The Bathing Pavilion’s Secret

Leaning on the carved balustrade, Xia Qian descended. The green candle lamps still cast a warm, ambiguous glow, swaying overhead and making her eyes swim.

Even though she had left the room, the scene from moments ago seemed to cling stubbornly to her mind, replaying before her eyes.

“You are the flower branch I shall admire alone.”

It was the first time Xia Qian had ever heard the act of “keeping” someone described with such fresh, refined elegance that it verged on cloying.

As she spoke, the woman leaned back in the sandalwood chair, propping her chin. Her silver hair cascaded like moonlight, while her emerald eyes flickered with the predatory gleam of a she-wolf clutching a rabbit in the snowy plains beyond the Great Wall.

What kind of domineering CEO declaration was that? Or perhaps, regardless of world or era, all young mistresses share this same entitled disregard for others’ opinions?

Normally, wishing to be kept by a beautiful, wealthy woman was just idle talk. Even if it truly came to pass, one would, at the very least, have the right to consider whether to accept.

However, this was Willow Lane. To simply keep a male courtesan, one only needed to drop a money pouch into the madam’s pocket to seal the deal.

One’s personal wishes?

A joke. Did they think this was after liberation?

Female patrons never bought a person; they bought flesh.

When haggling at the market, one always spoke to the vendor, never to the two pounds of pork belly on the chopping block.

Xia Qian inhaled deeply, a sigh of resignation, yet she could still distinctly catch the faint, cool scent of cedar lingering on her nostrils, a remnant from the dark cloaks.

As she walked through the corridor, the boisterous sounds of revelry reached her ears.

Down in the main hall, the outer tables were alive with merriment. Several lavishly dressed women were pressing a drunken youth onto the plush red carpet, forcing him to drink. Their gold-embroidered slippers made the jade bells on his waist jingle wildly.

Other male courtesans passed by, embraced by female patrons. Their faces bore fawning smiles, but their eyes were vacant, as if their souls had been hollowed out.

Perhaps it was their similar attire, but Xia Qian inexplicably felt as though she wasn’t seeing others, but rather a reflection of herself.

This was Willow Lane.

Unlike the brothels she knew, this was a joyous hunting ground for women.

The men, though perhaps treated differently, were, without exception, mere toys to be indulged.

The scenes of debauchery relentlessly stimulated her senses. Unbeknownst to her, something beneath Xia Qian’s clothes hardened.

Her fist, hidden in her sleeve, clenched tightly.

Who the hell wants to be prey?! Why should I?

She couldn’t stay in this wretched brothel for another moment. She had to pack up and run immediately.

The thought had barely surfaced when she suddenly heard a burst of laughter from behind her.

Xia Qian turned to see the group of blue-clad youths from earlier approaching her.

Their smiles were identical, as if copy-pasted, and their eyes were narrowed like those of puppets.

“Congratulations, new brother!”

The leading blue-clad youth smiled, cupping his hands in greeting, a hint of teasing in his voice.

“To have secured a wealthy young mistress like Boss Jiang the moment you arrived, brother, you truly have good fortune!”

Xia Qian frowned, her barely contained annoyance flickering in her eyes.

“Why are you everywhere? What do you want this time?”

“Don’t be so cold, new brother. Daddy Liu has instructed us to serve you.”

“Serve?”

“It’s the rule of the Lane. After seeing off a guest, all brothers must go to the Bathing Pavilion to rest. We know the new brother isn’t familiar with the way, so we’ve come to lead you there.”

“Bathe? Again?”

Xia Qian’s frown deepened further.

“No, I didn’t do anything in the room just now. I’m not dirty, and there’s no strange smell. Why should I bathe?”

“But it is a rule of the Lane.”

The leading blue-clad youth’s smile remained unchanged, yet a note of regret entered his tone.

“If brother doesn’t follow the rules, Daddy Liu will scold you, and we will be punished too. Please don’t be naughty, brother.”

Their words were polite, but their actions were swift.

The blue-clad youths surrounded her without explanation. Two grabbed her arms, two wrapped around her legs, and they lifted Xia Qian and carried her away.

Xia Qian tried to resist, but whether through verbal protest or physical struggle, the outcome was the same as before: she was no match for them.

The blue-clad youths held her firmly, carrying her away from the main hall.

“Hey, so you guys don’t understand human language either, do you?!” Xia Qian shouted, but the blue-clad youths ignored her, still smiling as they dragged her forward.

Leaving the main building of Willow Lane and passing through several corridors, they arrived at the back garden.

Within the verdant, sprawling compound, a tall building stood in the center. Its scale seemed even grander than the Lane’s main gatehouse, as if this were the true heart of Willow Lane.

Upon entering the main gate, Xia Qian was surprised to find that what was called a bathhouse was actually a luxurious palace. The tall, carved doors were inlaid with glazed tiles, and the spacious bathing area felt like a coastal fishing village.

In the swirling mist, several bath pools of varying sizes were faintly visible.

“This is the Bathing Pavilion,” the leading blue-clad youth said with a smile. “New brother, please come this way.”

“I have my own name, you know. I’m not called ‘new one,'” Xia Qian retorted with a helpless roll of her eyes, though her attention quickly shifted to her surroundings.

Following the blue-clad youths, her gaze swept across the Bathing Pavilion.

The place was bustling, yet orderly. Male courtesans soaked in different pools, their faces displaying expressions of exhaustion mixed with relaxation.

This seemed to confirm the ‘rules’ the blue-clad youth had mentioned: all who received guests had to come to these baths.

It appeared to be more than just washing away the grime after serving guests; it was a genuine form of rest.

As she pondered this, Xia Qian’s gaze was drawn to a corner, where it fixated.

A gaunt youth lay there.

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the poor wretch who had been ravaged by Madam Li earlier, suffering from the “tank” crushing.

To Xia Qian’s surprise, she had thought that after such torment, even if the youth didn’t die, he would barely survive.

However, the pitiful youth now, though his face was as pale as paper, had steady breathing and seemed to be recovering.

A faint blue liquid glowed around his body, floating in the pool water.

Distinctly, the scars on his newly healed wounds were slowly fading.

Noticing the change in Xia Qian’s gaze, the leading blue-clad youth chuckled softly, answering the unspoken question of the new brother.

“The water in the Bathing Pavilion’s pools is no ordinary substance. It’s spirit spring water drawn from a mystical realm, refined into a bath elixir with secret Xuanmen medicines.”

“Calming the mind and healing injuries are just basic functions. Most importantly, it replenishes spiritual energy and restores vitality.”

“Spiritual energy?”

Xia Qian’s confusion deepened rather than lessened, but she kept it to herself.

“Women cultivate by needing men’s spiritual energy. As ‘Spirit Cauldrons,’ after being completely drained each time, they naturally come to the Bathing Pavilion to replenish and recuperate. It’s like how an empty wine pot needs to be refilled from the cellar.”

The leading youth leisurely led the way, explaining this common knowledge of Willow Lane.

“However, what kind of bottle holds what kind of wine? The ones in the front pools are just the broken, discarded remnants. Daddy Liu has instructed that the new brother is to go to the inner chambers at the back—look, brother, it’s just ahead.”