Below, hundreds of round lanterns painted with dragon characters emitted bright golden light, forming hundreds of illuminated points enveloping a long crimson dragon.

The serpentine dragon thrashed left and right, striving to break out from the lantern enclosure. The specks of light and dragon continuously battled, creating an exceptionally resplendent spectacle for the lively gathering.

Bursts of golden, red and yellow fireworks continuously rushed into the skies above, the three colored sparks rendering the entire scene a sea of dazzling gold.

Amidst the fervent atmosphere, everyone watched the dancing dragon for a spell before returning to drink and dine at the table. As these were all merchant heirs lacking in familial refinement, their pretentious refinement instantly crumbled away to roguish abandon, loudly guffawing and slapping the table tops boisterously.

"Is just anyone allowed up to the tenth floor?"

Abruptly, an impatient voice called out from a nearby table.

The laughter at Lu Sheng's table instantly ceased as everyone hastily looked over.

Three refined and cultured young scholars coolly watched them from the neighboring table.

The speaker was a gaunt and fair academy student among them.

"To think such uncouth folk can enter this refined place truly shows Xunyang Tower's declining standards compared to earlier years." That scholar coldly stated.

Unexpectedly, the usually argumentative Song Zhenguo uncharacteristically didn't make a peep after seeing who spoke. He merely lowered his head silently drinking without any further speech.

The rest also largely bowed their heads without talking as sounds quickly died down. Even Chen Yunxi clenched her teeth without rebutting. From their group, her household was of the highest standing, yet even she didn't dare talk back. Clearly, the three newcomers were no trivial figures.

"Worthless cowards." That skinny-faced scholar lightly spat in disdain.

"Did your mother not teach you manners? Or does this lord have to give you a lesson in decorum?"

A blunt voice suddenly sounded from beside Chen Yunxi.

That gaunt scholar just lazily planned on ignoring them to continue drinking. Never expecting to hear this, his eyes instantly bulged wide towards Chen Yunxi's direction.

The other two also revealed looks of astonishment, gazing her way.

Song Zhenguo fiercely grabbed Lu Sheng's hand, desperately signaling him with his eyes. He slowly stood up himself, preparing to apologize to the three.

Lu Sheng smiled and got to his feet. "We're sorry for the noisy disturbance disturbing others. But malicious verbal assaults on a young lady barely past sixteen? It seems you three aren't so upright yourselves."

Sixteen was the typical marriageable age for girls here while Chen Yunxi had just turned sixteen. A full three years younger than Lu Sheng.

"What gall!" That skinny scholar abruptly shot up, coldly staring at Lu Sheng. "To think such a person would be in Lianshan..."

"That's enough, Sude," the sole silent youth of the three lazily opened his mouth at this time.

The other two's indignant expressions instantly restrained themselves the moment he spoke, their faces instead revealing a gleeful, schadenfreude look. Clearly this speaker's background was even more prominent.

"Just a minor issue, let it be. It's time for us to take our leave." This student had well-defined features with an refined and unruffled demeanor. His words gave off an aloof and nonchalant air, as if the quarrel before him was akin to children playing house.

"Fine... since Young Lord Rong has spoken! Hmph!" The skinny student coldly snorted, fiercely glaring once more at Lu Sheng.

Lu Sheng was fully prepared to directly take action and teach those three a lesson. He also noticed several forceful gazes looking their way from not far behind the three. But those observers were only at the Connecting realm. To him, that just meant several more palm strikes.

There were also differences between high and low Connecting realm cultivators. Someone at the peak like House Steward Zhao could handle two ordinary Connecting realm fighters alone. Just like two people training the same martial art would produce differing levels of mastery.

Moreover, present Lu Sheng was already a high-level inner force expert. His cultivation of black destructive qi was effective against ghosts and monsters, undoubtedly packing even more terrifying might against ordinary people.

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Despite lacking practical experience, he didn't see several Connecting realm masters as much trouble. Even facing higher Integration realm enemies at most corresponded to facing three Connecting experts. There was nothing to fear.

The three youths slowly took their leave, dissolving the confrontation entirely. Song Zhenguo and company also deeply relaxed with intense relief.

The three had just departed when Chen Yunxi could endure no longer. Blinking back tears, she promptly bid farewell herself. When Lu Sheng moved to escort her, she politely declined before hastily leaving.

The others also lost interest in enjoying the dragon dance further. Song Zhenguo saw his female companion off before pulling Lu Sheng and Wang Ziquan towards the riverside.

The night winds over Matrapine River were calm with tranquil waters. Painted pleasure barges illuminated by red lanterns slowly drifted atop the smooth surface.

Song Zhenguo familiarly brought them aboard a rather spacious barge. An alluring matron promptly came over to greet them.

"Master Song, it has been some time. My Juni has constantly pined for you in this one's ear," said the matron. Her speech and behavior completely lacked even a hint of the demimonde's dust, astonishing Lu Sheng instead.

"Is Juni free now?" smiled Song Zhenguo, taking the lead inside.

"Of course, I've been awaiting Master Song's arrival," the matron smiled back. "If the other two masters have any favorites, please inform me."

The three were led into a private cabin arranged exceptionally elegantly.

Subsequently, a line of over ten women entered wearing translucent silks. Universally svelte and alluring with refined temperaments resembling noble ladies of good households, each also possessed thousands of charms in appearance.

"Ten thousand fortunes upon the three masters," said the bevy of women, uniformly curtsying.

"Brothers, go ahead and pick one. My treat today," said Song Zhenguo, embracing one of the newly entered women.

Wang Ziquan's eyes had already grown distracted by this point, face flushed crimson, unsure of which beauty to choose.

Lu Sheng's expression remained tranquil as he casually indicated a demure girl for her to sit beside him.

After they each pointed out a choice, revitalizing flower tea was served along with alluringly dressed dancers performing song and dance to liven things up.

"That matter today... truly..." Just mentioning today's events at Xunyang Tower caused Song Zhenguo's complexion to turn red again as anger surged within that couldn't vent out.

"Brother Song, such beauteous scenery and charms surround us. Why speak of unpleasant affairs? Come, drink! We're not leaving 'til dead drunk tonight!" Wang Ziquan loudly declared, already unable to keep his hands to himself as they continuously wandered over the girl beside him. He was somewhat impatient.

The three women also did their best to console and placate Song Zhenguo. Lu Sheng added some encouragement until his mood finally lifted somewhat.

"If I'm not mistaken, one of the three mocking us today was Wang Shunyong, the deputy garrison commander's son. Things would be fine if it were anyone else, but this Wang Shunyong is different..." said Song Zhenguo.

"And that Young Lord Rong... his background is surely even greater," Wang Ziquan appended.

Lu Sheng shook his head without commenting. After experiencing the larger world, figures like these young scion and heiresses no longer caught his eye.

"Why bring up such depressing chatter? Keep drinking! We're not leaving until dead drunk tonight!" Wang Ziquan loudly exclaimed.

Song Zhenguo also tossed his worries aside and started heavily drinking.

Although Lu Sheng didn't really like such occasions, seeing Song Zhenguo's frustrated mood, he accompanied him drinking late into the night.

These painted barges only provided musical entertainment and companionship without selling their bodies. By the time the three finished drinking and disembarked, it was already midnight during the darkest pre-dawn hours around two to three in the morning.

Parting from the other two, feelings of sorrow rose in Lu Sheng's heart on the way back. For moneyed youths like Song Zhenguo and Chen Yunxi to not even dare talk back when facing civil official's heirs truly demonstrated the still low standing of merchant households in this world.

He had drank quite a bit without getting drunk, but his head felt much clearer without a trace of drowsiness. After leaving Matrapine River's bank, he hurried back towards his own lodgings but all hailed carriages on the way were fully occupied despite hailing several times.

It was far too late into the night and even carriage drivers grew sparse, most having already returned home to rest. He could only proceed on foot.

The streets were empty and cold in the late night city with only occasional drunken rambling from scattered drunks.

The buildings on both sides were pitch-black aside from the occasional swaying red lanterns hanging outside a few wealthy households' gates that emitted faint crimson halos.

The wind whistled by somewhat chill.

Lu Sheng picked up his pace. When he was halfway along the route, he suddenly discovered his waist pouch had gone missing somewhere without him noticing.

After frisking himself all over, he couldn't find it anywhere on his body.

"Must have left it on the ship." Lu Sheng recalled there was still Duan Mowan's note inside along with his house keys that he couldn't afford to lose. Thus, he turned around and hurried back towards the pleasure barges.

Swiftly retracing his steps, he soon returned riverside. Most of the painted barges had already closed up shop by now, taking down the colorful lanterns. The bank was also somewhat deserted.

He quickly located the previous vessel boarded earlier.

That painted barge was already moored by shore. Dim lanterns swayed aboard the cold and quiet deck from the winds across the empty boat. No traces of people could be seen.

"They must have finished work with the girls all gone home to rest while it's cleaning time now," Lu Sheng reckoned internally, striding onto the vessel from the pier.

"Anyone there?" Lu Sheng shouted twice, walking further inside along the deck.

The interior of the barge was completely empty. The slightly worn floorboards were exceptionally clean, still reflecting some glossy varnish.

Lu Sheng followed the entryway further inside. There was a somewhat narrow passage that led into a large hall with rows of cabinets for the three-storied boat lining either side.

Swaying red lanterns hung by every chamber door, emitting faint crimson halos that appeared increasingly bleak amidst this late night.

"Is anyone here?" Lu Sheng swept his gaze across. To his astonishment, there wasn't a single soul to be found inside the entire barge.

"I'm certain there weren't this many red lanterns when we first came..." His eyes faintly narrowed as his heart tightened.

Three levels with five rooms on each story made fifteen chambers total. All were currently hung with those swaying red lanterns. Their dim red glows seemed to dye the entire barge crimson. All was silent.