These women were attired in pure white strapless bras along with nearly transparent pale green bikinis.
They all exhibited well-proportioned figures. Despite wearing veils, their features were apparently pretty-looking and delicate.
Holding a pipa( a musical instrument similar to a guitar) in arms, one of the women slowly sat down and began to play it.
The three of them were intoxicated by the melodious music. Furthermore, the dressing style of these woman aroused them a little, sending the blood rushing to their heads.
The soothing music felt like a lover's murmurings in their ears, giving the three of them a profound sense of peace and serenity. While enjoying it, they wore blank expressions. Evidently, they were enchanted.
Soon, more dishes and jugs of wine were served on the table. Most of the dishes were potency-enhancing ones.
Soan Jingor now displayed a flushed face while cheerfully chatting with Le Xaan and Chin Gerron.
Le Xaan stopped eating after a few bites. Currently, he was absorbed in the beautiful melody.
It took them an hour to finish their dinner. During the process, three groups of girls went in and out to perform songs and dances. By now, they were all in high spirits.
"By the way, originally, the pleasure cruiser only provides the music and dance show, nothing else. But today is different. The head of the ship promised me that as long as I buy Kunny's way out of the ship, we're allowed to pick three girls to accompany us for the night." Soan Jingor said while showing a prideful expression .
"Really?" This was the first time that Chin Gerron had ever heard of such a thing.
"I have never heard that the pleasure cruiser would do the same businesses as a brothel." Chin Gerron said with an obvious look of astonishment on his face.
"That's why I am happy. The girls here are not available to just anyone. Both of you, feel free to pick one. I already have Kunny, so I have no plans to choose another one. But you are still single. " Soan Jingor said with a grin.
Le Xaan peered out of the window and read the sky. It's late at night now. He almost forgot how long they had stayed in the ship. Outside the door were no customers passing by. Earlier on, they could hear some talking sounds on the deck, all of which vanished by now. Le Xaan found this curious.
"How about playing arrow-throwing? Today is Fragrance Silk Festival. If we achieve a high score, the ship would offer us extra services for free." Soan Jingor proposed. Having patronized the pleasure cruiser frequently, he was well versed in its rules.
Both Le Xaan and Chin Gerron had no objections.
Then, they asked the girls to fetch the jug and arrows for them. Soan Jingor was the first one who started playing the game (the player would compete to see who could throw the most arrows into the jug from a set distance). Le Xaan and Chin Gerron stood by and watched.
When Soan Jingor successfully threw an arrow into the jug, the girls in the room would applaud and cheer for him while giggling.
Chin Gerron was drunken currently. He wrapped his arm around a girl and flirtatiously chatted with her.
In this world, arrow-throwing was a widely popular small game enjoyed by all social classes.
Le Xaan estimated the time and casually asked a girl by his side,
"Why your ship is not closed now? It's already so late into the night, after all."
"We're not closing the ship tonight. Don't worry." the girl flashed a smile while looking at him.
Staring at her, Le Xaan was somewhat weirded out. But he couldn't tell what's strange exactly. He thought for a moment but didn't come up with anything. Thus, he went on watching Soan Jingor play the game.
A while later.
"It's already very late. We have to get washed and then return to accompany you."The head hostess said with a smile as she spoke to the three of them.
"Go ahead." Soan Jingor waved his hand.
The bevy of girls streamed out of the room. After the one at the rear lightly closed the door, the room sank into quietude.
The three of them were seated on the couches. Before them were a messy table of leftovers. And three wine jugs was on it as well.
"We've drunk too much." Chin Gerron said while shaking his head.
"I hope that it will not hold up business." Soan Jingor said with a laugh. "Do you have to go to the toilet?"
"I have to go to wash my face."
Le Xaan rose to his feet and walked out of the room.
The hall outside the room was dimly lit. The doors of the private rooms on all the sides were tightly shut, with no traces of customers or hostesses. Presently dizzy from alcohol, Le Xaan walked in the direction of the toilet.
After washing his face with cool water, he felt soberer now. As he strode out of the toilet, he wiped his face down. However, after a few steps, he was stunned.
The light from the hall shone onto the floor outside the toilet. Yet, he found the hue of the lighting seemingly different from before.
"If I remember correctly, the light is yellow, right?" Le Xaan narrowed his eyes and gazed at the ruddy trail of glow on the floor.
Now, it was so quiet all around, to the extent that even the sounds of the river water splashing against the ship couldn't be heard.
Le Xaan looked down at the red light at his feet. Then, he sneaked his way back into the hall.
The hall was now filled with absolute silence. It was unknown when, but all of the yellow lanterns earlier on were currently replaced with red lanterns, which were casting a reddish illumination, dying the hall with its color.
He was presently on the second floor of the cabin. Le Xaan walked up to the fences and looked down, seeing no traces of anyone. Just now, as he was on his way to the toilet, he noticed that there were a few customers and hostesses around him, who all evaporated by now. There were only gusts of chilly winds brushing past him.
Furrowing his brows, Le Xaan walked briskly toward the private room.
Walking up to the door of the room, he pushed it open. Both Chin Gerron and Soan Jingor were not in the room.
After turning around a corner, his gaze was caught by two red lanterns hung in the room.
The lanterns were right above the dining table surrounded by the chairs. It was unclear when they were put there.
Outside the door the wind were whooshing, while the room were wrapped in silence. Le Xaan looked up at the lanterns and then surveyed the room.
"Brother Soan? Brother Chin?"
His probing calls were greeted with no responses.
The eerie red ship that he had once boarded momentarily crossed his mind. In turn, his face grew gloomy.
A while later, a soft rustle of footsteps sounded out from outside the door.