"I've set my sights on this girl. Send her to my mansion immediately."
"Sir, the women of the Heavenly Realm only perform, they don't sell themselves. Please don't make things difficult."
"What do you mean 'only perform'? As long as I don't pay after I'm done with her, it doesn't count as selling, and it doesn't break your Heavenly Realm's rules. Hahaha!"
Shen Zhao had just returned to the Heavenly Realm when he saw a group of black-robed cultivators standing in the main hall. The leader, a man in his forties, leered shamelessly at the dancers.
Hu Yushu, the proprietress, stood protectively in front of the dancers, refusing to back down.
"What's going on here?" Shen Zhao asked, scratching his nose in confusion.
A bystander nearby overheard and whispered, "Are you from out of town? It's normal you don't know. Though the Heavenly Realm is a pleasure house, its backing by the Heavenly Dynasty's elite makes most people afraid to cause trouble here. And the girls here have always only performed, never sold themselves."
"Oh? Is that so? Then why do these people dare to cause trouble?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know, but these are disciples of the Dragon Inquiry Sect. Their leader, Long Ao, has set his sights on a dancer and intends to forcibly take her away."
"Dragon Inquiry Sect? Aren't they just a third-rate, down-on-their-luck sect? How dare they act so arrogantly within the Imperial City?"
"You're out of the loop. In the past, even if you gave them a hundred chances, the Dragon Inquiry Sect wouldn't dare cause such a scene in the Imperial City. But in the last year,
their luck has turned. They've attached themselves to a powerful figure, and even the imperial family must show them a measure of deference now. They've become quite influential."
"What kind of powerful figure? So influential?"
"Naturally, the future husband of our Dragon Han Empress, Di Feijing."
Hearing this name again, Shen Zhao couldn't help but feel a pang of awkwardness. *Damn it, which bastard is using my old, discarded account to ruin my reputation?* he thought. *I'd better catch him soon. When I do, I'll make him wish he'd never been born. I'll show him what it means to suffer.*
At the same time, he suspected that this Di Feijing was either another reborn soul or had some other hidden agenda.
But the problem was, in his previous nine lives, he had never even met the Dragon Han Empress. How could he have inexplicably become her designated consort?
There must be something fishy going on here.
Just then, a passerby spoke with a sigh of regret: "Ever since Di Feijing arrived, the Imperial City has changed. The Empress, who reigned for 2,700 years without ever showing affection for any man, unexpectedly fell for this Di Feijing. Three years ago, she issued a grand proclamation offering a reward of one million high-grade spirit stones for his capture, declaring him the future consort of the Heavenly Dynasty. Yet after his arrival, Di Feijing, emboldened by the Empress's favor, ran rampant, committing acts of violence and oppression. Even when imperial censors reported his crimes to the court, the Empress turned a blind eye. Worse, she imprisoned those who impeached him, effectively silencing all opposition. Since then, no one in the Imperial City has dared to restrain him. The fallen Dragon Inquiry Sect, seeing an opportunity, latched onto Di Feijing, using his influence to wreak havoc across the land as his lackeys. Alas, it is we ordinary people, powerless and vulnerable, who suffer the most."
Hearing this, Shen Zhao immediately raised his voice: "In broad daylight, under the sun and moon, a lawless scoundrel dares to publicly abduct women? How utterly shameless! Where is the king's law? Where is the law itself?"
The surrounding guests were startled by these words and immediately turned their attention to Shen Zhao.
A passerby, terrified, held his breath and urgently advised, "Brother, are you trying to get yourself killed? How dare you speak like that? Aren't you afraid of bringing trouble upon yourself?"
Long Ao also noticed Shen Zhao and immediately pointed at him. "You were the one making all that noise earlier, weren't you? Come out here!"
Shen Zhao pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, unfurling a folding fan. "Indeed, that was I. As disciples of the Dragon Inquiry Sect, how can you act so brazenly without fear of retribution?"
"Retribution? Laughable! Who dares to punish me? The background and influence of the Dragon Inquiry Sect are beyond anything you ants could ever compare to."
"Aren't you just a spineless parasite living off a woman? What kind of background or influence do you have? As for the rest of you, you're even more pathetic, mere kneeling dogs. Only those common ants might show you some fear. In the eyes of true powerhouses, you're nothing more than buffoons."
The hall fell into stunned silence. Even Long Ao was left speechless.
"Is this man a fool? How dare he speak like that?"
"He probably doesn't know how doting the Empress is on her husband. To speak like that in public is practically suicidal."
"Alas, poor outsider. He's quite handsome, but he's spoken a taboo word. He's doomed to die today."
Long Ao's eyes turned cold. "How dare you insult the Emperor's consort so brazenly? You must be tired of living."
Shen Zhao sneered inwardly.
*As if anyone else has ever been an Emperor's consort. The difference is, mine is a pathetic one. Yu Xiyan would never let me act so recklessly; she'd rather the world didn't know I exist, lest she give them ammunition to mock me.*
"My apologies. I've calculated the omens, and I'm unlikely to die anytime soon. I'm afraid I must disappoint you all. However, you clearly didn't consult the almanac before venturing out today. A thorough beating is inevitable for at least one of you."
"You're still defiant even when death looms? I'll teach you a lesson today!"
With that, Long Ao struck out with his palm.
"Let me show you the Dragon Inquiry Sect's ultimate technique—the Thirteen Divine Dragon Palms! Azure Dragon Emerges from Its Cave... Wait, what are you doing...?"
Just as Long Ao struck a defensive stance, Shen Zhao had already darted forward, his swift footwork bringing him face-to-face with the man. The folding fan in his hand was now pressed against Long Ao's throat.
"You dare to play the dandy with such pathetic skills? Today, this young master will show you what a *true* dandy looks like."
"You wouldn't dare..."
Before Long Ao could finish his threat, a series of *smack, smack, smack* sounds echoed through the air.
Shen Zhao's fan moved like a fly swatter, striking Long Ao repeatedly until he resembled the half-orcs from *The Lord of the Rings*.
With a final, decisive move, Shen Zhao lifted his leg and sent Long Ao flying to the ground with a *thud*. Unfolding his fan again, he grinned.
"How does the Dragon-Subduing Ten Slaps compare to your Azure Dragon Emerges from Its Cave? Care to offer some feedback in front of these readers so I can improve?"
"I... *mmph... ah... ooh...*!"
Poor Long Ao, his face swollen and bruised, his mouth twisted into a grimace, couldn't even form a coherent word.
The surrounding lackeys, realizing Shen Zhao was too formidable, immediately rushed to help Long Ao to his feet and hurried him away.
As they fled, one of them shouted back, "You've got guts, brat! Just wait till my Emperor's Son-in-Law gets his revenge!"
"I'll be ready whenever you are."
Shen Zhao remained unconcerned, gently fanning himself as he watched the group retreat in disarray.
As soon as they were gone, Hu Yushu immediately bowed to him. "Thank you, young master, for helping the Heavenly Realm. But I implore you to leave Yanhuang City swiftly—the farther, the better."
Shen Zhao understood she was worried about Di Feijing's retaliation and wanted him to escape.
But he paid no heed, leaning close to whisper in her ear, "May I ask where the master of the Wind and Rain Pavilion is currently located?"
Hu Yushu startled, then her gaze sharpened. "Who are you, and how do you know of the Wind and Rain Pavilion?"
"That's not important. Please deliver this message to the pavilion master: someone is willing to pay a substantial price for the Heavenly Flame Divine Stone. If he's interested, he can meet me at the Heavenly Immortal Residence at the east street entrance."
"The master is away. He'll be back in two or three days. Would you care to leave your name?"
"Chu Liuxiang."
Shen Zhao lightly touched his nose, then left the Heavenly Realm with a smile.
Not far away, Ji Bingyan, who had been secretly observing everything, immediately followed after him.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)