Chapter Sixty-Five: Master, Have You Ever Visited a Brothel?

As we passed by the flower house, I saw several women clad in sheer, revealing garments standing outside the door. They fluttered their silk handkerchiefs, their faces adorned with smiles, and as soon as a man walked by, they would clutch his sleeve and tug him inside.

It looked rather lively, and I watched with keen interest, wondering just what those women did with the men they pulled into that place. I remembered that back in the Demon Realm, Chixiao had told me that the flower house was not a good place and that I mustn't go there. When I asked him why, he replied that only men were allowed in such establishments.

At the time, I was confused and questioned why the world was so unfair to women. Chixiao had blushed furiously and, for a long while, could not utter another word.

It seemed there really was a great secret behind all this.

“Oh my, such a handsome young lord! Why not come inside and have some fun?”

Their voices, as melodious as the calls of orioles and swallows, drifted to my ears and made me feel as if my very bones were about to melt.

I wanted to take a closer look, but Zilian had no intention of stopping. He walked straight ahead, eyes fixed forward, his face calm and indifferent, as if he neither saw nor heard anything at all.

As the flower house receded behind us and was almost out of sight, I couldn’t hold back any longer and tugged at Zilian’s sleeve.

“What is it?”

He paused, turned his head, and looked at me in puzzlement.

“Master, that young lady smiled at me, and just now she even winked at me.”

Excitedly, I clung to his sleeve, eager to point her out.

“Hmm?”

At my words, he followed the direction of my finger, his brows immediately furrowing in displeasure. “It's best not to look at places like that.”

“Best not to look?” I asked, confused. “Why is that, Master?”

“It’s not a good place,” he replied, and strode on.

Both Chixiao and the demons of the Demon Realm had told me that brothels were places ordinary men liked to go. I didn’t understand why my master seemed so averse to them, his face full of distaste as if he could not avoid them quickly enough. This was quite different from what I had expected.

“Slow down, young lord in purple! Come and have some fun with us!”

Young lord in purple? Surely they meant me. I turned to smile brightly at the sisters, but to my surprise, I was met with a volley of disdainful looks. It turned out that the “young lord in purple” they called out to was not me, the little one, but Zilian at my side.

“Master, it seems those sisters really like you,” I pouted, a little unhappy.

“Your master does not like them,” he replied curtly, grasped my hand, and hurried me along.

Secretly delighted, I looked at our joined hands and coyly said, “Master, why don’t you like those sisters?”

He answered, “Those who cultivate the immortal path must not let their hearts be distracted. Until now, I have only ever taken you, Xiaoyu, as my disciple. Xiaoyu, you must never bring shame upon your master.”

“Xiaoyu would never do anything to shame you, Master,” I replied earnestly.

“That’s more like it.” He nodded approvingly, his tone gentle yet admonishing. “To cultivate the Way, one must have undivided focus. You are still very young, and it is not the time to discuss such places. When you grow older, you will naturally understand.”

“Oh.” I nodded in understanding. “So, according to Master, I can’t go in because I’m too young?”

“Yes, that's the reason.”

Zilian nodded slightly, clearly satisfied with my answer.

“Then what about you, Master? Have you ever gone inside?”

No sooner had I spoken than I felt a sharp gaze upon me. Looking up, I saw Zilian glaring at me in anger. Startled, I squeezed his hand tighter.

“M-Master...”

Fear welled up in me at his expression, and my body began to tremble. For some unknown reason, fragments of memory flashed through my mind—blood, so much blood, and a sharp weapon piercing my chest, the pain so great I could hardly breathe.

“What’s wrong?”

He released my hand, his usually indifferent face finally showing a trace of concern.

“It's nothing, just a few images in my mind. Xiaoyu was just startled, that’s all.” I shook my head.

“Very well. Tonight, copy the Code of Cultivation a hundred times. I will check it tomorrow morning.”

With that, he coldly let go of my hand.

“Yes, Master,” I replied listlessly, grief filling my heart.

A hundred times! How could I possibly finish copying the Code of Cultivation a hundred times in one night? I feared I would not sleep at all, and even then, might not finish.