The most renowned brothel in Lingyan City, Mingyan Lou, was ablaze with lantern light. Seven or eight women, clad in revealing silks that clung to their curves, stood at the entrance with polished smiles of professional courtesans, greeting passing patrons. The clientele here were either aristocrats or wealthy merchants, so those smiles blazed like torches—fiery, feral, and unmistakably hungry, as if aching widows awaiting long-promised husbands or lovers...
Across the street stood two dashing young men. One was deathly pale, his pallor almost unnatural in its translucence. The other glowed with ruddy health, his features refined and handsome beyond measure...
These were none other than our Master Ye and Liang Xiaoke. As for Yin Xiaoxiao, she'd been dispatched on a mission by Ye Jingyu...
"Are you really going through with this?" Ye Jingyu asked, cheeks flushed crimson as he stared at the row of dancers in silk corsets...
"You're still trying to act innocent? I did my research - this is Lingyan's finest establishment. The girls here... they're something else," Liang Xiaoke murmured, his voice thick with anticipation as he leered at the performers. Saliva pooled visibly on his chin.
"But what if-"
"None of your buts!" Liang cut him off, yanking Ye forward toward the brothel before he could finish.
No sooner had they reached the steps than four women in gaudy silk flung themselves upon them. Their hands coiled around their arms like ivy as they led them inside.
Liang Xiaoke moved with practiced ease, one hand splayed possessively across each woman's waist while grinning at the scene before him. Ye Jingyu was beginning to wonder if this man was a predator or something far worse...
The moment they crossed the threshold, another pair of women attached themselves to his arms. Their perfumed breaths tickled his skin and he flinched as their ample curves pressed provocatively against his biceps. Goosebumps rose on his arms.
"Oh my," a crimson-clad matron cooed from above them. "This young master is quite the innocent flower... Girls, give our guests proper attention!"
A dozen more women swarmed toward Ye Jingyu before he could react.
He rolled his eyes as soft flesh and silken fabric surrounded him. Every jostling movement sent his pulse racing. At least Liang Xiaoke seemed to sense his discomfort - he pushed two clinging women aside and tossed a gold ingot the size of a thumbnail at the matron.
The woman caught it with practiced reflexes, biting into the coin before her eyes gleamed greedily. With a dismissive wave she sent away the common dancers and led them up to an upper chamber.
True to its reputation as Lingyan's most luxurious establishment, within moments fragrant cuisine was already arranged on the table. Neither man showed restraint - what poison could harm a dead man or one immune to all earthly poisons?
"To think you'd need to wait for those two young masters," Ye Jingyu said after downing a cup of cold wine. "Why not attack now and claim credit yourself?"
Liang Xiaoke snorted, his fangs flashing in the candlelight as he ripped into a pig's trotter. "Because this is the largest granary in Yan State. Even if I could take it by force, we'd pay dearly." He leaned back with a grin. "Besides... let them test our defenses first."
"And how do you know these young masters will follow your plan?" Liang asked between mouthfuls.
"Because half their army is made up of starving rebels," Ye Jingyu said smoothly, his cheeks still flushed from earlier embarrassment but his mind calculating like a spider weaving silk. "They'll storm the gates when they smell those grain silos."
Liang poured more wine into his goblet without ceremony. "So what do we do in the meantime?"
"Enjoy ourselves." Ye Jingyu smiled, the confidence of a man with every card already played.
"Hah! Now you're speaking my language!" Liang grinned as footsteps echoed outside their chamber.
"They're coming," the matron called sweetly through the door. "I've brought your best girls..."