Given the education Emily Grant and the others received since childhood, they've seen spring palace pictures and studied dual cultivation techniques. Even they blush at this kind of story, so the other newbies have even less resistance.

James Carter continued, “As for that kind of complex, taboo mindset, it’s because the background of Baihua Courtyard is like that, which makes it feel real. Using tragedy to evoke sympathy and lament is, in a way, a way to clean up its reputation. When people mention Baihua Courtyard, mention Qianqian, it becomes a poignant love story, no longer just a brothel for selling laughter. In the future, I’ll write a few more Baihua Courtyard stories. Once everyone’s first reaction to ‘brothel’ is Baihua Courtyard, it’ll be hard for you to lose money.”

“I see.” Emily Grant looked at James Carter with renewed curiosity. She really couldn’t figure out how this man’s mind worked—so many layers of thought in a single piece of writing, and every point made perfect sense. She asked for advice, “So should we take it to the bookshop for block printing now?”

“No, let the girls copy a few by hand and give them out free to every guest. With so few stories around here, I bet in less than three days, the capital will spread it everywhere on its own—no need for us to print it.”

Charlotte was extremely impressed. “Please, young master, sign your name.”

Signing one’s name was also a big deal for people in this world. Martial artists love fame; making a name for oneself is everyone’s first goal when stepping into the jianghu, and after becoming famous, they’re even more careful to protect their reputation. In Charlotte’s view, such a wonderful story was enough for the young master to make a name for himself.

“Sign my name? Not necessary.” James Carter waved his hand. “This is to make Baihua Courtyard famous, not me.”

Actually, James Carter just thought it was a bit LOW to sign his name on a smutty story, and it wouldn’t bring him any good reputation anyway, so what’s the point? But Charlotte was instantly moved when she heard this, and Emily Grant’s eyes sparkled. After a long while, she softly said, “I know you’re not doing it for yourself, but still, sign your name. Otherwise, I won’t use your story.”

“All right then…” James Carter picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, and wrote four characters: “San Hao Xue Sheng” (Three-Good Xue Sheng).

“Is that a nickname you gave yourself?” Emily Grant asked curiously. “What does it mean? Which three ‘good’?”

“‘Hao’ means ‘fond of’,” James Carter tossed the brush aside. “Fond of soft chests, fond of long legs, fond of slender waists. In the jianghu, they call me ‘Three-Good Xue Sheng’.”

“‘In the jianghu,’ huh? Have you no shame?” Emily Grant was amused by him, shot him a glare, and said in a syrupy voice, “Are you really into that? I couldn’t tell.”

James Carter looked expressionlessly at her flat chest and said nothing.

Emily Grant covered her chest and ran off in tears: “Anyway, senior sister’s are huge!”

Emily Grant ran off crying, and James Carter’s gaze instinctively fell on Charlotte. Charlotte didn’t mind at all, showing off her curvaceous figure and even gave him a flirtatious wink. “Young master…”

“Hmm?”

“Although I’d be happy to satisfy your three ‘goods,’ I’m more afraid of the young sect leader making things hard for me.” Charlotte smiled as she put away the manuscript and gracefully left. At the door, she looked back with a smile: “I’d better go take care of business.”

She wasn’t using any seduction techniques this time, but her natural allure was still utterly captivating. James Carter didn’t react much, just smiled and gestured for her to go. A hint of disappointment flashed in Charlotte’s eyes as she turned again, but suddenly James Carter called out to her: “Has the sect leader returned from the Six Gates?”

“No idea.” Charlotte said in surprise, “Are you looking for the sect leader, young master?”

James Carter pursed his lips and didn’t answer.

No matter how you put it, Xingyue Sect was absolutely ruled by Alice Carter with her absolute martial strength and prestige. Anything done needed her approval. If he could gain Alice Carter’s trust the way he’d gained Emily Grant’s, then with Xingyue Sect as his backing, the sky would be the limit.

He also had some unspeakable thoughts in his heart… Emily Grant was too young, Charlotte was just an external affairs disciple with no real power, but if—just if—he could win over Alice Carter…

He was daydreaming when suddenly a violent explosion sounded in the distance, followed by tremors that shook the ground. Even from here, the aftershocks could be faintly felt. Charlotte’s expression changed dramatically: “That’s the direction of the Six Gates! Could it be the sect leader is fighting someone?”

James Carter couldn’t sit still either. He and Charlotte rushed out the door, and at the entrance of Baihua Courtyard, they saw Emily Grant holding onto that Qingqing Shishu, saying something.

“What happened?”

Emily Grant turned and saw it was him, snorted unhappily, but still explained, “The Six Gates wouldn’t release our people, so Master got angry, tore down their outer prison, and let a few criminals escape. She said if they don’t release our people in a day, she’ll tear down a cell every day.”

James Carter was dumbfounded.

Previously, he’d felt that the demonic sect and the righteous path were openly at odds, but with the court, there should have been some kind of reconciliation. Even if there was conflict, it should have been in secret. Besides, they had businesses in the capital—shouldn’t they be even more careful not to offend the authorities? So why go head-to-head with the Six Gates like this? Don’t they care about their businesses anymore?

Had he misunderstood something before?

After a while, Alice Carter floated over, tossed over a set of constable’s clothes, and said with a perfectly calm expression, “Chan’er, go find a girl to put this on and tell the guests that we now offer a ‘Six Gates Constable’ experience here.”