Chapter 180: Napping in a Coffin! What Rotten Luck!
"General Qi? The Qi Family Army?"
Chu Yang's eyes lit up. He never expected this world to still have the Qi Family Army. He had never paid attention to court affairs and didn't even know of Qi Jiguang's existence.
In theory, the world of the Ming Dynasty was already a chaotic mess—nothing was too surprising.
"You know General Qi too, my lord?" Boss Qian was a bit surprised, but quickly switched to an admiring expression and praised, "General Qi is truly formidable. The coastal areas are constantly raided by Wokou pirates. If not for him, the common folk wouldn't even be able to live in peace."
"And it's not just pirates—General Qi has also led troops to slay numerous powerful monsters, ensuring peace across entire regions. If they hadn't left, Nanjing probably wouldn't be in such chaos now."
Whether it was just his imagination or not, Li Gexiao felt like there was a trace of gritted teeth in Boss Qian's voice.
Looks like General Qi had given these monsters quite a hard time!
"To hear that from you, he must be an excellent general," Chu Yang said with a faint smile, his words laced with hidden meaning.
Boss Qian didn't catch the undertone and grinned obsequiously, flattering, "Of course, my lord. You and General Qi—true heroes recognize each other!"
As the carriage jolted along, they neared the mass grave outside the city. The driver on the front bench hadn't noticed that a massive creature was trailing them from afar.
Its glowing green eyes pierced through the darkness like ghostly fire—cold and terrifying.
Under the moonlight, its silver-white fur flickered in and out of sight.
No one knew how long it had been when the carriage gradually slowed to a stop.
At that exact moment, the giant shadow vanished into the night.
"We've arrived!"
Boss Qian was the first to heave his rotund body off the carriage. Chu Yang and Li Gexiao followed right behind.
The driver raised the lantern high, illuminating the area around them.
In the next instant, they saw rows of desolate graves and scattered black coffins lying in disarray.
"This is the place, my lords. Please lie down quickly and wait for someone from the Tower of Euphoria to fetch you."
Boss Qian bowed low and prepared to leave.
Chu Yang grabbed his shoulder and smiled. "Since you've already come all this way, Shopkeeper Qian, why not lie down with us? See for yourself what this so-called Tower of Euphoria is really like."
Boss Qian's body stiffened. He stammered, "I'd rather not… I'm too old to take any more rough treatment. I'd only hold you back."
Li Gexiao said coldly, "It's not like we're asking you to fight. Just play along and buy us time to find Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou."
Boss Qian put on a show of hesitation, but inside he was already calculating—going with them to the Tower of Euphoria might be the best option. He could personally make sure they never leave alive.
"You two must promise to keep me safe!"
With an exaggeratedly timid look, Boss Qian awkwardly lay down in a coffin. His pitiful expression might have moved anyone who didn't know better.
He was putting on quite the act.
Li Gexiao couldn't stand the pretense and kicked the coffin lid shut, sealing him in.
"Never thought I'd lie in a coffin while alive. Might as well find out what it feels like."
Chu Yang chuckled as he used wind energy to blow the dust out of his coffin. Then he lay down calmly and shut the lid in one smooth motion, like it was second nature.
"You sure look experienced, young master," Li Gexiao teased before following suit, chuckling as he closed his own coffin.
Only after the lid sealed shut did Li Gexiao feel the suffocating pressure—not just from the cramped space that made it hard to move, but from the absolute silence and darkness, like sinking into a deep, motionless abyss.
Being wrapped in silence and darkness, without any response or stimulation, was maddening.
"It's fine… Just bear with it for a bit longer."
While trying to comfort himself, he had no idea that Chu Yang next door was already fast asleep.
Fear? What's that?
Might as well treat it like camping—just a slightly cramped tent. No big deal. Might as well get some sleep; it's not like there's anything else to do.
As time passed, Li Gexiao lay there feeling increasingly restless, almost bursting out of the coffin—when suddenly, he felt it begin to rise.
Faint footsteps echoed around them as the coffin started to sway like a boat on the sea.
Someone was carrying it!
People from the Tower of Euphoria had arrived!
Li Gexiao's spirits soared. All discomfort vanished as excitement took over—once they reached the destination, he was ready to unleash all the pent-up tension in a furious outburst.
Meanwhile, Chu Yang was sleeping even more soundly. The gentle swaying felt just like a cradle.
In the moonlight, six dark figures carried three coffins and sped along silently. A closer look would reveal—they had no feet!
The six coffin bearers weren't human!
Once they vanished into the night, a massive wolfdog quietly emerged at the mass grave. It twitched its nose, tracking the scent, and followed them without hesitation.
Back in Nanjing City, Yan Nantian was practicing swordsmanship in a secluded courtyard. Jiang Feng sat nearby on a stone bench, drinking wine and watching his elder brother train.
Yan Nantian had to start over from scratch to rebuild his "Martial Garment Divine Art." No one knew how long it would take, but to ensure the safety of his sworn brother's entire family, he couldn't afford to waste a single moment.
Fortunately, the retraining process was going more smoothly than expected. The violent true qi within him had become more gentle, allowing his mind and energy to flow in perfect harmony.
"His Highness was right—'To harness the blade, dull its edge first.' After this retraining, I understand the 'Martial Garment Divine Art' far more deeply. My progress now far surpasses anything before!"
"At this rate, I might not just return to my peak—I could go beyond it."
Yan Nantian laid down his heavy black iron sword and walked over with a hearty laugh. Jiang Feng handed him the wine jug, and he drank deeply, his face filled with satisfaction.
"His Highness's martial cultivation is unfathomable. And he understands our techniques like the back of his hand. It's chilling just thinking about it."
"I've been to the capital a few times over the years and heard some rumors about him, but they don't match the man at all. I wonder why His Highness keeps such a low profile?"
Yan Nantian shook his head and sighed. "Court politics are more treacherous and unpredictable than the grudges and vendettas of the martial world."
"But one thing is clear—the Emperor can't possibly tolerate His Highness for long. Sooner or later, blades will be raised against him."
"And when that day comes, it'll be my chance to repay my debt."
Jiang Feng stared at him, stunned. "Brother… are you saying you'll join His Highness in rebellion?"
Yan Nantian answered calmly, "This world needs someone like him to restore peace. Without him, the people of the Ming Dynasty will live in constant fear of monsters and demons."
Jiang Feng trembled all over, unable to speak from shock.
The world's greatest swordsman becoming a rebel? If that rumor spread, the entire martial world would explode!
Bang!
The coffin hit the ground with a heavy thud, jolting Chu Yang awake. He pushed the lid open and saw rows of tall red lanterns hanging above him.
Masked figures had already surrounded the coffins—most of them holding weapons. They looked like hired muscle. The two in front each held a mask in their hands.
"Please put on your masks before entering the Tower of Euphoria," said one in a cold, mechanical voice that carried an invisible pressure.
Chu Yang stood up and took the mask, placing it over his face. Li Gexiao and Boss Qian did the same. Once all three were masked, the Tower of Euphoria staff led them inside.
In ancient times, so-called "Elysium" just meant food, drink, brothels, and gambling.
The moment Chu Yang stepped inside, he caught a familiar scent—a blend of rouge and specially made sandalwood, used to heighten excitement. He'd often smelled it in the brothels of the capital.
But this fragrance also carried a faint trace of demonic energy—undetectable to ordinary people.
Li Gexiao, despite his years of self-destruction, had never visited a brothel. So he wasn't familiar with the smell, only finding it pleasant.
The first floor was a casino, filled with pai gow, dice, cricket fights, even stone gambling. All around were frenzied voices—losers desperate to win it back, winners greedy for more.
Every last one of them was a loser!
The only real winners were the house, who skimmed off every bet without risking a single coin.
Chu Yang was right at home in such places. Back when he was the good-for-nothing prince in the capital, he had been a regular in casinos. When he ran out of money, he just went to the palace and mooched off the emperor—never once feeling guilty about it.
The three stood beside a pai gow table. When a player lost all their chips and stepped down, Chu Yang slid in smoothly, placing his bets and drawing cards in one fluid motion. Even Boss Qian was stunned.
It was as if Chu Yang had forgotten all about Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou. His full focus was on the game, eyes locked on the tiles in his hand.
"My lord, shouldn't we be focusing on the mission…"
Boss Qian wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
"He's a drunk, I'm a gambler. He can't resist wine, and I can't resist a good game. Let's wait a bit longer," Li Gexiao said as he took a swig from his wine gourd, then casually sat beside the table, ready to jump in at any time.
Though he didn't know Chu Yang's plan, he trusted him without question.
Boss Qian was baffled. What's wrong with these two?
Are all the Embroidered Guards this casual now? Do they only work after having their fun?
After waiting about fifteen minutes, with Chu Yang still unmoving, Boss Qian didn't know what else to do. He could only force a smile and say, "You two enjoy yourselves. I'm going to the privy."
Li Gexiao waved him off impatiently.
Boss Qian quietly slipped out of the first-floor hall.
Then Chu Yang's voice echoed in Li Gexiao's mind. "When he gets back, I'll find an excuse to leave. You keep him here."
Li Gexiao nodded.
Meanwhile, Boss Qian wandered the maze-like corridors of the Tower of Euphoria, navigating with practiced ease.
He came to a small loft and respectfully announced, "Master, two Embroidered Guards have arrived in Nanjing. I've brought them both here."
A faint pink mist drifted out from the loft. Then came a seductive, delicate voice, "Last time it was that four-eyebrowed guy. Now it's the Embroidered Guards. Seems like Nanjing is no longer safe. If this keeps up, that old bastard Zhuge might show up himself!"
Boss Qian grinned sycophantically. "Master, as long as you keep absorbing essence and desire, even that old Zhuge can't touch you. Enduring a little for now is no big deal."
A sigh came from within. "If only that monk from Yunjian Temple would help me, I wouldn't need to hide. I could've feasted to my heart's content long ago."
Boss Qian didn't dare interrupt. The Tower of Euphoria he worked so hard to build was seen by this master as aiding evil. She could crush him to death any moment she wished!
"Speaking of which, that Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou are surprisingly resilient. They still haven't succumbed. But give it another day or two—they'll break."
"And now we've got two more Embroidered Guards delivered right to our doorstep. The heavens really are on my side."
The woman inside giggled sweetly, the sound like a demonic spell. Boss Qian's eyes turned red, his breathing rapid.
"Filthy mutt, what, are you trying to climb into this lady's bed?"
A sharp, furious shout snapped Qian Laoda out of his daze. He dropped to his knees in panic, kowtowing desperately for mercy.
But the very next moment, the woman's voice softened, turning syrupy sweet, almost flirtatious.
"Still... if you can keep running the Tower of Euphoria well for me, climbing into my bed might not be entirely out of the question. Hehehe."
Qian Laoda's heart itched with desire. Just hearing her voice made him feel as if he were already floating on clouds, consumed with ecstasy.
Half a cup of tea later, Qian Laoda returned to the main hall on the first floor. He saw Chu Yang, no longer at the gaming table, now cradling a courtesan in sheer silk robes in his arms.
Taking over the chips was Li Gexiao.
Chu Yang grinned and said, "Old Li, Qian Laoda, you two have a few rounds here. I'm off to have some fun with the young lady."
Li Gexiao didn't mind in the slightest and waved him off with a smile, telling him to enjoy himself.
Qian Laoda, however, looked a bit anxious and spoke up, "Sir, shouldn't we be looking for Hero Lu and the others first?"
Chu Yang snapped, "What's the rush? Lu Xiaofeng and the rest might not even be in the Tower of Euphoria. Let me have some fun first!"
He'd been playing the role of a rich wastrel for many years—his tone couldn't have been more convincing. Qian Laoda was almost certain now that these two Embroidered Uniform Guard officers were nothing but pampered scions who'd landed ironclad government positions thanks to their fathers' connections.
Perfect!
That saves me the trouble of making a move myself.
Enjoy yourselves in the Tower of Euphoria. Let yourselves be drained of essence and desire, until you grow weak and wither away without even realizing it!
Qian Laoda sneered inwardly, his face still plastered with a fake smile as he took a seat beside Li Gexiao and generously placed bets on his behalf.
Chu Yang, with the beauty in his arms, followed a servant up to the second floor.
He attempted to use Observation Haki to probe the Tower of Euphoria, but was met with considerable resistance. Much like in the other World, demonic energy interfered heavily with Haki.
The two arrived at a vacant room.
As soon as the alluring courtesan shut the door and turned around, she was met with a pair of crimson eyes. The tomoe spinning in those pupils seemed to possess a hypnotic power, and she fell into a dazed trance.
Once she was fully under the control of the Sharingan, Chu Yang left a clone behind and slipped out of the room using Earth Release.
The Tower of Euphoria had been built inside a hollowed-out mountain. The entire structure was surrounded by stone, and with the help of Earth Release, Chu Yang could pass through anywhere unhindered.
Now, he had two options—either rescue Lu Xiaofeng first or go straight for the boss and eliminate the powerful demon behind it all.
It would all depend on whether he ran into Lu Xiaofeng or the big demon in the upper tower first.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea—
Chu Yang stood in front of a lofty tower, thick pink demonic mist rolling out to meet him.
"Tsk tsk tsk, talk about bad luck."
Man and demon spoke in unison.
(TN: Sorry for the late update. This fanfic is currently on the drop list. If you would like me to continue translating it, please vote on my Patreøn.)