"Listen here, get me the best private room in Jiyue Tower once we’re inside, have a full spread of the finest food and wine prepared, and then call for—no, call for ten of the most expensive courtesans."
Meanwhile, Han Mo had just arrived outside Jiyue Tower. He was preparing to instruct his servant to find the madam and place an order, specifically for ten top-tier entertainers—ahem, for the lead courtesans. He had to put on a convincing show; only then could he ensure that the head of the Han Family wouldn't suspect he hadn't actually spent all his money.
Just then, a shrill, thin voice sounded from beside him.
"Oh, if it isn't Brother Han? I was wondering who was throwing money around so generously!"
Han Mo turned to see a man who looked to be in his twenties, thin and gaunt. The man’s features were quite refined, and his attire was elaborate—the very image of a dashing young playboy. However, his hairline was receding, his eyes were circled with dark shadows, and his skin lacked any luster. He looked completely drained of energy, as if, well, as if his kidneys had been hollowed out.
Such distinctive physical traits made Han Mo’s heart skip a beat; he instantly recalled who this was: Guo Mingyuan, the son of the Chief Registrar at the Yifeng City magistrate's office.
Although Yifeng City was the fiefdom of Marquis Yifeng, Han Lin, ever since the new Emperor of the Dazhou Immortal Dynasty ascended the throne and implemented policies to weaken the power of the feudal lords, the central government had been dispatching officials to the provinces to consolidate local authority. Thus, a city lord—Yan Sihai, a cultivator at the Late Golden Core stage—was "parachuted" into Yifeng City.
On the surface, these imperial officials were there to assist the Marquis in managing the fiefdom, but in reality, they were there to monitor and act as a counterweight to all the local power brokers. Fearing the might of the Immortal Dynasty, the local factions mostly swallowed their anger in silence. This was the most direct reason Han Mo’s father had instructed him to act the part of a profligate.
The original masters of Yifeng City, the Guo family—loyal to the faction of Marquis Yifeng—had been demoted to the role of the city’s Chief Registrar. This was, in effect, a counter-measure by Han Feiyu. After all, if the Dynasty could plant a chess piece in the Han Family’s backyard, the Han Family could certainly plant one right next to theirs. It was a game of nesting dolls.
The Guo family was closely tied to the Marquis, and naturally, the two families had been on good terms for generations. In the original game, this young master Guo Mingyuan was, much like Han Mo, a spendthrift who indulged in every vice imaginable. The two had known each other since childhood, and Guo could be considered one of Han Mo’s closest "bad influences" and sidekicks, having spent many nights carousing together.
"Brother Han, it’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well."
While Han Mo was recalling these details, the man had already closed the distance and cupped his hands in a polite salute.
"So it is Brother Mingyuan." Han Mo returned the gesture, though he quietly took half a step back.
He backed away because, according to the game’s setting, Guo Mingyuan was a true, degenerate playboy. Not only was he addicted to every vice, but he was also a magnet for trouble. Whenever he went out with Han Mo to—ahem—"enjoy the nightlife," he would constantly pick fights with other rich heirs and provoke people for no reason.
To make matters worse, his talent was pitifully low—a Four-Spiritual Root aptitude. Forget the Golden Core stage; it was unlikely he’d even manage to reach Foundation Establishment in this lifetime. Because of this, whenever he stirred up trouble he couldn't handle, it was almost always Han Mo who had to step in to clean up the mess.
It’s no exaggeration to say that half of Han Mo’s notorious reputation in Yifeng City was his own doing, and the other half was entirely thanks to Guo Mingyuan. For a Han Mo who was currently walking on eggshells, terrified of triggering a "death ending," this guy was a ticking time bomb. Who knew when he would explode? It was better to keep his distance.
Just as Han Mo was thinking this and planning to offer a polite excuse to leave, the other man suddenly stepped forward, threw an arm around his shoulder, and said enthusiastically:
"Hey, Brother Han! We haven't seen each other in ages, why so formal with the 'Brother Mingyuan' stuff? We're brothers, aren't we? No need for such courtesy. I’ve already booked a private room. Come on, let’s go have a drink together!"
With that, he dragged Han Mo toward the entrance of Jiyue Tower.
"Wait... I actually have things to do..."
Han Mo naturally wanted to refuse, but despite the guy’s mediocre Four-Spiritual Root cultivation, he possessed surprising physical strength. Once hooked, it was difficult to break free.
"Brother Han, weren't you here to drink and be merry? What else could you possibly have to do? We haven't seen each other in half a month; let’s have a great time today!"
"It's not that..."
"Brother Han, did you know? A new batch of 'tea' just arrived at Jiyue Tower. Some are pure and innocent, others are mature and seductive; they have it all. The quality is beyond compare. You absolutely must sample them today."
"Wait..."
"Brother Han, what are you waiting for? Opportunity knocks but once. I know you always claim to 'pass through the flowers without a single petal sticking,' that you only play with these women and don't actually care for them. But this batch is different. Word is they are talented songstresses and scholars from the Imperial Capital. Many come to Tianhai Prefecture hoping to find a place to settle down, looking for a scion from a major family to redeem them from their contracts. Let’s go have a look, shall we? If you find one you like, you can buy her—ahem, help one of these beauties escape her sea of misery. They are beauties from the Imperial Capital; even if you take one home as a concubine, it wouldn't be a loss."
Guo Mingyuan interrupted Han Mo repeatedly, not even waiting for an answer before dragging him inside to see these "teas" from the capital. This was the trouble with people who were overly familiar, and yet Han Mo couldn't easily turn hostile. After all, the guy was the heir to a family allied with his father’s faction. If he wanted to rely on the Han Family to grow stronger in the future, he couldn't afford to disrespect Han Feiyu’s allies. Han Mo decided to endure it for now.
However, thanks to Guo Mingyuan, he had learned an important piece of information: these songstresses and scholars wanted to be redeemed.
Generally speaking, these women in the brothels couldn't ply their trade forever. Sooner or later, they would grow old and lose their allure. For women who had spent years in the red-light districts, there were only two outcomes if they wanted a stable life: either save enough money to redeem themselves and marry an honest man, or find a wealthy scion willing to pay for their redemption and take them as a concubine, regardless of their past.
Few could ever save enough on their own. Most hoped for a wealthy benefactor, and to secure a better future, they were often willing to marry into families in remote regions like Tianhai Prefecture rather than compete with the established concubines of the Imperial Capital’s elite. In the eyes of these remote families, their identity as songstresses from the Capital was a status symbol.
For Han Mo, this was an opportunity.
He had been fretting over how to complete the mission set by his "father" Han Feiyu—how to play the role of a profligate who spent money like water and was obsessed with women, all without compromising his own conscience. And now, these courtesans from the Capital had arrived!
Han Mo realized that rather than spending money to—ahem—call for courtesans just to sit around and drink, he could spend that money on something meaningful, like redeeming these women. Once the initial rumors died down, he could simply grant them their freedom. Spending money to save someone was far more valuable than wasting it pointlessly.
Plus, by redeeming these women, his image as a debauched, womanizing spendthrift would be firmly cemented in everyone's minds. It was killing two birds with one stone.
When it came down to it, he had been a decent young man in his previous life; what bad intentions could he possibly have? He was just trying to give these poor, lost souls a home.