Tonight, the great hall of the governor's castle at Black Rock City was adorned with splendor and brilliance that was more than suitable for an immortal, let alone the disciple of one. Countless bright candles filled the vaulted ceiling with warmth, blocking off the howling snow outside. Rows of smartly dressed servants stood to attention along the walls, below floor-to-ceiling banners depicting heroic battles of cultivators against beasts and demons of the wilderness.
Governor Zhou Guanyu sat at the head of the hall, clad in formal wear, dressed to impress. He had on glittering golden robes fitting for a king. Each hair ornament and ring he wore could buy a mansion. The small table in front of him was laden with sweet wine and fragrant dishes. Each sip and bite cost more than what a commoner could make in a lifetime.
Lin Qingcheng sat close by, in the seat of honor as the governor's respected guest. She wore her normal sunny yellow robes, modest makeup, and no jewelry. She seemed rather out of place next to this gaudy man. Even her disciples that liked to dress up and make themselves pretty paled in comparison to him.
The others at the banquet were her two direct disciples, a select group of talented but lower-ranking disciples, and some peripheral Zhou Clan members that she didn't recognize. It was a sizable crowd but Zhou Guanyu was the most talkative one by far.
Lin Qingcheng wasn't sure what to think of this young man surnamed Zhou. He was perhaps the most ostentatious member of the Zhou Clan she had ever met. They were normally nice people so Zhou Guanyu was a surprise and a disappointment.
This man annoyed her for reasons she couldn't grasp. His boastful chattering was getting more and more unbearable with each passing moment. She looked around at her disciples who were shooting her looks that varied from helplessness to outright frustration. Zhou Guanyu knew he couldn't flirt with Lin Qingcheng so he was trying his best to impress them instead. But his efforts fell on deaf ears as they all seemingly felt the same way towards him as her.
"Ahem." Lin Qingcheng cleared her throat and killed the one-sided conversation, "Let's discuss more pressing matters. I trust you have been informed about the truth behind our arrival?"
"I am aware." Zhou Guanyu replied, turning back towards her with a smile that didn't quite meet the eyes. "Although most of the clan is in Red Bamboo Province, I still have many clan members under my command. If manpower is an issue, I can also call upon some forces of Black Rock City."
"Good. Qin Yan, give Governor Zhou the thing we prepared." Lin Qingcheng said.
Qin Yan, the oldest among her disciples and the most reliable director of the House of Paradise, stood up from her table and respectfully handed Zhou Guanyu a large piece of paper, akin to something that would be posted on announcement boards across a town or city.
"Governor Zhou." Qin Yan said, "This our recruitment poster for the House of Paradise. It states that all women currently selling their bodies or otherwise suffering hard times may seek shelter with the House of Paradise. We will take everyone in that needs our help. It also lists the benefits they will receive under us. Please reproduce this exactly and spread it across Black Rock City."
"Okay." Zhou Guanyu frowned ever so slightly before nodding and smiling.
He waved his hand and a servant behind him came by to take the paper.
"Next, Yuan Qiaochu." Lin Qingcheng said.
"Yes, master."
A petite woman with a slim build and a round face stood up. This disciple specialized in fighting and even managed to reach the 2nd Level of the Spirit Initiate Realm in a short time. She was Lin Qingcheng's strongest disciple.
Yuan Qiaochu flicked back her sleek brown hair and unfurled a bamboo scroll. Upon it were carved several names. "Governor Zhou, the House of Paradise will begin the process of assimilating existing brothels in Black Rock City starting tomorrow. I will begin with the Blue Igloo, Snow Garden, and Gao Pleasure House. Please gather your martial forces in front of the House Paradise tomorrow morning and prepare them to follow my orders."
Zhou Guanyu shifted in his seat, obviously discontented. However, he smartly held his tongue and agreed.
Lin Qingcheng then chimed in, "With regards to the primary mission, Governor Zhou does not have to worry. The House of Paradise will handle all matters relating to it. If your people find out anything, report it to me or my disciples promptly."
"I understand, Mistress Lin." Zhou Guanyu replied a little bit sullenly.
"Good!" Lin Qingcheng said, clapping her hands, "It is already quite late. I have to get back to the House of Paradise and settle things there. Thank you for a great reception. We will work together and accomplish master's mission before the others. I'll get his reward for sure!"
"Yes, sect master!" Her disciples agreed.
"Yes… This way, I will show you out." Zhou Guanyu said through gritted teeth.
---
Bang!
Crash!
Zhou Guanyu returned to his private quarters in a soaring rage. A nearby table and the rather expensive potted plant atop it fell victim to his outburst. A crystal lamp and a nearby chair soon followed.
"These sluts… How can they order me around like a dog?" He spat through great breaths, heaving from sheer fury, "If it was Wu Qianyu, fine! If it was just Lin Qingcheng… fine! I can bear it. They are Lord Chen's disciples! But where did these ugly, pretentious sluts come from?"
Crash!!
A bookcase toppled over, sending a cascade of rare and expensive tomes to the floor.
"Shit! Damn it! Aren't they just a bunch of whores picked up from the streets? How can they order me around like I am dirt? They don't even think I'm good enough for them. I am the governor of Black Rock City! I am a young master of the Zhou Clan! They are just some bitches that spread their legs for money. This is ridiculous! Ridiculous!"
Zhou Guanyu ranted and vented until he ran out of energy. He slumped down on the sofa, weariness taking over. His father and the other elders were completely right. The House of Paradise was a problem, a serious problem for their Zhou Clan.
The House of Paradise took way too much money out of the sect's budget every month without contributing anything in return. Every tael of gold that the Zhou Clan spent brought back many times profit in return. That house of whores, on the other hand, was a bottomless pit, a money-wasting venture.
Many in the Zhou Clan felt this way about Lord Chen's decisions and his irrational kindness towards his disciples. The likes of Jasmine and Long Yifei had no detractors since they were simply too amazing. However, the other disciples were highly unpopular and raised many complaints from within the clan.
And it wasn't just Lin Qingcheng either. The whole deal of supporting Divine Blazing Mountain and Glacier Palace was an enormous debacle, a pointless way to spend as much money as possible. The Zhou Clan could barely manage the task of developing Dragon Flower Province in addition to the subsidiary provinces of Red Bamboo and Cloudy Mountain. Yet they had to sequester a huge portion of the budget to support two immortal sects that had nothing to do with them...
"Young Master Guanyu!"
Zhou Guanyu jerked up upon hearing a voice at the door. It was his trusted subordinate, Zhou Liufeng, a junior cousin from a branch of a branch family.
"Liufeng, come in."
Zhou Liufeng paused upon seeing the devastating state of the room. "What happened?"
"Ignore it. Tell me, did you hear back from White Diamond Citadel? Did they agree to the deal?" Zhou Guanyu asked.
"This…" The smaller man hesitated; his face contorted with discomfort.
"I can't believe this, is a hundred thousand taels of gold not enough these days? Since when did a bunch of mercenaries get this arrogant and greedy?" Zhou Guanyu spat out, once again getting infuriated.
"No… actually." Zhou Liufeng said with a shaking voice, "I have no idea if White Diamond Citadel accepted our deal or not. I sent three messengers but all of them disappeared. I finally hired a local mercenary group to go the citadel and…"
"And?" Zhou Guanyu asked.
"No humans reside in White Diamond Citadel anymore!"
"What?"
"The citadel has been wiped out!"
"What!!"
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