Chapter 52: Hua Jie (Seeking to Continue Reading)

Chapter 52: Hua Jie (Seeking to Continue Reading)



The spring breeze brought a pleasant atmosphere.

Although he had been swindled by an unscrupulous Taoist priest and lost a jar of tea leaves, he had also heard a word of good fortune, which lifted his spirits.

Meng Yuan strolled leisurely towards the North City Gate.

Songhe City was divided into a wealthy south and a poorer north. Not far from the eastern docks, many laborers and miscellaneous workers resided in this area, making it a diverse neighborhood.

The northern fields outside the city walls also hosted a vegetable market, serving as a hub for both locals and travelers.

With the arrival of spring, the area bustled with life, though the refugees were nowhere to be seen.

As noon approached, many carried their loads back and forth. Some sold straw sandals, others mung beans, and some pork.

Meng Yuan didn't head straight to Auspicious Alley; instead, he wandered around to familiarize himself with the area before making his way there.

Auspicious Alley was slightly secluded, but many people still came and went.

Before Meng Yuan took a step into the alley, he noticed a middle-aged woman, around forty or fifty, leaning against the wall at the entrance, smiling at him.

The woman's face, despite being covered in white powder, couldn't hide its pockmarks. Her clothing was loose, and she had a flower pinned to her ear.

"Young man, come here, auntie wants to talk to you," the woman said with familiarity, her face beaming with enthusiasm.

"Me?" Meng Yuan was puzzled and could only point to himself.

"Who else could it be?" The woman waved him over.

Meng Yuan approached with his hand on his sword.

The woman wasn't afraid of his sword; she reached out to grab his arm and said, "Want to sleep?"

A foul-smelling fragrance wafted in the spring breeze, causing Meng Yuan to retreat two steps to avoid her.

Seeing that she still wanted to bother him, Meng Yuan drew his sword but didn't unsheathe it.

Meng Yuan already knew the woman's identity and had no intention of getting involved. He asked, "Which house is Hua Jie's?"

"She's not as experienced as me. When I started, she was still playing with mud pies!" The woman, seeing that Meng Yuan had a purpose, wasn't afraid of his sword. She grumbled and complained before saying, "The seventh house on the left is that whore's den!"

"Thank you," Meng Yuan said as he sheathed his sword and stepped into Auspicious Alley.

The noon sun shone brightly, but the narrow alley remained dim due to its crooked path. Dirty water pooled on the ground, and voices of haggling and cursing filled the air.

As Meng Yuan glanced ahead, he spotted a young man standing at the entrance of the seventh house on the left side of Auspicious Alley. The young man held a saber in his arms and had a tattoo on his neck. His gaze carried an air of arrogance, as if he considered himself the best.

This place, neglected by the government, was a haven for small gangs and factions. These groups were often connected to government officials, providing them with information and services.

The young man was likely a member of one of these small gangs, relying on the alley for his livelihood.

Such members of small gangs were typically not skilled, knowing only a few moves. They relied more on their courage and ruthlessness.

To enter the ranks of martial artists required diligent and relentless training day and night, enduring physical hardships. Those who succeeded often possessed perseverance and determination.

Those with perseverance and determination who achieved a rank were unlikely to resort to such a life.

Of course, among the higher-ups in these small gangs, there might be a few who had achieved a rank, but they would be rare.

As mentioned by Nie Yanian, those at the ninth rank might find a place in this muddy pool, but once they reached the ninth level of perfection, this pond would seem too small.

Moreover, the lower-ranking members of these gangs often lacked discernment and were prone to laziness. They were unlikely to be diligent workers but skilled at bullying the weak.

The young gang member also noticed Meng Yuan's sword and immediately assumed a defensive stance.

"What are you doing here?" The bad youth frowned at Meng Yuan's approach.

"I'm looking for Sister Hua." Meng Yuan had no intention of getting entangled with anyone.

The youth glanced at Meng Yuan, then pushed open the small door and poked his head inside. "Boss, a wealthy man has come for some fun!"

Soon, a middle-aged man emerged from the room.

The man was dressed in a scholarly manner, not appearing to have just engaged in such activities, and he exited with a hearty laugh, glancing at Meng Yuan and saying, "Please, come in."

After speaking, the middle-aged man left with the bad youth.

Meng Yuan pushed open the door to find a small, dimly lit room with a bed and a broken table in the corner.

It wasn't even March, but the room felt stuffy, filled with a decaying atmosphere.

On the bed lay a woman, her upper body leaning against the wall, her hair disheveled and her face pale, apparently ill for quite some time.

Strangely, there was also a young man beside her.

Seeing Meng Yuan with a knife and dressed neatly, the youth quickly bowed and pleaded, "Sir, my sister is sick. She really can't serve anyone. Why don't you go to another house? They're all the same in this alley."

Meng Yuan looked at Sister Hua, noticing her cracked lips and lifeless eyes, and asked, "Is Sister Hua your real sister?"

"Yes," the youth replied.

"What's wrong with your sister?" Meng Yuan inquired.

"What else could it be in this profession? It's a sexually transmitted disease, sir. I really can't serve you," the youth answered.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Sister Hua, who had been listless, suddenly became angry. She grabbed a pillow from the head of the bed and threw it at the youth, shouting, "I don't have that kind of disease! Don't ruin my reputation!"

The youth dodged repeatedly, not daring to speak.

"I didn't come here for pleasure," Meng Yuan quickly clarified, turning to Sister Hua and asking, "Sister Hua, do you remember me?"

Hearing this, Sister Hua leaned forward, waiting for Meng Yuan to take a couple of steps closer before finally realizing, "Of course I remember! I've never forgotten! I remember a fool who collected corpses! I gave him a straw mat and a pancake!"

She crawled forward on the bed, staring intently at Meng Yuan. Her pale face now had a hint of color, and she smiled, "How could someone like you still be alive?"

"I'm barely managing," Meng Yuan smiled back.

"Great! I remember saying that if you settled down, you'd come to me every month!" Sister Hua threw off the blanket. "Come on! Since you remember the gift I gave you, I, Sister Hua, won't take your money today!"

"Sister!" The youth quickly intervened. "You're so sick, just rest!"

"It's fine. This young master is obviously inexperienced. It'll be over in a few moves, and it won't interfere with anything," Sister Hua said, clearly confident in her abilities and judgment.

Meng Yuan pressed his hand to his forehead, feeling it was unnecessary. He shouldn't have said so much; he should have just given the money and left.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end