Chapter 32: The First Victory

“Miss, do not be too anxious. Just last night we said there is always a solution to everything,” Liu Liwa comforted her. He hadn’t expected things to happen so suddenly, nor had he anticipated that Intoxication Pavilion would show no regard for past ties, turning hostile instantly. No wonder the saying went: courtesans are heartless. He couldn’t blame them, for they lived in an environment devoid of sentiment and loyalty.

Miss Liuyun looked at him, tears streaming down her face, her voice growing even hoarser. “I truly don’t want to entertain guests,” she choked out. “But if I don’t comply, my fate will be like Sister Caixia’s, or even worse. I don’t want that.”

Liu Liwa knew she was truly helpless. In the past, many admirers and devoted fans had frequented the establishment, but now, not kicking her while she was down was the best she could hope for. She had always carried herself with pride and purity, never cultivating ties with the powerful. Without support or influence, she was left at the mercy of the Madam’s whims.

As Miss Liuyun wept in despair, Liu Liwa felt the impulse to play the hero and rescue the beauty, yet he also felt powerless. What could he possibly change? If Miss Liuyun could still sing, if she still had her loyal supporters and generous patrons, Intoxication Pavilion would never have treated her this way. But now, with her voice hoarse and her recovery uncertain, she had lost all value except for her beauty. However… Liu Liwa suddenly paused. “Wait, Miss, who did you say you were supposed to accompany?”

“It’s that Young Master Ye from the Capital City,” Miss Liuyun said bitterly. From the moment he appeared, Young Master Ye had altered her destiny. He was truly her nemesis.

Young Master Ye again? Liu Liwa felt a flicker of confidence. Young Master Ye was a second-generation scion with influence in both official and merchant circles. He wasn’t foolish, but his thinking was far from normal. He was wildly infatuated with the daughter of Squire Zhao from neighboring Ningyuan County, who suffered from body odor. He insisted she was a Fox Spirit who had taken human form and was utterly bewitched by her—most of all by her “unique” scent.

Liu Liwa’s eyes suddenly lit up. He leaned in close, nearly pressing against Miss Liuyun’s tear-streaked face, and took a deep, somewhat lewd sniff of her fragrance.

Miss Liuyun, already as jumpy as a startled bird, was terrified of any man. Seeing Liu Liwa’s questionable action, she immediately crossed her arms over her chest and hastily retreated. Her tear-filled eyes flashed with irritation, as if to say, “All men are scoundrels.”

But this was somewhat unfair to Liu Liwa. He had his rogue tendencies, but he believed in building a relationship slowly, preferably after rescuing the damsel. Though he worked in a Pleasure House, he believed in emotional connections when it came to wooing women. Otherwise, it would be like his past life, when he’d just entered a foot massage parlor, shoes still on, and the police showed up. Thankfully, he hadn’t paid the masseuse upfront—proof that it was better for a man to find a steady partner: clean, safe, and reliable.

Liu Liwa chuckled. “Don’t misunderstand, Miss. I didn’t mean to be improper. I just thought of a way to protect your purity… Is the scent on you your natural body fragrance or from cosmetics?”

His words were forward, but his gaze was pure and his expression earnest. Miss Liuyun had reached the end of her rope. If she couldn’t trust even him, she would have to resign herself to fate. She sighed softly. “What method do you have, Young Master? What does it have to do with my scent? This is the fragrance of face powder.”

“How much of this face powder do you have left?” Liu Liwa asked urgently.

Miss Liuyun didn’t understand why he asked but answered honestly, “The Madam specially bought this from the Capital City a while ago. She said all the girls there use this powder. She gave me a lot, and just now, she specifically told me to apply more!”

“Apply it, then! The more, the better. Enough to spread the scent for miles,” Liu Liwa said excitedly, leaping up in his enthusiasm and accidentally exposing himself. Miss Liuyun froze, and Liu Liwa was equally stunned. Was today some sort of “accidental exposure” day on the calendar? It seemed like nearly every woman in Intoxication Pavilion had seen him. But what pleased him was that all the girls, newcomers and the Madam alike, had reacted with shock. It proved he was well-endowed.

Miss Liuyun was undoubtedly the calmest of them all. She said flatly, “Lie down and cover yourself with the blanket. It’s cold outside—don’t catch a chill.”

Now it was Liu Liwa’s turn to be unsettled. This girl had seen his Divine Weapon and remained unflustered. Had she reached the level of “having seen all the divine weapons in the world, thus remaining unmoved”?

Before Liu Liwa could ponder further, Miss Liuyun rose and walked unsteadily toward the door. As she left, she said, “Thank you for your guidance, Young Master. I will go apply more powder now. If I can escape this calamity, Liuyun will be eternally grateful.”

With that, she hurried out of the room. Liu Liwan noticed that her snow-white neck and delicate earlobes had flushed deep purple. Clearly, his Divine Weapon had had an effect, yet the girl pretended nothing had happened. She was indeed remarkably composed.

Liu Liwa could only wish her luck and hope his plan would work. Beyond that, there was little he could do. He burrowed back under the covers to sleep. He didn’t know how long he slept before being startled awake by the sound of shattering dishes, as if the sky were falling.

Liu Liwa quickly got up and rushed out of his small room. In the courtyard, the other young masters and misses who fetched water, chopped wood, and cleaned chamber pots had all paused their work, looking up toward the Fourth Floor. A plate flew out of a window like an unidentified object, landing on the roof and shattering to pieces. A roar followed: “This stench is unbearable! Stay away from me! Get out!”

Just then, the window of the premier room on the Fourth Floor was pushed open. A man leaned out, gasping for fresh air, his face a mask of anger and disgust. Meanwhile, inside the room, a figure in white flashed past and exited.

It worked! Liu Liwa grinned to himself. Of course—someone madly infatuated with the smell of body odor would never appreciate the scent of face powder.

Young Master Ye’s outburst sent Intoxication Pavilion into an uproar. As an employee, Liu Liwa hurried over. The other young masters and misses watched with envy; for them, simply leaving the small courtyard was a luxury.

Inside Intoxication Pavilion, girls emerged from every floor to watch the commotion. It was nearly noon; the patrons had left, and the courtesans had just risen to prepare for the day. The loud shout caught their attention, especially since it came from upstairs. It suggested a high-ranking girl had failed to please a VIP and might be demoted, offering those below a chance to rise.

Not only the girls but also Shen Zuijin and Wang Meng from the security department appeared. They watched as Miss Liuyun, dressed in pure white, seemingly flustered, exited Young Master Ye’s room. Only Liu Liwa could detect the faint trace of a smile on her face.

She hurried downstairs, and even before she drew near, a thick, cloying fragrance wafted over. Liu Liwa noticed that the other girls weren’t surprised that Miss Liuyun had personally entertained a guest. Different paths led to the same end—in a Pleasure House, serving guests was a woman’s ultimate destiny.

Shen Zuijin quickly approached and asked, “What happened? Why is Young Master Ye so furious?”

Miss Liuyun shook her head, feigning ignorance and alarm. Shen Zuijin also noticed the unusually strong scent on her, but that was hardly worth remarking on. Every girl dolled herself up, dousing herself in fragrance to attract male attention. Unfortunately, they didn’t realize that not all men favored strong perfumes.