As they talked, Shawn Steele, disguised as a scholar, sized up the Red Witch. She looked about seventeen or eighteen, strikingly pretty, with a fiery, peppery personality you could spot at a glance. Dressed all in red, he couldn’t help but think: little chili pepper.
The Red Witch heard the scholar’s words and her brows lifted with a hint of delight, but there was a sly sparkle in her eyes. "You sure know how to talk, scholar. But don’t think a few compliments are enough to fool me."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Red Witch suddenly drew her sword and thrust at Shawn Steele on horseback.
Shawn Steele’s face showed panic; his body wobbled and he tumbled off the horse, letting out a miserable cry.
Rubbing his aching backside, Shawn Steele grumbled, "Red Witch, why are you messing with me like this?"
"Hehe!"
Seeing the scholar’s pitiful look, the Red Witch let out a string of laughter like tinkling silver bells. "My mom always said the best liars in the world are scholars like you. Today I’m teaching you a lesson—if you try sweet-talking girls again, I definitely won’t let you off so easy!"
With those words, the Red Witch used her lightness skill and dashed off ahead.
"Scholar, don’t dawdle! In half an hour the city gates will close. Otherwise, you’ll be left out here to feed the wolves!"
Hearing this, Shawn Steele just curled his lip, brushed the dust off his clothes, hopped back on his horse, and thought: This little chili pepper is something else.
That’s right—this scholar was none other than Shawn Steele in disguise.
Ever since his battle with the Three Holy Lords, Shawn Steele had made considerable progress. After half a month of secluded cultivation in the stronghold, he came down the mountain alone, disguised himself as a scholar, and started traveling the world. In half a month, he’d left Yuet Province and arrived in Yan Province.
Over the past half month, he’d been robbed more than ten times, but each time he turned the tables and robbed the robbers clean. He hadn’t expected this time for his business to be ruined by that little chili pepper.
There was a prefectural city more than twenty li ahead.
Even if the city gates closed, Shawn Steele wouldn’t have trouble getting inside, but he still sped up his horse toward the city.
After half a month traveling the world, seeing and hearing so much, he’d gained a much deeper understanding of this world.
In this world, imperial authority may be supreme, but it can’t restrain martial artists—especially the Three Great Holy Lands, who stand above it all. Even the Three Great Empires don’t dare offend them lightly.
As for the Nine Great Sects, they generally choose to cooperate with the empires.
So, this is a world where throne and martial power coexist—unlike the real world, where the government holds absolute advantage and even martial artists don’t dare act recklessly for fear of state punishment.
In less than half an hour, Shawn Steele arrived at the gates of Granaryford City.
Compared to Peacehold County, the city walls of Granaryford City were much taller—at least seven or eight zhang high—making them nearly impossible for even first-rate martial artists to scale.
Scholars hold considerable status in this world, so Shawn Steele, dressed in refined scholar’s robes, passed easily through the city gate without harassment from the guards.
He found an upscale inn and checked in.
He ordered the attendant to prepare hot water for a bath, changed into fresh scholar’s robes, ate dinner at the inn, and then decided to take a stroll around the city.
Thanks to abundant spiritual qi and high grain yields, ordinary people in this world enjoy a relatively high level of happiness. That means fewer people turn to rebellion, so public order in the city is good and there’s no such thing as a night curfew.
Before he knew it, Shawn Steele had walked up to a brightly lit, three-story building.
In front of the building, carriages and horses came and went, making the place lively and bustling.
The three gilt characters 'Heaven Fragrance House' caught Shawn Steele’s eye. Instantly, he knew what kind of place this was—an old-time brothel. Of course, these days it wasn’t called a brothel; it had a much more elegant name: a pleasure house.
Feeling a spark of curiosity, Shawn Steele decided he might as well go in and take a look.
"Please come in, young master!"
Just as he reached the entrance, an enthusiastic male attendant hurried out to greet him.
Shawn Steele nodded and followed the attendant inside.
Just inside the door stood a huge screen, and laughter from men and women drifted out from behind it.
Rounding the screen, Shawn saw a spacious hall split into two halves, each set with dozens of wine tables. Nearly a hundred tables were almost fully occupied, and at each sat men and women embracing and flirting.
The men were naturally guests seeking pleasure, and the women were courtesans of the pleasure house. But unlike what Shawn Steele had imagined, these women were dressed quite conservatively—no bare chests or exposed thighs. Compared to how women dressed in his former world, the difference was huge.
In the center of the hall, a wooden staircase led up to the second floor, and faint sounds of a zither and other instruments drifted down from the rooms above.
"Would you like to drink flower wine, or listen to music, young master?" the attendant asked, bowing.
"What's the difference between the two?" Shawn Steele asked curiously.
The attendant explained, "Drinking flower wine is like what you see here in the hall—our girls accompany you for food and drink, and the wine is free. Ordinary girls cost one tael of silver per time, prettier ones cost two taels, and it's extra if you want to stay overnight.
As for music, you'll need a private box upstairs. Each box is five taels of silver, and if you take a liking to the girl performing for you and want to stay overnight, that'll be another five taels."