Li Guanqi found the mix of characters at the small Minning Cloud Boat Dock amusing, never expecting such a motley crew.
Among the crowd just now were thieves, scouts, gamblers, swindlers—a gathering of all sorts from every walk of life.
A naive youngster coming here would likely end up losing even the clothes off their back.
The nearby shops and street vendors were no less shrewd.
Sitting atop the cloud boat, Li Guanqi watched the clouds whisk by, revealing breathtaking vistas beyond.
The sunlight cast a golden sheen over the clouds, creating an endless ocean of light.
In the distance, other cloud boats skimmed by.
Now a thousand zhang above the ground, Li Guanqi, reclining in a beast-skin chair, yearned even more for the art of sword flight.
The journey to Wangyue City would take a full day, and they would arrive by nightfall.
The leader of the boat began collecting the travel fees.
Not too expensive, but certainly not cheap—eight low-grade Spirit Stones each.
Everyone paid up without fuss, and Li Guanqi too took out his Spirit Stones.
To his surprise, the burly captain approached him with a bow and a fist.
"Sir, please consider this trip on the house, as a gesture of friendship," he said with utmost politeness.
Li Guanqi smiled and put away his Spirit Stones, then handed the captain a small jade bottle.
"A Qi Refining Powder for you, and we're even."
The captain initially hesitated but, upon hearing it was Qi Refining Powder, quickly pocketed it with a smile.
"Alright, sir, rest easy. Just call if you need anything."
Li Guanqi sneered inwardly; the captain clearly wanted to curry favor after learning of his identity.
With the backing of the Great Xia Sword Sect, no one in Minning Dock would dare compete with him for business.
"Even a blind man could see through that ruse," he thought.
Soon, the captain sent over fruits and pastries specially for Li Guanqi.
The captain was wise; having accepted the Qi Refining Powder, he dared not harbor other intentions.
These were the unspoken rules of the jianghu.
If he took the gift and still tried to flaunt his connections, he'd have to weigh his own worth against Li Guanqi's eventual reckoning.
As night fell, the cloud boat docked at a brightly lit dock.
Li Guanqi disembarked and gave the captain a slight bow, but said no more.
Looking up, he saw the bustling Wangyue Dock, with a long line of cloud boats of all sizes.
Merchants bustled about, and the market was filled with women, with many shops selling silk and brocade.
Li Guanqi, carrying a large Sword Box and dressed in white, coupled with his handsome features, drew the gaze of many young women.
Yet his pure white eyes caused many to shake their heads and sigh.
His eyes were like those of a peach blossom fox, with lashes so long that a single glance could captivate a soul.
A woman embroidering in a shop suddenly cried out.
She looked down at her bleeding finger, yet unconsciously turned to search for that man's figure.
But by then, Li Guanqi had already left the dock and entered Wangyue City.
"Cold cakes, three coins each!"
"Sesame cakes, sesame cakes…"
"Spiced duck noodles, hot and steamy spiced duck noodles!"
The cries of street vendors were endless, and the streets were crowded.
The road, three zhang wide, was packed with people, and the shops on both sides were at least two stories high.
The brightly lit, bustling streets with their antique architecture and the streams on either side filled Li Guanqi with wonder.
To reach the shops, one had to cross numerous bridges over the streams.
In the rivers, flower boats drifted, sometimes filled with the sounds of poetry or women's laughter.
Li Guanqi smiled softly and murmured, "Indeed, a place full of life's pleasures."
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he inquired about a location and headed straight there.
Walking with his head held high, he even visited the city's Treasure Pavilion to exchange various gold and silver items.
The weighty gold and silver gave him a sense of security. This time, he was determined to experience the place his grandfather had described as even more mysterious than the Dao itself!
A cute-looking girl approached him, her eyes never leaving his face.
As she drew near, she stumbled and fell towards Li Guanqi.
"Ouch!"
Without a second thought, Li Guanqi sidestepped, appearing a zhang away.
Thud…
The girl fell to the ground, wincing in pain, and couldn't help but shout at Li Guanqi's retreating back, "Why dodge so quickly? What's the rush? Got something to hide?"
A gentle voice responded, "I have business, to enjoy the music of the brothels."
Leaving the girl biting her lip in astonishment, she exclaimed, "You… jerk!"
In the city's Drunken Flower House, Li Guanqi had barely stopped when four stunning women pulled him inside.
"Oh my, a new face! Is this your first time here? My name is Qinghe."
"Sir, you're quite handsome. Is this your first visit to Wangyue City?"
"You're so well-built… Sir, I'd be happy to keep you company for free today."
From the moment he stood still to entering the door, a mere three zhang away, Li Guanqi felt hands exploring him all over.
Li Guanqi closed his eyes slightly and sighed, "No wonder grandfather always said the mortal world distracts the heart, yet it's precisely these places of pleasure that refine it."
"Today, let me taste the bitterness of this refinement."
Inside the Drunken Flower House, the main hall was noisy.
Li Guanqi frowned slightly, and Qinghe, understanding, whispered, "If sir finds it too noisy, the second floor is quieter, though it costs a bit more."
"The third floor has private rooms, perfect for quiet discussions."
Li Guanqi smiled, impressed by the woman's cleverness.
"Find a spot on the second floor with a view of the main hall."
Then he added softly, "Ladies, let Qinghe keep me company today. Another day, I shall join you all."
The three women looked disappointed but still smiled, promising next time.
Li Guanqi looked around and listened, thinking to himself, "Indeed, a great place to gather information. All sorts of people come here."
Once on the second floor, unlike others, Li Guanqi didn't take liberties with the women.
After casually tossing out a hundred taels of silver, he asked the woman to arrange for some drinks and snacks, and simply had her pour wine.
With just a glance, Li Guanqi's attention was drawn to a young man on his right, about his own age.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas