Chapter 62: Little Bird in a Gilded Cage

Outside the venue… no, it should not be called a venue. It should be described as an entire city surrounded by high walls more than one hundred meters tall.

The tower that pierced the sky reached more than 800 – 900 meters in height, comparable to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, or perhaps even taller.

Wei Chen looked down at the invitation letter, then looked up at the tower.

“That should be the Immortal Dream Tower… damn… how can they build something like this? They don’t even have cranes or heavy machinery. Do they use cultivators as the labor force to build it?” Wei Chen muttered to himself.

After being stunned by the scale of the Immortal Dream Tower for a brief moment, he finally regained his composure and walked past the main gate.

The main road leading to the main gate was even wider than the highways he had seen in his previous life. There were many hover carriages and small flying arks traveling along this road, and the people behind the gate were walking to and fro as if they were in another city entirely.

Inside the wall, Wei Chen finally saw the full picture of the Immortal Dream Garden. Behind the large decorative gate and the towering wall stood an entirely different world.

Buildings were constructed amidst lush gardens, pavilions, hills, and artificial mountains. It felt like a whole new city, yet this city was built within another city the size of all of Spain.

The air here was fresh and filled with spiritual qi. Although this place welcomed mortals, they were only allowed to visit the lower levels of the Immortal Dream Tower, the tower located at the center of this city-like complex.

Wei Chen was amazed by the scale of this place. It even had subsidiary businesses such as inns, restaurants, private cultivation rooms for rent, a sword testing arena where cultivators could settle their disputes, and even a large pond beside the bamboo garden near the tower that had a floating stage prepared on it.

Near the giant pond, many visitors were beginning to reserve their spots. Some people started arguing over their chosen place, then headed to the sword testing area to settle their dispute.

At the same time, the venue also had a gambling area for those watching the duels in the arena, and the activities there were vibrant and full of energy.

Wei Chen slowly walked toward the pond since it was the place with the most people. There were gazebos and large pavilions where people could rest in the shade along the walkway, and many were enjoying the scenery. Some were reciting poems and practicing calligraphy.

Others were debating the dao or painting the landscape.

All in all, this place truly lived up to its name, the Immortal Dream Garden, where both cultivators and mortals alike lived in an immortal-like dream within these walls.

“Damn… I don’t know anything about what they are reciting.” Wei Chen muttered with a wry smile at his own ignorance as he listened to the poems while passing by one of the pavilions hosting such activities.

When he arrived near the pond, Wei Chen began asking around. “Brother, is this pond where Miss Dream Butterfly is going to have a concert?”

“Huh? What concert?” The man, who looked like a scholar, turned toward Wei Chen in confusion.

“Err… I mean… a performance. Is she going to perform here?” Wei Chen corrected himself and asked again.

“Oh! That is right, but I should tell you this place is already reserved. Please find another spot.” The scholar politely informed him.

“Oh, don’t worry. I am only here to ask. Thank you very much, brother.” Wei Chen thanked the scholar and continued on his way.

He wondered what kind of performance the Dream Butterfly girl would give. Would she truly be as amazing as the rumors claimed? Wei Chen pondered to himself.

Wei Chen went straight toward the tower. At the entrance, he found two servant girls waiting for guests so they could guide them inside.

“Greetings, young master. Welcome to Immortal Dream Garden. If you do not have an invitation for the higher floors, please come with us to register so we can give you membership privileges according to your preference.” The two servants politely greeted Wei Chen as they introduced him to the procedures of this place.

They brought Wei Chen to the lobby before they started explaining everything to him.

It turned out that the court “service” was only available inside the tower. As for the outside area, it was a free zone where guests could visit at their own leisure. Many businesses such as inns and restaurants were there to accommodate them.

To use the service within the tower, guests needed to have a membership. It was similar to a VIP status, and the membership was quite expensive even for the lowest tier.

As for the membership level that allowed one to meet high ranking courtesans, the cheapest started at one hundred thousand spirit stones. The price could go up to one million spirit stones for a membership that allowed someone to meet Dream Butterfly at their leisure once a year.

Also, from the explanation in the lobby, Wei Chen learned that Dream Butterfly did not sell her flesh. She only sold art and companionship. For example, she would drink with you, play a song, recite poems, talk with you, and even paint for you, but she would never sleep with you under any circumstance.

“Oh, I have an invitation from Ms. Dream Butterfly. Can I meet with her?” Wei Chen said as he handed the invitation letter to one of the servant girls.

“Let me see, young master.” The servant girl smiled and took the letter. She read it and gasped, as if the contents were so shocking to her.

She made a complicated expression before turning her attention back to Wei Chen.

“Please give us some time. We will confirm this invitation as quickly as we can!” the servant girl said before rushing toward a man who stood not far from the lobby desk.

She said something to him and gave him the invitation letter. The man nodded and then quickly vanished.

It seemed he went to see his boss.

— Meanwhile – Atop the Immortal Dream Tower —

Within the Immortal Dream chamber, Dream Butterfly was practicing her zither because she needed to perform tonight. On the desk near her was a U-Phone that her matron had bought for her from the black market.

She had already checked the forum on the U-Phone and found out that the next broadcast would be the martial exchange event. She was also looking forward to this broadcast.

As Dream Butterfly practiced, her thoughts drifted toward the letter she had written. She wondered if he had received the letter yet. What would he think? Would he find time amidst his busy schedule to come see her?

She could not wait to meet him. There were many things she wanted to ask and many stories she wanted to hear about his adventures.

At this time, two people walked into the peaceful and serene room. The first was a beautiful, mature woman with covetous curves and a seductive air around her. She was the matron, the woman who had taken care of Dream Butterfly since she was a child.

The second was a man Dream Butterfly never wanted to meet, a man she felt reluctant even to serve.

This man was a young master from the Murong Clan, Murong Wen of the Vermilion Bird Dynasty. His family was said to be a branch of the Vermilion Bird royal family, and the Murong Clan oversaw the military for the royal family.

Dream Butterfly knew that even though Murong Wen often acted refined, her instincts told her that he might not be as gentle and cultured as he wanted others to believe.

At this moment, the matron walked toward Dream Butterfly with a smile.

“Little Butterfly, are you confident about your performance today?” she asked while glancing toward Murong Wen to signal him to follow her.

“What Lady Matron said is right. If you are not confident, I can tell them below to wait for a few days until you are ready,” Murong Wen said in a gentle voice.

“Thank you, young master, for your generosity, but this little girl does not dare to make our guests wait. Besides, this performance is held in honor of young master Murong’s birthday. Dream Butterfly does not dare to be neglectful,” Dream Butterfly politely refused.

“Hahahaha, our little Butterfly is such a good girl, right? Young master Murong,” the matron said as she opened the opportunity for the young master.

“Yes, it would be better if she were to accept my feelings,” the young master said with a smile.

Hearing this, the matron made a face as if she had just chewed on a fly.

Honestly, if she had any choice, she would not want this young master to have this kind of privilege either.

The Immortal Dream Garden had operated well when her husband served as its protector, but a year ago, her husband went into one of the secret realms and never returned. This left the establishment without a protector.

While she had still been unable to find a new protector for the establishment, about eight months ago young master Ximen Hao visited and demanded to sleep with Dream Butterfly. She told him that it was against the rules.

Ximen Hao threatened them and tried to force his way to get what he wanted. At that time, this young master Murong stepped forward to help and chased young master Ximen Hao away.

Thus began the relationship between the establishment and this young master Murong.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep