Chapter 498: Peach Blossom Spring
Dongfang Youdi's words were extremely suggestive, and combined with his lecherous expression, anyone could guess what kind of "place for men" he was talking about.
Lan Xinyu's face flushed crimson in an instant as she glared at Dongfang Youdi.
Ye Wushuang's brow furrowed. He knew Dongfang Youdi was talking about a pleasure district, but he had far too much to do to have the leisure for such things.
"Hey, hey! Don't you want to save your little lady anymore? The Yang Destruction Power lingering in her body needs a proper cure. If it's not rooted out, it will damage her life force and have a massive impact on her future Cultivation!"
Seeing Ye Wushuang's face darken, Dongfang Youdi remained unfazed and immediately pressed the point.
Ye Wushuang's eyes narrowed as he stared at Dongfang Youdi. 'How does this guy know that the Yang Destruction Power in Lan Xinyu's body hasn't been fully cured?'
"Don't ask this young master how I know, because even if you do…" Dongfang Youdi sauntered forward, pulling at his clothes with a sly grin. "...this young master will tell you anyway!"
"I had a similar experience before. But after one trip to that place, I was all better."
Dongfang Youdi patted his chest proudly.
Hearing this, Ye Wushuang's curiosity was piqued.
"What's this? Getting interested?" Dongfang Youdi asked with a smirk upon seeing his reaction.
"Dongfang, stop keeping Brother Ye in suspense!" Zhuang Hao stepped forward with a smile. "Brother Ye, actually, if you want to cure Miss Lan's ailment quickly, you just need to make a trip to the Peach Blossom Spring."
Ye Wushuang looked at Zhuang Hao and asked, "What kind of place is the Peach Blossom Spring?"
"You may not know, Brother Ye, but the Peach Blossom Spring is the largest pleasure house in the Holy City. There is a type of Spirit Root inside called a Peach Branch, which can expel the Yang Destruction Power from Miss Lan's body."
Zhuang Hao added with a smile.
"A Peach Branch!" Ye Wushuang murmured. After a moment's thought, he turned to Lan Xinyu. "You wait here. I'll go take a look and find a cure for you!"
"Okay!" Lan Xinyu nodded.
Then, Ye Wushuang turned to Xiaoo Yue. "Xiaoo Yue, you watch over her here. If the Zong Family comes looking for trouble, get her out of here first."
"What's there to be afraid of? Heh heh, this tavern belongs to the Dongfang Family. If the Zong Family dares to show up, we'll beat them so hard they won't even recognize their own parents,"
Dongfang Youdi tossed out with a curl of his lip.
The Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc glanced at Dongfang Youdi and nodded.
With that settled, Ye Wushuang followed Zhuang Hao out of the tavern.
Watching Ye Wushuang's departing figure, Lan Xinyu muttered to herself, 'The cure... do I really have to find it in a pleasure house?'
The three of them left the tavern, walked several streets, and headed toward a mountain peak in the southern part of the city.
The peak wasn't particularly high, but it was crowded with people, most of whom were the young masters of noble families.
As the trio appeared at the foot of the mountain, they were greeted by a wave of fresh, floral fragrance. Far from being unpleasant, it was refreshing and captivating, making one want to linger forever.
"So many people. There are probably more people at this pleasure house than at the Dueling Arena. Men will be men, I suppose!"
Looking at the crowd, Ye Wushuang shook his head with a smile. He wasn't averse to matters between men and women, but he carried too many burdens, which forced him to give up certain things.
After walking for another fifteen minutes, Ye Wushuang focused his gaze, his sight passing through the crowd. Suddenly, a vast grove of peach trees appeared before him.
"Brother Ye, this is the Holy City's most famous Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Spring!"
Arriving at the main gate, Zhuang Hao turned to Ye Wushuang with a smile.
Ye Wushuang sized up the place. The peach blossoms in the grove were in full bloom. Regrettably, he could only see the blossoms through a single large gate; the rest of the area was blocked by a mystical wall.
As for the gate itself, the three words "Peach Blossom Spring" were inscribed above it. Several peach branches poked out from within, adorned with blooming Taoo Hua flowers.
It was as if the gate led to a completely different world, a paradise that tempted one to explore what lay within.
However, Ye Wushuang noticed that many people could only stand outside the gate for a look before leaving resentfully. Only a select few were able to enter.
"Brother Zhuang, why aren't more people going inside?" Ye Wushuang turned and asked.
"You may not be aware, Brother Ye, but while the Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Spring is a pleasure house, it's not like a common brothel. It's an otherworldly peach grove. Inside, one can find fine peach blossom wine, beautiful women dancing gracefully, and lovely ladies playing the zither. It's a place where you can listen to music, drink wine, and admire both the flowers and the beauties—a destination longed for by many young elites!"
"Of course, the women here sell their talents, not their bodies. If you truly fall for one of the women and she likes you back, you can take her with you. The Taoo Hua Fairy of the Peach Blossom Spring will even give you a treasure as a gift, blessing you to grow old together!"
Zhuang Hao explained, but as he spoke, a flicker of sadness crossed his face, as if something was weighing on his mind.
Ye Wushuang's eyes narrowed. 'It seems Brother Zhuang has some untold history with this Peach Blossom Spring.'
"Heh heh, what you don't know is, this guy fell for a woman in the Peach Blossom Spring. He was all set to bring her out and become a divine, lovey-dovey couple. But then, he got too excited and offended her. She hasn't given him the time of day since, and the whole thing fell through."
Dongfang Youdi casually picked his nose as he exposed Zhuang Hao's little secret.
Hearing this, Zhuang Hao's face reddened, and he shot a glare at Dongfang Youdi.
Ye Wushuang looked at Zhuang Hao. 'This guy seems to be a man of passion!'
"I'm telling you, glaring at this young master is useless. If I were you, I'd have just knocked her out and taken her by force. That would have made her behave!"
Dongfang Youdi said nonchalantly.
Zhuang Hao's face instantly darkened. Ignoring him, he turned to Ye Wushuang and said, "Let's go in."
With that, he led Ye Wushuang to the gate. A charming, graceful woman approached, bowed slightly, and said with a smile, "So, it is Young Master Zhuang and Young Master Dongfang who have graced us with your presence. I apologize for not greeting you sooner!"
As she spoke, she looked toward Ye Wushuang and inquired, "And who might this young master be?"
"Ye Wushuang." He clasped his fist in greeting, also sizing up the woman before him. 'Not only is she charming and beautiful, but her Cultivation is at least at the Yang Destruction Level. She's no simple character.'
"So it is Young Master Ye. It is a pleasure to meet you!"
The Taoo Hong Fairy bowed again, her eyes lingering on Ye Wushuang for a moment before she gestured them forward. "This way, Young Masters!"
Zhuang Hao nodded and led Ye Wushuang toward the gate. Ye Wushuang then saw three Peach Branches extend from within the gate, stopping in front of the trio. He watched as Zhuang Hao and Dongfang Youdi each took out an item that was then taken away by a branch. The one in front of him, however, remained where it was, leaving him slightly confused.
"Look at me, I completely forgot to mention it to you, Brother Ye." Seeing the situation, Zhuang Hao gave an embarrassed smile. "Brother Ye, it's like this: the Peach Blossom Spring doesn't accept Spirit Stones. You must offer a valuable treasure to enter."
Saying this, Zhuang Hao quickly took out a Jade Box.
Seeing this, the Taoo Hong Fairy stepped forward with a smile. "Young Master Zhuang, the Peach Garden's rules state that the item must belong to the person entering. You can't break the rules. If the Taoo Hua Fairy were to hold me responsible, I couldn't bear the blame."
Zhuang Hao replied, "Taoo Hong Fairy, I am giving this item to Brother Ye, so it is naturally his. This doesn't break any rules."
"This…"
The Taoo Hong Fairy looked troubled.
"Thank you, Brother Zhuang, but that won't be necessary."
Ye Wushuang understood what was happening. To enter the Peach Blossom Spring, one had to offer a treasure, and it had to be their own. 'What a strange rule!'
However, Ye Wushuang truly didn't have any treasures to offer at the moment. After a moment of thought, he drew an Ancient Sword and unleashed a sudden slash. A terrifying Sword Intent raged forth.