The villain also has spring 2

Chapter 1930, 11929: Serious Martial Arts Skills

Chapter 1930, 1.1929: Serious Martial Arts Skills

After the brothel, the second rank was called "Changsan," also known as "Female Scholar," and its status was second only to the brothel. In fact, Changsan was a substitute for the brothel, mainly because the brothel was extremely difficult to train, and the number of students was too small, so the "too many monks and too little porridge" could not meet the market demand.

The brothel where Chang San worked was called "Chang San Shu Yu" (长三书寓), colloquially known as "Chang San Tang Zi" (长三堂子). "Chang San" got its name from the fact that the price for both entertaining customers and staying overnight was three silver dollars. This is easy to understand: a customer could pay three silver dollars for tea, and another three for conversation. Chang San prostitutes could sing and speak, primarily offering services for entertaining customers. These services were further divided into drinking games, flower games, serving dried and wet fruits (meaning the brothel would offer dried and wet fruits to customers but not provide overnight stays), card games, and opera games, and overnight stays were also possible.

Social activities at "Changsan Shuyu" typically included "Zuo Huatou" and "Da Chawei." "Zuo Huatou" refers to patrons hosting banquets in the brothel to entertain other guests. It was commonly known as "Chi Hua Jiu" (eating flower wine).

As guests arrived, the brothel would call upon its courtesans to accompany them, a practice known as "calling the game." The courtesans would then leave, a process called "leaving the game." Once there, the courtesans would sit behind their regular customers, either drinking, singing, or playing music to entertain them. Sometimes, guests would move to another brothel to continue their revelry, a practice called "turning the stage," which the courtesans referred to as "changing the game."

Guests would enjoy tea and conversation with the brothel owners, a practice known as "tea gatherings." This can be seen as a way for guests to become familiar with the brothel. For patrons, these tea gatherings were usually free. However, if the brothel owners received a notice to "call for a night," the guests at the tea gatherings would discreetly leave so the brothel owners could "get out." The daily lives of the brothel owners alternated between these tea gatherings and engaging in other forms of entertainment. Popular brothel owners might participate in four or five such activities in one night.

"Book brothels" were generally rare and highly sought after, so "Changsan" (a high-ranking prostitute) was considered the pinnacle of prostitution. For example, in 1919, there were only 1229 Changsan in Shanghai. Even more remarkably, Changsan could be ranked on a "Flower List," a major event in Shanghai at the time. Initially, the *Game Daily* was responsible for the rankings, and later the *Flower Daily* took over. Each issue sold 5000 flower tickets, which were purchased at high prices by merchants and celebrities. They filled in their preferred candidates and submitted them for tallying. Those with the most votes were listed on the Flower List. Each time the list was published, people from all walks of life would excitedly discuss and comment, creating a truly bizarre and lively scene.

The third class was "Yao Er," and the brothels they frequented were collectively called "Yao Er Tangzi." In terms of environment, they couldn't compare to the "Chang San" brothels. While the rooms were still clean and tidy, they were divided into cramped, pigeonhole-like spaces. Actually, the boundary between "Yao Er" and "Chang San" wasn't very clear; some "Yao Er" were simply people who had fallen from the "Chang San" class. As the name suggests, a "Yao Er" patron would pay one silver coin for tea, and two more silver coins for a more intimate conversation. If a "Chang San" or "Yao Er" wanted to visit, they needed to sign an officially certified ticket to avoid any unexpected disputes and ensure the safety of both parties.

All of the above are classified as advanced.

After all, most people in Shanghai were ordinary people, so the largest group of ordinary workers was called "Huatai".

The number of brothels where "flower terraces" were located was naturally the largest, collectively known as "open-door brothels." "Flower terrace" workers typically had no chance of advancing to higher ranks, not even reaching the lowest rank, due to their lack of cultural refinement. The clientele of "open-door brothels" were mostly ordinary office workers, down-on-their-luck intellectuals, agents from the foreign concessions, and members of the Green Gang. "Open-door brothels" were typically single-room storefronts in alleyways, three or four stories high, with a narrow wooden staircase at the entrance for access, and a lightbox sign. The interior was divided into small rooms, barely big enough for a bed.

If a brothel wasn't doing well, the prostitutes would go out at night with their maids to solicit customers. Anyone who showed interest would be swarmed and carried upstairs like a prisoner – a practice known as "retrieving a corpse." There were no leisurely chats or tea drinking; they got straight to the point. Prices were naturally affordable, with some costing as little as 3 jiao (0.3 yuan). If a prostitute didn't get any customers all night, she would be beaten by the madam and pimps; and the struggle for customers on the street often led to brawls, with bloodshed and death commonplace.

Beneath the "flower platform" lay the lowest rungs of the profession, known as "old worm dens." These brothels, housed in dilapidated shacks, were called "nail sheds." The environment was utterly nonexistent, consisting of nothing more than a tattered quilt. Their patrons were typically dockworkers carrying heavy loads, rickshaw pullers, shop assistants in general stores, and young, unmarried factory workers. Many of the "old worm dens" were former "flower platforms" fallen from grace due to age and fading beauty. The cheapest brothel cost only sixty coins, and many suffered from diseases like syphilis, rarely meeting a good end.

In the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, prostitution was rampant. According to statistics from the Shanghai Municipal Council's medical officers at the end of the Qing Dynasty, there were 440 brothels in the British Concession and 250 in the French Concession alone, employing over 4000 people. Outside the British and French Concessions, the number was even greater, exceeding 100,000.

It's astonishing.

These old sores and ailments of the old society are best left unmentioned.

The problem is that when the three courtesans from Changsan brothel returned from their exile, they encountered an old beggar selling martial arts manuals at the entrance of the alley!

"Do you have the 'Buddha's Palm'?" Wu Chen asked telepathically, using Elder Gu Xianniang of the Returning Heaven Sect as a mouthpiece, inquiring about the key plot point.

"What a coincidence, there is no such book." Huang Xiuhong, the madam of the Shanghai Changsan Bookstore, smiled radiantly.

"That's true." Xingzai bought this one! Elder Gu Xianniang nodded gently: "I wonder which copies everyone bought?"

"Thousand Hands Fist." "Nine Yin Manual."

"The Heavenly Crippled Divine Skill".

It was indeed genuine martial arts skill.

The Thousand Hands Divine Fist goes without saying. The Nine Yin Manual contains the Nine Yin White Bone Claw. The Heavenly Crippled Divine Skill contains the Heavenly Crippled Kick. Aren't these all legitimate martial arts techniques?

Her gaze swept over Zhou Shuangzhu, Huang Cuifeng, and Shen Xiaohong in turn. Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian had already made up her mind: "My young lady is skilled with weapons. I wonder if she is willing to fight?"

“Why not?” Huang Xiuhong, the madam of the Shanghai brothel “Changsan,” said without any hesitation: “‘Use their spear to attack their shield.’ Spear and shield are not the same. Just like weapons versus fists and feet.”

“In that case, my daughter will pay a visit later to learn from you.” Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian clapped her hands in agreement.

"Our humble abode will gladly await your arrival," said Huang Xiuhong, the madam of the Changsan Book House in Shanghai, smiling as she saw her guest off.

Returning to the private room, Elder Gu Xianniang immediately explained the details: "The most beautiful courtesans in the brothels of Shanghai are all skilled in martial arts."

"Our lord has sent a message from afar, informing us," Princess's strategist Li Huixin whispered. "Peerless martial arts must be accompanied by peerless elixirs, otherwise it is extremely difficult to master them quickly. For example, the 'Ten Spirit Pills' can mend bones and bring the dead back to life."

"As the challenger, according to the rules, we must send our most beautiful courtesan to fight in this battle." Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian said carefully, "In that case, the two protectors cannot act rashly. And the four courtesans of 'Rejuvenating Hands' are not known for this. Only Qin Cao and Jingyin can lead the group to fight."

"Could it be that all six courtesans on the other side are skilled in martial arts?" Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, pressed.

"It is still unknown." Elder Gu Xianniang of Huitian revealed her true thoughts: "Since Shanghai has merged with Changsan Book House, it is likely that only one of the two families is proficient in martial arts."

"However, we must be cautious." Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, advised that caution was paramount.

"Alright." Elder Gu Xianniang nodded happily.

According to the old rules, one could enter the gate to challenge someone, while the courtesan would be chosen to challenge someone else.

In short, the challenger can only send their most beautiful courtesan. The respondent, however, has no limit on the number of participants; any disciple of their sect within the private room can participate. Clearly, this format places stricter requirements on the challenger and is relatively more favorable to the respondent.

However, "swords have no eyes." The victor and the vanquished will be known in a single contest.