739. Brothel (Patreon)

This time, Hui flew directly down to the brothel, casually creating an invite in midair. He tossed it to Li Xiang and made a second for himself. “Stay close. It seems to also be a bit of a swinger’s club, and maybe an exhibitionist club too, so don’t look around too much if you don’t want your eyes to burn.”

Li Xiang nodded. “You seem to have great experience with this place.”

“I—Elder Sister, I only went once, and I didn’t go to bed with anyone.”

“That’s untrue.”

Hui cleared his throat. “Okay, technically, I did fall into bed—literally fall, mind you—with myself. There. That’s the truth.”

Li Xiang nodded. She squinted at him, even more confused. “You slept with a clone?”

“It was a fight! We were fighting. I was…” Hui took a deep breath and let it out. “You know what, Elder Sister? Let’s just, let’s just do everyone a favor and move on.”

Nodding slowly, Li Xiang walked ahead of him. As she passed him, he heard her mutter, “Was he that lonely?”

If I was that lonely, I’d just give in to Song Wei—ahem. In any case, I’m not lonely enough to go after myself or Song Wei, or anyone else, thank you very much! I really was fighting, and I really did fall into bed! It’s just, it’s just…

Sigh. Yeah, I can’t explain that. I’m better off just letting it be.

He offered his invitation to the man at the door, who accepted it, and Li Xiang did the same. As he went to enter, the man moved in front of him. “There were only two invites.”

“Yes?” Hui asked, lost.

The man pointed at Hui’s neck.

Hui lifted his hand. Oh, right. Zhubi. He cleared his throat. “He’s just a pet, Elder Brother. Do I need an invite for my pets?” I’ll draw one next time, just in case, but let me by, won’t you, Elder Brother?

The man paused, then shrugged. He stepped aside.

Hui walked past him, Li Xiang at his heels. They passed through the entryway and back into the halls. I know it isn’t the same day as last time, but knowing Song Wei, he’s here anyways. “Look for a man in a full-face mask.”

“Should I look around or not?” Li Xiang asked.

“Er, I’ll leave it to Elder Sister’s discretion,” Hui said. “But if you do, look for a masked man.”

Li Xiang pointed. “Like him?”

Hui followed her finger. At the end of the hallway, a man in a silver mask stood, completely stock still. He wore black and red robes and exuded a bloody aura, ferocious and murderous.

“Song Wei…?” Hui tried.

The man lifted his hand. As he removed the mask, the bloody aura melted away. Song Wei gazed back at him, eyes full of longing. “Master! You’re okay!”

“I’m… of course I’m okay,” Hui said, a little confused.

“When you froze, and then vanished, I thought you were dead for sure. Thank goodness,” Song Wei sobbed, rushing over to his side. He hesitated just before Hui, all but trembling with excitement and relief.

His eyes landed on Li Xiang, and all the excitement left them. A little bit of the murderous aura leaked out again.

“Eh? You remember that?” Hui asked. Hey. Focus on what’s important.

Song Wei’s eyes turned dark. He nodded. “Only a few of us do. Come with me. I’ll bring you to them.”

“Remember?” Li Xiang asked, tilting her head.

“Ah, it’s… it’s very complicated,” Hui said, nodding at her. “Let’s just follow him for now, okay?”

She nodded. “You’ll explain later,” she stated.

“Yes, of course, of course!” Hui nodded with his customer-service smile. Last time, or rather, first time, I died not long after meeting Song Wei.

Or… was that… the first?

Seven figures in the white realm.

There are other loops. Other attempts.

Focus.

Right, sorry.

Hui shook his head. Song Wei stood at the corner ahead of them, nearly vanished around it. Startling, Hui hurried after him, and Li Xiang followed him at a stately pace.

“Song Wei—Bai Xue, have you seen them?” Hui asked.

Song Wei laughed under his breath and said nothing.

Eh? Hey! Watch it with turning your black side toward your Master! I’m not here to be bullied, okay? “Elder Brother,” Hui said warningly.

“Come with me,” Song Wei repeated, and turned away.

Hui shrugged to himself and followed after Song Wei, gesturing for Li Xiang to do the same.

The three of them wound through the guts of the brothel. A few servants rushed this way and that. Song Wei led the way with confidence, not looking aside even when a half-dressed man rushed by with a bottle of honey. Li Xiang frowned after him.

“What?” Hui asked. Is he your type? He is more muscular than me… I can work out!

“What’s he doing with that honey? Are they having desert?”

Hui coughed. “Er, that is, well… Elder Sister shouldn’t worry about it.”

“If his partner wants snacks, why did they come to a brothel?”

“I think you can find plenty of snacks in a brothel,” Hui commented.

“That’s… true?” Li Xiang asked, confused.

Again, Hui cleared his throat. “Elder Sister shouldn’t concern herself with it. Impure, far too impure.”

She frowned. “He’s using honey for impure things? How’s he using it for that?”

“We’ve arrived,” Song Wei announced, freeing Hui from the terror of explaining the many uses of honey to Li Xiang.

They stood before an impressive set of double doors, set in the wall at the end of the narrow hallway. Song Wei pushed the doors open. They gaped into a deep dark room, the depths covered in such impenetrable darkness that Hui couldn’t see through to the far end. Stepping into the room ahead of Li Xiang and Hui, Song Wei cupped his hands to the darkness.

“Approach,” a deep, menacing voice intoned.

Song Wei stood aside, gesturing for Li Xiang and Hui to walk forward.

Hui bit his lip. He walked into the room, putting his hands behind his back. Is it Jun Ke? It didn’t sound like Jun Ke’s voice. One of the other looters from the ruins? Jun Ke seemed in control of them, though. Is this the person in control of the brothel? Someone who even outranks Jun Ke?

If they outrank him, then they must be more powerful than him. I’ve got to be on my best behavior.

“Stop.”

Hui stopped and immediately bowed silently, waiting for another order.

“You, there. The man.”

“Weiheng Hui greets Senior.”

There was a pause. Hui held his breath.

The voice laughed darkly. “Disrobe.”

Hui blinked. “Excuse me?”