The Intoxicating Dwelling

Xiao Chen did not resist. He was no rigid moralist, and he faced the scene with a smile. He let the lively vitality of Fire Dance brush against him, the fiery red silk drifting across his face—soft, tickling—and the touch of her graceful form stirred a faint tremor within him.

Fire Dance was like a vibrant sprite, laughing bewitchingly. She spun her jade body, fell into Xiao Chen's arms, then lightly whirled away again. Seeing the fat man's stunned expression, she giggled, her jade palms clapping softly.

Eight lovely young women filed in, all around eighteen or nineteen—the prime of youth. They carried trays of food in twice, delivering sixteen exquisite dishes and two jugs of fine wine.

Fire Dance swayed her supple waist to the jade table, pulling Xiao Chen to sit beside her. She almost sat in his lap, this seductive and enchanting beauty radiating temptation.

Seeing the fat man's foolish grin, Fire Dance clapped her palms again. Four young maidens stepped lively into the hall, twirling with joy, and surrounded the fat man, pulling him down to sit at the table as well. The fat man chuckled.

Faced with fine wine and beautiful women, this scene was a supreme indulgence.

Fire Dance smiled bewitchingly, her whole body seeming to melt like water. She stretched her jade arms, raised her delicate wrists, and leaned her snow-white body almost into Xiao Chen's embrace. Lifting a wine cup with her slender fingers, she brought it to his lips and said softly, "For you, young master." Her limpid eyes gazed at him without blinking.

Beside him, the fat man was surrounded by four women, one even sitting in his lap, and he was utterly intoxicated. Seeing Fire Dance treat Xiao Chen so affectionately, the fat man's jiggling flesh quivered with envy, as if he himself were enjoying such boundless bliss.

Though accompanied by beauties amidst a garden of flowers, Xiao Chen's heart remained calm. Fire Dance's cultivation was not weak—she was actually at the Mortal-Shedding realm, though her true strength was hard to gauge. That alone was telling. With such power, she still greeted guests with smiles; this meant serious trouble. The Palace of Peerless Beauty was certainly no ordinary place.

The fat man was already toasting repeatedly with the four women. Laughter and clinking glasses mingled, his eyes glowing green as he scanned the girls—some pure, some seductive.

"Why so quiet, Young Master Xiao? I raise a toast to you." Fire Dance moved like a beautiful serpent, her snow-white arm tracing a graceful arc with the wine cup before Xiao Chen's eyes. Even seated beside him, she could weave her limbs into exquisite poses.

"Brother, you need to loosen up. You don't know how much I envy you! I'd gladly trade places with you!" the fat man said with a laugh. "Lady Fire Dance, my brother is entirely in your hands."

The four beauties around the fat man spoke up: "Let each of us offer a toast to Young Master Xiao!"

For a moment, the place was filled with sweet voices and lively chatter. There were also soul-stirring dances, and from behind the ice lute came Bing Qin's heavenly music, crystalline and intoxicating.

In the distance was the snow-pure Bing Qin; close at hand was the fiery, uninhibited Fire Dance. Amidst the revelry, it was an enchanting scene.

Xiao Chen was not a rigid man. His earlier distraction had been due to pondering the Palace's true power. Now he relaxed completely. Such courteous playacting was the way of things; being overly restrained was good for no one.

"A thousand charms, a hundred seductions, the red dust intoxicates; spring wind rises, willow fluff flies, heroes have short breath and children long love—the long sword becomes a soft silk around the finger..." Fire Dance fluttered like a butterfly, her voice sweet as honey, making one melt. She danced beside Xiao Chen, while the four women around the fat man pulled him into their clumsy dance.

At that moment, figures stirred as several more women emerged. They sat before several zitherns, replacing Bing Qin, and began to strum the strings. Bing Qin herself stepped into the center of the hall and began to dance as well. In the swirling dance, she was unlike Fire Dance's fervor—she moved like a gentle breeze, like a swaying willow.

Four more women came from the inner chambers, dancing behind Bing Qin with graceful bodies. Fire Dance led the four women beside her to meet them.

For a time, the hall was filled with singing and dancing, intoxicating and irresistible. Especially when the cold, moon-like Bing Qin—a woman of poetic grace—also danced before the table, it was truly a unique delight. The stark contrast between her and Fire Dance gave an extraordinary aesthetic.

Even more intoxicating was when Bing Qin finally coiled around Xiao Chen. Seeing a woman of such refined bearing in this posture was truly surprising. He could feel her soft body and delicate fragrance; at such close quarters, any man would be lost in reverie.

Beside him, the fat man was astonished. He seemed to sense something.

Only when Bing Qin drifted away and joined Fire Dance in the center did the fat man mutter under his breath, "Something's off... They've never been this forward with guests before."

Xiao Chen said nothing, but his guard went up. He guessed one possibility: perhaps the people here knew of his deeds on Dragon Island. It was nothing to worry about—those were not secrets. If anyone had the power to investigate everything that happened on Dragon Island, they would know. The question was what they were after. Were they trying to recruit him, or had they seen the extraordinary nature of Keke and the Little Defiant Dragon?

Beside him, Keke and the Little Defiant Dragon seemed not to understand any of this. They watched the dancers curiously from the soft couch.

As he enjoyed the dance of the beauties, the fat man chatted with Xiao Chen, mostly about beast fighting.

"The situation in Heavenly Emperor City is complicated now. Some Dragon Kings have appeared, and a few little sacred beasts have been brought here. If the Little Defiant Dragon can defeat them, well..." He almost seemed to be talking in his sleep.

"Do you know how many Dragon Kings came?"

"Seems like two. But I've looked into it for a long time and can't trace their origin. I can't even check their match records—they're classified by several Beast-Fighting Palaces. Even my family's palace won't let me see them. The old fossils don't want me involved."

Xiao Chen frowned. He had hoped to learn through the fat man's channels, but it seemed those people were very cautious.

"The Little Defiant Dragon can't fight those sacred beasts yet. Right now, we need to unlock its potential. In my most professional opinion, its abilities are heavily suppressed. I believe that if we properly develop it, it won't be inferior to any little sacred beast," the fat man said with rare seriousness, looking at the Little Defiant Dragon.

Xiao Chen felt a bit dizzy from the constant toasting by the women of the Intoxicating Dwelling. They seemed to know he was a cultivator and wouldn't let him use mystic arts to neutralize the alcohol. In the end, he had to make an excuse to go out for fresh air, intending to expel the wine from his body.

The moonlight was soft, the stars filled the sky.

Just then, he saw a familiar figure. Standing beside a refreshing rose garden like himself, refining alcohol from his body.

"It's you, you bastard?!" The voice was heavenly, but hostile and surprised, carrying a hint of resentment, as if she had a grudge against Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen was startled. It was Yan Qingcheng, disguised as a man. He laughed and said, "So it's you, little lady."

The stunning Yan Qingcheng, though dressed as a man, could not hide her peerless beauty. Her skin was like congealed fat, her eyes like autumn water, her figure tall and graceful, her bearing like a snow-covered tree of jade—ethereal and pure. In men's clothing, she had a different kind of beauty. At this moment, she was so radiant that even the bright moon paled.

Xiao Chen's "little lady" remark was extremely flippant, especially in such a palace-like pleasure establishment. Its implications were clear, and Yan Qingcheng was furious.

"You... you bastard... shameless!" Yan Qingcheng was outraged, feeling insulted.

Xiao Chen found it amusing. In the past, it was either life-and-death battles or absolute suppression. This was the first time he had seen her like this. He became even more flippant: "What's wrong? You don't accept it? Little lady Yan, you have no room to talk. You came here too, didn't you? Though I am curious why a woman like you would come to a place like this. Could it be you have some special 'tastes'?"

Yan Qingcheng seemed to have drunk quite a lot. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glistening. Hearing this, she staggered, then cursed under her breath: "You're a bastard... a pervert! Who do you think you are, coming here to do dirty business?"

Looking around, Xiao Chen saw that she had come from the Refined Elegance Hall. He laughed and said, "Then what could you be doing here? Reciting poetry and painting, or discussing tea and philosophy?"

"None of your business!"

"I think your tastes are just special..."

Whoosh.

Yan Qingcheng transformed into a streak of purple light, slashing five palm-blades at Xiao Chen beside the rose garden, leaving graceful afterimages. But each strike was blocked, and finally, he grabbed her delicate wrist.

"Let go. I won't fight you here. This is no ordinary place. Nobody dares to cause trouble here," Yan Qingcheng said softly, furious and embarrassed at being caught, but not daring to yell.

She was clearly drunk, her face crimson, her scent almost masked by alcohol. She must have drunk a lot.

"Since you're no match for me, don't start a fight," Xiao Chen said, turning away. At the same time, he muttered, "Be careful. A woman shouldn't be wandering into places like this. Your Patriarch has already betrothed you to me..."

Though his voice was faint, Yan Qingcheng caught it clearly. She was already dull-witted from drink, far from her usual sharpness, and said angrily, "Don't talk nonsense, or I'll make you pay!"

"How is it nonsense? You're practicing the Demon-Shattering Divine Art, aren't you? Your Patriarch told me as much. You can't be too far from me... If not me, who would you marry?"

Xiao Chen's words were barely audible, but Yan Qingcheng heard them. She was livid: "How could the Patriarch tell you all this... Xiao Chen, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll fight you to the death!"

"You think I'm afraid?" Xiao Chen looked at her challengingly, then continued toward the Intoxicating Dwelling. As he walked, he pondered: Why had Yan Qingcheng come to a place like this? There must be a reason.

A stream of alcohol was expelled from Yan Qingcheng's body, and she too headed toward the Intoxicating Dwelling, saying, "Fine, I'll settle with you today. But not by force. Since we're here, let's follow their rules and have a drinking contest."

Xiao Chen saw that she had expelled the wine but was still not fully sober. He looked at her challengingly, then said a single flippant remark that made her chase after him in fury.

"Think you can handle it, little lady Yan?"

"I didn't realize you were such a bastard! I'm going to make you drunk for a month!"

When the fat man saw Xiao Chen bring back a jade-like young man, he was a bit stunned. Bing Qin and Fire Dance showed strange expressions, as if sensing something. The eight beautiful dancers nearby had fiery eyes, because Yan Qingcheng was truly too beautiful.

After a long while, the fat man finally grinned, realizing this was a genuine beauty. He whispered to Xiao Chen, "Brother, you're something else. A woman of such national beauty is truly dazzling, and you actually brought her into a place like this..."

Yan Qingcheng entered without much talk. She kept pouring wine, drinking ten cups in a row, then looked challengingly at Xiao Chen. Each cup held about an ounce, so she had downed a

high-proof wine worth a catty in one go.

Xiao Chen said nothing and matched her, drinking ten cups. Seeing them compete, Fire Dance and Bing Qin immediately fanned the flames, and the fat man, who loved chaos, joined in.

It was a chaotic drinking battle. Before long, Fire Dance, exhaling fragrant breath mixed with alcohol, came to Xiao Chen and said, "What's the background of your handsome friend? Quite impressive. I went to the Refined Elegance Hall earlier and saw all the girls there passed out on the floor—she drank them all under the table."

"Everyone in the hall, drink together!" Yan Qingcheng, not wanting to spare Xiao Chen, also seemed intent on making the fat man, Bing Qin, and Fire Dance drunk.

Fire Dance and Bing Qin exchanged glances and signaled the other beauties to join in, planning to drink Yan Qingcheng under. But Yan Qingcheng grabbed them both, refusing to let them escape. She seemed determined to get Xiao Chen drunk and them too, while the fat man was already in a daze.

"I know you're cultivators, but in this contest, no one is allowed to expel the wine," Yan Qingcheng said challengingly to everyone. But her face was already flushed, her breath fragrant, and her eyes glistening with moisture.

The Intoxicating Dwelling was filled with sweet voices and clinking glasses. The fat man was the first to fall, drooling as he collapsed onto the red carpet with two beautiful dancers.

It was a unique drinking competition. A stunning beauty disguised as a man, accompanied by two beauties of different temperaments, fought the contest while forcing Xiao Chen to drink, creating an intoxicating scene.

Xiao Chen was astonished by Yan Qingcheng's capacity. Finally, he collapsed to the ground with reluctance, muttering his last words: "Damn... this woman can really drink. I'm out."

At last, Yan Qingcheng, supporting the already drunken Fire Dance and Bing Qin, shot two strange lights from her eyes. If Xiao Chen had been awake, he would have recognized it as a divine art of the mind, capable of guiding people to reveal secrets without a trace.

She looked into Bing Qin's eyes and asked in an almost inaudible voice, "Tell me, does the Palace of Peerless Beauty hide a Dragon King?"

"Yes... yes..."

Yan Qingcheng herself was on her last legs. After hearing the answer she wanted, she too collapsed, falling toward Xiao Chen...

The hall gradually quieted. Except for three women by the zither stands, everyone was drunk.

Keke and the Little Defiant Dragon were perplexed. They enjoyed their food and watched the entire scene calmly.

The three women by the zither stands looked at each other, then walked over. First, they looked at Xiao Chen. One said, "He has a masculine handsomeness, but he's not as pretty as the other one."

Their gazes all fell on Yan Qingcheng. Looking at her dreamlike face, another sighed, "Is this really a man? As a woman, I feel inferior. She's too beautiful."

A slender finger couldn't help but touch that jade-like face, but it jerked back as if shocked. "A woman! She's a woman!"

"No wonder. How could a man be this beautiful? She truly is gorgeous!"

"She's probably only rivaled by the legendary Flower Empress of the Palace of Peerless Beauty."

"Or the Flower Emperor of the Sunken-Fish-Sinking-Goose Palace might match her."

Looking at Yan Qingcheng's reclining form, the three beauties were jealous.

"I was moved for nothing—she's a woman. Hmph, unforgivable."

At that, the youngest, barely sixteen or seventeen, giggled mischievously and said, "We can't let it go at that." With that, they began to rearrange Yan Qingcheng's pose.

Yan Qingcheng was already lying on top of Xiao Chen. The girls adjusted them into a clearly more intimate position. Yan Qingcheng not only embraced Xiao Chen but had one hand thrust into his clothes. Meanwhile, the naughty girl grabbed Xiao Chen's big hand and pushed it into Yan Qingcheng's bosom.

"Hehe... I can't wait to see their faces when they wake up."

"Are we being too wicked? Hehe."

"No, it's fun, hehe..."

The three girls left the hall. Keke and the Little Defiant Dragon, their eyes bright with mischief, quietly slipped away and ventured deep into the Palace of Peerless Beauty.