On the surface, Cyan Yang City is held by three prestigious families and five prominent clans, but secretly, two external forces are encroaching on its influence, engaging in a fierce dragon-tiger struggle against them.
These two external forces are the Twelve Linked Rings, a notorious gang of water pirates from Jiangnan, and the largest trade association in Yunzhou, the Gold and Silver Pavilion.
They have established the Flood Dragon Gang and Fierce Tiger Gang in Cyan Yang City, aiming to covertly control various businesses with their underworld power.
However, since the three prestigious families and five prominent clans have deep roots in Cyan Yang City and maintain good relations with each other, they have managed the city as solid as an iron barrel, impervious to external influence.
Even though the Flood Dragon Gang and Fierce Tiger Gang are formidable, they can only barely claim thirty percent of the city's territory, which the various families reluctantly ceded due to their associations with the Twelve Linked Rings and Gold and Silver Pavilion.
Members of the Flood Dragon Gang have a flood dragon tattooed on their backs, while members of the Fierce Tiger Gang have a roaring tiger tattooed on their arms, a fact well-known among the families.
But due to Qin Yuesheng's previous situation, he never paid much attention to matters beyond indulgence and entertainment, so he couldn't recall much without clear indications.
Reclining on a wooden chair, watching the dance of the courtesans below, Qin Yuesheng tilted his head towards the young maid beside him and said, "Five hundred taels."
As the time approached midnight, the atmosphere inside the Celestial Immortal Pavilion became increasingly fervent, with many people continually raising their stakes in hopes of having their chosen girl crowned as the courtesan.
In Qin Yuesheng's view, he focused on a woman sitting beside the high platform on the first floor, whose graceful demeanor was captivating.
She seemed to possess the purity of a teenage girl and the allure of a woman in her twenties, making it difficult to guess her age.
Her exceptionally charming appearance, voluptuous figure, and vibrant red robe clearly identified her as the former courtesan.
Being a courtesan, she naturally had some staunch supporters, and Qin Yuesheng observed her calm and composed demeanor, apparently unworried about her courtesan title being snatched away.
He turned to Du Beilun beside him and asked, "Do you know who might support that courtesan?"
Du Beilun immediately responded to Qin Yuesheng's query, "Who else but the second and third brothers of the Qiao family?"
"The Qiao family." Qin Yuesheng instantly understood.
Besides the three prestigious families and five prominent clans, Cyan Yang City also has numerous merchants and gentry, with the Qiao family being one of them. A few years ago, the late Elder Qiao had served as a sixth-rank official in the court, a strength comparable to the five prominent clans. Had they started earlier and ranked among the elite, Cyan Yang City would now have six prominent clans.
However, fame and reputation are mere illusions; even without being ranked, the Qiao family remains second only to the three prestigious families.
Like Qin Yuesheng, Du Beilun, Lu Juncheng, and others have their circle, and the young masters from other Cyan Yang City families have their own.
The younger generation of the Qiao family does not associate with Qin Yuesheng, instead favoring the Huangfu family among the three prestigious families.
"The second and third sons of the Qiao family are twins, born in the same year, month, day, and hour, with identical appearances, figures, actions, and preferences, like conjoined twins. Their biggest competitors in this courtesan contest are certainly these two guys." Lu Juncheng chimed in.
"How much have you both staked?" Qin Yuesheng asked.
Du Beilun: "Sixteen hundred taels."
Lu Juncheng: "A thousand taels... huh? When did you outbid me by six hundred taels, even though I was keeping a close watch on you?"
"Gotcha, I secretly added six hundred taels with gestures." Du Beilun feigned an evil grin, but nevertheless, it looked quite awkward.
"And how much has Yuesheng staked?" Lu Juncheng quickly inquired.
Qin Yuesheng slowly extended two fingers, "Not much, two thousand taels."
Du Beilun and Lu Juncheng spoke in unison, "You really don't consider money as money."
"Look at you two, you're the least qualified to say that."
As midnight approached, all the young maids who recorded the stakes returned to their rooms to tally the final outcome of the courtesan contest.
This was the most exciting time, when all participating courtesans and entertainers stepped onto the high platform, standing neatly like merchandise, allowing the guests both below and above to admire them.
Courtesans referred to those who sold talent, not their bodies, while entertainers sold both.
Often at courtesan contests, more courtesans would win, for after spending so much money, men always wanted to play with someone new.
Under the watchful eyes of all, a fair-faced man dressed in a black robe and golden jacket ascended the high platform, holding a gilded scroll in front.
This man, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, had handsome features, appearing to be between thirty and forty years old. Yet Qin Yuesheng knew his name was Ouyang Haichen, the major owner of the Celestial Immortal Pavilion, who was over sixty yet well-maintained, seemingly mastering the art of youth preservation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming to witness the quarterly courtesan contest at the Celestial Immortal Pavilion. I won't say more unnecessary words and will announce the final results directly."
Ouyang Haichen unfurled the scroll and slowly announced, "The winner of the courtesan title is Liu Ruoyan, with four thousand five hundred taels staked, by the Young Master of the Qiao family."
"Four thousand five hundred taels? That's even more than last time."
"Tsk tsk, tonight the Celestial Immortal Pavilion must have earned more than twenty thousand taels; they're making money like drinking water."
Qin Yuesheng rose and stretched lazily, "Lost, lost, time to wash and sleep."
"Don't rush, Yuesheng, they will also announce the stakes of other women. Only the first place can have the chance to spend the evening together."
Leaning against the railing, Qin Yuesheng replied, "What's there to listen to? I staked three thousand taels here; if anyone dares to say Murong Yuhan isn't the top, I'll go give that person's legs a serious beating."
Du Beilun sweated, "You shouldn't be so domineering. The more we originate with a silver spoon, the less we should bully others by relying on family reputation, and instead humble others by virtue."
At this time, Ouyang Haichen shouted below, "Murong Yuhan, three thousand taels, Young Master of the Qin family."
Qin Yuesheng laughed, "See, I'm definitely the top."
Du Beilun: "Then I must be as well."
"Xie Yanran, two thousand two hundred taels, Young Master of the Li family."
Du Beilun's expression froze for a moment.
Qin Yuesheng turned to look downstairs: "Two thousand two hundred taels, that's quite a bit. Beilun, how much did you bid on the woman you chose?"
No one responded to him.
Instead, excited voices from Lu Juncheng's group could be heard.
"Beilun, don't act rashly, don't act rashly!"
"Yeah, Beilun, acting rashly might feel good for a moment, but don't act rashly!"
"So what if we lost? It's fine, we can find another one; money is not an issue."
Qin Yuesheng turned back and saw Du Beilun standing on a wooden chair, about to rush out.
"Damn it! Who? Who bid a hundred taels more than me? I want to take twenty percent off of him!"
Qin Yuesheng: "..."
As they say, a night of springtime is worth a thousand gold. Whatever Du Beilun wanted to do, Qin Yuesheng didn't have time to care. He was led by a young maid from the Celestial Immortal Pavilion directly to Murong Yuhan's room.
This money was spent, and time was waited out, so naturally, it was time to reap the fruits of victory.
Cao Zhengchun followed three steps behind Qin Yuesheng, holding his own saber and Niu Tao's Fine Iron Sword.
"Young Master, do you need help carrying your saber?" Cao Zhengchun asked proactively as they reached the room's entrance.
Qin Yuesheng patted the Evil-Subduing Saber at his waist and laughed: "There might be a thousand things I can't hold in my hands, but this one thing, I must carry on my person."
"Then I'll stand guard outside the door."
"No need." Qin Yuesheng patted his shoulder: "Go find a girl you fancy, put it on my tab."
"This, this doesn't seem right, Young Master." Cao Zhengchun scratched his head.
"You're smiling so wide your face can hardly hold it, yet you're still holding back." Qin Yuesheng waved his hand: "Go on, get lost, or are you staying outside to eavesdrop?"
"Okay!" Cao Zhengchun immediately left.
Following the Young Master around, if he eats meat, we drink soup, it's not bad.
Pushing the door open, there was a faint fragrance in Murong Yuhan's boudoir.
Like the scent of some flower.
On the bed, Murong Yuhan had changed into a loose long dress, sitting slightly to the left with her legs together.
"Young Master Qin." Murong Yuhan shyly lifted her head to look at Qin Yue.
Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders.
Her little cherry mouth, fresh and dewy.
An ice orchid-like air, a charming demeanor.
Beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful.
Qin Yuesheng approached the girl and lifted her chin with his hand.
"I heard you only perform but don't sell your body. Why are you joining the courtesan competition this time?" Qin Yuesheng asked with an overbearing smile.
"I need money."
"This young master has plenty of money."
"Then I must have met the right person." Murong Yuhan reached out and embraced Qin Yuesheng's waist.
From an angle he couldn't see, Murong Yuhan's hands suddenly underwent a bizarre transformation. Her fingernails grew rapidly like bamboo shoots after a rain, reaching several inches in length within the blink of an eye.
Plop!!!
Qin Yuesheng was completely unguarded. In an instant, his lower back was punctured with ten bloody holes, and a chilling sensation seeped through the wounds, making his waist feel as if it was pressed against a large piece of polar ice.
"You!" Qin Yuesheng was shocked. His instinctive reaction was to punch Murong Yuhan in the face.
But her neck twisted like an eel, narrowly avoiding Qin Yuesheng's arm, and viciously bit into Qin Yuesheng's arm. A mass of worm-like red blood vessels shot out from Murong Yuhan's mouth, all piercing into Qin Yuesheng's arm.
This woman was not human!
In a swift motion, Qin Yuesheng immediately drew the Evil-Subduing Saber from his waist with his other hand and slashed with all his speed. Murong Yuhan seemed indifferent, thinking she could easily dodge as before.
However, what made the Evil-Subduing Saber truly formidable was not its form as a weapon but the material from which it was forged.