Speak of the devil, and the devil arrives.
No sooner had Zhao Yingjie finished speaking than a servant entered to announce that the young master from the Ma family had arrived.
"Cousin!"
Trailing the greeting was a towering young man over five-foot-eleven—broad-shouldered, dashing, with sharp brows and bright, starry eyes. His skin even had a translucent, milky glow. Wang Yu could only wonder how on earth he maintained such a pristine complexion amid the grit and dust storms of the Northwest.
"It’s lucky I was in closed-door seclusion when Uncle died, or else I would’ve missed you entirely. What a stroke of luck!"
*Right, so he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed and talks without thinking.*
Wang Yu studied the striking young man before him: the eldest son of the direct line of the Ma clan of Ganliang Prefecture in the Anxi Circuit, the nephew of his nominal mother, and his nominal cousin.
Ma Yinglong!
Whenever Wang Yu recalled this name, a strange feeling invariably crept over him.
"Greetings, little sisters-in-law, and little fatty!" Ma Yinglong waved to Li Yunxiu, Qianqian, and Zhao Yingjie.
"Call me little fatty one more time, and you can kiss the Coiled Dragon Spear goodbye," Zhao Yingjie said through gritted teeth, narrowing his eyes.
"What Coiled Dragon Spear?" Ma Yinglong asked, perplexed. He reached behind his back, pulled out two spear shafts, and snapped them together into a gleaming silver spear nearly two meters long. With a flick of his wrist, he spun a spear bloom the size of a bowl. "Can it compare to my Dragon Gall Bright Silver Spear?"
Zhao Yingjie offered no reply, only a cold sneer.
Ma Yinglong paid him no mind, turning back to Wang Yu. "Cousin, when are you and my two little sisters-in-law getting married? I need to make sure I get back in time."
The leap in topic was so abrupt that Wang Yu could only scratch his head. "When we hold the wedding, invitations will be sent to the Ma family. Where are you heading?"
"I just came out of Ganliang Prefecture, so of course I'm heading to the Central Plains!" Ma Yinglong replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "A journey like that will take a year or two at the very least. Am I supposed to turn back right after stepping out the door?"
Wang Yu scratched his head again. Was this truly the local Northwest custom—to stay away for years every time one left home?
Zhao Yingjie, on the other hand, was not so polite. "Did you pick a fight with your family?"
"I did not!" Ma Yinglong retorted reflexively.
Zhao Rong abruptly appeared at the entrance to the hall. "What on earth is going on?"
"Ahem! Uncle Rong!"
With Zhao Rong present, Ma Yinglong reined himself in somewhat, explaining sheepishly, "I'm just planning to go to the Central Plains to fight Duan Wei again. The Central Plains is enormous; searching for him for a year or two is perfectly normal."
Through Ma Yinglong's narrative, everyone finally pieced together the full story.
The Ma clan was a venerable family in Anxi Circuit, rooted in Ganliang Prefecture for centuries. Famed across the Northwest for their iconic white steeds and silver spears, their legacy had stood firm through every change of dynasty.
Several decades ago, when the Zhao family rose to prominence, the two houses formed a marriage alliance: Zhao Zheng took a daughter of the Ma family as his wife. For decades since, their relationship had remained close. Even after she passed away early, Zhao Zheng never remarried, and the ties between the two houses never lapsed.
Late last year, when Zhao Zheng passed away, the head of the Ma family had come in person to offer condolences.
Because Wang Yu's return date had been uncertain, the Ma clan members could not wait indefinitely. Once Wang Yu finally arrived, it would have been improper to summon them back, so he had never met anyone from the Ma family until now.
Ma Yinglong was the first.
As for Ma Yinglong, he hadn't attended the funeral back then because he had just lost a duel against Duan Wei, the eldest son of the direct line of the Duan family—another prominent martial arts clan in Anxi Circuit.
Within the Anxi Circuit, the Ma clan had always held the upper hand over the Duan family, yet Ma Yinglong had actually lost!
In a fit of fury, the Ma family head placed him under house arrest for an entire year. Ma Yinglong had only emerged from confinement a few days prior, whereupon the family dispatched him to Longshan Prefecture to congratulate Wang Yu on leaving the capital to take up his title and smoothly assume command of the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor.
After winning the duel against Ma Yinglong, Duan Wei had left to travel the Central Plains, visiting renowned masters to spar and exchange pointers, and had yet to return to the Northwest. If Ma Yinglong wanted to win back his honor without waiting around at home, he naturally had to track the man down in the Central Plains.
Of course, there was another reason: after a full year of confinement, Ma Yinglong had nearly lost his mind from boredom and was dying to wander the dazzling sights of the Central Plains to let off some steam.
"I see," Wang Yu said, understanding.
"Hey, Cousin, that sword of yours looks magnificent! It might look flashy, but it certainly fits your status as the Prince of Zhenxi." Ma Yinglong noticed the fine sword in Wang Yu's hand. "Did you use this sword to kill Wei Honggang?"
Over a month had passed since Wang Yu executed Wei Honggang, and the news had spread far and wide. Ma Yinglong naturally knew about it.
The Five Great Bandits of Mount Qi were enemies not only of the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor, but also of every orthodox sect in Anxi Circuit. The Ma family's merchant caravans had suffered losses at the bandits' hands, so learning of Wei Honggang's demise was a cause for genuine celebration.
"Not this one," Wang Yu replied, shaking his head. "That blade was battered beyond use by Wei Honggang's refined iron staff. This is a new one."
Ma Yinglong nodded. "You're lucky it didn't snap altogether."
In theory, since Wang Yu had been sent to the capital as a hostage a decade ago, Ma Yinglong hadn't laid eyes on him in ten years. Yet meeting again today, Ma Yinglong showed not the slightest hint of distance, and Wang Yu felt no awkwardness either.
Unlike modern times, communication in the ancient world was difficult; once kin and friends drifted apart, reunions were counted in years. But ancient social circles were far smaller, devoid of endless online distractions. Bound by blood and family ties, people who had not seen each other for years often grew closer upon reuniting, rather than more distant.
Having inherited the original host's memories, Wang Yu was naturally accustomed to the way people interacted in this world.
Hearing Ma Yinglong slight Wang Yu's martial feat, Zhao Yingjie bristled and reiterated, "Your Coiled Dragon Spear is gone!"
Ma Yinglong lifted his chin proudly. "I don't need it anyway!"
"You've been cooped up in seclusion for a whole year," Wang Yu intervened. "There's no rush to head to the Central Plains. Stay in Longshan Prefecture for a few days to rest up first."
Ma Yinglong was not one to stand on ceremony and promptly settled into Guanyun Tower.
***
After dinner, Wang Yu was practicing swordplay in the courtyard when Ma Yinglong and Zhao Yingjie came striding in together.
Wang Yu took in the sight of Ma Yinglong, newly changed into a white robe, and Zhao Yingjie in a sapphire-blue straight robe. Both were winking and making faces at him.
Ma Yinglong jerked his thumb behind him. "Coming or what?"
Wang Yu nodded decisively. "Let's go!"
The trio then headed to Caiyun Pavilion, the grandest brothel in Longshan Prefecture.
It was a five-story pleasure house draped in iridescent curtains, filled with singing, dancing, and radiant lanterns.
Wang Yu and his companions were warmly ushered inside by the madam, while Zhao Shan and Zhao He slipped in behind them disguised as ordinary patrons, grinning from ear to ear.
Though both men were in their sixties, even an eighty-year-old would still have an eye for youth. Protecting Wang Yu in a brothel meant they could enjoy the high life as well, with every copper fully expensed—why wouldn't they?
Caiyun Pavilion occupied a massive expanse, its central courtyard soaring straight up to the fifth floor. The first floor was a grand hall, the second housed private open booths, and directly facing the front was an elevated stage for artistic performances. The third through fifth floors were filled with private chambers.
The madam did not recognize Wang Yu or Ma Yinglong, but as a woman who knew everyone of importance in Longshan Prefecture, there was no way she could fail to recognize Zhao Yingjie. Seeing him walking behind the other two, a sharp gleam flickered in her eyes.
"Would you gentlemen prefer a private booth or a bedchamber? I shall summon the most clever and lovely maidens in the pavilion to attend you."
"A booth on the second floor. We'll listen to some music first."
"Right away! Please, this way, gentlemen!"
In movies, madams were always out-of-shape, middle-aged hags decked out in garish makeup, squawking in shrill voices and moving with grotesque affectation—an absolute assault on the eyes.
In reality, a madam was the very first impression a customer had upon entering a brothel; how could she possibly look like that?
The woman before Wang Yu was in her early thirties, yet she possessed a lingering, mature charm. Her radiant smile hid eyes like rippling autumn waters, and her voluptuous, swaying figure was accentuated by a gown richly embroidered in gold thread with standing-water patterns. Even in modern times, she would easily rank among the top-tier escorts who flew out across the nation on demand.
Wang Yu inhaled deeply. If the greeting madam was of this caliber, wouldn't the courtesans themselves be out of this world?
Ma Yinglong let out a breath of his own. "The maidens of Longshan Prefecture are leagues ahead of those in Ganliang! Wouldn't the girls in the imperial capital be like heavenly fairies? Cousin, you spent so much time frequenting brothels back in the capital—could your body even handle it?"
The corner of Wang Yu's mouth twitched. "I held up alright!"
Ma Yinglong pressed on. "On my way to the Central Plains, I'll definitely stop by the capital for a look. Cousin, you know your way around there—tell me, which brothel has the finest maidens?"
Wang Yu gritted his teeth. "Honestly, the famous ones are all pretty much the same. You won't be disappointed whichever one you pick."
"What a pity you can't come along with me," Ma Yinglong said regretfully.
Wang Yu shook his head. From Qianqian's words, he had already gleaned just how deep the waters ran in this world. If even the brothels in Longshan Prefecture harbored informants from the Demonic Cult, the pleasure houses in the capital were bound to be crawling with monsters and hidden eyes peering from every direction.
Who knew whether a man's measurements and stamina would end up compiled in an intelligence report on someone's desk the following morning?
Those who didn't care could carry on without a second thought, but Wang Yu had no taste for such exposure. Touring a brothel was fine, but staying overnight was entirely off the table.
The madam escorted the three to a booth on the second floor. Servants soon delivered four cold and four hot dishes in a flowing procession, along with a pot of Rice Blossom Yellow wine and a pot of Green Plum Brew. Simultaneously, three stunning, gorgeously adorned young women glided over with graceful steps.
Each man chose one to sit beside him. The courtesans deftly poured wine for the trio and began serving them delicacies with delicate care.
Looking at the woman beside him who offered eager smiles and catered to his every whim, Wang Yu compared her with the hostesses in high-end business KTV lounges from his previous life. These women possessed an entirely superior level of professional ethics and mastery!
Meanwhile, the performance on the elevated stage below drew to a close. A maiden in a flowing blue gown swept her water sleeves, bowed gracefully backwards from the waist into a classic pose, and slowly retreated from the stage.
"Splendid!" Cheers erupted from both upstairs and downstairs.
A voice called out from a secluded booth in the corner of the second floor. "Lady Shuixian only receives guests once every three days—this chance cannot be missed! Ten taels!"
From another booth, a voice carrying an exotic accent rang out. "Twenty taels! Lady Shuixian's waist is truly a lethal blade. This old man is only staying in Longshan Prefecture for a single night; I beg our friend to yield the prize!"
No sooner had the elder finished speaking than a third voice rang out from the booth directly across from Wang Yu, crisp and resolute:
"Fifty taels!"
Hearing that voice, Ma Yinglong slammed his hand onto the table and sprang to his feet.
"Duan Wei!"
Chapter 36