Chapter 182: Within the Thick Fog

Chapter 182: Amidst the Great Fog

A vast fog permeated the air, nearly merging with the dark clouds above.

Towering edifices reaching from earth to heaven squeezed the dim sky into a mere sliver; upturned eaves at four corners pierced the sea of clouds, and accumulated rainwater cascaded down the eaves, forming curtain-like waterfalls hanging from the heavens.

Even the once magnificent and uncanny advertising projections could no longer maintain their forms, dissipating into a kaleidoscope of alluring, dazzling lights within the fog sea, shrouding the Central Yu District where human voices were rising to a boil.

Yet no matter how foul the weather, it could not halt desire stirring in wait of its moment.

"Blissful Yellow Millet Pavilion Year-End Grand Rewards! Classic masterpiece 'The Carnal Prayer Mat' adapted and replicated, now fully online! A brand-new version you have absolutely never seen! Limited-time experience price: only 100 Treasure Notes! Group experiences enjoy even more discounts!"

"Yellow Millet is false, Five-Stone Powder is true! Buy Five-Stone Powder at Hanging Pot Pharmacy! Fudu Medical Group, century-old brand guarantee. Big brand, more trustworthy!"

"Yu Gong Series Basic Prosthetics limited-time 30% off! Simple linkage, durable, five-year return/exchange guarantee, ten-year repair warranty—absolutely the best partner on your assembly line, the finest aid for promotion and raise! Want more discounted goods? Access the Tiangong Group's Yellow Millet Dream!"

"Want beauty like Xishi, outshining Diao Chan? Want looks like Pan An, face like Song Yu? Want to turn beard into kerchief, hollows into peaks? Want to experience a different life? Flesh remodeling is the true remodeling! Qimin Group awaits your call!"

"What is high precision? What is security? Not 4,900, not 3,900, only 2,999! Take home the upgraded 'Yao Li Model One' light pistol! Gun in hand, your life follows you!"

On the bustling, clamorous streets, a hundred flowers bloomed in contention; human clamor drowned out even the rain.

Aside from some common livelihood goods, many contraband items explicitly forbidden by the Great Ming Code, restricted to black market circulation, were here sold openly and brazenly.

There was no such thing as a black market here, because everywhere could be a black market.

This was Chongqing Prefecture—nothing was illegal, only things not worth the money.

"Boss, come have some fun, top quality at fair price, absolutely worth it."

"Come on, we can issue proper receipts here, guaranteed reimbursable at your company."

In the gloomy alleyways, courtesans with nothing beneath their skirts and jackets cried out with vigor; affected, coquettish charm struggled to bloom on faces slightly stiff.

Common labor-slaves dressed in shabby attire huddled under the eaves in a row, squinting as they sized things up from top to bottom.

Calculating in their hearts whether to seek solace in a Yellow Millet Dream, or splash out once to reward themselves.

Whispering head-to-head from time to time, discussing the matter.

While some petty bosses with fuller wallets disdained to linger here, striding with heads high toward the alley's deeper reaches.

These courtesans were mere small fry; the true fine wine lay deep within the alley.

Revolving lanterns spun ceaselessly, enacting the full repertoire of the 'Sutra of the Plain Girl' in the limited open space before the shop door.

Burly men in sleeveless armor, revealing full-body dragon-and-phoenix tattoos, stood guard on either side of the entrance, eyes wide, maintaining high alert, ready to intercept any bill-skippers.

At this hour, it was barely the Hour of the Pig; by rights, it should be the peak of business for the brothel nightclubs.

Yet this establishment named 'Pure Land' had already seen off the vast majority of its patrons, appearing rather desolate.

"Take care, Young Master Zhou, watch your step. Ruo Nan, what are you spacing out for? Come help him up!"

Gu Yong supported the last client out the door, shooting a fierce glare back at the dissatisfied-looking girl trailing behind.

The latter approached reluctantly; barely steady, the already drunk client collapsed straight into the girl's fragrant, soft embrace, slurring thick-tongued:

"Mm, smells good! Gu Yong, you little bastard, you really are a top-tier pimp! This young master is very happy today; I'll only patronize your joint from now on, money is no object!"

"Many thanks, Young Master Zhou, many thanks, Young Master Zhou."

Gu Yong nodded and bowed, a fawning smile on his face. Yet two fingers silently climbed the girl's slender arm, pinching hard.

"Did you hear? This is my meal ticket. If you don't serve him well, I'll skin you alive tomorrow!"

A voice thick with threat, icy cold, rang in the girl's cochlea.

"He doesn't even have a ride, doesn't look like a rich man at all. Brother Gu, please, give me another one."

The girl's face was full of grievance.

"Change what change? You think you're some virgin? Forget it, you're just a middle-aged man made entirely of fakes; someone biting the hook is already good enough, yet you still dream of landing a golden turtle son-in-law?" Gu Yong raised his brows. "I'm telling you, latching onto this Young Master Zhou is enough to feed you for a year and a half!"

The girl's face showed suspicion, "For real or fake?"

"Rest assured, I had someone check. He really is a 'Foreman' at a company, manages dozens of 'Labor-Slaves'."

Though the girl still felt unwilling, seeing the ferocity in Gu Yong's eyes, she dared not refuse further.

"Fine then, th... thank you, Brother Gu."

Watching the two leave with sweet faces, leaning on each other, Gu Yong finally let out a long, turbid breath.

He retreated back under the shop's eaves, rubbing his cheeks stiff from smiling with one hand, the other groping up and down his body.

"Little Gu, here, smoke mine. Just bought the cartridges, taste rivals paper cigarettes!"

A pipe the length of a finger was extended.

A bouncer whose philtrum had been replaced with machinery strained to squeeze out a friendly smile.

Gu Yong glanced at him, gave a slight nod, took the pipe and drew a deep breath.

Eyes occupied by fatigue hid in the smoke, gradually turning hazy.

"This taste falls far short of paper cigarettes after all. Fakes really can't replace the real thing."

Gu Yong sighed inwardly, but the next moment his brows suddenly furrowed tight.

He had never smoked paper cigarettes himself, so why would such a strange thought arise?

"Little Gu, what's wrong? Cartridge not to your taste?"

A resonant call hauled Gu Yong's drifting consciousness back.

"Ah, no, no."

Gu Yong hastily changed the subject, "Clients are all gone, shouldn't be anyone else coming. Brothers, why haven't you clocked out yet?"

"No rush, Brother has something to ask you."

The man rubbed his hands together like a fly, iron skin grinding out a harsh, grating screech.

"Little Gu, you work in the shop, meet lots of rich folk, your info's better than ours. Just asking for the brothers—can this joint of ours really hold on?"

Gu Yong's face showed surprise, "What do you mean?"

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"A new casino-club one-stop-shop opened over at Luohan Temple! The decor is grand! Business is booming!"

The man lowered his voice: "Heard every private room has a Buddha presiding, even the door greeters are the Joyous Bodhisattva and the Capital Bodhisattva."

Gu Yong shot a sidelong glance at the man, now waxing lyrical, a nameless disgust rising in his heart, "I heard. So what?"