Chapter 32: The Quiet Abyss Friend Registry

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The stimulant concocted by Wang Jingyuan according to the formula in the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual was incredibly potent. Tian Boguang could hardly control himself and began galloping wildly in the main hall downstairs. After all, this was the Ming Dynasty, unlike the abstract eras of Wei and Jin; people of this period still valued their reputation.

Indulging in debauchery in broad daylight was one thing, but to do so openly in the brothel’s main hall, in front of everyone, was quite another. The patrons drinking and carousing with the courtesans all exclaimed:

“How thrilling! I love it!”

Tian Boguang, after all, was a figure capable of instantly defeating the senior disciples of the Mount Tai Sect, demonstrating his formidable martial arts prowess. He could effortlessly perform postures that ordinary men could not even attempt, and his stamina was extraordinary.

Once he started, it became a nonstop live show of the highest caliber. If placed in later European or Southeast Asian times, Tian Boguang could single-handedly sustain an entire theater. Even in Japan, he would be regarded as a godfather of certain trades.

The clients in the hall quickly lost interest in the courtesans and gathered around to watch Tian Boguang’s bouts. At every thrilling moment, they applauded enthusiastically. Each time he defeated an opponent, it was like a breath of fresh air.

Wang Jingyuan had initially offered silver notes to reserve all the available courtesans, but as the excitement grew, the clients eagerly pushed their companions up onto the stage...

Upstairs in the private rooms, everyone calmly ate their meals, as it had reached mealtime anyway. The others were fine, but Yilin was clearly uncomfortable. The reason was simple: Tian Boguang’s strength was truly astonishing.

The agonized screams of Tian Boguang’s defeated opponents could be heard all the way upstairs. At first, Yilin thought Tian Boguang was committing murder downstairs and rushed out to intervene.

But soon, she returned, cheeks flushed.

When Lin Pingzhi ordered the food, he had included wine, but only Linghu Chong was drinking. Linghu Chong finished one jar of fine wine and immediately ordered another. Normally, he would boast loudly after drinking, but today he was unusually silent.

Not only silent, but also restless and avoiding Yilin’s gaze. Seeing this, Wang Jingyuan understood.

Although Linghu Chong had only drunk one bowl, that bowl contained some stimulant ingredients. Wang Jingyuan patted his shoulder and said, “It’s still daytime, and there aren’t many guests here. There are plenty of empty rooms. If you’re feeling too uncomfortable, I suggest you—”

Before he could finish, Linghu Chong slapped his hand away and solemnly admonished him: “Junior brother, we are disciples of a reputable orthodox sect. How can we stoop to such lowly deeds?”

Wang Jingyuan frowned. “How is taking a cold bath a lowly deed?”

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Linghu Chong looked embarrassed. “I thought you meant... I must have misunderstood you.”

“Oh~ You thought I was going to arrange girls for you? What nonsense! I’m not even having fun myself, how could I let you have fun?” Wang Jingyuan summoned Turtle Elder and asked him to prepare a cold bath for Linghu Chong.

Wang Jingyuan continued eating and drinking calmly, then looked at Yilin. “Junior apprentice Yilin, although the process was a bit chaotic, I did save you, didn’t I?”

Yilin immediately nodded. “The great kindness of Senior Brothers Linghu and Wang will forever be etched in Yilin’s heart.”

“Etched in your heart?” Wang Jingyuan was not entirely satisfied. He looked at Yilin and said, “Do I look like the type to demand repayment for favors?”

Yilin shook her head repeatedly. “Senior Brother Wang is certainly not that kind of person.”

Wang Jingyuan suddenly laughed. “Then you’ve seriously misjudged me. I’ve found that if I don’t speak up, the NPCs here won’t give me any task rewards at all.

But once I do, the form of the rewards is quite flexible. So now, my favorite thing to do is to demand repayment for favors!”

With that, Wang Jingyuan took out a small notebook and charcoal pencil and began to write furiously: “Hereby certifies that Yilin, disciple of the Hengshan Sect, was saved by me from harm by the lecherous villain Tian Boguang (underlined). A debt of gratitude is hereby owed and must be repaid once by Yilin herself and her master and immediate family upon presentation of this document.”

After finishing, Wang Jingyuan handed the notebook to Yilin: “Take a look. If you have no objections, please sign and seal it.”

Though Yilin had never heard of such a practice, she was innocent and believed that one should always repay kindness with gratitude, so she signed the certificate.

Wang Jingyuan, pleased with the document, dusted it off and carefully stored it in his inventory. Used conventionally, it could summon one of the “Three Determined.” If used unconventionally, it could summon the Unrestrained Monk.

Since Tian Boguang could slay senior disciples of the Mount Tai Sect at will, the Unrestrained Monk—who was castrated and trained as Yilin’s pet in the original story—was of immense value. In the original tale, the monk once saved Tian Boguang from Yue Buqun’s sword simply by throwing a shoe.

Wang Jingyuan even suspected that the Unrestrained Monk could rival any current leader of the Five Mountains Sword Sects, though he might need a bit more effort to deal with Zuo Lengchan.

With Yilin’s matter settled, Wang Jingyuan turned to Lin Pingzhi: “Your father knows the formula for the medicine Tian Boguang took. Once Tian Boguang is nearly done, you should go downstairs and promote this formula.

Your Fuwei Escort Agency has branches across several provinces, and your escorts travel far and wide. Selling some medicine would be a perfect way to increase income. Oh, and the profits from the medicine should be included in the shared accounts.”

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Lin Pingzhi looked troubled and said bitterly, “Senior Brother, you want me to hawk this medicine inside a brothel?”

Wang Jingyuan shook his shoulder in exasperation. “Where else would you promote it if not inside a brothel? Outside the gates of the Twelve Monitors? Don’t underestimate this medicine. Male virility has always been—and will always be—one of the greatest concerns for men. The economic value here is enormous.

Come closer, I’ll teach you some promotional tricks. Remember to use them later.”

Seeing Wang Jingyuan so serious, Lin Pingzhi knew he wasn’t joking and reluctantly memorized the advertising lines.

After a while, Wang Jingyuan heard the noise downstairs finally subside. He took Lin Pingzhi down with him, where Tian Boguang was utterly exhausted. Though skilled, such exertions took a heavy toll.

Wang Jingyuan looked at Tian Boguang lying on the hall floor, drenched in sweat and looking like a withered flower, and helped him up. If he was going to die, he couldn’t die here—how would the medicine be sold then?

Moreover, even if Tian Boguang was to die, he must first extract whatever residual value remained.

“Ah, Brother Tian, you’re truly formidable. In a few hundred years, you could apply for a Guinness World Record.” Wang Jingyuan picked up the short knife Tian Boguang had dropped and, supporting him, headed toward the private rooms upstairs.

Left alone in the main hall of the Jade Garden, Lin Pingzhi shouted loudly, “One dose for alertness, two doses for endless energy, three doses for immortality!”

On the way back to the rooms, Wang Jingyuan placed his hand on Tian Boguang’s pulse point but could no longer feel his internal energy. His pulse was like a flickering candle in the wind, unlikely to last long.

Inside the private room, Wang Jingyuan seated Tian Boguang on a stool. Yilin recoiled in fear but noticed that Tian Boguang’s gaze had changed. It was now like an ancient well—calm and unfathomable, as if all worldly desires had vanished.

Tian Boguang then turned to Wang Jingyuan and said, “Spending all day hunting wild geese only to be pecked in the eye by one—there are far too many in the jianghu who wish me dead. I never imagined anyone would try to kill me in such a way. Truly... truly beyond my defenses...”