Da Xuan Martial Saint

Chen Mu pulled out the wanted poster for Yan Wansi from his memory.

Hmm.

Whether related or not, this was a person worth investigating, as his potential ties with the He Family weren't the only concern; the mere fact that he had once caused Xu Hongyu to pursue him and get injured made him a target Chen Mu could not overlook.

...

East City.

Perfume Alley.

This area is famously known as the Flower Street of East City.

Since Yu City is vast, nearly every district is as large as a county government, dividing into four City Defense Divisions: east, south, west, and north, each operating independently. Every district has its own Flower Pavilions and brothels.

Now, in the dead of winter, the rivers of the Outer City are frozen, and the most famous floating brothels enter their off-season, leaving only the Flower Streets in each district still in operation.

Among these, the most renowned is in East City, where, it is said, whether singers, dancers, or courtesans, or even the highly sought-after prostitutes, the level of beauty and physical allure surpasses that of any other district.

Only the Flower Alley of the Inner City can compare to it.

However, the expense in Inner City Flower Alley greatly exceeds that of the Outer City and is inaccessible to all but the elite and government officials. Furthermore, current rumors of vague connections with the legendary 'Hehuan Sect' deter some visitors.

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Nonetheless, there are also wealthy squires itching to taste the 'Hehuan' thrill, willing to spend a fortune for a round in the Inner City Flower Alley. After all, to them, the Four Great Sects are revered figures, and experiencing a disciple of Hehuan is a matter worth bragging about.

Even in the cold winter.

The Perfume Alley of East City is still bustling with life, the whole street lit up with lights. There are squires in thick brocade robes and cotton clothes, eyeing each Flower Pavilion, entering slowly under the warm welcomes of the madams.

There are not just squires on the streets, there are also individuals in light clothing who don't seem cold, clearly skilled in martial arts, with each Flower Pavilion ready to serve them all.

Suddenly.

A man with a black cloth hat, dressed in simple green clothes, carrying a knife at his waist, strolled by.

This attire was uncommon before the Four Great Sects stationed in Yu County, but since the Sect Disciples arrived, it has become less surprising. Often Sect Disciples used this disguise to hide their faces, leading many gang members and warriors of the Martial World to adopt this style.

After all, it was perfect for concealing one's identity while avoiding attracting too much attention in its growing popularity.

Thus Chen Mu arrived in front of one of the Flower Pavilions and looked up to see a signboard reading 'Oriole Pavilion,' then casually pulled out a piece of Silver from his sleeve and threw it to the welcoming old madam at the door.

"Oh, honored guest, please come inside."

The madam weighed the Silver, her face breaking into a smile as she welcomed Chen Mu inside without questioning his origins or identity, nor caring about the hat that masked his face. Nowadays, there were too many dressed in such fashion; as long as one had Silver, no other credentials mattered.

Moreover, as the madam knew, such guests often turned out to be generous spenders. Some didn't even partake in pleasure but would watch a dance or listen to music on the second floor, have a couple of drinks, throw down some Silver, and leave.

Such patrons were undoubtedly the most welcomed by Flower Pavilions.

As for their exact identities... perhaps they were Sect Disciples, noble sons, or some wanted figures of the Martial World. Regardless of which, it was best not to delve too deeply, as long as there was Silver to be made.

"Good sir, I am Xiao Lian. Would you like to listen to music, or would you prefer to rest early?"

Just as Chen Mu walked in, a petite girl with ample charms approached, her large, watery eyes blinking appealingly, exuding both a charm that invited affection and a subtle seduction that was enticing.

Chen Mu, who had seen his fair share of grand scenes and frequented brothels while handling cases, was accustomed to such sights. He casually flicked a silver bean into the mix:

"Listening to the music."

"Thank you for the tip, sir. Please, upstairs we have private booths and rooms..."

"A private booth will be fine."

Chen Mu responded casually.

The venue for listening to music was very spacious, consisting of a hall with seats everywhere. The private rooms were not enclosed spaces but were furnished with windows opening to the view of the dance performances in the hall. These were often chosen by nobles accompanied by servants and were quite attention-catching.

In contrast, the more common private booths did not attract much notice, all of which he was very familiar with.

In the past, he found brothels somewhat interesting, but now, with his power and status ascending, his interest had waned. After all, if he wished, he could directly bring in a whole troupe of dancing girls to enjoy music and dance daily.

Very soon,

Xiao Lian led Chen Mu to the main hall on the second floor. The area was spacious and warm, insulated from the chilly winds outside. Many visitors had shed their coats and were wearing only thin clothes, each sitting behind a small table, either chatting animatedly or watching the dancing girls sway their slender waists, enjoying the glimpses of beauty.

Chen Mu's arrival did not draw any attention. There were seven or eight others dressed just like him on this floor, all wearing black cloth hats that obscured their faces, and the attending singers also tactfully avoided lifting them.

He sat down in an inconspicuous corner.

Seeing that Chen Mu did not ask her to leave, Xiao Lian's eyes suddenly showed a hint of joy. She quietly knelt beside, clearly identifying the guest as someone generous. If she could stay by his side a bit longer, perhaps she could earn more tips.

Besides,

This guest was not burly, and the hands he used to give tips were not rough. He did not exude an intimidating air and did not seem like a bandit. Perhaps he was an East City rich family's young master trying to maintain a good public image. If she served him well, maybe she would have a chance...

Suddenly realizing that trying to discern such a customer's true identity was taboo, Xiao Lian quickly interrupted her own wild thoughts and began to attend cautiously.

"..."

Chen Mu did not send Xiao Lian away, not out of lust for beauties but because it drew less attention.

He glanced casually at the performances, then his gaze swept across the hall, particularly resting on a few individuals dressed like him and wearing black cloth hats, but without seeing their faces, it was indeed hard to discern their identities.

As for the others,

After looking around, he did not see anyone fitting Yan Wansi's description.

"No wonder Yan Wansi's information is mostly found in the quarter of pleasure; indeed, it's a fitting place to hide."

Chen Mu revealed a thoughtful expression.

Previously, it wasn't so troublesome. The government would forcefully remove masks and check, but since the Four Great Sects' arrival, things had become complicated, inclining more towards the ways of the Martial World.

Those wearing black cloth like him could be bandits like Yan Wansi under the mask, but they could also be Sect Disciples, or even revealing a true disciple might lead to a big surprise!

Although unlikely, there was still a chance, and it was possible to find those who frequented brothels to listen to music.

After all,

Even he, the mighty Metropolitan Commander of the Inspectorate, was sitting here listening to music while wearing a hat!

However, while it might be difficult for ordinary people to identify these individuals, Chen Mu was a master of Artistic Conception.

If he paid close attention, unless someone was extremely skilled at concealing their aura like the Blood Hidden Pavilion, or was someone from the Five Viscera Realm, it was usually hard to hide their presence from him, especially since 'breathing' was also a form of wind within the range of his 'Autumn Wind Sense'.

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