Outside the Yan Feng Lou, the wealthy patrons entered in groups of two or three.


    At the corner of the street, two young men stood. Although their clothes were simple, they were clean.


    "Wang Lao''er, are you really going in? Even just sitting down for a cup of tea costs a silver coin. It would take us two months of hard labor to earn that much!" The two young men looked at the Yan Feng Lou, observing the alluring figures visible through the windows.


    "I’m fine. As long as I can hear ‘Qingqiu Xianzi’ play a song, it’s worth it. Are you coming or not? If you''re not, I’m going in alone." A tall, handsome man with thick brows urged.


    "You mean that nagging wife of mine? She’s been scolding me all night. Besides, you got money from a benefactor. They gave you a silver coin, and your wife doesn’t know about it! Let’s go." The shorter, stockier man hesitated before shaking his head.


    "You go ahead; it’s too expensive." The shorter man waved his hand dismissively.


    "Don’t regret it!" With that, the tall man strode towards the entrance of Yan Feng Lou.


    The stocky man watched him go, feeling an itch in his heart. After a moment of hesitation, he turned and followed: "One silver coin could buy more meat. Life would be a bit better. If Yingzi sees it, she’ll surely be happy." A smile crept onto his face as he thought this.


    Meanwhile, Qin Yun and Tian Bo arrived at the entrance of Yan Feng Lou on horseback.


    "Young Master Tian, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you! Please, come right in." A somewhat attractive madam, who had likely been a beauty in her youth, greeted them loudly. A eunuch immediately stepped forward to assist with their horses.


    "We’ll go inside." Tian Bo dismounted and motioned for Qin Yun to follow him.


    "Quick, attend to our guests!" The madam led them with enthusiasm.


    A petite young maid approached them. "Young Master Tian, please follow me. This gentleman is visiting for the first time, isn’t he?"


    "This is Young Master Qin. Arrange a seat close to the stage." Tian Bo ordered.


    "Don’t worry, since Young Master Tian has spoken, we won’t neglect him." The maid smiled.


    Yan Feng Lou consisted of five buildings: the main building, and four others in the east, south, west, and north. The main building welcomed guests from all directions, while the other four were reserved for distinguished patrons.


    At that moment, Qin Yun and Tian Bo entered the main building, where they were led to a table near the railing.


    The railing surrounded a central stage, where musicians played and two dancers performed gracefully.


    "Brother Yun, these are just ordinary girls. Later, the famous courtesans will come out. This table is quite close to the stage," Tian Bo said as they sat down. A tea table was placed before them, and Tian Bo skillfully instructed, "Bring out the fruits and snacks, and make a pot of tea."


    "Yes, Young Master." The young maid served the tea and instructed others to bring the fruits and snacks. She then began to massage Tian Bo’s shoulders, "Young Master Tian, does Young Master Qin need a sister to attend to him?"


    "No need." Qin Yun replied. Having traveled the world for six years, he was naturally familiar with the rules of brothels. In places like Yan Feng Lou, the maids primarily offered services like shoulder massages or leg rubbing; they did not engage in anything more intimate.


    "Will Xiao Shuang come out tonight?" Qin Yun asked.


    "Xie Shuang entered the brothel and changed her name," Tian Bo explained. "Her stage name now is ‘Chen Shuang.’ She came in to repay debts, so Yan Feng Lou often lets her perform for guests."You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Chen Shuang?" Qin Yun murmured softly, feeling a pang of pain in his heart. The girl he once knew had now been forced into a brothel.


    The seating arrangement in Yan Feng Lou was also carefully designed.


    Wealthy patrons sat in private rooms, which were more secluded but farther from the stage. Those sitting closer to the stage were generally served by beautiful maids, who massaged their legs and fed them fruit. The seats in the back were smaller, often offering nothing more than a simple pot of tea with no personal attendants. These were the least expensive options, costing only one silver coin.


    …


    As time passed, various performers took the stage.


    With the sound of a flute playing, the most famous courtesan at Yan Feng Lou, ‘Qingqiu Xianzi,’ appeared on stage. Dressed in green, she sat quietly and began to play. The sound of the flute was soft, mournful, and gentle, as if telling a sorrowful story. It drew the listeners into a dream-like state, making the bustling world outside seem far away. Even Qin Yun couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the music.


    When the music stopped, Qingqiu Xianzi stood and, with her flute still in hand, gracefully left the stage.


    "Where did Qingqiu Xianzi go?"


    "It’s like a dream—once the music ends, she’s gone."


    Many people sighed in regret. The tall, thick-browed young man in the corner exclaimed excitedly, "To hear Qingqiu Xianzi play, it was worth it. Worth it."


    Qin Yun nodded slightly. The skill of her flute playing was truly remarkable.


    "The flute music of Qingqiu Xianzi has become even more exceptional. I believe this time she will win the title of Hua Kui," someone nearby remarked.


    "Winning Hua Kui isn’t that easy. Since Qingqiu Xianzi arrived in Guangling County, she’s made it to the top three in the Hua Kui selection twice, but she’s never won the title."


    "Last year, Xiang Yi won over Qingxiu Xianzi, which was acceptable. But the year before, ‘Ru Meng Ge Master’ won, which was a real injustice."


    Around them, people discussed.


    "Hua Kui selection?" Qin Yun knew that Guangling County was a large city with hundreds of thousands of people. The Hua Kui selection was a grand event! Famous brothels competed fiercely for the title. Just being named one of the top ten courtesans in such a contest would bring immense fame. And in a brothel, fame equaled money.


    "Yan Feng Lou is also fully supporting Qingqiu Xianzi’s bid for Hua Kui," Tian Bo said. "She was originally a daughter of an official family, but her family fell on hard times, and she ended up here. However, she quickly gained great fame. Yan Feng Lou brought her in from Wu County, and even though she’s a famous courtesan, she still has the freedom to leave if she wishes. If you want to meet her, it costs one hundred silver coins, and even then, it depends on whether Qingqiu Xianzi is willing."


    "Yan Feng Lou is doing everything to help her win Hua Kui, but unfortunately, she hasn’t been successful in the past two years." Tian Bo shook his head.


    "What about Xiao Shuang? Has she entered the Hua Kui selection?" Qin Yun asked.


    "Xie Shuang only recently entered Yan Feng Lou, so her fame isn’t big enough yet. She didn’t even make it into the candidate list at first. Last year, she was a candidate, but didn’t make it into the top ten." Tian Bo explained. "This year, there’s no hope. After all, she’s only ranked fifth in Yan Feng Lou."


    Qin Yun nodded without commenting further.


    Despite the snacks and fruits placed before him, Qin Yun didn’t touch them. He simply drank his tea, finishing two cups before something caught his attention.


    "Whoosh!"


    A graceful figure in red dashed through the air. A sword flashed across the sky before she landed gracefully on the stage.


    It was ‘Chen Shuang,’ performing a sword dance.


    "Xiao Shuang." Qin Yun tightened his grip on his teacup. The girl he had parted with at the age of thirteen was now nineteen and had grown into a young woman.


    Back then, Xie Shuang was innocent and carefree. Her father had passed away due to prolonged illness, something she had prepared herself for. But the death of her only family member, her older brother Xie Lei, had been a devastating blow to her. At that time, she had even had to step forward and compensate the family of the deceased man, eventually selling herself into a brothel to gather the necessary silver.


    "She’s grown up, into a young woman now." Qin Yun whispered. Xie Shuang had changed so much.


    Her sword-shaped eyebrows were full of determination, and her movements were sharp and precise. But her overall aura still carried a subtle softness, blending both strength and fragility.


    "It seems my teachings in swordsmanship have been altered in this way." Qin Yun shook his head, his thoughts complex.


    As the music played, Chen Shuang spun around and struck with her sword, only to notice a familiar figure at one of the tables.


    She froze.


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


    Flashes of memories filled her mind.


    "Xiao Shuang, this is how you should perform this move." A thirteen-year-old Qin Yun had said, teaching her.


    "Brother Yun, I’ve got it! Let me do it again for you." Eleven-year-old Xie Shuang had excitedly insisted.


    "Make sure you practice well. Your Brother Yun is now at the level of unity between man and sword. Even I’m not as good as him." Xie Lei, who had been just fourteen


    at the time, laughed heartily.


    ...


    Chen Shuang’s eyes grew moist. She could not stop the tears from welling up.


    Qin Yun looked at her.


    Their gazes met, and Qin Yun smiled gently, nodding slightly.