Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 193 - 186: The Sword is Drawn! A Corrupting Influence!
Twilight.
The outer district of Pengcheng gradually sank into boundless darkness, as if a dark veil had been drawn over it.
Yet in this darkness, Pingkang Square was brightly lit, Lichun House shining the most brilliantly of all.
Hong Yuan arrived at Pingkang Square, his gaze sweeping over the pedestrians on the spacious street, especially the young masters of noble families descending from luxurious carriages.
The pedestrians were all clad in fine, radiant attire, their fabrics exquisite.
The young masters from prominent families were even more extravagantly dressed, adorned with brocade, wearing caps decorated with crest treasures, and white jade rings at their waists—the epitome of luxury.
Some die of drought, others of flood. No matter where one is, everyone’s fate is different. The world has changed, yet it hasn’t, Hong Yuan muttered to himself.
Glancing at his own attire, a smile touched Hong Yuan’s lips.
He was currently dressed in blue brocade, a Treasure Jade adorned his left side, and he carried a fragrant sachet, presenting the very image of a refined scholar.
Fortunately, I’m not lacking either.
With measured steps, Hong Yuan headed towards Lichun House, searching for Zhang Chenye.
Beside Lichun House, lanterns were just beginning to glow, illuminating the various luxurious carriages parked outside. From within drifted the sounds of stringed and woodwind instruments, mingled with voices.
Lichun House spanned three floors and included two annexes.
Unsurprisingly, Zhang Chenye was on the very top floor—he had booked the entire level for himself!
「On the third floor of Lichun House.」
Zhang Chenye was relaxing in a clear pool strewn with flower petals and various Spirit Grasses.
Suddenly, he burst into loud laughter, grabbing a handful of Silver Coins and tossing them towards a purple-clad songstress performing on the zither by the poolside.
"HAHAHA, a fine performance! This is for you!"
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!" the purple-clad songstress hurriedly stood, bowed, and then quickly bent to pick up the Silver Coins.
Witnessing this, a morbidly twisted smile appeared on Zhang Chenye’s face as waves of perverse pleasure washed over him.
In a daze, he felt as if he had returned to twenty years ago, once again seeing the courtesan who had captivated his soul and made his life a drunken dream.
His ’white moonlight’...
In the main hall, the other songstresses watched with gleaming eyes, a mixture of anticipation and fear.
A few of the newer girls, especially, gulped, wishing they would be chosen to perform.
The experienced madam, however, felt a chill in her heart.
Zhang Chenye’s fickle and ruthless nature made him impossible for her to predict!
This Zhang Chenye has such a twisted disposition; it’s as if two different people inhabit his body. He doesn’t resemble a Disciple of an Overlord Sect at all, lacking any distinguished air, the madam mused. Sometimes, his methods are benevolent, and he might even show leniency to the lowest-ranking songstresses. Yet, at other times, his methods are cruel, and he has reduced several of the top courtesans I painstakingly cultivated to... that state...
Thinking of her top courtesans still lying on their sickbeds, the madam couldn’t help but grieve inwardly.
They said madams were heartless and unprincipled. However, as someone who had once been a songstress herself, she felt even more acutely the immense fear Zhang Chenye’s volatile temperament inflicted upon the women.
「In the first-floor main hall.」
After paying the entrance fee, Hong Yuan inwardly winced at the cost. Just entering the doors of Lichun House had consumed all the wages he had earned from a month of various odd jobs in the outer district of Pengcheng.
He even had to add some of his own money; it truly was a money pit.
Hong Yuan stood in the main hall, watching, like the other patrons, the six songstresses dancing gracefully on the central stage.
Meanwhile, four Sword Sparrow Worms had already silently positioned themselves on the beams throughout Lichun House, scouting for information for him.
One Sword Sparrow Worm transformed into a breeze of Sword Qi and drifted along the carved railings towards the second and third floors.
The scene on the third floor was laid bare before him.
Zhang Chenye, still engrossed in his revelries, remained completely oblivious.
The Fish Intestine Skill allowed him to lower his own senses, enabling him to interact normally with mortal women.
However, the Fish Intestine Skill also severely dulled his five senses, causing him to lose the most basic vigilance expected of a Martial Artist.
So elegant? How is this different from the rumors? Hong Yuan thought, his expression unchanged as he received information from the Sword Sparrow Worm. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
The image transmitted showed Zhang Chenye lounging in the pool, eating grapes while clapping and cheering for a dance performed by a red-clad songstress on the bank.
It seems the rumors were somewhat skewed. Fortunately, I only ever treated that intelligence as a reference, Hong Yuan mused. He fluttered his paper fan, closed it, and tucked it into his sash at his waist before proceeding towards the second floor.
The soundproofing between the floors of Lichun House was quite good. Upon reaching the second floor, an ordinary person could not hear any noises from the third.
Since Zhang Chenye had booked the entire third floor, ordinary people could not enter through normal means, nor did Hong Yuan intend to.
Guided by the Sword Sparrow Worm’s vision, Hong Yuan seemingly wandered from room to room with a lecherous gaze, but in reality, he was steadily inching closer to being directly below Zhang Chenye.
"Cry! Cry loudly for me! Don’t you dare hold back!" Zhang Chenye barked angrily. "I have plenty of Silver Coins! Are you looking down on me!?"
Louder cries immediately erupted from the bank.
The red-clad songstress, who had been dancing, was now streaming with tears, her mouth emitting one painful sob after another. She cried in sorrow, yet she had to force a joyful facade.
The other songstresses looked at Zhang Chenye with a mixture of awe and trepidation, their hearts uneasy.
Hong Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly drew the Heavenly River Sword from his Aperture.
He recalled Senior Brother Wushang’s tears and Yue’er’s peace charm...
If one is set on revenge through murder, why bother with all these notions of right and wrong?
A Sword Cultivator should speak with their sword.
Hong Yuan gave a wry inward chuckle, instantly shattering the thoughts that had surfaced in his mind.
The Heavenly River Sword also emitted a faint hum, as if in accord with Hong Yuan.
Under the horrified gazes of the other patrons, Hong Yuan swung his Longsword upwards.
Sword Killing Move—Sword Intent Transforming into Brilliance!
The Heavenly River Sword unleashed a blue, sharp radiance that silently sliced through the air.
This blue radiance shot upwards rapidly, then transformed into the shape of a spirit snake. It effortlessly pierced through the ceiling and continued its ascent.
Hong Yuan had already mastered the killing moves Spirit Snake Transformation and Jungle Python Transformation. This was merely one application of them.
The majestic, sharp radiance nimbly concentrated its power into a single point, rushing towards Zhang Chenye, who was still engrossed in his merrymaking.
RIP!
Feeling the floor beneath him tremble, Zhang Chenye’s expression changed drastically, his eyes flying wide open.
An aura of imminent death surged from below. He had just thought to leap away when he found his legs had turned to jelly.
It turned out that not only had wine and women hollowed out his martial foundation, but the Fish Intestine Skill he had painstakingly cultivated was also utterly useless at this moment.
He couldn’t avoid this strike!
Am I going to die?
As death loomed, a flash of clarity appeared in Zhang Chenye’s eyes, and a sense of release filled his heart. A Disciple like me has shamed the Taoist Temple; it’s better if I die. Miss XiaoQing, I’m coming to join you.
In that instant, Zhang Chenye felt time stretch out, various images flickering through his mind.
Ultimately, he remembered the girl buried deep in his heart.
Miss XiaoQing was the fourth-ranked courtesan at Falling Jade Tower.
They had met when they were both nobodies, helped each other out, and supported one another.
In the end, Miss XiaoQing became a top courtesan. With her support, he was able to practice martial arts. Eventually, after passing numerous assessments, he became a Disciple of Qinglu Taoist Temple.
He had thought he could give Miss XiaoQing a good life, yet he never expected her to die on the eve of their marriage...
BOOM!
The spirit snake-like radiance shot through, instantly impaling Zhang Chenye. It then soared towards Cloud Soar, its destination unknown.
Amidst the screams of several songstresses, Hong Yuan’s figure vanished, melting into the night, leaving no trace.
The first one. Eight more to go!
