Chapter 96: You didn’t jump into the trap, did you?
At nightfall, the banquet began.

The colored glaze lanterns lit up, illuminating the entire long street in front of Anle Pavilion. People were surging, making a lot of noise as the lion dance jumped. The streets were packed with people, and there were crowds everywhere, so crowded that no one could recognize each other.

Under the bright lights, voices of nods were heard, all of them coming from the dignitaries in Luoyang City. The bystanders were all astonished and wondered what kind of person the owner of Anle Pavilion was.

Shangguan Yunque squeezed in the crowd, and could only hear the sounds of music, drums, and a noisy bustle on the street. There were shadows squeezing beside his ears, and even someone touched his exposed chest when he wasn't paying attention.

"Eat dog intestines! Whose baby is born without an anus..." Shangguan Yunque became anxious for a moment, but when he looked around angrily, he could only see unfamiliar faces.

No one even cared what he said.

"Why are we having a banquet for no reason?" he couldn't help but complain, while at the same time trying to follow the flow of people to squeeze into Anle Pavilion.

No one paid attention to the curse before, but someone else heard this, and someone shouted: "Without this banquet, where can you let us watch these beautiful things? Can you show them to us?!"

Shangguan Yunque looked in the direction he pointed, and saw a high platform in front of the Anle Pavilion, so high that people on half the street could see the figure on it clearly.

At this moment, there were several women in white long skirts dancing gracefully, like fairies, attracting the men around them to look up, without blinking, and even reluctant to swallow their saliva, for fear of wasting even a moment of time.

"What's so good about this?" Shangguan Yunque was pushed by the crowd and couldn't help but pinch his fingers and sneer.

The man next to him was not pushed away, but was still able to answer loudly in his ear: "I can see that you don't often go to brothels. The girls on the stage are the top prostitutes in several brothels in the south of the city. But tonight, you can't even enter the Anle Pavilion, so you can only get a dancer from the outer room. I spent a lot of money to buy her..."

After saying that, he chuckled and said, "In the past, how could soldiers like us afford to watch them dance?"

Shangguan Yunque couldn't help but sneer, "If you say so, then wouldn't Anle Pavilion be more beautiful? Why don't you go in?"

"You are the same, aren't you? Oh, if you could get in, you wouldn't be squeezing in here with me! It took half a month just to get people to promote Anle Pavilion, and until now, I'm afraid there's no place to stay inside..."

"Why can't I go in!" Shangguan Yunque became anxious for a moment, but he suddenly felt as if his butt was pinched by some grandson again. Unfortunately, there were too many pedestrians, and he didn't even have the chance to turn around to look for it.

He cursed loudly, "Fuck you, come and meet me in person and see how I play with you!"

"Don't make any noise, it's finally starting."

Along with the excited noise, several women on the high platform stepped down, and a man dressed as a turtle man came up to the stage with a gong in his hand and struck it heavily several times to quiet down all the noise.

"There are eight ladies from Group A coming on stage to perform and compete. The lady who has won the first prize is Chunxiang, the popular singer of Changyin Pavilion. She has received a total of 432 strings of reward money, standing out from Group A and qualifying for the next round. Later, the remaining seven ladies will come out to perform for you. If you admire any of them, you can also give them money. The lady who receives the highest reward money will qualify for the resurrection match!"

There was an instant uproar in the long street that looked like a square.

Four hundred and thirty-two strings of cash, that is, forty-three thousand two hundred coins, can buy more than a hundred dou of rice in Luoyang City now. Ordinary people like them often bow down for a dou of rice, but now in the hands of these powerful people, a hundred dou of rice is just a song of a singing girl...

Then, the old man knocked on the gong again and said loudly: "The number one sponsor in Group A is General Niu Cunjie's mansion General Niu Zhiye..."

Immediately, four strong men repeated it in unison.

The old man put away the gong, smiled, and bowed to the crowd below the stage, "Later, seven ladies will come out to perform. The lady who wins the resurrection competition can bring the man with the most reward money into the pavilion. The world in the pavilion is not the same as outside the street..."

She left the stage and another dancer came on to perform.

But most of the men guarding outside the street had red eyes after being stunned, and even their breathing seemed to have become more intense.

There seemed to be a fighting spirit accumulating in their hearts, a desire to win that only men could understand.

If a beautiful woman could carry it into the cabinet, she could brag about the scene for a whole year!
…………

Amid the surging crowd, a woman with an increasingly slender figure and an increasingly beautiful appearance stepped onto the stage. She first timidly announced her name, and then naturally and slowly began to dance a striptease.

In an instant, countless people had nosebleeds and handfuls of copper coins were donated.

The platform was filled with tall and strong guards to prevent any excited man from rushing up to the stage and doing anything wrong.

At the entrance of Anle Pavilion, Shangguan Yunque, who had finally squeezed through, was dumbfounded, "Oh my goodness..."

He had never seen such excitement among the crowds in his life. It seemed as if everyone was possessed by some evil magic that made people want to join in involuntarily.

The atmosphere is just like that of a casino, very intoxicating.

He came back to his senses and took out a silver ingot, "I'll give you money. You can let people in if you give them money, right?"

At the door, the guard with bulging temples looked stern and pushed his hand away.

"I will enter the cabinet tonight, by invitation only."

Shangguan Yunque didn't know how many times he had gotten angry tonight, but when he looked at the sturdy guard in front of him, he forced himself to suppress his temper. Then he rolled his eyes and raised his index finger, ready to get close to him.

"Good brother, put it down and put it in..."

The guards retreated in panic.

Shangguan Yunque's mouth curled up with joy, and he turned around and wanted to pass through the gap.

His movements were so fast that ordinary people might not even be able to see his shadow.

But in a moment, a Tang sword was in front of him. He looked up and saw a middle-aged man wearing a futou and a stern face. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Sir, do you not want to follow the rules?"

The guard behind him looked embarrassed and said, "Brother Liang, I didn't guard him well enough..."

"It doesn't matter. This guy's body movements are really amazing. I didn't pay much attention to him. If Old Duan hadn't been there, he would have almost gotten in. No one in the world can be faster than him."

Shangguan Yunque originally wanted to deceive people by being hesitant, but he was stunned when he heard the following words. He then looked up and saw a short and fat figure holding a grass stem in the corner of his mouth, smiling at him with his arms crossed, behind a group of guards.

"you……"

Liang Zhiyi, holding a Tang sword, still had a cold look on his face. He grabbed him with one hand and then carried him over.

"Duantou, we caught a sneaky guy who looks like a man and a woman. Do you want to interrogate him in person?"

Duan Chengtian bit the grass stem in his mouth, and scratched the back of his head with a silly smile, "Bring it to the back."

From beginning to end, Shangguan Yunque had a dazed look on his face. He wanted to speak several times, but was unable to speak because of the surrounding situation.

……

Tonight, in addition to heavy guards at the entrance of Anle Pavilion, there are also screens and a string of beaded curtains, and a luxurious wind blows in your face.

If the street outside is a prosperous corner of the world, then Anle Pavilion is a fairyland.

On the carpeted floor, the snow-white air kept rolling, covering the ankles, and at a glance, it seemed as if they were floating. Countless ladies were wearing colorful silks that bound their chests, showing the full beauty of their breasts. The colorful ribbons wrapped around their arms swayed slightly, adding a few wisps of air. Just walking, there was a sense of graceful beauty.

The huge lobby was packed with people, yet they were seated in an orderly manner. A faint fragrance floated in everyone's nose, which was very intoxicating.

There is a very rhythmic music in my ears, but when I look around, I can't see where the musicians are. But this music seems to be surrounding my ears. Every time the style of the music changes, it gives people the illusion of being there.

In the lobby, an exquisite round stage was quietly set up, but it was different from all the stages in the world. Every time a lady changed on it, there was a background matching her style presented by an extremely thin screen, accompanied by music, which made people feel as if they were in it.

Whether it is the Gobi Desert, the border, the south of the Yangtze River, or the bank of a river covered in heavy snow...

Every woman on stage has the ability to stir the hearts of the men present, that is, the sense of desire that makes them willing to consume.

Next to the stage, there stands a wooden monument.

There was no writing on the stele, but there were several constantly changing paper lists next to it, listing the names of the money spent by each group in the competition. Every time a wealthy man threw a thousand gold coins, there would be someone to shout loudly to make him look good.

This item alone has made all the men who claim to be nobles present excited, and they can't stop spending money, just to have their names listed on it and show their strength. At the same time, they are reluctant to see their beloved beauties crying because of being eliminated.

……

Shangguan Yunque was stunned.

He had seen many extravagant scenes in the palace, but this kind of novel way of playing and the extremely intoxicating atmosphere were the first time he had seen them.

In the venue, countless people seemed to be crazy and kept throwing money in, joining in this crazy party.

Looking up, I saw a figure standing at the highest point with his hands behind his back, looking down quietly.

It seems like a joke on the world.

"Modo, look."

Behind him, Liang Zhi, who was holding him, pushed him with a stern face.

Shangguan Yunque withdrew his gaze in surprise, as if he had guessed the identity of the person on the high place.

They took a different route and turned into the back building from an inconspicuous place. Although it was much quieter here, the women coming and going still made it lively. Everyone's eyes were sparkling and they couldn't stop smiling.

After walking through the corridor, he was brought to a secluded room.

As soon as he entered the door, Liang Zhi coughed dryly and took a step back.

"Don't blame me, Tianqiaoxing. There were so many people outside just now that I had no choice but to bring you in."

Shangguan Yunque groaned as he rubbed his painful shoulder, "Do you recognize me?"

"I didn't recognize you, but Old Duan recognized you at a glance." Liang Zhi bowed and responded.

At the door, Duan Chengtian spat out the grass stem in his mouth, leaned against the door with his arms crossed, looked Shangguan Yunque up and down, scratched the back of his head and said, "It's been many years since I last saw you, Tianqiao Xingyi is still as charming as ever."

“Oh my, Old Duan, you’ve really changed a lot!” Shangguan Yunque’s shoulder didn’t hurt anymore. He walked over with his fingers pinched, and was about to rub Duan Chengtian’s fat face in a familiar manner. “Back then, you were the youngest guard beside Emperor Xizong, and we even drank together! Now you’ve become like this. Wow, you must have suffered a lot these years, right?”

Duan Chengtian couldn't remember those years, so he sighed and extended his hand to invite him to sit down.

"When the commander-in-chief dismissed everyone, you all disappeared. Most of the gathering places of the various helms are now deserted and dilapidated. Only Anle Pavilion remains today... So it's no wonder that you were able to find me. Tell me, what's the matter?"

Shangguan Yunque did not answer first, but leaned forward with his orchid fingers pinched, and said: "As for me, I have actually lost contact with the organization in these years. Do you still remember Yang Shuzi? He built a villa and adopted two children. I am taking care of the children for him and earning some hard-earned money to live..."

"Uncle Yang?" Liang Zhi asked in surprise, "Qinglian Sword Song Tian Lixing? Is the senior who created the sword style 'Jinghong' still alive?"

"Of course he's still alive. He practices medicine every day and has two kids. He lives a very carefree life." Shangguan Yunque said with a smile.

At the table, Duan Chengtian sighed and said enviously, "Although I am not close to Tian Lixing, I am lucky to hear that my old friend is doing well after so many years."

"Who says it's not?"

Seeing that the topic had been changed, Shangguan Yunque immediately began to talk incessantly about the difficulties he had experienced over the years, but he never mentioned Marshal Yuan Tiangang and the purpose of this trip.

Finally, he raised his fingertips and sat closer to Duan Chengtian, saying, "Uncle Yang can't afford to support me, so I thought I could try my luck and find my former colleagues to help me. As expected, your Luoyang branch, Anle Pavilion, is a big family. Tsk tsk tsk, from the scene just now, it's probably not too much to make a fortune every day, right? Old brother, how about taking me in?"

Duan Chengtian listened silently, then grinned and said, "I am just a tofu delivery man. I am staying here tonight just to help watch the gate. I am afraid I cannot make the decision."

Shangguan Yunque widened his eyes, then subconsciously looked at Liang Zhi.

The latter waved his hand, still with a serious face: "I am just a guard in Anle Pavilion, I can't make this decision."

"I can be a bodyguard, but look at me. Can't I be a bodyguard with my strength?" Shangguan Yunque said with a dry cough, "At worst, I can just follow Old Duan and give him a hand."

Duan Chengtian and Liang Zhi looked at each other and then smiled bitterly.

"Tian Qiaoxing, you have been testing me for so long, if you have any needs, just speak up."

Shangguan Yunque hesitated for a moment, then stepped back and stood guard at the door so that he could slip away at any time.

He cleared his throat, and under the gaze of the two, he asked in a low voice: "You, didn't throw the beam?"

"Of course not."

Hearing the two people's affirmative answers, he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, then sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea as his lips were quite dry.

"I wasn't being unreasonable just now. I was following the Marshal's order to take that Dark Star Xiao Yan back. Who would have thought that halfway through the journey, I would hear that he had surrendered! If the news leaked out, he might have escaped first."

He took a big gulp of tea and said indistinctly, "Later, you guys are going to tie me up and take him in."

Duan Chengtian hesitated for a moment, then scratched his round head and said, "To be honest, the owner of this Anle Pavilion is Xiao Yan."

Shangguan Yunque was stunned, and the tea that he had not yet swallowed became choked in his mouth, and then he spat it out.

Behind him, Liang Zhi came quietly with a rope, and then tied him up when he was not paying attention.

"Tian Anxing said that he would go to the Marshal to explain later."

"Tian Qiaoxing, you have to bear with it for a while tonight."

(End of this chapter)