Chapter 361

Chapter 361: Meeting

Standing once again at the entrance of The Spring Pavilion, Wang Chen felt like a seasoned traveler.

Having weathered many hardships and transcended the mundane, the colorful handkerchiefs fluttering throughout the building failed to stir even the slightest ripple in his heart.

The only thing that piqued Wang Chen’s interest was the upcoming Hongxiu Brothel songstress gathering that would take place in this very brothel tonight!

“The honored guest has arrived, please come in!”

As soon as Little Guizi spotted Wang Chen at the gate, he immediately flashed his signature sly grin: “The private room has been prepared for you!”

The letter of crane paper Wang Chen received earlier was indeed sent by him, with the sole purpose of keeping Wang Chen, this esteemed guest, around.

Today, Little Guizi’s service attitude was far more attentive than yesterday.

Wang Chen speculated that this change in demeanor was due to the generous reward he had given to Miss Lian.

But it didn’t matter much to him.

Guided by Little Guizi, Wang Chen arrived at a private room on the third floor.

The main building of The Spring Pavilion stood five stories high, with a large performance stage set up in the front hall. Because of the central courtyard layout, every floor had a good view of the musicians and maidens’ performances.

Though it was still a while until dark, the stage in the hall had already been beautifully decorated, with formation masters adjusting formations and the surrounding lights creating a mesmerizing display.

It was clearly an Illusion Array.

Numerous guests had already taken their seats around the stage, and the atmosphere was quite lively.

The topic of conversation revolved around the night’s Hongxiu Brothel songstress gathering.

The history of the Hongxiu Brothel songstress gathering went back a long way, held once every three months and organized by the top ten maiden halls of the brothel, selecting the season’s flower crown winner.

Wang Chen found this intriguing, which was why he had changed his mind and returned to The Spring Pavilion.

After settling into the private room, he asked, “Are you sure Miss Lian will participate in tonight’s songstress gathering?”

“Little Guizi wouldn’t dare deceive the honored guest.”

Little Guizi quickly replied, “This is Miss Lian’s first time attending the songstress gathering. She said that true friends are hard to find, so she doesn’t seek to win many flower pins, only hoping the honored guest will come to listen to her perform a song.”

Wang Chen asked, “Flower pins?”

Little Guizi took it upon himself to explain the rules of the Hongxiu Brothel songstress gathering in detail.

Wang Chen quickly understood.

The so-called flower pins were essentially monthly tickets cast by the audience, and the total votes determined who would be the winner.

All the guests attending the songstress gathering tonight received a basic free ticket, but if they wanted to cast more votes, they would need to spend spirit stones; ten spirit stones could buy one flower pin.

Typically, those who became the seasonal flower crown winner had backing from alliances or wealthy patrons!

“Miss Lian truly did not invite you for flower pins.”

Little Guizi, fearing that Wang Chen might misunderstand, emphasized: “She knows her appearance is not striking and feels unworthy to face esteemed guests. She attends this songstress gathering merely to fulfill her wish, hoping for a friend who appreciates her talent to witness it.”

Wang Chen nodded: “I understand.”

Little Guizi bowed to Wang Chen and said, “Little Guizi thanks the honored guest.”

Wang Chen waved his hand and inquired, "How long have you known Miss Lian?"

He observed that the young man before him was utterly devoted to Miss Lian, sparing no effort for her sake.

Little Guizi offered a bitter smile. "Yes."

They were childhood sweethearts, bound by shared hardships and mutual understanding.

Little Guizi was born to one of the maidens of The Spring Pavilion, with no knowledge of his father, and by the age of three, he was a true orphan.

In the year of his birth, a baby girl, swaddled in cloth, was abandoned at the gates of The Spring Pavilion.

The infant was fair and delicate, her charm only marred by a ghostly scar on her face.

No one wished to adopt her.

Eventually, a solitary old woman who worked in The Spring Pavilion took her in, naming her Miss Lian.

So young, yet so unloved!

Growing up together in The Spring Pavilion, Little Guizi and Miss Liani never harbored any disdain for each other, instead forming a bond akin to siblings.

From a tender age, Miss Lian exhibited a natural talent for music and song, which led her to become a songstress at The Spring Pavilion.

However, her ghostly scar made others wary and reluctant to request her performances.

Little Guizi went to great lengths to bring in patrons, helping Miss Lian meet her performance quotas.

The Spring Pavilion enforced strict KPI assessments; failure to meet the minimum standards meant expulsion.

After hearing this, Wang Chen remarked, "It’s not easy."

All beings endure suffering, and even cultivators are not exempt; each has their own burdens to bear.

"Indeed."

Little Guizi scratched his head, suddenly realizing he had divulged much to Wang Chen.

He had laid bare many of his innermost thoughts and feelings.

Despite his cleverness and cunning, he was still a teenager, and the sudden exposure left him feeling embarrassed and anxious. He quickly excused himself, "I’ll check the kitchen to see if your snacks are ready."

Watching the boy’s hasty retreat, Wang Chen couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

He had subtly employed a technique from the Supreme Mysterious Spirit Dragon Technique to draw out the boy’s thoughts, ensuring he wasn’t being led into a trap.

Wang Chen had been studying the Supreme Mysterious Spirit Dragon Technique for some time, but due to environmental constraints, his progress in this profound technique was slow, with no significant breakthroughs yet.

At that moment, Wang Chen realized that Lian City, nestled in the vast marshes with its abundant mist and spiritual energy, was an ideal place for practicing the Supreme Mysterious Spirit Dragon Technique!

Unfortunately, he was scheduled to depart for the West Sea Sect in ten days.

Oh well.

Wang Chen pondered, resisting the urge to rent a cave for cultivation.

After all, the time was too short; gaining a few experience points wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Better to enjoy the present!

As evening fell and the lanterns were lit, The Spring Pavilion was already filled to capacity, adorned with festive decorations and buzzing with excitement.

The atmosphere was electric!

The Illusion Array on the performance stage was fully activated, projecting the images of the songstresses into the air, creating a near-holographic effect that left the audience in awe.

After a short while, a short, stout performer and a tall, lean one took the stage, smiling as they entertained the crowd with a segment of "casual talk," using humor and exaggerated gestures to elicit hearty laughter.

Though it was merely a warm-up, Wang Chen found it thoroughly engaging.

It was akin to a comedic routine, with the performers sharing amusing anecdotes from Lian City, enhanced by witty dialogue and exaggerated performances, maximizing the comedic effect.

This world, though one of cultivation, boasted a vibrant entertainment industry. Wang Chen, who had previously immersed himself in rigorous training, had never ventured into such venues, missing out on some of life’s pleasures.

After the two performers concluded their act to the audience’s cheers, the first session of the Hongxiu Brothel songstress gathering officially began, with one songstress after another taking the stage to present their performances to the eager audience.

It was truly a spectacular show!