"Indeed," the waiter replied, seemingly unfazed by An Tao's displeasure. "The courtesans in our Jinyang City are no ordinary women. They are all cultivators at the Spiritual Wheel realm, each as beautiful as a flower."
As the waiter spoke, both Chu Lingwei and An Tao's expressions changed.
Cultivators at the Spiritual Wheel realm had already achieved a certain level of accomplishment. Female cultivators at this stage would typically dedicate themselves to rigorous training, making it highly improbable they would become courtesans.
"Why would they choose to be courtesans?" An Tao glared at the waiter, finding him increasingly obnoxious, especially since he had looked at her face when mentioning courtesans.
The waiter's expression faltered. He immediately fell silent, glancing at Chu Lingwei instinctively, and quickly said respectfully, "Please enjoy your meal, honored fairies. I shall take my leave now."
"Did I say you could leave?" An Tao stood up, her sword now pointed at the waiter's chin. "Tell me, why do those female cultivators become courtesans?"
The waiter began to cry, begging for mercy. "Please spare me, honored fairy. I am merely a waiter. How could I possibly know why those female cultivators become courtesans?"
"After the courtesan is chosen, what happens to them?" Chu Lingwei fixed her gaze on the waiter, sensing he had something to say but was unable to.
The waiter's body stiffened. Lowering his head, he mumbled, "Honored fairies, after the courtesan is chosen, they naturally receive more cultivation resources."
"Who provides them with these resources?" An Tao frowned. She had read in books that courtesans were specifically for the pleasure of men.
"Someone provides them," the waiter said vaguely, his words hesitant.
"That's enough. Let him go. He probably doesn't know anything," Chu Lingwei dislodged An Tao's sword and smiled at the waiter.
The waiter's eyes met Chu Lingwei's, and he paused before quickly exiting the room.
"Weiwei, why did you let him go?" An Tao wanted to extract more information from him. She had visited many towns, and while they all had their pleasure quarters, none of them featured courtesans who were Spiritual Wheel realm cultivators.
Chu Lingwei sighed. "The path of cultivation is difficult. Some people find their own ways to exchange for cultivation resources. It is not entirely reprehensible."
An Tao lowered her head and watched as Chu Lingwei wrote "Eavesdroppers are everywhere" on her palm. She immediately understood.
"Indeed, the path of cultivation is too difficult. But even so, they shouldn't have to take this path."
"Why don't we stay and see?" An Tao grabbed Chu Lingwei's arm, her voice rising slightly with curiosity.
"Alright. We don't have anything else to do anyway, so staying a few more days is fine," Chu Lingwei agreed, waiting until she sensed the presence outside had receded significantly.
Chu Lingwei and An Tao exchanged glances, a glint of killing intent in their eyes.
They had been targeted the moment they entered the city. Combined with the information about the courtesans being Spiritual Wheel realm cultivators, it was not difficult to deduce what was happening.
An Tao's face grew grim. If she were alone, she wouldn't be confident in facing them.
"Let's eat quickly," Chu Lingwei pulled An Tao to the table. Looking at the lavish spiritual food, her eyes narrowed. There was something in the food.
An Tao stared intently at the spiritual food. She took out a sound transmission talisman from her storage bag, ready to call for help, but Chu Lingwei stopped her.
"If they dare to surround us here, ordinary sound transmission talismans won't be able to get through," Chu Lingwei transmitted to An Tao.
"Then what do we do now?" An Tao asked, a hint of panic in her voice. Those people must want them to end up like those female cultivators, and she absolutely refused.
"We'll leave with them, and then we'll make our move," Chu Lingwei took out a pill and handed it to An Tao. "This pill can conceal our spiritual power, so we won't be detected."
An Tao nodded and, without a second thought, swallowed the pill.
Chu Lingwei also consumed the pill. She subtly altered the spiritual food on the table and then cried out, "Oh no, there's something wrong with this spiritual food!"
"What's wrong?" An Tao exclaimed in alarm. "Why don't I... Huh? I..."
"This is bad, we need to leave quickly," Chu Lingwei signaled to An Tao. Instead of using the door, she chose to jump out the window.
"Hahaha, do you really think you can escape?"
As soon as they leaped out the window, a Heaven Blending realm expert was waiting for them, a sinister smile on his face, his voice laced with evil.
"Who are you?" Chu Lingwei supported An Tao as they retreated, warily observing the man before them. At this moment, four other figures emerged from nowhere, surrounding them.
"Of course, we are the ones who provide you with cultivation resources. If you follow us obediently, you'll suffer less," the man's voice turned cold. The pressure from the powerful cultivator made Chu Lingwei and An Tao stumble, nearly falling.
"How dare you! Do you know who I am?" An Tao shouted at the man, fear and panic evident in her voice.
The man snorted. He had heard such words too many times. "No matter who you were before, once you arrive in Jinyang City, you are ours."
"Take them away and teach them a good lesson."
As the man finished speaking, four cultivators quickly advanced, seizing Chu Lingwei and An Tao, and heading towards the outskirts of the city.
"Weiwei, what do we do now?" An Tao was anxious. This was no laughing matter. If they were taken to their stronghold, they might not be able to escape even with their spiritual power.
"Kill them."
They had no idea where these people were taking them, and the fact that they dared to abduct them so openly suggested they were not to be trifled with. Chu Lingwei did not want to put herself in danger.
"I'll make the first move. You take care of the Heaven Blending realm cultivator in front, and then quickly get away from here."
"I'll help you," An Tao's fighting spirit flared. There was no room for retreat for a sword cultivator.
Chu Lingwei nodded. As soon as they left the city limits, her body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, her spiritual power sending the cultivators near them flying.
Her Ice Jade Cold Frost Sword struck the Heaven Blending realm expert in front with all its might. Chu Lingwei intended to strike with lethal force, giving the Heaven Blending realm expert no chance to retaliate. The sword pierced directly through his Dantian, and he lost all signs of life moments later.
Phoenix Nether's body grew larger, and with a blast of Netherflame at the two pursuing Chu Lingwei, they turned to ash before they could even react. Chu Lingwei turned back to see An Tao summon her spirit beast, a fifth-tier Vajra Bear. Together, the two of them quickly dealt with the remaining two cultivators.
"They weren't as formidable as I imagined," An Tao kicked the already deceased Spiritual Wheel realm cultivator, flashing Chu Lingwei a triumphant smile.
"Impressive."
Chu Lingwei was surprised by An Tao's strength, capable of killing a Spiritual Wheel realm cultivator in a single blow.