Hearing Ji Ruobing’s words, Xu Zimo’s expression changed, as if he had realized something.
“We’ve been tricked,” he said to Ji Ruobing.
Seeing that Ji Ruobing still looked confused, Xu Zimo didn’t bother to explain here.
“Kill!” the green monster roared, leading the other creatures as they charged at Xu Zimo.
“If you want to worship the Mountain God, then continue, why so violent?” Xu Zimo threw a punch as he spoke.
“You deserve to die! Worship cannot be taken lightly!” the monster bellowed furiously. “Our race prepared so many offerings for this ritual, and now they’re all ruined. Will you compensate us?”
Seeing that reasoning was useless, Xu Zimo lost interest in further words.
He looked at Ji Ruobing and said, “Let’s leave here first.”
Ji Ruobing nodded slightly.
She swung her ancient sword with her right hand, and a sky-shaking sword aura fell between them, like a great chasm, forcing the monsters back.
By the time the sword aura faded, the two of them had already disappeared.
“You ruined our worship, prepare for our vengeance!” the monsters’ angry roars echoed from behind.
…
Walking along a relatively lively street, when Xu Zimo returned to the spot where the dumpling vendor had been, the stall owner was already gone. The empty street looked as if he had never existed.
“What exactly is going on?” Ji Ruobing asked, looking at Xu Zimo.
“How laughable, the one we were searching for was right in front of us, and we didn’t realize it,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
“In front of us?” Ji Ruobing froze for a moment. Then she suddenly reacted, “That stall owner was the Blood Rune Beast?”
“That’s the only explanation,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
“But why?” Ji Ruobing thought aloud. “I don’t understand, what’s the point of deceiving us?”
“This City of Destruction is already chaotic enough. It wants to stir the waters even muddier,” Xu Zimo said.
“To drag us down with it,” Ji Ruobing added.
“Not just us,” Xu Zimo shook his head. “We killed Qin Luo, he was the illegitimate son of the Moon Shadow Race’s Patriarch. The Moon Shadow Race won’t let this matter rest. Now we’ve also disrupted the Mountain God Race’s worship. See? In this way, both the Moon Shadow Race and the Mountain God Race have been dragged into the mess.”
“I understand now,” Ji Ruobing nodded lightly. “Although the City of Destruction is chaotic, everyone’s goals are still clear. They all came in response to the Lord of Destruction, to hunt down the Blood Rune Beast. It’s trying to distract them.”
Xu Zimo nodded.
“So what do we do now?” Ji Ruobing asked.
“These beasts even managed to trick me, that’s rather interesting,” Xu Zimo said. “First, let’s find that fellow.”
“How?” Ji Ruobing asked again.
“As far as I know, Blood Rune Beasts are best at disguise and transformation. One moment it’s a man, the next it could be a woman.”
“What place in the City of Destruction has the most people?” Xu Zimo asked.
Ji Ruobing was silent for a while, then her face turned red as she finally said, “T-the brothel.”
“I nearly forgot that. Then let’s go to the brothel,” Xu Zimo said.
“Are you hoping to try your luck again?” Ji Ruobing asked.
“Not really, I simply want to go,” Xu Zimo laughed.
“You pervert!” Ji Ruobing snorted coldly. “If you want to go, then go. I’m not going.”
“I never said you had to. But I do need you to handle something,” Xu Zimo said.
“What is it?” Ji Ruobing looked up, her bright eyes fixed on him.
“Lying in wait for the rabbit,” Xu Zimo chuckled.
Then he leaned close and whispered his plan into her ear.
After he finished, Ji Ruobing frowned with worry. “Doing this, won’t it be too dangerous?”
“I don’t even fear imperial lineages. Why would I fear just a City of Destruction?” Xu Zimo waved his hand dismissively.
“This is the only method we have right now, and the most practical one.”
“Alright, then you take care,” Ji Ruobing thought it over and finally nodded.
“But if something really happens, don’t be reckless.”
“So you are worried about me,” Xu Zimo chuckled.
“I’m just afraid you’ll drag me down with you,” Ji Ruobing snorted before turning to leave.
…
After parting with Ji Ruobing, Xu Zimo sought out the largest brothel in the City of Destruction.
Here, brothels were the most profitable businesses.
Of course, without strength, no one dared open a brothel here.
Compared to other places, the area around the brothel was clearly much more prosperous.
“Master, please come in! Our girls are beautiful and affordable, sure to leave you satisfied.”
“Oh my, Young Master Hu, you actually have free time today? Three girls, will that be enough?”
The madam, dressed in gaudy silk, stood at the door, pulling anyone she saw inside.
When she spotted Xu Zimo, her eyes lit up.
“This young master is a new face, isn’t he? Come in and try, I guarantee you’ll taste sweetness and never want to leave.”
Xu Zimo smiled and walked in.
“Would you like refined or common?” the madam asked with a grin.
“What do you mean by refined, and what by common?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.
“Refined means selling art but not the body, it’s all up to the girl’s willingness. If you have the ability, you can win her body over. Common… well, I don’t need to explain that. Whatever you want, you’ll have.”
The madam’s eyes gleamed as she explained.
“Refined then. I’d rather not get an STD,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
“Then please follow me,” the madam said, leading Xu Zimo down the left corridor.
After passing through the corridor, the view opened up.
It was actually a peony garden.
White peonies and pink peonies bloomed in full competition.
Their fragrance drifted through the air, refreshing the spirit.
“Our refined quarters are divided into four places, the peony garden, the plum garden, the bamboo grove, and the music hall. Young master may stroll freely. Whether the girls will favor you depends on your own skill.”
Hearing her explanation, Xu Zimo smiled and waved for her to leave.
He then stepped into the peony garden.
After walking for about five minutes, a lively noise from the left caught his interest.
“In this peony garden, the finest bloom must be Drunken Beauty. It is national grace, heavenly fragrance, the king of flowers.”
“No, I say it is White Eternal in the white peonies. Its aura is aloof, like frost and snow, the true king of flowers, to be admired from afar but not defiled.”
“Miss Xiao, you judge for us. Which flower is the most beautiful?”
A crowd had gathered, arguing fiercely over a few blossoms.
Xu Zimo found it amusing. Did these people come to the brothel just to admire flowers?
But thinking about it, it made sense, brothels also had refined and vulgar sides.
After all, some girls sold only their art, not their bodies, making them more like artists and performers.
“Why argue, young masters? In the eyes of ten thousand people are ten thousand flowers. Like what you like, why care about others’ opinions?” a melodious voice rang out from within the crowd.