Chapter Five: The Mysterious Man

At the turn of the year during the Winter Sacrifice, the Phoenix Pavilion in Eight Directions Town reopened its doors. Though it had only closed for a few days, the “starving masses” of the town had found the wait unbearable. It wasn’t that the Phoenix Pavilion was the only brothel in town, but rather, its unique approach set it apart. The Phoenix Pavilion was a high-class establishment, better described as an arts house. Each woman within was accomplished in the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were the bare minimum—but what truly set them apart was their mastery of bedroom skills. Yet, anyone who assumed these women were merely seasoned courtesans would be mistaken. They had been rigorously trained since childhood to perfect all arts of service, yet remained untouched in the most literal sense.

What cannot be easily attained is always the most desirable, and the Phoenix Pavilion had capitalized on this truth. The men of Eight Directions Town would rather endure longing than settle for an ordinary brothel. Of course, the women of the Phoenix Pavilion were not entirely unattainable—there were always discreet means for a wealthy patron to bring one to his bed. The management was clever: if their allure were purely unattainable, even the richest patrons would eventually lose interest.

With the reopening of the Pavilion, it took only moments for the main hall downstairs to fill with guests—some were regulars, others drawn by the establishment’s reputation. Five young women in green gowns flitted gracefully among the tables, as lively as butterflies among spring blossoms, pouring tea, serving drinks, and making witty banter with practiced ease.

Amid the bustle, one spot in the main hall stood out for its eerie calm. In the northeast corner sat a lone man dressed in blue, quietly sipping sake. His expression was relaxed, his demeanor unruffled, as though the clamor around him did not exist. Normally, those seeking peace and quiet would choose a private room upstairs, but he sat alone amidst the crowd. His unusual behavior drew a few curious glances, but before long, he was dismissed as just another proud pauper trying to appear aloof.

Around midday, the steward of the Sun family, Sun Shou, hurried into the hall. With a brisk wave, he silenced the green-garbed girls who moved to greet him and rushed straight upstairs. At the same moment, the blue-robed man in the corner allowed a faint smile to curl on his lips. His eyes remained fixed on his cup, unmoving, as though everything was unfolding exactly as he expected. “At last,” he murmured, “they’ve come.”

A rapid knocking sounded at the door of a suite on the third floor as Sun Shou appeared at the threshold.

“Come in!” came a familiar voice from within. Sun Shou entered at once, but upon seeing the scene inside, he immediately lowered his head in deference. “Young Master,” he said respectfully. Though he’d witnessed such fragrant scenes many times before, this was the Sun family’s eldest son, and he could not help but feel uneasy. “Could he not be more discreet?” he thought.

Sun Jincai, however, showed no sign of embarrassment. He continued his movements, finally letting out a satisfied groan before muttering, “No matter how skilled in the arts of service, in the end, inexperience shows.” Without a care, he got out of bed and began dressing in front of Sun Shou. “Is there news?”

Sun Shou, snapping back to his senses at the sound of his master’s voice, nodded. “Yes, Young Master. The news is important.” He glanced toward the two women curled together under the sheets, signaling for them to leave.

Sun Jincai caught his meaning and, as he fastened his belt, addressed the women. “You may go.”

The two women, cheeks flushed, cast lingering looks at Sun Jincai as they wrapped themselves in sheets and left the room. No matter how reluctant, they knew their place: Sun Jincai would not take them as concubines just for having shared his bed.

Once the women had gone, Sun Shou immediately reported, “Young Master, Jinwei is finished!”

“What?” Sun Jincai’s expression changed. Jinwei was a force to rival the great clans—who could have destroyed them? “Who did it?”

“Supposedly, it was an organization called Dragon Domination,” Sun Shou replied without hesitation.

“Dragon Domination?” Sun Jincai echoed, seating himself and pouring a cup of sake. After draining it in one gulp, he asked, “Is the information reliable?”

“It came from Qin Feng, one of Jinji’s men. It should be accurate,” Sun Shou said with deference.

“No other news?” Sun Jincai’s gaze sharpened.

Sun Shou lowered his head thoughtfully, then suddenly remembered, “Ah, Qin Feng claimed that within Dragon Domination, there is someone who can float in the air and even swallow lightning!”

Sun Jincai’s brow furrowed. He scolded, “Sun Shou, had you not served our family for so many years, I’d have you punished on the spot. Such a crucial detail, and you nearly forgot it!” The more he spoke, the angrier he became. As the Sun family’s heir, he was well-acquainted with cultivators—anyone who could float through the air must be a practitioner of the mystical arts, but to devour lightning was beyond even his understanding. How could Sun Shou almost overlook something so vital?

Sun Shou felt wronged; he’d thought Qin Feng was simply boasting, never imagining his master would take it so seriously. Suddenly it dawned on him, “Could it be... a cultivator?”

“What do you think?” Sun Jincai replied sternly. He sprang to his feet and paced the room in agitation. “This is beyond what the Sun family can handle. What should I do?” He stopped abruptly. “Sun Shou, send word to my father immediately. Also, contact the leaders of Shelter Wind and Sand Lion; instruct them to surround the people of Dragon Domination at all costs. I hope that batch of goods is still in their hands.”

“Yes, Young Master!” Sun Shou answered, turning to leave.

“Wait!” Sun Jincai stopped him. “Sun Shou, the survival of our family depends on this. Don’t be careless again.”

“Rest assured, Young Master!” Sun Shou thumped his chest in assurance and walked out.

Watching him go, Sun Jincai muttered to himself, “It’s time to meet with our envoy. Heaven forbid this news brings ruin to the Sun family.”

Back in the bustling main hall, having overheard the entire conversation, the blue-robed man in the northeast corner, uncharacteristically furrowed his brow and murmured, “To think those people were faster than me!”