The Allure of Taiyang City

Taiyang City at night was filled with boisterous sounds and dazzling lights. Merchants hawked their wares, and beneath the grand buildings, many men and women were soliciting customers.

“Come, come! Esteemed guest, step inside and see! We have rare delicacies and fine wines brought directly from the Imperial City!”

“Esteemed guest, do come in for a look~”

“Recently, a new courtesan, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, has joined our establishment~”

“Grand opening! Half price for all new patrons~”

“…”

“…”

“Fellow Daoist, is it truly appropriate for cultivators to visit such establishments of pleasure?”

Shangwu gazed at the large, red characters on the ‘Chunyi Brothel’ signboard, then tugged at Zhuang Xun’s sleeve and whispered into his ear.

“Just look at them, one after another, with bared chests and exposed legs—they’re clearly not respectable women!”

He gulped.

Despite Shangwen’s words, his gaze still periodically swept over the alluring women soliciting customers upstairs, and he, too, swallowed hard.

“What do you mean by that? Are cultivators not human?”

“Are they not allowed to enjoy themselves when the opportunity arises?”

“Not exactly… but wouldn’t this harm a cultivator’s reputation and customs?”

“Pedantic! If one can’t even confront their own desires, how can they speak of cultivating their mind?”

As Zhuang Xun finished speaking, a pimp from the brothel approached them, inquiring, “Are the three esteemed gentlemen here to enjoy our establishment?”

“Please wait a moment. My two friends are visiting such a place for the first time and are still a bit shy.”

“Ah, I see. No matter, the ladies of our Chunyi Brothel are quite skilled…”

“And if you, young master, choose to patronize our humble establishment, you’ll even receive a discount.”

“Why is that?”

“Naturally, it’s because you, young master, are so exceptionally handsome that our ladies are quite smitten with you.”

“Just look.”

Zhuang Xun, however, didn’t pay much attention. Didn’t he know his own worth?

It was the two brothers who, following the pimp’s gesture, looked over.

The women, who had moments ago been chattering like orioles and swallows, suddenly fell silent, their gazes fixed intently on the three men.

Their eyes were particularly drawn to Zhuang Xun.

Their gazes seemed to yearn to leap off their faces and into his embrace.

At this, Shangwen patted Zhuang Xun’s shoulder and subtly whispered into his ear, “Fellow Daoist, I believe that if you were to go inside, you would most likely be trapped by them, unable to sleep a wink.”

“It’s nothing. Isn’t this just a small test for you two, to let you experience the world?”

“Follow me.”

After all, his ultimate goal wasn’t to indulge in such pleasures.

He merely wanted to see if these two, on their first encounter, could withstand…

…the most common and yet most fatal temptation of sensual allure.

Men, after all…

Unless they were individuals who had completely severed all carnal desires, they would naturally develop some interest in the opposite s*x.

Moreover, the inner demons and karmic obstructions of cultivators often stemmed from matters of love and desire.

Therefore, being able to confront human desires…

…and enduring the impact of these fundamental, primal urges…

…was the first step to preventing one’s Dao path from being muddled by fleeting desires.

If they couldn’t even control their own lower half, then there would be no point in them following him.

It would only be a waste of his time.

…

The two followed behind Zhuang Xun.

As the heavily made-up women eagerly swarmed them, the potent scent of their cosmetics assailed their nostrils.

This made both of their faces blanch with discomfort, and they clutched at Zhuang Xun’s shoulders, feeling as if they might faint.

Zhuang Xun subtly tilted his head to observe their reactions, then shook his head.

‘I truly didn’t expect their resistance to be so weak,’ he thought.

‘They’re simply too pathetic.’

‘Never mind. I’ll just get them a private room.’

Ahead of them, he parted the numerous women, plump and slender alike, who blocked their path, eliciting a chorus of sweet cries and blushes from them.

“Young master, won’t you come and try me?”

“Your hands are so warm, young master~”

“To meet you, young master, is truly my good fortune for three lifetimes~”

“Don’t leave, young master~ Just look at me~”

“The pet on your shoulder is truly adorable, young master~”

“…”

However, Zhuang Xun paid them no mind, leading the two men up to a relatively elegant and secluded tea room on the second floor.

“Esteemed guests, if you have a preferred lady, you may simply pick up a wooden token inside to make your selection.”

“Understood.”

Once the door was closed, the slightly noisy sounds from outside significantly subsided.

Zhuang Xun poured two cups of clear tea on the table and said, “How can you two be so sensitive that you can’t even tolerate a little scent of rouge?”

“…”

“It’s not that… it’s a bit nauseating,” Shangwen murmured, slumping onto the table weakly after taking a sip of the clear tea.

“To be honest, Fellow Daoist, such common, heavily made-up women are simply unbearable to behold.”

Shangwu, equally unreserved, picked up the other cup of clear tea and drained it in one gulp.

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Is it perhaps because they are all mortals who have long engaged in worldly affairs, causing their vital essence and spirit to be rather muddled and impure?”

“Since you already know this, Fellow Daoist, why would you still come to a place like this?” Shangwu asked, puzzled. ‘Could he be amusing himself at our expense?’ he wondered.

“It’s simply because this is the only place in Taiyang City with such a strong worldly, sensual aura. The Liuhua Hall beneath the Imperial City is too far from here…”

“I didn’t have enough time to take you there.”

“Sensual aura… Liuhua Hall… I think I’ve heard of it somewhere.”

“It’s what the disciples within the sect talk about.”

Shangwen, it seemed, had a rather clear memory when it came to sect gossip.

“It’s said that Liuhua Hall is considered a veritable paradise of pleasure in the mortal world…”

“Many disciples who descend the mountains for experience, and subsequently lose themselves in the mortal world’s allure, have, more often than not, visited such a place.”

“It’s just a pity…”

“The establishment itself has significant backing; even some cultivators with powerful connections wouldn’t dare cause trouble there easily.”

“Let alone ordinary mortals attempting any misdeeds.”

Shangwen’s words revealed a longing for Liuhua Hall, before he quickly regained his composure.

His previous despondency vanished.

“Fellow Daoist, could it be that you intend to test our self-control?”

“…”

“Indeed.”

Zhuang Xun leisurely sat down as well, poured a cup of tea, took a delicate sip, and slowly began, “Wine, women, wealth, and anger form four walls, trapping many within their confines. If one can leap beyond these walls, they will find the elixir of eternal youth in the mortal world.”

“Do you two believe that, having entered the mortal world, you can leap beyond these walls?”

“…”

“…”

The two of them were momentarily stumped by his words.

Having diligently cultivated for so long within their sect’s blessed lands, they regarded those four temptations with the fear one might hold for a tiger.

They had barely even touched upon them, let alone imagined leaping beyond those four walls.

“It’s alright if you don’t have an answer now. Once you’ve experienced it, once you desire to indulge in human desires…”

“The answer will naturally surface.”

“…”

Shangwu suddenly stood up and cupped his hands towards Zhuang Xun, saying, “Senior, I have been enlightened.”

To be able to see through human nature so clearly, even with a cultivation base that might be considered modest…

Such a carefree state of mind was indeed enough for them to address him as a senior.

“Oh, please, don’t keep calling me ‘Senior.’ I’m not that old yet; just call me Zhuang Xun.” Zhuang Xun didn’t particularly care for honorifics.

As long as he was acting in the mortal world, enjoying himself was all that mattered.

“Oh, and remember to maintain your virginity; it’s very beneficial for cultivation.”

Zhuang Xun operated on the principle that if he could drag one person down, he would.

He absolutely couldn’t be the only old virgin among his companions.

“This…”

The two, being inexperienced in the ways of the world, couldn’t discern the underlying meaning of his words.

They simply replied, “We shall remember your wise words, Fellow Daoist.”

…

****

The Taiyang City Lord’s Residence.

A middle-aged man, clad in luxurious official robes and reeking of alcohol, entered, his arm around a woman in alluring, revealing attire.

They chatted and laughed along the way, his hands roaming over the woman’s body.

[Hehe~]