60: Chapter 60: My favorite breeze knows my old dreams; my eyes are disheveled, my temples are frosted with white.

Soon, a few plates of exquisite Spirit delicacies were promptly served on the table.

That pretty maid in a pink dress stood obediently to the side, holding a wine pot, and gently poured a full cup.

As the wine entered the cup, it splashed a few crystalline droplets, releasing a long-lasting fragrance of wine.

Jiang Xuan picked up a piece of the side dish with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and then picked up the wine cup to take a sip.

The mellow wine slid down his throat into his stomach, feeling warm and immediately comfortable.

Isn't this what life is all about?

He muttered to himself, if he had known that being here just meant drinking and eating, it would have been nice to bring that little girl An Luoling along; he could even tease her a bit.

But then he thought, bringing his own lovely maid to visit this kind of pleasure house?

Forget it, the image alone felt out of place.

Jiang Xuan's mind stirred, and he pulled up the System panel to take a look.

On the Immortal Fate notification, there was less than half an hour left for that limited-time event involving Ji Yanran.

No rush; since she is in this building anyway, he could just eat and wait.

With nothing to do, he let his gaze wander casually around the main hall.

Most of those seeking pleasure in this pile of rouge and powder were Loose Cultivators, with only one or two disciples from aristocratic families, and some Mortals.

Large hands roamed wantonly over those scantily clad girls, eliciting a chorus of giggles, their cheeks flushed, full of spring scenery.

Some women fawned and flattered, wishing they could stick to the guests.

Others forced smiles, their eyes hiding a trace of numbness.

There were also a few figures who, while serving guests, lowered their heads and secretly wiped away tears.

Presumably, they were either forced to sell themselves here or had offended some powerful enemy and were thrown into this filthy place to be humiliated.

As for the private rooms upstairs, although they were inscribed with sound-isolating Formation, some people deliberately chose not to activate them.

From time to time, soft, delicate cries leaked out, deliberately showing off their prowess.

During this time, many idle beauties in the hall were quietly casting glances toward Jiang Xuan.

This young man had a handsome face and a calm temperament, sitting in this dizzying hall, he seemed to stand out from the crowd.

Many women had autumn ripples in their eyes, hoping he would wave his hand and call them over to accompany him.

But this Yifeng Pavilion also had its rules.

Like this kind of guest who sat alone, only caring about drinking and eating.

Either he already had a favorite girl who hadn't come down yet, or he was waiting for the main event to follow.

Without a signal from the guest, the girls dared not go up and break the rules.

While he was drinking, on the stage covered with red silk in the center of the hall, the beaded curtain was gently lifted.

A woman dressed in plain white light gauze walked out slowly.

As soon as she appeared, the noisy and bustling hall became half-quiet, and countless gazes gathered toward her.

Jiang Xuan was also drawn by the commotion and turned his head to look.

When he saw the woman's appearance, he raised his eyebrows, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The woman's skin was like congealed fat, her features were exquisitely beautiful, and there wasn't a trace of the rouge and powder scent of a pleasure house on her.

Her figure was graceful, and she exuded a cold and detached charm.

Such appearance and temperament were not inferior to the heroic, cold, and ethereal Fairy Su Yue.

The surrounding drinkers' eyes glowed green, and they couldn't help but whisper to each other:

"Finally waited! Miss Top Courtesan is still as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal!"

"As expected of our Yifeng Pavilion's head courtesan! If I could get a taste of her favor, let alone a hundred Spirit Stones, I'd be willing to go bankrupt!"

"Go, go, go! Stop using your copper stench to defile Miss Top Courtesan!"

"I just don't know if any talented person today can win the top prize, enter Miss Top Courtesan's Dharma Eye, and become her guest."

Hearing these discussions, Jiang Xuan felt a bit of interest.

He turned his head to look at the maid in the pink dress beside him and asked casually, "Is the one on stage your head courtesan?"

The maid in the pink dress hurriedly bowed slightly, lowered her voice, and respectfully replied, "Replying to the Immortal, this is indeed the head courtesan of our Yifeng Pavilion, Miss Top Courtesan."

Jiang Xuan held his wine cup and continued to ask, "What is this rule they are talking about?"

The maid picked up the wine pot, filled his cup, and explained softly, "The Immortal might not know, but if you want to spend the night with our house's courtesan, having Spirit Stones alone won't work."

"You must show real talent, whether it's zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, or composing poetry and discussing the Dao, as long as you can win the courtesan's heart and make her willingly nod."

"Only then can you become her guest, be exempted from all expenses, and spend a wonderful night."

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan laughed dumbly, "What about after that? Can this rule last a lifetime?"

The maid said softly, "The most important thing about the courtesan's title is her virginity."

"Once there is physical intimacy and her body is broken, she will automatically be demoted to a secondary rank."

"At that time, guests can use Spirit Stones to pay for her."

"Of course, the price is extremely expensive, and the girl still has the right to refuse guests three times."

"If a courtesan has held the position for three years, or is over twenty and still has no sweetheart, she will also have her title stripped and be demoted to a secondary rank."

"As for her first night, it naturally goes to the highest bidder."

The maid paused, her gaze circling Jiang Xuan's handsome face, with a touch of fawning, "It is currently Miss Top Courtesan's second year as the head courtesan, and she hasn't met a man who could make her take a second look."

"Immortal, you are outstanding and imposing; perhaps you could win the top prize."

Jiang Xuan was pleased by these compliments, the corners of his mouth curled, and he casually fished out a few pieces of broken silver from his sleeve and tossed them into the tray in the maid's hand.

People with sweet mouths naturally deserve a reward.

Seeing the silver, the maid beamed with joy, bowed repeatedly to thank him, and her movements in serving wine became even more gentle and attentive.

At this time, Top Courtesan had already knelt down in front of the low table in the center of the stage.

In front of her was an ancient seven-stringed zither.

She lifted her onion-white jade hands, and her fingertips gently plucked the strings.

"Ding!"

The crisp zither sound was like a secluded spring in an empty valley, flowing through the noisy hall.

The zither sound was cold and melodious, exuding an ethereal quality that did not touch the dust.

The guests who were noisy just a moment ago seemed to have the restlessness in their hearts washed away by these few zither notes, and they involuntarily quieted down.

Jiang Xuan held his wine cup, listening attentively, and inwardly praised.

To be able to sit firmly in the position of head courtesan, she really had some skills; just this zither technique alone was enough to look down on all the beauties in the pleasure house.

The zither music gradually entered its prime.

Top Courtesan lowered her eyelids slightly, her cherry lips parted slightly, and accompanied by the zither sound, her cool and melodious voice echoed in the hall:

"Wind in one corridor, snow in one corridor."

"Fondest of the gentle breeze knowing old dreams, eyes in disarray, temples covered in frost..."

"The night is not yet over, the intention is not yet over."

"Old matters like smoke lock the old window, cold lamp casts a long shadow..."

Listening to this song, Jiang Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

These lyrics, this tune, why did it sound like there was an inseparable sense of desolation and resentment?

In this pleasure house where people seek joy, singing such a bitter and sorrowful song seemed somewhat out of place.

He turned his head and asked the maid beside him, "Why is this song so sorrowful?"

The maid leaned over slightly, moved closer, and replied in a low voice:

"The Immortal might not know, but I heard that Miss Top Courtesan was originally from a good family."

"But she suddenly encountered a disaster, which caused her family fortune to fall, and she was forced to end up in this Yifeng Pavilion."

"Her heart is bitter, so when she plays the zither and writes poetry, it always carries a bit of sorrowful and autumnal melancholy."

After listening, Jiang Xuan nodded silently.

So she was a fallen noble daughter; no wonder she didn't have that dusty air of a pleasure house, which made sense.

Top Courtesan's zither music was entering its prime, cold and melodious.

Just as the drinkers in the hall were listening, intoxicated, a burst of cursing suddenly came from outside.