Chapter 1, The Purple Qi Comes from the East

Autumn Moon Road: "Young Master, this may not be appropriate"

The autumn moon expressed gratitude: "Thank you, young master"

After Bai Xiangtian's wife passed away, he did not remarry. Therefore, although the room was large, he lived there alone, without even a maid or servant. Once Yang Fei entered the room, Bai Xiangtian promptly closed the doors and windows tightly, leaving the reason for this unknown.

Qiu Yue examined it closely and then nodded, saying, "This is indeed the one." After speaking, she handed it back to Yang Fei

Yang Fei noticed that she was becoming increasingly lewd in her speech, and with a snort, he was about to lose his temper when he suddenly heard a man's voice say: "Hurry, bring more wine; this young master will not return until he is drunk today"

After a long while, Yang Fei released Qiu Yue, whose originally pale face was now flushed with color. Breathing a little heavily, she leaned her delicate head tightly against Yang Fei's chest

Yang Fei said with a beaming smile: "It's not that I don't want to, but I only brought five hundred taels with me."

Qiu Yue nodded slightly, quickly packed a small bundle, and then left the place where she had lived for two years with Yang Fei

Yang Fei could only nod his head

The autumn moon suddenly pounced into his embrace, softly saying: "Then why do you... ?"

This was originally the residence of Bai Xiangtian. When Bai Yushuang was fifteen years old, her mother passed away, which caused Bai Xiangtian great sorrow. He then moved away from this place, allowing Bai Yushuang to live here.

Qiu Yue slowly released him, turned around to wipe away her tear stains, and then turned back with a forced smile, saying: "Let Qiu Yue prepare some food and wine to accompany the young master for a drink, to cheer him up."

Bai Yushuang asked: "Is it for a woman?"

The idle person Chunhua approached Yang Fei with a charming smile and said, "Young Master Yang, since you have taken away Sister Qiu Yue, why haven't you taken your elder sister along? This is truly unfair, isn't it"

Yang Fei saw her making an outrageous demand, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. However, upon seeing Qiuyue gently shake her head at him, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and forced a smile, saying: "Your esteemed price is rather high, how about lowering it a bit?"

After a brief contemplation, Yang Fei recounted the events concerning Xiao Die in detail, of course making slight modifications in certain areas. For instance, instead of stating that Fu Jun had taken him to Ruan Xiang Ju, he claimed that he had inadvertently wandered there and was forcibly dragged inside. As for the segment regarding Mei Lan, he naturally chose to omit it to avoid being perceived as a rogue and a scoundrel in Bai Yu Shuang's eyes.

Spring Flower, still unwilling to give up, said: "My skills are far superior to those of Autumn Moon. I can make you feel even more comfortable. If you take me back, I assure you that I will serve you alongside Autumn Moon, ensuring your utmost comfort and satisfaction."

Yang Fei just smiled at Qiu Yue and said, "From today onwards, you are a free person."

After taking only a few steps, he unexpectedly bumped into someone, who turned out to be Wu Yunhe. Yang Fei thought to himself that it was bad news, lowered his head to feign ignorance, and even forgot to pull along Qiuyue, cautiously passing by him.

Qiu Yue handed a small bundle to him and said, "You may take this for now. If the silver is insufficient, you can use these pieces of jewelry as collateral."

Yang Fei noticed that he was unwilling to say much, and he realized that he must have revealed something very important. If he had known earlier, he would not have spoken. However, upon further reflection, if that person were Mei Yunqing, he would be caught in a dilemma and might still end up leaking the secret.

Bai Xiangtian asked again, "Did Master Mei come to find you last night?"

Bai Xiangtian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, pacing back and forth in the room. Suddenly, he sighed and said: "Compared to Jun'er, I have always had high hopes for you. You are smarter than him and do not act as recklessly as Jun'er does. However, you are inherently timid; to put it bluntly, you are cowardly and avoid trouble..."

Bai Yushuang turned and returned to the inner room. After a while, she came out holding a silver note, which she handed to Yang Fei, saying: "Here are two hundred taels. You take this first. If it is more than enough, then use it to repay the money you owe your senior brothers. You can return it to me when you have money in the future"

He pushed open the door and tiptoed inside. Just as he was about to lock the door, he suddenly felt someone standing behind him. Yang Fei was startled and turned around, only to find it was Bai Xiangtian.

Yang Fei shook his head and said, "I have matters to attend to early tomorrow morning and may not return for a long time."

Yang Fei had never thought this thoroughly; he only knew to rescue Xiao Die. As for how to settle her after the rescue, he had not considered that far. In fact, he was just a half-grown child himself, acting impulsively and never thinking ahead. At this moment, upon hearing Bai Yushuang's words, such thoughts flashed through his mind but he did not dwell on them. He simply thanked Bai Yushuang and took his leave, quietly slipping out through the back door.

Since the two grew up and became aware of the differences between men and women, Bai Yushuang had never displayed such intimate behavior. Yang Fei recalled when he first arrived at Zhenwei Escort Agency, Bai Yushuang was no larger than a small butterfly. Now, she had grown into a graceful young woman. Looking at her prominent bosom, he suddenly thought of Mei Yunqing.

Yang Fei, upon hearing Bai Yushuang's words, finally came to his senses. He recalled his earlier behavior and wished he could find a hole to hide in. Bai Yushuang was evidently his cousin Fu Jun's fiancée, which meant she was his sister-in-law. How could he have been so disrespectful? He could only scold himself for his foolishness.

Bai Yushuang murmured in response, unsure if she truly understood, and looked at Yang Fei, saying: "It is still better to be soaring; going to such places not only avoids humiliating those unfortunate women, but also aims to rescue them from the flames."

Yang Fei thought to himself why everyone reacted this way upon hearing this matter. Bai Xiangtian had already calculated it well; he wondered what expression Fu Jun would have if he were unaware. He continued, "However, she put forward a condition that I must fulfill one thing in order to marry her"

Qiu Yue expressed joyfully: "So, does this mean that Qiu Yue will be able to serve the young master from now on"

Before leaving, the young master who had just struck the other young master said one last thing...

Bai Yushuang glanced out the window and said: "It is currently the hour of the rabbit. Those brothels must not have closed yet. Feiyang, you must set out early tomorrow. Go and take care of the matter now. If that little Die has nowhere to stay, bring her here, and we will arrange for her later."

Bai Xiangtian observed that he was quite quick-witted and praised him, saying: "Come with me to my room for a discussion; I have some questions to ask you"

Xing Xiaoyue (Qiu Yue) then raised her head, gazing affectionately at Yang Fei and said: "Thank you, young master"

Yang Fei could no longer contain himself and was about to explode in anger when Qiu Yue covered his mouth with her hand and said, "Mother, your daughter has been with you for several years. Even if there are no merits, there have been hardships, right? Since Young Master Yang has only brought five hundred taels, please give your daughter some face and let it be five hundred taels."

Qiu Yue could only lean close to his ear and whisper: "You forgot to take my contract of servitude."

Yang Fei thought to himself, when did Sister Yushuang become my housekeeper? He felt a surge of anxiety in his heart and pleaded, "Sister Yushuang."

Yang Fei was momentarily taken aback. He instinctively walked towards the path leading back to the boomerang agency. Was he really going to bring Qiu Yue back with him? Although he felt it was inappropriate, he had no choice but to proceed this way. He decided to first settle Qiu Yue at Bai Yushuang's place. With this thought in mind, he said: "Return to my residence"

Yang Fei was too lazy to pay her any attention; he knew where Qiuyue's room was and went straight upstairs

He had just turned a corner, and right in front of him was Bai Yushuang. Seeing him so nervous, she smiled and said, "Feiyang, what is it that you are holding so dearly?"

Yang Fei slowly turned around and saw Nangong Yi standing less than a yard in front of him. Far away, on the eaves of the house, Wu Yunhe was watching from the sidelines. Under the watchful eyes of these two great martial arts masters, he felt that even if he could fly, he would be unable to do so.

Qiu Yue nodded repeatedly and said: "That fellow stated that if the young master were to betray Yun Qing in the future, he would hunt down the young master to the ends of the earth and kill him"

The matron pretended to suddenly remember and said: "Young master, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Please wait a moment, I will go get it right away." After saying this, she left in a hurry.

Yang Fei hurriedly got up and stopped her, saying: "No need, since Xiao Die has already been redeemed, I will just sit for a while and then leave"

Yang Fei said with a bitter smile: "No, I am not aware of this news yet. I only entrusted them to redeem Xiao Die, but I do not know if they have come to handle it. Here I am, bringing silver coins."

The old woman smiled and said, "How could I possibly deceive you, young master?"

Yang Fei candidly said: "I have an urgent matter to attend to and urgently need two hundred taels. I borrowed one hundred taels from my senior brothers, but I am still short fifty taels." Suddenly, he recalled that Bai Yushuang was the only daughter of the chief escort and rarely spent money, so she must have quite a bit of savings. Why not borrow from her? However, he quickly reconsidered; although he had known her since childhood, he was ultimately a grown man. Borrowing money from a woman could lead to ridicule if it got out, especially from Fu Jun, who would likely laugh his teeth out.

Nangong Yi, inebriated, swayed unsteadily as he approached Yang Fei, raising his right palm as if to strike down with a single blow

Yang Fei nodded helplessly

Arriving again at the back door of the escort agency, Yang Fei secretly laughed at how he had almost become an expert at using the back door these past few days. He pushed the iron gate, which surprisingly was not locked, thus avoiding even the need to climb over the wall

The matron did not expect that someone had already revealed her secret, and could only awkwardly smile and say: "Alright, five hundred taels it is. Young Master Yang, I am only offering this price because of my regard for Qiuyue. Just think, Qiuyue is now the favored one at our Soft Fragrance Pavilion. If she were to leave, how would we continue to do business here?"

Yang Fei nodded and smiled, saying: "Look, I even brought the money."

The matron extended her hands, adorned with rings set with jewels on all ten fingers, and gestured in front of Yang Fei, saying: "Eight hundred taels."

Yang Fei could not help but take out the red silk pouch from his bosom, opening it up. Inside was a thin book, and by the light of the moon, he was finally able to see the four large characters on the cover—"Purple Qi Coming from the East"

Yang Fei, seeing her looking pitiful, couldn't help but pinch her smooth face and chuckled, "How could I possibly not want you"

Yang Fei smiled and said: "Anyway, I have brought silver. Since Xiao Die has been redeemed, it is your turn now."

The autumn moon, with a charming face, showed no signs of joy, but instead bore a faint trace of sorrow as she asked, "Where does your family reside, young master?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Fei couldn't help but feel his face flush with embarrassment, repeatedly saying, "No need." Stealing a glance at Qiu Yue, he saw her face streaming with tears, and couldn't help but ask, "Miss Qiu Yue, you..."

Yang Fei said angrily, "Then I can take Qiu Yue away, right?" Seeing the madam nod, he intended to pull Qiu Yue away, as he had long wanted to leave this foul place. Qiu Yue gave him a meaningful glance, and Yang Fei, somewhat puzzled, frowned and asked, "Do you have something else to say?"

Qiu Yue closed the door with a backhand and softly said, "Young Master, are you not staying here tonight?"

Yang Fei was taken aback by these words, as if struck by a bolt from the blue. He repeatedly waved his hands and said, "How can this be? Sister Yushuang and Brother Jun have been childhood sweethearts, innocent and close, with deep feelings for each other. They are a perfect match, treating each other with respect. It would not be appropriate for me to intervene in this matter."

Bai Xiangtian said, "I originally intended to betroth Shuang'er to you"

Qiu Yue said: "These banknotes amount to one hundred and eighty taels. Had I known earlier, I could have pawned these jewelry pieces first. Young master, why not come again tomorrow."

Bai Xiangtian did not answer but instead asked, "What else did the owner of Mei Manor ask you?"

Even someone as composed as Bai Xiangtian was momentarily taken aback upon hearing these words, exclaiming, "What?"

Yang Fei knew that the person must be Manager Sun, and only then did he feel relieved and say: "This is exactly right"

Madam Ba said: "Since the young master is a regular patron of Qiuyue, for Qiuyue's sake, let it be seven hundred taels."

Bai Wentian then said: "Later, your uncle mentioned several times about Jun'er and Shuang'er, and Shuang'er also agreed, so this matter was settled just like that"

Still, Qiuyue has long endured the trials of life and is quite experienced. She simply laughed and said: "First, Qiuyue will find an inn to stay for a night. Tomorrow, I will rent a small room and look for some work to do. Once I earn some money, I can support myself without troubling the young master. If the young master feels bored or tired in the future, he can come to find Qiuyue to chat and relieve his boredom. Young master, what do you think?"

Bai Yushuang observed his expression and immediately understood his thoughts, smiling as she said: "Are you looking to borrow money for the *Harmonious* book?"

The autumn moon suddenly spoke: "Young master, I request a favor from you."

This voice was all too familiar to Yang Fei; it belonged to his rival, Nangong Yi. He was truly frightened to the core, thinking that if Nangong Yi discovered him, especially in such a place, he would surely be killed on the spot. Without a moment's hesitation to argue with Chunhua, he rushed into the crowd and pulled Qiuyue away.

Bai Xiangtian said softly: "It is getting late, hurry back to rest, we still have to set off early tomorrow"

Yang Fei thought about it and realized that he could only blame himself for being too careless and inattentive

Wu Yunhe let out a sound of surprise but did not intervene

Bai Xiangtian said: "You must not tell your uncle about this matter, especially Jun'er, do you understand?" Although his voice was very gentle when he spoke these words, there was an unparalleled authority that made Yang Fei involuntarily nod his head

Yang Fei could not help but whisper: "She has already agreed to marry me."

Yang Fei, upon hearing her mention of the former and current young master, felt dizzy and overwhelmed. Fortunately, Qiuyue explained it relatively clearly, allowing him to barely grasp the meaning. He then asked, "What medicine?"

Bai Yushuang deliberately turned the oil lamp to its brightest setting, beckoned him to sit down, and then said: "Now that there is no one around, you can reveal your secret, can't you?" After speaking, her charming face was already full of smiles.

He stepped out of the room, barely managing to close the door behind him. The lights in the room had already gone out, plunging the interior into complete darkness.

Yang Fei, taken aback by the unexpected knowledge, smiled awkwardly and said to the brothel madam who was about to leave: "It seems you have forgotten to give me something."

Bai Yushuang said with a stern expression: "I can lend you the money, but you must first tell me why you need to borrow such a large sum. Otherwise, not only will I refuse to lend it to you, but I will also keep this money for you and return it later."

Qiu Yue pulled him and said: "Let me go after all, I have been with her for two years, and everything can be discussed. I will first ask for a baseline, and then you can negotiate with her. If you go to ask, she might quote you an exorbitant price."

The autumn moon slightly furrows her willow-like brows and says: "It might still be a little short, but I have saved some private funds, so I will use this to give to you"

Yang Fei made a sound of acknowledgment, and Qiuyue slightly adjusted her clothing before stepping out.

Yang Fei gritted his teeth and said: "I want to become the number one person in the world within five years"

Yang Fei murmured: "How can this be acceptable?"

He, at such an age, still behaves like a child, throwing a tantrum and then going to bed. Bai Yushuang, upon mentioning this, felt a faint blush rise to her delicate face, clearly indicating that Fu Jun had just been inappropriate with her. She remained curious about the bundle in Yang Fei's hands and asked again, "What exactly is in that bundle you are holding? It feels quite heavy." As she spoke, her jade-like hand waved, and before Yang Fei could see how she acted, the bundle in his arms had already been snatched away. She remained curious about the bundle in Yang Fei's hands and asked again, "What exactly is in that bundle you are holding? It feels quite heavy." As she spoke, her jade-like hand waved, and before Yang Fei could see how she acted, the bundle in his arms had already been snatched away.

Yang Fei said excitedly: "Then I will go find the madam here."

Autumn Moon said: "I was originally a woman of the world; if I were to live with Miss Bai, would it not tarnish her reputation"

Bai Xiangtian gently patted his shoulder and comforted him, saying, "Where there is a will, there is a way; perhaps one day you will achieve your wish"

The brothel keeper counted the gleaming silver and said with a smile, "Not too much, not too little, five hundred taels."

Yang Fei did not wait for her to finish her nagging; he handed her five hundred taels, including silver notes and gold ingots, and said coldly, "Is this enough?"

The autumn moon gazed up at him, her charming face still marked by traces of tears, revealing a hint of a smile as she said, "What is it?"

As Fang dashed out over ten zhang, Yang Fei suddenly felt an immense force strike violently against his back, as if his internal organs were about to turn over. At that moment, he could no longer hold on and fainted.

Bai Xiangtian looked at him and smiled, saying: "I know you have someone else in your heart, is it Mei Yunqing from Meihua Mountain Villa?"

Qiu Yue Dao: "Just now, that young master struck you a blow, and you fainted. That young master's alcohol had worn off a bit, and then another young master with a sword arrived. The two began to argue, seemingly over whether or not to kill you. Later, the young master who intended to kill you threw down a bottle of medicine and angrily left with the other young master."

Bai Xiangtian walked into the inner chamber and shortly emerged holding a red silk pouch, which he handed to Yang Fei, saying: "Here is a manual of martial arts secrets. If you practice diligently according to its teachings, with your talent, you could achieve great success in three years."

Qiu Yue's eyes reddened as she said: "So, does this mean that the young master will no longer want Qiu Yue in the future"

Qiu Yue shook his head and said: "He is a middle-aged man with the surname Sun, but he claims to have been sent by you, as instructed by Master Mei."

Yang Fei did not expect Bai Yushuang to be so generous. He initially intended to decline politely, but upon considering the tricks that the madam of Ruixiang Pavilion might play, and since the two hundred taels was merely what Qiuyue had mentioned, he thought it prudent to take it just in case he needed it later. Thus, he said, "Thank you, Sister Yushuang!" and unceremoniously tucked the banknotes into his pocket.

Qiu Yue smiled and said: "In our line of work, we must also uphold our credibility. She has taken your money; whether or not you sell your body is your own affair. If she refuses, you can report her to the authorities."

Yang Fei repeatedly said: "Yes, yes, Master Bo, Xiao Fei is listening."

Yang Fei had a request of her, so he could only plead with kind words: "You forgot to give me the contract for Qiu Yue's sale."

Yang Fei said: "I said I have seen it, Shibo, what is wrong with you?"

Yang Fei got up from the ground, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and smiled at Qiu Yue, saying: "I also come from humble beginnings, my status is similar to yours. You are now a free person; in the future, find a good family to marry into, and we can look out for each other, ha."

Qiu Yue joyfully said, "How much silver have you brought?"

Yang Fei was overwhelmed by the young master's chatter and said, "That guy is called Nangong Yi." Since Nangong Yi was not polite to him, Yang Fei would not be polite in return.

Yang Fei saw that Qiu Yue's charming face was covered in beads of sweat, and he felt a surge of affection in his heart. Just as he was about to tease her with a few words, he suddenly heard Nangong Yi's voice from behind saying: "He is not afraid of seeing the ghost of the map and book; he is afraid of seeing me"

Yang Fei thought for a moment and frowned, saying, "What should we do then?" He had no experience in this area and could not come up with a solution when problems arose

Yang Fei said, "We will go help you find an inn to stay at right now"

Bai Yushuang's boudoir is located in a rather secluded corner at the southeast of the Zhenwei Escort Agency. Originally, there was a personal maid named Xiao Si, but tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she has gone home to reunite with her family, leaving the room currently empty.

Yang Fei was in a state of panic. If Fu Jun found out that Bai Yushuang learned about their visit to the brothel from him, he would no longer have a good life ahead. He could only plead in a low voice, "Sister Yushuang, please do not mention this matter. Otherwise, Jun Ge will surely scold me to death"

Yang Fei said: "Have you heard of the Zhenwei Escort Agency in the north of the city? The head of the escort there is my uncle." He then briefly described the situation at the Zhenwei Escort Agency and added: "I plan to arrange for you to stay with my sister Yushuang."

Bai Xiangtian expressed great interest and asked, "What is it?"

Bai Xiangtian said: "I have no intention of blaming you; you need not be anxious"

Yang Fei asked in surprise: "What is inappropriate?"

Yang Fei was originally speaking animatedly, but upon seeing Qiu Yue's expression, he realized something was amiss and quickly fell silent

Upon hearing Yang Fei's words, Bai Xiangtian trembled slightly, and his expression seemed to suddenly age ten years. He shook his head and said, "I am fine; you need not worry."

Bai Xiangtian nodded and said, "Xiao Fei, in the future, when there is no one around, you may call me Shibo. Addressing me as the chief escort feels a bit too formal."

Yang Fei noticed that Lian Bai had little hope for him, and he couldn't help but feel dejected as he said, "I know it's almost impossible, but if I don't agree, then I won't have even the slightest chance."

At this moment, Qiu Yue finally caught up, panting and breathless, and said: "Young Master, why are you running so fast, as if you have seen a ghost"

Bai Xiangtian has always treated Yang Fei better than his uncle Fu Wuji treats him. Although he knows that Bai Xiangtian would not do anything harmful to him, he still feels a sense of fear in his heart, and his heart unconsciously races. He stands respectfully in the room, motionless.

Yang Fei repeatedly waved his hands and said, "No, no, I have no such intention. Miss Qiuyue, please do not overthink it."

Bai Yushuang saw him being beaten and remained silent, staring blankly at her own chest. Although it was quite rude, her heart was not angry with him; instead, it felt somewhat sweet. She scolded, "Little lecher, you are just like your cousin."

Yang Fei, however, had little appetite for her. After much effort, he finally listened to her finish speaking, and his expression changed as he said: "Miss Qiuyue was just fine during the day, so how is it that she fell ill at night? What kind of illness does she have?"

Fortunately, Bai Xiangtian said with a gentle expression: "Xiao Fei, are you coming back so late?"

Bai Xiangtian said: "I am someone from the past, can you not see that? It's just that the conditions set by the owner of Mei Manor are truly too favorable; you and she are probably not very compatible."

Yang Fei honestly stated: "Three hundred and fifty taels"

Bai Xiangtian said: "Isn't there a person in a dilapidated temple with a mole the size of a yellow bean hanging from their ear?"

Yang Fei sighed inwardly, realizing that his enemies were increasing in number, each possessing martial skills superior to his own. How would he survive in the future? As he contemplated this, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of despair.

Autumn Moon replied: "Has Little Butterfly gone to your place?"

Yang Fei thought to himself that he was determined to achieve greatness; otherwise, how could he become the number one in the world? Thus, upon hearing Bai Xiangtian's words, he nodded repeatedly

The spring flowers are sour and tangy: "Who knows what illness it is, perhaps it is the illness of longing."

Qiu Yue sobbed softly, saying: "Young Master, you still look down on Qiu Yue"

Qiu Yue said: "How can this be? From now on, Qiu Yue will belong to the young master, and I dare not speak of the young master's friends."

Yang Fei nodded, but it was evident that Bai Yushuang's delicate face turned cold. She repeatedly waved her hand and said, "Sister Yushuang, please do not misunderstand; it is not what you think. Allow me to slowly explain the ins and outs of this matter to you, but you must not tell Cousin that I borrowed your money, or I will be ridiculed by him." By the time she reached the last sentence, her confidence waned, and her voice noticeably dropped.

Yang Feiqi asked, "Master, how do you know?"

Yang Fei entrusted the remaining thirty taels of silver and some jewelry that originally belonged to the fortunate Xiao Yue to her, and urged her to take good care of herself before he finally departed with peace of mind

Yang Fei was uncertain whether to feel happy or disappointed. The happiness stemmed from saving this sum of money, while the disappointment arose from the fact that Mei Yunqing had taken the lead, leaving him with an unresolved personal debt. He couldn't help but ask, "Was it a woman with the surname Mei who came to redeem her?"

Qiu Yue took out a green porcelain bottle and handed it to Yang Fei. Inside the bottle remained a few snow-white pills, the same kind that Nangong Yi had given to Nangong Bo when he was injured earlier. This medicine is remarkably effective for treating internal injuries. The fact that Nangong Yi would give it to his rival in love is surprising. After all, he had just taken it himself and, despite having received such a heavy blow, he now seemed completely unscathed. This is indeed a valuable item, so he promptly tucked it into his bosom for safekeeping

Qiu Yue smiled and said: "But I asked Mr. Jin from the accounts office, that old fellow sold me in for fifty taels back then"

The white jade frost illuminated the oil lamp, and Yang Fei could not help but look around. The living room, inner chamber, and study were all present. He remembered that the last time he came here was three years ago. Although he could not recall the state of the room at that time, it felt markedly different now

After walking for half the length of Chang'an, Qiu Yue could not help but ask, "Young Master, where are you planning to take Qiu Yue?"

Nangong Yi coldly snorted: "It is your fortune from several lifetimes that Yun Qing agreed to marry you. Yet you still come to such a place to indulge in debauchery and fool around with these dubious women. Today, I shall strike you dead on behalf of Yun Qing."

Yang Fei said: "She asked me if I had seen that person at the escort agency"

Seeing her appearance, Yang Fei felt a pang in his heart. Suddenly, he exerted force with his right hand, pulling her tightly into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her slightly pale cherry lips

Yang Fei originally intended to push it open, but how could he bring himself to do so? He had no choice but to give up, forcing a bitter smile as he said: "I hope Miss Qiu Yue does not find this amusing. I came here out of mere curiosity, and I have no intention of disrespecting it, especially since I am still a..." He felt quite embarrassed and could not bring himself to finish the sentence, only able to respond with vague words.

Yang Fei, feeling indifferent, gently pushed her away

Bai Xiangtian stood in a daze for a moment, then suddenly spoke in a deep voice: "Xiao Fei, do you want to learn advanced martial arts?"

Bai Xiangtian spoke one by one, and Yang Fei himself was unaware of so many of his own merits. He couldn't help but feel a sense of elation and great pride in his heart, yet he certainly did not dare to show it on his face, maintaining a serious expression.

Qiu Yue lit the oil lamp, pulled him back to the room, and invited him to sit down. After tidying her disheveled hair, she said: "I will go prepare some food and drinks."

Yang Fei let out a sigh and couldn't help but ask, "Chief Escort, what are you doing here?" As soon as he spoke, he felt a pang of regret; Bai Xiangtian didn't even ask where he was going, yet he foolishly inquired about what Bai was doing here. Wasn't that just asking for a scolding?

Bai Xiangtian, hearing him jumble the idioms, couldn't help but reveal a faint smile and said, "I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

Yang Fei held her soft little hand, unable to suppress the myriad thoughts in his mind, and was involuntarily led away by her

Bai Yushuang gave him a heavy slap on the forehead, scolding with a laugh: "You cousins are all the same; your older cousin has borrowed money from me a few times as well, and he didn't allow me to tell you. Well, now it's even between the two of you, and neither of you is allowed to laugh at the other." After a pause, she snorted and continued: "Are we women not human? Is it so shameful to borrow money from us?"

Yang Fei nodded, tucked the red silk pouch into his bosom, and said respectfully: "Thank you, Master Uncle"

Yang Feifang let out a sigh and said: "They are the true couple."

Yang Fei smiled as she took out a small pouch from a hidden corner of her wardrobe, which contained not only some jewelry but also several silver notes

Yang Fei found a nearby Heluo Inn, which is neither too far nor too close to the Zhenwei Escort Agency, mainly because he was concerned that being too close might alert the people at the agency, leading to undesirable consequences

Bai Xiangtian asked again: "How do you respond?"

Yang Fei hesitated for a moment and said: "He is still a virgin male"

Qiu Yue smiled gently and said: "Having spent two years in the world of wind and moon, what scenes have I not witnessed? Can I not even take care of myself?"

Yang Fei was so surprised that he swallowed hard and said, "Is the chief escort waiting for my return?" He thought to himself, this is simply too absurd.

Yang Fei was taken aback by the deep affection in her words, and he thought to himself that perhaps Sister Yushuang had developed feelings for someone else and had fallen for him instead

Yang Fei thought to himself, wouldn't this be akin to a golden house to hide a beauty? However, this is indeed a good idea. He nodded repeatedly and said, "It is good, but I will be leaving Chang'an tomorrow. I do not know when I will be able to return. Can you manage on your own?"

A sound was heard in the room, and after a moment, the door creaked open, revealing the pale face of Qiuyue, who looked genuinely ill. Her clothes were disheveled, clearly indicating that she had just gotten out of bed. Upon seeing Yang Fei, her face lit up with joy as she said, "So it is indeed Young Master Yang, please come in"

Qiu Yue smiled and said, "I indeed followed his instructions and gave you two of this medicine, yet I did not expect that you would wake up so soon, young master"

Her words carried a hint of disdain for Yang Fei, who came from a humble background and detested hearing such remarks. He snorted and said, "How much silver do you want? Just name your price."

The door of Qiu Yue's room was tightly shut, and the lights were not on. Yang Fei knocked several times, but there was no response. Unable to contain himself, he called out loudly: "Miss Qiu Yue, Miss Qiu Yue."

Bai Yushuang's face turned slightly red after listening, and she playfully scolded, "It must be that lecherous Fu Jun who took you there. Otherwise, how could you, a well-behaved person who never steps out of the front door or even crosses the threshold, go to such a place alone? Just wait, I will make sure to teach him a lesson in the future"

The brothel keeper was feeling quite pleased with herself; as long as she had that contract of sale, Qiu Yue was still one of her own. Upon hearing Yang Fei's words, she pretended not to know: "I have the money, you can leave, what else is there?"

Yang Fei nodded and said, "What does Master Uncle want with me?" He was quick to sense the situation; if there were no matters to discuss, why would he be waiting here for a nameless nobody like him?

The madam arrived quite quickly; the silver was gone, but a yellow paper was now in hand. Yang Fei took it over and handed it to Qiuyue, saying, "Take a look and see if this is the one"

Yang Fei, seeing that the conversation had gotten to the point, answered honestly: "She came last night and took me to see a corpse."

The matron coldly said: "Since you have no money, do not come here pretending to be wealthy. Wait until you have enough money to speak again"

Yang Fei could not help but say: "No more calling me 'Young Master.' From now on, we are all friends. Miss Qiuyue, you can call me Xiao Fei or Feiyang, that's what everyone else calls me."

Yang Fei was momentarily so frightened that he did not know what to do; he could neither walk away nor stay.

The matron sighed and said, "Qiu Yue, tidy up a bit and then go with Young Master Yang. A daughter grows up and cannot be kept; even if a mother wishes to keep her, she cannot."

The brothel madam calculated for a moment, then sighed and said: "Since you put it that way, then it shall be six hundred taels."

Yang Fei said to Qiu Yue: "She won't play any tricks, will she?"

Yang Fei, for the first time in his life, held such a large sum of silver. Unconsciously, he clutched the bundle tightly to his chest, walking hurriedly and swiftly, as if he might encounter robbers within the escort agency.

Yang Fei said: "Master, how do you know about this matter?"

Seeing him with a furrowed brow under the autumn moon, she felt it was not appropriate to say much and silently accompanied him as they walked forward

Yang Fei's thoughts raced, and he recalled that it must be related to Mei Yunqing, so he nodded.

Yang Fei smiled and said, "You are so well-behaved; not just one, even a hundred would be fine."

Yang Fei originally intended to inquire why this matter could not be mentioned to Fu Jun, but seeing that he did not speak, he did not dare to say more. He respectfully performed a bow and slowly exited the room

Upon arriving at the hall, a group of idle guests' courtesans gathered around, chattering incessantly. Most of them expressed envy, saying things like how fortunate Qiuyue was to encounter a noble person.

Yang Fei thought to himself that it was still not enough, so he could only force a smile and say: "Please lower it a bit more"

Bai Yushuang affectionately took Yang Fei's right hand and said, "It is inconvenient to talk here; please go to my room first, and then tell me your secret in detail."

Seeing her in such a state, Yang Fei did not wish to disturb her and intended to leave. However, upon reflecting on the matter at hand, he inquired, "Where is Miss Xiao Die?"

Yang Fei was so frightened that he didn't even have the courage to turn around. He only felt a chill in his palms and tightly held onto Qiuyue's small hand, feeling a trace of warmth. He trembled and said: "Young Master Nangong, what do you want?"

The hall was crowded with people, and the madam was so busy that she didn't even have time to greet Yang Fei. Only a familiar face, Chunhua, who was sitting idly nearby, noticed Yang Fei at a glance. She thought to herself that business had finally come knocking, and hurriedly approached Yang Fei, speaking in a flirtatious tone: "Oh, Young Master Yang, it's been a while since we last met, and here you are again. You must be looking for Sister Qiuyue, right? How unfortunate, but Sister Qiuyue is ill, and quite seriously too. Why not let me accompany you tonight instead?" She noticed the heavy bundle on Yang Fei's back, which was clearly filled with silver. She thought to herself that she would make sure this young lad was well taken care of tonight, and all that silver would ultimately belong to her. As she entertained this thought, she found Yang Fei increasingly pleasing to the eye and more likable. Leaning her soft body against Yang Fei, her burning gaze fixated on the bundle of silver, she looked as if she could almost swallow him whole.

The more one fears, the more likely one is to encounter it. Yang Fei unexpectedly came across a "robber" who blocked his way, and could only smile wryly and say: "It's nothing, just one hundred and fifty taels of silver."

Bai Xiangtian, on the other hand, did not display the same look of astonishment as before. He nodded slightly and said, "No wonder she agreed to you; what difference does it make whether she agreed or not"

Qiu Yue pondered for a moment and said, "Five hundred taels of silver might be sufficient"

Yang Fei was about to open it to take a look when Bai Xiangtian said again, "Wait until you return to look at it. If there is anything you do not understand inside, you can ask Shuang'er; she will teach you."

"It's nothing?" Yang Fei retorted, "What's wrong with Jun Ge?"

Uncertain how much time had passed, Yang Fei finally regained consciousness and found himself lying on the ground, while Qiuyue was staring at him intently, her face filled with urgency. He could not understand why Nangong Yi had spared his life, so he could only ask Qiuyue: "What just happened?"

Previously, Yang Fei had visited the place where Bai Xiangtian resided. The layout of his room was roughly similar to that of Bai Yushuang's, but it lacked a hint of makeup and exuded a more masculine aura

Yang Fei remained unsatisfied and said, "Lower it a bit more."

Yang Fei took it and, without saying a word, tore it to shreds, causing the madam to feel a pang of pain in her heart

But why is Nangong Yi also here tonight to indulge in the flower wine, and coincidentally, he chose the Soft Fragrance Pavilion? Could it be that he is specifically here to cause me trouble? Yang Fei was startled, but then he thought that he was being overly suspicious. If he had come specifically to trouble me, why would he forget about drinking the flower wine?

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yue couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, but Yang Fei's next words left her feeling despondent: "However, I already have someone I love, and he has agreed to marry me"

Yang Fei stammered, "Chief Escort, I, I..." He was momentarily at a loss for words and could only respond with vague utterances

Bai Yushuang said: "Did you not only have a dividend of fifty taels of silver? How has it suddenly turned into one hundred and fifty taels?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Fei, though unaware of what Bai Xiangtian was referring to, could not help but feel his face flush with embarrassment. Being labeled a coward is, after all, not a very honorable matter. He calmed himself and then heard Bai Xiangtian say: "However, this shortcoming can be corrected through later efforts, and you conduct yourself with a certain restraint and stability, understanding how to hold back and not be overly ostentatious."

Qiu Yue raised her delicate face and gazed intently at him, her voice trembling as she asked, "Is it true?"

The brothel madam's eyes lit up as she said: "Having silver makes things easier to discuss; what worries me is whether the young master has enough silver."

Yang Fei thought to himself that if he were to take a blow from you, he would have no life left. He was the most timid and would never stand still to await death. He quickly pulled Qiu Yue over and turned to flee.

Yang Fei suddenly had a thought in his mind and softly said: "How about I redeem you?"

The autumn moon gently hung low, and in a soft voice said: "I would like to revert to my original name, Xing Xiaoyue. From now on, please call me Xiaoyue, and do not refer to me as Miss Qiuyue anymore."

Since there was no need for him to speak first, Yang Fei naturally nodded eagerly, responding repeatedly.

Autumn Moon said: "You are redeeming me, can I not contribute a little effort?"

The bright moon hangs high in the sky; although it is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the East Garden Flower Street is still bustling with voices. In front of the Soft Fragrance Pavilion, the flow of vehicles is incessant, creating an extraordinary atmosphere. Yang Fei gazes at the entrance for a while, contemplating his purpose for coming here, and finally steels himself to walk inside.

After a long while, Qiuyue entered with the brothel keeper. Yang Fei was about to speak when the brothel keeper said first: "Oh, Young Master Yang, I heard that you intend to redeem my daughter Qiuyue, is that correct?"

The brothel madam coldly snorted: "This is unacceptable. I spent five hundred taels to buy you back then. If I sell you for five hundred taels now, wouldn't that mean I have raised you for two years for nothing"

Yang Fei exited the entrance of Ruanxiangju, filled with great joy. He ran even faster, sprinting several streets before finally stopping. Looking back, he saw that Nangong Yi had not pursued him, which allowed him to finally relax.

The brothel madam's expression changed slightly, and she snorted, saying: "Young master, do you no longer wish to help Qiu Yue redeem herself"

Unexpectedly, Bai Xiangtian showed no displeasure; instead, he smiled and said, "I will be waiting for your return."

Bai Xiangtian was still the first person who did not speak words of discouragement. Yang Fei expressed his gratitude, saying: "Thank you, Master Uncle, for your encouragement. I, Xiao Fei, will certainly do my best"

Qiu Yue Qi Dao: "Didn’t you ask someone to redeem her an hour ago, Young Master Yang?"

Yang Fei knew that she wanted to forget the painful memories of the past, and he happily replied on her behalf: "Yes, Xiao Yue"