Chapter 24: Black Guns Under the Night!

Amidst the attention of the masses and the mountain-shaking, sea-roaring waves of sound, Lu Yuan finally stepped off the stage holding the first-place prize of a full 200 Silver Yuan in prize money and a silver silk ribbon, only to be surrounded by several fellow contestants who began to congratulate and tease him:

"Congratulations to Brother Yuan for your unstoppable momentum in taking first place!"

"Competing twice, taking first place twice—it truly makes the rest of us envious!"

"No, no, for such a joyous occasion, how could Brother Yuan not treat us?"

Including Xu Dahu and Xu Erhu, the two of them also joined in the teasing while grinning from ear to ear.

After all, the two of them had each bet several dozen Silver Yuan on Lu Yuan taking first place, and according to the initial odds, they had multiplied their money several times over; how could they not be happy?

As for He Xiong, he was currently watching with his jaw dropped, seemingly never having expected that Lu Yuan, who had only just begun practicing strength, could actually take first place in the Mid-Level Ring.

And amidst the crowd, Lu Yuan, having gained a bountiful harvest, was in an exceptionally cheerful mood and waved his hand, saying:

"Brothers, I will play host tomorrow night. I invite all the brothers present to drink to our hearts' content at Hongxing Restaurant; we won't leave until we're drunk!"

That night, the news of Lu Yuan taking first place in the Mid-Level Ring reached everyone in the back garden.

Li Junxian, who knew well how strong Lu Yuan's physique and strength were now, was not surprised at all, while the others in the garden were fiercely shocked.

But after coming to their senses, amidst the exclamations and congratulations, they all felt it was unexpected, yet within reason.

After all, having witnessed Lu Yuan's incredible progress and performance with their own eyes over these past few months, everyone knew he was gifted, with a physique like a peerless warrior born with Godly Strength from a novel, and was simply not an ordinary person.

For such a person, taking first place was not all that outrageous.

And after the clamor of this night.

Lu Yuan had not only taken first place and received 200 Silver Yuan in prize money, but the 100 Silver Yuan he had bet himself had also quintupled, and he had exchanged it on the spot for 500 Silver Yuan.

Overnight, he had become a small tycoon with a net worth of 700 Silver Yuan, enough to cover a family of three's expenses for ten years.

He was not a stingy person either before or after his transmigration, so the next day he fulfilled his promise and played host, inviting all the men from the back garden who participated in the matches, whether new or old, to have a big meal at the best restaurant nearby, Hongxing Restaurant.

At the same time, he also invited his master, Li Junxian, but the other party declined on the grounds that he did not want to spoil the atmosphere.

Thus, by the evening, only Lu Yuan and the fellow disciples Xu Dahu and Xu Erhu led a large group of people in a grand march toward Hongxing Restaurant, booking the entire second floor.

Hongxing Restaurant was also a business under the protection of the Qinglong Gang, so the manager dared not be negligent and assigned several waiters to serve them exclusively, and all kinds of wine and delicacies were soon laid out.

The crowd toasted one another, loudly congratulating Lu Yuan, and then began to eat and drink without restraint.

There were twenty newcomers and veterans in this garden participating in the gambling, and every one of them was a big eater; this meal alone cost Lu Yuan a full fifty Silver Yuan.

However, Lu Yuan, now possessing a substantial fortune, did not care.

Soon, after everyone was full of food and drink, Lu Yuan settled the bill and walked out of the restaurant surrounded by the crowd.

By now the night was deep, and the alcohol-reeking Xu Dahu suddenly spoke to the others:

"We fellow disciples have something to discuss, and we'll take a stroll to walk off the alcohol, so you all go back first and tell the master that we will return later."

The others suspected nothing and immediately headed back to Boxiyuan in a flurry, while Lu Yuan asked with great curiosity:

"What does the senior brother have to say?"

Now that the crowd had left, Xu Dahu winked mischievously at Lu Yuan:

"Junior brother, thanks to you, we two also won quite a bit of money this time, so we want to show our appreciation and treat you to a good time."

Lu Yuan couldn't help but be stunned:

"Treat me? Treat me to what?"

Beside him, Xu Erhu chuckled:

"You kid have been here for almost half a year, and you haven't touched a woman yet, right? It just so happens to be a good opportunity; we'll take you to relax properly!"

Good heavens, saying it so solemnly—it turned out to be going to a brothel?

Lu Yuan was instantly caught between laughter and tears, subconsciously refusing: "Two senior brothers, is that really necessary?"

Xu Dahu put his arm around Lu Yuan's shoulder and said seriously:

"Why not necessary? It's very necessary! We martial artists are full of vigor, and what we value is the balance of work and rest; you can't be wound too tight. You've been in the garden for nearly half a year, practicing martial arts or fighting in the ring every day—don't you want to? You aren't married, and holding it in isn't a good thing. We're all grown men, there's nothing to be embarrassed about!"

"Don't worry, the place we're taking you to is Caiyue Pavilion, not far from here, and it's also a business under the gang's protection. The key is that Caiyue Pavilion is one of the top-tier establishments in this East City, and it's said they even have Shenluo women—they have golden hair and blue eyes, with ample bosoms and large hips, bone-melting and marrow-sucking, and they are very seductive!"

"..."

Lu Yuan's mouth twitched; he was speechless and curious at the same time:

"How could there be Shenluo women in this Fengyang Prefecture?"

In this era, the Holy Roman Powers and even various foreign countries have bombarded the national gates, and the Great Jin Dynasty, having suffered repeated defeats, was forced to sign many unequal treaties; besides ceding territory and paying indemnities, they were also forced to lease many ports.

And with these ports as centers, the Western Powers, in addition to importing massive amounts of goods, also brought missionary work along with them, so foreign merchants, missionaries, and even adventurers gathered in large numbers. These foreigners ran rampant, and their status was even higher than that of the Jin Clan Banner People of the Upper Three Banners from the beginning of the dynasty.

However, foreigners could only be seen in the coastal areas; he had not expected that there would be foreign prostitutes in Fengyang Prefecture, an inland provincial capital—it was truly strange.

"Junior brother, you probably don't know yet, but foreign women are already flooding the coastal cities; what's so difficult about getting some foreign women from there?"

Xu Erhu sneered:

"In recent years, the Holy Roman Powers have repeatedly invaded our territory, seizing ports and running rampant. Every one of the hundreds of millions of Han sons in Shenzhou takes it as a shame—don't you want to vent your anger?"

"Uh..."

Seeing that the two of them were not going to give up until they achieved their goal, Lu Yuan no longer refused and said helplessly:

"Alright then, since both senior brothers are inviting me, then this junior brother will go with you to see for himself."

He was no moralist, nor did he have any psychological hang-ups, and when he transmigrated, the original owner had long since been taken to a brothel by his drinking buddies to lose his virginity.

Whether this trip to the brothel was for venting anger or not was secondary; he mainly wanted to see what these so-called Shenluo People actually looked like and if they were the same as he imagined.

"Hahaha, that's the spirit!"

Both sides reached a consensus, and Xu Dahu and Xu Erhu laughed heartily, walking toward Caiyue Pavilion with their arms around Lu Yuan's shoulders.

The lonely moon hung high, and the night was vast.

It was late, and most of the shops on this main street were already closed, with only lanterns hung every few yards providing a dim light.

Because it was not far from Caiyue Pavilion, the three of them refused the solicitations of several rickshaw pullers and walked while chatting.

However, as they walked...

As he passed under a street lantern, Lu Yuan, whose senses had become extremely keen after practicing the Food Consumption Technique and the Hundred Days Foundation Establishment, suddenly felt that something was wrong and whipped his head around.

He saw that more than twenty paces away, under the extremely dim streetscape, two figures were trailing behind him like ghosts, seemingly with ill intent.

"You two..."

Lu Yuan frowned, and just as he opened his mouth, he suddenly saw the two of them raise their arms like lightning, causing a massive warning sign to rise in his heart:

Bang! Bang!

Accompanied by two explosive sounds, under the pitch-black night sky, firelight simultaneously bloomed from the hands of the two dark shadows!

(End of chapter)