Taiping Inn

The rope used by the palace officials to tie Shangguan Wan was called "Binding Immortal Rope". As the name suggests, it is a treasure that can tie people up by itself. Although it cannot really tie up earth immortals as its name suggests, it should not be underestimated. Not only is the material very tough, but it can also be large or small, long or short, tight or loose. It is impossible to get rid of the rope by means of shrinking bones or forcibly stretching the rope by brute force.

To untie the "Binding Immortal Rope", it is actually the same as unlocking a lock. You need to know the formula to untie the rope. As long as you recite the formula, the rope will untie itself, or if your cultivation is too high, you can forcibly destroy the rope. But at this time, Shangguan Wan was restrained by Li Xuandu with "Xiaoyao Liuxu Jie" and "Sanfen Juejian", and she could not call on the Qi. She was not a human immortal, so she could not break free from the "Binding Immortal Rope" with her physical strength alone.

The palace official used the "Binding Immortal Rope" to tie Shangguan Wan's hands behind her back and tied her feet tightly, making her unable to move. Then she covered her with a cloak so that others could not see anything unusual. As for how Shangguan Wan moved, it was simple. Although the palace official looked like a weak woman, it was not difficult for her to have a thousand pounds of strength with the help of the Qi. She could lift Shangguan Wan up with just one hand and lift her feet off the ground. At first glance, it seemed that the palace official was holding Shangguan Wan, but in fact, the palace official was holding Shangguan Wan forward.

After the palace official dressed Shangguan Wan up, he looked up at the sky and saw a plate of ice gradually moving to the middle of the sky. The moonlight fell on the Peacock River under his feet, sparkling, and the water light flooded the bridge, reflecting the people on the bridge, flickering with the rippling water.

The palace official smiled and said, "The Peacock Bridge we are on is located between East City and West City. It belongs to neither East City nor West City. Zifu thinks we should go to East City? Or West City?"

Li Xuandu asked back, "If it's just to hide, is East City better? Or West City?"

The palace official answered without thinking, "East City is full of people of all kinds, like a quagmire, while West City is too clean, as clear as water, and you can see the bottom at a glance. Zifu thinks it is easier to hide in a quagmire or a clear water pond?"

Li Xuandu said, "Then go to East City."

The two walked towards East City. When they passed the bridgehead, no one came out to question them. There was a faint snoring sound coming from inside, and they were sleeping soundly.

There is still a distance from the Peacock Bridge to the downtown area of ​​East City. There are mostly simple inns here, rented to foreign guests who want to enter West City but have not yet found a way. Most of these people are either rich or noble, so it is relatively quiet here.

Gong Guan and Shangguan Wan walked side by side, like a pair of very close sisters. Gong Guan asked curiously: "Sister Shangguan, how did you find the trace of Zifu?"

Shangguan Wan felt that the Lushan claws on her waist were ready to move. Although she was unwilling, she had no choice but to say: "Li Shixing did not recognize Mr. Qingping, but I knew Mr. Qingping's methods. After I learned from Li Shixing what happened outside the city, I guessed that Mr. Qingping had followed Xiao Han and others into Loulan City, so I sent people to keep an eye on the Xiao family. I could know the slightest movement at the first time."

The palace official nodded, and it was hard to tell whether it was praise or sarcasm, "Sister Shangguan is as meticulous as a hair, and she can see the big picture from the small details, but she is a little reckless, so she became a prisoner."

Shangguan Wan knew that she was not reckless, but she had an obsession. She regarded the last time she was captured as a great shame, and she was always thinking about revenge, so she tried every means to attack Li Xuandu, and the result was a greater shame.

Not long after, the noise of East City came with the night wind. This is also a wonder of Loulan City. The East City, which is full of people, seems to have unlimited energy. It is always full of energy no matter day or night.

Li Xuandu asked: "Official, where in East City is convenient for hiding?"

The palace official seemed to have expected Li Xuandu to ask such a question, and replied: "Of course it is a brothel. Although the brothels here are not as good as those in the Central Plains, they are better in number, with people coming and going, and all kinds of people."

Li Xuandu asked again: Based on your understanding, which one is more suitable? "

"Why, does Zifu want to try a new taste?" The palace official chuckled, "I heard that those Hu Ji are very different from the Central Plains women, whether in appearance or..."

Li Xuandu has gradually become accustomed to the palace official's jokes full of bad taste, and said calmly: "I am asking which brothel is more suitable for hiding. "

The palace official thought for a moment and said, "The most conspicuous place is also the easiest to be overlooked. This is the principle of 'darkness under the lamp', so I think we can go to the best brothel in East City and find the best woman."

Li Xuandu once wondered if the palace official liked women, but he quickly dismissed this idea because he found a hint of cunning in the palace official's eyes, so he changed his mind and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. ”

Except for the "Tianle Taoyuan", the brothels in the Central Plains can be roughly divided into three categories. The top brothels cover a large area, with a different world inside and winding paths leading to secluded places. Most of the women are beautiful and proficient in literature and music. In addition to a group of prostitutes, there are also countless musicians, tailors, craftsmen, and servants, so that people can stay in the house without leaving, but have everything they need. The brothels are divided into countless independent courtyards. Many powerful people will gather a prostitute here and rent an independent courtyard to find peace in the bustling city, retreat from the world and cultivate themselves. They can be said to be famous and romantic.

However, there are no such brothels in Loulan City. There are only third- and second-class brothels in Loulan City. Needless to say, the third-class ones basically do that kind of thing when they open the door, and there is no elegance at all.

As for the second class, compared with the top brothels, they are not much different in elegance, and even better, but they are not as large in scale. Most of them are private houses or pleasure boats. Many famous prostitutes do not want to be controlled by the madam, so they set up their own houses. In Loulan City, this is the top brothel.

In East City, the top brothel is actually a private house, which only receives one guest at a time, and the price is very high. Even if you pay, you may not be allowed to stay overnight. Such places are not uncommon in Jiangnan and other places, but they are very rare in Loulan City, which is far away from the glamorous world of the Central Plains. Many powerful people in West City prefer to patronize this place in order to highlight their differences from the "lowly people", to show that they are not impatient, have self-cultivation, and have grace. As a result, this place has become the top brothel in the entire East City.

If you want to go to such a place, you must make an appointment several days in advance, and you must prepare a lot of silver money. It can't be regarded as prostitution money, but as a reward for maids and servants. Those who can come here are either rich or noble decent people. Of course, no one can lack this silver money. What they want is face.

The palace official was in Xijing City not long ago. Of course, she would not make an appointment here in advance, but she was not a person who followed the rules. She spent three hundred Taiping money and opened the way.

Three hundred Taiping money, nearly ten thousand taels of silver, is not a small amount no matter where it is placed. Li Xuandu's current net worth is only ten thousand Taiping money. The real rich people are Mrs. Lu and Miss Qin, but it is not his money that has to do with him. However, this time it was the palace official who paid, and Li Xuandu didn't say much. If Li Xuandu was asked to pay the three hundred Taiping money, he would rather find a worse place. It's not that Li Xuandu is stingy, but he simply feels that it is not worth it.

It is said that the King of Hell is easy to meet but the little devils are hard to deal with. It is also said that money can make the devils work. With the money to pave the way, the palace official has the qualification to see the most beautiful woman in Loulan City. However, he has to wait for a while in the front yard because the beauty has not yet gotten up. After all, money can make the devil work, but the King of Hell wants to save face. You have to know that the most beautiful woman in Loulan City is qualified to choose her guests. If she doesn't like someone, she will not stay overnight no matter how much money is offered.

The palace official asked Shangguan Wan and Li Xuan to sit on the chairs. She stood beside Shangguan Wan, lowering her eyebrows and eyes. At first glance, she thought the palace official was a maid. Li Xuandu asked, "What's the name of this most beautiful woman in Loulan City? She's quite elegant and well-mannered."

The palace official said, "I heard that her father is from the Central Plains and her mother is a Hu girl. She never saw her father since she was born and was raised by her mother. She took a Hu name. Later, she became famous in Loulan City and took a Central Plains name, called 'Yan Ruyu', which is the 'Yan Ruyu' in 'The Book Has Its Own Golden House'."

Li Xuandu rarely joked, "My name is Li Xuandu, which is the 'Xuandu' in 'The White Jade Capital in the Sky'."

The palace official smiled politely and took out a box from his Xumi treasure.

Li Xuandu asked, "What is this?"

"A gift." The palace official replied, "Zifu really rarely comes to such a place. There is a saying that 'even if you become a whore, you still want to build a memorial archway'. People who come here are for the word 'whore', but they have to act like 'a gentleman loves a beautiful lady'. They have to give a gift, drink tea, play chess, listen to music, and even appreciate it or sing poems. Blind dates are not as tiring as this."

Li Xuandu said in surprise, "From what you said, you are a frequent visitor?"

Shangguan Wan also looked at the palace official with a surprised face. It was clear that you were so skilled, but you turned out to be a habitual offender?

Under the strange gazes of the two, if it was Qin Su, she would have already fled. Even the palace official felt a little uncomfortable and explained: "Why are you two looking at me like this? Haven't you eaten pork, but you haven't seen pigs run? I am from the Female Sect. It is reasonable for me to be familiar with these things through osmosis, right?"

Li Xuandu took a sip of tea, "I am from the Qingwei Sect, but I can't sail or forge swords. Miss Shangguan is from the Yinyang Sect, and she probably can't tell fortunes."

The palace official said: "Then do you understand the principles of sword forging?"

Li Xuandu was really stunned by her question. He was silent for a moment and said: "It is indeed reasonable."

The palace official opened the box and saw a huge night-shining pearl inside, shining brightly.

Li Xuan couldn't help but say, "Isn't this too extravagant?"

The palace official said, "As long as the Purple Mansion is successful and the Yin Yang Sect's good deeds are ruined, this Loulan City will sooner or later belong to our Wu Dao Sect. By then, let alone a mere night pearl, we will have hundreds or thousands of them."