Chapter Thirty: A Sound Thrashing

"Brother Shen, this is my good friend, Zhao Guangnian." Ma Yingze wrapped an arm around the young man's shoulders, introducing him warmly to Qin Hao.

Zhao Guangnian had a fair complexion and bright, spirited eyes; he did not possess the frailty typical of scholars. Had he lived in a later age, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, he would have been the perfect archetype of a powerful executive—lean when clothed and muscular when stripped.

"Brother Zhao," Qin Hao greeted him first.

A smile spread across Zhao Guangnian's face. "I have long heard of your great talent, Brother Shen. To meet you today is a stroke of great fortune."

Ma Yingze spoke up, sounding exasperated, "Stop with the polite formalities, you two. The ladies have been waiting." He added, "Besides, Zhao Guangnian, are you really a scholar? What scholar can go a hundred rounds with me without falling?"

Qin Hao was slightly surprised. So he was a martial artist; no wonder his build was so well-proportioned. To be honest, Qin Hao felt a bit envious. He wondered when his own body would stop being skin and bones and finally fill out. His appetite was growing larger by the day, but the flesh was slow to follow.

Just then, Lady Mei and Lady Xue finished their performance and sat down on either side of Qin Hao.

"Master Shen, must you leave tonight?" Lady Xue leaned against him, her eyes soft and alluring. Lady Mei said nothing, but she kept casting suggestive, flirtatious glances his way.

Qin Hao remained outwardly composed, but inside, he was screaming that he couldn't take much more. If he didn't know his body was still in recovery, he would have taken them upstairs by now.

Ma Yingze laughed heartily. "It has to be my Brother Shen, the great talent. We only have the pleasure of the courtesans' company today thanks to you."

Zhao Guangnian nodded in agreement. "Brother Shen's poetry is truly stunning. Ever since I learned of it, I have read it repeatedly, finding new insights every time. I only wonder when we might see your next masterpiece."

Qin Hao, having no desire to court fame unnecessarily, smiled and politely declined. "Articles are born of nature; one encounters them only by a stroke of luck. Good poetry requires time for inspiration to accumulate."

These words stunned everyone present. Zhao Guangnian clapped his hands. "Exquisite! 'Articles are born of nature; one encounters them only by a stroke of luck.' Brother Shen, your talent is immense. A masterpiece rolls off your tongue so easily—we must toast to this!"

Lady Xue and Lady Mei's eyes lit up at these words. They leaned in even closer to Qin Hao, as if trying to merge with his very being. Qin Hao was pressed so firmly by the softness on both sides that he could barely breathe, yet he could not bear to push them away, feeling a mixture of agony and delight.

Soon, the wine had flowed and the meal had progressed. The three men grew increasingly merry as they talked.

"Brother, to say nothing else, this private room—it is only because of you that we have the top courtesans and the finest wine. This wine is something money can't even buy," said Zhao Guangnian. He loved his drink, and having consumed the most, his speech had become slurred.

Qin Hao was a bit dazed, but he wasn't drunk. He spoke carelessly, "You call this fine wine? Wait until I've regained my health; I'll show you how to drink the real stuff."

"If there's good wine, I want in!" Ma Yingze laughed.

Qin Hao waved a hand generously. "Don't worry, there's enough for everyone."

Two quarters of an hour later, Qin Hao felt a bit tipsy and, unable to hold back the urge, stepped out of the private room to relieve himself. As he walked, he was undoubtedly the most eye-catching figure in the Fengyue Pavilion. Every guest who had seen him with the two beauties that night greeted him, all hoping to discuss poetry. The ladies of the house were even bolder; whenever they passed him, they couldn't resist a gentle touch. In this place, Qin Hao was more than just a fish in water; he was in his element.

Soon after, Qin Hao finished.

He had barely taken two steps when he collided with another guest who had also had too much to drink. It was a disaster of pure misfortune. As he was returning to his room, the man suddenly swayed and slammed into him. This scene was witnessed by many who had been watching Qin Hao.

"Who has no eyes, daring to bump into me?" the man who had hit him immediately began to curse. His voice was loud, to say the least. The guests and ladies who had been smiling at Qin Hao all frowned slightly. They had seen many people drunk at the Fengyue Pavilion, but they had never seen anyone so arrogant as to bump into someone and then curse them out. Even Ma Yingze, despite his high status and dissolute nature, was a man of reason.

When Qin Hao saw the man ranting, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. It was Qin Kaiji.

Qin Kaiji looked up and saw Qin Hao. The moment he laid eyes on him, he spat out, "Why is it you, you useless waste?"

"A piece of trash like you dares to come to the Fengyue Pavilion? What kind of status do you think you have? You probably can't even afford a single pot of wine here. Wait... I get it! You're here to work as a pimp, aren't you? Hahahaha!"

Abruptly, Qin Kaiji began to insult Qin Hao without restraint.

The scholars and ladies nearby looked at Qin Kaiji as if he were an idiot. Who was this fool, calling the talented Master Shen a piece of trash? And saying he couldn't afford a pot of wine—what a bold statement. Master Shen had the top courtesans falling all over him with a mere flick of his finger! They really didn't know where this moron had crawled out from.

Qin Hao's gaze turned cold. He glanced at the stairs behind Qin Kaiji, wondering if kicking him down would kill him. After a quick calculation, he found an angle that would ensure Qin Kaiji's head struck the steps three times; even if it didn't kill him, it would likely cause a brain hemorrhage or paralysis.

However, Qin Hao decided against it. Such low-level retaliation could cost him his own life. It wasn't worth throwing his life away for a moron like this.

Qin Kaiji, unaware he had just escaped a death sentence, became even more persistent. "What? What are you staring at? You want to hit me? Let me tell you, I am a VIP of the Fengyue Pavilion! If you dare to lay a hand on me, do you think you'll still have a job as a pimp? Hurry up, get me a chamber pot; I need to piss. If I'm satisfied, I'll reward you with two copper coins. And stay away from home—the Qin family can't afford the shame. Working as a pimp, you're just as cheap as your mother. She seduced wild men, and you work as a pimp—truly, you two are a perfect pair."

"Screw your mother!"

Qin Hao had been drinking, and while he had intended to ignore the idiot, his temper began to flare. His leg moved before he could stop it, landing a kick squarely in Qin Kaiji's stomach. He had calculated the angle with his last bit of reason, ensuring it wouldn't kill him but would keep him bedridden for days.

Unexpectedly, Qin Kaiji did not go down. Having been pampered his whole life, he was physically robust. After rolling twice on the stairs, he grabbed the wooden railing and charged back up.

"You little runt, you dare hit me? Today I'm going to kill you and avenge my brother!" Qin Kaiji's eyes were bloodshot, and he had completely lost his mind.

Qin Hao was startled and quickly dodged. Qin Kaiji slammed into the wooden railing, letting out a scream of pain. All around them, women began to shriek, shouting that a fight had broken out.

Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian, drinking in their room, soon heard that Qin Hao was being attacked. Both were tipsy, and their eyes blazed with fury as they grabbed whatever was at hand and charged out. When they arrived, they found Qin Hao and Qin Kaiji locked in a brawl.

Strangely, despite his thin frame, Qin Hao seemed to possess an unexpected strength, pinning Qin Kaiji down and raining blows upon him. Just then, the servants and bodyguards Qin Kaiji had brought with him realized what was happening and rushed up to help their young master.

"Damn it, trying to bully people with numbers? You think I don't exist?" Ma Yingze roared and charged into the fray. Zhao Guangnian followed, showing no fear despite being outnumbered.

In an instant, they were all tangled in a chaotic brawl. It wasn't until the local authorities arrived that the fighting ceased.

Looking at the scene, Qin Kaiji lay unconscious, his face a bloody mess. Qin Hao stood up, his eyes still red, and spat a mouthful of blood toward Qin Kaiji. "You bastard, I’ve been holding in a lot of anger. If killing you didn't mean my own life, you'd be the first one I'd put in the ground!"

Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian were also battered and bruised. Facing four trained bodyguards, even Ma Yingze, who had a military background, had suffered minor injuries. But they had still managed to floor the four guards.

The city watchmen, seeing that Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian were involved, wore looks of helpless resignation. These two were regulars in the local jail, and their status was higher than the last. The captain of the watchmen took a deep breath and ordered, "Take them all away!"

This included the unconscious Qin Kaiji.

The two secret guards who had been protecting Qin Hao exchanged a glance. One followed Qin Hao to ensure his safety, while the other hurried off to report to the Princess.