Chapter 20: Chain Reaction

Liu Liwa spoke with great excitement as he told the first part of Lanlan’s story, titled “The Natural Born Enchantress.” Before long, everyone on the stage was deeply captivated, immersing themselves in Lanlan’s delightful tale. The audience was full of experienced men and well-practiced women. Only they could truly grasp the essence of the story.

The story also described many methods they had never heard of, so-called tried-and-true techniques, along with various intriguing “tools and props” that filled them with longing. When the story described Lanlan taking on dozens of men single-handedly, the women in the audience were in awe, regarding her as something almost divine.

Liu Liwa spoke animatedly. After all, this was a pleasure house—a place free from traditional morality, shame, or censorship. He held nothing back, describing everything in the most vivid and detailed way. His audience was utterly entranced. Through his storytelling, Liu Liwa wanted to convey one thing: if you didn’t know Xiaolanlan, then all your visits to pleasure houses were in vain!

The story lasted a full half-hour. Without checking if there were lipstick marks on the teacup, Liu Liwa drank it all. A woman who had been playing musical accompaniment kept refilling his cup, her face flushed crimson. Liu Liwa felt a little disappointed—merely telling the story wasn’t the best way to present it. If only it were accompanied by their instruments, with music flowing like a clear stream during the buildup and pounding like a storm during the climax, the effect would have been even greater…

“Lanlan felt as though she were a small boat in the ocean, wrapped in towering waves,” Liu Liwa said with passion, as if he were in the scene himself. “Even if she were to perish in the raging sea, it would be worth it. She simply couldn’t bear to let go of this feeling, afraid she might never experience it again. And so, in boundless pleasure, she gasped, savored the moment, and yearned for more…” Suddenly, he tapped the cup beside him and announced, “Well, that concludes the first part of Lanlan’s story, ‘The Natural Born Enchantress.’ We’ll continue next time!”

Although Liu Liwa had said his farewells, the room fell into silence. Everyone remained lost in Lanlan’s story, reliving the experience alongside her.

After a long while, someone finally snapped back to reality and shouted, “What? It’s over already? Tell us more! I’ll pay you!”

With that, the man tossed a silver tael into the tray held by a nearby attendant. The attendant, also mesmerized by the story, had forgotten to collect any money.

With someone taking the lead, others quickly followed, using silver to express their love for this new form of entertainment. It was direct, sparked the imagination, and felt grounded in reality. As soon as it was introduced, it was met with widespread acclaim and a strong response.

Among the crowd, there were a few who genuinely enjoyed listening to songs. But what was the difference between listening to tunes in a pleasure house and paying for a hostess’s company in a bathhouse in later times? Still, there were no other forms of entertainment here, and Miss Liuyun’s reputation had elevated her to a certain status. Some believed that only by listening to Liuyun sing could they display their prestige and save face. Over time, people had lost sight of the real purpose, treating song-listening as the main event while neglecting true pleasures. But Liu Liwa’s timely storytelling reminded the men of the joys of the pleasure house and inspired the women to strive for excellence, encouraging them to become new-era women like Lanlan!

Liu Liwa’s story was like a shot of adrenaline in this era of scarce entertainment. It offered a new pastime for those with money to burn and reawakened what they truly desired. Silver taels rained down like snowflakes. Fortunately, no one threw them onto the stage, or else Liu Liwa might have become the first time-traveler in history to be killed by flying silver.

Shen Zuijin and Wang Meng stared at the scene in disbelief. Yang Xiaosi’s voice even trembled as he announced the rewards for Liu Liwa. Liu Liwa stood up and caught the eye of Miss Liuyun. This fairy-like woman was looking at him too. She knew that Liu Liwa had saved her completely; she would no longer have to bear the pressure alone, isolated in the clouds.

Liu Liwa gave her a faint smile, then stepped down from the stage and walked among the crowd. He cupped his hands in salute, personally thanking everyone for their generous support. Suddenly, a figure rushed out from the crowd. The suddenness of it stunned everyone, and Liu Liwa was especially shocked. The person dashed over, grabbed his hand, and asked eagerly, “What will the next episode be about?”

Liu Liwa paused, then recognized the man as Young Master Ye, who had earlier threatened to leave. Such playboys, with their “extensive experience,” often found life dull. Naturally, they were utterly captivated by Liu Liwa’s story and couldn’t wait to hear what came next.

Liu Liwa smiled slightly and said, “The next episode will tell the story of Lanlan’s growth in ‘Queen and Slave.’ More excitement awaits. Please support the authentic version.”

No one cared about “authentic” or “pirated.” Just hearing the title “Queen and Slave” was enough to captivate them. Eagerly, they asked when the next episode would be told, and some even offered money to hear it right away.

Liu Liwa knew it was best to leave them wanting more—just as writers knew to plant “hooks” in their stories. He wouldn’t reveal everything at once and risk losing their interest. Besides, he had rushed onto the stage unprepared this time. He needed time to organize his thoughts, draft an outline, and perhaps even find a woman to “practice” with, so the next episode could be even more thrilling.

Surrounded by enthusiastic fans, he repeatedly cupped his hands and said, “Everyone, please calm down. It’s not that I don’t want to continue the story, but if I tell it all at once, you’ll only enjoy it this one time. Waiting for an update may be tough, but having new content and fresh enjoyment each time is much better, isn’t it? Also, I hope you won’t just listen to this story and forget it. Try to carefully grasp the ‘principles’ within and, better yet, apply them in practice…”

As soon as he finished, his male listeners instantly understood his meaning. They thought about the poses Lanlan demonstrated in the story—“Yellow Dog Relieving Itself,” “Spirit Monkey Embracing the Tree,” as well as the mesmerizing “Ice and Fire” and “Deep Throat.” All of these were worth savoring and trying out for themselves!

And right beside them were convenient conditions. Why wait around just to hear the story? Why not become the protagonist of the story themselves?

The first to react was Lord Zeng. Being older, he felt he had wasted all these years after hearing the story. While he still had the energy, he decided to make up for lost time—for himself and for his “little brother.” Before Liu Liwa had even finished speaking, Lord Zeng took a familiar, long-time female friend by the hand and headed into a room.

As soon as Lord Zeng left, Brother Chun followed suit. Soon, others joined in, disappearing into rooms amid the women’s cheerful laughter. In the end, only the butcher and his companion—who seemed to be a roast meat vendor—remained. They had been so excited earlier that they had given too much in rewards and now didn’t have enough silver. So they discussed with one of the women whether they could pool their money for a threesome. The woman, who had already taken Lanlan as her idol, was eager to experience the “hardships” of her role model. Without hesitation, she nodded in agreement…

For a time, the Intoxication Pavilion was more bustling than ever. Even the women who had clung to their last shreds of dignity and refused to fawn over clients were pulled away by someone. In a way, Liu Liwa had adjusted the industry structure and boosted domestic demand!

Shen Zuijin and Wang Meng exchanged glances, each seeing a flicker of flame in the other’s eyes. Meanwhile, in the farthest room on the top floor, a door was cracked open slightly. A pair of beautiful eyes quietly watched Liu Liwa, their meaning unclear.