In the distance, as the door to Lady Chen Shuang’s room in the East Building closed, the once-silent spectators began whispering amongst themselves.


    “That’s the Qin Residence? Qin Yun? You mean the Second Young Master of Silver Badge Constable Qin’s family? I’ve heard of him! At the age of thirteen, he achieved the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement and became one with his sword. Such astonishing talent! And now, eight years later, he’s practically a celestial being,” a plump, well-dressed man remarked, shaking his head in admiration. “With just a casual flick of his finger, he demonstrated such immense power. Imagine what he could do with full mastery of his spells. Remarkable!”


    “Look, Liu Qi from the Liu family has already slipped away in fear.”


    “You must understand, Qin Yun is a native of Guangling County. That’s probably why he showed mercy. If it were an itinerant cultivator with no ties, that Liu Qi would’ve been obliterated with a single strike.”


    “Lady Chen Shuang’s situation has certainly changed. With Young Master Qin backing her, no one in Guangling County will dare lay a finger on her now.”


    The guests continued their chatter.


    Inside the Room.


    Tears glistened in Lady Chen Shuang’s eyes as she whispered, “Brother Yun, thank you.” She understood that Qin Yun’s public display was deliberate—to deter troublemakers and announce that the famed courtesan Lady Chen Shuang was under his protection.


    “It was a trivial matter. I needed to make an example of someone, and that fat Liu happened to be the perfect target,” Qin Yun replied. “Besides, his mouth was indeed foul.”


    “But the Liu family is one of the three great families in Guangling County. Will this cause trouble for you?” Lady Chen Shuang asked, concerned.


    Qin Yun chuckled. “True power in this world resides either in the imperial court, which wields immense authority, or among cultivators like us. Everything else is inconsequential.”


    In Guangling County, only a few posed a threat to Qin Yun.


    Foremost among them was the County Governor. Holding both military and administrative power, the governor could act with near impunity against threats, especially given the ever-present menace of monsters. Officials of the seventh rank and below could even be executed without prior approval. Such authority left no one in the county administration daring to defy him. Opposing the governor meant opposing the entire court.


    Even a formidable cultivator at the Golden Core stage would be hunted down relentlessly if they antagonized the court. Fortunately, the County Governor’s tenure was limited to three years per term, with a maximum of two consecutive terms before mandatory relocation.


    “By the way, I’ll handle your contract with Yan Feng Pavilion. Prepare yourself. Tonight, you’ll leave with me,” Qin Yun said decisively.


    Lady Chen Shuang was taken aback, as was Aunt Xue, who stood nearby, staring in shock.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    “A contract for sale?” Lady Chen Shuang hesitated.


    “What’s the matter?” Qin Yun asked, puzzled.


    “That contract… actually…” Lady Chen Shuang stammered, “doesn’t exist.”


    Qin Yun was stunned. “Didn’t you enter Yan Feng Pavilion to repay a debt of nearly twenty thousand taels? Such a large sum—how could they not have made you sign a contract of sale?”


    Lady Chen Shuang smiled wryly. “Brother Yun, I entered Yan Feng Pavilion on a simple employment contract. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Aunt Xue.”


    Qin Yun turned to Aunt Xue, who was an old retainer of the Xie family. As the aunt of both Xie Lei and Xie Shuang, she had stepped in to care for the siblings after their mother’s early death and their father’s severe illness.


    “It’s true. It’s merely an employment contract, not a contract for sale,” Aunt Xue affirmed. “I wouldn’t have allowed Shuang’er to sell herself.”


    “Then why does everyone think it’s a contract for sale?” Qin Yun asked.


    “Brother Yun,” Lady Chen Shuang began, “when my brother died on an escort mission, many of his colleagues also perished. My family went bankrupt compensating the widows and children of the deceased. That part is true. Later, the mysterious client who hired my brother’s escort service learned of our tragedy and forgave our debt. Despite my insistence on repaying, they accepted only a single tael of silver and left.


    “With no family left and the Xie family deeply indebted, I chose to join Yan Feng Pavilion. Our family’s past in the escort business left us with numerous enemies. Alone and vulnerable, I might have been hunted down and killed.


    “The claim of a twenty-thousand-tael debt was a deliberate fabrication,” she explained. “By spreading this story, Yan Feng Pavilion ensured that any would-be assailants understood the high cost of crossing them. For their part, the pavilion was happy to let the rumor persist. It not only boosted my status but also their profits.”


    Qin Yun nodded in understanding. Yan Feng Pavilion, the most renowned establishment of its kind in Guangling County, was a hub for the wealthy and powerful. Such an establishment inevitably had formidable backing.


    “You’re not lying to me, are you? This isn’t a trivial matter,” Qin Yun said cautiously.


    “How could I deceive you, Brother Yun? If you’re still doubtful, you can ask the steward of the East Building,” Lady Chen Shuang replied.


    “I’ll check.” Qin Yun left the room.


    Outside, not far from the door, a maid and the steward were waiting. Qin Yun called out, “Steward, I have something to ask you.”


    The steward approached quickly. “How can I assist you, Young Master Qin?”


    “Lady Chen Shuang did not enter Yan Feng Pavilion under a contract for sale but on a regular employment agreement. Is that true?” Qin Yun asked directly.


    The steward hesitated but, under Qin Yun’s commanding gaze, confessed, “Yes, Young Master. It was just a standard contract. The claim of a twenty-thousand-tael debt was merely a public story to elevate Lady Chen Shuang’s status.”


    Qin Yun nodded, dismissing the steward with a wave of his hand. “You may go.”


    Returning to the room, he said with a chuckle, “It seems the rumors were indeed exaggerated.”


    Lady Chen Shuang smiled. “Brother Yun, back then, I had no choice.”


    “Now that the truth is out, and with me here, you no longer need to fear your enemies. Come back to the Qin Residence with me. You can stay there in peace,” Qin Yun suggested.


    Lady Chen Shuang hesitated. “And then? Stay in the residence day after day, doing nothing?”


    “You could leave this life behind, find someone you like, and live a quiet life as a wife and mother,” Qin Yun said.


    “Marry?” Lady Chen Shuang shook her head. “Once I entered this world, I was marked forever. Who would marry me?”


    Qin Yun was silent.


    “Even if someone were willing, it would only be a small household willing to take me as a concubine. I’d rather remain unmarried than be someone’s concubine,” she said firmly.


    Qin Yun sighed inwardly. Given her pride, she would never accept such a fate.


    “Life here suits me better. I can learn music, dance, and swordsmanship. I have friends, admirers, and freedom. Brother Yun, do you understand?” she asked.


    Qin Yun nodded. “Life is fleeting. If this makes you happy, so be it. Just remember, you’ll always have a brother to support you. If you ever need help, come to me.”