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World's First Traitor System (260)
🕑 Added 2024-08-13 17:00:07 +0000 UTCChapter 260 - The Charity Auction
The following day, as evening approached, dozens of carriages lined the streets near the river docks. Inside sat the distinguished guests invited to the charity auction.
The guests were surprised to discover that the Qinhuai River, which should have been frozen solid in winter, was flowing freely. The ice and snow had vanished.
“What’s going on?”
“Wasn’t the Qinhuai River frozen solid? Where’s the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge? Grand Master Xue is hosting a charity auction on the barge. Who dared to sail it away?!”
The crowd on the docks buzzed with speculation.
Fan Li sat in his carriage, accompanied only by Jing Wudi, who served as his coachman and bodyguard.
“Nephew, in this humble one’s opinion, only a Unity Realm cultivator or higher could have melted the ice on the Qinhuai River.”
Fan Li nodded. A Unity Realm expert did possess such power. However, individuals at that level held high status and authority, even in the Great Ming Dynasty.
Melting the ice for a pleasure barge? It seemed strange.
Fan Li glanced at Jing Wudi, who was disguised as a coachman. Well, wasn’t this Unity Realm assassin also driving a carriage?
“It’s here! It’s here! The Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge has arrived!”
The crowd suddenly erupted in excitement.
In the distance, mist rose from the river. Through the hazy fog, a massive ship slowly emerged. It was enormous, as tall as a multi-story building. A thousand lanterns illuminated its decks, as if trying to light up the entire Qinhuai River!
As the Smoke and Waves drew closer, the crowd heard the sounds of string and wind instruments, bells, and chimes – a melodious and calming symphony.
“Impressive,” Fan Li said. “To have such bright lights on a cold winter night, they must be using spirit-grade fuel. And those musicians, playing such captivating music, they must be professional sound cultivators.”
“You’re right, Nephew,” Jing Wudi replied. “A hundred musicians, the weakest among them is at the ninth rank of the Foundation Building Realm.”
Fan Li touched his nose awkwardly. So, he was at the same level as the pleasure barge’s musicians?
The barge slowly docked.
The invited guests had been waiting in the snow and wind for a long time. Some, with short tempers, began to grumble, even cursing the Smoke and Waves.
Suddenly, a group of beautiful women, dressed in colorful yet elegant attire, appeared on deck, lining up gracefully.
They curtsied towards the shore and spoke in unison, “Honored guests, we thank you for braving the cold and snow to attend this charity auction. Your generosity will provide relief to the widows of our Great Ming soldiers. On behalf of the recipients, we, the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge, express our deepest gratitude!”
As they spoke, the women knelt on deck with their alluring figures and formed a line. The scene was touching, yet also exuded an undeniable charm.
The guests on the docks looked up. From this angle, the women’s slender waists and ample hips were perfectly showcased!
Many men couldn’t help but fantasize. They wished they could stay the night on the Smoke and Waves! Their earlier complaints vanished without a trace.
“Bravo!!!”
Applause erupted from the crowd. The men cheered and shouted, as if responding to the Smoke and Waves’ charitable act, but also as if releasing their pent-up desire!
Even Fan Li couldn’t help but swallow hard. ‘Every profession has its masters. The Great Ming’s premier brothel has truly mastered the art of understanding men!’
The Smoke and Waves was now securely docked. Servants on board set up a boarding ramp and shouted, “Welcome, honored guests!”
The guests boarded the barge one after another.
Jing Wudi frowned. “Nephew, it seems servants aren’t allowed on board.”
Several guests’ servants had been stopped by the barge’s staff. Those who had successfully boarded were all unaccompanied.
Fan Li nodded. “There are too many guests. If everyone brought several servants, the barge might sink. Wudi, wait for me on the docks. I won’t be in any danger tonight.”
“…Yes.”
Jing Wudi thought for a moment and agreed. Fan Li’s words made sense.
Fan Li presented his invitation and boarded the barge. A servant led him through corridors and across decks, into the barge’s interior.
The sight that greeted him surprised him. The Smoke and Waves, resembling a multi-story building, was designed like a concert hall from Fan Li’s previous life. A vast, open space, a magnificent stage, and four levels of seating!
“Where should I sit?” Fan Li asked the servant.
The servant carefully examined his invitation. “Master, you have a private room. There’s no need to find a seat in the main hall.”
A private room?
Fan Li was surprised. Xue Susu had personally delivered the invitation. It seemed even his seat was special.
A private room on the Great Ming’s premier pleasure barge? In the past, only high-ranking officials and nobles could use them.
He entered the room. It had three walls, with a large window overlooking the stage. The interior was decorated with calligraphy, paintings, bonsai trees, and screens – truly elegant.
Fan Li was curious. How many private rooms were there on the Smoke and Waves? And who were the distinguished guests occupying them? Most importantly, where was Yan Shifan?
As he pondered this, the guests had all taken their seats. Suddenly, everyone felt a slight tremor. The Smoke and Waves had left the docks and was sailing along the river. The music played by the hundred musicians inside gradually grew louder. The song ended, and silence fell over the barge.
Fan Li looked out the window and saw a familiar figure walking gracefully towards the center of the stage. But unlike when she had delivered the invitation, Xue Susu had removed her veil, revealing her true face to the world.
He finally saw the Qinhuai courtesan’s true beauty. Her face was delicately adorned with makeup, her slender hands as white as jade. Her eyes were bright, her lips red, her figure ethereal. A true beauty, her every movement exuded an alluring charm.
Xue Susu curtsied and spoke softly. “For the hundreds of thousands of widows of fallen soldiers from Yunzhou City, I, Susu, thank you all for your generosity. All proceeds from tonight’s auction, the Smoke and Waves and I will not take a single copper coin. Everything will be used for relief efforts. Moreover, I will personally donate fifty thousand taels of silver, three thousand catties of grain, and one thousand bolts of cloth.”
As her words faded, a guest immediately shouted his approval. Applause thundered through the hall.
Fan Li nodded, thinking, ‘She’s a clever woman.’
If she only called on others to donate without contributing anything herself, it would be too hypocritical. With her status as the most famous courtesan, Xue Susu had the means to make a substantial donation.
But donating too little wouldn’t be appropriate, while donating too much would invite criticism.
Her personal donation, worth no more than a hundred thousand taels of silver, was just right.
“Also…” The woman on stage spoke again. “I, Susu, must also thank Young Master Yan for tonight’s auction. Thanks to his generosity, a master was hired to melt the ice on the Qinhuai River, allowing the barge to sail tonight, adding to the splendor of the event.”
As soon as Xue Susu finished speaking, Fan Li heard a burst of laughter from the private room next door.
“It was a minor matter, Grand Master Xue. Please don’t mention it. For you, Grand Master Xue, I’d even stop the snow and wind, let alone melt the ice on the Qinhuai River!”
