After Qin Jun left the weapon shop, he headed straight to the pleasure quarters. That familiar scent washed over him again. In his past life, he hadn’t come often—only for special needs or social calls.

Brothels here were different. The biggest difference: they operated in the open.

Qin Jun pushed the door. Inside was a different world. A rotten, decadent smell hung everywhere. In the lounge, a man and a woman were coupling in plain view.

It made the blood race. But Qin Jun looked down on that. If he hired, he wanted high-end. Women who did it anywhere usually carried a disease. In his past life, he was very wary.

He wasn’t afraid now, but he still couldn’t stand it.

In his eyes, top courtesans knew music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They could dream about life with you. He had long yearned for that.

But his status back then was what it was. That level of woman was out of reach.

As his thoughts drifted, a half-old beauty slid up and snapped him back. “Sir, here to enjoy yourself? My girls are all good girls. Tell me who you like.”

Qin Jun smiled at the dolled-up woman. He knew she was the madam, head of the brothel. Her smile was all charm. He thought, If your girls are all “good,” what about the truly good girls?

He said, “Sis, I’m here for a truly good girl. I’ve got money.”

He pulled out ten Silver Crystal Coins from his Crystal Coin card and handed them over. “A sweetener.”

“Oh my, you shouldn’t, sir. This is our job.” She said that, but her hand moved fast. The coins vanished into her sleeve.

Qin Jun chuckled. “Enough chit-chat. Do you have higher-end girls? Skilled ones? I can’t stand common powder.”

He pointed at the debauched men and women in front.

The madam smiled. “We do, but they’re pricey. I wonder if sir…”

She meant: do you have enough money.

Qin Jun waved it off. “Relax. I have money. Name the price, I’ll pay.”

Her face bloomed. “Not too expensive. Only 200 Gold Crystal Coins.”

Qin Jun nodded. “Not expensive.”

He had 110 Amethyst Coins on him. He wasn’t short on cash. He didn’t know that was already steep. A poor family might spend 1 Gold Crystal Coin a year. They lived day to day on Copper Crystal Coins.

Even if he knew, he wouldn’t care. Money, to him, just smoothed things out. If it ran out, he’d earn more.

Without another word, Qin Jun transferred the money. The madam had never seen a young man this lavish. She thought, He must be from some big clan, out to play, money no object. Serve him well, and won’t he pay more?

Which girl should she send?

Eve? No. A merchant had his eye on her. She’s a cash cow. Can’t offend that.

Right, Daini. She hadn’t taken the stage even once. Lucky you, Daini. If this lord fancies you, that’s fortune earned over lifetimes.

She saw the young man grow impatient. “Can you take me now?”

She hurried to smile. “Yes, yes. I was choosing who would accompany you. This way.”

Qin Jun followed the madam deeper into the brothel. Inside was different from the street, a hidden little world of small rooms. She led him into one. He nodded. So this was where the high-end girls lived.

The madam said with a smile, “Sir, she’s inside. Go in. Once she sees you, she’ll know what to do.”

Qin Jun walked straight in. A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl sat in a chair, long hair over her shoulders, reading. She looked quiet and gentle.

She seemed absorbed and hadn’t noticed him. Qin Jun tapped the door. The knock said he had arrived.

The girl jolted, tossing her book. Qin Jun pulled it back with a spell.

He smiled at her. “No need to be afraid. It’s your first time, isn’t it?”

From her look, he knew it might be her first client. Two hundred Gold Crystal Coins didn’t feel overpriced now. The madam had found him a virgin, beautiful, exactly his type.

The girl was so nervous she could barely speak. She seemed to recall the madam’s lessons on serving a man. She reached for Qin Jun’s clothes.

Qin Jun gently brushed aside her delicate hands. “No rush. Later.”

He sat on the girl’s bed. “What’s your name?”

He truly wasn’t in a rush now. Before he came, his heart was burning. After he arrived, he wanted to savor it. What you can’t have always stirs you.

Daini had imagined he would claim her right away. Instead, her face flushed. “Sir, my name is Daini.”

Qin Jun nodded. “Daini. Nice name. What arts can you do?”

Daini said shyly, “Many.”

A night of passion.