Chapter 57: Long-awaited Reunion Missing One, Mercury Cultivation Practice
In Gu Ling Town there is Feng Yue Bridge, this place is a district for seeking pleasure and fun.
Among them brothels, whorehouses, male brothels, even sheep houses, all mixed together chaotically, too numerous to count.
Although named a bridge, it is actually twenty-four streets and alleys, the streets and alleys have water, also named “Twenty-Four Bridges Wind and Moon” (note1）, the alley entrances are narrow and twisting, like duck intestines, section by section, the houses in between overlapping like a forest.
People walking inside feel as if in a maze, unless a regular customer or guided by a pimp, otherwise they will surely be dazzled and disoriented, not knowing the way out.
In such a place, there are famous courtesans, crooked courtesans, good families, whore families, all mixed together.
Among them, those with names and surnames are all hidden from sight, one must seek the hidden and probe the secrets to reach them. The nameless crooked ones are numerous, every evening they apply ointment, burn incense, with piercing fragrance, to the point that turbid water flows in the gutters, and between houses it is like cooking smoke rising.
The whores, male prostitutes, and pimps will also walk out to the alley entrances, like crows and sparrows perching at street corners, teahouses, and liquor shops, called “stationing the pass”.
Yin Xiao Jian came from Shao Wei Guan, his steps very fast.
He looked at the teahouses, liquor shops, alley entrances on the shore, with hundreds of gauze lamps, many whores flickering and hiding among them, the ugly ones draped in gauze, big-footed ones wearing skirts, scarred ones applying powder.
Because under lamps and moonlight, people have no true colors, plus the saying that one white can cover a hundred ugliness, the whores and male prostitutes here can be said to all have decent appearances, making Yin Xiao Jian’s index finger twitch with desire.
This fellow couldn’t help muttering: “In such a place of supreme pleasure and prosperity, I wonder if Fang Shu has ever enjoyed it?”
Thinking of that guy surnamed Fang, who looks like a novice without any flair, Yin Xiao Jian’s face couldn’t help showing a bit more smugness, feeling he surpassed him.
This fellow mixed in the crowd, like a swimming fish swimming in the twenty-four alleys.
From time to time, patrons came and went like shuttles around, constantly people scattering away, as if swallowed in one gulp by those pitch-black houses.
Inside the houses, like burps, sounds of doors and windows rose, and pimps and attendants responded: “Sister Someone has a guest!”
Immediately the house responded like thunder, candles lit, sounds of women or men cooing flirtatiously and pleasingly.
But Yin Xiao Jian wandered around and around, he still hadn’t left the crowd to enter those black houses. Even if old women came to forcibly pull him, or whores spoke to him coquettishly, he didn’t stop his steps.
The reason was none other, this fellow didn’t have much money, couldn’t afford famous courtesans, but was picky, looked down on crooked ones, always wanting to use his bit of experience to negotiate a good value-for-money deal.
Thus today, Yin Xiao Jian wandered for a full hour plus, picking and choosing, but found none to his liking.
But this fellow’s inner evil fire was raging, he just wouldn’t leave like this:
“Damn it, I’m already here, how can I return empty-handed!”
At this moment, as he passed an alley entrance for who knows how many times, suddenly a person bumped out, calling out in surprise:
“Young Brother Yin!”
This voice was shrill and thin, and knew his surname, immediately stunning Yin Xiao Jian, he didn’t remember having a favorite here, nor had he revealed his real name.
That person called him, then walked out from the black house, revealing his appearance, surprisingly a pimp in green clothes and green hat, only this pimp was also rouged and adorned with makeup, with a coquettish posture.
Yin Xiao Jian looked carefully, then recognized, hesitating: “You are… Brother Tian?”
The person was none other than Tian Tian Quan, the man who came on the same boat as Fang Shu and Yin Xiao Jian back then.
Tian Tian Quan showed a fawning smile: “It’s me, Young Brother Yin, here to have fun? Acquaintance price, guaranteed no loss.”
Yin Xiao Jian looked at the other in surprise, quite shocked on his face, really hadn’t expected to see him here, and that he had fallen to doing such lowly work as a pimp.
But thinking carefully, recalling the night boat encounter, he found that pimp work might just suit Tian Tian Quan.
Yin Xiao Jian put on airs, hesitating: “Really acquaintance price?”
Tian Tian Quan hearing this knew there was hope, rubbed his hands, immediately took Yin Xiao Jian’s wrist, heading into the pitch-black house.
His mouth shouting: “Sisters have a guest!”
Once entering the house, even more piercing powder scent drilled into Yin Xiao Jian’s nose and mouth, making him sneeze hard several times.
This fellow couldn’t help cursing: “What grade is this place really, do you have any good goods?”
Tian Tian Quan smiled awkwardly: “Yes, yes!”
As a result, one after another crooked melons and split dates passed in front of Yin Xiao Jian, they were either disheveled and dirty, or listless with disease on their bodies, or hoarse voices, not one with good looks.
This made Yin Xiao Jian impatient, repeatedly making moves to leave.
Tian Tian Quan anxiously comforted in every way, fussed over him, even directly knelt on the ground, begging:
“Brother, please, I haven’t had business for nearly a month, the madam doesn’t want me to do business, can only be a pimp. Just take pity on me, pick a bit more.”
Their pulling and tugging drew laughs from other pimps, male prostitutes, whores in the house, either sarcastic comments or laughing among themselves.
“This plague-ridden rotten butt, if the old woman lets you do business, won’t it scare the guests away.”
“A rotten person meets a poor sourpuss in the pile of rot, who isn’t pitiful.”
Yin Xiao Jian was also an old patron.
What scenes hadn’t he seen, he didn’t believe Tian Tian Quan’s complaints at all, instead impatiently said: “No business, go sell blood, why beg me.”
Tian Tian Quan cried loudly: “I want to sell too, but Blood Hall says I’m diseased, won’t take.”
These words still didn’t move Yin Xiao Jian at all, he continued shouting:
“Can’t sell, go mining! Maybe dig up Precious Medicine, turn over in one go.”
At this, Tian Tian Quan didn’t respond, just hugged one of Yin Xiao Jian’s legs, continuing to cry pitifully, looking quite miserable.
Amid their commotion, the whole house roared with laughter, also drawing curses from many patrons:
“What crying! We’re here for pleasure, not to hear wailing.”
“Old woman hates big men crying most, fork them out.”
The pimps and male prostitutes in the house surged up, in the shoving they were about to throw Yin Xiao Jian and Tian Tian Quan out.
But at this moment, another skinny figure swayed out, recognizing the two in the crowd, immediately exclaiming in surprise:
“Eh! Little Brother Yin?”
In the chaos, Yin Xiao Jian looked up, found another shipmate acquaintance.
This skinny one was precisely Old Daoist Lu.
Only now the other was no longer in Daoist Robe, but wearing a floral robe, old face powdered, flower in ear, dressed not as a patron but as a male prostitute.
Yin Xiao Jian exclaimed in surprise: “Lu Daochang, how are you here too?”
“Make way, this is my brother Old Lu, please bear with us.” Old Daoist Lu squeezed into the crowd, righteous as on the boat.
He even forcibly pulled Tian Tian Quan away, cursing:
“Surname Tian, don’t delay everyone’s business, get up quick.”
After a bout of clamor.
The people in the house didn’t give Old Daoist Lu any face at all, and threw him out along with the other two.
The three stood at the alley entrance, looking at me, I look at you.
Old Daoist Lu’s face embarrassed, he then shouted: “Rare reunion, come, today I just got tip money, I’ll treat you to liquor.”
Yin Xiao Jian seeing free tea to drink, suppressed his irritation, planning to first see and hear these two’s experiences.
But Old Daoist Lu didn’t take them to teahouse or liquor shop for drinks, instead spent money to buy a few candles from the tea master, measured a few packages of offal wrapped in lotus leaves, then cheekily got three clay bowls on credit, sat by a gutter, treating the two to liquor.
The waning moon like a hook, water in the gutter turbid, both fragrant and stinky, full of strange smell.
Yin Xiao Jian sat down, looking at the offal and such, had no appetite at all.
This fellow glanced at the two shipmates beside him eating heartily, couldn’t help muttering: “All mixed to this state, no chance for cultivation, you two might as well go down the mountain, mix in the Mortal World.”
Hearing this, Tian Tian Quan once again held his head and wailed, choking unable to speak, even fiercely slapping his own face, like having epilepsy.
“What illness did this fellow get?” Yin Xiao Jian looked at Old Daoist Lu in astonishment.
Old Daoist Lu slowly but speedily gnawed the offal, mumbling unclearly:
“Him, as you said, regretting coming to Gu Ling Town.
Speaking of it, his boat fare back then was short, pawned wife and daughter to make up, said to wait for him, wait for him to succeed in cultivating immortality, definitely go down mountain to fetch them. Even if cultivation fails, bring back a pile of Talisman Money, enjoy together.”
Old Daoist Lu shrugged, muttered: “Who knew coming was fine, can’t go back.”
Yin Xiao Jian pondered, understood the meaning.
Coming from Mortal World to Gu Ling Town needs one thousand Talisman Money for the boat, going back naturally also one thousand Talisman Money.
Though can sell blood in town, expenses in town are all calculated in Talisman Money, slightly borrow or owe debt, and you’re in a pit, hard to turn over till death.
Otherwise, Blood Hall’s business in town wouldn’t be so booming!
For a moment, Yin Xiao Jian half pitied Tian Tian Quan, half glad and joyful.
He couldn’t help puffing his chest again, holding his chin proudly, glancing sideways at the two shipmates before him.
Compared to these two, he Yin Xiao Jian had home to return, food to eat, Cultivation Method to practice, simply a superior person!
In an instant, Yin Xiao Jian’s mood, badly hit in Shao Wei Guan, fully recovered.
He too pretended casual, started drinking and chatting with Tian Tian Quan and Old Daoist Lu.
Yin Xiao Jian tipsy said:
“Right, Brother Lu. You said back then you had a special skill, could suck liquor with that thing. Surely now in Feng Yue Bridge, you’re like a fish in water.”
Who knew Old Daoist Lu hearing this, face stiffened, cursing:
“Don’t mention it. This place isn’t mortal market, it’s Immortal Cultivator Marketplace, those old women’s tastes are one stranger than the next… ai, hard to say in one sentence, drink drink.”
Yin Xiao Jian asked what specific trouble he met, Old Daoist Lu hemmed and hawed, wouldn’t say.
Finally the crying Tian Tian Quan beside lifted his head, said a few words in a thin voice.
Yin Xiao Jian hearing, immediately widened his eyes, exclaiming in shock:
“Iron Sand Pestle, Nine Dragons Playing Pearl? These things can also be used as medicine paste, even embedded?”
Old Daoist Lu’s face indescribable, bitter but couldn’t say, yet nodded.
Then, this fellow even pitched to Yin Xiao Jian:
“Cough, Brother Yin, if you have elders or peers who like using these things, remember to find me Lu.
I Lu not good at much, just good at ‘endurance’ two words, guaranteed satisfaction!”
Old Daoist Lu patted his chest in guarantee.
These words in Yin Xiao Jian’s ears made his thoughts drift.
Speaking of it, he really had a female elder with abundant Yin Energy, his aunt.
Amid idle talk, Old Daoist Lu suddenly sighed:
“Several people from one boat, long separated reunion, us three brothers all here, only missing Young Brother Fang.”
He asked Yin Xiao Jian:
“We two haven’t met Brother Fang Shu in the marketplace, wonder if Brother Yin has met him? Where is he making a living, hope not gone mining.”
Hearing this, Yin Xiao Jian’s just recovered proud mood immediately soured again.
Especially Old Daoist Lu and Tian Tian Quan again discussing Fang Shu’s life or death, whether mining or not.
Yin Xiao Jian wanted to laugh but couldn’t, momentarily silent and bored.
The other two also muttered:
“This Immortal Market, so hard to endure…”
“I don’t want to be a lord anymore, I want to go down mountain alive.”
Instead, in the twenty-four streets and alleys, laughter and revelry unending.
Until dawn, most patrons dispersed, here again sounds of being slapped, whipped, starving, all entered the ears.
…………………………
And at the same time.
Fang Shu stayed in Du Gu Guan, he newly obtained the full Lead Skill, full Tongue Sword, wholeheartedly studying the two secret manuals.
While studying, he also set up Lead Skill fist stance in the room, on-site trying the Marrow Refining Chapter’s Lead Skill fist stance.
According to Lead Skill Marrow Refining Chapter, this Cultivation Method can during marrow refining Tribulation, refine a mouthful of silver mercury bone marrow.
Its color white, quality heavy like mercury, main refining method precisely needs mercury as aid, boil it into the body.
Once refined, practitioner’s bones both hard and tough, even if broken, the silver mercury bone marrow inside leaks out, can immediately mend the crack, as if unharmed.
But mercury’s poison is very strong, beginners generally start from Cinnabar.
Cinnabar though also poisonous, not as fierce as mercury, as long as cultivator beforehand refined Black Lead Blood, can try internal and external use, gradually transition to mercury for Tribulation refining.
And defect of using this for Cultivation Practice is too slow efficacy.
Thus Fang Shu now tried and pondered, his refined Precious Blood is Purple Lead Poisonous Blood, possessing both Gu poison blood and Black Lead Blood’s wonders.
And his physical body also received Purple Lead Mica Milk’s nourishment, foundation solid, whether can directly use mercury for Cultivation Practice.
If so, then his Lead Skill Marrow Refining Chapter’s refining efficiency undoubtedly rises a big chunk!
After calculating, he thought secretly:
“This plan works!”
Thus next few days.
Fang Shu paused Gu Technique study, listed Lead Skill’s analysis as Dao Talisman’s first task, and in the room’s Scorpion Basin big vat, filled with mercury.
After a bout of cautious trial, Fang Shu found though still unable to directly ingest mercury, nor suck into lungs, easy to poison.
But he only needed to hold breath, could sit in mercury, quietly sit and refine stance, not disturbed by strong poison.
With skin and flesh as barrier, mercury’s poison could only slowly penetrate body, and this bit of poison completely within Purple Lead Poisonous Blood’s tolerance.
Able to directly use mercury for marrow refining, Fang Shu’s mind Dao Talisman analysis speed of Lead Skill also surged a big chunk.
Thus less than a month, in Dao Talisman appeared a line of text:
【《Lead and Mercury Blood Precious Seed Tool Secret Technique Marrow Refining Chapter》（ Complete）】
His mind excited, couldn’t help low chanting:
“Lead Insect Combined Aid Marrow Refining, Two Skills Help Me Pass Second Tribulation!”
At this, Fang Shu fully mastered Insect Skill Marrow Refining Chapter, Lead Skill Marrow Refining Chapter.
He two Cultivation Methods complete, one main one auxiliary, in even more fierce progressing state, charging toward Second Tribulation.
And when Fang Shu thought he would immerse in such cultivation state, continue until money and grain exhausted, pills gone, forced to consider offerings, earning money etc. before breaking through.
Again not yet a month.
Paper Workshop side suddenly had an incident, Fang Shu hearing, couldn’t help from quiet to active, immediately broke through.
Note1: This chapter references Ming dynasty article, Zhang Dai《 Twenty-Four Bridges Wind and Moon》.
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