Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

Chapter 10: Chapter 8: Are You Deaf?

Cyan Willow Lane, the Magpie’s Nest.

Little Liuzi really wasn’t lying earlier.

Even if the name was a bit tacky, the two-story building was one of the few brothels in the lane with a proper archway out front, worthy of its reputation as one of the best.

An extra table and two grand-master chairs had been added in the corner, specially prepared for Lin Shu and his companion by the Madam, Sister Hua.

”Master Fox.”

”My surname is Lin.”

”Master Lin...”

Sister Hua might have had some good looks in her youth.

But now her figure was gone, and no amount of thick powder could hide the layers of wrinkles on her face. Fortunately, she had made it to the position of a Madam and no longer had to serve clients herself.

Her face was all smiles as she quietly explained the situation at the Magpie’s Nest.

There were seventeen or eighteen girls in total. The cheaper ones went for seventy or eighty wen, the expensive ones for two or three hundred wen. There was also a virgin they had just taken in, whose first night was priced at three taels of silver.

Sister Hua was explaining all this to make it easier for Lin Shu to calculate the revenue, so he wouldn’t mistakenly think they were hiding money when it came time to take his cut.

She spoke earnestly, but the two men sitting there didn’t seem to be listening.

”...”

Old Yang rubbed his nose, a dazed look on his face.

His mind was filled with the image of the fat man who had just stormed off in a rage.

Mid-stage Qi Cultivation was a term used by those master Cultivators; Old Yang couldn’t really tell the difference.

The only thing he knew was that these important figures could crush him with a flick of their little finger.

Old Yang felt a pang of bitterness.

Lin Shu had finally managed to get out of the South Suburbs and was on the verge of a promising future, only to run into this damned mess, causing that future to quickly grow dim again.

”All right, I get it.”

Lin Shu cut off Sister Hua’s incessant chatter.

He took a sip of tea, uninterested in these matters.

Even at his lowest point in his past life, he had never sunk to the level of making money off women this way.

What Lin Shu needed was the identity that came with being in the Black Water Gang; Cyan Willow Lane was just a starting point.

He never planned on staying here for long.

”Bring something to eat.”

”Right away.”

Sister Hua hurried to turn around, instructing the girls to fetch some pastries prepared for the clients.

Although they were just simple rice cakes, they had plenty of sugar and looked much more appetizing than flatbread and cold steamed buns.

GULP.

When faced with the scantily clad women, Old Yang had managed to keep his eyes straight ahead.

But faced with this sweet, soft food, having been hungry for a day and a night, he instantly lost all reason.

Washing it down with the coarse tea on the table, the old cripple grabbed the rice cakes and began frantically stuffing them into his mouth, swallowing without even taking the time to chew.

Seeing this, Sister Hua’s smile stiffened slightly.

The expressions on the faces of the girls in the room also turned strange.

The Fierce Wolves relied on strength; the Foxes, not being strong themselves, relied on wealth and connections.

Only by being able to summon powerful enough enforcers could they keep control of a place.

This Master Lin was dressed in clothes washed so much they had faded to white, which already contradicted the extravagant image of the Foxes. Add to that the starving-ghost-like old cripple by his side, and his connections also seemed worrying.

After all, Cyan Willow Lane was a very lowly place.

Its patrons included no shortage of local thugs, ruffians, and desperados. Skipping out on bills, theft, and even injuring the girls were all common occurrences.

Without iron-fisted methods, how could one possibly keep them in line?

Not to mention, Lin Shu had just offended Master Tian, making it impossible to ask him to come back and help.

At this thought, a hint of sorrow appeared on everyone’s faces.

”Er.”

Old Yang felt the strange looks from all around him.

His hand, holding a rice cake, paused for a moment.

’It’s over.’

Old Yang had been the lowliest member of the opera troupe, forced to read every expression and situation just to stay alive.

How could he not see that because of his shameful display, Lin Shu had lost all prestige in the Magpie’s Nest?

With that thought, the old cripple, with rice grains stuck to the corner of his mouth and his lips trembling, looked across in shame. ”I... I...”

”’I’ what?”

Lin Shu leisurely swallowed his rice cake and wiped his hands.

Then he casually pushed the plate in front of him over as well, saying lightly, ”Just eat. Don’t overthink things.”

It was as if he didn’t notice the stares from those around them, or perhaps he simply didn’t care.

’Even if I’ve never seen a brothel, haven’t I seen my share of tough situations?’

This sort of thing wasn’t about putting on a brave face when you’re in over your head.

To put it bluntly, the name of the Black Water Gang was enough to intimidate most petty troublemakers.

The ones left over were all hard cases who didn’t fear death, and they wouldn’t be scared off by some superficial display of wealth.

”Finished eating, Master Lin?”

Sister Hua sensed the awkward atmosphere in the room and quickly forced a laugh.

No matter what, he was still a master from the Black Water Gang. Even if he couldn’t bully outsiders, dealing with the girls in the brothel would be a piece of cake for him.

She absolutely could not afford to offend him.

She said with a placating smile, ”It’s still early. How about I arrange for a few of our prettiest girls to help you... wash away the dust of your journey?”

”No need.” Lin Shu couldn’t even be bothered to turn his head.

Worried this was just false politeness, Sister Hua’s smile widened. ”Trust me, I guarantee I’ll arrange for...”

She was cut off before she could finish.

”Filthy.”

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Lin Shu lazily closed his eyes to rest.

That single, simple word made the faces of all the surrounding girls change.

Hearing such a blunt word, they exchanged glances, then lowered their heads and grit their teeth, angry but not daring to speak out.

’A Fox, yet he’s even more arrogant than the Fierce Wolf from before.’

’If he thinks we’re so filthy, then he shouldn’t be making money off us.’

’Besides, when it comes to filth, whose methods of earning silver are filthier than these Foxes!’

”W-Well, you rest then, Master Lin. I’ll get back to my work.”

This time, even Sister Hua couldn’t keep the smile on her face.

She stood up straight resentfully. ”Girls, get up, tidy yourselves, and prepare to receive clients.”

...

The sky finally darkened.

The red lanterns at the entrance to Cyan Willow Lane were lit, casting a hazy glow over the alley.

People gradually began to trickle in.

The girls temporarily suppressed their unease and roused their spirits to welcome clients.

Sister Hua was no longer willing to warmly offer herself only to be coldly rebuffed by Lin Shu, leaving him and the old cripple to sit quietly in the corner as if they didn’t exist at all.

Unlike the more upscale brothels, a back alley like this didn’t need pimps bowing and scraping at the door.

They only needed to push one side of the door open, just enough for passersby on the street to catch a glimpse of the girls inside.

Sister Hua leaned against the back of the door, looking toward the entrance of the lane.

With her sharp eye, she could easily tell who was capable of coughing up more silver.

Just then, a figure in a white silk shirt entered her line of sight.

A young man with delicate skin leisurely paused, a cloth bag held in both hands behind his back, and looked up to study the tattered red lantern overhead.

He was young and handsome, the Jade Pendant at his waist clearly valuable, and his entire being was completely out of place with the coarse-clothed, mud-legged crowd passing by.

A wealthy young master like him would not normally set foot in a squalid place like Cyan Willow Lane.

”...”

Watching him step into the lane, Sister Hua’s breathing suddenly grew heavy.

Her eyes held no greed for silver, but instead were filled with a thick sense of unease.

This was the peak time for customers to arrive.

Sister Hua hesitated for a moment, but she quickly grit her teeth and hissed to Little Liuzi beside her, ”Quick, get the bar! We’re closing the door!”

Under the confused gazes of the other girls, she pushed the door forcefully, trying to shut it.

Only a crack remained.

But a laugh came from outside.

”Sister Hua, not welcoming this young master?”

The slightly juvenile voice seemed to transform into an invisible hand, choking Sister Hua’s neck.

Beads of sweat formed on the Madam’s forehead, and she dared not move another inch.

She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and pulled the door open again. ”How could that be? Young Master Zhang must be joking.”

Hearing that name, the color drained from the faces of all the girls in the room.

At the same time, the young master had already strolled into the room.

His gaze swept casually around the room before he walked to the table and threw the cloth bag he was carrying onto it with a THUD.

”Now, that’s more like it.”

The young master had an amiable smile as he produced a tael of loose silver from his sleeve. ”Same as always. You make the arrangements.”

This was no small amount of silver; even the most expensive girl at the Magpie’s Nest would have to entertain four or five clients to earn that much.

But everyone held their breath and quietly backed away.

This look of resistance was clearly not the proper attitude for receiving a guest.

But Young Master Zhang wasn’t annoyed. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying the sight.

Sister Hua subconsciously glanced toward someone in the corner, but her view was blocked by Zhang Ci’s figure.

According to the rules, this kind of matter should be handled by the master from the Black Water Gang.

But that Master Fox was a newcomer, and with the impression he had left on everyone today...

”Sigh.” She sighed and turned to the side.

”Please, I don’t want to earn this silver.”

As the Madam’s gaze swept over them, the girls’ voices grew choked with tears, and they all shook their heads.

”Come to the back. We’re drawing lots.”

Sister Hua hardened her heart and, with a blank expression, herded them into a room.

A long while later, accompanied by a mournful cry,

the Madam finally emerged from the room with a woman whose face was a mess of tears and snot.

”Good girl, if anything... happens, I won’t take a single coin of the silver. I’ll send it all to your family.”

She closed her eyes and let go of the woman’s hand. ”Go on.”

”GASP! GASP!”

The woman gasped for air, staring blankly at the paper lot in her hand.

The other girls peeked out from the room, their faces showing the sorrow of a fox mourning a dead rabbit.

They watched as the woman walked toward the second floor as if made of wood. Then her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the stairs, her arms gripping the handrail for dear life. She finally snapped back to her senses and shrieked:

”I don’t want to go up! Two people have already died! I don’t want to die—”

Her shrill cry echoed through the room, but no one dared to help her up.

”I remember now.”

Old Yang stared nervously at the table, secretly shuffling closer to Lin Shu.

The cloth bag had tipped over, revealing contents that looked less like kinky little toys and more like grim, blood-stained instruments of torture.

His voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. ”That man is Zhang Ci, the Young Master of the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall. He’s played several women to death in brothels, and his family has always covered it up.”

’No wonder he came to Cyan Willow Lane. His reputation must be so foul that the brothels in the city have all barred their doors to him.’

”Don’t be scared now, be good.”

Zhang Ci showed no signs of blaming the woman.

The smile on his face grew wider, his voice gentle.

”Come on, follow this young master upstairs.”

Zhang Ci reached for his bag, about to help the woman up.

Just then, the hand reaching for the bag was suddenly pinned down.

”Hm?”

Zhang Ci looked back, his gaze finally landing on the young man at the table.

Lin Shu’s expression was as placid as ever, still wearing that lazy look as he said casually, ”The person can go up. The things stay here.”

”Who’s this?” Zhang Ci frowned at Sister Hua.

”This is the new Master Fox from the Black Water Gang.”

Sister Hua never expected Lin Shu to actually step forward at a time like this. She stuttered for a moment, subconsciously bringing up the Black Water Gang.

PFFT.

However, Zhang Ci clearly knew the score. He shifted his gaze back and sneered, ”Uncle Tian already approved this, and you’re saying no? Get a clue, Master Fox.”

As long as the other party wasn’t a fool, the two words ”Uncle Tian” should have been enough.

Zhang Ci tried to pull again, but he still couldn’t move the bag.

The great Young Master of the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall, being thwarted in a lowly place like Cyan Willow Lane, caused his expression to instantly darken. ”Don’t you fucking push your luck when I’m being nice!”

Faced with the curse, Lin Shu finally lifted his eyelids.

He stared at the young master and seriously repeated his words:

”Are you deaf?”

”I said, leave the things.”