SWNOVELXO Chapter 149: Entering the City
Chapter 149: Entering the City
The two-masted ship docked at the harbor of Pingyang County. Xu Lian led everyone off the ship.
As they looked at the majestic city walls stretching over the land like the body of a black dragon, everyone except Xu Lian, Jiang Yunyan, and the Pei family patriarch were stunned. Their eyes widened as if they had never seen such a sight before… and in fact, they hadn’t. This was the first time they were leaving Green Bamboo Town.
Wang Cuiyun chuckled, “All the stones from the quarry in Green Bamboo Town must have been brought here to build this.”
“Actually, it’s not just Green Bamboo Town. Stones from quarries in other cities were also brought here to build the city walls and houses,” Xu Lian explained.
Xu Lian rented over a dozen carriages, and the group set off in a grand procession toward the city gates.
When they arrived at the city gates, they found a long line of people waiting. It was almost dusk, and the gates would be closing soon, so the crowd was thick.
While waiting, Xu Lian lifted the curtain of the carriage to take a look.
A sharp-eyed soldier noticed Xu Lian inside the carriage and quickly whispered something to the captain.
The captain’s expression changed. He ordered the soldiers to clear a path through the crowd, then hurried over to Xu Lian’s carriage. Bowing and scraping, he smiled obsequiously and invited Xu Lian’s convoy to enter the city first.
Wang Cuiyun was astonished. “Master Lian has already made a name for himself in the county town. Even the soldiers here respect him.”
Everyone except Jiang Yunyan was also surprised. They hadn’t expected Xu Lian to be so influential in the county town.
“Esteemed Madam, you might not know this, but Manager Xu is more than just a famous figure,” the captain said, raising his thumb flatteringly. “If he claims to be second, no one dares to call themselves first.”
Everyone’s heads were spinning. Did this mean that Xu Lian was the most important person in the county town?
“Let’s go,” Xu Lian said as he lowered the curtain of the carriage. The captain’s flattery was too blunt, which made him feel uncomfortable.
The captain stepped aside and the convoy entered the city.
Once inside, the women eagerly pulled back the curtains to see the bustling streets filled with people. They felt as if they had entered a dreamland, and only then did they remember that there were no night patrols here and that they could go out at night.
The women were both excited and afraid. This meant that they wouldn’t be confined to their rooms every day and could go out at night. However, they also felt a sense of fear as the outside world was still unfamiliar and intimidating.
Xu Lian noticed their mixed feelings. “Don’t worry. From now on, you can go out at night without fear. If anyone bullies you, just mention my name. Of course, don’t use my name to bully others.”
The women happily thanked Xu Lian.
Xu Lian had the convoy stop at a bustling section of Fourth Street, where he bought a storefront building on the spot for Lichun Brothel.
Aunt Fang’s eyes gleamed with shrewdness as she smiled. “From now on, this Lichun Brothel will be jointly owned by Manager Xu, Chuntao and me. What do you think, Manager Xu?”
Clearly, this was to have Xu Lian’s name attached as the owner. Xu Lian didn’t refuse.
“Alright.”
Chuntao looked at Xu Lian with gratitude. This man had done so much for her. “Manager Xu, I will work hard to become the top courtesan and I won’t let you down.”
It was possible that she was already the top courtesan without needing to try… Xu Lian nodded. “Mm.”
After Chuntao, Aunt Fang, and the women of Lichun Brothel settled in, the rest of the convoy left Fourth Street and headed to First Street.
When they arrived at First Street, they stopped at the entrance of the barrier.
Xu Lian led everyone out of the carriages.
The guards saluted Xu Lian with respect.
Xu Lian led them directly into First Street without checking their identities. As the manager of First Street, what was there to check?
When they arrived at the Class A residences, Xu Lian took the Pei family patriarch, matriarch, and their children to Residence No. 2, which he had allocated to Pei Zhaoxi, his fiery little pepper.
Jiang Yunyan went to Residence No. 4, which was assigned to Xiao Xixi.
Finally, Xu Lian took Wang Cuiyun, Caixia, Yu Qingning, and Miao Yueyue to Residence No. 5, the one he had reserved for himself.
With that, the move was complete and all the women were settled.
Xu Lian heaved a long sigh of relief. He was in a good mood. From now on, he could visit whoever he wanted, steadily building up their favorability through special attention.
The secret to increasing popularity was to give individual attention. Group efforts had already proven to be less effective.
At Residence No. 5, Xu Lian, Wang Cuiyun, Caixia, Yu Qingning, and Miao Yueyue had dinner together.
Afterwards, Xu Lian began his round of visits.
His first stop was Residence No. 2, the home of the Pei family. No matter how many women he had, Pei Zhaoxi held a special place in his heart, second only to Li Xiya.
At first, Xu Lian and Pei Zhaoxi had disliked each other, but once they fell in love, their feelings became intensely strong.
“Husband!”
Seeing Xu Lian’s visit, Pei Zhaoxi happily ran over to greet him. Xu Lian had allocated the residence to her first, and now, after returning from Green Bamboo Town, he had come to her first. This further solidified her position in his heart. After Li Xiya, she was the most important, and with Li Xiya not here, she was now at the top.
Xu Lian picked her up. “Did you miss me, Zhaoxi?”
Pei Zhaoxi blushed. “Yes.”
Xu Lian took her hand and led her out to explore the night market.
After returning from the night market, Xu Lian stayed at Residence No. 2.
The patriarch and matriarch of the Pei family were pleased. It was clear that Zhaoxi was deeply loved by Xu Lian, and their relationship was strong.
The next day, Xu Lian received the favorability notification he had been hoping for.
[Note: Pei Zhaoxi’s favorability toward you has increased from 91/100 to 92/100. You have gained 1 progression point, which can be allocated to Rank, skills, or items.]
He immediately allocated the point to his rank, adding the required Joint Grass to complete the advancement.
[Name: Xu Lian]
[Rank: Transformation Strength Rank, Stage 4]
[Skills: Sacred Spirit Record (Complete), Breaking Wind Sword Technique (Volumes 1-3), Seven Styles of Primal Gang (Complete), Short Fist – Shadow Pursuit]
[Items: Sword of Destruction (Not Equipped)]
Xu Lian got up and washed up.
In the dining room, he had breakfast with the Pei family patriarch, matriarch, Pei Heng, and their children.
At the Pei family estate in Green Bamboo Town, the children of concubines wouldn’t have been allowed to eat at the same table. But here, in this land where every inch was precious, such formalities were less important.
The Pei family patriarch discussed his plans for Residence No. 2 with Xu Lian. “Your mother-in-law and I will take one room, Heng and the concubines will share another, Zhaoxi and you will have one room, and the remaining rooms will be rented out for spirit stones. What do you think, son-in-law?”
Pei Heng looked grumpy. As a legitimate son, he didn’t want to share a room with the children of concubines. But considering that renting out a room could earn six or seven Spirit Stones a day, and if he took a room for himself, it would cost that much daily – over two hundred Spirit Stones a month, more than two thousand a year – he decided not to complain.
Xu Lian just smiled and said nothing. “This is already the residence of the Pei family. You don’t need to ask me how to arrange it.”
The children of the concubines kept their heads down and concentrated on their food. They were excited. The spiritual energy here was so dense. If they became cultivators in the future, they could change their status in the family and escape the fate of being concubine children.
After breakfast, Xu Lian left Residence No. 2 and went to the government office.
The White Fox Town Guard Commander had tasked him with overseeing the execution of the remaining troublemakers from various factions and demonic creatures to establish his authority in managing First Street. While Xu Lian didn’t want to draw attention to himself, once you were in such a position, you had to take on the responsibilities. He couldn’t hide behind the White Fox Town Guard Commander forever.