I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 615 So what if she knows? (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
When Li Chen returned to camp after his patrol, Wang Jianjun was already waiting at the camp gate, his expression shifting.

He had intended to give Li Chen a stern reprimand, but when he saw Li Chen's calm gaze sweep over him, he inexplicably felt a chill and swallowed back the reprimand that was on the tip of his tongue. Forcing a formal expression, he took a deep breath and said in a serious tone:

"Commander Cheng, regarding today's matter..." He paused, sensing that Li Chen's gaze had turned slightly colder, and immediately changed his tone: "...You handled today's matter well! You maintained order within the pass! Now you're off duty, get some rest. The follow-up matters...I, the supervising officer, will handle them properly!"

Li Chen nodded slightly and walked straight past him.

The soldiers who had been eavesdropping nearby were dumbfounded!
This newly arrived Commandant Cheng actually made Supervisor Wang cower with just a glance? And he even changed his tune and praised him for handling the situation well?

Back at the barracks, Feng Shuo came running over excitedly, his face full of admiration: "Brother Cheng! Awesome! Absolutely awesome! Yesterday you attacked the Chu family in the capital, today you beat up the Khan's nephew! Now everyone in Han Tie Guan knows you're the real man! You're the number one guy in Han Tie Guan!"

Batu, standing to the side, was so worried that he kept scratching his head. He came from a northern tribe and knew that the new Khan, Huyan Lan, was extremely protective of his own. This was really a big problem.

Li Chen patted Feng Shuo on the shoulder and said very "modestly," "You flatter me, I've always been very low-key."

When Feng Shuo and Batu heard this, they almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

You call this low-key? Do you mean you have to drag the King of Heaven down and beat him up to be considered high-key?
After get off work, as is customary, the officers would go out and have some fun.

Feng Shuo affectionately hooked his arm around Li Chen's neck and whispered slyly, "Brother Cheng, the brothel in Han Tie Guan has recently gotten a new top courtesan! I heard she used to be a saintess of some sect, but she was demoted here to perform because she broke the rules. Of course, we can't rule out that it's just a gimmick by the brothel, but I've heard she's absolutely stunning! How about we go check her out?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chen became interested: "The sect's holy maiden? Interesting. Let's go take a look."

Feng Shuo then warmly invited Batu: "Old Batu, wanna come together?"

Batu shook his head vigorously, waving his hands repeatedly: "No, no! You guys go!"

He was a respectable man with a meager salary and a family to support, so how could he dare to go to a place like the brothel?

Besides, with such a major incident today, how could he be in the mood for pleasure? Even if Feng Shuo invited him to dinner, he would resolutely refuse.

Feng Shuo curled his lips, unconcerned about Batu's refusal: "You're such a noob. Forget it, I won't talk about you anymore. Brother Cheng, let's go. If we're late and the girl has already been booked, we'll have made a wasted trip."

This was naturally not Li Chen's first time visiting a brothel like the Jiaofangsi, but the Jiaofangsi in Hantie Pass had a unique northern flavor.

The women here are not as gentle and charming as those in the water towns of Jiangnan. Instead, they have a bit of the boldness and passion of the northern frontier. They are bold and direct in their service, yet they know how to strike the right balance.

Although it was afternoon, the building was already bustling with activity. Merchants from all over the country, local dignitaries, and some officers on leave had gathered here. The air was filled with the aroma of wine, perfume, and a clamorous desire.

Because most of these people usually have mediocre cultivation levels and have difficulty getting close to the real sect fairies, the title of "former sect saintess" instantly ignited the curiosity and desire for conquest in all the men, attracting them to flock to her and spend a fortune just to win a smile from the beauty.

Feng Shuo managed to secure a relatively good position only through family connections and a considerable amount of money.

The two sat down in a private room, and immediately, beautifully dressed maids served them fine wine and fruit, and skillfully massaged their shoulders.

Seeing Li Chen's composed demeanor and how quickly he adapted to his surroundings, even more so than he was a regular, Feng Shuo winked and said with a smile, "Brother Cheng, judging from your posture, you're quite the veteran here! You must have been here a lot before, right?"

Li Chen took a sip of wine and smiled noncommittally.

He did indeed visit many brothels, after all, even emperors need to experience the joys and sorrows of ordinary people.

While enjoying the massage from the maid, Feng Shuo lowered his voice mischievously and said, "Brother Cheng, you brought your family with you. Aren't you afraid that if your wife finds out, she'll make you kneel on a washboard tonight?"

Li Chen glanced at him, his tone indifferent: "So what if she knows?" Feng Shuo immediately gave a thumbs up, his face full of admiration: "Awesome! Brother Cheng is awesome! Just this kind of courage alone is a hundred times better than that henpecked old Batu!"

Li Chen shook his head: "It's just a personal choice, there's no point in comparing. As long as you feel comfortable, that's all that matters."

Feng Shuo exclaimed in amazement, "Holy crap! Brother Cheng, I can't even begin to compare to your vision! No wonder you dare to be so arrogant, my apologies!"

As the two chatted, the lights in the building suddenly dimmed, and a soft beam of light shone on the platform. Accompanied by the melodious sound of string and bamboo instruments, the protagonist of the evening, the legendary "former sect saintess," finally made her graceful entrance.

She wore an elegant yet luxurious flowing dress, her face covered by a thin veil, revealing only a pair of clear, watery eyes that carried a hint of melancholy.

From the tips of her hair to the hem of her skirt, she seemed to be enveloped in a hazy, warm halo. Her figure was slender and graceful, and every step she took felt like walking on clouds. Her ethereal and otherworldly temperament was out of place in this noisy place, yet it created a fatal attraction.

The moment she appeared, the entire brothel erupted in excitement. Almost every man craned his neck, his eyes filled with amazement and longing.

"A fairy! She's truly a fairy descended to earth!"

"That poise, that figure, totally worth it! The money was well spent today!"

The woman didn't say much, but simply bowed slightly and sat down in front of the guqin that had been prepared, plucking the strings with her slender fingers.

The sound of the zither was melodious, like a mountain stream, clear and moving.

Then, she parted her lips slightly, and her voice, ethereal and melodious, carried a faint trace of sorrow, as if telling a distant and sad story, captivating the audience.

When the music ended, the hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause.

The madam swayed her hips as she walked onto the stage, her face beaming with smiles: "Thank you all for your support! Our Miss Lianxing is new here today and wishes to perform a piece to please her connoisseurs. Next, Miss Lianxing would like to choose a kindred spirit to share dinner with and to further discuss the art of music. As for the rules, the highest bidder wins!"

An excited roar and bidding erupted from the audience.

"I'll pay five hundred taels!"

"Eight hundred taels!"

"One thousand taels!"

Feng Shuo clicked his tongue in amazement, then turned to Li Chen and whispered, "Brother Cheng, look at this setup. It's just a meal and a song. Whether they can actually touch it is another matter. These people are really burning money."

Li Chen nodded in deep agreement.

He'd seen this kind of tantalizing, elusive trick many times before; it was all just a way to fool the unsuspecting.

Spending a fortune just to eat a meal? That's insane.

The two tacitly avoided participating in the bidding, focusing instead on drinking and chatting, watching the group of excited men arguing heatedly.

At this moment, a young and impetuous officer stepped forward!

(End of this chapter)