Chapter 406: Chapter 64: Interrogation from the Witch
Nangong Cheng, clad in his scholar’s robes, chuckled and said, "You won’t even deign to sleep with me, yet you still want my calligraphy? Do you have any idea how valuable my writing is?"
"Giggle... Academician Qing Lian, you’ll be the one offering yourself up for free!" Guann Zhenzhen said with a laugh.
Nangong Cheng cracked a grin and said, "I’ll be waiting!"
A wicked, charming smile played on Guann Zhenzhen’s lips. She clapped her hands, and a few disciples entered. Two pushed a wooden horse, while another led in two very strapping men.
After bringing the items inside, the three disciples silently retreated two steps and stood with their heads bowed.
Guann Zhenzhen walked over to the wooden horse, stroking it gently. "For you three," she said, "Zhenzhen went to a great deal of trouble this time.
Your backbone truly impressed Zhenzhen, I must admit. In all these years, Zhenzhen has rarely met Cultivators who could withstand all of my methods without bowing their heads.
The three of you could withstand the soul-rending agony of the Soul Nails without even a change in expression. Against that, Zhenzhen truly had no other recourse.
But as luck would have it, while passing through a mortal town, I chanced upon an interesting scene in an Entertainment Quarter.
That scene gave Zhenzhen a great deal of inspiration.
Therefore, Zhenzhen hurried back and ’called’ for a disciple from Baifeng Courtyard to craft this item for me. Do you three seniors know what this is called?"
Guann Zhenzhen stroked the wooden horse with a look of tender pity, especially caressing the custom-made protrusion on its back.
Hearing this, the three men weakly raised their eyes to the wooden horse. They could tell with a single glance that it was merely a crude, One-Star Magical Artifact.
The young Monk Huineng and the Daoist-robed Hua Zhengyu paid it no mind, but the ever-dapper, scholar-robed Nangong Cheng’s expression changed drastically the moment he saw the wooden horse, especially the protrusion on its back.
This was the first time Guann Zhenzhen had ever seen the robed scholar Nangong Cheng’s expression change. She suddenly bit her lip in a show of shyness and said coquettishly, "Oh, you’re awful! How could you know even this, Academician Qing Lian? I put so much thought into it."
Nangong Cheng no longer replied with his usual nonchalance, nor did he offer any sarcastic retort. His expression was simply grim.
Guann Zhenzhen squirmed coquettishly, then moved to the other side where the two strapping men were.
Their muscles rippled like bodybuilders, their skin was a tanned, yellowish-brown, and they wore nothing but shorts. Their entire bodies seemed to be coated in a layer of fine oil, making them gleam slightly.
The only imperfection was the collars fastened around their necks and the vacant look in their eyes.
Guann Zhenzhen stepped forward and reached out a delicate hand, stroking their skin tenderly and lingering for a long time on their powerful chests.
After a moment, she looked at the three captives again. "Do you know what their job is?
Zhenzhen can give you a little hint," she cooed. "They were another one of Zhenzhen’s acquisitions from that Entertainment Quarter!"
The young Monk Huineng, clad in coarse cloth, and the middle-aged, Daoist-robed Hua Zhengyu had not been paying much attention.
But now, seeing that the scholar-robed Nangong Cheng—who had never once changed his expression—was growing ever more grim, both of them frowned in unison and stared coldly at Guann Zhenzhen, saying nothing.
Guann Zhenzhen, however, looked at the scholar-robed Nangong Cheng with delight. "You know about this too, Academician Qing Lian?
It seems Zhenzhen’s knowledge of the books in Huayue Academy is truly lacking!
Hmm... I doubt your two seniors know. Why don’t you explain it to them, Academician Qing Lian?"
Nangong Cheng’s face was a grim mask; he refused to speak.
Guann Zhenzhen didn’t seem to mind in the slightest—or perhaps she never expected a response in the first place. She paused, stroking the man beside her as she continued:
"In the Mortal World, their specialty is entertaining clients, you see. Just like the women in the Entertainment Quarter. However, they don’t only entertain women."
Hearing this, the young Monk Huineng’s brow furrowed in confusion. But the Daoist-robed Hua Zhengyu suddenly understood. His previously listless, Ordinary eyes flew wide, his lips trembling as he stared at Guann Zhenzhen.
In that moment, she was a true demon in his eyes.
"Giggle... It seems Daoist Hua has figured it out as well. Oh my, you two seniors have certainly lived rich and colorful lives!"
She gave a bashful smile, then abruptly changed tack. "I found it all so interesting that I went and asked the madam in the Entertainment Quarter about those...
...hmm... those scholars with unyielding backbones. How does one make them talk? Can you guess what that ’madam’ told me?"
She paused, glanced at the robed scholar Nangong Cheng, and went on, "She told me there’s no such thing as a scholar with unbreakable integrity. As long as you cater to their ’tastes,’ even a man of steel can be made as soft as putty.
I figured, if even someone like Zhenzhen can’t satisfy you three seniors, I must not be to your ’taste’.
So, Zhenzhen brought these two men and this horse. I wonder, which will you three seniors choose?"
At her words, the young Monk Huineng still looked slightly confused. The middle-aged man in the Daoist Robe, Hua Zhengyu, stared with wide eyes and trembling lips. And the young scholar in his robes, Nangong Cheng, was silent, his face a grim mask.
"Not choosing? Then Zhenzhen will just have to choose for you seniors.
Of course, you seniors can rest assured, you won’t all go at once. We’ll go one by one, so the others can admire the... spectacle! Now, who’s first?"
Guann Zhenzhen paused, looking at the three men. Face grim, the scholar-robed Nangong Cheng looked away from Guann Zhenzhen’s gaze for the first time.
The Daoist-robed Hua Zhengyu turned his head away completely. Only the young Monk Huineng remained, frowning at the sudden change in atmosphere.
