While folding the blankets on the bed, Ye Laoqi answered without turning his head:
"The brothel owner told me to keep an eye on you. Even if you beat me to death, scold me to death, and annoy me to death this time, as long as we both live, you will never mistreat me when you become the owner of the brothel."
The tea in Hua Chongyang's hand spilled out of the cup with a gurgling sound:
"...When I become...the owner of a brothel?"
Is she crazy, or is Ye Laoqi crazy?
"Yes!" Old Ye Qi folded the quilt, sat up in bed, clapped his hands, and turned around. "The brothel owner said that in the future, you, Hua Chongyang, will be the owner of our brothel."
33. Double Ninth Festival
Ye Qinghua wanted her to become the brothel owner, which was completely unfamiliar to her, not only unfamiliar but also shocking. However, Ye Laoqi seemed to have no doubt whatsoever, and came over with a fawning smile to curry favor with the future owner:
"Chongyang, if you become the leader of the sect in the future, you must take good care of me--"
"Easy," Hua Chongyang slammed down the teapot and sat down by the table, his smile as sinister as could be. "Seventh Brother, if you release me now, I'll definitely protect you in the future; otherwise..."
Old Seven Ye took a step back and shook his head:
"Don't try to intimidate me. As the saying goes, a local official has more power than a distant one. No matter how powerful you become, the current owner of the brothel is still Ye Qinghua. She said she wants me to watch over you, and I will never let you out. Chongyang, don't make things difficult for me."
Hua Chongyang snorted and lowered his head to drink his tea.
Although Ye Laoqi and Hua Chongyang have always had a good relationship, it was Ye Qinghua who saved her life and brought her back to the brothel, so the possibility of her being turned against them is really slim.
Even if we can't win them over, we can at least ask them, right?
"Seventh Brother, at least tell me, why did Qinghua bring me here?"
Ye Laoqi took another step back and shook his head again:
"I don't know. But the original poster must have her reasons."
Hua Chongyang was utterly dejected. Ye Laoqi's loyalty to Ye Qinghua was as clear as day. She sighed, stood up, and paced back and forth in the room a few times before looking up and asking Ye Laoqi:
"She didn't go to see Lan Wuxie, did she?"
"You're overthinking it, Chongyang," Ye Laoqi shook his head, walked to the table, and picked up a bowl of tea. "You're also underestimating the Lord of the Pavilion. She'd rather Lan Wuxie couldn't find you, why would she actively seek out Lan Wuxie?"
"Then—" Hua Chongyang asked a question that even she found absurd, but no matter how absurd, she asked it anyway, "Qinghua—does she like Lan Wuxie?"
"puff--"
Ye Laoqi spat out the tea in his mouth, staring glaring at Hua Chongyang:
"Hua Chongyang, you're not just in heat, you're insane! How old is the host? How old is Lan Wuxie? Even if the host were willing, do you think someone as arrogant, picky, and fault-finding as Lan Wuxie would choose a woman so much older than himself?"
Indeed, Hua Chongyang completely agreed that Lan Wuxie had many flaws, was arrogant, and picky, but...
"That's why things went wrong—because they didn't like it!"
Ye Laoqi bluntly stated that he couldn't tolerate her wild thoughts: "You're not right now, don't talk to me. Once you've calmed down, I'll tell you what happened these past few days."
Hua Chongyang was taken aback, then immediately rushed forward: "I'm perfectly calm right now!"
"Then at least sit down first."
Old Ye poured himself another cup of tea, sat down at the table, and gulped it down.
Ah! Fine tea!
Then, she began to tell her story in detail.
Two days ago, not long after Hua Chongyang left, Lan Wuxie discovered that Hua Chongyang was missing and immediately sent people to search everywhere; the people of Lan Ying Palace searched almost the entire city of Hangzhou, but they could not find Hua Chongyang's whereabouts.
Lan Wuxie immediately suspected that the Martial Alliance had attacked Hua Chongyang without any prior warning. That very evening, he brought Lan Cao and Lan Shu to Lake Moon Manor to challenge them, demanding that the Martial Alliance hand over Hua Chongyang. Whether Lan Wuxie was too arrogant or Rong Chenfei was too impulsive, Rong Chenfei first provoked Lan Wuxie and then ambushed him, only to be severely injured by Lan Wuxie with a single palm strike.
"I heard Rong Chenfei was seriously injured this time," Ye Laoqi concluded. "Why did he insist on fighting head-on? If his martial arts were similar to Lan Wuxie's, it would be understandable, but his martial arts are far inferior—but then again, Lan Wuxie's martial arts are indeed too strong."
Hua Chongyang, however, could no longer bear to listen.
Everyone in the martial arts world knows that Lan Wuxie's martial arts skills are unmatched, but few know that he only achieved them through sheer willpower. He was coughing up blood just two days ago, and now he's used his internal energy again. Who knows how badly he'll be injured when he gets back?
Ironically, getting him to take medicine is harder than taking his life...
"Yesterday, Lan Wuxie rode his horse with the people from Lan Ying Palace to challenge Lake Moon Manor. They happened to pass by a brothel on the way, and wow, the whole city was deserted!" Old Seven Ye shook his head. "Half of Hangzhou came out to see him; even when Bo Jiang made such a grand entrance as she passed by Anyang Street, there weren't this many people. Bo Jiang is the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world!"
Hua Chongyang listened absentmindedly.
"Hey, speaking of which, Chongyang, your old man is really cool! Riding his horse through the streets of Anyang, so many people watching, his expression didn't change at all, and he went straight towards Lake Moon Manor—but what's strange is," Ye Laoqi muttered to himself, stroking his chin, "you said you were lost, and Lan Wuxie is your old man, so it's understandable that he's looking for you; but since yesterday, why have the people from Nan Chu Manor been looking for you openly and secretly?"
Hua Chongyang came to his senses:
"Nanchu Manor?"
Isn't Nan Chu Manor just part of Bo Jiang's faction?
"Yes." Old Seventh Master Ye nodded. "The host is also wondering why Bo Jiang is going to such lengths to find you."
"Bo Jiang is probably afraid that Lan Wuxie will cause her trouble, so he's just putting on an act."
"It doesn't seem like it." Old Seven Ye shook his head. "The lord had someone investigate privately, and it turns out that almost all of Bo Jiang's men were mobilized. If it were just for show, they're going to go to such lengths. Why do you think that is?"
How would I know why?
Hua Chongyang replied irritably, then got up and paced around the room twice before finally sitting down on the bed, not in the mood to talk to Ye Laoqi. Ye Laoqi sat there for a while, then sat up:
"I was worried you were scared, so I came to check on you. Seeing that you're eating and sleeping well, I can go back and report to her."
"Seventh Brother!" Hua Chongyang cried out, "I'm begging you, this time let me—"
Ye Laoqi interrupted her directly: "Chongyang, don't make things difficult for me. Stay here peacefully for a few days, and the Master will surely take care of things."
"But--"
"But what?" Ye Laoqi, unusually serious, said, "Lan Wuxie has even threatened the Martial Alliance. This has really blown up. The Lord took such a huge risk to bring you here; this won't end so easily. Even if you kneel down before me, I won't let you leave."
Hua Chongyang remained silent.
Ye Laoqi pushed open the door and went out.
She sat alone in the room, listening as Ye Laoqi locked the door from the outside and whispered instructions to the doorman:
"Watch closely. The slightest mistake and you'll face the master with your life."
Judging from the voices that answered, there were at least four people watching outside.
Hua Chongyang tried to muster her strength, but she still had no strength left. At this moment, let alone taking down four people, she probably wouldn't have the strength to walk out of the room even if the door were left open.
Ye Qinghua did a very thorough job.
So on the third day after being kidnapped, Hua Chongyang lay alone in the room all day.
As dusk fell, she heard the sounds of swords clashing outside. She thought of getting up to go and see what was going on, but after a moment's hesitation, she looked into the house and hid behind the door.
Whether it brings good or bad fortune is uncertain, so it's best to be cautious.
The sounds of fighting grew louder as they approached the doorway. Finally, blood splattered on the window paper at the door. Judging from the sounds, the dead and wounded were people from the brothel.
Hua Chongyang subconsciously felt that the person who came was not from Lan Ying Palace—the people of Lan Ying Palace were skilled in using poison, so why would they go to the trouble of killing people with swords and knives? A handful of poison powder would have been enough.
She pressed herself against the wall, barely daring to breathe, her only "weapon"—the copper curtain hook on the bed curtains—gripping tightly. When the door was kicked open and two or three men dressed in black walked in, their menacing expressions undiminished.
She looked up and gazed outside.
Outside the gate was a courtyard, where five or six people lay dead on the ground, blood everywhere.
...it's over.
Hua Chongyang slowly retreated along the wall until he had nowhere left to go but to the corner. These men in black were all dressed in black silk robes, but each had a different style, making them seem less like a group of assassins and more like a group that had been temporarily assembled. As for their martial arts skills—being able to kill four people from the brothel in such a short time meant they were definitely masters.
But at least one thing is certain: they were definitely not sent by Ye Qinghua—then who else is looking for her? Besides Ye Qinghua and Lan Wuxie, the only other person left is—Bo Jiang?
She gripped the copper hook tightly, suppressing the tremor in her voice:
"Bo Jiang's men?"
The leader of the men in black looked slightly surprised, but did not answer. He raised his knife and slashed at her. Unable to dodge in time, Hua Chongyang blocked with her copper hook. The hook fell to the ground, and the man in black pressed his knife close to her throat.
She closed her eyes in despair.
These three men were not masked, and their attack was so ruthless; they were determined to kill her. At this moment, she was completely unable to use her martial arts skills.
The knife didn't fall, but a "sizzle" sound was heard.
A chill ran through her, and Hua Chongyang opened her eyes to see the black-clad man's cold face as he pressed the tip of a knife against her chest; her clothes had already been torn open. Noticing the lewd gazes of the two black-clad men behind her, she was startled and whispered to the leader:
"...If you're going to die, then give me a quick death."
The man in black spoke in a cold tone, deliberately lowering his voice:
"We're paid to do what we're told. Young lady, we're just following orders. We've been instructed to ruin your reputation first, so we have no choice but to apologize."
As he spoke, he turned and flicked the tip of his knife along Hua Chongyang's chest, leaving Hua Chongyang's chest completely exposed.
As dusk settled outside the window, the room grew dimly lit. Hua Chongyang, her hair disheveled, coldly observed the group, slowly raising her hand to cover her chest, her voice hoarse with hatred:
"Was it Bo Jiang who instructed you?"
The leader of the men in black turned his head.
Hua Chongyang began to sneer, his voice low and threatening:
"You'd better kill me this time. Otherwise, go back and tell Bo Jiang, and I'll make her suffer a fate worse than mine."
A short, fat man behind him stared at Hua Chongyang, threw down his knife, and strode forward:
"Stop talking nonsense. Do you think you'll survive today?"
Hua Chongyang made a last-ditch effort to snatch the knife from the ground, but he lacked the strength and speed, and the fat man stepped on the hilt of the knife.
"No wonder Lan Wuxie took a liking to you; you are indeed quite good-looking. It's a pity you offended the wrong person. He clearly ordered that even if you die, he would torture you to death before he does!"
It turns out there really are times when people want to die but can't; within two days, one misfortune after another struck her, each time more horrific than the last; before, she had indeed underestimated the martial world. Hua Chongyang stubbornly refused to collapse, his teeth almost grinding to powder, and raised his palm to strike the fat man.
After a struggle, within five moves, the defenseless Hua Chongyang was pinned to the ground and his clothes were torn off by the fat man.
When she went to the brothel to see Ye Qinghua, she was wearing the light purple dress that Lan Wuxie had prepared for her, with an inconspicuous gray cloak over it; here, she was only wearing that dress. On the cold ground, the fat man braced one leg against her waist and pressed down hard on both of her legs with the other, tearing her dress apart and reaching straight for her thigh.
Hua Chongyang struggled, hissing and biting.
The fat man's hand was bitten so hard by her that it bled profusely. Enraged, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face. He then grabbed a torn piece of her skirt from the ground and quickly bound Hua Chongyang's wrists. Hua Chongyang was almost knocked unconscious by the slap, but she still clearly felt a rag being roughly stuffed into her mouth and her legs being brutally spread apart by the fat man's knee.
A pair of hands roughly kneaded her breasts and waist.
The sound of lewd laughter filled my ears: