Chapter 92: Kneel Before Me!

Over an hour later.

Zero had finally finished getting dressed.

He coiled his long white hair up, wore several golden hairpins on his head, and dressed in that kimono skirt printed with all kinds of patterns, wrapping himself up tightly from head to toe.

Going out bare-faced, between his words and bearing, he seemed brimming with nobility that did not lose its cold allure, as if he did not partake of the mortal world's dust.

And in those eyes, it was as if life and death were taken lightly; toward the lives of all beings, there was only indifference and contempt.

Holding an open fan that half-covered his face, between his words, one felt the urge to submit and prostrate oneself at his feet.

Zero looked at himself in the mirror; if one did not pay attention to gender, it really was hard to imagine this was a boy…

To make it more convincing, Zero ran his voice through a voice changer, making himself sound even more like an unattainable queen.

And he switched the 【Analysis Glasses】 into stealth mode, to conveniently analyze and gather intelligence.

Only, something was a little off about Zero now.

Staring at himself in the mirror, he murmured: "Daki… the position of top courtesan… seems like it's time for a change… hee-hee～ you're only fit to kneel at my feet, not even worthy of carrying my shoes… hehe… hahaha…"

"From now on, I am your empress; just the likes of you… are you worthy of comparing yourself to me!? "

At this moment, Zero seemed to have awakened some strange attribute.

He felt he was the empress of this world, that he had to make every man in Neon Country kneel at his feet and submit to him!

Elsewhere, having finished doing the makeup for the three little ones — Tanjiro and the others — Uzui Tengen was also tidying up his own appearance.

All those strange and bizarre cosmetics on his face were completely cleared away; he let his hair down, revealing a handsome countenance.

Suddenly he heard laughter coming from the room next door, and broke out in a cold sweat without meaning to.

Uzui Tengen also felt from that laughter that this mission might end up causing some major incident…

And behind him stood the three little ones, painted with grotesquely thick makeup.

A face caked in white powder and paste, with two red circles painted on the cheeks — a light scrape would probably peel off a thick layer.

Uzui Tengen had also given each of them a name:

Tanjiro, Zenko, Inoko.

Zenitsu: "Tanjiro, did you hear that? This laughter… I feel a little scared…"

Tanjiro: "Brother Zero's room is giving off an unusual scent, so majestic, so cold…"

Inosuke: "Hmph hmph! If that's the case, then let this great lord go scout ahead first!"

Uzui Tengen, hearing the three little ones' chatter, thought it would be better to go check.

It's been this long — Zero should have been ready ages ago, right…

He went to the next room and opened the door.

"Zero, you're the only one left, you are… so… so… so beautiful…" The moment the door opened, Uzui Tengen only saw a cold, majestic, and devastatingly beautiful white-haired woman sitting there.

Fanning herself with a fan, every movement pulled her charm to the max.

And Zero had long since vanished without a trace — no one knew where he had gone?

Just then, the three little ones — Tanjiro and the others — also walked in; seeing the woman before them, they all, as if by prior agreement, revealed the same stunned, admiring gaze as Uzui Tengen.

Gulp～

No one knew whose throat that was, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Uzui Tengen hurriedly shook his head, flinging out some strange images, and asked: "Beautiful Young Lady, who are you? May I ask where Zero went? Have you seen him?"

Zero did not speak, only narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly.

Yet, precisely because of that smile, the four of them were utterly enchanted.

Tanjiro: Why does it feel like the scent on her is the same as Brother Zero's…

Zenitsu: I wonder if she has a partner? But why does her heartbeat sound about the same as Brother Zero's? Could it be that she is also…

Inosuke: Who is this guy? Where did that white hair go?

Then, Zero spoke: "Kneel before me!!!"

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The four of them were startled by that majestic voice and simultaneously dropped to their knees before Zero.

Zero stood up, slowly walked over to Uzui Tengen, and said coolly: "What? Don't recognize me anymore? Just now I don't know who it was… kneeling and begging me to help him? Hee-hee-hee～"

The laughter Zero let out was filled with evil and corruption, as if the world were about to be destroyed the next moment.

"Zero? You're Zero?!! How did you turn into this…" Uzui Tengen found it hard to believe.

"Shut up! You think you're worthy of looking me in the face?! Look at the makeup you put on them — truly hideous beyond words!"

That angry shout nearly scared Uzui Tengen out of his wits; he couldn't figure out why Zero had become like this.

It was as if he had become a different person, awakened some strange attribute!

Then, Zero walked over to the three little ones — Tanjiro and the others — and commanded: "Raise your heads for me!"

Hearing this, the three little ones raised their heads in unison and looked at Zero; at this moment, they felt Zero was both familiar and strange…

Zero held the fan under Zenitsu's chin and said: "So ugly!"

Then, he turned and went to the vanity, picked up those makeup tools, and reapplied his makeup for him.

A moment later, Zero had redone Zenitsu's makeup — that thick layer of white powder and paste on his face was all scraped off, and his face was washed clean again.

His hair was tied into short twin tails, adorned with pale-yellow bows, his lips painted with a faint lipstick, his fragrant shoulders half-bared.

When he glanced back, his eyes revealed a gaze that was both innocent and seductive.

Kneeling on the tatami, he turned and revealed a figure of graceful, swaying beauty.

Uzui Tengen took one look, his mouth hanging wide open, and thought: are they guys or girls?!

Compared with the makeup he had just put on them, it could be said to be heaven and earth apart — simply a world of difference.

Finally, he redid the makeup for Tanjiro and Inosuke as well.

Inosuke had originally intended to resist, but Zero silently pulled out a stun gun and electrocuted him into unconsciousness.

"Hmph! Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! It is your honor that this Palace is applying your makeup, yet you, a mere child, dare to resist! Ignorant and arrogant fool!"

But overall, it was not bad; Inosuke naturally possessed a feminine male appearance, so his foundation was excellent, requiring only a light application of makeup.

Yoshiwara Flower District.

This place was filled with all kinds of vanity and desire, a night street where love and hate intertwined.

Behind the seemingly bright and glamorous facade, it was actually filled with many different fates.

Most of those living here were women sold to this place; they were forced to sell their bodies here because life had driven them to it or because they were burdened with heavy debts.

Those of average looks either became general helpers, or geisha who sold their art in performances, or courtesans who accompanied the Oiran on street processions.

But relatively speaking, their lives and provisions for food, clothing, and shelter were guaranteed; at the very least, they would not sleep on the streets.

By the same logic, if one could rise to prominence in the Flower District, then leaving the trade and marrying was not impossible!

Women with an excellent foundation would be raised as Oiran.

Oiran, the head of a hundred flowers, blooming before all other flowers, hence the name "Oiran."

The Oiran is said to be the most special existence, a particular woman who combines beauty, upbringing, and skill.

Therefore, the Oiran also became the aspiration in the hearts of the men of the Flower District.

Alas, high-ranking Oiran were not so easily seen.

Even if you were rich as a dragon, you might not be able to see one.

If one wished to approach an Oiran, one must seek an opportunity in a tea house called the "Teahouse."

After guests arrived at the Teahouse, they first had to spend a heavy sum on food and drink and summon entertainers to display their wealth.

At this time, the madam would probe the guest's background to see which rank of Oiran was suitable, then write a "Teahouse Request Paper" to summon the named Oiran; only then did the main event begin.

The journey of the Oiran to the Teahouse was called the "Oiran Procession"; at the very front of the procession was a man holding a lantern printed with the exclusive crest (similar to a family crest) of that specific Oiran.

Next were two "Kamuro"; the so-called "Kamuro" referred to young girls around ten years old in the pleasure quarter who helped the Oiran with chores, holding the Oiran's supplies.

Only then came the Oiran, dressed heavily and stepping on wooden clogs five to six inches high, followed by several "Shinzou" and bodyguards.

Since the Oiran wore clothes weighing about 20 kilograms and stepped on extremely high and heavy wooden clogs, there was a proverb: "An Oiran walks slower than an ox cart."

The walking method was divided into "Inner Hachi-moji" and "Outer Hachi-moji"; the Oiran of Yoshiwara mainly used the Outer Hachi-moji, but regardless of which, it took two or three years of practice.

Upon arriving at the Teahouse, if the Oiran disliked the guest, she could simply turn around and leave.

If she took a liking, this was merely the "First Meeting"; the guest had to use every method to display wealth and charm to win the Oiran's favor.

When a guest sought this single meeting, perhaps having already spent hundreds of thousands to a million, he still had to remain in a lower position, far from the upper seat where the Oiran sat.

The "Ura" of the second meeting was just the same; if mutual affection existed, at the third meeting, if the Oiran prepared chopsticks written with the guest's name, only then did it represent mutual affection, and only that night could he taste her fragrance.

These three meetings were like a matchmaking, a betrothal gift, and a wedding, yet the relationship was quite unequal.

If a guest sought other courtesans within Yoshiwara after this, the punishment was either paying money to avert disaster or, in severe cases, receiving a severe beating from the courtesan house's bodyguards; but the Oiran could have many regular customers.

If the Oiran was too busy to receive guests, a "Shinzou" called a "Nami" would receive them; apart from not sleeping with them, the guest still had to obediently take out money.

And now, Uzui Tengen led Zero and the other four into the Flower District.

Before departing, Zero told Uzui Tengen that the Upper Rank Demons were the ones who had kidnapped his three wives.

Therefore, the upcoming actions had to be carried out with caution and prudence.

Upon learning this, Uzui Tengen became even more worried about his wives, but his strong mental fortitude caused him to calm down very quickly.

Additionally, before departing, Zero dispatched his own drones, activated stealth mode, and thoroughly surveyed the entire area of the Flower District.

He discovered a subterranean cave located in the central position and detected signs of life there.

It was highly likely that demons had captured humans and hidden them there to serve as reserve food.

Therefore, Zero used the drones to place several small bombs in some sparsely populated areas and buried them.

With all preparations complete, Uzui Tengen led the way in front, Zero followed behind him, and the three Tsuzumi children were treated as maids following behind Zero.

Zero also chose a name for herself, calling herself Yu Yu Lingzi.

The pedestrians on the street stared fixedly at the four of Yu Yu Lingzi, their drool almost flowing out of their mouths.

And just at this moment, two lecherous men walked up to Uzui Tengen, one fat and one thin.

They directly ignored Uzui Tengen and went straight to Yu Yu Lingzi; the thin man displayed his gentlemanly side and spoke: "This beautiful Young Lady, may I..."

Crack!

Yu Yu Lingzi, from who knows where, produced a whip and struck the thin man.

Seeing this whip, the three Tsuzumi recalled those few months of training under Zero, the Devil Instructor.

The moment there was any slackness, she would strike them without mercy.

The fat man nearby, seeing this, was filled with anger on his face.

Uzui Tengen was also scared into a cold sweat; who was it that said to act cautiously just now?

Yu Yu Lingzi stared at the fat man and said: "What? Do you have an objection to this Empress?"

However, the fat man's answer left everyone dumbfounded; he was seen shouting: "You... why did you reward him?!"

!!!

The air instantly fell silent.

Reward?

What is this all about?!

But when everyone looked at that thin man, they were even more speechless; a look of enjoyment appeared on his face.

"This guy must have a masochistic tendency..." Uzui Tengen thought.

Several cross-shaped marks appeared on Yu Yu Lingzi's forehead; she whipped the fat man again and commanded: "Kneel before this Palace!"

The fat man and the thin man knelt at Yu Yu Lingzi's feet at the same time, their foreheads pressed flat against the ground.

Yu Yu Lingzi took off her shoes, and her stockinged feet stepped on the fat man's head.

She pressed down hard, grinding their heads against the ground without stopping.

"Disgusting wretch, and you dare speak with this Palace! Look at the way you look — anyone who didn't know would think you were something that crawled out of a pig pen! You've truly dirtied this Palace's eyes!"

Just when everyone thought the fat man, having suffered such an insult, would surely fly into a thunderous rage.

Unexpectedly, a look of blissful intoxication spread across that fat man's face.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty the Empress~ please continue?! More, more more… step on me!"

"It's over!" Uzui Tengen slapped his own head helplessly, thinking to himself: "Zero's become like this — how am I going to explain things to Xiang Nai Hui and Xiao Xiao Mili?!"

Moreover, Hu Die Ren, Xiang Nai Hui's younger sister, is Zero's sister-in-law — if she were to find out about this too…

Uzui Tengen seemed to see some night in the future, when he was sleeping, Hu Die Ren standing by his bed with a needle filled with poison, muttering: This is what happens to anyone who leads my brother-in-law astray…

"Disgusting wretch!" Yu Yu Lingzi looked down at the fat man beneath her feet with utter disgust, then lifted her foot and stepped on the thin man's head.

"You're no better either!"

The thin man replied: "I'm sorry, Your Majesty the Empress, I'm just your d—g…"

"Shut up! This Palace does not wish to breathe the same air as you!"

The moment her words fell, Yu Yu Lingzi put on her clogs, turned her head to look at Uzui Tengen, drew the riding crop across his chest, and said: "Why aren't you leading the way for this Palace already!"

With no choice, Uzui Tengen could only obediently obey the order and continue leading the way toward their destination.

The passersby on the street very consciously cleared a path, letting these five people through.

The men who saw Yu Yu Lingzi followed behind them, wanting to know just which house this beauty had come from.

Yes, they all took Yu Yu Lingzi for a courtesan.

And not just any courtesan — the most unusual, the most special one of them all.

…………