Free Web NovelChapter 142: Violetta Watches A Professional
Raven entered the private room with Violetta following quietly behind her.
A middle-aged cultivator was already waiting inside. Judging from his clothes and the expensive jade rings covering several of his fingers, he was clearly wealthy.
The moment he saw Raven, his face brightened. "Miss Raven, you finally came."
Raven gave him a faint smile. "I apologize for making you wait."
Her voice was soft enough to immediately calm the man.
His eyes soon shifted toward Violetta. "And this young lady is?"
Raven casually sat down across from him. "My junior sister. She is new, so she came here to learn. You do not mind, do you?"
The man laughed. "Of course not. No problem at all."
Violetta quietly sat beside Raven.
At first, nothing unusual happened.
Raven poured wine, listened, and occasionally asked simple questions.
"How has business been lately?"
"Did your eldest son finally return?"
"Oh? Your family still works with the Southern Merchant Association?"
The client answered casually.
Yet the longer the conversation continued, the more Violetta began to notice something strange.
Raven barely asked anything directly.
One moment, they were discussing wine, but only a few breaths later, the man had somehow revealed which merchant clan was currently losing money.
They spoke about his son, and not long after, the man casually mentioned which sect elder secretly supported his family.
Later, they discussed a recent banquet, yet somehow, Violetta ended up learning which noble family was preparing a marriage alliance and which one had recently hired assassins.
The worst part was that the client never seemed suspicious.
He did not even appear to realize how much important information he had already revealed.
He simply laughed, drank, complained, and occasionally tried to impress Raven, just like other men in courtesan houses.
Only now did Violetta understand just how terrifying a truly skilled courtesan could be.
Raven was not merely listening to gossip.
She was guiding the man from one topic to another, making him expose secret after secret without ever realizing he was being questioned.
The longer Violetta watched, the more she noticed something else.
Very faintly, she could sense a strange rhythm surrounding Raven’s voice and movements, something so subtle that it was almost impossible to notice.
"A lifestyle art?"
Violetta’s eyes sharpened slightly.
"No wonder she can make him talk so much. A top courtesan combined with a powerful lifestyle art really is terrifying."
Raven never forced the man to speak.
She simply made him feel comfortable enough that he wanted to reveal everything on his own.
Nearly two hours later, Raven finally stood up.
"It was pleasant seeing you again."
The man smiled happily. "Come back soon."
Raven gave him one last faint smile before leaving with Violetta.
The moment the door closed behind them, Raven’s gentle expression disappeared completely.
"Let us return to the room."
Violetta nodded. "Yes, Senior Sister."
Once they were back inside the private room, Raven sat down and immediately began teaching.
She explained every question, every pause, every change of topic, and even why she had poured wine at specific moments.
Violetta listened carefully without interrupting.
Raven finally said, "I already explained what I do, but there is one thing you must remember."
Violetta looked up.
"You cannot simply copy me."
A trace of confusion appeared in Violetta’s eyes.
Raven calmly explained, "Everyone has their own personality, presence, and charm. My method suits me because it matches who I am."
Her dark eyes remained steady. "Later, you will follow the other senior sisters as well. Their methods are completely different from mine."
Raven’s expression became more serious. "Learn whatever you can from each of us, but do not become a poor imitation."
She paused briefly before continuing. "Take what suits you, discard what does not, and slowly form your own personality and charm."
Violetta nodded seriously. "Yes, Senior Sister. I will listen to you."
Raven gave a small nod. "Good."
She calmly lifted her teacup and added, "You two can come in now."
The door opened almost immediately.
Sarah and Rosa walked inside together.
Rosa smiled brightly. "Oh? You noticed us?"
Raven did not answer. She simply continued drinking her tea.
Sarah snorted. "As expected."
The two of them ignored Raven and turned toward Violetta instead.
Rosa sat down beside her with a cheerful smile. "So? Did you learn a lot from Senior Sister Raven?"
Violetta nodded. "Yes. Much more than I expected."
Rosa giggled. "Good. Raven is terrifyingly good at making people talk."
Raven remained silent, showing no reaction to the praise.
Sarah crossed her arms. "Now the question is, which one of us do you want to follow next?"
Violetta hesitated for a moment. "I... do not really know."
She looked between them before answering honestly, "I will learn from both of you eventually, so I suppose it does not matter who goes first."
Sarah nodded immediately. "Fine. Follow me first."
Rosa raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Deciding for her already?"
Sarah ignored her completely. "My client this time is a powerful cultivator. He is the sect master of a fairly strong sect."
Her expression became more serious. "That means you can learn something very different from watching me."
Violetta nodded without hesitation. "Good. I understand."
Sarah turned toward the door. "Then let’s go."
Rosa waved lazily from her seat. "Have fun."
Violetta quickly followed Sarah into the corridor.
As they walked, Sarah glanced at her. "My style is different from Raven’s."
Violetta listened carefully.
"Raven makes people chase her attention," Sarah continued. "I don’t bother with that."
She gave a confident smirk. "My clients are usually strong cultivators, generals, sect masters, or people near the top of their field. People like that are used to being flattered."
Sarah snorted. "I treat them like drinking partners, rivals, or old battle friends instead."
Violetta blinked. "And they accept that?"
"They like it."
Sarah’s grin widened. "Strong people get tired of everyone kissing their ass. If I argue with them, challenge them, or laugh at their stories, they start trying to prove themselves."
Her eyes sharpened. "And once proud people start proving themselves, they talk too much."
Violetta slowly nodded.
Sarah pushed open the next door. "Watch carefully. Pride is one of the easiest mouths to open."
