Then in the next instant, Zong Shou’s brow twitched again, his killing intent surging like a tsunami.

He heard another person speak in a hushed, mysterious tone: “Have any of you heard of Zong Yuan? He’s called the Purple Thunder Spear, said to charge through a thousand armies like a horse across a strait—the new peerless general of Mount Qiantian. He used to follow Zong Hao, but inexplicably, he switched to following the Sovereign Lord. People are wondering why, but I heard that the Sovereign Lord has always had a particular taste for such things since his time at the Linhai Academy, ruining countless handsome youths. It was precisely because the Sovereign Lord was too debauched that he was driven out of Linhai Academy.” “Oh, oh, I’ve heard about that!”

Across from that speaker, another man grinned with a decidedly wicked smile: “They say there’s also that Li Xieling of the Ten Thousand Blood Kills. The Sovereign Lord defeated him with a single sword stroke a few months ago. Afterward, seeing how beautiful he was, the Sovereign Lord intended to take him as a male favorite. But since Li Xieling was too proud and refused, the Sovereign Lord killed him.”

“To think there was such a thing! The Sovereign Lord actually has this inclination.”

The people beside him all had expressions of sudden enlightenment. Even an old man sighed mournfully: “The customs of the age are declining, the world is corrupted... It is all because the former Sovereign spent too long warring and failed to discipline his heir, leading the Sovereign Lord down the wrong path. I always said it! When he was young and running around Mount Qiantian City, he always stared intently at handsome boys!”

Glands on Zong Shou’s forehead began to throb. What nonsense was this? Meanwhile, Chu Xue beside him was nearly laughing herself sick internally, yet daring not let a true laugh escape, only managing to stomp her feet repeatedly and beat her chest in suppressed amusement.

Shui Yue’s eyes curved into crescents. Covering her lips with her hand, she turned her delicate head to the side, her body trembling slightly, like a willow branch swaying in the wind.

What followed was increasingly foul. Zong Shou was too lazy to defile his own ears and simply retracted his sense of hearing.

He thought to himself: Originally, I was just planning to check out that place called the Ten-Mile Fragrant Desire Town. But now, I absolutely must go. If I don't prove my virility, how can I quell these rumors?

He snorted coldly again and asked Shui Yue, “Is there any other intelligence that hasn’t been reported yet?”

Shui Yue first shook her head, then nodded slightly: “There is some news! Shui Yue had already selected the candidates, but the Sovereign Lord kicked the selection apparatus over.”

As she spoke, she took out several pieces of beast hide inscribed with writing from her sleeve: “Starting yesterday morning, people in Mount Qiantian City began spreading rumors. Shui Yue investigated for a long time but couldn't find their tracks. We only know that a Celestial Martial Grandmaster, or perhaps a Spirit Master of the Day-Roaming Realm, must be involved.”

Zong Shou took the hides and saw that they still contained news from the two great demon cities: Cloud Scar Mountain and Blazing Flame Mountain.

“Yesterday, Feng Nu, the City Lord of Cloud Scar Mountain, laughed several times in his study late last night. He said that it was all just hearsay and shouldn't be believed entirely. Does that little brat from Qiantian think he can really become an unrivaled master just by spreading these rumors? The truly formidable figures in Mount Qiantian City are merely a handful, such as Hu Qianqiu, Zong Lan, Qiu Wei, and Zong Yuan. With the aid of these few, even an idiot could become the Lord of Qiantian.”

“Xiong Ba, the City Lord of Blazing Flame Mountain, argued with several clan elders after rising this morning. During the discussion, he mentioned that the rumors about young Zong Shou of Mount Qiantian should not be believed; they are too exaggerated. It seems his attitude has softened, with thoughts of abandoning Princess Xuan Yu and establishing another Lord.”

Zong Shou grinned, then without hesitation, shredded the beast-hide memorials in his hand into dust.

He thought: If a Celestial Martial Grandmaster is involved, then this matter must mostly be the work of Lei Dong and Zhao Yanran.

What a masterful strategy of confusing the public and muddying the waters! By mixing true and false intelligence with exaggerated rhetoric, they can temporarily quell this storm. I truly underestimated them.

However, the previous rumors were tolerable; they wouldn't cost me any flesh. But these two—they actually dared to suggest that Zong Shou has tastes leaning toward men. This is utterly intolerable! If I don't get a chance to settle this later, I swear I will repay the blood debt!

Without further hesitation, Zong Shou strode directly towards the Ten-Mile Fragrant Desire Town.

Before descending the mountain, he had asked a guard for directions. In truth, one could see it even from the peak of Mount Qiantian: located not far below the base of the mountain, adorned with hanging red lanterns, a place already unusually lively in the evening twilight.

Although called ‘Ten Miles,’ the area was actually much larger than ten li, and it contained far more than the three hundred establishments mentioned in the memorials.

It was estimated that those three hundred brothels only referred to the larger, more prominent pleasure establishments there.

He had already inquired carefully: among those three hundred brothels, only three stood out as truly exceptional.

One of them was the Jingyun Elegant Tower. Not only were the women the most beautiful, but it was said to house several dozen women from the Central Continent’s Cloud Continent, all accomplished in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, moreover, they were gentle, understanding, and highly sought after.

There was even a female qin master renowned for her instrument, one who was called a Great Master even in the Central Imperial Dynasty, currently presiding there.

As he walked, Zong Shou saw that the street was lined with heavily made-up women. From the pavilions on either side, colorful sleeves beckoned him in. With his Innate Realm hearing, all he perceived was an assault of lewd words, bursts of laughter, and occasional public embraces and flirtations—it was truly an eye-opener.

Chu Xue’s delicate face was bright red, and she didn't know where to direct her gaze. Shui Yue, however, seemed completely unbothered, observing instead with considerable interest. Especially the scenes of men and women kissing, as if researching how they differed from when Zong Shou treated her poison.

As someone from a later era, Zong Shou paid these scenes no mind. Instead, he was rather disappointed. They were all merely common beauties, not even comparable to a single finger of Xuanyuan Yiren or Chu Xue. If the Jingyun Elegant Tower was of the same low standard, then the Ten-Mile Fragrant Desire Town was not worth visiting again in the future.

Mount Qiantian City was crisscrossed by waterways. As Zong Shou followed the path pointed out by the teary-eyed, pitiful guard whom Chu Xue had already dealt with, crossing a small bridge, the environment suddenly changed.

Though located in the very center of the Ten-Mile Fragrant Desire Town, this area was strangely quiet and elegant, as if divorced from the mundane world. Fine willows lined the banks, and patches of green bamboo swayed in the breeze. A few scattered pavilions gave the scenery a detached, transcendent flavor.

Zong Shou’s eyes immediately lit up. He thought: The person who arranged this place is certainly refined. With such elegant taste, the women in the Jingyun Elegant Tower must also be exceptional.

Quickening his pace, after only a few steps, he heard a cascade of ding-dong-dong qin notes drift toward him.

Zong Shou paused, listening intently. He found the sound incomparably melodious and clear, as if a woman were whispering intimately beside his ear. In this place of bright moonlight and calm waters, the sound made his heart even more serene and delighted.

Even Chu Xue fell silent, listening carefully. Unfortunately, the qin music was already drawing to a close and stopped after just a moment. Zong Shou frowned slightly, feeling a touch of regret, but he quickened his steps toward the source of the music. Not far ahead, a five-story tall building appeared in his sight.

However, just as he approached, several loud bursts of laughter suddenly rang out.

“Fine playing! Miss Yunlan, your qin playing is exquisite. Even a coarse fellow like me is captivated by the spirit of it. Miss, please accept this cup of wine from me, as a token of my respect.”

The voice was boorish and imposing, yet at this moment, it was quite jarring. Zong Shou thought that Miss Yunlan must be that great qin master famed across the Central Cloud Continent.

Indeed, worthy of the title Great Master, the qin music possessed a quality capable of soothing the spirit. A Spirit Master whose soul was wounded would certainly receive the effect of soul healing from hearing it. This woman’s spirit arts must also be extraordinary.

But why would someone of such caliber come to this barbarian land in the East?

Wait, and that voice—doesn't it sound a bit familiar? Like that scoundrel Hu Zhongyuan?

Sure enough, he then heard another person sneer dismissively: “Hu Zhongyuan, I think you should stop pretending to be refined. Given your nature, how could you possibly discern the quality of qin music?”

Hu Zhongyuan didn't get angry upon hearing this, instead chuckling: “Nonsense. Although I, Hu Zhongyuan, am a simple man who doesn't understand these things, I can tell good qin music from bad. Miss Yunlan’s skill is simply better than other qin masters. It makes me lose myself entirely, that saying… 'forgetting the taste of meat for three months.'”

Inside the distant pavilion, there was an uproar of laughter. Someone else asked, laughing: “Zhongyuan, you’ve been following the Sovereign Lord day and night for the past few months; you’re already his confidant. The Sovereign Lord has only just ascended the throne, and I hear he hasn't left the Hanyan Palace for two days. You lazy fellow are here fooling around; isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

“Tch, what’s there to fear! I, Hu Zhongyuan, am slow-witted and useless for helping with anything important.”

Hu Zhongyuan laughed heartily three times, replying completely carelessly: “The Sovereign Lord doesn't know anyway. I estimate he doesn't have time to manage me right now. I'll just play nice in front of him tomorrow.”

Zong Shou let out a cold sneer upon hearing this. If they hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have remembered. For the past two days, he had been frantically busy in his study, never stopping for a moment. And this Hu Zhongyuan, meanwhile, was spending his days drinking and carousing with courtesans here—this life was entirely too comfortable.

While mentally contemplating how he would discipline this fellow shortly, a mysterious chuckle suddenly came from within the pavilion again.

“Right! There’s one thing others don’t know, but you, Hu Zhongyuan, must know. Rumors are flying outside that Zong Yuan and the Sovereign Lord have a very close relationship. Following the Young Lord around, is there any truth to it? Does the Sovereign Lord really have preferences in that regard?”

“Oh, this matter? Why are so many people asking about it these two days? I, Hu Zhongyuan, have never seen it with my own eyes.”

Just as everyone inside the pavilion sighed in disappointment, Hu Zhongyuan’s tone suddenly shifted, laced with a faint seriousness: “But I will tell you all, the Sovereign Lord’s behavior toward Zong Yuan is indeed somewhat ambiguous. Do you know, the first time the Sovereign Lord met Zong Yuan, he felt him all over? And he even ordered me to tie him up and hang him from a tree. Back then, I felt fortunate that my features are rugged and I’m handsome beyond compare in Qiantian City. But I suppose I don’t suit the Sovereign Lord’s taste.”