Chapter 14 Raiding the Brothel

The next afternoon, in a forest outside the southern gate of the Imperial Capital, figures began to appear one after another. This was the agreed-upon rendezvous point for everyone logging in.

"Everyone's here."

Liu Hai looked at the dense crowd before him and nodded. "Here are the cold weapons everyone reserved! The weapons are numbered from 1 to 163. As for the close-fitting inner armor, you can choose them after we enter the city!"

The 163 Cosmic Professional Player experts stepped forward one by one, picked up their weapons according to their numbers, and quickly armed themselves.

Swords, sabers, spears, halberds, axes, hidden weapons, throwing weapons, shields, and so on—there were only two or three hundred weapons in total. In an era rife with bandit gangs, even slightly wealthy merchants would hire guards. This small number of weapons was nothing to them; they were very easy to acquire.

"Not bad."

The Cosmic Professional Players examined their weapons. Now, they were all in ordinary bodies, and their strength and speed weren't too different from that of a second-rate expert. These weapons could withstand a second-rate expert's attacks.

"Rest assured, every weapon has been tested," Liu Hai said. Xu Jingming had specially chosen them. Having been a Blood Rain Guard in the Imperial Capital for so long, he was a local snake and knew exactly where to buy fine weapons.

"Let's set off now." After seeing that everyone had equipped their weapons, Liu Hai immediately led them out of the forest.

First, they walked from the forest onto the main road, and after walking along the main road for more than ten *li*, they arrived at the southern city gate of the Imperial Capital.

The flow of people in and out of the Imperial Capital every day was extremely large, and almost everyone carried weapons.

Liu Hai and his group were all wearing ordinary cloth clothes issued to newcomers and were traveling on foot! They were inconspicuous in the crowd. After paying the city entry fee, Liu Hai led them forward.

"What a huge Imperial Capital."

"We've been walking for half an hour." After entering the city, people felt the enormity of the Imperial Capital.

Liu Hai and Tu Ling led the team and finally arrived at a chaotic area where the buildings were dilapidated. Gang members could be seen everywhere, swaggering down the streets in groups of three or five.

However, when faced with a team of more than a hundred people carrying weapons, these gang members watched from afar and didn't dare provoke them easily.

After turning left and right, they finally arrived at a somewhat dilapidated mansion.

"We're here," Liu Hai said as he pushed open the door.

Xu Jingming and Pang Ze were sitting on the corridor chatting idly. Seeing the door open, they got up to greet them.

More than a hundred people entered the mansion, and the gate closed.

"We've prepared some wine and food for everyone." Xu Jingming wore a human skin mask, making him look no different from a normal person, except for his stiff expression. He got up and said, "Everyone, eat, drink, and rest first. The operation will be tonight."

Fine wine, food, and inner armor were all prepared. All preparations for the operation were thorough.

…

Night fell.

Pang Ze, dressed in white, came to Yi Cui Tower again, fanning himself with a smile.

"Master, you're here again!" A waiter greeted him enthusiastically. As one of the top three pleasure houses in the Imperial Capital, Yi Cui Tower had a very high spending threshold. Even a cup of tea cost five *liang* of silver!

One had to know that a second-rate expert's monthly income was generally difficult to exceed 20 *liang* of silver! This showed how terrifying the spending was here!

Therefore, those who could come to Yi Cui Tower were either rich or noble!

Yi Cui Tower valued repeat customers. Now, Pang Ze had become an 'old customer.'

"This is Yi Cui Tower. The courtesans inside are all top-notch beauties. If one can spend a night in bliss here, it's worth dying for." On a distant street, young gang members watched from afar, filled with envy.

"A cup of tea inside costs five *liang* of silver. Spend a night in bliss? It costs at least a hundred *liang* of silver! That's enough for me to visit brothels my entire life. Only a fool would go in."

"Can brothels compare to Yi Cui Tower? Do you think those big shots who go in are fools?"

The young men argued, but they also watched with envy as the dignitaries entered one by one.

This was a veritable den of money! Even their gang leader had to grit his teeth before daring to enter once!

"The human instinct to reproduce causes their genes to have a desire for the opposite sex. Once this desire is stimulated, many people are willing to pay for it. They are even willing to give up all their wealth," Pang Ze said as he drank his wine and watched the performance on the distant water stage.

These beauties exuded a hazy beauty, a seductive beauty, and even emitted invisible mental fluctuations that influenced people's desires.

"The famous courtesans of Yi Cui Tower are also extraordinary. Some are skilled in mental seduction techniques." Pang Ze watched and praised, "Even if their beauty is 90 points, once the guest is affected by mental seduction, in the guest's eyes, they will be over 100 points—the most perfect dream lover."

"Even dignitaries are infatuated with them. Most of the money they embezzled or earned from business is poured into this den of money." Pang Ze watched as a wealthy young master generously took out a blank silver note and chose a courtesan performing a dance.

"And today…"

"All the spending here, all the flowing gold, silver, jewelry, and silver notes," Pang Ze said with a smile, "Brother Jingming and I will accept it all!"

******

"Did you see that?"

After eating and drinking their fill, the group of people, led by Xu Jingming, Liu Hai, and Tu Ling, came to a riverbank and looked into the distance. Xu Jingming pointed to the brightly lit, towering building in the distance, 'Yi Cui Tower.' "That's the building. That's our target."

The people behind him all stared at it. Yi Cui Tower was a well-known building in the Imperial Capital, majestic and beautiful like a fairyland.

"Follow me."

Xu Jingming had already gathered enough detailed information and was very familiar with the surrounding environment. He led them along the alley, turning left and right. In just five minutes, they were close.

"We'll directly jump over the courtyard wall in front, rush through this restaurant, and storm into Yi Cui Tower in front," Xu Jingming said. "We must control this raid on Yi Cui Tower within ten minutes."

Within ten minutes, the arriving Blood Rain Guards would only be one or two teams, and their threat was insignificant.

But as time dragged on, the number of arriving Blood Rain Guards would increase exponentially! This was because manpower was being supported from all directions!

"Action!"

With Xu Jingming's order, he led the charge. Beside him were three eighth-order Star Cluster lifeforms, which were also the sharpest arrows in the entire team! Following them were 60 first-rate experts. Liu Hai and Tu Ling led the hundred second-rate experts at the rear.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The restaurant next to Yi Cui Tower was also quite large and had a thriving business.

But when a large number of ghostly figures streaked across the sky and flashed several times, rushing out of the restaurant and heading straight for Yi Cui Tower, the restaurant's customers and guards were frightened and didn't dare to interfere.

"These fierce men are storming into Yi Cui Tower."

"In the Imperial Capital, someone actually dares to storm into Yi Cui Tower?"

The people in the restaurant couldn't believe it.

"Enemies!"

Yi Cui Tower had black-clothed guards on all sides. At the same time, there were hidden mechanisms in the surrounding areas. The entire Imperial Capital knew that 'Yi Cui Tower' was the most dangerous and safest place.

The most dangerous was for enemies! Enemies who dared to storm into Yi Cui Tower were courting death.

The safest was for guests! Yi Cui Tower would spare no expense to ensure the safety of its guests.

"*Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!*"

The three eighth-order experts beside Xu Jingming quickly released hidden weapons to destroy the key parts of the mechanisms and traps in front, rendering them useless.

Eighth-order experts had terrifying mental strength. Spreading out, they could cover a radius of at least a kilometer, naturally covering the area of Yi Cui Tower and knowing all its mechanisms and traps.

"This is an eighth-order expert—their mental strength is terrifying," Xu Jingming thought. "However, compared to Dean Ming of the Martial Academy, Dean Ming's mental strength doesn't have any pressure, but it's like an ocean, encompassing everyone and preventing any resistance. Moreover, the range is ridiculously large. The Martial Academy's 20-*li* radius is completely covered. This is just Dean Ming's casual mental release in his daily life, not an intentional spread during battle."

As he thought this, he, as the leader, didn't even make a move. The three eighth-order experts beside him had already led the many first-rate experts to charge out.

"*Yo*—"

A signal arrow soared into the sky.

"Stop them!" The surrounding black-clothed guards rushed over, and the closer blue-clothed guards also rushed over, but they all vaguely felt uneasy. This was because many places on the periphery of Yi Cui Tower had mechanisms and traps, but this group of enemies had easily charged over without triggering any of them.

"*Pfft.*"

"*Shred.*"

Blood splattered. The experts on Xu Jingming's side simply slaughtered the black-clothed guards and blue-clothed guards.

Yi Cui Tower's guards were elite, numbering about 700, mainly composed of second-rate experts, with first-rate experts as the core backbone. Such strength was elite enough.

Moreover, Yi Cui Tower's daily income would be transferred and deposited in a bank. Yi Cui Tower didn't have much cash on hand. In theory, raiding it wasn't cost-effective.

"What?"

"How can this group of enemies be so strong?"

"Are they all first-rate experts?" Yi Cui Tower's second-rate experts felt despair. It was a complete crushing! The entire formation collapsed instantly, and as it collapsed, they were strangled one by one!

The leading first-rate experts of Yi Cui Tower were also despairing and couldn't believe it. "Super-class experts?"

First-rate experts were instantly overwhelmed!

The first to meet them from Yi Cui Tower were five first-rate experts leading about a hundred second-rate experts.

What was the result when they met three super-class experts and 61 first-rate experts charging at them? Within ten breaths, only three who saw that the situation was bad and retreated early escaped with their lives. All the others were killed, and blood flowed all over the ground.

"This is a super-class expert, and with at least a 30-fold bonus in actual combat." Xu Jingming witnessed the strength of these three big shots. No one could stop them from advancing.

In a one-on-one fight, an eighth-order Star Cluster lifeform would need a few moves to deal with Yi Cui Tower's leading top first-rate expert.

But this wasn't a one-on-one fight! This was a large-scale battle! Xu Jingming's side was too elite!

Their elite level was comparable to that of the experts in the imperial palace, naturally resulting in a devastating, one-sided slaughter effect.

The guards on this side of Yi Cui Tower were finished in less than ten breaths. Only three escaped with their lives; the rest were wiped out!

Xu Jingming and his hundred-plus figures were like ghosts, all rushing into Yi Cui Tower.

"Ah, ah, ah."

"This is?"

"Something big is happening!"

The people inside Yi Cui Tower, whether they were dignitaries, courtesans, guards, or servants, were all stunned. They watched as a mighty group of people stormed into Yi Cui Tower's three main buildings.

The three main buildings were connected by elevated corridors. Beneath the corridors was a water stage for performances.

"*Pfft! Pfft!*" As Xu Jingming and the other experts charged in, some blue-clothed guards and secret guards attacked, but what awaited them was cruel slaughter! Xu Jingming's side had super-class experts and first-rate experts at the forefront. With their cooperation, who could stop them?

In a few breaths, more than 20 guards fell. The others didn't dare to move.

"This is a big problem." A young noble's expression changed slightly.

In an elegant room, a dignified middle-aged man sitting there had a sinking expression and anger in his eyes. An old man sitting next to him gently shook his head. "Second Master, bear with it. These people aren't easy to mess with."

"Master Yu, can't you do anything?" the middle-aged man asked softly.

"I can sense terrifying mental strength. There are several people in this team whose strength isn't inferior to mine," the old man shook his head. "Moreover, there are a lot of first-rate experts."

Although he was a super-class expert, he only carried a dagger with him. And this group of fierce men had shields, large axes, spears, and other weapons… If he charged up, he would be courting death.

"Close the doors and guard the entrances!" Xu Jingming scanned the area and shouted coldly, "Anyone in Yi Cui Tower who dares to act rashly, no matter who they are, will be killed without exception!"

All the guests in Yi Cui Tower couldn't help but panic.

They had already seen the strength of this group of fierce men! The corpses on the ground proved everything.

"Kill!"

"Kill them!"

Outside Yi Cui Tower, a large number of black-clothed guards and blue-clothed guards were rushing in, but Xu Jingming coldly watched all this. The first-rate experts under his command were divided into three squads, guarding the three main entrances respectively.

"*Bang, bang, bang.*"

Yi Cui Tower's guards anxiously rushed in, but the entrances were so narrow! Only seven or eight of them could rush in at the same time, and each entrance was guarded by a full 20 first-rate experts.

"*Pfft, pfft*—" The guards who rushed in were slaughtered as if they were cutting rice. They fell batch after batch, scaring the remaining Yi Cui Tower guards from daring to rush in again.

At the same time, all the doors were closed tightly!

The guards outside panicked when they saw this.

"This group of fierce men must all be first-rate experts. They're too strong."

"We'll die no matter how many of us go in. There's no way to fight." These guards were also chilled to the bone.

Some guards said, "The door is so narrow. We can only enter seven or eight people at a time. Too few people are going in! Otherwise, let's smash the walls and charge in?"

"Are you crazy! Smash it? How much silver was spent building Yi Cui Tower? If Yi Cui Tower collapses, can you afford to pay for it?"

"It's just some cash and silver being robbed. If Yi Cui Tower is destroyed, we'll lose a lot."

"There are also many VIPs inside. Losing some money is a small matter. We have to ensure the safety of the VIPs."

"Those fierce men shouldn't dare to harm the VIPs. Our Yi Cui Tower's guests are all dignitaries from all over the Imperial Capital… Daring to attack them is making enemies with all the forces in the entire Imperial Capital."

The guards argued, but they didn't dare to rush in again. Too many people had died in a short time!

There were about 700 guards, but nearly 200 had died in the blink of an eye! The most important thing was… the other side was too elite. Not a single one of them had died. They were very sure that the other side were all first-rate experts! Naturally, they were frightened and unwilling to charge forward.

On the other hand, Yi Cui Tower's cost was indeed astonishing. It was six stories high, with extremely high ceilings. It was built like a palace, a celestial abode, beautiful and magnificent. It was a famous building in the Imperial Capital.

If too many walls on the ground floor were smashed, causing the entire Yi Cui Tower to collapse, these guards wouldn't be able to bear the cost.

"Hurry up and go in. My master is still inside."

"My lord is still inside. Hurry, hurry."

"Save people! Are you pretending to be dead?"

The retainers of the dignitaries were originally leisurely waiting outside, waiting for their masters to enjoy themselves before protecting them back to their residences. Who would have thought that such a thing would happen? They were all anxious.

******

Inside Yi Cui Tower, brightly lit and beautifully decorated, dozens of corpses were lying on the ground, blood flowing and staining the wooden planks red.

Xu Jingming stood there, surrounded by three eighth-order Star Cluster lifeforms and a large number of 'filler' second-rate experts. He scanned Yi Cui Tower's dignitaries and also saw Pang Ze mixed in. Pang Ze also looked nervous.

"Please, you two, take people and search Yi Cui Tower," Xu Jingming said to the eighth-order experts beside him. Immediately, the two of them nodded. This was also planned in advance. The mental awareness range of these two eighth-order experts was large enough. Nothing in Yi Cui Tower could escape their search.

Immediately, the two of them led 50 second-rate experts to search for gold, silver, and treasure.

Xu Jingming stood in place and said loudly, "Second Master Shen from the Shen family, Young Master Chang from the Chang family, Commander Liu from Prince Qi's manor, Lord Wang from the Ministry of Rites, and Third Young Master from the Duke's manor." Xu Jingming casually spoke, but those people's expressions changed.

Since they were taking action against Yi Cui Tower, they had naturally gathered information on all the somewhat prominent figures in the Imperial Capital in advance. With the memory of Star Cluster lifeforms, everyone's appearance and information were memorized.

"There are many big shots present. I know each and every one of you," Xu Jingming said with a smile. "If the guards under your command dare to attack Yi Cui Tower, I can only take your lives first. If you cooperate obediently, I naturally won't kill you. I… only want money; I don't kill people."

There were indeed many big shots present. If they moved their fingers outside, they could mobilize a lot of power, but now, in Yi Cui Tower, their lives were controlled by this group of fierce men. Their mood was naturally not good, but they had to endure it.

"Uncle Fu, don't let anyone in. If my people come in, I'll lose my life," Young Master Chang shouted loudly. "You won't be safe if you come in. These experts are very disciplined."

"Young Master Chang, thank you," Xu Jingming said with a slight smile.

"You're welcome, you're welcome," Young Master Chang said with a forced smile.

Xu Jingming nodded with a smile. "Second Team, go and search all the guests for their money and treasures. This money is nothing to them."

Young Master Chang's expression stiffened, and he could only try to maintain his smile. Many other guests revealed expressions of shock and anger. How dare they rob each and every one of them!

"Yes!"

Tu Ling led 50 second-rate experts forward and began to search them one by one!