My Twin Sugar Mommies and Two Systems are 100 Years Late! Chapter 20.
The first thing anyone would notice upon arriving on the third floor of the Bliss Sanctuary was its size. It appeared to be a little over twice as large as the first and second floors. Comparing the dimensions to what one could see from outside the building, the lower floors seemed reasonable; it was the third floor that was strange.
Both Dou E and her Young Master came to the same conclusion: 'A spatial array!'
From this alone, the difference in status between those on this floor and the ones below was obvious. Unlike the lower levels, there weren't many customers here, making it much quieter. At a glance, Yan Anle counted only thirteen seated patrons, each accompanied by a single beauty. To the uninitiated, it looked more like a couples' event than a brothel.
On the stage, two beauties were performing. One plucked the strings of a guqin with great intensity, producing music fit for a battlefield, while the other performed a unique dance with a paintbrush in her right hand. At first, the sight of a dancer holding a brush before a canvas seemed bizarre, but she pulled it off flawlessly. As her dance progressed, those seemingly random brush strokes slowly brought a masterpiece into existence.
Yan Anle and Dou E stood entranced. They could not help but think, 'So that's how it is. To hold the rank of a Two-Crowned Courtesan, one's skills must be extraordinary!'
The performance concluded a few minutes later, and the guests erupted into applause, showering the performers with praise.
"Miss Lin's 'Exquisite Ink Dance' remains thrilling no matter how many times I see it! That mountain looks so lifelike, and the waterfall gives the illusion of fish falling with the current!"
"Indeed! Miss Lin is quite the talent! Ah, whoever manages to take her home as a concubine must have green smoke rising from their ancestors' graves!"
"Are you lot only acknowledging Miss Lin? What about Miss Xu? I haven't heard that song before; it must be a new masterpiece! It stirred my Qi and agitated my battle intent!"
"Brother Shuo speaks the truth! Miss Lin is amazing, but Miss Xu is no slouch either! Her attainments in the Music Dao continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Coming here today was well worth the time!"
Meanwhile, Yan Anle and Dou E settled at a table. Soon, a young woman in a revealing black dress approached them with a smile. She looked to be sixteen or seventeen, but Yan Anle knew better than to believe her appearance. A sixteen-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivator would be a "monster" that major sects would fight over with every treasure in their vaults. Such a genius wouldn't be working here.
"Dear guests, welcome," she began. "May I know what service you require?"
Yan Anle shook off his wandering thoughts. "Hello there, Miss."
"Fu Tan," the young-looking Two-Crowned Courtesan stated.
"Miss Fu," Yan Anle nodded. "This may be a bit direct, but I was wondering: what would it take to redeem a beauty from this floor?" He hadn't come to the Bliss Sanctuary to indulge himself, so why beat around the bush?
"Dear guest, you…" Fu Tan's smile froze, stunned.
"What's wrong?" Yan Anle asked. "Is it impossible?"
Suddenly, the entire room fell silent. Yan Anle realized everyone was staring at his table. The guest who had praised Miss Xu was the first to break the silence. "Say, Brother Wen, I didn't hear wrongly, did I? Someone wants to redeem a beauty from the third floor?"
The man named Wen caressed his thick mustache. "No Spiritual Qi fluctuations... a mortal? But he's accompanied by a Foundation Establishment lady. Could he be a Core Formation big shot using an artifact to hide his cultivation?"
Another added, "Does it matter? Either way, he must have deep pockets! I wonder which beauty caught his eye. It couldn't be Miss Lin or Miss Xu, right?"
The first speaker smacked his lips. "Bah! It definitely can't be my Xu Qing! She won't be reduced to a plaything for a wrinkled old man."
"Hey, Brother Xiao, words are like spilled water. What if he's actually a Core Formation senior? How many heads do you have to lose?"
The hardcore fan of Xu Qing argued, "Humph! If he were truly a Core Formation expert, why go through this trouble? He would have gone straight to the Matron!"
Someone advised, "Still, it's better to be cautious. You never know when you'll encounter an eccentric senior. You don't want to end up like Ji Shentu, do you?"
"Don't curse me! How could I be so unlucky? You are Ji Shentu! Your whole family is Ji Shentu!"
'Ji Shentu? Who's that?' The thought flickered through Yan Anle's mind before he focused back on Fu Tan.
Fu Tan regained her composure. "Dear guest, it's not that your request is impossible. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"To redeem One-Crowned or Uncrowned beauties, you only need to pay the corresponding Spirit Stones," she explained. "However, the rules change for Two-Crowned beauties. For starters, the price is several times higher. More importantly, the beauty in question must actually agree to be redeemed."
Yan Anle's eyes widened. "There is such a rule?"
Fu Tan exhaled. "Dear guest, I see you are new here and haven't built rapport with any of the sisters. I'm afraid redeeming one of us would be... extremely difficult, if not impossible."
Yan Anle's mood soured. He was being impatient, but given his age, he couldn't afford to wait years building a reputation. 'She said those limits only apply to Two-Crowned and above. If I settle for a One-Crowned... it shouldn't be too bad. I can find a replacement once I have more influence.'
Yan Anle rose and reached into a small pouch at his waist, pulling a Spirit Stone from his inventory. He offered it to Fu Tan. "Miss Fu, thank you for your time."
"This…" Fu Tan was about to decline, but her eyes sparkled a heartbeat later. "A mid-grade Spirit Stone? You are quite generous, dear guest!"
"It's just a greeting gift," Yan Anle said carefree, turning to Dou E. "Let's head down."
The onlookers were stunned. 'As suspected, deep pockets!'
Yan Anle winced internally. 'The system only gave me thirty! Now I'm down to twenty-nine. The things we do for "face"...'
Fu Tan escorted them to the stairs. Just before parting, she probed, "By the way, dear guest, I didn't catch your names."
"Mr. Yan, Miss Dou."
"Mr. Yan and Miss Dou! I'll remember!" the courtesan promised. "Next time you come, you can request me by name."
The duo returned to the second floor, immediately catching the eyes of the One-Crowned Courtesans. Three beauties approached him, but Yan Anle turned them down and sought out Pan Ting. There were over thirty One-Crowned beauties on this floor, and during the day, there weren't enough customers to go around.
When Pan Ting saw him, she met him halfway. "Ah, Mr. Yan, back so soon?"
"Mm," the transmigrator nodded. "Actually, Miss Pan, let me be blunt. I came here today to redeem someone with the skills to host events. I wanted a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but I hit a roadblock upstairs."
"You wanted to redeem one of us?" Pan Ting was surprised, her eyes brightening. "May I ask what kind of events you have in mind?"
Yan Anle cleared his throat, not yet ready to mention the Auction House. "I can't disclose the details yet. As long as they have general hosting skills and experience, they can learn the rest on the job. Do you know a sister who would suit my needs?"
"Mr. Yan, perhaps this is fate," Pan Ting smiled sheepishly. "I actually have experience hosting events. I was asking to see if I was a good fit. I shamelessly recommend myself."
"Oh?" Yan Anle's brow rose. "What kind of experience?"
Pan Ting explained that she had skill with the flute and had hosted several tea parties. She shared her tragic history: she was once a young miss of a wealthy family until evil cultivators slaughtered them. She survived only because she had sneaked out to meet a secret lover.
"I returned to the scent of blood," she said, her voice heavy. "After that, I fell into depression and was 'comforted' by a bastard named Luo Changsheng. He took my first time, treated me well for a few weeks, and then abandoned me to marry someone else. Later, he refused to even take me as a concubine, denying ever knowing me. Betrayed and poor, I sold myself into slavery just to survive. The trader saw my Spirit Roots and sold me here for a single Spirit Stone."
Yan Anle and Dou E were silent for a moment. "Miss Pan has endured a lot," Yan Anle finally said.
"That was long ago," she replied, though she couldn't hide the lingering weight of it.
"Alright. How do I go about redeeming you?"
Pan Ting's mood lifted. "Follow me to the floor manager."
The process was straightforward. Yan Anle negotiated the price down from 120 low-grade Spirit Stones to 95. 'Bought for one, sold for ninety-five,' he thought, though he acknowledged the establishment's investment in her cultivation and training.
The manager destroyed Pan Ting's old contract and prepared a new one. "Sir, just drop your blood on this to forge the bond."
Yan Anle shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I trust Miss Pan won't repay kindness with enmity."
The manager was stunned. "Are you sure, sir?"
Dou E whispered worriedly, "Young Master, her cultivation is the same as mine. If push comes to shove, I might not be able to guarantee your safety."
"Mr. Yan, it's better for everyone's peace of mind if we sign it," Pan Ting interrupted, biting her finger and pressing it to the contract before he could argue.