Modern-day Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and other regions sit on the shores of the South Sea. These provinces, now booming economic powerhouses, were once considered the 'Southern Barbarians' by people from the Central Plains—a symbol of backwardness, poverty, and ignorance. Think of today's sprawling metropolitan area at the mouth of the Pearl River; a hundred years ago, it was just a cluster of fishing villages and wild slopes, let alone a thousand years ago in the Song Dynasty.
But this world is a bit different from Earth. This place, which would normally be considered 'ordinary and unremarkable,' is actually quite prosperous here. The Song Dynasty was one of the most economically advanced eras in history, and this world is even more so. Especially after the Zhao Song court fled south and lost the great plains of the north—they had no choice but to put all their energy into developing the south. Thanks to early maritime trade with the small South Sea kingdoms, the shores of the South Sea are now a land of wealth.
At the mouth of the Pearl River, this world calls it Xin'an Prefecture, home to the spectacular Xin'an City. The Xin'an City Grand Port is the largest seaport in the area. Due to the political system that favors agriculture over commerce, it's not as grand as the Eight Directions Port in the other world, but it's still an impressive trading hub. Xin'an City is a mix of dragons and snakes—masters and scoundrels alike. Any ship wanting to sail from the Pearl River into the vast sea must be refitted here.
After all, rivers have their own dangers, and the sea has its own waves—the challenges are completely different. So riverboats and seagoing ships are built differently. A boat that's perfect for cruising up and down the Pearl River might get wrecked the moment it enters the ocean.
But tonight, at the Grand Port where craftsmen gather, a few uninvited guests have arrived.
The moon is dark, the wind is high—you can't see your hand in front of your face. The night hides traces, but it also tears away disguises, letting all the suppressed urges of daytime run wild.
Five figures silently approach the port. Four of them wear tight nightclothes, only their eyes gleaming with menace. The fifth is clad in a dark blue outfit, his long, horse-like face twisted with malice and desire. His lightness skill is top-notch; he floats like a ghost, and with his zombie-like getup and pallor, he really does look like a ghoul crawling out of a grave.
This guy isn't your average Joe—he's the infamous fiend of the martial world: the Poison Demon, Shao Qi.
He used to have an ordinary name, something like 'Big Hammer,' 'Iron Pillar,' maybe 'Pancake,' 'Iron Pot,' or 'Dog Egg.' After all, naming kids with numbers is way too cool for the chaotic times when 'silly names keep you alive.' But ever since he made a name for himself in the martial world, nobody remembers his old name.
He's a pervert, a rapist, and even among his fellow criminals, he's considered an extreme lunatic.
"Boss Severson, that's the place." The man in black replied respectfully in a low voice, "We've been watching that ship for days. The renovations are complete, and it's about to set sail. The girls moved out of the guesthouse today and onto the ship. If they were still in the city, the officials would be guarding them like hawks and there'd be no way to get close. But out here on the docks—heh, they're practically begging to be snatched!"
"Officials?" Shaun Severson raised an eyebrow. "What do these boat people have to do with the government anyway?"
"That... I wouldn't know, sir. But ever since the girls moved into the guesthouse, New Haven's magistrate sent soldiers to guard the place day and night—three shifts, round the clock. Not even a rat could sneak in. Maybe the emperor himself is coming, who knows? The whole setup's way over the top. But—" The man's voice dropped to a sly whisper, "But Magistrate Sun Hongxing is famous for chasing skirts and bullying folks. Ever since the 'Ensemble' arrived, they've shut down for three days straight. I bet Sun Hongxing's been enjoying three days of soft, sweet company! There are so many beauties in that troupe, and Sun Hongxing finally got his chance, so of course he's guarding his prize like a bulldog with a bone."
[Irrelevant promotional passage skipped per guidelines.]
"The Celestial Arts Ensemble..." Shaun Severson gazed at the peaceful ship in the distance, his eyes drifting as he pondered something.
The Celestial Arts Ensemble—this name only caught fire recently, referring to the very people on that ship. The full title is "Celestial Arts Ensemble." Rumor has it they once called themselves the 'Phoenix Legend Heavy Metal Agricultural Dance Troupe,' but apparently no one understood what that meant, so they changed it. 'Celestial Arts Ensemble'—a grand and mysterious name, but lately it's been causing quite a stir along the South Sea coast. And for good reason: every member is as stunning as a goddess, earning the troupe a reputation that spreads far and wide.
Their main business? Singing and dancing, plain and simple.
Women, ships, and entertainment—mix those together and the Ensemble practically glows with a peachy aura. To most folks, this troupe is no different from the infamous brothels and pleasure barges, just with a fancier package. But here's the twist: the Ensemble set up a rule that totally flipped public opinion.
[Every performance, the number of male and female audience members must be exactly equal, or the show won't start. If you want in, you'd better round up enough people to balance the crowd.]
The ship sits at the harbor, banners plastered everywhere. Sometimes the music drifting out is haunting, sometimes it's elegant and soothing—either way, the talent on display is top-notch. The audience is itching to get in, but the doors stay shut. With all the logic and rules, the Ensemble has become a model of exclusivity. The streets are full of idle gentlemen, but all the young ladies keep to their rooms, making it nearly impossible to sneak out.
On the surface, it looks like the Celestial Arts Ensemble is just a bunch of pretty faces putting on shows, but in reality, they've got some serious backing.
Word on the street is, the Ensemble is protected by the Alliance Against Evil. If anyone tries anything funny, they're in for a world of trouble.
And the two mysterious co-leaders—Skylar Phoenix and Terra Quinn—are legends in their own right. Nobody really knows what they look like, but everyone knows their names.
Some say Skylar Phoenix never shows up in public, while Terra Quinn is always welcoming guests from behind a curtain.
But no matter what the rumors say, the Ensemble's reputation is sky-high. Every city wants a show, every official wants an invite.
Shaun Severson's gaze lingered on the ship, a sly smile creeping across his face.
"Tonight, gentlemen," he whispered, "we're going to crash the party. And this time, the Celestial Arts Ensemble won't know what hit 'em."
His crew exchanged excited glances, each one already dreaming of the chaos to come.
The night was just getting started.
[To be continued in the next chapter!]
Some folks offer big money, some flash their credentials, but nothing ever works.
Others, embarrassed by rejection, try to force their way in—but anyone who dares to say so gets a lesson from passing heroes. Eventually, everyone found out: the Celestial Arts Ensemble is under the protection of the Alliance Against Evil, the hottest group around these days.
The more mysterious they are, the more everyone wants a peek. Even martial artists can't resist. But since the gender ratio must be one-to-one, anyone hoping to see the whole show has to recruit backup—wives, sisters, even martial sisters, you name it.
Some young wives think it's outrageous and refuse to set foot in such a 'den of iniquity.' But plenty of curious girls, with a date to escort them, end up tagging along to the Ensemble anyway.
While a crowd of unlucky bachelors stare in envy, the first brave souls are welcomed aboard the 'Wutong' showboat. As the ship sails away, the bachelors crane their necks, straining to hear snatches of singing, applause, and laughter—but can't see a thing. Half an hour later, the Wutong returns to dock and the audience pours out.
The bachelors rush over, eager to ask, "Well? What was it like?"
"Unbelievable!" A young heroine's cheeks are still flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling. "It was like seeing angels come to life!"
The name 'Celestial Arts Ensemble' spreads like wildfire, wrapped in mystery, legend, and a rebellious streak. For the first time ever, someone offers performances for both men and women at once. Word of mouth says the shows are top-notch and totally unique—bright, bold, and refreshing.
Some people can't stand it, turn up their noses, and call it trash. But plenty are instant fans.
Some think any woman who goes to the Ensemble must be wild or shameless. Others think it's cool, stylish, and totally out of the ordinary.
Praise and criticism both fly, and soon the whole city is buzzing about the Ensemble.
But no matter how heated the debate, every audience member agrees on two things. First, the Ensemble's shows are totally clean—no sleaze, no pink lights, no tacky tunes. The style might be wild, but the quality is obvious. Second, the performers are all stunning, especially the mysterious headliner—no one knows their name, but everyone is impressed.
And then there are the two mysterious leaders—Skylar Phoenix and Terra Quinn. They've barely shown their faces, only greeting guests from behind a beaded curtain. If their subordinates are this impressive, the leaders must be even more extraordinary.
The United Front put "Skylar Phoenix" and "Terra Quinn" on their watchlist right away. Word is, headquarters has offered a reward for anyone who can reveal the leaders' true faces.
And next issue, the National Beauty Rankings will definitely include the Ensemble's headliner. The rumor is, their name is "Dirt Cheap"... but that can't be right! Once the real name comes out, odds are they'll shoot straight to the top of the Heavenly Fragrance list.
Five days ago, the Wutong showboat arrived at New Haven Harbor for renovations before heading out to sea. The Ensemble booked an inn for the whole troupe. Crowds lined the streets, hoping for a glimpse of the mysterious leaders—but, as expected, no one saw their true faces.
Four days ago, New Haven's magistrate stormed into the inn, tried to negotiate, and left in a huff.
Three days ago, the magistrate sent soldiers to surround the inn—even brought in archers. Tensions ran high, but the magistrate was feeling cocky and went back in.
Five minutes later, the magistrate staggered back out, looking a bit wobbly. He immediately ordered all the soldiers to switch sides and start guarding the inn instead. Three shifts a day, rain or shine—they were on duty non-stop.
[Irrelevant promotional passage skipped per guidelines.]
To this day, rumors fly everywhere, but no one really knows what happened. All anyone can say is the Ensemble must be a big deal—making them even more mysterious.
"All the better! If it weren't for this, nobody would see what I'm really made of." Shaun Severson stared at the quiet showboat, his expression growing wild and fierce. "That little Gavin Eagle? He's nothing compared to me. Tonight, the Celestial Arts Ensemble becomes my grand comeback! Let's go!"
Whoosh—Shaun Severson leapt into the air, gliding over the water like a ghost toward the showboat. The four men in black followed, vaulting from boat to boat with practiced ease.
Splash, splash—the five slipped quietly into the water, moving like fish, swimming two hundred meters before surfacing at the hull of the Wutong. Shaun Severson was famous, but never reckless. His caution—not caring for martial heroics—is exactly why he's survived this long.
Shaun pressed his ear to the hull and listened. Yep, all quiet, just the usual creaks and groans—nothing out of the ordinary.
"This ship's huge. Let's sneak aboard and stay hidden. Tomorrow morning it sets sail—once we're out at sea, who cares about the Alliance Against Evil or the government?" Shaun whispered, his face twisted in a wicked grin. "Once we're out there, they'll have to do whatever we say. The ocean's big, brothers, so let's enjoy the ride—up we go!"
Up!
He said "up," so up they went!
The five climbed up, using their wall-crawling skills to scale the ship. The hull had square openings for oars, too small for adults—but Shaun and his crew were pros at sneaking around. After checking the coast was clear, each one twisted and squeezed through like snakes, slipping inside the ship.
The moment Shaun entered the cabin, he thought he heard a faint, eerie melody—like a ghostly tune drifting through the air. But when he listened closer, there was nothing.
Shaun figured it was normal—probably just some bored girl practicing her music. Nothing to worry about.
"Spread out and check the layout. This isn't a place to linger—we've got to hide in the cargo hold to stay safe!" Shaun whispered, and the five quickly got to work. They slipped through the paddle room, down corridors and past doors, moving like ghosts.
But after a moment, Shaun suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His pupils shrank, his heart raced. Wait a second—this hallway looks familiar. I definitely passed through here before... but I never doubled back. How could I end up right where I started?!
"B-Boss Severson!" came a trembling voice. One of the men in black spoke up, sounding spooked. "Number Four... just vanished!"
Shaun's heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, somehow, there were only three men left.
Somewhere in the distance, that ghostly melody seemed to play again. (To be continued. If you enjoyed this chapter, please support the author with a vote or subscribe for more!)