Ye Lanshan gave her a strange look. Although claiming someone was in his heart was just an excuse to avoid her纠缠, she seemed to have misunderstood something. He didn't dwell on it and simply responded with silence.
Seeing his silence, Taoyao assumed he was admitting it. She sighed softly, mourning a love that had ended before it even began.
After a moment, Taoyao recovered her naturally clear voice and said, "I should go. I've stayed here too long already. Any longer and it wouldn't be appropriate."
"What, you want to leave after causing such a mess? I didn't know the leader of the Mei Pavilion could be so untrustworthy." Ye Lanshan blocked the door, preventing her from leaving.
"You... so you knew my identity all along. Was everything before this part of your scheme? I thought you were an honorable man, but it turns out you're just a cunning villain." Taoyao's eyes were filled with mockery, whether directed at herself or Ye Lanshan.
"I didn't know your identity from the start. If you hadn't gone to the palace for that treasure, I might still be in the dark. You wanted to make me your scapegoat, so why call me a villain?" Ye Lanshan wasn't angered by her words and even explained how he discovered her identity.
"Fine, I'll stay, but you must help me hide my identity, prepare a courtyard for me, and get my friend out of prison. You need to bring him out intact." After being exposed, Taoyao spoke with much more confidence, and the seductive air about her vanished.
"I can handle all that, but you'll have to show some sincerity. Otherwise, why should I help you?" Ye Lanshan paced by the window, striking the pose of a master.
"I'll train assassins for you and teach your girls here to make incense. Isn't that enough? You should know my incense is priceless—many would give their lives for it. Don't be ungrateful after getting such a deal."
Taoyao was undoubtedly a skilled negotiator, elevating her value with just a few words.
But Ye Lanshan wasn't easily fooled. She said calmly, "Your incense may be priceless, but how can I be sure the incense you teach the girls here is the same as what you claim? And training assassins for me was a promise you made from the start—can that really count as sincerity?"
"I... just tell me, what do you really want?" Taoyao's chest heaved slightly, her breathing quickening with anger.
"I want you to brew the Soul Severing Water." Ye Lanshan finally revealed his goal.
"Soul Severing Water?" Taoyao's eyes widened, staring at Ye Lanshan as if he were insane.
Ye Lanshan replied flatly, "That's right, the Soul Severing Water."
"Do you know what goes into making Soul Severing Water? It's effective for bewitching people, yes, but its recipe is extremely bloody and cruel. Besides, where am I supposed to find the materials here in the capital? Don't forget, these things are banned for sale in the imperial city." Taoyao didn't believe he could procure those ingredients.
"Don't worry about the ingredients. If you agree to make it, you'll have whatever materials you need." This was Ye Lanshan's confidence, a privilege unique to her.
"Since that's the case, I agree. When can you get my friend out of prison?" Taoyao couldn't argue further. If he could get banned items in the capital, his background must be formidable. With such influence, getting someone out of jail should be simple.
"Give me half a month. I'll bring him out for you. But you'll need to tell me his name and appearance. Otherwise, how will I know which one is your friend?" Ye Lanshan, now that she agreed to make the Soul Severing Water, wanted to fulfill her request quickly.
"His name is Yi An. He's a Grand Xuan General, brilliant, cunning, and has perfect control over people's hearts. He was imprisoned because the emperor suspected him of being a spy." Taoyao hurried to the table, picked up the brush and paper, and began drawing. In no time, a complete portrait appeared on the paper.
Ye Lanshan stepped forward to look at the painting. The man in it was handsome, with gentle brows and eyes, the very image of a refined scoundrel.
This person looks so familiar. Where have I seen him before? Ye Lanshan racked his brain but couldn't recall.
"Since you've agreed, I hope you won't go back on your word." Taoyao felt relieved that he hadn't made things difficult, already looking forward to seeing Yi An soon.
"Of course. But don't forget my Soul Severing Water." Ye Lanshan smiled in response, reiterating his demand.
"Master, Master Mu is here." Ye Lanshan was waiting in his room for Taoyao's written recipe, but upon hearing of Master Mu's visit, he went out to meet him.
"What brings Master Mu here today?" Ye Lanshan led him to the room where they usually discussed matters.
"Oh, there's an auction in two days. I'm here to give you a pass." Mu Ziming took out an exquisite pass from his robe and handed it to Ye Lanshan.
"An auction? I haven't heard anything about it." Ye Lanshan tucked the pass into his sleeve.
Mu Ziming explained, "This auction isn't hosted by the Mu family. We only found out early because we have someone on the inside."
"Oh? There's someone in the capital with more wealth and power than you?" Ye Lanshan was curious. Usually, most auctions, big or small, were hosted by the Mu family. Others held auctions too, but the Mu family's were far more frequent.
Mu Ziming asked, "Have you heard of the Fusheng Auction House?"
Ye Lanshan thought hard. The name was familiar, but he couldn't recall any specific details about it. It seemed the original owner of this body had never been there.
"No. Could you enlighten me, Master Mu?" Ye Lanshan decided to hear what Mu Ziming had to say.
Seeing Ye Lanshan's confused look, Mu Ziming explained helplessly, "The Fusheng Auction House spans the entire continent. Besides the three kingdoms, it has branches in many independent cities and even near religious sites."
"I see." Ye Lanshan nodded in understanding. It seemed the forces in this kingdom weren't so simple. He'd need to look into it. A single brothel wasn't enough—he had to develop his strength quickly.
Chapter 112: Brothel Dispute
"I see. Thank you for telling me, Master Mu. You must be thirsty after all that talking. Qingdai, serve tea." Ye Lanshan walked to a chair and sat down, gesturing for Mu Ziming to do the same.
"Fragrant at first sniff, sweet on the tongue, and the aroma lingers even as it goes down the throat. This tea is excellent. What's it called?" Mu Ziming took a sip, a satisfied expression on his face.
"This is a type of Hundred Fragrance Tea, brewed with dew from lotus leaves and steeped with orchid and Maojian. Its hallmark is its fragrance. But drinking tea alone can be dull—why not try these tea pastries?" Ye Lanshan's eyes lit up when talking about tea, a natural charm flowing from him like the lingering aftertaste of the brew.
Mu Ziming picked up a piece of tea pastry and took a bite. It was delicious—fragrant like the tea, even more so when eaten, with a faint milky flavor.
"What's this pastry called?" Mu Ziming asked.
"It's called Rose Crisp, one of the pastries that pairs well with Hundred Fragrance Tea." Ye Lanshan also picked up a piece and chewed slowly.
"Let me go! I'm not one of their brothel girls. I'm telling you, if you dare touch me, my father will make you pay tomorrow!" A panicked female voice came through the door.
"You damn woman, threatening me? Serving me is your honor, and you dare resist? I don't believe I can't handle you!" A rough male voice followed.
Soon, the sounds of struggle faded, replaced by soft sobbing.
Mu Ziming paused, listening for a moment. "That sounds like Liu Qiushui, the daughter of the Night Kingdom's prime minister."
He chuckled softly. "What a mess. She could have gone anywhere, but she chose a brothel."
"It seems Master Mu knows the person outside." Ye Lanshan didn't rush to intervene, staying seated and chatting with Mu Ziming.
"If something happens to her in your establishment, her father's wrath might not spare even you, Miss Ye." Mu Ziming put on a prepared mask, flicked his sleeves, and opened the door.
"You wanted to save her yourself, but you twisted things to make someone else handle it. That's not very nice." Just as he was about to open the door, Ye Lanshan suddenly spoke, piercing through his little scheme.
"This is your turf. It's easier for you to manage. Why waste my energy?" Mu Ziming opened the door and walked out slowly.
"Sigh, what a hassle." Ye Lanshan quickly straightened his clothes, pushed open the door, and approached the group of burly men with a smile. "Master Cui, isn't it inappropriate to treat a lady like this?"
The young master surrounded by the thugs pointed at Ye Lanshan arrogantly. "This is none of your business. Get lost if you know what's good for you, or I'll make sure you come in standing and leave lying down."
"Master Cui, that's not fun. Causing trouble on my turf, pointing at me and telling me to leave—that doesn't sit well with reason." A flame suddenly appeared in Ye Lanshan's palm, its orange glow tinged with a few streaks of domineering red.
An ordinary person would have knelt and begged for mercy, but he remained defiant. "So what if it's your turf? My father is the Minister of Personnel. If you don't know your place, I'll have you thrown in jail right now."
Ye Lanshan admired the flame in his hand and said calmly, "Didn't your father ever teach you a lesson?"
"What?" A chill finally crept into his heart, and fear began to set in.
"All power crumbles to dust before absolute strength." As soon as Ye Lanshan finished speaking, he tossed the flame at him.
"Water Shield!" Cui Minghao, seeing the fire flying toward him, quickly used his mystic technique.
"Kill him!" He hid behind the others, ordering the thugs to charge at Ye Lanshan.
Ye Lanshan fixed his gaze on the thugs and, before they could form their mystic techniques, swiftly pasted a talisman on each of them.
His speed was so fast that only a blur was visible. The thugs couldn't catch him and were instead subdued.
"Grab her! What's wrong with you? Disobeying my orders?" Cui Minghao shouted angrily at the thugs, wanting them to seize Ye Lanshan quickly and stop ruining his fun.
But no matter how much he yelled, the thugs stood motionless.
Gradually, he sensed something was wrong. Even if the thugs were defiant, they wouldn't dare disobey his orders. Yet now, they openly resisted.
"Are you calling them?" Ye Lanshan lightly patted the thugs, not using much force, but it was enough to push them to the ground.
"Don't... don't come near me! I'm warning you, if you lay a finger on me, my father won't let you off!" Cui Minghao fell to the ground in fear, crawling backward.
"What goes around comes around! If I weren't poisoned and temporarily unable to use my mystic power, do you think you could have humiliated me?" Before Ye Lanshan could say anything, Liu Qiushui rushed over and started kicking Cui Minghao.
Cui Minghao rolled around like a ball under her kicks, unable to speak. Finally, when Liu Qiushui had enough, he caught his breath after a while.
Ye Lanshan did nothing, just sat quietly on a nearby chair, watching Liu Qiushui single-handedly beat Cui Minghao.
"Just you wait!" Taking advantage of their distraction, Cui Minghao dashed to the door, opened it, and ran out.
"Thank you for saving me, sir. This jade pendant is my gift to you." Liu Qiushui pulled out a jade pendant from her person, her cheeks flushed as she handed it to him.
"This brothel is mine. It's my fault you suffered such an ordeal here. I should be apologizing, not taking your pendant." Ye Lanshan pushed the pendant back.
"Regardless, you saved me. I don't care—you have to keep this pendant, or else... or else I'll cry right here." Liu Qiushui looked like she was about to cry, leaving Ye Lanshan helpless.
He should have left this mess to Mu Ziming. If he hadn't stepped in, Mu Ziming couldn't have just stood by. Now, with this pendant, he didn't know whether to accept it or not.