The Way of Spiritual Journey

Chapter 21, In front of Qifeng Tower

"And you? How are you different from other Taoists?" Li Lang glanced at Feng Chu and asked again.

"Me? Pretty much. My master said that life is inherently bitter, and if one cannot be at ease, then living is meaningless." The Taoist priest was also drinking to his heart's content, shaking his head and swaying with great enjoyment.

Upon hearing this, Li Lang seemed to be deep in thought.

"If that's the case, then your masters are no ordinary people. From now on, we shouldn't wear these clothes anymore. If we're going to enter the world, we should act like ordinary people. Let's make our way in this capital." After a moment, Li Lang spoke again, as if he already understood his two masters' intentions.

"Brother Lang, that's exactly what we were thinking." The eyes of Wolong and Fengchu lit up at the same time, and they looked at Li Lang with great excitement.

"Alas, we're out of money for new clothes. We've spent all our silver notes these past few days." His excitement lasted only a moment before Monk Wolong sighed, his eyes fixed on Li Lang with a hint of resentment.

"Yes, we don't know anyone here, we can't survive without you." The Phoenix Chick Taoist nodded repeatedly and chimed in.

"Hey, are you trying to scam me?" Hearing this, Li Lang laughed in anger. "Like I said, all good things must come to an end. I brought you out of the mountains and saved your lives, so I've done my part as friends. Tonight, let's not talk about anything else, let's drink until we're drunk, and tomorrow we'll go our separate ways."

Li Lang's words were insightful; he had already spent all the hundred taels of silver he had left, except for this last meal. As the saying goes, "Drink today, for tomorrow we may die."

The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix fell silent after hearing this. They knew that Li Lang was telling the truth.

Three days ago, when they climbed over the wall, they didn't actually go far. Instead, they hid in the shadows and observed, still harboring some resentment and hope.

However, the higher the expectations, the harsher the reality. As night fell, a group of masked men in black surrounded the mansion, their gleaming knives quite intimidating. Needless to say, even a fool would know they were there to take someone away.

Thank goodness they ran fast; just thinking about that scene is terrifying.

From that moment on, Zhuge Liang and Feng Chu were completely convinced of Li Lang's talent, to the point that their gazes towards him changed afterward.

"Waiter, bring the wine!" Monk Wolong shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Drink!" Fengchu Taoist was annoyed, so he picked up the wine bowl and gulped it down into his mouth.

..........

The night is deep.

For most people, this is the time to sleep, as sufficient sleep is essential for working the next day. However, there is always a small group of people who are unwilling or unable to work, so they are very active at night.

People who are unwilling to work usually refer to those who engage in shady dealings or do not have a proper job; nighttime is their best time to make money.

People who don't have to work are relatively simple; they are usually rich. And rich people usually have free time. On long nights, they need somewhere to spend money to pass the time, right?

Most of them are bustling and prosperous, with a constant flow of traffic and pedestrians during the day, where merchants pursue profits and people make a living.

In the darkness, the masses rest and recuperate, while in the light, a niche group continues its prosperous life.

Fengming Street is the most bustling place in the capital at night, with its ten-mile-long flower field illuminated as if it were daytime.

Qifenglou, located in the center of Fengming Street, was an official music academy, with top-notch interior and exterior furnishings.

The soft furnishings here are easy to understand; they refer to luxurious decor, second only to an imperial palace. As for the hard furnishings, that requires a more detailed explanation. There's an old saying that goes, "If the world lacked women, then the lives of men would have no meaning."

Qifeng Tower is a place where men can live a meaningful life.

The women in Qifeng Tower are exceptionally beautiful, one in a million; even the most discerning man can find his ideal woman here. It's said that even the Emperor of Dayuan would occasionally stroll here incognito.

This is the physical structure of Qifeng Tower.

Li Lang, dressed in a traditional Chinese forging suit, truly resembled a refined young gentleman as he strolled all the way to Fengming Street.

For the past three days, Li Lang and his companions have been frequenting restaurants, seemingly just to pass the time, but in reality, they want to learn more about the local customs and culture of Dadu.

The restaurant was crowded with people from all walks of life, and any information exchanged between them during their leisure time was useful to Li Lang.

Li Lang wanted to make money, and he wasn't going to bother with trivial matters; he was going to go for something more drastic.

So, Li Lang arrived at Qifeng Tower.

In front of Qifeng Tower, the palace lanterns were exquisite, their soft glow pleasing to the eye, vibrant yet elegant. At the entrance, the elegantly dressed gentlemen, all smiles, greeted and saw off guests with impeccable manners.

Without any hesitation, Li Lang walked straight to the door.

"This esteemed gentleman is quite unfamiliar. May I ask which family's young master you are?" The gentleman bowed slightly, cleverly blocking the way, and spoke in a gentle and tactful tone, making it impossible for anyone to feel uncomfortable.

Qifeng Tower is an official music academy, with the highest standards. Only the wealthy and powerful can enter; ordinary people are not permitted entry. Li Lang was a stranger, so it was perfectly normal for him to be stopped at the gate.

However, Li Lang remained completely calm. He had seen the world in his previous life and could easily handle such situations.

Li Lang stopped without answering, raising his forehead slightly and looking down with his eyes, his gaze towards the person in front of him revealing no emotion.

Such a posture is rather pretentious. At the same time, it is also a form of contempt, the underlying meaning being: you are not worthy to speak to me, much less to inquire about my origins.

The smile on the husband's face began to stiffen. He had seen many young masters from noble families, some gentle and refined, others arrogant and domineering. He could handle them all; it was just a matter of greeting them according to their personalities.

However, the person before him was truly a bit of a puzzle. Judging by his appearance, he was indeed dressed like a refined gentleman, and more importantly, his noble bearing was undeniable. But even more crucially, he was a complete stranger. Could he be one of the princes who had slipped out of the palace?

Moreover, this person came alone, which alone makes him very different from those rich young men who are surrounded by a retinue.

Of course, this should only be the surface. In the shadows, there should still be royal warriors with badges and swords following behind. If anything goes wrong, they could cripple themselves and have no one to complain to.

My husband was frantically racking his brains, not daring to straighten his slightly hunched back, and fine beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead.

Seeing this, Li Lang chuckled to himself, knowing that he had successfully put on an act.

So Li Lang took out a ten-tael silver ingot and handed it over.

"Take this and have some tea. Don't make a fuss." Li Lang's expression softened at this moment, his tone more suggestive. "I am indeed the kind of person of great wealth and status you imagine."

My husband's heart trembled slightly. He had guessed right! Such a person was not someone he could afford to offend, not even slightly!

The man accepted the silver with both hands. He glanced at it and his heart was stirred again. Great people are different when they act. Ten taels of silver is the wealth that an ordinary person can accumulate in half a lifetime!

The man didn't speak; he remembered Li Lang had told him not to make a fuss. He simply bowed even deeper and remained motionless. This was a profound show of respect.

Li Lang smiled slightly, his mind no longer troubled, and stepped through the door.