Chapter 27: The City of Pleasure

Early in the morning, Si Yan headed out again with Su Tao’er.

However, this trip was not for gathering herbs, but to find meteoric iron. To forge a sword, one naturally required high-quality steel. Destiny Pavilion used to possess several decent raw ores, but they had nearly all been used up.

Bai Lan was still refining medicine and had to watch the furnace, so he could not tag along. As for Yuling, the moment he heard they were going to Yongle City, he nearly lost his soul from fright and flatly refused to leave the house. Regarding the eldest disciple, Mo Junheng, he had been nowhere to be found since last night. Left with no other choice, Si Yan could only take Su Tao’er with him.

Yongle City was actually closer than Ye Ming City or Shenlie Valley; Si Yan and Su Tao’er arrived shortly before dusk.

If one counted the city-states of the Phantom Sea by scale, there were roughly dozens of them. Cities like Ye Ming City existed primarily for trade and had more permanent residents, serving as hubs for daily life. Yongle City, however, existed for an entirely different purpose.

True to its name, Yongle City was a lawless land dedicated to pleasure.

As night fell over this massive city-state, brothels and bordellos appeared everywhere. Both sides of the streets were lined with gambling dens and taverns. Yet, because of this, the city was exceptionally prosperous, filled with people seeking joy, drinking, and making merry.

Si Yan looked around and noted that not much had changed since his last visit ten years ago.

Furthermore, Yongle City was most famous for—and most effective at attracting passing merchants with—its brothels. Many of the women flitting about like birds along the streets were actually monsters who had cultivated into human forms.

Some had not yet perfected their cultivation; they possessed the heads of foxes but the bodies of women. They were incredibly bewitching, flirting with men by the roadside, their lower bodies entwined with their suitors as they headed into upstairs chambers to perform “the deed.”

Moreover, these monsters and men were quite blatant during their activities. They did not even bother to extinguish the candles in their rooms. From a distance, one could look up at the pavilions and see the silhouettes reflected clearly against the paper windows—postures like wild beasts mating in the forest, utterly lewd and unrestrained.

Walking along the road, such sights were too numerous to count.

Yuling was naturally terrified of women, which was why he had fled in fear upon hearing the name “Yongle City.”

Before they arrived, Si Yan had already taught Su Tao’er some common knowledge, so she was somewhat prepared. However, seeing men being pulled inside by female monsters like mere customers for pleasure, she tugged on Si Yan’s sleeve and asked uneasily, “Master, do they not know those are monsters? They even have the heads of foxes…”

Si Yan explained, “Well, this is actually a specialty industry of Yongle City. Many men come specifically to find these female monsters, and those monsters use the men’s essence to cultivate. It is basically a matter of each party getting what they need.”

After speaking, Si Yan thought to himself, ‘You are just a young girl, so of course you do not understand. Especially with those female monsters who have not fully transformed into humans—there is a unique flavor to that. The men of this world have thousands of different tastes; how could a girl like you understand? Even your master is feeling a bit tempted.’

However, the foul atmosphere on the streets of Yongle City was indeed quite uncomfortable.

Moreover, today was particularly bustling. Rumor had it that the City Lord of Yongle City had obtained a piece of extra-terrestrial meteoric iron about two months ago and was going to hold a public treasure appraisal tomorrow. Upon hearing this news, people had rushed here not only from all over the Phantom Sea but also from various sects in the outside world. This caused the “Sleepless City” to be especially lively today; even the inns were nearly fully booked, and the streets were crowded with strangers of all sorts.

“The Phantom Sea truly is a place that hides filth and harbors scandals.”

As Si Yan and Su Tao’er sat in a tea shop, they overheard a young woman nearby speaking.

Si Yan turned his head and saw a group consisting of two women and one man. The two women looked to be around twenty years old, wearing hairpins and red and green dresses; they were quite elegant. The woman in green appeared somewhat haughty, while the one in red had a bit of an enchanting air. The young man sitting across from them was older, holding a folding fan. He was tall, carried himself with dignity, and appeared to come from a wealthy family.

“Not only do these monsters live alongside the human race here, but they even flirt with our people in public,” the woman in green said indignantly. “It is simply unheard of. If this were in our Kingdom of Tiansheng, these lecherous criminals and monsters would all be sent to the Monster-Slaying Stage!”

“Junior Sister Yilin, there is no need to be angry,” the man replied. “We are only here to identify that piece of meteoric iron. If it is a true treasure, we shall buy it. We will only stay for a few days and then leave, so do not concern yourself with so much. Haha, besides, in the future, once His Majesty sets foot in the Phantom Sea, this place will fall under our rule sooner or later. You must not be impatient.”

Si Yan paused inwardly upon hearing this. It sounded as though the monarch of the Tiansheng Kingdom intended to expand his territory into the Phantom Sea. Could it be that the Burning Heaven Flame Mountain—the massive mountain range that had served as a natural barrier between the two lands for millions of years—could no longer stop him?

But it made sense; the Tiansheng Kingdom had expanded its borders aggressively in recent years. Perhaps they had found a way to bypass the giant range.

While Si Yan listened to the trio’s conversation, he noticed that Su Tao’er had buried her head on the table, covering her face as if trying desperately to hide something.

Si Yan found it strange. This girl usually had a great appetite, and he had specifically ordered many delicacies for her, yet she had not even touched her chopsticks.

“Tao’er?” Si Yan asked, reaching out to pat her back. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Su Tao’er seemed startled, her delicate body trembling. She answered in a muffled, suppressed voice, “Mas… Master, just let me stay like this for a moment. I am fine…”

Despite her words, she was so nervous that her legs were pressed tight together and rubbing against each other.

Naturally, Si Yan was not convinced. He pressed, “Tao’er, if you are uncomfortable, just say so. My medical skills are decent, and I am particularly skilled in gynecology. Where does it hurt? Is it that time of the month? Do you need some brown sugar water?”

However, at that moment, the woman in green across from them seemed to sense something. She suddenly looked over, froze for a moment, and then walked over to Si Yan’s side, staring intently at Su Tao’er, who was slumped on the table.

Then, the woman named Yilin suddenly slapped Su Tao’er on the back as if catching a chick, startling the girl so much she nearly jumped out of her skin.

“So it is you, Su Tao’er! You really are here!” the woman in green shouted in a rage. “Your uncle has been going crazy looking for you, do you know that?”

With that, Yilin turned her gaze toward Si Yan. Her face turned pale with fury as she barked, “You lecherous thief! Are you the one who kidnapped my cousin?!”