"Not a distinguished guest, just a pauper," said Shi Chun, unashamedly pointing at his own ragged appearance in self-deprecation.
He then gestured towards Bian Weikang, saying, "Let him go!"
Madame Fengchi blinked, not taking the bait, and gracefully walked over to Bian Weikang, asking, "Someone you know?"
Bian Weikang felt a bit embarrassed.
How could he know who this ragged person was? None of his acquaintances matched this description.
However, seeing a glimmer of hope as someone had stood up for him, he immediately called out to Shi Chun, "Please, young master, help me. I assure you, I will be eternally grateful."
He used 'young master' because Shi Chun didn’t seem that old.
Shi Chun ignored him, responding to Madame Fengchi instead, "Whether we know each other or not isn’t important. What's important is that you’ve gone too far. You know well his status, and yet you are humiliating him. This tarnishes the reputation of Wukang Mountain, and I cannot tolerate it!"
He believed that eventually, news of this would reach Wukang Mountain, and thus he was already preparing for their meeting by defending them.
People started wondering if this person had some connection to Wukang Mountain.
Madame Fengchi laughed, realizing that Bian Weikang didn’t know this person.
She waved her handkerchief slightly, introducing a bit of humor, "You've overreacted. Matters should be kept separate. We never forced Young Master Bian into anything; he brought it upon himself. This has no relation to Wukang Mountain. He wanted to buy freedom for one of our girls but couldn’t pay. Not only did he block others from redeeming her but also hindered our business. We had no choice but to ask him to leave. Kindly, tell us, who is overstepping here?"
"Just one more day, give me one more day," Bian Weikang pleaded again, then turned to Shi Chun.
"Young master, can you lend me fifty thousand gold pieces? I will repay you, with interest!"
Shi Chun again ignored him, looking back at Madame Fengchi.
"I've already seen what happened. It's just fifty thousand Sandalwood Gold, right?"
Hearing this, Che Si, Old Dong, and Big Stone's expressions shifted slightly.
By then, Shi Chun had moved past Madame Fengchi and was standing next to Bian Weikang, patting his shoulder appreciatively.
"I admire men like you, men of loyalty and righteousness. If people have no feelings, then what's the meaning of life? True love is worth more than countless fortunes. For being willing to sacrifice your pride for true love, you are a real man. I'll lend you the fifty thousand Sandalwood Gold!"
Bian Weikang was overwhelmed with emotion, tears flooding his eyes.
It was a feeling no one else could understand – being abandoned by the world but still having someone reach out to help.
Shi Chun turned and called out, "Wu Jinliang, do you have the gold?"
Wu Jinliang, grinning ear to ear, responded, "Yes, freshly withdrawn, still warm."
"Give it to them."
Wu Jinliang hoisted a big saber onto his shoulder and, holding a box, walked out and placed it on top of Bian Weikang’s chest.
He waved his hand grandly, "Count it."
It was his first time feeling so magnanimous, and he enjoyed it greatly.
Che Si’s face turned a bit green, unsure what was going on.
It seemed Shi Chun was acting righteously, standing up for the reputation of Wukang Mountain.
That disheveled young master seemed to be closely connected with Wukang Mountain.
He pondered whether or not to retract the four thousand gold.
However, on second thought, Wukang Mountain was a major player in talisman refining, a wealthy sect.
If the money wasn’t repaid, Wukang Mountain would surely consider it a disgrace.
Moreover, the young master promised to repay the loan with interest.
Thinking of this, he stayed silent.
Old Dong and Big Stone kept a close eye on Wu Jinliang's behavior.
They might not know much else, but they understood Wu Jinliang.
Seeing him toss away fifty thousand gold like it was nothing, it became clear that something significant was afoot.
Shi Chun turned and pointed to the two men holding Bian Weikang.
"Let him go! If you dare break your word, you'll be breaking your rice bowls too!"
The thugs' rice bowls were with Graceful Cloud Pavilion.
His threat implied he’d destroy the pavilion if they disobeyed.
Hearing his words, everyone exchanged glances.
Anywhere, any time, saying such a thing revealed either ignorance or strength.
Whether he was ignorant was unknown, but tossing fifty thousand gold was real.
That wasn’t something just anyone could do.
Fifty thousand Sandalwood Gold wasn’t a small amount.
With his ragged clothes and boldness, plus the people of Bowang Pavilion accompanying him, Madame Fengchi couldn’t overlook it, however hard she might try.
Still, she proceeded cautiously, stepping forward to open the box.
A purple glow emerged as she did, the gold was real.
She subtly signaled her men.
The guards holding Bian Weikang immediately released him.
Ecstatic beyond belief, Bian Weikang moved to kneel in gratitude, only to be stopped by Shi Chun.
"No need for such gestures. Focus on taking your beloved away first."
He turned back to Madame Fengchi, asking, "Madam, I've given you the gold. Where’s Miss Xiang?"
"With such a benefactor, it seems your connection with Lan'er is destined," she teased Bian Weikang.
Signaling her staff, she ordered, "Bring Lan'er out."
The staff promptly nodded and left.
Having displayed her commercial nature, Madame Fengchi no longer pretended.
She signaled her staff to count the gold and verify its authenticity.
While caution with petty people wasn't needed, Shi Chun gave a slight nod.
Old Dong and Big Stone stepped forward quickly to supervise the checking, clearly guarding against any tricks from Graceful Cloud Pavilion.
Both men had been with Shi Chun for years, were used to partnering up, and couldn’t mistake their Big Boss’s simple hint.
As they followed through, they exchanged a knowing glance.
It was a loaded glance, bearing testimony to their past life.
They were with Bowang Pavilion now, leading an honorable life.
They weren’t East Nine Plains’ raiding members any longer.
Their previous disorderly days were a secret shame, having to act properly under Che Si’s watchful gaze, whether this was appropriate or not.
Yet, with clear resolve, they exchanged glances, having it all figured out.
No harm in checking things through, as there was Miss Miao’s money involved after all.
This scene unfolded clearly in Madame Fengchi’s vision.
Bowang Pavilion was almost a colossal entity within the cultivation realm.
Excluding the Underworld, which had closed its doors for eight hundred years and secluded itself from outside contact, Bowang Pavilion’s business influence stretched almost everywhere.
Madame Fengchi’s Graceful Cloud Pavilion might have a place in Sky-Illuminating City, but outside, it was nothing.
In front of Bowang Pavilion, it was even more minuscule.
They were all businesses, after all.
The fact that Bowang Pavilion personnel could be dispatched with just a glance further solidified in her mind that this person in ragged clothing was no ordinary individual.
Coming closer with a smile, she asked, "May I ask for the young master's esteemed name?"
Shi Chun replied calmly, "Shi Chun."
Si Chun? Startled, Madame Fengchi thought the name was a jest, a jab at herself for running a brothel.
Yet, as someone accustomed to the scene, she understood when to be angry and when not to.
Her smile remained, "The young master jests."
Similar reactions were not new to Shi Chun, and quite sensitive to such, he recognized it immediately as a misunderstanding.
His expression darkened, and he ignored her.
It left Madame Fengchi with a brief embarrassment.
Since the guest wouldn’t say, she opted not to ask further, planning to find out later.
In the smaller side chamber of Graceful Cloud Pavilion, the person who ran in paused in surprise upon seeing Xiang Lan'er looking as if someone had beaten her.
Yet seeing her composed demeanor, he didn’t delve into it further and conveyed the message, "Bian Weikang has managed to gather enough to redeem you. The boss is calling you."
Xiang Lan'er nodded, having watched from here earlier without a clear view but deducing the situation.
Once the messenger left, she touched the whip marks on her body, including her face, realizing they served no purpose.
Moving to the window, she assessed the situation outside before composing her demeanor and walking out gracefully.
(End of Chapter)