Chapter 239: Are You So Great Because You Have Money?

Hearing him say that, Zu'an was genuinely intrigued. He wondered just how beautiful Qiu Honglei had to be to drive so many men crazy.

There was no need to mention Ji Dengtu, that old pervert.

Even Chu Hongcai, who was usually cold and expressionless, now looked completely infatuated.

The three of them then spurred their horses on towards the Immortal Abode. Although Zu'an hadn't ridden much before, he had at least seen others ride. Coupled with his improved physical condition from cultivation, maintaining balance wasn't difficult.

Along the way, both Chu Hongcai and Chu Yucheng seized every opportunity to inquire about Chu Chuyan's specific injuries.

Zu'an understood their intentions and skillfully deflected their questions with jokes every time.

Before long, Zu'an followed the two men to a street where the air was filled with an inexplicable fragrance.

Chu Yucheng, standing beside him, winked and said, though his small eyes, buried in his chubby face, were hard to discern: "Flying Heaven New Lane is home to far more than just the Immortal Abode. This street has hundreds of brothels of all sizes, truly a man's paradise."

"Hundreds?" Zu'an was dumbfounded. Did Moonbright City really have such a massive consumer market?

While Moonbright City was large, it was still far from the international metropolises of his previous life. The population density in cities in this world was also much lower than in his past, and many people were poor and lacked spending power. Could there truly be enough customers to support such prosperity here?

"You wouldn't understand," Chu Hongcai interjected, his face filled with pride. "Moonbright City is renowned far and wide for its prosperity. It's also a crucial transit hub for goods from several surrounding prefectures and counties, and especially known for its local salt and iron production. Its wealth is recognized across the land. Not only does Moonbright City have a large population, but trade routes from all directions are also constantly bustling, driving the rise of various industries and creating the current prosperity of Moonbright City."

Zu'an generally understood. It was quite similar to ancient Yangzhou in China.

"With ten thousand strings of cash at one's waist, ride a crane to Yangzhou."

He wondered how many ancient people yearned for such a life.

Moonbright City was now in a similar situation.

He looked down the street, and indeed, it was filled with colorful, varied buildings. Many scantily clad young women leaned halfway out of windows, some covering their mouths with soft laughs, others boldly and unrestrainedly inviting. Their methods for attracting customers were as diverse as the Eight Immortals each displaying their unique powers.

Chu Yucheng took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Even the air is permeated with an indescribably ambiguous sweet fragrance, likely the natural scent of these ladies. This truly is a man's paradise."

Zu'an couldn't help but say, "Are you sure it's not just a lot of cosmetics?"

This fatty usually seemed gentle, kind, and quite endearing, but it turned out he was quite the seasoned veteran.

Chu Yucheng was speechless.

He had been brimming with fervent inspiration, feeling ready to compose some poetry, but Zu'an's comment immediately stifled it all.

Zu'an took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. While Flying Heaven New Lane boasted many brothels, the first thing that caught one's eye upon arriving was undoubtedly the Immortal Abode.

A multi-storied building rose majestically, its grandeur and scale far surpassing all other brothels nearby.

Zu'an noticed it not because of its exquisitely carved beams and painted pillars, with every architectural detail worthy of being designated a cultural heritage in his previous life; nor was it because the three characters "Immortal Abode" on the plaque above the main entrance were written in a magnificent, flowing calligraphic style, clearly the work of a master.

Rather, it was because the area near the entrance was already swarming with people, countless individuals wildly shouting Qiu Honglei's name.

Zu'an secretly clicked his tongue in amazement. This scene was comparable to a popular celebrity appearing in a bustling city in his previous life. What's more, Qiu Honglei hadn't even shown her face, yet these people were going crazy.

Didn't they realize that the goddess they so madly adored would ultimately become a plaything for the powerful?

Chu Hongcai exclaimed with delight, "Fortunately, we came early today; there aren't too many people yet."

Zu'an blinked, looking at the bustling crowd ahead, and thought, "Big brother, do you perhaps misunderstand the meaning of 'not many'?"

As if sensing his confusion, Chu Yucheng explained with a smile, "These are just onlookers on the periphery; they can't even enter the Immortal Abode. So, Second Brother isn't wrong; we are considered early. We can go secure a good spot later."

As he spoke, he began pushing his way into the crowd. His body, covered in fat, was a size larger than an average person's. In the family competition, his fighting style was like a small tank. Now, against ordinary people, clearing a path was effortless.

With a shove of Chu Yucheng's chubby hand, the people in front were sent stumbling.

His actions naturally drew a chorus of curses, but noticing his formidable strength, they only dared to grumble verbally.

Seeing the dense crowd around him, Zu'an's eyes darted. These were all living 'Rage points'; how could he let them go so easily? So, he began to shout:

"Hey, Losers, move aside! You can't even get in, so what are you all crowding around for, blocking the way?"

Although they had never heard the word "Losers" before, language often conveyed meaning intrinsically. In this situation, everyone seemed to instinctively grasp his mocking tone, and they were instantly enraged.

Rage points from Loser A: 99!Rage points from Loser B: 99!Rage points from Loser C: 99!

Seeing the rage point notifications in his backend, Zu'an secretly sighed. "How pathetic, mere extras not even worthy of names."

Watching the enraged crowd surge towards them, Chu Yucheng continuously wiped the sweat from his forehead. Being chubby, he was prone to sweating, but he knew these particular beads of sweat were from fright, caused by the fellow behind him.

Even Chu Hongcai gripped the sword in his hand tightly. Although their cultivation was far superior to those around them, he understood the principle that even many ants could kill an elephant, especially since there were quite a few cultivators within the crowd.

Both men cursed inwardly in unison. "This guy's brain is truly scrambled. How did Cousin Chu Chuyan ever fall for him?"

Rage points from Chu Hongcai: 222!Rage points from Chu Yucheng: 222!

Fortunately, as they neared the entrance, guards from the Immortal Abode came out to assist, blocking the enraged crowd for them.

Just then, an indignant voice from behind them said, "Hmph, so what if you have a bit of smelly money? Does that mean you can do whatever you want?"

Hearing this, Zu'an immediately stopped, turned around, and smiled at the young man. "We can enter, while you can only watch enviously. Sorry, but yes, with money, you can do whatever you want."

As he spoke, he adopted a classic shrugging, mocking pose.

Rage points from Loser A: 199!Rage points from Loser B: 199!Rage points from Loser C: 199!

Seeing the rage points continuously scrolling in his backend, even more than before, Zu'an almost burst out laughing. He finally understood why villains in movies and TV shows from his previous life would utter such blunt and rude lines.

Because... it truly felt good!

Grinning, he put his arms around Chu Hongcai and Chu Yucheng's shoulders. "You should bring me to lively places like this more often."

Provoking just one person wouldn't yield many rage points, even if he harried them bald.

But in a crowded scenario like this, a casual provocation could net tens of thousands of rage points.

"Alright... alright..." Chu Yucheng pulled out a handkerchief and continuously wiped the sweat from his cheeks, thinking, "I'd be crazy to invite you again next time."

The guards of the Immortal Abode, also concerned that he might cause another incident and incite a riot among the crowd outside, hastily led their horses away and guided them inside, ushering them in with a flurry of activity.

As they entered, Zu'an's peripheral vision caught sight of the shimmering river water not far away, and only then did he realize that the Immortal Abode was built backing onto the Moonbright River.

Faintly, he could also see pleasure boats moored along the bank.

"Aren't there buildings here already? Why so many boats then?"

City dwellers certainly knew how to have fun.

Zu'an lamented that his imagination was still not vivid enough.

"How much silver does it cost to meet this Qiu Honglei?" Zu'an had just noticed that both men had presented exquisitely made invitations to the staff at the entrance, which allowed them to enter without hindrance.

"Entering doesn't cost anything," Chu Yucheng said, wiggling his eyebrows and giving Zu'an a knowing look. "The Immortal Abode sends invitations to prominent figures in the city and to its long-term regulars. Each invitation allows you to bring a companion. As for subsequent expenses, that depends on how you choose to amuse yourself."

The more Zu'an looked at this fat guy, the more he resembled Qiao Shan.

Zu'an secretly grumbled, then suddenly remembered what the other person had just said, and his mood instantly soured.

The Immortal Abode had sent invitations to all influential figures in the city, even to branch family members like Chu Yucheng and Chu Hongcai, yet he, the son-in-law of the main family, had received nothing!

Were they looking down on him that much?

He might as well not stay in this Immortal Abode!

With a dark expression, he turned to leave.

"Zu'an, what's wrong?" Chu Yucheng was startled and rushed over to ask him.

Zu'an snorted coldly. "The Immortal Abode didn't even send me an invitation, clearly showing they don't value me. Why should I humble myself for them? No matter how beautiful that courtesan queen is, is she as beautiful as my wife? Forget it, I'd rather go back and admire my wife."

Hearing his words, people in the hall turned their heads, wondering who was so ignorant of their own limits to dare claim here that Miss Qiu was not as beautiful as his wife.

Was his wife a celestial fairy?!

A group of men, already eager for a chance to show off in front of Qiu Honglei, now had an opportunity delivered right to them.

"Who's so shameless? Your wife..." A few of the closest men stood up, ready to confront him, but then they clearly saw Zu'an's appearance. Their faces instantly turned ashen, as if they had eaten excrement, and the rest of their sentence was swallowed back. "Apologies for the disturbance."

This fellow's wife truly was more beautiful than Qiu Honglei. After all, Chu Chuyan was publicly acknowledged as the most beautiful woman in Moonbright City. No matter how stunning Qiu Honglei was, her status was far inferior.

At that moment, in a private room on the second floor, a young man with rosy lips and white teeth saw the scene through a curtain. He couldn't help but lightly scoff, "So crude and unrefined, acting like a ruffian. I can't imagine what Chu Chuyan sees in him."

His voice was soft and pleasant, and even when angry, he spoke unhurriedly, exuding a refined scholarly air.

At this point, a handsome man beside him offered a wry smile. "Sister, don't be fooled by his appearance. This young man is far from simple. Beneath his unrestrained demeanor lies a calm and cunning mind."

If Zu'an had been there, he would certainly have recognized the handsome man as Xie Xiu, the City Lord's son, and the beautiful young man with rosy lips and white teeth beside him as none other than Xie Xiu's sister, disguised as a man.