Lin Dong and Zhong Lin were thoroughly stunned.
So their so-called tempering of the heart in the mortal realm was just visiting a brothel!
And to think both he and Lin Dong had harbored high hopes for whatever cultivation method Li Guanqi and Ye Feng had in mind.
Looking at Lin Dong standing bewildered on the spot, Zhong Lin gave a wry smile from the side. "All right. Seeing as it's New Year's and we're already here, let's just head inside."
Lin Dong, however, remained rooted in place and scratched his head awkwardly. "Um... this must be really expensive, right?
"How about we just forget it? You guys go ahead, and I'll head back to rest."
Standing by the entrance, Li Guanqi saw his embarrassment and sent a soft mental transmission: "Don't overthink it. A single spirit stone in your hand is worth a hundred taels of gold in the mortal realm.
"Besides, we're only going in to drink some wine and listen to music. It's not as complicated as you think."
Lin Dong froze for a moment, muttering under his breath, "One stone? A hundred taels of gold?"
Zhong Lin chuckled beside him. "What else did you think?"
Lin Dong said with an aching heart, "Then doesn't that mean the spirit stones we use up in daily cultivation are worth tens of thousands of taels?"
Li Guanqi fell silent for a moment. He truly understood Lin Dong's feelings; after all, he too had once fretted endlessly over a few bits of broken silver in the mortal world.
Yet having followed his grandfather Su Xuan for eight years, his state of mind had changed considerably during that time.
He no longer attached so much importance to worldly possessions. If one had money, there was a way to spend it; if one had no money, there was a way to get by without it.
In the end, Li Guanqi chuckled softly. "Never mind. Let's just wander around and take in Tianyu City."
Hearing this, Lin Dong breathed a slight sigh of relief, and the others merely exchanged glances without saying anything.
The group strolled through the streets of Tianyu City, browsing here and there.
Whenever they came across an interesting snack along the way, they bought a bit to try.
Just then, Li Guanqi's nose twitched slightly as a delicate fragrance wafted toward him.
With his eyes closed, turning this way and that through the winding alleys, he arrived in front of a stall selling osmanthus cakes.
The woman sitting on a small stool behind the stall rose to her feet at once, smiling as she said softly to Li Guanqi, "Young Master, would you like to try some osmanthus cake?"
Li Guanqi paused slightly. He had never seen a woman so pure and unworldly, like a green lotus rising unstained from the mud.
Her demeanor was gentle and serene, bearing none of the bustling mundane world's dust.
Her black hair was wrapped in a teal silk scarf, and she wore a plain gray robe.
Her eyes were clear as a pool of spring water, while her slender, jade-like fingers were red from the cold.
As her ruby lips parted over pearly teeth, she softly asked with an inquiring look, "Young Master?"
Looking at the steaming osmanthus cakes, Li Guanqi smiled slightly. "Four portions. We'll eat them now."
"Guanqi? What are you up to?"
Ye Feng and the others caught up with him, and catching sight of the woman looking up, they all froze for a second.
None of them expected a mortal woman to possess such an ethereal bearing.
While the others were dazed, Li Guanqi had already paid and gestured for them to move along.
Ye Feng tugged at his sleeve and said excitedly, "What a beauty! Who would have thought the mortal world held a woman of such extraordinary grace?"
Even Zhong Lin, who had seen many beauties, couldn't help chiming in. "Indeed."
As for Lin Dong, his face was beet red, who knew what thoughts were running through his head.
Li Guanqi took a bite of osmanthus cake and murmured, "Delicious."
Picking a tavern at random, they ordered some food and wine and relaxed together.
Seeing that Zhong Lin and the others seemed somewhat dispirited, Lin Dong finished eating and gave an honest, sheepish grin. "How about... we go after all?"
Ye Feng burst into loud laughter, throwing an arm around Lin Dong's shoulders. "That's the spirit! We're immortals cultivating the Dao to soar into the heavens—why worry about mortal wealth here?
"Take my word for it, this is definitely an exercise in tempering the heart!"
Li Guanqi said nothing. It was good that Lin Dong could figure things out on his own; not boxing himself into corners would benefit his future cultivation.
Still, he intended to keep an eye on Lin Dong's condition. If Lin Dong truly became infatuated with such pleasures, Li Guanqi would definitely give him a wake-up call.
As for his claim of tempering the heart in the mortal realm, it wasn't empty talk—because he really only listened to music!
It was also a test of self-control, even if no one would believe it if told.
By the time they returned to Qingxiao Pavilion, the place was already packed to the brim.
Several women by the entrance were dressed in gaudy splendor, thick with the scent of rouge and powder.
The moment they saw the four young men, they swarmed forward, but the group declined them with calm, subtle gestures.
Only Lin Dong flushed crimson with embarrassment, going so far as to circulate his cultivation method to force himself to calm down.
Seeing that every seat in the main hall was occupied, Li Guanqi asked softly, "Do you have a private room with a better view?"
The madame beside them took one look at their extraordinary bearing and understood at once.
Her face bloomed into an ingratiating smile. "Young Masters, you've come at just the right time! There's one private room left on the second floor.
"Please, Young Masters, right this way upstairs."
Then she turned around and immediately barked an order: "Have the guests in Earth Three clear out! Quick!"
The waiter said with a troubled expression, "Uh... Room Three is occupied by Young Master Zhou and his friends from the city..."
The madame waved her hand impatiently. "Tell them to get the hell out! Immortal masters have arrived!
"If they're not afraid of divine retribution, they can go right on squatting in that room!"
Having said that, she muttered with a puzzled frown, "Plenty of immortals have come to town lately, but I haven't heard of any disciples visiting a brothel..."
"Hurry up and serve them properly!"
"Aiyo, Zhi'ang! You're finally here! Hurry up and change your clothes~"
The madame hurriedly led the woman toward the backstage.
When Li Guanqi entered the room, he saw several servants still clearing the tables.
The group saw through the situation but tactfully kept quiet, standing by the doorway and looking down at the main hall below.
On the elevated stage in the main hall, six graceful women were dancing with fluttering elegance.
The accompanying music was soft and gentle, and the women's dance showed off their exquisite figures to perfection.
Silks flitted through the air, and paired with their sultry, bedroom glances, they drew waves of applause.
Leaning against the railing, Zhong Lin chuckled softly. "These women have clearly put great effort into their dancing. Not bad at all."
Lin Dong kept his eyes tightly shut, circulating his cultivation technique to suppress the turbulent emotions churning inside him.
Opening his eyes, Lin Dong couldn't help but furrow his brows and say solemnly, "A place for tempering the heart! It truly lives up to its reputation!"
Once they went inside and sat down, they casually ordered some specialty dishes.
Ye Feng tossed over a spirit stone and said casually, "Bring some good wine as well. Keep the rest as a tip."
Taking the spirit stone, the waiter broke into a beaming smile, bowed, and withdrew.
Shortly after, a line of women filed into the room.
Li Guanqi smiled and said, "No need. You may all leave. We are only here to listen to music."
The waiter dared not step out of line and quickly signaled for the women to withdraw.
Right at that moment, the melodious, lingering notes of a zither suddenly rose from downstairs!
*Zheng! Zheng!*
Chapter 119