Repugnant Gateway

Chapter 153

While the three of them, An Zeng and Du were walking around the streets eating and drinking, Ding Shengxia had a nightmare.

Perhaps no one would have thought that there would actually be such a person in the Martial Arts Academy.

Ding Shengxia didn’t understand what the Nineteen Demons were and what the Fallen Demon World was when she fled.

He only felt that he was entangled in a nightmare. He wanted to get rid of it, but he was also attracted by the promise in the nightmare, and was unwilling to get rid of it.

Xiao Qidao quickly finished his candied fruits and asked An Zhe, “”Big Brother An Zeng, what are you bringing me around for?””

An Zhan smiled and replied, “”Xiao Qidao, do you know that your identity is very special?””

Xiao Qidao nodded, “”Yes.””

“”So, this is not to take you shopping, but to bring you to know Fang Guancheng.””

You know you are special, but you don’t know why.

One day, you may be caught up in one of the biggest dissension in the country.

“”Therefore, not only must you protect your big brother Fatty and everyone else, you must also learn to protect yourself.””

Little Seven habitually reached out his hand to grab An Zou’s. “”I will!””

“”So from today onwards, I will bring you out for a stroll every day to familiarize you with this city.””

If there comes a day when you’re in danger and we can’t protect you in time, you’re on your own.

Remember these streets, remember where to hide, where to hide for the time being.

so that you don’t slip into a cul-de-sac when you’re being chased, and of course no cul-de-sac can stop you.

However, to cultivators, the meaning of a dead end is not those walls, but the people who use the terrain to intercept you. “”

Xiao Qidao nodded. Although he didn’t understand it very well, he knew that he had to remember what his big brother An Zhe said.

The three of them ate as they walked, seemingly aimlessly.

When they reached the East Ninth Avenue, An Zaidao said to Xiao Qidao, “”Let Big Brother Fatty take you shopping. Brother An Zeng wants to meet a friend and will be looking for you in a while.””

Xiao Qidao nodded. “”Then hurry up and come.””

Skinny Du held Xiao Qidao’s hand and pointed to a three story building in front of them. “”I’ll take you there to play.””

As soon as he finished speaking, he was kicked in the butt by An Zhe.

Skinny Du laughed embarrassedly. “”What a joke … Just a joke.””

He quickly left with Little Seven. When he passed by the building, Little Seven looked at the plaque: “”Yi Hong Lou.””

An Chou smiled at the way Du ran away awkwardly. Then he turned around and walked into the restaurant opposite Yi Hong Lou.

This restaurant was called the Drunk Immortal Restaurant. Many places had such a name. Most of the time, it was just a coincidence because many people thought that the Drunken Immortal Restaurant had a good name.

On the window seat on the second floor, a young noble Rise to the Clouds sat waiting for an argument.

“”Good skin.””

Anjou sat down and smiled.

That young master was Zhong Jiuge, a person who combined both beauty and trickery.

Zhong Jiuge could only reveal some of his true personality when he was in front of An Zaiyue.

To be honest, he seemed to have gained a lot of new insights about deception after going to the Da Xi city.

To the people of the Thousand Gates, the most basic requirement was to act as they please.

This was only the initial stage, and at the advanced stage, it would be... ‘Whatever you pretend to be’ would be ‘what you pretend to be’.

“”No matter how good your skin is, you still have to take care of it.””

Zhong Jiuge took out a round and flat metal box and said, “”This is the skincare lotion of the Treasure Hall, do you want it?””

“”I’ll give you a box.””

“”You must be taking other people’s benefits.””

Zhong Jiuge solemnly said, “”How can I ask for the benefits? I’ll be responsible for promoting their things. They will give me some free items and also get a half price coupon.””

“”My biggest dream is to open a shop one day, and all the ladies in the city will come here to buy things.””

An Zhan fished out a silver note from his sleeve. “”Take it away.””

Zhong Jiuge said, “”You’re making it hard for me to accept you. How can I have you as the boss? You can be content with whatever your subordinates say. Do you think that’s true?””

“”Is that true?””

Then he put the notes away. “”But I like it.””

He looked at Anjou and said, “”But then, do you know why I want to open a shop like that?””

“”Because of you rogue.””

Zhong Jiuge said righteously, “”Don’t slander a pure person’s dreams … how did the empress dowager collect the information?””

It was a brothel.

The empress dowager’s forces controlled all of the brothels in the capital. Which of the martial artists and officials didn’t go to the brothels?

In the soft and fragrant atmosphere, no one knew how to blurt out what they shouldn’t have said.

“”There’s also the Gao Family …””

Zhong Jiuge said, “”It’s been so many years since the Gao Clan last had anyone enter the throne. According to the rules, no matter how great the military exploits of the older generation are, they should have long since been sidelined.””

However, up until now, the Gao Family’s old lady was still able to make those people in the government officials stay in awe … It wasn’t just because the Gao Family’s ancestors had given birth to a founder of the nation.

“”The officials of Great Yan are not clean, especially the officials. Which one of them doesn’t have a shameful income?””

“”But the Great Swallow couldn’t help gambling, which gave the officials a reasonable source of property.

Those officials took bribes, then went to the casino, and with a few casual bets, they could win a large sum of money back.

Of course, the money would still be returned to the Gao Family’s casino. This was money laundering.

The Gao Family holds the secrets of almost all the officials. Do you think that the old lady of the Gao Family would not be virtuous and prestigious? “”

“”However!””

Zhong Jiuge laughed, “”But the brothels and casinos are still far from my shop.””

Who was I facing in my shop?

“”The wives of the dignitaries, they know more secrets than ordinary guests of the martial arts world.””

An Xuan said, “”A talent like you is truly rare.””

Zhong Jiuge chuckled, “”Do you want to invest more?””

An Zaiyue smiled and said, “”In the future, when Little Liu’er is bored, I can just casually help you think of a few ways to make yourself beautiful.””

Zhong Jiuge immediately became happy. He was ten thousand times happier than when he took the banknotes. “”This is the real investment … Right, the person you asked me to investigate, he has pretty much figured it out.””

Zhong Jiuge looked at the house outside. “”This is one of the empress dowager’s properties, the largest brothel in the capital.””

The girls here are skilled in chess, painting, and painting. Even if you were to talk about some obscure knowledge, they would be able to chat with you.

So most of the people who came here were from the upper echelons.

According to my investigations during this period of time, 99% of the brothels in the capital are in the hands of the Dean of the Grand Cauldron Academy, Su Pei, whereas the biggest brothels are directly under the responsibility of Li Changlu.

“”Is there a rule?””

Zhong Jiuge nodded, “”Yes, the sixth, sixteenth, and twenty-sixth of every month.””

Li Changlu would leave Empyrean Terminus Palace to inspect these brothels, so Yi Hong Lou would definitely come.

I observed for a while, and found that every time Li Changlu came, Yi Honglou’s account would go to the World Bank.

“”I’ve found a way to find out. This account will definitely deposit some silver in an account three days ago.””

An Xuan said, “”For Li Changlu.””

Zhong Jiuge grunted, “”That’s right, it’s for Li Changlu.””

A eunuch, you think, can’t be an official, can’t get married and have children, and the only thing he needs is money.

I found out that Li Changlu had bought a few houses in the capital, in addition to the dividends from these brothels.

“”Perhaps it’s because his body is no longer healthy, so his greed has become even more abnormal.””

“”Give me the positions of these houses.””

Zhong Jiuge was already prepared. She placed a piece of paper under the teacup and handed it over.

While An Zhe was arguing over his tea, he put away the paper.

Zhong Jiuge took a sip of tea and said, “”This Li Changlu is not simple. There must be experts from the royal clan accompanying him.””

He didn’t know whether or not he would cultivate for the time being, but those experts weren’t joking around.

“”Therefore, it’s not easy to make a move against him.””

“”It is impossible for there to be no flaws. The more greedy one is, the more flaws there are.””

“”Because he doesn’t want so many people to know his secret. There are times when he needs to be alone.””

Zhong Jiuge said, “”That’s true. I’ll keep my eyes on him.””

An Ying stood up and said, “”If you don’t have enough money, you can ask me for it.””

Zhong Jiuge said, “”Can you be a bit more magnanimous? I’ll be immediately convinced by you.””

“”You’ll have to settle the bill later.””

Zhong Jiuge said, “”Your image in my mind crumbled in an instant.””

He left the restaurant and went to find thin Du and Little Seven.

Zhong Jiuge was the other eye of the struggle, beyond what his own eyes could see. Zhong Jiuge could give him more vision.

The two men were standing to one side, watching the players play chess, when Anjou found them.

An Zeng walked over to take a look, and realized that it was one of the most ordinary scams... a complete mess.

Normally, it would be quite tempting to win one or two silvers at a time. If you win, the person who gave you ten silvers at the end of the game.

One to ten, so a lot of people fell for it.

There was no solution to the mess, even if the chess player came.

However, it seemed like they could take advantage of the situation, so many people were deceived.

Many people were watching from the sidelines, many of them making moves for the challenger.

An Zhe was very clear that these people were all from the Zhuang family.

This sort of thing was already extremely common, and most people wouldn’t fall for it.

Either he had never seen the game of chess, or it was greed that had taken the bait.

When An Zeng walked over, the challenger had already lost.

Reluctantly, he took out a tael of silver and was about to leave when he was stopped by the Zhuang family, “”Wait.””

The challenger was a seemingly honest scholar, the kind of person who was stupefied by reading. “”I’ve already given you the money.””

The banker looked to be in his thirties, and his eyes were fierce. “”You must have heard wrongly. I am not talking about one or two silver taels per game, I am talking about one silver tael per step.””

“”One move is one tael. I’ve calculated that you’ve taken a total of sixty-five steps. I’ll give you a discount, and you’ll give me sixty taels of silver.””

The scholar was instantly infuriated. “”You … you are lying!””

The banker smiled and said, “”If you want to bet and admit defeat, how can you be a rascal?””

The scholar was so excited that he could not even speak properly. “”You … are clearly you rascal!””

The surrounding people immediately surrounded the scholar, “”What, you want to leave if you lose? Do you want to act rascally at the foot of the Son of Heaven in the capital?””

“”But I don’t have that much money. I only have a few dozen silver taels, and my parents are the ones who raised the money to send me to the capital to participate in the Imperial examinations... How can you let me go back to the village to meet them?””

The banker then pushed the scholar down, “”I don’t care about that. If I lose, I will pay!””

“”Why don’t you kneel down and kowtow to me, and I’ll spare you five taels of silver?””

The scholar stood up and said, “”I can’t kneel, I just ask for your mercy.””

A few people surrounded and cursed, and more and more people gathered around, but no one was willing to interfere.

This matter is not clear, the Yan most respected one is willing to admit defeat.

Even though this was a trap, the scholar had jumped in, so there was no way for others to save him.

“”Let me do it for him.””

An Zeng walked over, smiled and said, “”Isn’t sixty taels right?””

When the banker saw that the dispute was extraordinary, he did not wish to stir up any trouble, “”Fine, as long as someone pays.””

An Xin counted on her fingers. “”There are five of you in total. If someone with a broken leg or a broken arm were to go to a doctor, each of you would have to spend at least several dozens of silver taels … So, if you all go over there and give me another hundred silver taels, it will be settled, alright?””