Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Though Cao the Traitor is Dead, the Spirit of Cao the Traitor Lives On

After leaving the Pharmacist Alliance, Yang Chan and the others didn’t go straight back to the Cyan Yuan Pavilion. Instead, under Elder Yan’s lead, they headed directly for the Hongxing Building. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

One moment, Yan Jinfeng was lecturing them; the next, his feet were on the floorboards of the Hongxing Building, his arms around two scantily clad women as he headed upstairs.

Yang Chan and Xu Gaocen exchanged a look and followed them upstairs, finding an empty table to sit at. Despite Yan Jinfeng’s behavior, his lecture had just ended, so they had to at least make an appearance. To do otherwise would be to completely disregard his words.

The two of them hadn’t been sitting long before the familiar Pharmacists began trickling upstairs, along with a few new faces.

A few of them looked dejected, clearly having performed poorly at the Pharmacist Exchange Conference. They were still downcast, but it wasn’t long before they were largely cured by the... prominent women beside them. They no longer had time for dejection, busy as they were with their wandering hands.

The Hongxing Building was one of the Capital City’s Twelve Floors, and its specialty was quite obvious. The moment one entered, one would see many prominent features. These features were *very* prominent. Other brothels didn’t have nearly as many, nor were they quite so prominent.

Furthermore, it had another feature related to its name: red apricots.

The name was a reference to the saying "a red apricot reaches over the wall," meaning these women were married. Plagued by troubles at home, they came here to supplement their household income.

This was another of its great specialties, attracting many a "Cao the Traitor" from all over. They flocked here, drawn by its reputation, to experience the unique... charms on offer.

These men all came admiring the reputation of the Twelve Floors, not because they actually wanted to eat specialty fruits like pomelos or watermelons.

At first, Yang Chan and Xu Gaocen had no one with them. However, after some ’enthusiastic recommendations’ from the other Pharmacists, they were ’forced’ to find a couple of ’large pineapples’ for themselves. It was a reasonable way to blend in with the group.

’We didn’t do this willingly,’ they told themselves. ’It was at the insistence of others. It certainly wasn’t a conscious rebellion against Yan Jinfeng’s teachings.’

The more fruit, the more juice. The kind you could practically squeeze water from—juicy and sweet. Everyone who had a taste said it was delicious.

As this group of Pharmacists chatted about carnal matters, their hands also began to disappear. Someone did bring up the Celestial Sword Sect, but after a few teasing remarks, the conversation inevitably returned to women. As for Alchemy, no one brought it up, as if the subject didn’t exist.

They all had to refine Elixirs tomorrow, yet they remained perfectly calm, each one busy with his own... activities. It was quite an admirable mindset.

Cao the Traitor may be long dead, but his spirit is eternal.

And that spirit was on full display in the Xinghua Building.

’It’s also possible the patrons of the Xinghua Building lacked love as children, and now they’re just trying to overcompensate, to make up for that missing affection.’

Seeing so many people trying so hard, Yang Chan naturally had to join in. He too began to practice the art of the disappearing palm, letting his companion feel a sense of warmth.

He noticed that the self-control of most people in the Xinghua Building today had been greatly diminished. The majority of them had already disappeared, including Xu Gaocen, who had been right beside him a moment ago.

However, Elder Yan and the others seemed to be in no hurry to leave; they were all still in the Xinghua Building. This meant that Yang Chan, who wanted to go, could only wait.

’I still haven’t taken my Dragon Bone Medicine Bath today. This trip was supposed to be for relaxing, but it looks like I’ll have to schedule my baths in advance from now on.’

’At this rate, it’s not impossible I’ll end up staying the night in a brothel with them one of these days.’

Leaving on his own wasn’t an option, of course. With a feeling of resignation, Yang Chan could only let both of his palms disappear as well.

...

"Haaaah."

"Finally, the medicine bath."

Yang Chan let out a long sigh of relief. He had made it back before midnight after all. Elder Yan and the others hadn’t stayed overnight at the Xinghua Building, choosing instead to return to the Cyan Yuan Pavilion.

As far as Elder Yan and his group were concerned, the two safest places in White Jade City were the Pharmacist Alliance and the Cyan Yuan Pavilion, as both locations were heavily fortified.

The former’s defenses were for the public, while the latter’s belonged to the Cyan Yuan Sect’s forces stationed in White Jade City—forces both in the open and in the shadows.

Behind Yang Chan, Xiaoyu’Er was busy scrubbing his back.

For convenience, Xiaoyu’Er had gotten into the tub with him. Her thin silk clothes became nearly transparent in the water, revealing and concealing in equal measure. But Yang Chan’s back was turned to her, his eyes lightly closed as he focused on the pressure of her hands.

Scrubbing a back required a bit of strength, and an ordinary girl like Xiaoyu’Er didn’t have much. Helpless, Yang Chan could only move his own body to help her along. Although his "cooperation" sometimes made her blush, the back-scrubbing was extremely effective.

When she finished scrubbing his back, he would help scrub hers as well. And even if it didn’t look like there was anything to scrub off, a good scrubbing could always produce... something.

Under his administration, Xiaoyu’Er’s face grew redder and redder. This was, of course, because Yang Chan’s scrubbing technique was excellent and made her feel very comfortable. Seeing this, Yang Chan told her to study his methods carefully so she could apply them herself next time.

Only when Yang Chan felt the Medicinal Power in the tub was nearly depleted did he finally climb out. By then, Xiaoyu’Er was completely spent and had to lean on Yang Chan just to get out of the water.

Only with Yang Chan’s help was she able to dry herself off!

By now, Xiaoyu’Er was gazing at Yang Chan with misty eyes. Clearly, sleep was the last thing on her mind.

Seeing this, Yang Chan could only get busy once more.

A young man, after all, has plenty of stamina.

...

「At sunrise」

Yang Chan was already sitting cross-legged, feeling refreshed and clear-headed. A wisp of Purple Qi flew into his body and was absorbed. Only then did he slowly withdraw from his meditative state.

’As a young man, staying up all night doesn’t affect me much. Still, it’s a bad habit.’

’Someone like Xiaoyu’Er, on the other hand, can’t even get out of bed right now. That’s the price of staying up late. This kind of schedule is terrible for one’s health. I’ll have to have a serious talk with her next time about adjusting her routine. Otherwise, she might just die young.’

Yang Chan allocated his three new Potential Points as usual, continuing to increase his strength. There was still a little time before he had to leave for the Pharmacist Alliance, so he ate the special breakfast a waiter had brought up. Today, it wasn’t a specialty of White Jade City, but silver fish congee, a delicacy from Xue State. The flavor was exquisite.

One taste was all it took for Yang Chan to know he loved it, and he began to eat the congee more quickly. The waiter also brought up a large selection of meat dishes. His daily appetite was considerable, and everything delivered was, of course, for him alone.

Of course, he also set aside some food for Xiaoyu’Er. According to her, she almost never left the Cyan Yuan Pavilion, so she rarely had the chance to eat such delicacies.

’Xiaoyu’Er worked so hard,’ Yang Chan thought, ’so I should reward her. It’ll also help her replenish her strength. Her body is just too frail; she can’t last very long at all.’

’It’s because she’s a normal person, of course, so her frailty is unavoidable. Eating more nutritious food should naturally help alleviate the problem.’

After he finished eating, Yang Chan had the waiter clear the dishes. He then entered the inner room and saw that Xiaoyu’Er’s face was still etched with exhaustion. He didn’t wake her, instead placing the food he had set aside for her by the bedside.