Chapter 117: 116 The Nun! (Seeking subscriptions and monthly votes!)

"Mm~"

Liuli's complexion suddenly became as brilliant, charming, and dazzling as the azaleas blooming brightly beside the pagoda.

"Speaking of which, this nun has not bathed for quite some time. If you do not mind, young friend, I shall wash away the fatigue of these past days in this pool."

Liuli blushed, her words tinged with a hint of timidity as she spoke hesitantly.

As her voice fell, she turned around, facing away from Ning Mu, and began to undo the cloth buttons of her Bodhi Jade Lotus Zen Robe one by one.

At this moment, Liuli felt incredibly helpless! To rashly suggest bathing together with someone.

How presumptuous that was! Yet, no matter how presumptuous, she had to do it.

Her heart was filled with helplessness and bitterness, along with a tiny trace of stirring emotion and allure.

Before long.

She had already undone all the buttons.

But when it came time to truly remove this robe of wisdom and Buddha-nature to return to the mortal world, she still hesitated!

And just as she was wavering.

Ning Mu's voice, filled with teasing, suddenly rang out.

"Nun, do you require my assistance?"

Liuli's entire body gave a sudden jolt.

"No, no need!"

Having said this in a panic, she hardened her heart and decisively closed her eyes.

The next moment.

The magnificent robe was completely shed.

A beautiful scene, like the rolling of mountains and rivers, was thus revealed in this vibrant little courtyard.

Wantonly blooming.

Then, like the evening glow on the horizon illuminated by the setting sun, it blossomed perfectly in that resplendent sky!

At this moment, Ning Mu had already stepped into the hot spring pool.

Leaning against the rocky wall, his eyes full of amazement, he admired the magnificent sight before him, where the autumn waters merged with the vast sky.

No! This was more dazzling than the evening glow, more resplendent than flowers!

Time seemed to have frozen perfectly at this moment.

At this moment, Ning Mu hated for the first time that he had come to this world without technology or mobile phones.

Otherwise.

He would definitely have used the most perfect camera to capture this incredibly precious scene! At this time.

Liuli was seen slowly turning around.

Her eyes were cast downward.

With her breathing and movement, the rise and fall of her chest seemed like the trembling of a great earthquake.

Every step made Ning Mu's breath tighten.

That snow-white, plump flesh, like lotus roots, was like Mount Buzhou, being submerged inch by inch by the monstrous waves as the rivers poured down.

Finally.

The moment the water crossed the golden mountains.

Their gazes met.

They pulled away at once.

Seeing a trace of regret hidden in the depths of Ning Mu's eyes, as if he were blaming himself and dissatisfied that the beautiful scenery was all submerged in the water.

A strange emotion rose inexplicably in Liuli's heart.

"Young friend Ning, to be mundane is to be holy, and form is emptiness; one could call it the golden boy of Maitreya Buddha. To be holy is to be mundane, and emptiness is form; a lifetime of self-cultivation is effort in vain."

"With a mind free of distracting thoughts, pure and at ease, and with boundless dharma gates, one can hold everything and achieve immeasurable merit~"

Liuli couldn't help but roll her eyes, pressing her palms together as she faced Ning Mu, her tone containing three parts resentment and seven parts bashful anger.

Looking at this Divine Nun of Ciyun, who was full of Buddha-nature yet possessed a unique Charm Bone.

At this moment, Ning Mu felt incredibly delighted.

Even though he was being lectured, he had no complaints.

Regardless of whether he understood this Buddhist verse or not, he almost subconsciously refused: "The Nun is wrong. I am vulgar; I do not seek immeasurable merit, nor do I covet a lifetime of self-cultivation, nor do I wish to become that Maitreya golden boy. I only seek to walk through this human world once, to treat myself well, and at the same time not treat others poorly. If I can make this filthy world have a moment of clarity because of me, then this journey will not have been in vain."

"As for what the Nun said, those are grand principles that I do not understand. I only understand that while one lives in this world, one should enjoy it while one can."

"Nun, why not come and join me in that blissful thunderous sound!"

Before the words had faded.

The water rippled.

Ning Mu was seen initiating the team invitation first.

"People say there is education without discrimination, but this scoundrel is beyond teaching."

Liuli frowned, a flash of helplessness crossing her beautiful eyes, and she closed her eyes in shame and confusion.

————

Meanwhile.

At the entrance of Yichun Courtyard, Phoenix Tower.

A group of young masters arrived together, all of them dressed in gold and silver, wearing brocade robes, and among them were those who considered themselves dashing, holding folding fans and acting incredibly arrogant.

Seeing big spenders arrive, Yu Linglong's eyes lit up.

She hurriedly summoned the maidservants to lead these young masters inside to spend their money.

"Young Master Qi, Young Master Jin, Young Master Liu... you gentlemen have come at just the right time. Today is our grand opening, which is also the bidding ceremony for our next private custom project. Would you gentlemen have the interest to go and take a look?"

Yu Rou led the Qi Family's young master Qi Yutong, the Jin Family's Jin Yuanbao, and the second son of the silk merchant Liu family, Liu Jinming, introducing the place as they walked toward the hall.

Private customization is a high-end consumption.

In the words of Young Master Ning, there is no upper limit to it.

Only this group of young masters before her has the capability for it.

Therefore, only when they encounter guests who come from prestigious families or possess deep family wealth like them do they promote this project.

In the early stages of the business, no other brothel had ever had such a project.

The guests naturally did not know about it.

To build a reputation, they could only rely on word of mouth.

"Private custom project? Never heard of it before. What, is the former Hua Man Ge, now Yichun Courtyard, planning to tear down its golden signboard and stop selling smiles to sell flesh instead?" Qi Yutong tapped his folding fan lightly in his palm, turned his head to squint at Yu Rou, his face full of strangeness.

"Ahem, the business is still the same business, but may I ask, Young Master, is what you covet that momentary pleasure, or the satisfaction of the entire process?"

Yu Rou was not afraid in the slightest; she had already heard similar conversations several times today.

She was already well-versed in it and knew how to respond.

"This... I have never thought about it before. Let's go take a look and see what new tricks you have in this Yichun Courtyard!"

Qi Yutong, Jin Yuanbao, and Liu Jinming exchanged glances, and both curiosity and anticipation could be seen in each other's eyes.

"Alright, the three of you, please this way!"

Yu Rou wore a smile as she led the three toward Yingxiang Courtyard.

The current Yingxiang Courtyard had been changed into a very strange architectural layout.

In the middle was a stage resembling an arena, and on the stage, there were huge barriers built with pure wood, resembling walls.

And around this stage, except for the side with the barrier wall, there were more than a dozen quiet and luxurious two-story small buildings.

The small buildings were divided into two from the middle.

The first floor was furnished with simple furnishings for servants to stay temporarily.

The second floor was much more luxurious.

There were curtains for cover, and it was separated by thick wood in the middle, so one could not see the opposite side.

After leading the three to one of the small buildings, Yu Rou respectfully said: "Three gentlemen, please wait a moment. In another an hour, the host will explain to you what is meant by private customization, as well as the bidding process, and how it will be fulfilled after winning the bid, and so on. Here is some fine Biluochun tea. Today is the opening, and except for the bidding, all consumption is free. Please enjoy, gentlemen."

"Wait!"

Just as Yu Rou finished speaking and was about to leave, she was called back by Jin Yuanbao.

Jin Yuanbao, who had just turned eighteen, was at an age of youthful vigor. He frowned as he looked at the narrow room and said with dissatisfaction: "For the three of us, you arrange such a narrow room?"

"And this window, why is it sealed with curtains, leaving only this small hole?"

Jin Yuanbao pointed at the narrowness of the room and then looked toward the window.

He saw that the window was sealed by black curtains, with only a two-inch square hole in the very center.

This room was very stifling.

Yu Rou was not annoyed at all and patiently explained: "Three young masters, there is no need to worry. This room is used as a temporary room for bidders. Once the bidding is over, the guests who win the right to use the next custom service will have a special venue prepared for them."

"As for these curtains, their purpose is to give you gentlemen enough confidence. After all, young masters all need to deal with social relations. If you encounter someone you cannot afford to offend during the bidding, wouldn't you have to give up the bid? With these curtains covering, you no longer have to worry about who the other bidders are; everyone competes based on their own financial strength. Every bid has a special maid responsible for relaying the message, so this kind of influence will be minimized!" "Moreover, we strictly keep the information of the guests who bid each time confidential, using numbers to replace it. The building where the three young masters are located is Room Seven."

Hearing this, the eyes of the three lit up.

That makes sense!

Everyone relies on financial strength, so there won't be so many issues, and there's no need to worry about offending anyone! Liu Jinming nodded immediately and said with great interest: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's start?"

"Three gentlemen, please wait a moment..." Yu Rou looked outside and immediately smiled: "It is about to start."

As she spoke.

A clear and bright voice suddenly rang out from the high platform outside.

"Greetings, honored guests. I am Yu Linglong, the host for this custom service. Today is the first time our Yichun Courtyard is holding an auction, so all honored guests present, don't be discouraged if you don't win our next auction service later. We will hold this activity long-term."

"In addition, guests participating in this auction can receive a chip worth one hundred taels of silver from the Jinyun Gambling House, which is affiliated with our Yichun Courtyard, after the auction ends. Consider it a small bonus~"

"Alright, let's skip the small talk and first introduce to you what private custom service is!"

"The so-called private customization is based on the preferences of our honored guests. Our Red Courtesans from Yichun Courtyard will play the services chosen by the guests. For example, the private custom projects we have prepared this time include: the domineering female general, the widowed sister-in-law, the delicate female tutor, and the cold and beautiful princess—these four projects."

"Our courtesans from Yichun Courtyard will play the roles you voted for, and the scene will be perfectly set up. Guests who win the bid can enjoy the selected custom scene service within ten hours. Our courtesans will strictly follow the roles to play the game. If you have any further questions, you can ask the maids in your respective rooms, and they will give you perfect answers."

"Next, please, honored guests, choose any one of the four projects this time. According to the number of votes, the one with the most votes will be auctioned. If it is not selected this time, it doesn't matter; next time we will auction the project with the second most votes this time."

In Room Nine.

Listening to the voice coming from outside, Liu Jinming, Jin Yuanbao, and Qi Yutong's eyes suddenly lit up.

"I choose the delicate female tutor!"

Immediately, Qi Yutong was the first to speak up.

He was pursuing the Prefect's daughter, Pi Yalu. Pi Yalu had been studying at White Deer Academy for many years and often substituted for tutors. The image of a female tutor was simply vivid in his eyes.

He could not enjoy a real-life female tutor.

Could he not play with one in the game held by this Yichun Courtyard? Isn't it just spending money!

The Qi Family might not have anything else, but they have plenty of gold and silver!

"No, I think the widowed sister-in-law is more exciting!"

At this time, Jin Yuanbao also said with great interest.

In the early years, the Jin Family was a family that could be mentioned in the same breath as the Liu Family, but now, Jin Yuanbao could only rely on his sister's doting and spend extravagantly to maintain his status among this group of young masters.

If he were even slightly stingy, neither Qi Yutong nor Liu Jinming would take him along to play.

And the reason he could have such money to squander was inseparable from his sister, Jin Xiangyu.

He was just at the age of starting school when his parents passed away one after another, and he was almost raised by his sister single-handedly.

The feelings he held in his heart for his older sister, Jin Xiangyu, were extremely complicated.

Both fear and love.

Jin Yuanbao was determined to win! "Look at what you guys are all choosing; things like female scholars or sisters-in-law are all so weak, okay? If you ask me, if we're going to play, we should play with imperial princesses—that's exciting! If that's not possible, a female general will do too!"

Liu Jinming also had his own ideas.

"Fine, then let's each make our own choices! Whoever wins the bid gets it!"

Qi Yutong raised an eyebrow and made the final decision.

Among the three people here, his status was the most noble, and he didn't believe these two brats would dare to compete with him. Hearing this, Jin Yuanbao's eyes immediately lit up.

He had been worried that these two Young Masters before him would use their status to pressure others, but now that it was just a matter of using money to pave the way, he truly had nothing to fear!

Yu Rou smiled and sent a maid down to inform Yu Linglong of the three Young Masters' choices and to compile them.

Before long.

The voting was completed.

"Everyone, among this project, the one with the most votes is the 'Domineering Female General' series, and the second is the 'Widowed Sister-in-law'. So, the project we are auctioning today is the Female General. After winning the bid today, you may come to Yichun Courtyard in three days to redeem your ticket. Seven days from now, we will be here again to auction the Sister-in-law, and at the same time, we will vote for the next project. Guests who did not have their preferred projects selected this time need not worry; there is plenty of time, and there will always be a turn for the project you favor~"

"Alright, let us begin the auction. The Domineering Female General series, starting bid, eight hundred taels of silver!"

As Yu Linglong's voice fell.

In Room No. 9, Liu Jinming immediately jumped up in excitement.

Meanwhile, Qi Yutong and Jin Yuanbao felt somewhat listless, looking at Liu Jinming with envy.

"Haha, I told you, if you want to play, play something exciting! This Young Master bids one thousand two hundred taels to test the waters and see if your new business is really that thrilling!"

Liu Jinming said to the maid.

The maid smiled and nodded, then stood by the window and shouted the bid to the outside: "Room No. 9, one thousand two hundred taels!"

"Room No. 1, two thousand taels!"

"Room No. 3, two thousand five hundred taels!"

"Room No. 6, two thousand eight hundred taels!"

"Room No. 11, three thousand taels!"

"Room No. 10, five thousand taels!"

"......"

"Damn, so fierce?"

In Room No. 9, the three Young Masters were stunned.

Especially upon hearing that Room No. 10, located in the same building, had directly increased the bid by two thousand taels at once, this immediately left Liu Jinming shocked and pale.

"Who is next door, being so arrogant?"

"Apologies, Young Master Liu, we will not disclose the guests' information, just as if you were to win the bid and others asked, we would not tell them either. I hope you can understand~" Yu Rou responded promptly.

Hearing this, Liu Jinming's expression became sheepish.

He gritted his teeth and said to the maid: "I bid six thousand taels!"

This was already his limit! It wasn't just them; the host, Yu Linglong, was also completely shocked! Young Master Ning was right after all! What they lacked wasn't money, but a novel experience! At first, Yu Linglong had worried whether a starting bid of eight hundred taels was too high, as usually, playing in a flower house for a few dozen or a hundred taels was considered a top-tier guest!

With prices easily reaching hundreds or thousands of taels, where would there be so many suckers?

Now it seemed she had been too conservative!

In this world, there are many suckers; it just depends on whether you have the means to extract the money from their hands! The bidding continued.

"Room No. 10, thirty thousand taels!"

"Thirty thousand taels, going once!"

"Is there anyone else who wants to experience this first time with the Domineering Female General?"

"Thirty thousand taels, going twice!"

"......"

"Are they crazy? Thirty thousand taels? What is the difference between this and bidding for a courtesan's first time?"

Liu Jinming was incredulous.

Yu Rou smiled gently and explained: "Young Master Liu, courtesans are available every year, and as long as the Young Master is willing, after the first time, you can experience it every time. But this Domineering Female General is a first-time occurrence, and it is a private enjoyment that outsiders cannot covet. This is much more attractive than a courtesan, isn't it, Young Master Liu?"

Hearing this, Liu Jinming was taken aback, and then he stopped speaking.

It was indeed so.

He simply lacked the money; otherwise, he would also be happy to experience the charm of a female general!

"One hundred thousand taels, going three times!"

"The Domineering Female General series is sold. This experience right belongs to Room No. 10. A specialist will deliver the ticket shortly. We ask the honored guest in Room No. 10 to wait a moment. Guests in other rooms need not worry; we will start over next time. Those who did not win the bid this time may all go to our Jinyun Gambling House to collect one hundred taels in chips. Thank you, everyone~"

Yu Linglong could not suppress the excitement welling up in her eyes.

In Room No. 10.

One could see Prefect Pi Taiyu, with one arm around a prostitute, eating seasonal fruit handed to him by the prostitute, enjoying himself with calm composure.

Before long.

Another maid went over to open the door, then took a palm-sized red ticket and respectfully handed it to Pi Taiyu.

"In three days, the guest may use this ticket to come to our Yichun Courtyard, and there will be a specialist to welcome you then~"

The maid said respectfully.

"Fine." Pi Taiyu nodded, then looked at the maid and asked: "Just now it was said that everything in this room is free, is that so or not?"

"Replying to the guest, yes, it is."

"Then, you, come with her."

————

And while this auction was in full swing.

Yingyue Terrace.

Inside the Jia-sized Courtyard.

In that hot spring pool, ripples were washing out in circles, as if a lotus flower were in full bloom, stirring one's heart.

"Mmm~ little friend, don't go too far!"

(End of this chapter)