: Prostitution and Debauchery – Those Who Are Willing Will Take the Bait!

Xiajiang County is nestled among mountains and beside water, boasting picturesque scenery.

On the official road, a rider galloped along, dust billowing, his blue robe fluttering in the wind.

Upon seeing a tavern, Gu Lin dismounted.

We will reach Xiajiang County in another ten miles.

He found a corner to sit down and asked the waiter for a pot of apricot blossom wine and a plate of braised beef.

After eating and drinking his fill, Gu Lin took out the bounty poster again.

This task is very tricky!

Specifically, a few months ago, the wanted criminal committed murder and robbery in Shiyang and Xiajiang counties. He had a penchant for raping and killing innocent women and his methods were extremely vicious.

The county governments of the two counties worked together to apprehend the wanted criminal, who has been hiding in Yuxi Mountain in the Three Gorges for two months.

At the outset of the case, the constables from both counties launched a full-scale search, but Yuxi Mountain was too large. Searching for several days without success would only waste manpower and resources. They could only set up defenses at various passages at the foot of the mountain and leave the search inside to the bounty hunters.

  

Just a few days ago, a bounty hunter spotted a wanted criminal, but unfortunately, the criminal escaped.

This confirms that the wanted criminal is still in Yuxi Mountain!

This bounty poster can be claimed as two bounty payments, one for Xiashan and one for Shiyang.

Gu Lin now carries a huge sum of over three hundred taels of silver. He doesn't care about the reward money; the key is how to find the wanted criminal.

Yuxi Mountain is too big; digging three feet into the ground is obviously not realistic.

"What should we do?" Gu Lin pondered a solution.

He only had four days; even if the bounty failed, he had to rush back to Shiyang.

.....

Upon entering Xiajiang County, Gu Lin found a department store and spent two coins to buy a map of the Yuxi Mountain terrain.

After pondering for a long time, he murmured to himself:

"The only solution now is to outsmart them!"

Judging from the fact that this wanted criminal enjoys raping and murdering women, his flaws are too obvious; he is extremely lustful.

Lustful?

Got it!

Gu Lin devised a plan.

He first went to a silk shop and bought himself two gorgeous robes, an exquisite bamboo hat, an expensive folding fan, and a pair of finely crafted boots, totaling three taels of silver.

Afterwards, Gu Lin went to the largest brothel in the city.

At midday, the brothel was quiet and still, with the waiters and girls all asleep.

Hearing the noise, the sleepy-eyed waiter muttered:

"Visiting brothels during the day?"

Although reluctant, he still put on an enthusiastic act.

Gu Lin was a novice in this area, but he still spoke loudly:

"Call the madam out here!"

The waiter sized up the customer's clothes, realizing he was a wealthy person, and then scurried up to the third floor.

After a while, a woman dressed in finery and with a face full of makeup descended the stairs. Upon seeing Gu Lin, she drawled out in a coquettish tone:

"Sir~"

Gu Lin felt a chill run down his spine and cut to the chase:

"These past two days, I've been planning to tour the Yuxi River. As the saying goes, a scholar's outing is incomplete without the company of beautiful women. Pick me two exceptionally beautiful ladies."

Not one, he wants two!

The two women were more noticeable, and their laughter was louder.

The madam grinned from ear to ear, her voice sending shivers down one's spine:

"As expected of a Confucian scholar, not only is he incomparably handsome, but he also possesses such leisurely and refined tastes, with his beloved by his side, enjoying a life of romance and beauty..."

After praising her for a while, the madam quickly asked:

"Sir, how many days will you stay?"

Gu Lin: "Three days."

The madam raised her hand and waved it.

Gu Lin was startled.

It couldn't be five taels.

So that's fifty taels?

Although he knew that brothels were money pits, when he was studying at Shiyang Academy, he heard that many men would spend half their life savings just for one night in a brothel in the city.

But the price is more expensive than I imagined!

Fifty taels?

Let's just go to any two earthen kilns in the city; they'll cost at most three taels of silver.

However, the earthen kiln had such an obvious air of vulgarity that anyone who wasn't stupid could tell at a glance that she was a prostitute. How could a wanted criminal fall for it?

Seeing the distinguished guest hesitate, the madam seized the opportunity and said:

"My lord, you are so handsome, of course we should choose a refined and elegant woman for you who is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. They are cultured, knowledgeable and exceptionally well-mannered."

Gu Lin negotiated the price:

"Thirty taels!"

The madam smiled broadly, but offered no room for negotiation, only saying tactfully:

"Master, if you only want pleasure, I can choose two skilled maids for you, for just ten taels of silver."

The phrase "exquisite skills" implies that the person frequently entertains guests.

That means it also has a strong sense of worldliness.

Gu Lin paused briefly, then said firmly:

"Fifty taels it is!!"

You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub!

Among the bounty hunters in the two counties, he was definitely not the only clever one who could come up with this trick of seduction, so the reason no one has put it into practice is—

Who would spend tens of taels of silver and risk their life just for a reward of ten or twenty taels?

I'm all alone now!

"Alright, bring me some flower tea!"

"Please wait patiently, sir, I will make the arrangements."

The madam beamed with delight, gave instructions to her staff, and then swayed as she made her way to the fourth floor.

Gu Lin drank tea and waited.

A full hour passed before he grew impatient.

The madam then appeared, smiling, and said:

"Sir, everything has been arranged for you."

"Xiangjun and Xian'er are both waiting for the young master in the carriage."

"Pen, ink, paper, inkstone, zither, flute, pipa, fruit, and food have all been prepared. When you arrive at Yuxi River, a superior painted boat will be ready to receive you."

Gu Lin nodded in satisfaction.

Having money is great; just look at their service.

The madam's smile remained unchanged as she softly said:

"Sir, the total is fifty-seven taels of silver."

Gu Lin stared at her for a long time.

Having come this far, there was no point in arguing any further; he had no choice but to pay.

If we don't catch that fish this time, we'll be at a huge loss.

"Lead the way, sir," the madam said with a radiant smile.

......

Outside the brothel, a carriage waited quietly.

The driver was a woman in her early forties, who looked completely unassuming and appeared to be someone who ran errands for the building.

The madam herself lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing a fragrant interior with a woman sitting on each side.

Both women were around twenty years old, with fair and translucent skin and exquisitely beautiful features. As if upon hearing that they were scholars, they both changed into tight-fitting ruqun (traditional Chinese dresses), which accentuated their curvaceous figures.

Upon seeing Gu Lin, the two rose and curtsied, speaking softly:

"Xiangjun greets her beloved husband."

"Xian'er greets her beloved husband."

Gu Lin examined the two men and boarded the carriage with satisfaction.

"How should I address you, young master?" Xiangjun proactively laid out a seat, gracefully sat behind Gu Lin, and massaged his shoulders.

Xian'er was massaging her legs in front of her.

Gu Lin lay reclining, savoring the delicate fragrance around his nose, and said contentedly:

My surname is Gu.

Although he wasn't a virgin, he was practically one, especially since he was only nineteen and full of youthful vigor.

If you spend money and don't enjoy it, then pretend to be high-minded—that's utter stupidity!

He pulled Xian'er aside and began to whisper to her.

The woman driving outside ignored the noise and continued on her way, but when she heard the commotion inside, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.

In her view, scholars are weak and frail, so how could this young man be so strong and vigorous?

A full hour and a half later, the wind and rain stopped.

Gu Lin felt refreshed and invigorated, his body feeling exceptionally strong.