Chapter 5

At this moment, Chairman Chen, who had been silent all along, smiled and smoothed things over:

“Let’s drink, let’s drink. We’re all businesspeople here. We came out to seek fortune, not to seek trouble.”

Shi Fengtian looked deeply at the chairman, then revealed a smile and said:

“Since Chairman Chen has spoken, I will naturally give this face. But everyone says that nowadays, only when I, Shi Fengtian, walk the southwestern route is it safe, and it’s unsafe for others to walk. This is unfair.

Where in this world is there a free lunch? Everyone here is shrewd, why pretend to be confused when you understand?

I, Shi Fengtian, can now walk this route because it was carved out through mountains of knives and seas of blood. Besides my own personal guards and followers, I’ve already bought off the three largest escort agencies in the southwest. If it weren’t for spending so much money and effort, where would this so-called broad and smooth road come from?”

At this point, Shi Fengtian’s eyes carried a hint of mockery as he said:

“You don’t think that just by moving your lips up and down, the road will open up, do you? If money were that easy to make, the young men in the brothels wouldn’t have to smile until their faces hurt, and they still don’t earn much, do they?”

Shi Fengtian’s words were clearly mocking those who had earlier accused him of serving with his looks, yet wanted to gain benefits with just a few words.

Previously, these people had used both overt and covert threats and inducements to try to obtain a pass for the southwestern trade route from him, even spreading rumors and slander constantly, using every dirty trick in the book.

Today was even more outrageous, as they had arranged the meeting place at a brothel, clearly intending to use a man’s reputation to deliberately suppress him. If he couldn’t bear the humiliation, these people could naturally take advantage of the situation.

As for whether he might become distraught and take his own life because of this, these people not only didn’t care but would be pleased to see it happen.

The people from the chamber of commerce looked at each other. Master Zhao coughed lightly and said:

“We know that you, young lord, have worked hard and achieved much, but our Guiqian Chamber of Commerce has always been about mutual assistance. How can one person pick all the fruit while others can’t even see a seed?”

Shi Fengtian smiled and said, “The Guiqian Chamber of Commerce is indeed about mutual assistance. I haven’t forgotten how when I first came here, I was cornered by the alliance of the chamber of commerce with nowhere to stand. After all, to you, I was never part of the chamber of commerce.”

The chairman said kindly, “It’s all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Wasn’t that just a case of ‘flood reaching the Dragon King’s temple’? Businesspeople gather friends from all directions, harmony brings wealth. We all understand the rules. As long as the young lord shows some favor today, we will naturally offer ‘road money’.”

Shi Fengtian played with the jade ring on his finger while saying:

“Since Chairman Zhao has spoken, don’t say I’m not giving face. Currently, there’s a trend of drought spreading in the north, and foreign tribes at the border are restless. As long as everyone donates 40% of their profits to the northern civilians and frontline soldiers, I will naturally open the door of convenience.”

Before the chairman could speak, Master Zhao jumped up upon hearing this, angrily saying:

“You have the nerve to ask for 40% of the profits, why don’t you just rob us? We’re businesspeople, not running a charity.”

“Shi Fengtian, we give you face by calling you young lord, but you’re just a mere male after all. You really think you’re a lord!”

“Some lord, men just can’t be trusted to do things properly. As soon as he opens his mouth, he’s worse than a bandit!”

“Right, you’re just a bandit!”

Shi Fengtian didn’t even blink as he said: “Since everyone is unwilling to put up the money, then go walk this southwestern route yourselves, see the good scenery of the world. I’ll take my leave now.”

After saying this, Shi Fengtian stood up to walk towards the door, but he had only taken one step when Master Zhao blocked his way.

“Shi Fengtian, what do you mean? You’re not leaving today without giving us an explanation.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Who do you think we are? You can’t just come and go as you please.”

The people around all surrounded Shi Fengtian, trying to force him to comply.

The corner of Shi Fengtian’s mouth curved up slightly, revealing a mocking smile: “Oh, I didn’t expect this chamber of commerce to be the real den of bandits.”

“Shi Fengtian, you’re asking for death!”

Master Zhao raised his hand, about to slap Shi Fengtian’s face, but his hand was caught by the attendant behind Shi Fengtian before it could land.

A clear sound of bone breaking immediately echoed through the room, followed by Master Zhao’s pig-like screams.

Apart from this, the entire room was silent, as the necks of the surrounding bosses were all being held at sword point by cold, gleaming blades.

At this moment, the door of the private room was opened. A woman entered, dressed in luxurious clothes but carrying an air of rascality, looking every bit like a street hooligan or a small-time mountain bandit.

Yet this person caused both sides to show wary expressions, and even Shi Fengtian signaled his subordinates to lower their swords first.

This person was none other than Huo Bujue, the elder sister-in-law of the Wise King Jiang Lingyu.

Although she was an uneducated wastrel, due to her relationship with Jiang Lingyu, she had always been a local tyrant.

When Huo Bujue entered the room, she was initially frowning, but from the moment she laid eyes on Shi Fengtian, she couldn’t look away. Her eyes seemed to be glued to Shi Fengtian.

A greedy smile appeared on her face: “What’s all this commotion about, everyone?”

Everyone present was clever enough to see that Huo Bujue had taken a liking to Shi Fengtian. Naturally, they wouldn’t mention how they had just been troubling Shi Fengtian. Instead, they laughed it off, saying how the southwestern trade route was blocked and how inconvenient it was for everyone.

At the same time, they started flattering Huo Bujue excessively.

Huo Bujue was elated by the flattery, and with a beautiful person by her side, she immediately patted her chest and guaranteed:

“Don’t worry, everyone. It’s just a bunch of mountain bandits. I’ll have the king send troops to wipe them out!”

The reason these mountain bandits hadn’t been eliminated wasn’t entirely due to the inaction of the surrounding officials.

The main reason was that these bandits usually hid at the borders of the fiefs. The mountain paths were difficult to traverse, and these bandits were cunning. They would come down from the mountains to rob only when they saw a fat sheep, but as soon as they encountered troops sent to eliminate them, they would immediately hide back in the mountains or cross the fief borders, making it difficult to encircle and suppress them.

Moreover, although these bandits robbed, they never killed anyone, and at most, they would only rob about half of the goods, always leaving some for the passing merchant caravans.

So all along, these bandits and the official troops maintained a delicate balance.

No one had expected that just by flattering Huo Bujue a little, she would go and ask Jiang Lingyu to send troops.

For them, this was like a pie falling from the sky.

Just thinking about the extreme love the king showed for the Male Empress Huo daily, no one would doubt the feasibility of Huo Bujue’s words.

Everyone started flattering Huo Bujue again, making her feel extremely pleased.

She smugly said to Shi Fengtian: “I wonder how the young lord will thank me if the bandit suppression is successful?”

Shi Fengtian’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but his face showed no change as he smiled and said:

“Then I will surely thank the lady just as the gentlemen from the chamber of commerce would.”

Huo Bujue revealed a smile that she thought was suave but was extremely greasy, approaching step by step:

“I am the Wise King’s sister-in-law, and you are the son of a marquis family. If we’re serious about it, we’re both royal relatives, and we’re a match made in heaven. Why don’t you marry me, young lord? It would make for a good story.”

As Huo Bujue spoke, her gaze lingered on Shi Fengtian’s body as if trying to strip off his clothes.

This undisguised gaze, like appraising goods, seemed to suggest that the other party was already hers, available at her whim.

Seeing this situation, the people from the chamber of commerce around them immediately started to egg them on, with many people calling for Shi Fengtian to marry Huo Bujue.

Without any matchmaker or betrothal gifts, quite a few people were directly shouting: “Kiss! Kiss!”

Although Shi Fengtian often appeared in public to manage business and family affairs, he was extremely self-disciplined.

If he were to kiss her now, not only would his own reputation be ruined, but his family would also be disgraced because of this.

And his future actions would become even more difficult, as ill-intentioned people would label him as improper based on his past public appearances.

The people egging them on at this moment could be said to have malicious intentions.

The attendant behind Shi Fengtian showed indignation in his eyes and had already placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, but the next motion to draw the sword was stopped by Shi Fengtian.

Shi Fengtian took half a step back, revealing a smile that was both ambiguous and challenging, and said:

“Lady, don’t just talk big here. It only counts when you actually do it. If you just want to take advantage with quick words, I’m not one to be trifled with either.”

Huo Bujue was enticed by this smile, feeling an itch in her heart. She wanted to step closer, but seeing the threat in his eyes and the guards behind him, she showed a conflicted expression.

At this moment, the sound of gongs and drums came from downstairs. It turned out that today’s auctioned flower boy was about to make his appearance.

Huo Bujue revealed a greasy smile of certainty and said: “I’ll find a little brother to warm my bed first, then I’ll take good care of you in our bridal chamber later.”

After saying this, without waiting for Shi Fengtian’s response, she rushed downstairs eagerly.

Seeing that Huo Bujue hadn’t taken further action, the people from the chamber of commerce looked at each other, all showing regretful expressions.

Shi Fengtian’s eyes, dark and unclear, hid disgust: “It’s easy to see the King of Hell, but hard to deal with the little ghosts. If things can’t be done, we can’t stay in this place for long.”

This time, the flower boy’s appearance was very different from usual. There was no singing or dancing for entertainment, nor any talent performances.

But no one complained. In fact, when the flower boy came out, apart from hearing people gasp, there wasn’t a single extra sound heard, not a single unnecessary movement seen.

Because everyone was concentrating on admiring the flower boy’s beauty.

The so-called flower boy was a young man dressed in plain white gauze, confined in a golden cage.

His skin was unbelievably white, with a hint of paleness underneath. Combined with the white clothes and no extra adornments on his body, he should have looked like a cold mountain snow lotus with a melancholic air.

However, he had a blood-red tear mole at the corner of his eye, which immediately brought his whole face to life. He looked like molten lava under an ice mountain, both pure and seductive, truly a matchless beauty.

This person was none other than Mu Sheng, who had been thrown into the brothel by Huo Zhengfu. Today’s auction was for Mu Sheng’s first night.

Just one look at Mu Sheng, without any promotion or buildup needed, as soon as the madam announced the start of bidding, the entire brothel began to call out prices frantically.

The starting price went from one hundred taels of silver to one thousand taels of silver, and finally to one thousand taels of gold.

Money that ordinary people couldn’t spend in ten lifetimes was thrown away carelessly by these wealthy families. Yet no one objected to this, because those who could object wouldn’t be in this brothel.

Just as Mu Sheng was about to be auctioned off to a seventy or eighty-year-old woman with a face full of warts, Huo Bujue suddenly screeched from downstairs:

“I am Huo Bujue, the Wise King is my sister-in-law. Today’s flower boy is mine. I’d like to see who dares to compete with me!”

The madam said with difficulty: “Lady Huo, the rules of Wanhua Tower are that the highest bidder wins. Aren’t you putting me in a difficult position?”

Huo Bujue looked around contemptuously and said: “In this Guiqian, who has more money than our king? You can just go to the royal mansion to collect later.”

The seventy or eighty-year-old woman with a face full of warts, seeing that the beauty was about to fall into her arms, never expected Huo Bujue to show up at this moment.

She gave Huo Bujue a sinister look, but ultimately left the brothel resentfully with her people.

Huo Bujue looked triumphantly at the old woman, then challengingly asked the madam:

“Is there any problem now?”

The madam watched the old woman’s departing figure with worry in her eyes, but still smiled and said:

“No problem, no problem!”

Huo Bujue didn’t bother to notice the expression of the madam who was lowering her head. She was seen laughing loudly as she walked over, kicked open the golden cage, and roughly lifted Mu Sheng’s chin, saying greasily:

“Beautiful one, you completely belong to me now!”

After hearing these words, Mu Sheng revealed a faint smile like a shy flower about to bloom, mesmerizing Huo Bujue into a daze.

But it was in this moment of daze that Mu Sheng suddenly sprang into action, fiercely biting down on Huo Bujue’s neck.