"Teacher Li, how did you end up getting into a fight when I had left for only a mont?"
"It's not as though I wanted to fight with them…"
I nodded: "Leave it to ."
Su Xiao was still thumping my chest from my arms. That combined with his drunken look resulted in our people calling a creep with their gazes and the opposition ridiculing …
I'm getting tired of those looks! Would I have to put on this act if it wasn't for you?! How was I supposed to predict you'd destroy the roof during the brief window I went to collect intelligence?! Had I returned a tad later, this inn would be on fire!
We engaged in an eye-contact exchange, surveying one another, albeit their disciples checking out my third mistress. I couldn't bla them; I an, look at him. To my chagrin, he refused to stay in role and persisted he was a male even though there was a lot on the line. Ever since hearing Su Xiao declare he was a man, Young Master Ling stared intently at the forr.
In the voice of a stuck-up young master, I scorned, "Hmph, never seen such a pretty boy, have you?"
"Ew!"
Those behind : "Shaless bastard."
Shut up! This is all for the bigger picture, right, Ye Luo?! Hey, stop pretending! I heard a girl's voice, and you're the only girl in our group!
Young Master Ling was the only one who didn't hesitate to voice his opinion: "Rosy lips, white pearls, delicate and unblemished skin, curvaceous hips and slender thighs, nice. What a rare catch, indeed. You picked up the entire package. You have my admiration."
Oi, oi, oi, Professional, don't scare ! Aren't you Mount Lu Sword Sanctuary's Young Master Ling? Since when did you guys start raising gigolos?! Wait… I heard the next successor refused to marry, let alone have children, when he's already twenty or thirty. Don't tell it's you! Oh, I get it now. I was befuddled why a thirty year old man who was never part of Demon Sect or never had to fill in as a Fuma for sobody else!
Sh*t , I just discovered a secret of the martial world at the inn! Oh, I don't see any junior sisters with him, either. Yep, it's confird. He's gay! Control your eyes! You're scaring Su Xiao! Oh, don't lick your lips! Last chance before I hit you!
Elder Shou cleared his throat and brought the conversation back on topic: "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Young Master Zhong. May this old one ask what you are going to Huzhou for? What might it be that you hired the escort for?"
"That's what you wanted to know?" I waved a hand: "The carriage is actually empty."
The various groups were alard after hearing my response. I elaborated, "The real job is to escort this one and his third mistress!"
I saw stupefied looks flit across faces. Lie Shang asked, "She's okay. I an, she's still worth it, but why would you be worth dirt? Why do you need bodyguards?"
I rolled my shoulders forward: "I am an exalted individual. My clan is influential and our business is colossal, yet I am the only successor. It's tough being tall, handso and rich. Please don't hold it against , escort team."
"Your clan is influential, and your business is colossal? What does your family do for business?"
I was going to blow my trumpet louder, but Emperor Yuansheng used ventriloquism to tell , "Hey, uh, Young Ming… can I have a word with you…?"
I released Su Xiao and rested an arm on His Majesty's shoulder: "Teacher Li, feel free to speak."
Emperor Yuansheng fought tooth and nail to maintain his smile. Continuing with ventriloquism, he worriedly inquired, "Young Ming, they are all adepts in the martial world. Are you sure you can handle this?"
I draped my arm over Emperor Yuansheng's neck and pulled him in. With a delighted look on my face, I replied, "What other choice do you have? You have torn the roof down. We can only take it step by step now."
"You need help?"
"I do. Please lend sothing."
Emperor Yuansheng passed what I asked for. After stealing a glance at the people behind , he worriedly reminded , "Keep the bragging reasonable."
"Don't worry. I have worked as a reliable professional for twenty years already," I said as I waved my hand. I took a step forward and declared, "My Zhong Clan's business has branches at every place in the nation. I can't explain the intricacy and scale in a few agre sentences. Just bear in mind that I am an exalted individual."
I reached into my shirt and pulled out a perfect, legendary luminous pearl the size of an egg. Emperor Yuansheng prepared it and similar precious items as gifts to ask Luo Sword Manor to succour. The pearl was enough to buy any mansion along Vermillion Street in the capital. If it was used for business, you could buy an entire street.
The various sects could tell the pearl was worth a lot of money, helping convince them I was wealthy. Elder Shou, nevertheless, stroked his beard and expressed, "Zhong Clan, Zhong Clan… Which Zhong Clan in Luoyang might that be? This old one heard there are many wealthy clans in Luoyang, but the wealthiest clan is Huang Clan. This old one has not heard of Zhong Clan being extraordinarily wealthy."ie Shang laughed: "Exposed! Huang Clan is the richest clan in the entire nation. Don't tell your clan is even richer than theirs."
"Did you listen to what I said? I said I am the wealthiest young master; I never said we were the wealthiest in Luoyang. Huang Clan's daughter is the only one who married into the palace as a concubine. Their male descendant is only ten; you think he can match ?"
Elder Shou followed up: "Who is your clan's current patriarch, Young Master Zhong? This old one has not heard of your clan."
My eyes darted side to side as I scoured my brain for a response. I cald down and replied, "Uh, my father is Zhong… Hualiu. He ca from Beiping and is now running the family business in Luoyang."
Shifu, I didn't an to na you, "I contracted a sexually transmitted disease". If you're watching from heav-, I ant… I was just improvising. I apologise.
They all started searching their database for Zhong Hualiu, while I was thinking, "Don't bother. As if there's anyone called 'I contracted a sexually transmitted disease'."
The young ones couldn't recall anyone with the na. Elder Shou, however, said, "If this old one's mory is still working, he t soone with the na thirty years ago. Oh, yes!"
What the hell? Are you for real?! How?!
"Thirty years ago, there was a man by the na of Zhong Hualiu in the pugilistic world."
"Yes, yes, my father was active in the pugilistic world thirty years ago."
Elder Shou looked at bewildered: "He was a burglar."
For a second, everyone held their breaths and looked at bewildered… Long Zaitian jeered, "Now you've done it! That's what you get for making up nas."
Cornered, I had to use my profound ace: a cordial smile.
"An exalted individual?"
I smiled.
"… A burglar?"
I smiled.
"… They got rich stealing from people?"
I smiled.
"But wouldn't he be asking to be arrested if he hired an escort?"
I smiled.
"He turned a new leaf?"
I nodded with a smile: "Yes."
Fuck sakes, you finally ca up with an explanation for ! Take your ti, will you?!
"This old one does rember he turned over a new leaf." Elder Shou elaborated, "The reason this one said he was a burglar was because this old one was acquainted with him after he quit stealing. He robbed orthodox and unorthodox sects back then utilising to his advanced qinggong. This old one fought him once, and he certainly was hard to keep up with. He was a money monger; however, he never hard or bullied the people. He was a thief with morals. Unfortunately, he eventually t his match after a hero chased him over fifty kilotres, and he failed to outrun the hero. He quit stealing henceforth and turned to business, starting from scratch. He did build up a big business, indeed."
I was sweating the entire ti I listened! I wondered if the old man saw through my disguise and rely made up the story to save my behind. Howbeit, he then said, "This old one heard he had a son with the na Ning…"
… Oh, sh*t, so it was Zhong Ning's old man? You scared , man! Zhong Ning, why would you fuck your family over when you ca from a rich family, man?! Why go raping girls when you had deep pockets? You're a one-of-a-kind idiot.
I cleared my throat: "I, uh, am the younger one. My brother is pretty much done. I'm taking the reins."
"Oh, I see," comnted Elder Shou. "That explains your wealth. Mr. Zhong's business really does spread to every corner of the nation, after all."
I finally smiled without my heart in a knot: "You flatter , Elder. My clan and family business truly is vast and enormous. I would be happy to have you over as guests at so point."
Elder Shou started to look nostalgic as he recalled the past: "Mr. Zhong's acun exceeds what words could do justice. When I t him, he was broke. Later on, his growth was comparable to flowers blooming after rainfall. His ambition was to beco the Central Plain's wealthiest business. Judging from his son's aura, I would say he was quite successful."
"You flatter us. It is all thanks to our vast and strong network of brothers," I said, spouting pointless hogwash. As if I knew Zhong Huaili was so successful. I tapped Tang Ye on the shoulder. I then hooked my arm around Emperor Yuansheng neck again to show we had a strong brotherhood: "I have Brother Tang and Teacher Li here to thank for all the years of hard work. Right? Right?"
"Oh, yes, yes. We work well with Young Master," said the Emperor.
"Yes, yes," replied Tang Ye, trying to keep up.
Initially surprised, Elder Shou raised a thumb after: "Impressive Young Master Zhong! This old one always thought brothel proprietors kept it strictly within the family. This old one never thought you would be willing to delegate so enthusiastically. Like father like son!"
The Emperor: "Huh?"
Tang Ye: "Hmm?"
: "ow, ow, ow?"
Su Xiao stared at : "Brothel?"
"Of course. You don't know what your master does? Mr. Zhong opened the first brothel thirty years ago. His record was eighteen brothels along Yangtze River. They called it Yangtze's Eighteen Rejuvenation Centres! Thanks to the martial realm's people propelling their success, Mr. Zhong beca known as King of Flower Kingdom. He was gigolo king of the Central Plain!"
I could sense piercing gazes on . My last resort was to use Mount Daluo's ntal cultivation style to sm-sm-, how the hell was I supposed to smile?!
Zhong Ning! What the fuck, man?! Your old man ran brothels!!
Notes:
*I contracted a sexually transmitted disease – It's written 中花柳, which is a homophone for 钟花流. The second one can be an actual na, the first one… never. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to na your son that since nobody would know unless he wrote his na.
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