“So, that is the way of things.”

Han Lie nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing slightly as he continued his line of questioning.

“That Young Master Mu from earlier… with his righteous aura and imposing presence, he must hold quite a high status in Qin Yang City, I presume?”

“You have a keen eye, Daoist,” the matron replied, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “That Young Master Mu is the son of the Minister of War of the Great Qin Dynasty. He is certainly not someone us common folk can afford to offend.”

The matron clearly didn’t dare to gossip too much about such powerful figures. She quickly steered the conversation back to business.

“Daoist, let’s return to the matter at hand. What kind of young lady do you prefer?”

“Someone understanding,” Han Lie said, a wicked glint in his eyes. “And thoroughly wanton. The more wild, the better.”

The matron gave a knowing smile, her face lighting up with understanding.

“This Senior understands perfectly. Please wait in the room for a moment, Daoist. I will go make the arrangements for you right away!”

The matron led Han Lie into a luxurious guest room, poured him a cup of hot, fragrant tea, and then respectfully withdrew.

Han Lie didn’t drink the tea. Instead, he surveyed the room with a critical eye.

The furnishings were elegant yet simple. However, what caught his attention was a small bathing pool, about three square meters in size, hidden behind a heavy silk curtain. Steam rose gently from it, carrying the scent of herbs.

“Heh, it seems the services here are quite comprehensive.” Han Lie grinned.

It was no wonder this was a premier establishment within the second ring of Qin Yang City. Brothels with private bathing pools in the guest rooms were a rare luxury.

Not long after, a soft knock echoed on the door.

“Come in.”

After receiving Han Lie’s permission, the door creaked open. A woman with an alluring figure stepped inside.

She wore a seductive, translucent green gauze dress that did little to hide the smooth, creamy skin of her shoulders. As she moved, the fabric flowed like water. She gave a slight bow, her voice dripping with honey.

“Xiao Qing greets the Daoist. I hope I meet your expectations?”

Han Lie looked Xiao Qing up and down, his gaze stripping away what little modesty she had left.

Her figure was curvaceous in all the right places, a masterpiece of soft peaks and valleys. Her face was delicate, possessing an innocent charm that contrasted sharply with her attire. But what was particularly captivating were those long, pristine jade-like legs, clearly visible beneath the hem of her semi-transparent gauze skirt.

“Not bad. You’ll do.”

“Thank you, Daoist.”

Xiao Qing smiled, unleashing a myriad of charms. “Then I must trouble the Daoist to settle the bill first. Xiao Qing will begin serving you right away.”

“How much?” Han Lie raised an eyebrow.

Based on his past life’s experience, he knew there were places that required payment upfront. If pressed, they would claim it was a management rule. In reality, it was to prevent guests from enjoying themselves and then feigning poverty. Or rather, to filter out those who couldn’t afford to play.

“Three thousand Spirit Stones covers all services.”

Xiao Qing extended three slender, jade-like fingers, her expression remaining sweet and inviting.

Han Lie promptly paid the three thousand Spirit Stones without haggling. He was curious to see exactly what kind of tricks a service at this price point could offer.

After accepting the Spirit Stones, Xiao Qing’s smile became even more bewitching.

She brought over a chair and guided Han Lie to sit. Then, she began to dance.

It wasn’t a rigid performance. She moved around him, her body swaying like a willow in the wind. It was a dance of interaction—a brush of her sleeve against his cheek, a fleeting touch of her hand on his shoulder. She showcased her proud figure from every angle, yet remained just out of reach.

Xiao Qing was clearly an experienced veteran of the Gentle Fragrance Pavilion. She understood that for men, the hint of what lies beneath is far more fatal than the naked truth. The glimpse is what stimulates the senses.

Every time Han Lie reached out to grab her, Xiao Qing would gently, playfully push him away, evading his grasp with a giggle. She had his psychology completely figured out.

Han Lie was fully aware of these little tactics. But he was happy to play along. He was here to enjoy himself, and he had a particular fondness for women who knew how to play these psychological games.

After the dance concluded, leaving the air thick with tension, Xiao Qing brought over a zither.

Her jade-like fingers lightly plucked the strings, playing a soft, tranquil melody that seemed to seep into the bones. Under the influence of the music, Han Lie’s mind and body unwittingly relaxed, the fatigue of travel melting away.

Once the song ended, Xiao Qing looked up, her eyes shimmering.

“Daoist, would you like to take a bath first?”

“Hmm.”

Having traveled with Zhuo Hongyi for nearly ten days, washing off the dust of the road sounded appealing.

Xiao Qing led Han Lie to the bathing pool behind the curtain. She gestured for him to raise his arms and then proactively began undressing him, her movements gentle and practiced.

After he entered the warm water, Xiao Qing sat on the edge of the pool. She scattered fresh flower petals onto the surface, the red blossoms floating like little boats around him.

“May I ask your esteemed name, Daoist?” she asked softly.

“No need for ‘esteemed.’ My surname is Lin.”

“So it is Daoist Lin.” Xiao Qing fawned, her voice low and husky. “I’ve met quite a few cultivators, but someone like Daoist Lin—with such an immortal air and such a steady, reserved bearing—is truly a first for me.”

“Heh.” Han Lie gave an ambiguous chuckle, neither accepting nor rejecting the flattery.

While chatting idly, Xiao Qing covered the water’s surface with a layer of red petals. Then, she leaned over the edge of the pool behind Han Lie, dipping her jade-like hands into the water to massage his shoulders.

“Daoist Lin,” she whispered directly into his ear, her breath carrying the scent of orchids. “Has anyone ever told you that your Yang energy is exceptionally abundant? It radiates from you like a furnace.”

“Heh,” Han Lie chuckled lightly. “Isn’t that just stating the obvious?”

“It truly is,” she cooed. “I can feel the heat on my skin.”

After washing his chest, Xiao Qing stood up.

She did not remove her dress.

Instead, with the green gauze still draping her body, she stepped directly into the bathing pool.

The water soaked the fabric instantly, turning the translucent gauze transparent. It clung to her skin like a second layer of silk, revealing every curve, every dip, and the rosy hue of her skin beneath. It was far more erotic than nudity.

The moment she entered, Han Lie reached out, grabbed her small hand, and pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

“Daoist Lin, there is no need to be so impatient,” she teased, her slender finger tracing the line of his chin. Her seductive red lips curved into an enchanting smile. “Let me help clean your body first.”

Han Lie smiled slightly, closing his eyes to immerse himself in the experience.

Regarding this shared bath service—if full marks were ten, Han Lie would give it an eight.

Not only did Xiao Qing provide excellent service, but she also knew exactly how to tread the line. She pushed the boundaries of allure without breaking the illusion, making the experience skyrocket in value. Just this bath alone made him feel the three thousand Spirit Stones were well spent.

Following the bath were over ten more flirtatious services, continuously refreshing Han Lie’s understanding of what the professional industry in the capital could offer.

Finally, they moved to the bed.

Just as Xiao Qing prepared herself for the main event, positioning herself to receive him, Han Lie stopped her.

“What’s wrong, Daoist Lin?” She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.

“We can skip this step,” Han Lie stated seriously. “Miss Xiao Qing, please use another method instead.”

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Qing understood immediately.

Perhaps he thought she was unclean? Or perhaps he was preserving his essence? Such things happened often enough in her line of work. Some customers spent large sums of money without actually performing the final deed; they enjoyed the process, the domination, and the release, regardless of the method.

“As you wish, Daoist.”

obedient to his instructions, she switched tactics immediately, lowering her head to serve him in a different manner.

…

Approximately three hours later.

Xiao Qing let out a long sigh of relief, collapsing onto the bedding. Even though the “main event” hadn’t happened, she felt physically drained, her jaw sore and her body limp.

“Daoist Lin’s Yang energy exceeds my expectations… it is terrifying,” she murmured breathlessly, lying weakly against his chest. “Whoever becomes your cultivation partner in the future… must be incredibly fortunate to handle such power.”

“Heh. So far, no one has been able to withstand This Senior’s advances.”

At least in this aspect, Han Lie possessed both absolute confidence and the capability to back it up.

“Mmm~ I can tell.”

It wasn’t flattery or fawning. Looking at the monster of a man beside her, Xiao Qing was simply stating the truth.