Chapter 189 - 8: Brothel, Drinking, Investigating a Case

Chapter 189: Chapter 8: Brothel, Drinking, Investigating a Case

Even the heavy fragrance in the air was just that of common cosmetics, with no trace of anything like Enchanting Fragrance.

’How strange.’

Chen Ye held his wine cup, pondering inwardly.

’Am I really on the wrong track?’

He looked down at the men carousing with the courtesans. Every one of them was full of vigor, their faces flushed and glowing. None of them looked like they were about to die of depleted vitality.

’So if the problem isn’t the people, and it’s not in the food or drinks, where else could it be?’

Chen Ye took a sip of wine, his gaze slowly sweeping over the ornate, lavishly decorated building as he sank into deep thought.

To silently cause man after man in the prime of his life to die of depleted vitality, and to do so without leaving a single trace... this was beyond the abilities of any ordinary evil spirit.

’There must be some detail that everyone has overlooked.’

Chen Ye drank his wine idly as he continued to ponder.

At the same time, his gaze roamed around the building, trying to find any sort of clue.

He saw the most popular courtesans flirting with their clients in the corners, the madam with a plastered-on smile making toasts all around, and the patrons who were so drunk they were making complete fools of themselves.

Everything seemed so normal, it was unnerving.

"It’s no fun drinking all by yourself, young master. How about I join you for a cup?"

A voice sounded beside him.

Chen Ye looked up to see that a pretty woman in a pink gauze dress had somehow sat down across from him. She was holding a wine cup and watching him with a smile.

The woman looked to be in her early twenties. Her eyes danced with a practiced charm, one honed by her life in the pleasure quarters.

"That won’t be necessary," Chen Ye replied coolly.

The woman didn’t seem to expect such a cold reply, and her smile faltered for a moment.

But she quickly recovered, her smile growing even sweeter.

"My, you don’t look like you’re here for a good time, young master. You look more like an official investigating a case."

She said it jokingly, all the while sizing Chen Ye up with her large, alluring eyes.

Chen Ye’s interest was piqued. He knew these women, long accustomed to this life, had a sharp eye for people.

And his current demeanor was indeed completely out of place here.

So he decided to drop the pretense. Setting down his cup, he looked at the woman and asked, "Has anything strange happened in the building lately?"

The woman froze, clearly not expecting Chen Ye to be so direct.

She blinked, asking with some confusion, "Strange things? What kind of strange things?"

"For example, have any of the clients or your fellow courtesans suddenly fallen ill with some strange disease? Or has anyone encountered something they couldn’t explain?"

Chen Ye tried a more specific line of questioning.

The woman tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then shook it.

"No, not at all. Everything’s been fine at the building. Business is booming, and all the girls are doing well. I haven’t heard about anyone getting sick."

As she spoke, she leaned in closer, curiosity in her eyes. "Young master," she asked in a hushed voice, "who are you, really? Why are you asking about this?"

Chen Ye didn’t answer her question, instead trying a different approach.

"Then are you aware that several men have died in the city recently, and that all of them had visited this place before they died?"

The moment he said that, the color drained from the woman’s face.

A flash of panic crossed her eyes, and she quickly waved her hands dismissively. "I... I don’t know anything about that! Don’t spread such rumors! We run a respectable business here; we haven’t been involved in any murders!"

’Her reaction doesn’t seem like she’s lying.’

Chen Ye knew he wouldn’t get anything more out of her. He took a piece of broken silver from his robes and placed it on the table.

"This is for your time."

With that, he rose to leave.

The woman stared at the silver on the table with a complicated expression, torn between temptation and fear.

"Young master, I... I really don’t know anything."

She couldn’t help but offer one last defense.

Chen Ye paid her no mind and walked straight down the stairs.

His first attempt at an investigation had ended in failure.

For the next few days, Chen Ye returned to the Drunken Spring Building almost every night.

He adopted different Identities—sometimes a prodigal young master, other times a taciturn Swordsman from the Martial World.

He explored every nook and cranny of the Drunken Spring Building, even sneaking into the back courtyard’s storeroom and the staff’s living quarters.

Still, he found nothing.

Days passed with no progress on the case.

Cong Bo was clearly under immense pressure, sending men to inquire twice, but Chen Ye could only report the truth: he was at a complete loss.

That evening, Chen Ye was once again sitting in his usual spot on the second floor of the Drunken Spring Building.

By now, he was growing frustrated.

This feeling of being so close yet so far, of having power he couldn’t use, was infuriating.

But he quickly suppressed his vexation. After all, as a Bounty Swordsman who made his living on a knife’s edge, keeping a clear head at all times was a necessity.

Chen Ye raised his cup and downed it in one gulp. The fiery liquor slid down his throat, gradually steadying his mind.

’I’ll give it one more try. If that doesn’t work, I’m giving up.’

Just as Chen Ye was lost in thought, the idle chatter of a few girls at the neighboring table drifted into his ear.

The voices weren’t loud, and they could have easily been lost in the surrounding din.

But Chen Ye heard them with perfect clarity.

"Hey, you guys, isn’t this strange? I’ve been having dreams every night lately."

A young-looking girl in a green dress was holding a cup of fruit wine, complaining to her friends beside her.