Fairy, help me cultivate.

Lu Qing was easily embarrassed and felt she would lose face, so she stubbornly said, "I don't want her things!"

Bai Piao chuckled: "Then you can give it to your mother. Anyway, it's my betrothal gift, either you or your mother can take it."

Lu Dan gave an awkward smile: "Senior Bai, what are you saying!"

Having demonstrated his strength and saved everyone, Bai Piao's attitude naturally changed.

Bai Piao smiled and took out a green pebble from his embroidered bag, which looked like a jade-carved quail egg.

Ling Hong had seen it earlier, but was unwilling to ask for it, but unexpectedly, it was stuffed directly into her hand for free.

Ling Hong liked the pebble, but still turned to look at Chen Yao.

"If you like it, then keep it," Chen Yao said.

"Then what is this, big brother?"

"Sword embryo".

"Sword embryo?"

Ling Hong was overjoyed, and Lü Qing and Lu Dan also looked over at the same time, not without envy.

Bai Piao said to the two of them, "Everyone has their own destiny, and one sword manual is enough."

Lu Dan nodded: "Yes, you are right, senior."

The freeloader put away the embroidered pouch.

Chen Yao looked at the freeloader and said, "I've risked my life for you, don't you have anything to give me?"

"Ouch!"

As if just remembering, the freeloader said, "I forgot about you..."

Her eyes darted around, and she said with a smile, "But you see! There's nothing good in here anymore."

"Then you might as well give them all to me."

"Making outrageous demands?" Bai Piao squinted at Chen Yao.

"Without me, you'd probably be eaten by a snake."

Chen Yao never expected that someone who takes advantage of others for free would be so afraid of snakes.

He hesitated for a moment, then grinned and said, "Brother, how about this? You get me some silver, and I'll give you everything."

So that's where they were waiting.

Chen Yao chuckled and tossed over a hundred-tael piece of snowflake silver.

The freeloader gave a thumbs up: "So generous!"

She handed the embroidered pouch to Chen Yao and led the group towards the den of iniquity.

There was indeed nothing of value in the embroidered pouch, and Chen Yao immediately felt like he had been tricked.

Just then, Jiu Luo suddenly spoke up: "Can I have that copper coin?"

Chen Yao took out the copper wire with indistinct green markings and couldn't figure out what it was, but still stuffed it into the gourd.

Thank you.

"Why are you being so polite, fairy?"

"It's just empty politeness," Yun Jiang retorted.

Jiu Luo remained silent.

Upon entering the den of iniquity, to everyone's surprise, there was none of the usual glitz and glamour.

Everything was ordinary, like a typical family life, bustling and peaceful, very warm and cozy.

At this moment, a middle-aged woman dressed in ordinary clothes came out. Although she was past her prime, she still looked clean and radiant.

"Gentlemen, are you looking for a place to stay?"

Her beautiful eyes swept across the room, bypassing the other women, and fixed her gaze on Chen Yao's face.

I've never seen anyone bring their whole family to solicit prostitutes these days...

Chen Yao felt a little uncomfortable under her curious and intense gaze, so he said, "Give us a small courtyard to ourselves."

"Alright. How many ladies would you like?"

"Wife?" Chen Yao immediately realized that the question was asking how many prostitutes were needed.

"Our brothel has always upheld the principle of making guests feel at home. Our girls are all virtuous, capable in bed and in the kitchen..."

The freeloader scoffed, "I've never heard of a prostitute claiming to be virtuous."

The proprietress was taken aback, then forced a smile: "Young lady, you're joking. Do you perhaps not want your husband to come and play?"

As she continued talking, Chen Yao interrupted her directly: "Just a small courtyard will suffice."

Bai Piao crushed the hundred-tael silver coin in his hand, picked up a piece and threw it to the proprietress: "Go away, I want three or five young ladies to touch and savor it."

"You?" The proprietress was even more surprised. She had never seen a family come to patronize a prostitute, let alone a husband who didn't patronize a prostitute while his wife did.

"What?" Bai Piao raised an eyebrow.

The proprietress nodded repeatedly: "It's alright, it's alright, guests, this way please."

After settling in, Lü Qing and Ling Hong insisted on going out for a walk.

Chen Yao and Lu Dan had no choice but to go along.

Bai Piao was sitting in the courtyard drinking with a group of elegantly dressed, shy women.

She wasn't actually as lewd as she seemed; at most, she just lay on top of these women and let them massage her.

Chen Yao saw through her at a glance—she was all show and no substance—but didn't say anything, shook his head, and led the others away.

Leaving the den of iniquity, the streets of Zizhulin are bustling with pedestrians, exuding a different kind of vibrant and lively atmosphere.

Shops of all kinds lined both sides of the road, and the sounds of hawking and selling filled the air.

The women, including Ling Hong, naturally headed to the cosmetics and jewelry shops.

Chen Yao was impatient to go shopping with a woman who wasn't his woman. After instructing Ling Hong to stay close to Lu Dan, he went into a bookstore and browsed the books at his leisure.

The bookseller was quite easygoing. When customers came, he didn't come out to greet them. Instead, he sat cross-legged in his rattan chair, reading a book and sipping tea.

Chen Yao pulled out a book of erotic art.

The shopkeeper glanced at it: "No bargaining, three hundred taels."

Chen Yao was somewhat surprised: "Three hundred taels for a pornographic book?"

The shopkeeper didn't even look up: "Look at the inscription! They still had these when they were worth three hundred taels each!"

The inscription was signed by the owner of Mingzhai Studio; the handwriting was so delicate it resembled that of a woman.

A woman painting erotic art?

Chen Yao knew nothing about worldly affairs, nor did he know whether this person was truly famous.

Yun Jiang suddenly let out a mocking laugh.

He didn't know what it meant either.

"Boss, if you can tell me how good this book is, I'm willing to pay three hundred taels."

The shopkeeper picked up the purple clay teapot, took a sip of tea, and glanced at Chen Yao's clothes and demeanor before raising his eyelids slightly.

“The owner of Mingzhai was a master from three hundred years ago. She only painted this one set of erotic paintings in her life, yet it fetched an astronomical price. That alone is legendary enough.”

"If it was already an exorbitant price, why is it now three hundred taels?"

The shopkeeper looked regretful and sighed, "Unfortunately, this is no ordinary object. Every family that has taken it to collect has died suddenly."

Chapter 232 Nine Fallen Paintings?

"In that case, I think you might as well buy it."

For the first time ever, Jiu Luo spoke up about trivial matters.

Chen Yao found it a bit strange and couldn't help but tease, "Does the fairy really want me to die suddenly?"

Jiu Luo hummed in agreement: "I just realized that it might be of some benefit to you."

"benefit?"

Chen Yao flipped through the picture book and had to admit that the figures in it were really lifelike and the actions were very exciting, especially the women, with their skin, figures, and voluptuousness.

Yun Jiang remained unusually silent. If she could see the problem, she would inevitably mock Jiu Luo. Judging from this, Jiu Luo's words should not be a big problem.

"Although I don't see any benefit in it, the artist's skills are indeed excellent. It's obvious he's someone who's touched countless stunning beauties..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiu Luo coughed a few times for some reason.

"Stop talking nonsense, pay up and get out of here. I don't like this place."

Jiu Luo urged.

The owner was still enjoying his tea and couldn't hear their conversation.

"If you're afraid, you might as well put the booklet back. I'm asking for three hundred taels of silver, firstly because it's worth the price, and secondly, to prevent people from being harmed for no reason."

Chen Yao looked at him: "Then aren't you afraid of keeping this, boss?"

The boss stroked his beard: "I am an upright person, I have never done anything lewd, and I don't have the habit of picking chickens from pictures..."

"..."

Chen Yao didn't know how to respond, so he flipped through the catalog, took out three hundred taels of silver, and said, "I'll take this catalog."

The boss then raised an eyebrow and glanced at Chen Yao: "Young man, you're quite bold. I hope you don't go too far. Young man, you need to abstain from lust..."

As Chen Yao was about to leave, he stumbled.

"Fairy, what are the benefits of this picture album?"

Chen Yao turned the pages.

Jiu Luo said, "Let me see the booklet."