Chapter 2666: Welcome Feast

Brave hearts are always up for challenges, but even cowards have the right to live.

Although this is a cruel world, there shouldn't be just one way to face it.

In the Dao Calendar year 3932, June was truly excessively hot. The Taixu Illusory Realm reflects the seasons remarkably well, even replicating the annoying buzz of insects and the oppressive dry heat.

"Damn it, they really turned it into a prison. And they let those wimps manage everything." Zhao Tiezhu, half-squatting by the roadside, cursed under his breath. He looked at the old trees beyond the high wall, their bark deeply wrinkled, like the spreading cracks in people's hearts over the years. An inexplicable surge of irritation rose within him.

He still held onto the habit of venting emotions in the Taixu Illusory Realm, but no matter how much he cursed, he couldn't conjure the reckless, low-brow feeling of the past. After all, "crowd mouths" had become a "single mouth," and what the years add is not just age. Time had taught too many deep lessons.

He was less able to find pleasure in violent scolding and had grown more accustomed to silence. But today was a special day. He had come early, tempering his mood in the fierce sunlight.

With the development of the Taixu Illusory Realm, all sorts of problems also emerged in droves. All the problems that exist among humans would still exist in the Taixu Illusory Realm, and because of its special nature, many aspects of human nature would be amplified.

Although the Taixu Dao Master possesses unimaginable transcendent power and can monitor any place in the Taixu Illusory Realm, using all that power for the trivial management of the Taixu Illusory Realm would inevitably be somewhat wasteful. Its infinite power should be directed towards an infinite future. The overall evolution of the Taixu Illusory Realm is the most important task at hand, and this work can only be undertaken by transcendent power.

The Taixu Pavilion members, combining strategy and force, with the core idea of "sharing the work pressure of the Taixu Dao Master," carried out a series of "Yuan Realm constructions." Because this series of constructions serves as the foundation of Taixu society, the Taixu Pavilion doesn't view them as illusions but as "beginnings," hence the plan is called "Yuan Realm."

Among these is the Taixu Heavenly Prison. It is fully managed by the Xuling, with the Five Punishments Tower providing auxiliary management and various pavilions offering joint supervision. The world's great sects and great nations also have the power of regular patrols. Its establishment signifies that the Taixu Illusory Realm has gained "criminal power" recognized by all parties. Although it is only within the Taixu Illusory Realm and comes with many restrictions – you can't catch this, you can't catch that, this is not allowed, that is not allowed... – it still represents a huge loosening of power.

The most intuitive manifestation is that previously, if matters violated the Taixu Iron Laws, it might require Taixu Pavilion members or even the Taixu Dao Master to handle them. Now, in the Taixu Illusory Realm, the Xuling responsible for criminal laws can execute according to the laws. The Xuling race, which coexists eternally with the Taixu Illusory Realm, will not care about anyone's face.

Five years ago, Jia Fugui was imprisoned and then transferred to this prison. So, Zhao Tiezhu had to wait here today.

The "Prison Domain" is vast; after all, there are no space restrictions in the Taixu Illusory Realm. The size of the space only depends on the needs of the Taixu Dao Master. One after another, people emerged from behind the high wall, some cursing and muttering, others with eyebrows raised and eyes sparkling.

Zhao Tiezhu's patience was wearing thin. He waited until the sun had slanted west and finally saw the person he was waiting for. The Jia Fugui before him was indeed rich and noble in appearance, but nothing else about him was true. In reality, he was skinny, but in the Taixu Illusory Realm, he was round and plump. When he was caught by the one surnamed Jiang, he definitely didn't look like this. Jiang Wang wouldn't cooperate with him in concealing his identity, and he also wouldn't want others to know that Chen Suan was Jia Fugui. The adjustment of his image was completed the instant he was released from prison.

Among the early Hongmeng Three Swordsmen, this guy was the most sinister. When it came to cursing and stirring up trouble, he was at the forefront. When it came to fighting, he would wrinkle his brows and push the other two swordsmen to the front. He clearly possessed supreme strength, yet he preferred to fight with numbers and bully newcomers. Meeting an old friend again, it was impossible not to feel a surge of emotion. Zhao Tiezhu even started to get up but then sat back down. He sat on the roadside without a care for his appearance, crushing a large patch of flowers and grass.

It was a pity that the era was different now. The former "Hongmeng Three Swordsmen" had been separated from the Jianghu for five years. The big waves had washed away the sand, and new people had replaced the old. Their initial bit of disreputable reputation was nothing compared to what existed now. This year, deceivers, swindlers, and betrayers were everywhere. People were growing in number, and the bottom line was constantly being tested. In the current Taixu Walkers, idling about, cursing a few people, and bullying the weak were just child's play.

He wasn't very adapted to this period of the Taixu Illusory Realm, and he was even more afraid that Jia Fugui wouldn't adapt. But the Jia Fugui who walked out of the iron prison freely wiggled his buttocks. Shaking his flexible fat, he spun a full circle, looking very comfortable. Plump as he was, he raised his plump hand and grabbed a sword falling from the sky. Its handle had a black and white wooden design, and the copper sheath was embroidered in a light yellow and green color. It flashed and disappeared, tucked into his sleeve. His outsider sword had also been confiscated when he was initially imprisoned and was now returned to him. In this "second world," the Taixu Dao Master is omnipotent.

Zhao Tiezhu looked up at the fatty, seeing the sunset behind him, sinking deeper and deeper. Jia Fugui then walked over in front of the sunset, casually took the pipe from his mouth, put it in his own mouth, and took a forceful drag, making the pipe bowl glow red. He savored it in his lungs for several rounds before spitting out the smoke with satisfaction.

"Damn it!" he cursed with full energy.

Zhao Tiezhu grinned and laughed. The five years of no news seemed to dissipate in that mouthful of smoke and echo in that curse word. It had always been like this. He actually never knew Jia Fugui's real identity and never felt the need to investigate. Making friends in the Taixu Illusory Realm was no different from reality. As long as they had fun, it was fine. It's not like everyone wears masks in reality, right? Only Shangguan's death had made their fate cruel. He would sometimes pay respects to Shangguan, but he knew it was meaningless. He wrote letters to Jia Fugui every year but never received a reply. Of course, he had also considered the possibility that Jia Fugui was Chen Suan. Considering the time, Chen Suan was caught and entered the Taixu Illusory Realm at almost the same time Jia Fugui disappeared. But this was just one possibility, and Jia Fugui and Chen Suan were too different.

He, Zhao Tiezhu, was already quite contrasting, gentle and elegant in reality, but foul-mouthed in the Taixu Illusory Realm. Jia Fugui and Chen Suan, on the other hand, were two extremes. Chen Suan was known for being calm and composed, with deep strategies. Jia Fugui was gluttonous and sharp-tongued, impulsive and vulgar, sneaky and cunning, and couldn't stand to see others doing well. His only advantage was that he was loyal and valued emotions. It wasn't until yesterday, when Jia Fugui finally regained the right to contact the outside world and sent his release notification letter, that Zhao Tiezhu knew this person was indeed that person. The letter was very short, only saying, "Old man is out."

Time had passed slowly, and five years had already gone by. Many things had happened in these five years. Some stories had become distant, while some memories were even more profound. He waited until Jia Fugui had smoked two more puffs, then Zhao Tiezhu climbed up from the ground, patted the grass clippings off his buttocks, and said with a smile: "Brother Fugui, what are you planning to do?"

Jia Fugui narrowed his green bean eyes and re-examined the younger brother in front of him. Zhao Tiezhu in the Taixu Illusory Realm had a temper that always made him want to act like the big brother, constantly feeling dissatisfied and indignant. He would never call others "bro," not even in the Hongmeng Three Swordsmen; he had to take the lead. Perhaps Zhongshan We sun in reality was different, but that kind of arrogance was consistent. It seemed the incident at Du E Peak in Chu State had indeed taught him a profound lesson.

In these years, Jia Fugui was unable to contact the outside world, yet the letters from outside never stopped reaching him. Zhao Tiezhu's letters were always filled with curses and grumbles, asking where he was and if he was still alive. Master never wrote letters. Only the East Tianshi Mansion would send a letter regularly, containing a summary of various intelligence in the current world. So, even though he was in prison, he was aware of worldly affairs.

"Haven't seen the sun for so long, my mouth has gone bland!" Jia Fugui, holding the pipe, looked left and right, complaining under his breath. He seemed to pause for a while before hearing Zhao Tiezhu's question. He smiled: "The old man just got out, always have to eat a meal first, right?"

"What's it called? A welcome banquet and a purification, isn't it?" He slowly strode outwards, even his hair strands seemed to be enjoying the long-lost freedom.

"First, you have to step over a basin of fire, and then sprinkle water with a willow branch..." Zhao Tiezhu followed, a smile on his face: "This is called getting rid of bad luck, washing the heart and reforming, starting life anew."

"Don't bother with that useless stuff!" Jia Fugui waved his fat hand: "Let's eat the feast first!"

"Where are we going to eat? Meat or vegetarian?" Zhao Tiezhu asked with a smile.

"Go to the place with the most meat!" Jia Fugui said fiercely.

Zhao Tiezhu laughed heartily: "Nothing can compare to Sanfen Fragrance Building, ah."

"Both Jingguo and Yongguo have Sanfen Fragrance Building." Jia Fugui just walked forward without turning back: "Little bro, am I treating you first, or are you treating me first?"

"Of course, first in Jingguo—" Zhao Tiezhu took a deep breath and bared his big white teeth: "There's a stupid guy named Shangguan who always really wanted to go there."

The Long Bo Ji, who hated being called stupid more than anything and once raged because of a "stupid fool," cursing with people in the Hongmeng Space for three days and nights... was no longer heard of.

This is the first publication of the novel at liu 9 shu ba!

Jingguo, Jidu City. This world-famous, greatly ominous city, a war fortress, is not as rough and cold as many people imagine. On the contrary, the city is adorned with flowers as beautiful as brocade, and the air is filled with fragrance. Potted plants and flower beds are visible everywhere, decorating the city with extraordinary gentleness. Every three steps, there is a scene, and everywhere you look is a painting... it has the beautiful reputation of the "Flower Capital."

The world's most "ominous" city has the world's most gentle decoration. Just like this mighty Military Court Empire, after its westward expansion strategy was blocked by Li State, it has been quiet until now, as if a clay Buddha, its anger long extinguished.

In the most luxurious room of the Sanfen Fragrance Building, there are green bamboo and clear water, bright pearls adorn the moon, hazy like a light dream, and smoke like a fairyland. The gentle and elegant Zhongshan We sun, wearing a proper Confucian robe, is slowly brewing tea at a long solid wood tea table. Opposite him sits the immortal-like and dao-bone young master Chen Suan.

The girls had already been changed batch after batch. Young master Chen Suan didn't speak, and Zhongshan We sun only said... "next batch." Looking at the entire Jingguo, Zhongshan We sun is also a top-level influential figure. If he wasn't satisfied, who would dare to be slack? After changing several rounds, they finally understood that it wasn't the girls' problem.

But the person in charge of this building, Feng Xiang Shi Chen Jing, also had enough patience. So he kept sending up batches of girls. He even transferred people from all the Sanfen Fragrance Building branches within the entire Jingguo area and invited girls from other brothels at two or even three times the price. Teams of girls, like potted flowers blooming together, were brought up to the building in carriages. They didn't do anything but walk in front of young master Zhongshan and listen to him say... "next batch."

Next batch, next batch, one "next batch" after another, like one dull knife after another cutting flesh. When spoken with a smile on his face, it was considered young master Zhongshan's gentleness towards beauties.

"Looking at the summer colors, even the cicada cries feel refreshing," Chen Suan, dressed in loose clothes, quietly sipped his tea. He occasionally looked at the clouds outside the window, still enjoying his freedom.

Zhongshan We sun smiled gently: "Wait until you sit here for a long time, then you'll find the cicada cries too long!" Honestly, he was feeling a bit bored. Because he had the ability to destroy order, yet now he was sawing at people within the framework of order. But the Ying Yang Mansion is Jingguo's top military mansion, and Jingguo is his home country. Maintaining order is maintaining himself.

Like the Yongguo people who suddenly sealed all domestic Sanfen Fragrance Buildings and only gradually reopened them after Ye Lan Er personally arrived, claiming they had previously received accusations that had now been investigated clearly and so on... this is damage to order. Of course, this is also determined by Yongguo's strength. The Yong Emperor might not be afraid, but Yongguo must fear wolves before and tigers after. A certain degree of damage to order is this weak country's pledge.

Stationed in Jidu City, Feng Xiang Shi Chen Jing spared no expense, sending up crop after crop of girls, letting them be picked, from morning till evening, just to avoid giving young master Zhongshan a reason to flare up. Young master Zhongshan still felt impatient. This is power.

Chen Suan savored the summer tea between his lips and teeth and smiled: "Each moment is a feeling of that moment."

"Next batch." Zhongshan We sun waved again to send away a row of warblers and swallows, then changed the subject: "Next year's Yellow River Meeting will be presided over by Jiang Zhenhe. Compared to previous sessions, there might be too many changes."

Chen Suan glanced at him faintly, placing his cup in front of him with an elegant posture: "I haven't participated in the competition, so I don't know your feeling." In the Taixu Illusory Realm, they were overly vulgar. In the present world, they were overly elegant. Every gesture and movement was elegant, making them suitable representatives for the ritual yamen of two countries.

Zhongshan We sun said "tsk": "When I think of him, who was still mixing in the inner mansion field back then, and next year will be standing in Yu Xi's position, I just have the illusion that these years have been lived in vain."

"Is it an illusion?" Chen Suan laughed.

Zhongshan We sun also laughed. Chen Suan blew on his tea: "What about the person who just proved Dongzhen and was locked up by him?" Speaking of Yu Xi, he is now the great head teacher of Yujing Mountain. It is estimated that he never thought this position would fall upon him, but once he held great power, he quickly adapted to the role, vigorously building in Yujing Mountain and everywhere promoting something called "re-ascending Yujing"— It sounded like advertising for the White Yujing tavern in Xingyue Plain. Looking back five years, who would have dared to think that the name "White Yujing tavern," which had been deliberately chosen to resemble the name of Yujing Mountain, could actually come into contact with it! Now people even say that the name Yujing Mountain is copying it!

Truly, heaven and earth are reversed. The former holder of the Yuan Shi Jade Book, Xuan Yuan... then became the new West Tianshi. It can be said that Lou Yue's descent into demonhood shattered Jing Emperor's hope of controlling Yujing Mountain overnight. If the expedition to hold Dizang had not been successful, Tiangong City would also have been swept by wind and rain.

After being released from prison, Chen Suan didn't immediately return to Tiangong City but came to Jingguo to meet Zhongshan We sun in reality. While he had the idea of relieving his depression, he also harbored the thought of quietly observing the changing winds and clouds. He had been away from the court for too long and didn't know if there was still a place for him in the central great hall and what his position would be. He might as well step out and see what kind of mountains and rivers remained after the clouds rolled and settled.

The casual chat between friends ended here. This was because all the girls from families in Jidu City that the Sanfen Fragrance Building could borrow had already been borrowed. The remaining ones... were unwilling to be borrowed because of young master Zhongshan's impatience. Girls from other branches would not arrive in time for a while. Thus, there was a gap in the picking process for young master Zhongshan and young master Chen. The person in charge of this building should apologize!

The powdered Feng Xiang Shi Chen Jing, then walked in with his orchid fingers: "Today, noble guests have come to the building. This humble one did not dare to dirty the eyes of the two masters, hence I only come now to pay my respects... Please, do not blame me!"

Chen Suan had a smile on his face and slowly drank his tea, seemingly thinking about something in his heart. Zhongshan We sun was still brewing his own tea and didn't even look at this person. He only said faintly: "Since you know you will dirty our eyes, how dare you come?"

"It's really because our shop has few girls, and the people below are not very sensible, afraid of neglecting the noble guests..." Chen Jing flattered and smiled: "In the end, whether they are tall or short, fat or thin, or seductive and pure... Which kind do the two of you like? Just give me a word, and I'll help you pick!"

Zhongshan We sun pinched a small amount of tea leaves from the tea canister, lowered his head to sniff them carefully. The fragrance was still acceptable. He smiled: "Like is a very private matter, I'm not too good at saying. You have to see to know."

"At least give me a preference, even something simple like big chest and big buttocks, and so on, we can follow the drawing to seek..." Chen Jing was so obedient that no fault could be found. "This humble one's time is not valuable, but I dare not waste the noble guests' time, ah."

"Like this, ah..." Zhongshan We sun put the tea leaves in his hand into the cup he had just cleaned and said casually: "I heard there is a woman named Zhi Mi, very beautiful. Call her to come."

Thanks to book friend "Murong Dog Leg" for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is the 870th alliance for Red Heart Patrolling Heaven!