Prey

Mama Wen knew that her request was somewhat excessive, but she had no choice. One was an old regular customer, whose roots, identity, and background were all perfectly clear; the other looked like a greenhorn, probably here for the first time, a complete stranger.

It was all driven by profit. To curry favor with an old customer, making a necessary choice was understandable.

Meng Zhao smiled and said to Miss Hanxiang, who stood beside him holding a wine pot with an awkward expression,

"So Miss Hanxiang is so highly sought after. It seems my eye for beauty is quite good."

Then he furrowed his brow, assuming a thoughtful look as he said to Lü Yue across from him,

"A Young Master from the Sun Family truly should not be offended. Otherwise, when I return home, I fear the old fogies will give me trouble.

"But it would be such a pity to hand over a beauty like this without a fight.

"Ale, what do you think I should do?"

Lü Yue pretended to ponder for a moment, then replied with a chuckle,

"Mama Wen, why not convey a message for my Young Master?

"Tell him that we have long admired the Young Master of the Sun Family's great name and wish to take this chance to make his acquaintance.

"As for the beauty, naturally we will yield her to Young Master Sun.

"We merely ask him to make the trip himself and take her away. Would that be possible?"

Seeing that Meng Zhao and Lü Yue both looked harmless as lambs, without the slightest trace of anger—instead seeming rather eager and expectant to meet Sun Chuanshan—Mama Wen finally relaxed and smiled tactfully.

"Of course I am willing. It is only a matter of passing along a few words, nothing much.

"However, Young Master Sun is in quite a temper today. Whether he will agree to come over, I cannot say."

It would be best if this matter could be settled peacefully. If trouble broke out, she would have a hard time explaining herself.

"It is no matter. Mama Wen, just go and tell him. In any case, we will not make things difficult for you."

Thus, amid Miss Hanxiang's slightly disappointed and regretful expression, Mama Wen left the room with a beaming smile to deliver Meng Zhao and Lü Yue's message.

Hanxiang also came to her senses. She was merely a girl who sold smiles and drank with customers. In the eyes of these young masters, she was no more than a plaything—how could she ever receive any genuine affection?

After Mama Wen left, Meng Zhao lifted his wine cup, swirled it, and gave Lü Yue a meaningful look.

Lü Yue understood at once and nodded. He suddenly rose, and under Hanxiang's astonished gaze, flashed around behind her. With his hand formed into a blade, he lightly struck the back of her neck. The beauty immediately crumpled softly onto the table.

Seeing Meng Zhao's concern, Lü Yue scooped Hanxiang up around the waist and tossed her onto the bed in the inner part of the chamber, drawing down the curtains as he said,

"Rest assured, Young Master. This servant held back. This young lady has merely fainted for a while; nothing will happen to her."

Only then did Meng Zhao set his mind at ease. He drained the fine wine in his cup in one gulp, its sweet, crisp fragrance rolling between his lips and teeth.

A cold, shadowy gleam flickered in his eyes as he sat quietly and waited.

Meanwhile.

When Sun Chuanshan learned from Mama Wen that the customer who had chosen Hanxiang had already backed down and intended to yield her, merely wishing to use the opportunity to make his acquaintance, he burst into loud laughter.

His face was brimming with indescribable smugness as he said animatedly,

"You mean those two heard that I am from the Sun Family, feared offending me and being blamed by the old fogies in their family, so they agreed to give Hanxiang up?"

Though he had heard it clearly, he deliberately repeated it so that the women beside him would understand just how formidable he was.

Those women were all shrewd, and they cooperatively put on expressions of admiration and worship, gratifying Sun Chuanshan.

Mama Wen had already learned that one of her girls had been kicked by Sun Chuanshan badly enough to suffer serious injuries, and a knot had formed in her heart.

Her opinion and estimation of him had plummeted straight down. She found him thoroughly unpleasant and inwardly wished she could smash his pig head open.

Yet she revealed none of it on her face. Her acting was flawless as she continued to smile obsequiously.

"Indeed. I could tell that the young master was richly dressed and from an excellent family. He should still be a virgin.

"Today is his first time at our Spring Welcome Pavilion. He does not seem to be a bad person.

"If Young Master Sun has the time, you might as well meet him. One more acquaintance means one more path."

As she spoke, Mama Wen compared the two men in her heart.

Whether in looks, bearing, or conduct, they were as far apart as heaven and earth.

If one was a qilin, then the other was a toad in a mud pit, beaten so utterly that not even dregs remained.

Hanxiang had served Sun Chuanshan many times before. A night as husband and wife brought a hundred days of grace; a hundred days as husband and wife ran as deep as the sea.

Yet when had she ever revealed that tender, affectionate look in her eyes while facing Sun Chuanshan?

Not once.

Sun Chuanshan was in an excellent mood and did not notice what the madam and the girls were thinking.

Having accomplished several major things one after another recently, his ego had begun to swell wildly.

He felt that he was no longer the man he had once been.

Moreover, judging by the things he had done recently, getting to know more people truly was never wrong.

Who could have imagined that a mere martial man who guarded homes and courtyards could bring him such a tremendous surprise?

Having tasted the sweetness, Sun Chuanshan was particularly amiable now. Mainly because he had learned that the man came from a fine family, he said,

"Good. Mama Wen is right.

"Very well. I am in a good mood today, so I will go meet them and see what background those two fellows have."

With that, the fellow walked straight out of the room wearing only a pair of white underpants, his chest bare, one girl in his arms.

The two yellow-clad, saber-bearing men who had been waiting outside as his personal guards hurriedly followed him.

Mama Wen sighed behind them, shaking her head again and again.

She truly could not understand how a person could change so drastically in such a short time.

Spring Welcome Pavilion was still clamorous and lively, filled everywhere with scenes of pleasure-seeking and revelry, men and women indulging in sensual delights.

Only in one room did two men sit quietly facing one another, waiting for their prey to come to the door.

Lü Yue did not understand Meng Zhao's intentions, but since his adoptive father had already let the Young Master handle things himself, all he needed to do was obey orders. The Young Master would decide everything.

With a bang, Sun Chuanshan arrived at Hanxiang's chamber. The wine had gone to his head, painting his face an unnatural red. He sent the door flying open with a kick, then swaggered into the room with the beauty in his arms, shouting,

"Hanxiang! Hanxiang! I'm here! Get out here, quickly, and drink with me."

Inside, Meng Zhao and Lü Yue, who had been drinking together, both stiffened. Neither looked particularly pleased.

They had mainly not expected Sun Chuanshan to be such an oddball, behaving so absurdly.

Kicking down a door was the same as a provocation. If he encountered someone hot-tempered, they would likely say nothing at all before rushing in to fight.

But Meng Zhao was not one to act on impulse. He nodded to Lü Yue, and the two rose at the same time, cupping their fists in greeting toward Sun Chuanshan. They put on anxious, nervous expressions.

The corners of Meng Zhao's lips curled upward as he fixed Sun Chuanshan with a dark gaze and asked,

"Are you the Young Master of the Southern Peace Sun Family? Miss Hanxiang drank a little wine and is resting on the bed in the inner room.

"If Young Master Sun does not mind, how about allowing me to drink a few cups with you?"