Chapter 1641
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Chapter 1641 Sleeve Dance Studio
Half an hour later.
A figure wearing a bamboo hat slowly stopped at a corner of the bustling street. Chirping female voices like orioles emanated from the building in front, occasionally accompanied by the pleasant sounds of strings and bamboo instruments.
“Are you sure this is acceptable?” the red-haired girl asked cautiously from beneath her bamboo hat.
“It’s fine, Holy Maiden,” a missionary replied seriously. “If you come in with us and don’t remove your hat, no one will discover you.”
The red-haired girl nodded firmly. “Alright.”
With the missionaries’ negotiation, they successfully entered the Sleeve Dance House. The foreign appearance of these missionaries drew the attention of guests and dancers, who were also quite curious about the mysterious figure with the bamboo hat behind them, though no one suspected it was a woman.
As the lead missionary took out a heavy ingot of silver, a small man from the establishment immediately displayed a fawning smile and led them upstairs.
“Honored guests, this is our finest private room. It’s not only spacious with attendants available, but also has the best view. Are you satisfied?”
The red-haired girl entered the room, where she could clearly see the women dancing gracefully to the enchanting music below, as well as guests scattered in front of the stage. Most were people without much money but wanting to experience elegant entertainment, giving a feeling of looking down upon the world.
Seeing the red-haired girl nod, the missionary took out another silver ingot and placed it in the small man’s hand, saying in standard Chinese:
“This room will do. Bring us some food… Also, we don’t need attendants. Don’t let anyone disturb us.”
The small man was taken aback. “Not even dancing girls for company?”
“No.”
“Well… as you wish.”
The small man seemed about to say something more, but seeing the missionary’s sharp gaze, he swallowed his words and backed out of the room with a placating smile.
Soon, several plates of fruits and pastries were brought in. As the missionary had requested, no dancing girls came to accompany them. While seductive music filled the establishment, in this private room, the missionaries sat formally, like sages.
The red-haired girl sat in the main seat, her gaze through the veil of her bamboo hat sweeping over those graceful women with alluring expressions carrying fruit plates. They occasionally entered and exited other private rooms on the second floor, from which came the greasy, frivolous laughter of men.
“People without faith or principles are no different from beasts driven by desire,” one missionary said solemnly.
“There’s no need to be so rigid. Having faith doesn’t mean wearing shackles, and lacking faith doesn’t mean being ignorant or barbaric… Looking at the world from a human perspective and experiencing its sufferings and joys is how we learn what people need.”
The red-haired girl didn’t seem to reject these scenes. Her gaze swept curiously over each person through the veil, occasionally taking a pastry and putting it in her mouth.
“The Holy Maiden speaks wisely,” the missionaries suddenly realized. “Quick, let’s call some dancers for her!”
“…That’s not what I meant!”
The red-haired girl hurriedly stopped them. These people had been captivated by her innate talent for faith and the doctrines she spread after she arrived on this continent. They voluntarily followed her to spread the name of the Holy Lord as disciples and missionaries. Although they had followed her for a long time, they couldn’t fully understand her teachings, their thinking constrained by personal experiences, unable to keep up with her thoughts.
The red-haired girl was accustomed to this, as transmitting ways of thinking and perception through doctrine was not an easy task.
If even these few were like this, establishing an entire religion and spreading complete doctrines would be even more difficult… At least she clearly knew that her current self still lacked some experience.
They watched the dances for a long time, and when the red-haired girl had eaten most of the pastries on the table, she slowly stood up, preparing to leave.
Just then, three figures entered through the main door. Leading them was a scholar in Confucian attire who, familiar with the place, led the other two upstairs. They were about to enter the same private room but were stopped by someone outside.
“What? Someone’s already there?”
“…”
“Ah… Brother Seven Nights, what bad timing. This room has the best view. Since it’s occupied, shall we go to another one?”
After some discussion, the three settled in another private room next door, which also offered a view of the scene below.
Soon, a group of beautiful dancers opened the door to that room. Roughly eight or nine of them squeezed in together, a lavish treatment that made guests in other rooms and on the first floor stare with envy.
“Compared to other cities in the Great Han, the people in Chang’an truly know how to enjoy themselves,” a missionary snorted disdainfully.
The red-haired girl didn’t stand up yet. Adjusting her bamboo hat properly, she walked toward the door while calmly saying:
“Let the people next door move over here. It’s time… for us to leave.”
…
“Brother Seven Nights, isn’t this place interesting?” Yan Zhong sat at the table with two delicate dancers kneeling behind him, chatting and massaging his shoulders, appearing quite familiar with him.
Lin Seven Nights sat on the other side with an awkward expression. Seeing several dancers about to lie in his arms, he immediately stopped them:
“Brother Yan Zhong… you enjoy yourself. I’ll pass.”
These dancers were indeed somewhat attractive, but Lin Seven Nights had no interest in this. To be honest, these dancers’ entertainment skills were still at the primitive stage of seduction through beauty, lacking spiritual comfort and depth.
He hadn’t expected that the interesting place Yan Zhong mentioned would be a brothel… Had he known, he would rather have visited a teahouse or pastry shop. In Lin Seven Nights’ view, the service standard of this place still needed improvement.
“What? Does Brother Seven Nights find them not good enough?” Yan Zhong slapped the table and said to the small man behind him, “Go, invite Miss Qing over. This gentleman is an honored guest of the Marquis and must be treated well…”
Hearing this, the man immediately perked up and turned to leave, but Lin Seven Nights grabbed him.
“Really, there’s no need.” Lin Seven Nights said helplessly. “Brother Yan Zhong, please enjoy yourself. You don’t need to include me.”
Yan Zhong frowned, seeming to realize something. “Could it be that Brother Seven Nights is already married?”
“Well…” Lin Seven Nights paused, unable to explain clearly, and decided to go along with it. “That’s right, I am married, and my fierce wife is quite formidable. If she knew I was fooling around outside, I couldn’t explain myself when I returned home.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhong gave Lin Seven Nights a pitying look but didn’t insist further. He directly sent the other dancers away. As for Wu Quan… he was too young, so naturally no dancers were arranged for him.
Lin Seven Nights sighed slightly in relief. He picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip, when suddenly a strange burning sensation spread through his chest.
