Li Guanqi merely found it amusing; he had not expected this modest Minning Cloud Boat Dock to be such a mixed bag.
Among the crowd just now, there were thieves, scouts casing targets, gamblers, swindlers—all walks of life from every walk of the underworld had gathered here.
If some naive fledgling truly arrived at a place like this, they would likely end up losing even the clothes on their back.
The shops and street vendors along the sides were not simple folk either.
Sitting aboard the cloud boat, Li Guanqi watched the clouds flit past beside him. Beyond the cloud layer lay an even more breathtaking scene.
Sunlight washed over the clouds, turning them into a boundless sea of gold stretching as far as the eye could see.
In the distance, cloud boats heading in other directions could be seen gliding past.
At this moment, the cloud boat was a full thousand zhang above the ground. Reclining in a beast-pelt chair, Li Guanqi felt an even deeper longing for flying upon a sword.
The journey from here to Wangyue City would take an entire day; they would arrive around nightfall.
The boatmaster had begun leading his men through the vessel to collect the fare.
It was not cheap, but neither was it exorbitant.
A full eight low-grade spirit stones.
Everyone obediently paid their spirit stones, and Li Guanqi drew his out as well.
To his surprise, the boatmaster, a man with a face full of fierce muscle, walked up to Li Guanqi, bowed, and cupped his fists.
He said in a hushed tone, "Young master, your fare is waived this time. Let's make friends—consider it a favor, a free ride on my boat."
His words were exceptionally polite. Li Guanqi smiled faintly and turned his hand over, putting his spirit stones away.
Then he drew out a small jade bottle and pressed it into the boatmaster's hand, leaving no room for refusal.
"A portion of Qi Refining Powder. Neither of us owes the other anything."
The boatmaster had intended to decline, but the moment he heard it was Qi Refining Powder, he hastily stuffed it into his sleeve.
A flattering smile plastered across his face, he said, "Understood! Please rest, young master. If you need anything, just say the word."
Li Guanqi let out a cold laugh inwardly. The boatmaster clearly recognized his background and wanted to latch onto the connection.
With ties to the Great Xia Sword Sect, no one at Minning Dock would dare compete with him for business in the future.
*He's clicking his abacus beads so loud that even a blind man like me can hear it.*
Before long, the boatmaster personally had a selection of fresh fruit and pastries prepared and sent over to Li Guanqi.
The man was sensible; now that he had accepted the Qi Refining Powder, he dared not harbor any further schemes.
These were the unwritten rules of the Jianghu.
If he took the goods and still tried to borrow a tiger's skin to wave as his banner, he would have to weigh whether his own bones could endure Li Guanqi coming to settle accounts later.
Night fell.
The cloud boat docked at a brightly lit harbor.
Li Guanqi stepped off the cloud boat and cupped his hands slightly toward the boatmaster without saying another word.
Looking up, he found Wangyue Dock bustling with extraordinary energy. Cloud boats of all sizes had formed long queues.
Merchants came and went in droves. Moreover, there were many women in the market, and the shops mostly sold silk fabrics and brocades.
Li Guanqi carried a massive sword casket on his back. His white robe and handsome features drew the gazes of numerous young maidens.
Yet when they noticed his pure white eyes, many could only shake their heads and sigh with regret.
He had a pair of peach-blossom fox eyes fringed by exceptionally long lashes.
Every time he closed and lifted his gaze, it seemed as if he could steal away a person's soul.
A woman embroidering inside a shop suddenly let out a soft cry.
She looked down at her bleeding finger, yet she still unconsciously turned her head to search for that departing figure.
By then, however, Li Guanqi had already stepped off the dock and entered Wangyue City.
"Chilled pudding, three wen! Chilled pudding, three wen a bowl!"
"Sesame cakes, get your sesame cakes!"
"Braised duck noodles! Braised duck noodles! Steaming hot braised duck noodles!"
"..."
The calls of street vendors rose and fell without end, and crowds packed the streets.
The avenue, a full three zhang wide, was bustling with people, and the shops lining both sides were at least two stories tall.
The brightly lit street was lively beyond measure. The antique architecture and the streams and canals flowing along the roadsides filled Li Guanqi with novel wonder.
To reach the shops beside the water, one had to cross numerous covered corridor bridges spanning the streams.
Pleasure boats drifted along the canals, carrying the faint sounds of chanted poetry and song, as well as the melodious laughter of women.
Li Guanqi smiled faintly and murmured under his breath, "This place is certainly brimming with the warmth of the mortal world."
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he asked for directions and immediately headed in that direction.
Walking along the street with chest puffed out and head held high, Li Guanqi even visited the city's Treasure Pavilion to exchange for a substantial hoard of gold and silver.
The heavy weight of the gold and silver gave him a profound sense of security. This time!
He was definitely going to see that place his grandfather had spoken of—the place said to be even more mysterious than the Great Dao!
Along the way, an adorable-looking young woman approached from the opposite direction, her eyes glued to his face from the start.
As she drew near, she suddenly stumbled, pitching forward toward Li Guanqi.
"Oh my!"
Without a second thought, Li Guanqi flashed aside, reappearing over a zhang away.
*Thud...*
The woman hit the ground, a look of pain on her face. Unable to contain herself, she shouted at Li Guanqi's retreating back, "Why did you dodge?! What's the rush, do you have urgent business or something?!"
A gentle voice drifted back leisurely: "Indeed I do. I have business—listening to tunes at a pleasure house."
He left behind only the stunned woman, who bit her lip in frustration.
"You... you bastard!"
At the Drunken Flower Pavilion in the city.
Li Guanqi had just stopped outside and barely found his footing when four stunning women pulled him into the establishment.
"Oh my, you're a new face, young master! Is this your first visit? My name is Qinghe."
"You are quite handsome, young master. Is this your first time in Wangyue City?"
"What a sturdy build... Young master, how about I keep you company today free of charge?"
In the mere three zhang from where he had halted to crossing the threshold, Li Guanqi felt as though their hands had touched him all over.
With his eyes half-closed, Li Guanqi could not help but sigh inwardly. *No wonder Grandfather always said the mortal world disturbs the heart, yet these willow quarters are the finest places to temper it.*
*Today, let me taste the suffering of tempering the heart!*
Stepping into the Drunken Flower Pavilion, the main hall was utterly uproarious.
Li Guanqi frowned slightly. The woman named Qinghe beside him instantly understood and whispered softly, "Young master, if you find it too noisy down here, the smaller lounge on the second floor is much quieter, though it costs a bit more silver.
"And the private suites on the third floor are even better suited for privacy and conversation."
Li Guanqi smiled faintly, surprised by the woman's sharp intuition.
"Find a spot on the second floor where I can look down on the main hall."
Then Li Guanqi said gently, "Sisters, let Qinghe accompany me alone today. I shall spend time with the rest of you another day."
The three other women showed looks of disappointment, but they still kept beaming smiles on their faces, saying, "Next time for sure, then!"
Li Guanqi glanced left and right while listening in all directions, thinking to himself:
*This truly is an excellent place to gather information. People from every walk of life are here.*
Upon reaching the second floor, Li Guanqi did not grope or fondle the woman as other patrons did.
Tossing out a hundred taels of silver at will, he told her to arrange some wine and snacks as she saw fit, asking only that she remain by his side to pour his wine.
With just a casual sweep of his gaze, Li Guanqi was drawn to a youth of similar age to his right.
Chapter 55