Chapter 56: Should I Take This Money or Not?

“You’ve swept all the girls away—what’s left for us to do?” Zhuo Xingji laughed and scolded.

“Young brother, money is always too little when you need it! Especially for us martial cultivators—progressing in the martial path demands endless spending. Since I recently cultivated dark force, I’ve felt it even more deeply!”

“If you want to advance further on the martial path and reach the sixth-rank realm, you must visit Yaohua Pavilion less often and save your money for what truly matters.”

“Brother Jiao, do you have some misunderstanding?” Xia Daoming blinked in surprise.

“Misunderstanding my ass! If you didn’t constantly visit Yaohua Pavilion and throw money around, would these girls talk about you so fondly and treat you so warmly? Little Xia, you’re still young—you don’t understand how hard it is to earn money!”

Seeing Xia Daoming stubbornly refuse to admit fault, Jiao Yongbao first cursed him with a laugh, then adopted a look of heartbroken despair.

“Brother Jiao, you’ve got too low an opinion of the girls at Yaohua Pavilion—they have their own principles, their own values.”

“Do you really think money alone can make them flock to you? That’s an insult to them. If it were truly that simple, why didn’t Shi Yingdeng’s wealth win over Wanqing last time? She refused him outright.”

“It wasn’t that Shi Yingdeng lacked money—it was that Wanqing had her own dignity. She looked down on him. What good is money if she won’t have him? I sell art, not my body!”

Xia Daoming looked at Jiao Yongbao, his expression slowly turning serious.

Jiao Yongbao thought Xia Daoming had been struck by guilt and was secretly pleased—until he suddenly spoke these righteous words, leaving him dumbfounded.

Is this kid’s brain waterlogged? Coming to Yaohua Pavilion to talk about principles and values with the girls?

Does he really think his “looks” alone can make all these girls fall head over heels and throw themselves at him?

This is nonsense!

Wei Chi Xiao and Zhuo Xingji also stared, dumbstruck.

This younger brother—this younger brother—is simply too young, too naive!

He actually believes courtesans have true feelings—and wants to discuss principles with them!

Liu Xiaoqiang, however, listened with glistening eyes.

Finally, a younger brother who understands us!

Who says courtesans have no principles? No values?

If life hadn’t forced us, who would willingly sing and laugh here—or worse, sell their bodies?

For these words of yours, I’ll make Yaohua Pavilion the most respectable brothel in Great Liang!

If you want my girls to sleep with you—go to hell!

Only if the girl finds you worthy!

The girls in the private chamber all looked at Xia Daoming with tear-filled eyes.

Master Xia is a real man!

He understands women, respects women, and fights like a demon!

No wonder Sister Qiang fell for Master Xia!

Unlike those dirty men—who think a little money makes them gods!

If I hadn’t been born low and forced by life, I’d never waste my time playing these flower-painting games with you!

Go to hell!

“Cough, cough—Young brother, you’re still young. Tomorrow, come to Qianjiao Martial Hall. Brother will have a long talk with you. By the way, you haven’t been to the hall in ages. If you want to advance in the martial path, this won’t do!”

“Talk my ass!” Liu Xiaoqiang spat without hesitation the moment Wei Chi Xiao finished speaking.

“Uh, Sister… what’s this…?” Wei Chi Xiao and the others stared, stunned.

“Hmph, do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? What do you want to ‘talk’ about? Isn’t it just to convince him to visit Yaohua Pavilion less, to stop indulging in women and wasting money here?”

“Cough, cough, Sister, I’m not trying to ruin your business—I’m his senior, and Master has high hopes for him. I must give him some advice,” Wei Chi Xiao replied, his expression uneasy.

“Yes, yes!” Zhuo Xingji and Jiao Yongbao quickly chimed in.

“Don’t give me that! It’s him who should be advising you! Since Jiao Brother treated him last time, he hasn’t set foot in Yaohua Pavilion for over a month!”

“He’s fully devoted to martial cultivation—unlike you, who keep running here at every opportunity!” Liu Xiaoqiang rolled her eyes.

“That’s impossible! If he hasn’t come here or spent any money for so long, why are the girls so warm toward him?” The three stared, baffled.

“What’s impossible about it? Master Xia is handsome, carries himself with grace, his martial skill is formidable, and he treats every one of us with respect. He’s been gone so long—we all missed him terribly. Of course we’re overjoyed to see him back!”

Wanqing spoke with conviction and sincerity, even glancing at Xia Daoming with tender eyes as she spoke—making his heart flutter involuntarily.

Graceful demeanor, formidable martial skill, courteous manners—I’ll accept that.

But saying I’m handsome? Isn’t that going too far?

“Exactly! Master Xia is handsome, graceful, powerful, and treats us all with respect—if he wanted, he wouldn’t even need to pay us; we should pay him!”

So many girls think I’m handsome—so I must really be handsome!

Wait—why would they pay me?

Should I take this money or not?

Xia Daoming suddenly felt a dull ache in his lower back.

“This…”

“This…”

“This…”

Wei Chi Xiao and the other three clutched their chests, feeling sharp pain.

This was too cruel!

Why?

Is our gap with the younger brother really that wide?

We throw money at you regularly—and you all just want to use it to support him?

“I’m not saying this to be harsh—I was born low, burdened by my family, exiled to Mangzhou. After saving up a little money, I was lucky enough that Master didn’t despise my background and took me as a disciple, giving me the chance to cultivate.”

“But it was too late, and my martial talent is mediocre—I never managed to cultivate dark force or reach the fifth-rank Great Martial Master. But you three have far better family backgrounds and far greater talent than I do.”

“If you had even half his discipline and dedication to martial cultivation, you might already be on the verge of the sixth-rank Great Martial Master realm!”

Liu Xiaoqiang’s words were like another knife plunged into their chests.

Their chest pain grew worse.

Especially Wei Chi Xiao—he felt like crying without tears.

Speak with conscience!

If you say my talent is inferior to his, I accept it!

But saying I lack self-control—do you have no shame?

Before I turned thirty, I never once stepped into your Yaohua Pavilion!

Have you ever thought about how I lived those years?

Only when my hope of reaching sixth rank faded did I occasionally come here to listen to songs and chat with the girls about the Dao of life.

Even then, at home, every female besides my wife was a maid.

But look at Master Xia—he’s young, yet already has five young, lovely maids at home!

How can you say he’s disciplined? Do you even have the nerve to say that?

PS: Today there will be three updates. This week marks the third round of PK—please continue supporting me.