Chapter 9: Men Turn Bad When They Have Money

What a good thing!

It clearly looks like just a somewhat fancy hero's battle attire, but the raw materials and that formation give this light garment defense comparable to chainmail.

Not to mention it also comes with automatic cleaning and winter‑warm, summer‑cool abilities—truly a newbie divine gear.

Incidentally, it also let Chen Shicheng learn that after the Body Refining Realm comes the Qi‑Cultivation Realm, and that ordinary gear is of artifact level, so for this alone a hundred taels of gold is definitely not expensive—indeed, it's cheap.

However, a single garment consumes one‑fifth of the system reward, making the lifelong‑poor Chen Shicheng a bit hesitant.

"Sir, this artifact‑level equipment was specially brought back by our shopkeeper from the Capital City; there is only one in the entire County Seat, and once this village passes, the shop will be gone."

Seeing Chen Shicheng's hesitation, the clerk quickly fanned the flames, "Moreover, with your unparalleled Wind elegance, ordinary clothing could never match you even a bit; only this piece can perfectly complement your appearance."

"Hmm, hearing you say that, I don't think it's pricey. Let's do it, I'll buy it!"

The clerk's words struck a chord with Chen Shicheng; in his good mood, he stopped worrying about value and, with a grand gesture, paid outright.

Since the money came for free anyway, if it's spent it's no big deal—just use Merit Points to upgrade the technique, and the money will keep flowing in!

Putting on the hundred‑tael "Plain‑colored Soaring Cloud Bat‑Pattern Battle Attire," he took the copper mirror the clerk handed him and glanced at his current appearance.

Sure enough, a Buddha relies on golden robes, a person relies on clothing.

His looks can only be described as delicate; he's still far from being "handsome," but as the three Attributes of spirit, qi, and body improve, his overall aura changes.

When he wore coarse hemp clothing it wasn't obvious, but after switching to this artifact‑level gear, his entire image was elevated, worthy of being called a graceful young gentleman.

Amid the clerk's bowing and flattering, Chen Shicheng lifted his head and chest and walked out of the ready‑made clothing shop.

Compared with his previous level gaze while walking, now his head involuntarily tilts upward by fifteen degrees, exuding confidence; even his stride carries a gust of Wind.

But today his swagger won't last long; before he has roamed far, night deepens.

The throng of pedestrians that just a moment ago interwove like tides vanished, and the shops along the road shut their doors one by one; only a few taverns and eateries remained open, though they likely won't stay open much longer.

Staring at the desolate street, Chen Shicheng silently scratched the quiet purple sable at his waist and prepared to log out of the game.

But before he could act, a burst of laughing and noisy chatter from nearby halted his movement.

"It's so late, yet the ancient County Seat still has activity—could it be a night market?"

Not yet satisfied with ancient life, Chen Shicheng looked up at the moon and roughly estimated the time.

When he left work for home it was already around four p. m.; after entering the game, the in‑game time was also afternoon, so he guessed the game and reality ran synchronously.

Based on the moon's altitude, it was roughly between seven and eight p. m.

Even if he logged off now, he'd probably just slurp some instant noodles half‑heartedly; the neon lights and revelry of reality have nothing to do with him, so he'd rather enjoy how ancient people spent their nights! Deciding firmly, Chen Shicheng didn't hesitate, turned toward the source of the sound and walked. After about a hundred meters and a turn, his view suddenly brightened, but what greeted his eyes was nothing like the night market he imagined.

"Is this… a… Qing… Qing… brothel?"

Seeing rows of carriages not far ahead, Chen Shicheng swallowed with difficulty.

In stark contrast to the Darkness behind, huge butter lanterns hung here, lighting the street like day; women in belly‑bands and sheer veils leaned on railings, giggling and waving at people alighting from the carriages.

Well‑dressed, handsome men disembarked in groups of three to five, exchanged greetings, then, led by a young servant, swaggered inside without any sense of criminal guilt.

"Almost forgot, this is ancient times; this thing is legal, right? It should be legal."

Chen Shicheng stared unblinkingly at the bustling scene before the brothel, instinctively glancing at his panel's 400‑gold balance.

To be honest, he had a hand‑holding romance in high school, and after graduating college his parents were seriously injured on duty, leaving him scrambling; his savings vanished, and selling the house couldn't save his parents.

Burdened with a mountain of debt, he had no mind for any nonsense romance; indeed, no one could look favorably upon his penniless state.

Yet as a man whose body and mind are perfectly normal, how could he have no desire at all? Poverty had always kept his impulses in check.

Now he has a fortune in his pocket, and this extraordinary game is unregulated, so can he just go in and see? "I'm just looking, I'm not really breaking any law. Yeah, that's right, just looking!"

He silently recited that he would never associate with gambling or drugs, patted his own face to make his expression look natural, and, with a stiff gait, walked toward that seductive place.

"Yo, young master, you're finally here; Hong Hong has been missing you terribly," a sharp‑eyed young servant spotted Chen Shicheng from afar and rushed over.

"Tight? Tight about what? This is my first time, I don't know Hong Hong or anyone," Chen Shicheng was so nervous his ears rang, his replies a jumble.

The experienced servant, seeing at once that the newcomer was a rookie, turned and shouted loudly, "Honored guest has arrived, ladies, prepare yourselves, upstairs please, one young master!"

Chen Shicheng had no idea how he stepped into the brothel; each step felt as if he were walking on cotton, light and floating.

Only when the clamor filled his ears and a warm touch brushed his arm did he come to his senses, but upon seeing the people around him, his face flushed red in an instant.

"Y‑you… don't get so close to me," he struggled to push the woman who had embraced him away, finally regaining some composure.

"Hehe, young master, are you turning me away?" The woman pulled a corner of her sleeve over her face, putting on a whiny act.

After her interruption, Chen Shicheng finally calmed down, ignored the overly flirtatious woman beside him, and looked around.

Much like in movies, the four‑story wooden building had a huge central atrium with a platform in the middle where six women were dancing.

Scattered around were a dozen or so tables, and people dressed in ancient fashion, accompanied by the brothel women, clinked cups and drank until their faces turned bright red.

(End of Chapter)