Chapter 7: The Work of a Villain
The full moon hung in the sky like a brilliant silver plate, its bright light spilling down like silk.
Tomorrow would be the Mid Autumn Festival, so tonight the moon already looked especially round.
It was now midnight, the busiest hour for the Pleasure Pavilion.
This wasn't a place ordinary people could visit, because everything here was extremely expensive.
The biggest difference between this place and ordinary brothels was the women.
Many daughters of disgraced officials ended up here.
When officials committed crimes but their entire clans weren't executed, the women were usually sent to the Pleasure Pavilion.
Because of that, this place attracted many powerful merchants.
Compared to playing with ordinary prostitutes, being with a former noble lady obviously felt more exciting.
Even if they were daughters of disgraced officials, they were still raised in official families. Their temperament naturally differed from ordinary women.
Some were even the wives of disgraced officials, which made the place even more appealing to those with unusual tastes.
Of course the Pleasure Pavilion didn't allow just anyone to sleep with them. Without enough power and influence, visitors could only watch.
Even wealthy merchants needed strong backing if they wanted to get what they desired.
Naturally there were also ordinary women inside the Pleasure Pavilion, such as former maids from noble households.
Those couldn't be considered noble ladies.
The Pavilion rarely purchased women from outside. Most of them came directly from the imperial palace.
For the Fourth Young Master of the Prime Minister's residence, however, the Pleasure Pavilion was practically paradise. If he wanted something here, the managers rarely dared refuse him.
Even so, the original owner once failed here.
There was a woman inside the Pavilion he wanted but never managed to obtain.
As Fu Tianling stepped inside, beautiful zither music greeted him. Dancers with long flowing sleeves moved gracefully across the stage while laughter, conversation, and noise filled the hall.
"Have you heard? The Fourth Young Master from the Prime Minister's residence apparently slept with the wife of the Vice Censor and killed her afterward."
"Seriously? That's too much. Sleeping with her wasn't enough, he even killed her?"
"It's absolutely true. The news came from inside the Prime Minister's residence. My sister's brother in law's aunt's uncle works there. No mistake."
"Haha, Old Zhang, that connection chain is ridiculously long."
"I heard the Vice Censor's wife used to be a top beauty when she was young."
"She still isn't ugly now. Just more mature."
"That Fourth Young Master has never done anything decent."
"Lower your voices. If the Prime Minister's residence hears about this, you'll regret it."
"What's there to fear? The Fourth Young Master isn't going to overthrow the heavens. Everyone in the capital knows he's done countless bad things."
Fu Tianling had just stepped inside when he heard people gossiping about him.
The corner of his mouth lifted into that classic villain smile.
Meng He, the towering guard beside him, asked, "Fourth Young Master, should I teach him a lesson?"
Normally Meng He waited outside, but the crowd here was too mixed. He needed to stay close to protect the young master.
Meng He was the retainer closest to Fu Tianling within the Prime Minister's residence. Most other retainers didn't even bother with him.
Fu Tianling shook his head, the smile on his lips growing wider.
"No need. I'll handle it myself."
Dressed in a flowing white robe, Fu Tianling calmly walked forward until he stopped in front of the middle aged man who had just said he committed countless crimes.
The man was about to shout when suddenly a loud slap echoed across the hall.
The sound rang clearly through the entire room. Music stopped instantly and the hall fell silent.
The middle aged man was sent crashing to the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and one of his teeth flew out.
Fu Tianling was already a Ninth Rank. An ordinary person couldn't possibly stand against him.
Everyone's attention turned toward him.
Many people here recognized Fu Tianling since he visited the Pleasure Pavilion frequently.
"Why don't you explain exactly how many bad things this young master has done? Let everyone hear it."
Fu Tianling looked down at the man with cold amusement.
The man wasn't entirely wrong. Most of what he said was actually true.
If he hadn't drunk too much, he probably wouldn't dare speak like that in public.
The man's name was Wang Dachui, a fairly successful merchant who ran cloth businesses across the capital. He even had a bit of backing.
But compared to someone like Fu Tianling, those connections meant nothing.
Although Wang Dachui never met Fu Tianling before, hearing those words immediately made him realize who stood before him. Half his drunkenness disappeared instantly.
He covered his swollen face and forced a flattering smile.
"Fourth Young Master, I drank too much and spoke nonsense. Please forgive me. Just treat me like a fart and let me go."
If Fu Tianling acted according to his own personality, he probably wouldn't bother someone who simply spoke the truth while drunk.
But now he needed to earn Villain Value.
That meant he had to act like a villain. Otherwise his system would become completely useless.
Fu Tianling sneered, "Looking at you, you're nothing more than a small merchant. Even a filthy worm like you dares insult this young master?"
He suddenly kicked Wang Dachui again, sending him crashing into a table and smashing it apart.
He intentionally made his words extremely insulting.
After all, many merchants filled this hall. By insulting one of them like that, he was basically insulting all of them.
None of them dared speak out loud, but resentment definitely formed in their hearts.
"Filthy worm. Trash. Garbage. You think someone like you can insult me?"
Fu Tianling seemed completely unhinged as he began beating Wang Dachui viciously. Punches and kicks rained down while he hurled insults nonstop, looking exactly like a classic mad villain.
"Fourth Young Master, please stop. You'll kill me. I know I was wrong."
Wang Dachui's face swelled badly as he begged desperately. At this point he didn't care about his dignity.
Given his status, even if he died here tonight the young master would face no punishment. That thought terrified him.
After all, Fu Tianling's reputation was already rotten.
There were plenty of stories about him killing people in public.
Suddenly the system's notification sounded in Fu Tianling's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for beating Wang Dachui and committing a villainous act inside the Pleasure Pavilion, successfully stirring the emotions of those present.]
[Ding! Fear Value from Wang Dachui +300.]
[Ding! Disgust Value from Dou Lai +40.]
[Ding! Anger Value from Lu Man +50.]
[Ding! Anger Value from Feng Hongcai +60.]
[Ding! Fear Value from Yu Xiuming +40.]
[Ding! Admiration Value from Ruan Yuze +80.]
[All emotion values automatically converted into Villain Value.]
[Current Villain Value: 1550]
After hearing the system prompts, Fu Tianling finally stopped beating the man.
Looks like his idea was correct. He should farm Villain Value from these random bystanders more often.
Wang Dachui alone gave him three hundred points, which was quite generous.
Clearly the man truly believed he might die. Besides fear, disgust, and anger, someone even gave admiration points.
That surprised Fu Tianling.
Apparently being a top level playboy villain still attracted smaller villains who admired him.
He even realized that the system could distinguish enemies from allies.
Anyone who generates admiration toward him probably counts as friendly.