow Green Escort Agency.

'Could it be that he has come to take revenge for my subtle disrespect...?'

A chill ran down his spine out of fear.

Suddenly, Liu Xinyun placed his hand on Chao Luzhu's shoulder.

Then, he spoke in a playful tone.

"Chao Luzhu, did I make you feel neglected recently?"

"Y-Yes?"

Chao Luzhu stammered, taken aback.

Just as he was worrying whether he would end up like a cripple, Liu Xinyun said something unexpected.

"Ha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I've been so busy that I didn't even have time to come here. Come, let's cheer up. If we keep this up, I'll be the one feeling neglected."

With a smile that made him look like a thug, Liu Xinyun began to resemble the ruffian in Chao Luzhu's memory.

"H-Haha, how could I ever feel neglected by our young master, or rather, our Duke? I'm just delighted to be able to serve you today."

"Haha, as expected, I can't resist your eloquence, Chao Luzhu."

"Then, where would you like to be entertained today?"

"Come, I haven't had a day as pleasant as today recently. I've brought a lot of money, so let's have a proper time in the annex today!"

"Y-You mean the annex?"

Liu Xinyun's words made Chao Luzhu jump in surprise.

The cost of spending a night at Xianxiang Lou, the most luxurious place in Hangzhou, was exorbitant.

Among them, renting the annex in the inner garden was the most expensive.

It was a choice that only renowned merchants or high-ranking officials could easily make.

Liu Xinyun's expression changed instantly at Chao Luzhu's reaction.

"... What's that reaction? Don't tell me you think I can't afford it?"

"N-No, I would never think that. If it sounded that way, I'm truly sorry."

As a murderous glint appeared in Liu Xinyun's eyes, Chao Luzhu shook his head frantically.

However, Liu Xinyun's expression did not change.

Swish.

Thud.

Liu Xinyun gestured to the back, and four martial artists, completely covered in black robes, stepped forward.

'Damn, this is how it ends!'

Please, let it be quick and painless.

He closed his eyes tightly, sensing his end.

But no matter how much time passed, he felt no sharp pain in his neck.

Chao Luzhu opened his eyes slightly.

'What!'

When he opened his eyes, he was shocked.

In front of him, a box was filled with a pile of shining silver.

"Is this enough? Now, bring me some wine and women quickly."

The annex of Xianxiang Lou operated as a separate building.

It meant that only one customer would be served in a grand hall as large as Qingyun Pavilion.

Inside the room, 27 kinds of delicacies were spread out, and numerous beautiful women were serving wine, playing music, and dancing.

Although their faces were smiling, they were inwardly dreading the return of the worst troublemaker.

Liu Xinyun, drunk and with his eyes half-closed, was shouting loudly.

"So, you see! When that idiot was in shock after learning that his subordinate had done such a thing, I—"

He stood up from his seat, disheveled, and continued, holding a chopstick like a knife and waving it in the air.

"I did this! Shashashak! I rushed in and cut off his arm, I tell you. Hahaha, the sight of him screaming as he saw his arm fall to the ground was so funny."

The courtesans struggled to maintain their fake smiles as Liu Xinyun laughed, clutching his stomach.

From what Liu Xinyun said, it was clear that he had ambushed the man, and the fact that he was so pleased about it made them look at him with disdain.

One of the courtesans turned her head to glance at the door and quietly asked.

"... But those brothers keep standing outside the door, don't they?"

She was uneasy because the four bodyguards Liu Xinyun had brought had not moved an inch outside the door.

"Tsk, don't worry about it. No matter how much they drink, they won't even blink. Damn, where did Dao Jinwu get such men?"

Liu Xinyun finished speaking and glanced at the door, then muttered to himself.

"... They treat my words like shit and only listen to Dao Jiaozhu. Damn bastards."

"Yes?"

The courtesan had heard everything but pretended not to.

"Ugh!"

"Kyaa!"

Liu Xinyun embraced the courtesans on both sides.

"Hehehe! Let's drink until we die today!"

For the next half an hour, Liu Xinyun drank the famous and expensive wine, Nü'erhong, as if he were pouring it down his throat.

And then.

Thud.

He finally passed out, drunk.

Rumble!

The courtesans who were attending him carefully observed Liu Xinyun, who was snoring.

Then, they stood up, dusted off their clothes, and shook their heads.

"Damn, they say there's no reliable rumor. He's lost weight. He's still a troublemaker."

"He's even worse than before."

"Damn, stealing the escort agency's money to pay for drinks. Tsk, Baiyun Escort Agency won't last much longer."

They whispered to each other for a while and then began to leave the annex one by one.

Rumble!

Liu Xinyun's snoring was the only sound in the room.

Then, at that moment.

Liu Xinyun, who was thought to be unconscious, suddenly opened his eyes.

The only part of his body that moved was his lips, which twitched slightly.

Whoosh.

The shadows in the room rippled.

After confirming that there was no one watching him in the room using Shadow Whisper, Liu Xinyun got up.

"Phew!"

His dilated pupils and flushed face from the alcohol had returned to normal.

'Shall I start?'

Liu Xinyun issued a command.

"Equip title, Bat Lord."

Whoosh!

Although there was no visible change, a mysterious aura was overflowing from his body.

[Bat Lord]

The title given to those who have defeated the Vampire Lord, the king of bats.

- Equip Effects -

1. Mist Doppleganger

2. Silence Wave

He had equipped the title he obtained after defeating Guo Zhushan in the previous battle.

Titles were unique abilities granted by the system to players with a rare probability when they defeated boss monsters or completed quests in his previous life.

Most titles had special effects that could be used when equipped.

Liu Xinyun extended his hand and spoke.

"Mist Doppleganger."

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a thick mist began to spread in the room.

The mist, which quickly enveloped the entire space, began to swirl in one place and form a shape.

And then, when the form was complete.

Another Liu Xinyun, identical from head to toe, appeared.

[Mist Doppleganger]

A mist clone that can exist as long as the title owner's mana is maintained. The clone is immediately destroyed when it takes damage.

Thud.

The doppleganger lay down in the same position as the real Liu Xinyun.

Even if someone entered, there would be no reason to suspect anything.

Whoosh.

Liu Xinyun took out items he had prepared in a small pocket dimension.

It was a black robe that covered his entire body and a bone mask with sharp goat horns on both sides of the head.

Snap.

Inside the bone mask, two eyes filled with murderous intent glowed.

Boom!

Liu Xinyun, hidden in the darkness, quickly left the annex.

Chapter 2

A butcher's shop on the outskirts of Hangzhou.

Although it looked like an ordinary butcher's shop from the outside, strangely, the smell of human blood was more intense than that of animal blood.

"Ugh!"

"Kraa!"

When they descended into the hidden underground passage inside the butcher's shop, loud and horrific screams echoed throughout.

Torches on the walls provided a dim light.

Iron bars were lined up on both sides.

An underground prison, unimaginable in a butcher's shop, was revealed.

A guard with a blank expression was walking through the dungeon.

"Please, please, save me!"

"Kuh! I won't tell anyone!"

As the sound of footsteps approached from outside, the women, whose eyes were covered, were banging on the bars and pleading.

The guard's eyes began to flash with a murderous intent.

Thud!

Thud!

"Kraaa!"

"Kyaa!"

"These stupid women! If you were chosen as a sacrifice to the Demon God, you should be grateful and go!"

The guard began to kick the women.

Their faces became bloody from the blows, which were infused with his inner strength.

After venting his anger, he resumed his task.

Further inside, women with sunken cheeks and limbs as thin as twigs were lying on the ground.

They were barely breathing.

"Give... me..."

"... Give me the medicine."

The women reached out their hands to the guard.

The guard smirked, looking at their hollow eyes.

'This drug is quite effective.'

Just as he was about to take out a poison to kill the women, who were in a state of extreme addiction.

'Huh?'

He felt a strange sensation.

Whoosh.

The sound that had been there suddenly disappeared.

He thought the sacrifices had finally given up, but the absence of even the screams was strange.

Moreover, what had disappeared was not just the sounds.

All the sounds around him had vanished.

"!"

He opened his mouth in shock, but no sound came out.

Feeling an unknown fear, he reached for his sword and turned his head.

Swoosh!

With a chilling sound, his eyes, filled with horror, flew through the air.