Within a corridor of a palace, its opulence akin to a celestial realm, Shao Baojuan encountered two women of captivating beauty. One, adorned in regal palace attire, exuded an air of refined grace. The other, dressed in loose, flowing robes, possessed a captivating allure.

The former was none other than the Lady of Kongtong, once a palace maid, now the esteemed leader of the Water Dragon Palace’s West Garden, responsible for tasks such as applying makeup and tending to lamps. She also served as the West Garden’s chief scribe, effectively half-mistress of the sixteen courtyards of the Dragonscale Canal.

At that moment, she knelt upon a cool bamboo mat, turning her head to offer Shao Baojuan a warm smile, though not rising to greet him.

The Lady of Kongtong wore an embroidered shoe on only one foot, a custom she maintained throughout the years.

Beside her, the other woman had removed her boots, reclining upon the bamboo mat, resting her head against a porcelain pillow. She held a cup, indulging in wine, her natural charm evident. With a tilt of her head, she drained a cup of celestial brew, whereupon the Lady of Kongtong refilled it for her.

This woman’s manner was as bold as a man’s, slightly tipsy, with a blush upon her cheeks, resembling a peach blossom beauty.

She was not a native of Benmo City, her true name being Zhu Su. In Li Shilang’s Tiaomu City, she went by the alias Zhu Zhu, a famed courtesan of the Northern Harbor, renowned for her unparalleled allure. She possessed a fondness for wine, but adhered to a strict rule: she would not partake unless she found a kindred spirit. Zhu Su was a handmaiden of Li Shilang from Tiaomu City. As to why she often visited the Lady of Kongtong for drinks, it was likely she had found a fellow soul. There were also some scandalous rumors circulating between the two cities, the truth of which Shao Baojuan had no interest in pursuing.

Shao Baojuan bowed respectfully, smiling, “Greetings, Lady Wu, Miss Zhu.”

Zhu Su’s collar was slightly open, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her snowy skin. She narrowed her enchanting peach-blossom eyes, playfully asking, “City Lord Shao, have you perhaps gathered the three fated objects?”

Shao Baojuan produced the three items: a pouch of emerald green pigment, a length of slender rope, and a pre-prepared embroidered shoe. He stepped forward and respectfully placed them at the edge of the bamboo mat.

Zhu Su suddenly extended her foot, stepping upon the embroidered shoe, her smile captivating. “Oh, City Lord Shao has truly managed to gather them all. That is quite a feat. How about I make a deal with you? The three items are mine, and I become yours, whether for a fleeting moment or for a more prolonged affair, it is all negotiable.”

Shao Baojuan replied helplessly, “Miss Zhu, you jest.”

Wu Jiangxian, her gaze profound, sat up. She collected the five pecks of screw shell powder and the length of slender rope, then picked up the embroidered shoe, adjusted her posture, and turned her body, bending her head to slip it onto her foot.

Shao Baojuan had already averted his gaze, looking straight ahead, not daring to witness the alluring scene.

In truth, among the eleven cities surrounding Rongmao City, Shao Baojuan feared coming to this Absurd City the most, for here, the cultivators’ realms were both the most useful and the most useless. Like them, outsiders, according to the rules of this realm, were considered temporary ferry passengers. For an Jade Purity Realm cultivator, their cultivation in Benmo City was that of Jade Purity Realm, while a cultivator who had just embarked on the path of cultivation might possess the cultivation of a Earth Immortal, or even the spells and divine abilities of Jade Purity Realm. Only cultivators around the Dragon Gate Realm would find their cultivation in the city roughly equivalent to their true realm.

The little water monster from the Cavern Heaven Realm in Chen Pingan’s back basket could naturally ascend several realms upon entering the city, but Chen Pingan’s instantaneous drop in cultivation was Shao Baojuan’s opportunity.

Therefore, Shao Baojuan had to make another trip to Benmo City, to set up an ambush for that Hidden Official. From Du Xiucai’s side, he first offered Bai Jiang and other items to obtain Xia Dao Xiao Mei, acquiring the opportunity was true, but it was more to approach Chen Pingan without leaving a trace. Then he added the content of a picture to the Flower Scent Post, helping that descendant of the Fu family fulfill his wish, and finally exchanged a bag of emerald green pigment and a length of slender rope from the old man. Exchanging a real opportunity with the Lady of Kongtong was false, requesting her for a favor was true.

The Lady of Kongtong stood up and asked, “City Lord Shao, please state your request. As long as it is within my ability, I will not refuse. Even if you were to ask me to obtain those four hundred volumes of ‘Changzhou Jade Mirror’ from the Duke of Yanmen, or that set of ‘Quyu Tuzhi’ compiled by Cui Xielv and supplemented by Yu Neishi, it would be no problem. I believe Li Shilang’s Tiaomu City has been waiting for many years. However, I cannot mobilize the rare abridged collection of the Eastern Capital Guanwendian, so please do not press me.”

The West Garden Dragonscale Canal of Benmo City and the Eastern Capital Guanwendian possessed an abundance of books, totaling more than 400,000 volumes. However, the most precious part of the collection had never been exchanged with Tiaomu City, and Li Shilang could do nothing about it.

Shao Baojuan glanced at Zhu Su. The Lady of Kongtong turned her head and laughed, “I won’t keep you then.”

Zhu Su’s eyes were filled with resentment as she put down her wine cup.