My wife is the stand-in.

The trolley was pushed onto the platform. The man with the mustache dismissed the others and personally adjusted the decorations on the platform. Xiaoling, having received the signal, changed into a dry kimono and knelt to one side. The frog-like man chanted the names of the dishes in his slightly grotesque voice:

Spider crab sashimi, soy sauce octopus roe, finely fried tempura... In addition to typical Japanese dishes, Amanosaki also offers Chinese and Western cuisine.

As Xiaoling brought out the dishes and set them on the table, Amanosaki's stomach rumbled even more excitedly.

The majestic painting of a fierce Vajra trampling on the Yaksha Kingdom, directly opposite the high platform, was pulled open, revealing itself to be a paper sliding door.

A massive platform rose from the bottom of the bathhouse, slowly ascending from the U-shaped central courtyard through gears and mechanical mechanisms, drawing the attention of all the bathing warriors.

The shamisen, shakuhachi, taiko drum, and Japanese biwa, along with a host of Chinese instruments, formed a three-row musical formation.

The musicians raised their heads, bowed to Tennozaki, sat down gracefully, each assuming a pose, and then remained motionless like statues.

"Hey! This bathhouse is a bit extravagant, isn't it? Not only is it inlaid with gold and silver, but the wood is all top-quality pine and birch!"

"Where is this band from? They seem to have a mix of Japanese and Chinese influences?"

"Don't say a word. You can get a bath in a place like this for 500 yuan. Be happy. My scars have all disappeared, and I can even listen to live music...tsk tsk."

"Other bathhouses aren't like this, are they?"

"Nonsense! You think you can hear someone sing for twenty yuan at your local bathhouse?"

"The bathhouses aren't doing well either; it's become so competitive."

The heroes whispered among themselves, and those in the private rooms below heard the commotion and pushed open their paper sliding doors to see the solemn music playing.

"Who's at the very top? Such a grand display, the waiters didn't even tell us they offered this kind of service."

"Don't even think about it, it must be that old woman's double hair."

A sharp, resounding twang of strings silenced everyone.

The pipa began first, its strings as clear and sharp as swords, instantly rousing Amanosaki, whose head was spinning from the soaking.

The taiko drums joined the music with rapid beats, and after a long thirty seconds of frantic pounding, the deathly silence was broken.

The sounds of drums, shakuhachi, biwa, shamisen, xiao, bells, and chimes blended together, each occupying its own pitch, advancing and retreating with proper rhythm and appropriate volume.

It looked just like a military formation!

Amanosaki moved his hands and feet, feeling all his fatigue and exhaustion vanish, and his mind began to leap with the suddenly rousing music.

Xiaoling explained from the side:

“Since the Tang Dynasty, when Japan sent envoys to Tang China, it has been learning about Tang culture. This piece of music was a military song that the envoys heard when they were serving in the army.”

As she spoke, she picked up a crab leg that looked like a red jade, dipped it in soy sauce, and placed it on Amanosaki's plate.

Amanosaki picked up a spider crab leg and put it in his mouth to taste.

Tender, chewy, and sweet aftertaste.

'This tastes amazing!' he thought. 'I'd only ever seen this stuff in short videos before; I never knew so much crab meat tasted like this.'

Xiaoling poured herself a glass of sake and bowed her head apologetically: "Originally, the bathhouse had various chefs and shops that provided ingredients, drinks, and music, as well as a small shop that was responsible for the decoration. But this time, for some reason, the bathhouse can't contact the outside world, the chefs are nowhere to be found, there are only these simple meals, the music is plain and simple, and there isn't even a dancer. Please forgive us, sir."

The frog man and the man with the mustache bowed repeatedly, begging for the master's leniency.

Amanosaki swallowed the crab leg, smacked his lips, and said nothing.

What could he say?

He was a poor wretch who had never even experienced the corruption of capitalism firsthand, so what experience could he possibly have of the even more backward feudal life?

He's never even eaten a Manchu Han Imperial Feast, so what does he know about this feudal dregs?

Tang Dynasty military music was all plain music; it would probably take the music of scholars and officials and court music to make it interesting.

These Japanese gods, they really don't live like humans!

The powerful military music stirred the emotions of all the heroes, reminding them of their past experiences of upholding justice. Their eyes were bloodshot and their breathing rapid.

But the music abruptly stops at its climax, leaving an echo lingering in the courtyard, creating a sense of emptiness and mystery.

Amanosaki angrily picked up his chopsticks, stuffed his mouth full, and with a gulp, drank the entire pot of sake.

"Once the song is over, we'll go back to the bar."

Amanosaki held tempura in his left hand and donkey meat sandwich in his right, eating very quickly.

How can such corrupt and backward things be allowed to exist and test the heroes below?

There are still so many suffering people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, bullied by Western imperialism in the new era, waiting to be saved! And countless people in this world are waiting to be rescued by heroes!

Amanosaki thought to himself, reached out and grabbed a crystal xiaolongbao, then stuffed it into his mouth.

'To prevent everyone from being seduced by feudalism, I resolutely bear the burden alone... Alas, there are few people as enlightened as me anymore.' His fingers tapped unconsciously to the rhythm, praising himself once again in his heart.

Amanosaki knew that the layout here was only at the average level of a bathhouse, but the swordsmen below did not.

The same music sounds different when played by ordinary people versus when played by the gods in the bathhouse. Putting aside everything else, the ability of these musicians to ignite their instruments and captivate people is something that would require at least a few years of practice with other martial arts masters possessing similar abilities to compare.

The heroes who had long since entered modern society were mostly of humble origins and had been blinded by these feudal dregs. As the performance ended and the stage slowly sank down, everyone scratched their heads and asked the waiter why there wouldn't be another song.

Meanwhile, the VIPs in the private rooms, after listening to the waiter's detailed explanation of how upgrading to a higher room would allow them to enjoy a better medicinal bath and a variety of delicious food and music, immediately began ordering.

Their higher vantage point allowed them to see the food being delivered to Amanosaki's room like a flowing stream. Since the guests were already there, they didn't hesitate to spend their money.

Impulsive consumption was unwittingly introduced to everyone by a single sentence from Amanosaki.

Inside the bathhouse, various reliefs of wild beasts, birds, and demons exhale smoke invisible to the naked eye, pushing the consumption emotions of all the bathhouse customers to a climax.

……

Wow!

The paper sliding door opened, and Amanosaki, having finished his bath, rubbed his bloated stomach and, feeling refreshed, shuffled up the elevator on the oily pine floor in his wooden clogs, heading towards Yubaba's room on the top floor.

Chapter 63: Men Can Also Rule from Behind the Curtain

Amanosaki's action of getting on the elevator was seen by Li Junzi, who was taking a bath downstairs. Because he was familiar with Amanosaki, he enjoyed VIP treatment without spending much money.

When Li Junzi saw Amano Saki, he emerged from the hot soup, his manhood swaying between his legs, making the waitress next to him, who was responsible for changing the water, cover her eyes in embarrassment.

However, with her fingers spread wide, her eyes continued to stare unaffected through the wide gaps between them.

Li Junzi walked out naked, and was stopped by a group of short male waiters as soon as he reached the corridor.

These men, each only reaching Li Junzi's knees, were not intimidated by the imposing presence of his stature. In their previous service to the gods, they had seen all sorts of physiques and appearances, and Li Junzi's appearance, compared to those Japanese gods, was already considered a first-rate, imposing and extraordinary man.

"My lord, the upper floor is the master's place tonight. No one may go up without his and Granny Yu's invitation."

Li Junzi retorted, "My elder brother and I are half-brothers!"

“That won’t do either,” the men refused in unison. “We will convey your request, but whether we meet or not depends on your decision, sir.”

“…Okay.” Li Junzi scratched Qing Ranran’s head as he returned to the bathtub, but before he could sit down, a bald, kind-looking old man and a middle-aged bespectacled man with severe signs of staying up all night went upstairs and took the elevator.

Soon after, another group of people, dressed in various styles but all exuding an air of authority, took the elevator upstairs.

Li Junzi stood up again with a whoosh, his lower body soaking wet. He stared blankly and muttered, "Grandpa Lin, Deputy Section Chief Hu and these... heroes from other branches, why are they all here?"

The short man in the yukata closed the paper fan door and sighed to Li Junzi, "Guest, please sit down. Your assets have been seen by all the young girls."

The girls in the room, whose secrets had been exposed, put their fingers together and screamed in unison.

Amanosaki was completely unaware of all the trouble Li Junzi had caused.

He moved his wrists in the elevator, feeling as if he had inexhaustible strength throughout his body.

The feeling of soaking in the so-called medicinal soup for immortals was magical. Amanosaki had forgotten the specific feeling, only remembering that he went down into the soup while fully conscious, and when the hot soup was poured over him, he became dizzy and confused until Xiaoling scooped him up with a fishing net and he suddenly came back to his senses.

The medicine did not bring any changes to his superpowers, but he could clearly feel that his body had become stronger than ever before, his five senses were incredibly sharp, every cell was accumulating infinite power, and the magic markings on his arms and the magic circuits flowing throughout his body were all jubilant.

Yes, he not only recovered completely, but also became stronger. From his physical body to his magical aptitude, even the damage caused by Rin Tohsaka's rudimentary transplant surgery was restored in the medicinal bath.

"Right now, even without a stunt double, I'm definitely at least at the level of a gang leader, right?"

Amanosaki thought to himself.

The elevator clattered to the station, the metal doors opened, and Amanosaki stepped out with powerful, vigorous strides.

The next second, his figure slowly shrank back.

"Phew! It's all an illusion, all an illusion!" He patted his face and went back outside.

Then, his steps faltered, and he couldn't even pull them back.

Because more than a dozen pairs of eyes were already watching him.

The twelve men were all dressed in suits. Some of them looked like monkeys wearing crowns, with sleeves hanging down to their knees. Others wore suits that looked like bodysuits, making their limbs and chest muscles bulge. Some of them wore men's clothing but could not hide their soft, feminine features, which made them look quite heroic.

But without a doubt, these people are all stronger than I am now.

Amanosaki's newly inflated confidence vanished in an instant.

Just as he was hesitating about how to greet them, the elevator dinged, the metal doors opened, and the familiar, kind laughter of an old man came from behind Amanosaki:

"Wow! How lively! Are they all here to welcome this old man? No need for all this trouble. I can still walk."

Amanosaki turned around, his expectant eyes turning to joy the instant they met the old man's gaze.

It was the same old man I'd seen in the hospital ward!

It belongs to the Amber Clan!

The savior is here!

"Grandpa, save me!" Amanosaki whispered for help.

Lin Zhonghe looked at the aggrieved Amanosaki and thought to himself, "What are you pretending to be so big for? Isn't this your territory? Try touching these people and see what happens."

Why don't you know why they're sizing you up?

With the commotion you've caused, the whole industry is buzzing about it!

They'll have to take a good look at who you are.

Despite his words, Lin Zhonghe still held Amanosaki's hand kindly, looking like an old man backing him up, and said gently, "Don't be afraid, these are just deputies, no big shot like Hu Zhun. Their leader is still queuing up behind me, Lin Zhonghe. Let's go in first."

Hu Zhun, who was innocently shot, pushed up his glasses.

Amanosaki nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, obediently following Lin Zhonghe inside with his head down, secretly thinking to himself:

'Lin Zhonghe? What a dissolute name. He must have taken advantage of many innocent girls in his youth. The world is going to the dogs. I wonder if he's related to Miss Lin Shuyu.'