Shangshu
A Mobile City in the central heartland of Yan. Surrounded by high mountains and hills, the terrain was perilous, and people's homes were naturally nestled among the mountains, like a fairyland.
Shangshu was most famous for its Three Mountains and Seventeen Peaks. According to legend, it used to be the Three Mountains and Eighteen Peaks, but one of the peaks was destroyed in a past Catastrophe. And because the scenery was pleasant and suitable for tourism, Shangshu, under the management of successive Prefects, gradually became a famous tourist city within Yan. It was even listed among the ten must-visit cities in Yan in the magazines and periodicals of Lungmen's largest travel agencies.
Second only to Yan's capital and a few other cities.
"Hiss.... Are you sure... this is a Mobile City?"
When the group arrived at Shangshu in the Land-runner, Lucas Reeve was completely stunned. Not just Lucas Reeve; even Surtr was the same. Even Skadi and Laurentina were slightly shocked.
It was the first time Lucas Reeve had seen a city that moved an entire mountain onto a Mobile City.
Too...
This was too outrageous.
In Lucas Reeve's eyes, he had seen many Mobile Cities, and they were basically all modern cities. This Shangshu... instead looked like a city built within a mountain range. Many Mobile Cities, in order to accommodate more people, would usually try to make the buildings sufficiently dense. Although Mobile Cities could be expanded—they just needed to install additional mobile platforms on the side, similar to train cars.
But this Shangshu actually moved a mountain onto the mobile platform. Who knows how much extra money that cost.
"Art!"
Laurentina walked ahead in a long, elegant dress. For this artistic critique trip to Yan, Laurentina naturally couldn't wear her Abyssal Hunter uniform, nor her nun's habit. Instead, she had changed into a mature long dress, sunglasses on her gorgeous face, and her silver-white hair, translucent in the sun, gave off the air of a successful, fashionable urban woman.
Her skin was like porcelain, and every frown and smile was exceptionally charming.
Lucas Reeve would call Laurentina 'Franka 2.0 Advanced Edition'.
After all, although Franka had the figure and looks, and her original form was a seductive fox, she had high offense and low defense. She could flirt with inexperienced rookies, but she'd probably break down instantly if she met a playboy.
Franka had once again become a new type of unit of measurement.
"Indeed... I didn't come to the wrong place."
Laurentina couldn't help but praise.
"I'm already sick of your uniformly modern and boring Mobile Cities. No aesthetic sense at all. But Yan, as expected, fits my aesthetic. This is the fusion of art and the Mobile City~"
"It reminds me of a line from a collection of ancient Yan poetry I read a few days ago, what was it..."
"Green mountains face each other across the banks, a lone sail glides by from the sun's edge...."
"This city!!"
When Laurentina reached this point, she suddenly paused, subconsciously wanting someone to finish her thought. However, no one could. But, Nian thought for a moment and came up with a line.
"Awesome."
"Marvelous~"
Laurentina gave a thumbs up.
As an Abyssal Hunter enthusiastic about art, Laurentina loved to discover art in any form. She didn't look down on the backwardness of the land nations. On the contrary, she actually felt that compared to Aegir's social system, the land nations were more likely to produce outstanding art. After all... Everything in Aegir seemed to be arranged. Correspondingly, such a structure could only guarantee orderly operation, but it made it difficult to promote artistic innovation.
Although those high-and-mighty science consuls living in their comfortable city-states didn't care about so-called art. In their view, art? Can you eat it? Can it improve... [text missing], or can it be armed onto a caliber?
Therefore.
Although Laurentina was a sculptor before joining the Abyssal Hunters, she discovered that Aegir's art was dead, uniform, and soulless.
"Let's go~ Lord God!"
Since Jessica wasn't around, Laurentina was naturally much more brazen. She walked over and subconsciously hooked Lucas Reeve's arm, her 'magnificence' pressed directly against Lucas Reeve's arm.
Skadi & Surtr: "?!"
"Stay away from Lucas Reeve.."
Surtr walked over and grabbed Laurentina's arm without any courtesy.
"Jessica specifically instructed me before we left."
Surtr's gaze was cold, even somewhat condescending.
"Heh, so petty. It's not like I'm going to eat Lord God."
Laurentina smiled charmingly, releasing her arm from Lucas Reeve's. The corners of her mouth lifted, revealing neat white teeth as her tongue licked her lips.
"However, if he wants to eat me, then I can't do anything about it~"
Everyone: "???"
To be honest.
Skadi somewhat missed Laurentina's nun personality. Setting aside the occasional mad outbursts due to her mental state, if she wasn't having an outburst, the polite and obedient nun-state Laurentina personality was actually quite popular.
As for the original Laurentina personality...
She was too good at flirting, and she knew it too well.
This made Jessica a little worried.
She wasn't afraid of many people liking Lucas Reeve; Jessica was afraid of aggressive affection.
To be honest.
That action just now, paired with those slightly wronged and charming little eyes and words, plus her almost perfect looks and figure.
Few normal men could withstand that.
If this were on the internet, there would probably already be a line of people commenting.
[Offer our hearts to Laurentina!]
Chatting and laughing, the group passed through the city entrance and headed towards the central district of Shangshu. On the way, Lucas Reeve and the others went through an identity check. After showing their trade credentials, they were let through very easily.
"By the way, where is your sister Ling? Shangshu is so big?"
The group walked on the streets of Shangshu's urban area.
The ground was paved with square bricks, completely different from Columbia's modern asphalt roads.
Although Shangshu also had modern skyscrapers and all kinds of modern electrical wiring, not at all inferior to Columbia, the architectural style perfectly continued Yan's ancient style. Even the skyscrapers soaring into the clouds were completely different from those outside, having been 'demonically modded' (modded) with a Yan style.
Walking on the street, looking at the pedestrians walking and chatting around them in their classical attire, there was a brand new sense of beauty, born from the collision of modern and ancient.
"Hmph hmph, you wouldn't know this. Even the Yan officials don't know."
Nian explained: "Right now, the Yan officials only know Ling is in Shangshu, but they don't know *where* exactly. Probably only one dedicated person in charge knows."
"Big Sis Ling is on that one peak of the Three Mountains and Seventeen Peaks, the one rumored to have disappeared in a Catastrophe."
"???"
Everyone was stunned.
Nian continued to explain: "Actually, that peak didn't disappear. It's just that Big Sis Ling, in order to prevent people from disturbing her, deliberately used a special concealment technique to hide the entire mountain peak."
"It was probably a few decades ago. At that time, a huge Catastrophe cluster formed in the sky above Shangshu without any warning from the Catastrophe Messengers. Just as the Catastrophe was about to descend, Big Sis Ling dispersed the Catastrophe. After that, she deliberately hid the mountain peak she was on, disguising it as having disappeared in the Catastrophe."
Nian explained very calmly.
However.
Her audience did not hear it calmly.
Dispersed?! A Catastrophe!!
Laurentina might not really understand, as she had been in Saltwind City almost the entire time, and Aegir doesn't have Catastrophes. But Skadi had clearly witnessed a Catastrophe. That world-ending scene... even Skadi could do nothing about it, let alone disperse a Catastrophe.
That was a bit terrifying...
No wonder Nian said Big Sis Ling, Second Brother, and Big Brother were recognized as the strongest three among the Sui Beast fragments. Only these three were recognized as such. The other siblings might have differences in strength, but the gap wouldn't be that large. Anyway, judging by Nian and Dusk's tone, they had no way to deal with Catastrophes, although Catastrophes couldn't harm them.
"However, I suggest we go over tomorrow. Night has already fallen. Given Ling's alcoholic personality, she should already be drunk and asleep by this time. Ten to one, we won't be able to wake her up even if we go."
Nian analyzed for a moment and said.
"Doesn't matter. It's not like one night makes a difference."
Lucas Reeve didn't mind. It was rare to come to Shangshu, and traveling around this city of overlapping mountains was also a wonderful thing.
Night fell.
The group walked through the bustling and lively urban area. There weren't many modern high-rises; most were wooden buildings, ancient and fragrant. On the streets, electric lanterns lit up, making the whole city as bright as day. The pedestrians walking by were also drawn to Lucas Reeve's group and their foreign attire, turning to look. It was mainly because the girls, aside from Lucas Reeve, were too eye-catching. Many young people passing by couldn't help but stare.
"Speaking of which, how about we visit a pleasure house?"
Just as they were pondering where to eat dinner tonight, Laurentina suddenly made a tricky suggestion.
"A... pleasure house??"
Lucas Reeve froze, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Skadi, however, was puzzled.
"What's a pleasure house?"
The little orca didn't really understand these terms.
Surtr didn't really get it either, turning to ask Lucas Reeve.
Lucas Reeve coughed awkwardly, thinking about how to explain.
"Er... it's a place for... 'piledriving'."
"Piledriving?"
Pfft...
Nian couldn't help but laugh at Lucas Reeve's explanation.
"Lucas Reeve, are you overthinking things?"
"Pleasure houses are legal establishments in Yan. And that kind of dirty flesh trade you're talking about is explicitly forbidden in Yan. If caught, the penalty is severe."
"So, a pleasure house is just a place for scholars and artists to relax. A few friends order a table of food, listen to some tunes, watch some dances, or it's a place for scholars and artists to pursue love. It's very normal. You didn't get the wrong idea, did you?"
Nian smirked, nudging Lucas Reeve's waist with her elbow.
"Ai... men, after all. Even a God has the shell of a man. It's normal. After all, Second Brother also... towards Third Sister...."
"Dirty thoughts."
Dusk-bao couldn't help but roll her eyes at Lucas Reeve.
As for Laurentina, she smiled charmingly, covering her mouth with her hand, her gaze hazy as she looked at Lucas Reeve.
"Lord God, you didn't... get the wrong idea, did you? I didn't expect Lord God to also have such mortal, worldly desires."
"...."
Lucas Reeve rolled his eyes, ignoring the group's teasing.
However, Lucas Reeve was, to be honest, also very curious about a place like a pleasure house. After all, in his previous life, he'd often seen the term in historical dramas and period novels.
"I want to go, what about you all? They have food there anyway. I really want to see it. We can listen to some music and have a meal. I think I've seen similar scenes in Yan's movies. A few scholars, two or three friends."
Nian raised her hand: "+1"
Surtr nodded. She had indeed never been. One is always interested in new things.
Dusk didn't care. Skadi didn't care either.
In the end, it wasn't up to Lucas Reeve to vote.
With six people, three in favor, two abstaining, Lucas Reeve's opposition was useless.
Red Sleeve Court
Shangshu's largest 'wind and moon' establishment (establishment of pleasure). In the past, the Red Sleeve Court had more or less some 'irregular' services, but under the strict control of the newly appointed Prefect, this problem had been mostly eradicated.
Indeed.
The real-life pleasure house wasn't as indecent as Lucas Reeve had imagined.
There was no 'madam' at the door as he'd imagined.
Nor were there any scantily clad girls. The people coming in and out weren't all just lechers; there were also quite a few girls coming and going. It was as if this was just an ordinary place to eat and listen to music.
Was his thinking really the problem?
But it was no wonder Lucas Reeve thought that way. Having seen so many historical dramas, pleasure houses were almost invariably synonymous with brothels. He hadn't expected it to be so normal in reality.
The six of them walked in and were greeted by an attendant. In the first-floor hall, a songstress was plucking a guzheng on the stage, the music melodious. Many people sat on the first floor, eating and chatting. As for the second floor and above, those were private rooms, where one could individually request a girl to come to the room and perform her talents.
They randomly found a private room and sat down. Although the prices on the menu were much more expensive than outside, Lucas Reeve wasn't stingy. He directly ordered a large table full of food. Anyway, he had a Raythean Medica card on him. The balance in this card could buy ten of these Red Sleeve Courts without a problem.
Since they were already here, how could they not experience the specialty of the Red Sleeve Court?
At the attendant's inquiry, Laurentina directly requested the girl with the highest appearance fee, one of the top courtesans of the entire Red Sleeve Court. She was skilled in singing and dancing, proficient in everything. Only the top merchants in Shangshu could afford to request her. Just half an hour of her appearance fee was equivalent to several months' salary for an ordinary person.
"Tsk tsk... using Miss Jessica's money to call over a young girl for company. What would Jessica think if she knew?"
Laurentina tutted, grinning mischievously at Lucas Reeve.
"..."
Lucas Reeve was speechless.
"Weren't you the one who ordered her, Miss Laurentina!"
When saying her name, Lucas Reeve deliberately emphasized his tone.
"Hehe~"
After a while, the door to the private room was pushed open.
A unique fragrance wafted in from outside the door. The scent arrived before the person. This fragrance was different from the smell of perfume; it seemed to be naturally occurring, very special, and very pleasant.
A young woman in a long pink dress walked in, her face like a peach blossom, her eyes like water, her figure slender.
Extremely beautiful, on par with Laurentina.
No wonder she was a top courtesan. With looks like these, she could probably charm countless scholars into a daze. No wonder they all loved to run here. Who wouldn't be mesmerized?
Unfortunately...
Lucas Reeve was immune.
He had too many beautiful women around him, even the fairy-like Nine-Colored Deer.
When the young woman entered, she was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected it to be all women, and women whose looks were not at all inferior to hers. A flash of displeasure and jealousy crossed her eyes.
When she looked at Lucas Reeve, suddenly, a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes, followed by extreme excitement. However, this flash of excitement was very brief and she suppressed it. Holding a pipa, she bowed to the group, then sat on a chair to the side and began to play slowly.
The normal situation.
Would be a group of scholars and refined gentlemen sitting together, vying for the top courtesan's favor, trying all sorts of ways to win her affection, even spending thousands in gold just to make her smile.
But Lucas Reeve's group didn't even look at her, as if they really regarded the top courtesan as a heartless music-playing tool. They just chatted among themselves.
Just then.
A commotion suddenly erupted outside the door. The sound got closer and closer, the footsteps more and more chaotic.
Lucas Reeve didn't know what was happening. At first, he thought someone was causing trouble outside. Instead, the top courtesan who was playing the pipa became nervous, as if worried about something.
*CRASH!*
The door to Lucas Reeve's private room was violently kicked open.
A figure with long golden hair rushed in first.
"Dali Temple! Everyone inside, hands on your head, squat against the wall!! We received a tip about a demon infestation!"
However.
When these words were shouted, the people inside sat perfectly still, not moving at all.
Just as the golden-haired girl was about to get angry, she suddenly focused her gaze and froze.
"Lucas Reeve?"
"Yoho, I didn't expect to see you here, Miss Qingyan."