"Madman?" Tian Bo paused briefly, speaking softly. "Madman has been dead for almost three years."


    "Dead for three years?" Qin Yun''s expression shifted.


    Back when he first entered the West Mountain Sword Academy, he was just the son of a common constable, only ten years old.


    Tian Bo was the son of a modest merchant, merely nine.


    Xie Lei’s family ran a security escort company; he was eleven.


    Xie Lei was fiercely competitive and impulsive, earning him the nickname "Xie the Madman." Tian Bo, on the other hand, was shy, delicate, and handsome, which led to him being teased as "Little Bo-Bo."


    Strictly speaking, Tian Bo was more of a sidekick. Qin Yun and "Xie the Madman" Xie Lei were the academy''s two most skilled swordsmen, often sparring and competing against one another. Xie Lei’s younger sister, Xie Shuang, was someone Qin Yun treated as his own sibling. She reminded him of his little sister, who had died when he was eight. Xie Shuang''s appearance and temperament were uncannily similar.


    Qin Yun and Xie Lei were close friends, so it was hard to believe that someone as skilled and shrewd as Xie the Madman could meet such a tragic end.


    "What happened? How did he die?" Qin Yun’s heart ached as scenes from their boyhood flashed in his mind, his eyes growing misty.


    "I planned to talk to you about it in private after today’s gathering," Tian Bo said in a hushed tone. "You know how his father had been gravely ill for years. Just six months after you left town, his father passed away. But Madman, with his strength and leadership, managed to hold onto his position as the chief escort of their company. He even arranged a marriage with a girl from the most prominent family in Guangling County, the Hong family—a concubine-born daughter, though still a strong alliance. But before the wedding, disaster struck."


    "What happened?" Qin Yun asked anxiously.


    "The Xie family took on a major escort mission," Tian Bo explained. "Madman personally led the convoy. Just as they neared their destination, they were ambushed by monsters. The battle was said to be fierce. Out of hundreds, only three survived. Two of the monsters were killed, and Madman died after driving his sword through one’s skull. But not before it tore open his chest."


    Qin Yun fell silent.


    Monsters.


    Escort companies encountering monsters usually surrendered their cargo. Most monsters, being less intelligent, accepted the offering. But in cases where that wasn’t an option, the only recourse was to fight to the death.


    "Where’s Xiaoshuang?" Qin Yun asked, his voice tight.


    With Xie the Madman gone, only his younger sister, Xie Shuang, remained.


    "The escort mission was a huge loss. The Xie family had to compensate both for the lost cargo and the lives of the men who perished," Tian Bo said, shaking his head. "Xie Shuang, bless her, was honorable and compassionate. She disbanded the company, sold all their possessions, and compensated the families of the deceased. But even that wasn’t enough. In the end, she sold herself to Yan Feng Pavilion to pay off the remaining debts."Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Sold herself to Yan Feng Pavilion?" Qin Yun’s face turned pale.


    Madman was dead, and now Xie Shuang had sold herself to survive?


    Thankfully, Yan Feng Pavilion was Guangling County’s most prestigious brothel, where the courtesans were known to sell their talents, not their bodies. Only lower-tier establishments dealt in flesh.


    "Xie Shuang was the Xie family’s only daughter," Tian Bo continued. "She was skilled in sword dancing, played the pipa beautifully, and was exceptionally lovely. That earned her a high price." He sighed. "I wanted to help, but the Xie family needed nearly twenty thousand taels of silver. My family would have had to sell off half of our assets to afford it. My father would never agree to such a sacrifice."


    "Nearly twenty thousand taels?" Qin Yun nodded grimly. A fortune like that was beyond the reach of most families. That Yan Feng Pavilion was willing to pay it spoke volumes about Xie Shuang’s worth.


    "We’ll go to Yan Feng Pavilion tonight," Qin Yun said firmly.


    "I’ll go with you," Tian Bo agreed.


    Though eager to see Xie Shuang, Qin Yun knew Yan Feng Pavilion wouldn’t open its doors until evening. Since Xie Shuang had been there for over two years, waiting a few more hours wouldn’t make much difference. For now, he forced himself to stay and drink with his old friends.


    Sitting by the railing, he sipped wine and watched as his companions sparred with swords over the shimmering lake.


    "Qin Yun, why not come over and give us some pointers?"


    "Yes, don’t just sit there drinking!"


    They waved him over enthusiastically.


    "No need," Qin Yun replied with a faint smile. He lacked the heart for it, his thoughts consumed by the tragedy of Xie Shuang and the death of Xie the Madman.


    "Qin Yun," a carefree, elegant youth approached, sitting beside him. This was none other than "Young Master Wufeng," the founder of West Mountain Sword Academy. "At thirteen, you reached the ninth stage of Qi Refinement. By fifteen, you were traveling the world alone. Surely you’ve already found a path to immortality and entered the gates of cultivation?"


    "After many hardships, I’ve barely scratched the surface," Qin Yun admitted.


    Young Master Wufeng sighed in admiration. "Remarkable. You’re the only one from Guangling County’s younger generation to achieve this. Do you know what I admire most about you?"


    "What?" Qin Yun asked, puzzled.


    "Your courage," Wufeng said. "With your talent, joining one of the local sects would’ve been easy, and reaching immortality just as simple. But you dismissed them all, wandering the world in search of a truly great sect. Such resolve—perhaps that’s what the path to immortality demands."


    Qin Yun shook his head. "Don’t glorify me. At first, I just gritted my teeth and endured. Later, I wanted to go home, but I was already thousands of miles away. Returning was just as dangerous. I had no choice but to keep going."


    "Still impressive," Wufeng said, raising his wine flask. "To you."


    Qin Yun raised his flask, and they clinked them together.


    After a sip, Wufeng remarked, "You’re different from us now. Even your lifespan is different. With immortality, you’ll easily live over a century. Reach the Xiantian or Virtual Core stages, and you’ll live two centuries. Legends of the Golden Core stage speak of lifespans of five centuries—true immortality. By the time we’re all dust, you’ll still be young."


    Qin Yun stared into the lake, silently drinking.


    By dusk, Qin Yun declined further invitations to festivities and left with Tian Bo.


    "Let’s go to Yan Feng Pavilion."


    The two rode off together.


    Yan Feng Pavilion, the most renowned brothel in Guangling County, attracted officials, aristocrats, and wealthy merchants alike. Even a single cup of tea cost a tael of silver—a sum that could sustain an ordinary family for months.


    By the time they arrived, the pavilion was already open. Red lanterns adorned the entrance, and a group of beautiful maidservants stood ready to greet their esteemed guests.