Lan Qiaoyan was startled as soon as she began to speak. What the hell? She had been on guard, but how did that stinky boy manage to get in touch with her daughter? To think they could run into each other here, it was just unbelievable. Could this be a cursed fate?

Hearing that the boy refused to enter Bowan Building and wanted to strike out on his own, she breathed a sigh of relief and yet couldn't help but feel both amused and annoyed. She had been worrying over nothing—it seemed clear that as soon as he left Life Prison, he stopped pretending. If he really liked her daughter, he wouldn't miss this chance.

If he truly loved her daughter, with his shameless persistence and impressive tact, Lan Qiaoyan would be worried and afraid.

Now that she knew it was all an act, she felt a bitingly hateful itch, thinking to herself, What's wrong with my daughter? That stinky boy didn't even bother putting on a show anymore.

Miao Yilan said despondently, "I've become an accomplice. I shouldn't have borrowed the money. Without that sum, he couldn't have possibly pulled off such a thing."

"Haha," Lan Qiaoyan laughed uncontrollably. Seeing her daughter's puzzled face turning towards her, she took her daughter's hand and gently patted it with a laugh, "Lan Lan, do you believe that even if you hadn't lent him the money, he could still have sold that top courtesan?"

Miao Yilan questioned, "Forty thousand gold is no small sum. He's new here, and strangers wouldn't lend him such a large amount of money so readily."

Lan Qiaoyan shook her head, "Lan Lan, you underestimate Shi Chun far too much. Do you think his exploits in East Nine Plain were all just luck? In that situation, what was crucial for success wasn't the forty thousand gold you lent, but the plan he came up with. As long as the plan had value, people would naturally invest. For someone like him, it's not difficult at all. Your involvement was merely coincidental; he must have already been considering how to raise funds before that.

Even if you hadn't stepped in, he would have called a halt to the proceedings in time to gather the funds comfortably. Once he harbored that intention at the scene, control had already slipped from the hands of the parties involved. That Master of East Nine Plain is daring and decisive, and for his own goals, he would firmly control the situation as needed.

Lan Lan, in terms of survival skills in desperate situations, ten of you tied together wouldn't match up to him.

So, there is really no need to feel guilty; whether or not you lent him the money wouldn't have changed the outcome.

As for whether his actions were right or wrong, you should consider their previous living environment. Their moral standards were never high to begin with. They've just started out here—give them some time, and if they wish to survive in this world, they will willingly wear the universal shackles of morality.

What really surprised me is that the boy didn't even fancy Bowan Building. His ambitions are anything but small. One has to wonder why he would care about a brothel woman's allegiance. Lan Lan, we've done all we can for him; whether it's fortune or misfortune, it's his own doing. There's no need for further hesitation..."

She didn't even mention the worry of not being able to repay the money when soothing her daughter from the beginning to the end. For her, this small amount of money was far less important than her willingness to help earlier.

Back in the storeroom, Dong breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Following him, Da Shitou whispered, "I thought you might disclose the fact that we hold her contract of servitude."

Shi Chun was not planning to return there, at least not in the short term. In order to fulfill his promise to repay the money within three days, he placed the deed of servitude for Xiang Laner in their hands. If someone came to pay them, they were to hand over the deed.

Of the received money, fifty thousand gold was to be given to Miao Yilan. Yes, not just repaying the forty thousand, but fifty thousand.

Miao Yilan said she didn't want interest, and that was her kindness. But Shi Chun would not do the same. Despite not being esteemed by her in certain ways, he was most reluctant to owe anyone. Those who understand his deepest emotions know them without being told; those who don't, he does not seek to convince.

The remaining money was for Da Shitou and his companion.

Dong responded in a low voice, "How could that be possible? Without that deed, we would be the ones losing money."

Though he said that, he had almost spilled the beans before. He held back only because he saw Miao Yilan intended to stop the deal. A failed transaction really would have cost them a lot of money.

At this moment, the two felt no guilt at all about betraying the Master. Such people, and Miao Yilan actually relied on their moral standards...

The sky was vast, and the primeval forest stretched boundlessly. Mountain after mountain rose high, with valleys everywhere. Red, yellow, white, and purple blooms could be seen, and countless waterfalls and streams thundered and babbled continuously.

A group of four moved swiftly, darting through the treetops without touching the ground, startling birds and animals into flight.

Wu Jinliang's large blade was propped on Bian Weikang's shoulder, the latter having offered to help.

It couldn't be helped, as Wu Jinliang and Shi Chun's cultivation was already low. With the added weight of a large blade, they would be even slower.

There were faster and more convenient ways to travel in the Cultivation World, such as Magical Treasures and Spirit Birds, but not everyone was privileged to use them. The majority, like them, who can only rely on their legs, had to walk on their own.

The group had already traveled far from Zhaotian City.

A piece of cloth tied into two knots wrapped around a tree branch ahead caught the attention of Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang. Their eyes met in a silent exchange.

This was a signal agreed upon with Cen Futong. Once they caught up, someone would be sent ahead to leave this sign, indicating they were ready. With the two of them, slower in speed, it was ample time for Cen Futong's side to do this.

Seeing the signal, Wu Jinliang suddenly called out to the man and woman ahead, "We've run a fair distance—aren't you tired?"

Bian Weikang looked back and before he could speak, Xiang Laner kindly said, "My lord, our benefactors may be tired. Let's take a break."

Stopping already? Bian Weikang didn't feel they had been running for too long, but hearing her say that, he still alighted on a branch, responding, "Alright, let's take a short break then."

He thought perhaps his higher cultivation made him less aware of how those with lower cultivation felt.

To lessen Xiang Laner's hardship of traveling, he had intended to hold her hand and assist her, but Xiang Laner had refused. Her reason was that with two benefactors accompanying them, it wouldn't be fair to show preferential treatment.

Several people successively landed on the ground, choosing a spot with exposed rocks to temporarily rest.

After exchanging glances, Shi Chun was about to find an excuse to lure Bian Weikang away, but unexpectedly, Xiang Laner suddenly spoke up, "Having lived on buildings for so long, I haven't tasted the wild fruits of the mountains for many years. Would you sirs like to try some? I will go pick some."

"Ah, that would be most appreciated," Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were about to agree in unison when Bian Weikang quickly stood up and said, "Laner, I'm not tired. You rest. I'm fast. I'll go look."

Such was the utmost care for the beauty, unwilling to let her suffer the slightest hardship.

Shi Chun exchanged another look. That could work. With a nod and polite words, they said, "Then we'll trouble you."

Xiang Laner replied tenderly as well, "Thank you, my lord."

With that, Bian Weikang flashed away, disappearing deep into the forest to search.

The scene turned suddenly quiet. Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang's gazes became unusually sharp.

The dead leaves on the moss rustled under Xiang Laner's steps as she walked away unhurriedly, revealing a pale arm as she lifted her cape's hood to unveil her radiant beauty.

Almost at the same time, Shi Chun also raised his hand and pulled the hairpin from his hair bun, letting his long hair fall loose over his shoulders. This was the agreed signal with Cen Futong to take action.

Suddenly, several figures dashed through the forest toward them.

Four masked men in brocaded robes landed in front of Xiang Laner.

Seeing this, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang's faces twisted into a sinister smile, but it didn't last long; they sensed something was wrong. Facing the abruptly arriving masked men, Xiang Laner showed no panic.

Not only was there no panic, but she also turned gracefully to face them, calmly looking back at Shi Chun with cold detachment. Gone was the charming and delicate demeanor, replaced by a look of contempt as if she were regarding two dead men.

In this moment, her aura was starkly different from before, exuding an air of superiority.

The four masked men stood in a neat row behind her.

It was clear, even to a fool, that the masked men were hers.

Shi Chun realized instantly that they had fallen into a trap.

Wu Jinliang swung his large sabre to engage in combat, while Shi Chun swiftly drew his own blade from behind.

The four masked men suddenly moved in a flash, several hands striking simultaneously, quickly sealing the pressure points on Xiang Laner's body with their jabs.

"What?" Wu Jinliang's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he exclaimed in a strange tone.

"..." Shi Chun was also bewildered.

The turn of events was so abrupt and unexpected.

Not only were the two of them caught off guard, but the look of shock on Xiang Laner's face showed she was just as confused.

One of the masked men flashed in front of Shi Chun, facing their drawn blades, he pulled down his mask, revealing his face.

It was Cen Futong. He brushed aside the blades pointed at him, "It's me, stop pretending, we've taken her down."

He then turned and pointed to Xiang Laner, who was now in the grasp of his accomplices, "What's with this woman? Not flustered by robbery at all, even boldly turning her back to the thieves. Is this what they teach at Cloud Building? Almost messed us up, we've never seen something like this. Brother Chun, had I known she was so easy to capture, I wouldn't have bothered calling others; I alone would have been enough."

The seized Xiang Laner finally understood what was happening – it was Shi Chun, her supposed "benefactor," who had arranged for her kidnap.

Kidnap her for what? She thought it was obvious, likely the usual matter between men and women. They coveted her beauty.

Speaking of coveting beauty, the masked man holding her chuckled, "This woman is usually so proud, not just any client can have her, always 'artistry without selling herself.' Today, I'll see how precious she feels, and how she measures up."

The voice sounded familiar to Shi Chun, who recognized it as one of the men who had previously visited his place. He really didn't know what to think of Cen Futong anymore; he realized this wasn't someone he could work with.

As the teasing word fell, the other two masked men also laughed lewdly.

Xiang Laner's eyes immediately flashed with murderous intent.

Cen Futong urgently cautioned, "Shut up. She's not for you to touch. No one touches her."

What a joke, she was to be offered to Master Lv – if she were defiled now, it wouldn't be easy to explain later.

Before he could finish, Shi Chun had already moved swiftly, grabbing Xiang Laner in his hand, with his blade promptly at her neck, remaining highly vigilant of their surroundings.

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