Twin Lotuses of the Qin Family

A look of relief and joy blossomed on the face of Qin Yurong, as bright and lovely as a flower in the spring dawn.

However, Yang Ning immediately added:

"However, I have a small request."

"Please, Young Master, speak your mind!"

"My brother, sister-in-law, and niece are all ordinary people; they cannot withstand any turmoil.

Today's events were caused by me, and they were implicated and frightened as a result.

Since I have entrusted them to your care, Miss Qin, could I trouble you to ensure their safety and well-being within your estate?

As for their daily expenses, I will naturally..."

"Young Master Yang, that is where you are mistaken!"

Qin Yurong interrupted him before he could finish, her face flushing even deeper, though her tone was earnest:

"Your family are the honored guests of the Qin Family; how could this be an 'unreasonable request'?

Since I promised to settle them, I will naturally make proper arrangements and ensure they do not suffer the slightest grievance!

All living expenses will be handled by the estate; you need not worry about it at all, and there is no need to mention money."

She paused, her voice softening with a gentle touch:

"You may rest assured, Young Master. I will personally oversee the arrangements for your brother, sister-in-law, and niece to ensure everything is handled perfectly.

Is there... anything else you require of me?"

Yang Ning looked at the eldest daughter of the Qin Family, who had lowered her posture so significantly and shown such sincere intent, and his heart stirred.

Whether she was acting out of gratitude or valuing his potential, her current promise and attitude were impeccable.

He shook his head and cupped his hands in a salute:

"Your arrangements are thorough, Miss Qin, and I am deeply grateful. There is nothing else for now."

Seeing him accept, Qin Yurong felt a surge of joy, her smile becoming even more radiant as she said softly:

"You are too polite, Young Master.

From now on, we can consider ourselves... on the same side.

If you have any needs, just give the word to me."

The carriage continued to move steadily, carrying the two of them toward a future that was unknown yet already intertwined.

The carriage rattled along, moving from the small path to the main road, heading toward increasingly neat and wide streets before finally coming to a halt.

Yang Ning followed Qin Yurong as she lifted the curtain and stepped down. He looked up to see the silhouette of a mansion standing tall in the night of South First Street.

Though it did not compare to the deep courtyards and grand mansions of the inner city, it could certainly be called imposing here in the outer city.

Stone lions on both sides crouched in silence in the night, and the two characters for "Qin Mansion" on the lintel were written with bold, powerful strokes.

As soon as the carriage stopped, the two heavy black-lacquered doors creaked and slowly swung open from within.

In an instant, the area was illuminated by firelight!

Dozens of servants and guards filed out, their torches crackling and burning, lighting the front of the mansion as bright as day.

These men moved with agility and in perfect formation, their eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance.

Yang Ning's gaze narrowed, and he felt a secret shock.

Most of these ordinary servants of the Qin Family actually possessed some level of cultivation; while their life force was not particularly robust, their numbers were significant.

The few martial artist guards standing at the front of the formation, who appeared to be leaders, had life force hidden within them—they were clearly all Body Tempering martial artists!

This Qin Mansion was indeed an inner-city family with a profound foundation, far beyond what an ordinary wealthy household in the outer city could compare to.

Just then, the sound of light, hurried footsteps and the tinkling of jade ornaments came from inside the gate.

Surrounded by a group of maids and elderly nurses, a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen ran out quickly.

She was dressed in a goose-yellow gown, her features as delicate as a painting, bearing a seven or eight-part resemblance to Qin Yurong, though her cheeks still held a touch of childishness and her large eyes were filled with anxiety.

"Sister!"

The moment the girl saw Qin Yurong, she rushed over and grabbed her arm, looking her up and down.

"Are you alright? Were you hurt?

The servants sent a letter back saying you were in danger at Chunhua Restaurant and were surrounded by the Blood Ape thugs—you scared me to death!

I had already made an appointment with Patrol Commander Gong, and my brother was rushing back from the restaurant on East Street in a panic!"

Qin Yurong held her sister's hands and comforted her gently:

"Yuhui, I am fine.

Look, haven't I returned safely?"

The second young miss of the Qin family, Qin Yuhui, examined her sister carefully for a long moment. Finding her completely unharmed, she let out a long sigh of relief.

However, she remained sharp-tongued, pouting as she complained:

"I've told you so many times, sister, the Outer City is not like the Inner City.

Those people are all crude and barbaric!

I told you that you are a lady of noble birth; how could you not bring more guards when going out?

Even if you wanted to keep a low profile, there's no guarantee you wouldn't be targeted by those petty scoundrels!

That Wang Teng of the Blood Ape Gang...

Hmph, the first time I went to East Street, he was already bedazzled by you.

He has been coveting you for more than a day or two, and he is hardly a man of good character. How could you..."

Qin Yurong's eyes dimmed slightly, and she sighed:

"Very few people knew I was going to Chunhua Restaurant today.

The proprietor of that restaurant is an old acquaintance of our family, so I thought it would be fine. Who would have thought that someone leaked the news, allowing Wang Teng to track me down.

I originally had Guard Chen with me; he had already reached the Body Tempering realm. Who would have thought...

He was ambushed by Wang Teng and unfortunately lost his life."

As she said this, she turned her gaze toward Yang Ning, who was standing to the side, her eyes filled with genuine gratitude:

"Fortunately, heaven never closes all doors!

In that moment of crisis, I was blessed by the righteous intervention of this young hero, Yang Ning, who killed Wang Teng and saved me."

Hearing her sister's words, Qin Yuhui finally noticed Yang Ning standing nearby.

The young girl's gaze held undisguised scrutiny as she looked up and down at the shabbily dressed youth.

He saved her sister?

Looking at him, he was barely twenty years old and came from a commoner background. Did he really have such ability?

Having grown up in the inner chambers, she had only ever seen young masters from noble families or experts from the mansion. Deep down, she harbored a sense of detachment and disdain for martial artists of such grassroots origins.

"Oh? So you are the one who killed Wang Teng?"

Qin Yuhui spoke, her voice crisp but tinged with arrogance and suspicion:

"Your name is Yang Ning? What do you do for a living?

How come I've never heard of a character like you on East Street before?"

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sharp:

"My sister's outing today was meant to be highly secretive, yet she just happened to be cornered by that villain Wang Teng, and just happened to...

You were on the scene?

And you "just happened" to have the ability to defeat him?

In this world, can there really be such a coincidence?"

Before Yang Ning could speak, Qin Yurong's expression changed, and she rebuked angrily:

"Yuhui, hold your tongue! You are being incredibly rude!"

But Yang Ning remained calm, even raising a hand to stop Qin Yurong's anger and her attempt to explain.

Qin Yurong's face flushed slightly; she stopped speaking simply because of Yang Ning's gesture.

Meeting Qin Yuhui's scrutinizing gaze, he said neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"I am indeed from East Street. I previously made a living at the Porter Guild and only recently quit to focus on martial arts.

As for tonight's events, whether it was a coincidence or not, I have no way to argue.

At the time, Wang Teng intended to kill everyone in the restaurant to silence them, and my family was among them.

My intervention was never for the sake of the Qin family miss; it was first for self-preservation, and second to protect my kin. That is all.

As for why I came to the Qin Mansion, it was merely because the eldest miss appreciated my actions, and I followed the carriage here!

Whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you, Second Miss Qin."

His reply was frank and direct; he did not grow angry at the suspicion, nor did he feel ashamed of his humble origins.

He pointedly stated that his primary motivation for acting was to protect his family, and that Qin Yurong's safety was merely a matter of convenience.

Qin Yuhui was choked by his firm, unyielding words and wanted to ask more.

Seeing this, Qin Yurong frowned slightly and softly scolded: "Yuhui! Say no more!"

Qin Yuhui was stunned, her train of thought interrupted by her sister's reprimand.

She had never seen her gentle, jade-like sister defend someone like this before.

"Young Master Yang is my savior and a true hero who acted with righteousness. How can you speculate and question him like this?

Everyone, say no more!"

She turned toward Yang Ning, her face filled with apology as she offered a graceful bow.

"Young Master Yang, my sister is young and lacks experience in her considerations. If her words were offensive, I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against her."

Yang Ning waved his hand, his expression remaining indifferent.

"It is no matter. It is only natural for the Second Miss to be suspicious when she is concerned for her sister's safety."

He truly did not take the little girl's arrogance and suspicion to heart.

In these chaotic times, being cautious and suspicious was not a bad thing, especially for a pampered young lady of high status.

Seeing her sister defend this person so staunchly and even apologize on her behalf, Qin Yuhui felt a lingering sense of defiance, yet she knew her words just now had indeed been a bit excessive.

She huffed, turned her head away, and said nothing more.

"Young Master Yang, the night air is cold. Please, follow me into the manor quickly; I will make arrangements immediately..."

Before Qin Yurong could finish her sentence, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from the distance.

Several riders galloped up, the leader being a young gentleman dressed in brocade robes with a face as handsome as jade.

Without waiting for his horse to come to a complete stop, he anxiously vaulted from the saddle and rushed toward Qin Yurong in a few strides.

"Yurong! Are you alright?

Were you intimidated by that Wang Teng? Are you injured?"

The brocade-clad gentleman wore a look of deep concern, leaning in close as he reached out to grasp Qin Yurong's shoulders.