"Master...
"Su Qing heard a gentle call beside his ear.
He opened his eyes and sat up, glancing out the window.
The stars outside still shone brilliantly, with no sign that the sun would rise anytime soon.
A hint of displeasure appeared on the beautiful young man's face as he looked toward the culprit who had woken him.
At that moment.
Qin Lan Shan was kneeling beside the bed, her head lowered and her eyes filled with guilt.
"If you don't have something important to say, suffer the consequences."
Su Qing, who had a terrible temper upon waking, spoke in an icy voice.
The usual gentleness was absent from the young man's eyes. Instead, they held a trace of coldness.
He stared at the elder sister-like beauty kneeling before him, looking her up and down.
It had to be said that the sight was quite pleasing.
The elder sister-like beauty knelt on the floor with her head lowered and her body bent as far forward as possible, as if expressing her submission.
The rounded curves beneath her decent long dress were especially eye-catching, her figure full of allure.
Qin Lan Shan, in this posture, was filled with unease and guilt. She held something out with both hands.
It was not some treasure, but a tough-looking vine whip.
"What do you mean by this?"
Su Qing asked in an icy voice.
"Master, I... I did something wrong..."
Qin Lan Shan described what had just happened in a trembling voice.
She knew she had done wrong, but some things had to be done.
"You released the mortal enemy I went to so much trouble to capture?!"
"Do you know the consequences of doing this? Do you know how much trouble you've brought me?"
Su Qing roared furiously.
His face was filled with a rage he had never shown before, and he was even somewhat unable to control his emotions.
Qin Lan Shan's body trembled at the sudden rise in his voice.
She bit her lip without saying anything.
She naturally knew some things, and understood them perfectly well.
But... but if she did not do it, how could she have peace of mind?
The Shopkeeper could clearly feel the disappointment in the young man's eyes.
In the end, that disappointment turned into bone-chilling coldness.
How would he treat her?
Would he lock her up and humiliate her mercilessly?
If that happened, then she would have only herself to blame and could not fault anyone else.
Or perhaps, if such a thing really happened, she would feel much better inside.
Time passed second by second, and the deathly silent atmosphere made her panic.
"Leave. Leave this place immediately."
The young man broke the silence.
He had no intention of making things difficult for her, but his voice sounded even lower than usual.
"Master, what... what do you mean?"
Qin Lan Shan suddenly raised her head, an ominous premonition rising in her heart.
"You don't need to call me Master anymore. I can't have a slave like you, nor do I dare to."
"Keeping a disobedient slave will only bring trouble. Throwing one away is the wise choice."
"Take your things and leave. Don't appear before me again."
Su Qing spoke in an indifferent voice.
He had already turned his head aside, seemingly unwilling to say another word.
Qin Lan Shan was dumbfounded by his words.
She had imagined many possibilities and thought of some conditions that would be difficult to accept.
She had even imagined being punished and beaten at will, and had already prepared herself for it.
But this was the one thing she had never considered.
She... had been abandoned?
Once she realized this, uncontrollable panic surged in her heart.
Scenes of him bullying her, whipping her, and supporting her during this period of time surfaced in her mind.
In an instant, every little moment she had spent with him flashed through her heart.
She had thought this would continue forever, but at this moment, it shattered completely.
The colorful images turned gray, sinking into a pitch-black bottomless abyss.
It felt as if a huge hand had seized her heart. She opened her mouth, but not a single sound came out.
Only now did she realize how much she cared about him.
It was not that he necessarily needed her as a slave. Rather, she... could no longer leave him.
Yet after realizing this, she now faced being driven away.
The vine whip slipped limply from her hand and struck the floor with a crisp sound in the silence.
How Qin Lan Shan wished he would pick it up and beat her mercilessly!
"Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and leave. Stop getting in my way."
"I hate being betrayed most of all. Talking to you is a waste of breath. You are beyond saving!"
Su Qing urged her impatiently.
Clearly, he could no longer be bothered to say more, nor could he be bothered to punish her.
The young man rose and walked outside, clearly intending to drive her away directly.
The next moment, his leg was suddenly hugged.
"Master, I... I know I was wrong. I know I betrayed your trust."
"But if I hadn't done this, my conscience would never have let me rest!"
Qin Lan Shan's voice was choked with sobs.
The refined and well-mannered Daughter of a Great Clan had long since disappeared, leaving her looking pitiful and helpless.
Tears glimmered in her eyes. Clearly, she could no longer control her emotions.
Compared to the day she had first arrived, she was now much more humble.
Back then, she had been begging for help. Now, she was begging not to leave this place.
"You make it sound reasonable, but do you think I can accept it?"
"Today, you did this to me for the sake of your benefactor. What will you do for a friend tomorrow?"
"If any of your relatives or benefactors opposed me, would you release them too?"
Su Qing looked down at Qin Lan Shan condescendingly, a hint of mockery in his voice.
Qin Lan Shan's body trembled slightly when she heard this.
Faced with such words, she was speechless and had no idea how to argue.
Should she say she would never do such a thing?
But she had just done it!
"Look down and see what that is."
Su Qing let out a snort of laughter.
Qin Lan Shan instinctively lowered her head and glanced down, seeing the collar she had grown accustomed to wearing.
This thing constantly reminded her of the identity she was supposed to play.
At this moment, she finally awakened.
As a slave, she had not maintained the slightest conformity with her master.
She had her own ideas and wanted to do things her own way...
What need did a slave have for her own ideas?
Everything should clearly be centered on him, and everything should be done for him!
But what about her?
She had released someone out of selfish motives while ignoring the threat that person would pose to her master!
Qin Lan Shan seemed to suddenly realize something. She raised her head and said solemnly,
"From now on, this servant will obey only you, Master!"
She had restrained her weak and delicate appearance, and her expression now looked utterly serious.
At that moment, Su Qing received a qi feedback.
A full two years' worth of feedback surged into him, inevitably bringing a trace of delight to his heart.
This extremely generous wave of qi was enough to prove the Shopkeeper's determination.
True loyalty acquired!
Before you continue