Free Web NovelAlthough Nanling Yaohua still couldn't understand many things about the world beyond the Yumen Sand Sea,
like why 'drink more hot water' was such a universal cure-all...
she had a vague idea of what kind of place a strip club was.
The kind with indecent performances, only visited by indecent people.
Even though she knew Lu Yibei went there to capture Paper Cicada Immortal, not because Lu Yibei herself was indecent, the key question was: once they arrived, should she go in with Lu Yibei or wait outside?
If she went in, what if she saw things she shouldn't?
If she waited outside, what if Lu Yibei, going in alone, couldn't resist temptation?
After much thought, the simplest solution was to not let Lu Yibei enter Angel Rose.
Catching Paper Cicada Immortal didn't necessarily require going inside.
Wouldn't it be fine to just wait outside for Paper Cicada Immortal to come out on his own?
However, Nanling Yaohua soon realized her worries were somewhat unnecessary.
Because she didn't even need to stop her; Angel Rose simply wouldn't let 'Blue Yi' enter.
————
In front of the strange building gate of Angel Rose Theater—a structure with a giant, colorful neon sign yet styled like a French palace—two men in black suits, their builds as solid as iron towers, stood with arms crossed, blocking Lu Yibei's path.
"Hello, ma'am. Do you have proof of a prior reservation or ticket purchase?"
"Uh, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) no."
"Then we apologize. Today is Friday's special event; it's not open to female customers," one of the burly men explained in a somewhat mechanical tone.
"Hold on..." Lu Yibei tilted her head, looking at the two expressionless men, then peered over their crossed arms at the closed soundproof curtain behind them, placing her hands on her hips. "How dare you assume my gender?"
"Is it not allowed for me to look stunningly beautiful, yet identify as male, be attracted to women, be a fundamentalist vegetarian, suffer from severe depression and autism, be diagnosed with a condition where I can only feel pleasure when watching striptease performances?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the corners of Nanling Yaohua's mouth (floating beside Lu Yibei) and the two burly men's mouths twitched in unison.
However, seconds later, one of the men adjusted his demeanor and turned to point at the signboard behind him.
"We apologize, but please don't do anything that would make everyone uncomfortable."
Though called a signboard, the dense text on it resembled a disclaimer more than anything. The gist was: while respecting everyone and believing everyone's choices are their Freedom, for the sake of other customers' good experience, the theater reserves the Freedom to refuse certain customers at specific times.
"..."
After reading the signboard's contents, Lu Yibei was momentarily speechless.
She hadn't expected that even after stacking almost every conceivable 'buff,' it would be completely useless at Angel Rose.
She had just been relieved earlier that her body underwent a urban legend transformation at a critical moment, evading the Trademark Monster's prying eyes. Little did she know it would become such an inconvenience so quickly.
What should she do now? She couldn't just force her way in, could she?
Upon arriving near Angel Rose, Lu Yibei had used her spiritual senses to probe. The entire building emitted a faint but vast spiritual energy fluctuation, clearly indicating a large number of defensive fixed Spells were in place.
Actually, this was only to be expected.
A strip club frequented by Black Hand Mafia members, Night Watch agents, suspected Eclipse Society New Elder Council members, and various Psychics and urban legends from Free City would seem suspicious if it *didn't* have a sufficient number of defensive fixed Spells.
In this situation, not to mention that forcing entry and triggering those fixed Spells might alert Paper Cicada Immortal, giving that playboy a heads-up to flee, causing a commotion and being noticed by the ever-present, eerie Trademark Monster would also be troublesome.
Lu Yibei thought to herself, retreating from the entrance of Angel Rose to the street side. Her gaze shifted furtively, scanning the empty street.
Watching Lu Yibei hit a wall, Nanling Yaohua secretly rejoiced while raising her little notebook.
【If it really doesn't work, let's just wait outside? We can capture him once he comes out.】
"While it's true we could wait for him to come out, our current situation in Free City isn't great. It's best to find him sooner and leave this godforsaken place..." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Lu Yibei paused briefly, "Besides, I'm a bit curious about what's inside Angel Rose that attracts so many people to come here."
Nanling Yaohua, "..." What could it be? Isn't it just those... those things that make one blush just thinking about them?
Lu Yibei's gaze continued to wander the street.
Before long, her attention was drawn to a scene unfolding at the entrance of a dark alley on the street corner.
Three boys who looked about seventeen or eighteen, like high school students, sneaked up to a black man leaning against the wall at the alley entrance, smoking a cigarette. The leader, a boy in a red hoodie, looked around, then pulled out a small roll of bills and stuffed it into the black man's hand.
Judging by the denominations and thickness, it was probably over five hundred dollars.
For three high school students, this was definitely a huge sum.
After the black man took the money, the boy in the red hoodie subconsciously licked his lips, a strange desire flickering in his eyes.
What in the world? Is this Free City's daily routine of minors buying contraband from shady street vendors? Lu Yibei tilted her head.
Just as she was wondering, the black man finished counting the bills. But instead of pulling out a small sealed bag as she expected, he revealed a 'those who know, know' kind of meaningful smile. Then, he beckoned to the boys and led them deeper into the dark alley.
Seeing this, Lu Yibei pondered for two seconds, then her eyes lit up.
"Xiao Hua, I think I've found a way to sneak into Angel Rose!"
Without waiting for Nanling Yaohua to raise her notebook, Lu Yibei quickly followed the black man's footsteps.
The smile on the black man's face after completing the 'transaction' with the three boys—she knew that smile all too well.
Thinking carefully, wasn't that exactly the smile her older schoolmates showed when she 'bribed' them as a child to take her to the hidden internet cafes in residential buildings?
Although the content of the 'transaction' was slightly different, the smiles shared a genuine and friendly vibe of an experienced guide leading a newcomer to explore places only adults could tread.
————
Just as Lu Yibei was attempting to sneak into Angel Rose, Vivian, who had arrived earlier, had already locked onto her target and found 'Yu Yinchuan.'
But she didn't approach immediately. Instead, she frowned, looking at the somewhat off 'Yu Yinchuan.'
Angel Rose Theater was divided into four levels: three above ground and one below.
The first floor was the noisy nightclub stage area. The second floor had separate private rooms for customers with special needs. The third floor was where the dancers rested, did their makeup, and where the proprietress, Ni Miao, received important guests in a special area.
As for the basement level, Vivian only knew there was a dedicated elevator from the third floor leading directly underground, and it was heavily guarded. She wasn't very clear on its specific purpose.
At this moment, 'Yu Yinchuan' was sitting at the frontmost booth on the first-floor nightclub with a group of Black Hand Mafia members. The stage with its steel poles and the dancers with their fiery figures were within arm's reach.
Dazzling lights spun rapidly, casting beams of varying lengths, as if trying to slice and shatter the visible world.
Amidst the adrenaline-pumping soundwaves, the young women on stage, wearing very little fabric, seemed indifferent to exposing their graceful figures—or perhaps were deliberately displaying them. They swayed their hips, seductively removing garments adorned with lavish tassels or feathers, gradually revealing expanses of pale or gleaming dark skin.
The audience below, including the Black Hand Mafia members, twisted their bodies excitedly like giant earthworms, following the dancers' rhythm. From time to time, they pulled out special colored tickets exchanged for cash, waving them in their hands.
When they lured a dancer close, they would seize the moment of slipping a ticket into the crevice of a dancer's chest, the thin-as-a-line shoulder strap, or waistband, to grab a handful of the long-coveted, tempting body part.
The scene looked alluring, yet it always gave people an indescribable feeling... as if using feed to attract small animals in a zoo and then giving them a good petting while they ate.
However, human joys and sorrows are not shared. The happiness seemed to belong to them alone, seemingly unrelated to 'Yu Yinchuan.'
He just sat dazedly in the frontmost booth, chin resting on his hands, staring blankly at the half-full champagne glass on the table, as if contemplating life.
Vivian, "..."
What on earth did he come here for?
Didn't Ni Miao say he used to spend lavishly and play wildly?
What's with him now...
At first, Vivian thought 'Yu Yinchuan' might have played too much and had... problems in that area. Then she wondered if he was being coerced by the Black Hand Mafia members—allowed to look but not touch, which would be torture. Finally, she thought the Black Hand Mafia probably wasn't twisted to that extent.
Thus, only confusion remained in her heart.
————
Vivian's guesses were all wrong. freewebnøvel.com
Paper Cicada Immortal had no problems in that area and wasn't under any coercion.
When he first arrived, Bucher had told him to do as he pleased, to enjoy himself freely. If he fancied any dancer, just say the word, and arrangements would be made immediately...
He just found the place boring, even a bit disgusting. The air was filled with the scent of hormones and desires stemming from physiological impulses, which contradicted his authority. There was none of the pure, simple emotion he sought.
Yes, that's what Paper Cicada Immortal initially thought, until that golden-haired, blue-eyed dancer in a bunny girl outfit, with a bright and beautiful face, stepped onto the stage and Breaking in his line of sight.
And just as he noticed that dancer, she seemed to notice him too, standing out from the boisterous crowd.
Their eyes met. A faint, slightly shy smile appeared at the corner of the dancer's mouth.
In that instant, the blaring music suddenly'stopped.' All he could hear was the thunderous beating of his own heart. Paper Cicada Immortal felt as if he had seen a light...
He felt he might be in love.
