Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 87 Xu Chen

That evening, Jiang Xun changed into clean clothes and headed towards Xiaoxiang Tower.

Xiaoxiang Tower is located in the south of the city, next to the Qin River, in the most bustling area of ​​Jiangning Prefecture.

Before we even arrived, we could see a brightly lit area in the distance, and the sound of string and wind instruments drifted over on the wind, interspersed with the laughter of girls and the urging of men to drink.

Jiang Xun stood across the street, looking at the three-story building, feeling a little apprehensive.

He had spent so many years in the streets, frequented casinos, teahouses, and even almost ended up in the government's jail—but he had never been to a brothel.

It's not that I don't want to, it's that I don't have the money.

Now that I have over a hundred taels of silver in my pocket, it's not like I can't afford to go in and sit down.

But as he stood at the door, watching the men coming and going, all dressed in silk and satin, with slicked-back hair and powdered faces, he suddenly felt that his own attire seemed a bit out of place.

Just as he was hesitating, a heavily made-up woman came out of the building and spotted him immediately.

"Oh dear, young master, why are you standing in the wind? Please come in and have a seat!"

The woman greeted him with a smile, grabbed his arm, and pressed half of her body against him.

A strong smell of perfume wafted over, causing Jiang Xun to shrink back and his face to flush red.

"I...I'm not—"

"What's there to be shy about? First time here, huh?" The woman covered her mouth and laughed, pulling him inside. "The girls here are wonderful, I guarantee you'll be satisfied—"

Jiang Xun hurriedly pulled his hand away from hers and backed away, saying, "No, no, I was just passing by, just passing by—"

He turned and left, his steps as fast as if he were being chased.

The woman behind him laughed heartily, "Young master, take care! You can come anytime you like—"

Jiang Xun lowered his head and walked quickly toward the street corner, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

How embarrassing, so incredibly embarrassing.

He was walking too fast, and when he turned the corner, he bumped into someone.

"Ouch--"

The two of them stumbled at the same time and almost fell flat on their faces.

Jiang Xun steadied himself, looked up, and froze.

Opposite him was a young man of eighteen or nineteen, fair-skinned and dressed in a royal blue brocade robe of the finest Shu brocade, with a jade pendant of excellent quality hanging from his waist.

He looks like a child from a wealthy family.

But this face—

"It's you?" they both asked at the same time.

Jiang Xun recognized him.

In Wuling City, a fierce battle erupted at the docks, and Ah Jiu, the one who shared the sesame seed cake with him, was present.

Ajiu recognized him too, her eyes lighting up immediately: "Jiang Xun! What are you doing here?"

"I..." Jiang Xun scratched his head, glanced in the direction of Xiaoxiang Tower, and said a little guiltyly, "Just passing by, just passing by."

Ajiu followed his gaze and looked at his embarrassed expression. Suddenly, she understood something and blushed.

"I...I was just passing by," he stammered.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Let's go." Ajiu patted Jiang Xun's shoulder, still with that familiar air, "Let's find a place to sit down."

Jiang Xun knew he wouldn't be able to go to Xiaoxiang Tower tonight, but he didn't refuse and followed Ajiu into a small alley by the lake.

There's a small tavern at the end of the alley, and it's not crowded at this hour.

The two chose a seat by the window, ordered a pot of wine and a few small dishes.

The night breeze blowing from the lakeside carried moisture and the faint sounds of string and wind instruments in the distance, making it much quieter than the Xiaoxiang Tower.

Ajiu poured Jiang Xun a glass of wine, then filled her own glass and raised it, saying, "Long time no see, let me toast you."

Jiang Xun clinked glasses with him and drank it all in one gulp.

The wine is ordinary yellow rice wine, smooth on the palate but with a strong aftertaste.

"Why did you come to Jiangning Prefecture this time?" Jiang Xun put down his wine cup and asked casually.

Ah Jiu put down her cup, a hint of smugness on her face: "This time I didn't sneak out. My grandfather agreed to let me come out for a walk."

He emphasized the word "agree," as if he had finally received some great favor.

Jiang Xun looked him up and down, then nodded. "I can tell. This outfit isn't cheap, is it?"

Ajiu chuckled twice, a little embarrassed: "My family bought it for me. By the way, where have you been lately? What brings you to Jiangning Prefecture?"

Jiang Xun leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and adopted the air of a seasoned veteran: "Me? I just came from Qiantang. Something happened there, so I came to lay low for a while."

"Qiantang?" Ajiu's eyes lit up. "I heard it's been quite lively there lately, with dragon crystals and arena battles. Have you heard?"

"Of course." Jiang Xun picked up his wine glass and slowly took a sip. "I'm someone who's fought in the arena. You know Chen Xu from Yinzhai, right? I beat him to a pulp."

He embellished the story of what happened on the stage, omitting what should be omitted and praising what should be praised—saying things like "breaking through Chen Xu's defense with a single sword strike" and "Ye Qingying looked at me with new respect," making it sound incredibly captivating.

Ah Jiu's eyes lit up, and she slammed her hand on the table: "That's amazing! I knew you were no ordinary person!"

He leaned closer, his face full of admiration. "Jiang Xun, take me on a journey through the martial world! I want to learn martial arts too, and become as powerful as you!"

Jiang Xun felt incredibly relieved, but on the surface, he put on an air of experience and waved his hand, saying, "Venturing into the martial world is no joke. It's all about swords and shadows, and the chances of survival are slim. Can you handle it?"

"I can handle it!" Ah Jiu patted her chest. "I'm not afraid!"

Jiang Xun glanced at him and suddenly asked, "Do you know martial arts?"

Ah Jiu's imposing manner immediately diminished, and she said sheepishly, "Grandpa forced me to learn some self-defense skills, but compared to you, it's definitely nothing..."

Jiang Xun nodded, picked up his wine glass, and said with a mysterious air, "Martial arts are all about foundation. If your foundation isn't solid, following me will be pointless. Focus on building a strong foundation first."

Ah Jiu nodded repeatedly, looking like she had learned something.

Just then, a voice came from the tavern entrance: "Ah Jiu! I've finally found you!"

The two turned to look, and a boy of similar age strode in.

With a fair complexion, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, he wore a moon-white long robe with a silver-gray silk sash tied around his waist, clearly indicating that he came from a distinguished family.

He had a worried look on his face, and his brows were furrowed.

"Xu Chen!" A-Jiu stood up. "How did you find me?"

"I've been looking for you for three days!" Xu Chen walked over, plopped down, grabbed the teapot on the table, and took a swig. "Where have you been?"

Ah Jiu chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head: "I was locked up by Grandpa, but I was just released."

He turned to introduce Jiang Xun, "This is Xu Chen, my friend. This is Jiang Xun, the one I told you about, the one from Wuling City..."

Xu Chen glanced at Jiang Xun, nodded as a greeting, then turned to Ajiu, looking worried, and said, "Ajiu, what should we do about that? If my father finds out, he'll beat me to death."

Ah Jiu scratched his head, looking ashamed: "I haven't gotten the money yet..."

Jiang Xun sensed something was amiss and put down his wine glass: "What's going on?"