"Blind Bei's comic was banned because it involved that sort of plot."
Blind Bei remained silent.
A Ming didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Well, the savings from a few gangs are quite substantial, enough to cover our recent expenses. Those higher-ups must be appeased first. As long as they don't get in our way, we'll have plenty of opportunities to make money later. If the seven of us, together in this ancient era, can't even scrape together some silver, we might as well just slit our own throats."
"Yeah, making money isn't hard. Once we've managed all the necessary connections, it's time to get started," Siniang agreed.
As long as subsequent ventures could keep pace, the silver they currently possessed was more than enough to cover their expenses for the next few months, even with extravagant spending.
"What business are we going to do?" A Ming asked.
Blind Bei's empty eye sockets were fixed on A Ming. He didn't speak.
"What do you mean?" A Ming asked.
"Look into my eyes."
A Ming was speechless.
Feng Siniang chimed in to smooth things over, while also taking a subtle jab at A Ming, saying, "We're all transmigrators. Isn't it simple to make some money by producing perfume or soap?"
At this moment, the door was pushed open from the outside. Yun'er poked her head in and called out to the three people inside, "Mom, My lord is back! They're all back!"
***
Zheng Fan felt as if he were dreaming.
In many other transmigration stories he had read, most protagonists led miserable lives after traveling through time; later trends even included having a burdensome little sister tagging along. As for him, he started out with maids. After wandering around for a while, he returned to find he even had a large courtyard.
It was especially surreal when Zheng Fan was led past the rockery in the courtyard and saw two rows of young ladies in ancient attire standing on either side, greeting him in unison.
For a moment, Zheng Fan felt disoriented.
At this moment, a thought suddenly struck Zheng Fan. Living like this didn't seem so bad.
Although there was no electricity, no internet, and no air conditioning, the lifestyle of an ancient feudal lord—with multiple wives and concubines, ordering others about at will—held an extremely powerful attraction.
The air was thick with the scent of cosmetics. Hot water, strewn with flower petals, had already been prepared in the pool. The music of silk and bamboo instruments drifted through the air, plucking at his heartstrings just so.
Before he knew it, his clothes had been removed. Zheng Fan dazedly walked into the pool, immersing himself in the fragrant, swirling mist.
SIGH. How illusory this is.
***
"I think this is a bit much. Aren't you afraid My lord will become completely lost in this?" A Ming couldn't help but worry.
Currently, all plans were proceeding methodically. The underworld of Hutou City had also been unified, and My lord and the others had returned safely. Yet, Blind Bei had directly orchestrated this haven of pleasure. Was the plan to let My lord become completely intoxicated by it?
Blind Bei shook his head and said, "It still depends on My lord's own choice."
"Choice?"
"Actually, a person's desires can never be truly satisfied. When you obtain one thing, you will naturally want to obtain a second and a third. Many literary works like to portray simple, honest old peasants who toil the land, depicting them as simple, kind, and steadfast. But if they truly had no opportunity to advance, no hope of leaving that life, who would willingly remain so 'steadfast' forever?"
"I just think that using such methods to entice My lord is a bit crass."
"It's acceptable. When My lord returns from an outing, he deserves to enjoy the fruits of our team's progress. My lord is different from us. Each of us is, in reality, quite deviant. Our interests and hobbies, for the most part, don't align with what normal people consider enjoyment. Our needs are more extreme, our desires more warped. And My lord, he has more aspects of a normal person. You can't possibly expect My lord to one day squat down with you to critique the blood of people from different regions and age groups, discussing which tastes sweeter, can you?"
"Don't get carried away. If My lord ends up staying in the rear courtyards indefinitely, so lost in pleasure he forgets everything else, you'll be the one crying."
"That would be My lord's own choice. We promised him before: the choice is his. He could choose to be a wealthy patriarch, live a peaceful life, have children—all of that is within his reach."
"I only remember that My lord didn't make that choice previously."
"But people change. When we first arrived, we only had an inn, barely enough to get by. Back then, we were barefoot and had nothing to lose. Now that conditions have improved, it's natural to give My lord another chance to choose. You've heard the story of the two cows, haven't you?"
"Liang Cheng and the others are eating in the side hall. Aren't you going?"
"Yes, shall we go together in a bit?"
"Okay."
The two of them stood there for about another quarter of an hour, but Zheng Fan still hadn't emerged from the rear courtyard.
Blind Bei sighed and said, "Let's go to the side hall. We need to hear what they encountered on their journey."
***
In the side hall, Xue Three, Liang Cheng, and Fanli had already finished eating. Beside Fanli, two large rice barrels were now empty. The lad, after his time in the desert, finally had a chance to eat rice again and had eaten with unrestrained gusto.
When Blind Bei and A Ming entered, with the exception of Mo Wan, everyone was present.
Feng Siniang looked puzzled and asked, "Where is My lord?"
"Probably resting," Blind Bei replied.
For a moment, everyone in the room fell silent.
Xue Three smacked his lips and looked at Blind Bei. He wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin. It was clear, however, that he was deeply frustrated.
Liang Cheng was more direct. He looked up at Blind Bei and A Ming and stated bluntly, "Nonsense."
Evidently, they too were aware of Blind Bei's arrangements for My lord.
Blind Bei remained silent, a slight urge to smile tugging at his lips.
Siniang, meanwhile, was focused on her needlework.
"Well, have you all eaten and drunk to your heart's content?"
At this moment, Zheng Fan's voice came from outside the door.
Everyone rose and looked towards the entrance.
Zheng Fan, clad in a leopard pelt and barefoot, walked in through the doorway and went straight to the head seat, sitting down.
The feeling was like stepping out of the shower area into the lounge of a bathhouse, wearing one of their casual robes.
There were two differences. First, this leopard pelt was flamboyant to an almost absurd degree. Second, this damn thing really was leopard skin...
It was probably a collectible left behind by the leader of the Hyena Gang, which Siniang had altered and given to My lord to use.
"Siniang," Zheng Fan said, gesturing towards her.
"My lord."
"Next time, have a set of clothes ready for me at the bathing pool. I searched for a long time and could only find this one. I really couldn't bring myself to come out and see you all naked."
"Your servant understands. This was my oversight."
"Not at all, not at all," Zheng Fan waved his hand, then looked at everyone around the dining table with a smile. "So, have you all eaten and drunk your fill?"
"Yes, My lord."
"We have."
"We were just waiting for you, My lord."
Zheng Fan smiled, leaned back slightly to the left in his chair, and lightly clapped his hands together. He then said, "Alright, let's get down to business."
The five Demon Kings present felt that since My lord had entered, his entire aura had undergone a massive change. This confidence, this maturity, and this... effortless poise—it was as if he had become a different person.
Only Blind Bei remained silent, smiling faintly. He had just detected with his spiritual power that My lord had actually been standing in the corridor outside the hall for quite some time, shivering slightly from the cold outside, all the while muttering to himself as if trying to induce a state of self-hypnosis:
"I am Chen Daoming! I am Chen Daoming! I am Chen Daoming!"
---
P.S. Thank you to Brother Daohu and Miss Grasshopper for becoming Alliance Leaders for *Magic Descends*!
It's not easy for a new author. My first book, *The Late Night Bookstore*, did well, which made me even more apprehensive and under greater pressure while writing this second one. Fortunately, I have all of your support and encouragement. Thank you, everyone!