124 Empty Room (1/2)
In Ganlu City’s downtown, heavy incense burned in the fire. Smoke rose, snaking into the air of the hall, along with the sound of drums and the singing of dancers. Bare-chested men rested on the couch smoking hookah, their eyes drunk. Beautiful performing girls laid in their arms, rubbing against the mens’ chests. They were dazzling and intoxicating. Tanned servants in turbans shuttled through the hall with wooden platters, working fervently to provide each guest with wine, piper betel, betel nuts, and oyster powder.
”My esteemed guests, please enjoy these delicacies from my home.” The servants poured wine for the guests. Then they cut the betel nuts, dipped them into oyster powder, and used piper betel to wrap them into triangular shapes. The servants practically hand-fed the guests.
Two young men stood behind the table, one tall and one short. They looked like brothers. Both were dark-skinned and clad in a long robe. Their black curly hair was wrapped in a turban, and a gold pendant hung from their necks. They looked just like every other Indian in Avalon, and complemented this Indian brothel.
Yes, this was an Indian brothel. Ganlu City, also known as the sea of milk and drugs, was the biggest goldmine for Indians in Avalon. It apparently made one bushel of gold per day. Other than the women, they also had other more aggressive businesses in the beneath the surface, such as dealing opiates and soma wine. All of them were connected to Ganlu City.
The elder brother smiled, tossing a piper betel wrap into his mouth. Patting his brother’s shoulder, he said in a heavy Indian accent, ”Shah, try one and stop being so down. We’re here to entertain ourselves! Ladies, come and sing for this unhappy boy!” With that, he threw a handful of money onto the table.
The performers giggled sweetly and began dancing and singing before the table.
‘Shah’s’ expression twisted instantly. He asked in a low voice, ”Hey, cousin, your so-called bargain is to bring me here to look at prostitutes?”
”Patience. The good stuff hasn’t come yet,”‘cousin’ patted his shoulder and waved for the steward. He gave the man a thick wad of money and leered, ”My brother Shah can’t wait any longer. Please send the girls over.”
Seeing the cash, the steward smiled instantly, ”Of course, of course.”
In a blink of the eye, the smell of heavy perfume rushed in from all directions. Bai Xi could hardly breathe. Amidst sweet and delicate voices, dozens of haughty and sexy girls appeared out of nowhere. The enthusiastic girls practically squeezed onto Bai Xi’s lap, hugging her arms and cooing.
Bai Xi just wanted to throw up. Thankfully the dark oil on her skin hid the greenness.
”Master, are you satisfied?” the steward asked Ye Qingxuan, rubbing his hands together. Ye Qingxuan glanced at the girls and furrowed his brows. ”My cousin, Shah, doesn’t like them. Give me another group!”
Bai Xi’s expression changed quickly. Seeing more girls rushing over, she cried in panic, ”I like them! I really like them! No need to change!”
”Tsk,” Ye Qingxuan shook his head and stated in the Indian accent, ”Shah, this place is blessed by the gods. You’ll be able to find your type of girl. If you’re shy, let me look for you…”
Before Bai Xi could refuse, Ye Qingxuan turned to the steward and said sternly, ”He likes girls like this, this, and this…”
He gestured with his hands. The steward’s face practically turned green, ”Isn’t that a f*cking ball?”
”Oh?!” Ye Qingxuan pretended to be furious.
”No, no, no, beautiful! Beautiful!” the steward lied through his teeth.
”Do you have this type?”
”Yes!” the steward replied, clenching his teeth. ”But…your request is a bit unique. The person might not be able to serve you well.”
Ye Qingxuan shrugged, ”It’s okay as long you have it!”
Soon, the floorboards began trembling. A fat and dark woman appeared. She shook her butt and smiled, and opened her giant mouth. Two splotches of blush had been applied to her cheeks. She looked as terrifying as the Black Bull King of Indian myths! After asking who her client was, the ball smiled and rushed forward.
Bai Xi’s face was practically green with terror.
”Cousin!” Ye Qingxuan coughed. Things would really get out of hand if they kept playing, so he reached out to stop the Indian ball.
He grabbed Bai Xi, who had almost passed out in the woman’s arms, and laughed. ”They’re all beauties. My brother likes them a lot. Where’s the room…we can’t wait!”
The steward froze. Studying them, his facial muscles twitched, ”The two of you want to be together?”
”My relationship with Shah is as close as the sacred mountain and the sacred woods. We’ve sworn to never part. We eat together, sleep together, and of course we have to be pleasured together!” Ye Qingxuan laughed weirdly, looking at the steward aggressively, ”What, is it not allowed?”
”No, no, it is!” The steward felt his shattered worldviews crumble to powder. Peering at the ball that had been washing plates in the kitchen a few moments ago, he felt like he had really run into the devil today. Watching the drunken man walk away, one hand on his cousin, the other on the ball, he shook his head. He sighed, ”Young people nowadays really know how to have fun!”
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In the room, Bai Xi stared at the dancing ball. She had never felt the need to wash her eyes so strongly before. In fact, she had the urge to perform Pomp and Circumstances and wash the entire room with blood.
”Cousin, how much longer are you going to play for?” she grit out between clenched teeth as she pinched Ye Qingxuan’s waist. The corner of Ye Qingxuan’s lips twitched in pain.