Yu Qinglian

Early the next morning.

Lin Yi walked Lin Xiuwen over, and together with Chen, he saw Lin Hua off:

"Are you really opening the shop today?"

Lin Hua's brows were deeply furrowed. Weariness that he could not hide lingered in his eyes, but it was soon overlaid by determination:

"Open! We can't hide for the rest of our lives."

Chen's eyes reddened. She spoke softly:

"Then please be careful. Don't do anything rash. You've been stubborn for most of your life, but for my sake and the children's, it won't hurt to give in just this once..."

Lin Hua opened his mouth, then looked into his wife's eyes. In the end, he simply nodded firmly and squeezed out an "Mm" from his throat.

Lin Yi listened quietly beside them. His hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, and a glimmer of resolve flashed through his eyes.

At noon, Jiaqing County, the Hidden Origin Chamber of Commerce.

The Hidden Origin Chamber of Commerce was the largest commercial organization in all of Great Yan. It dealt in all manner of rare treasures, and even this remote border town had a branch.

Lin Yi looked up and examined the resplendent building in front of him. After confirming he had come to the right place, he strode inside.

"Welcome, sir. What can I help you with?" A beautiful woman in a green gauze skirt greeted him with a bright smile.

"I'd like to buy some clothes," Lin Yi said.

A short while later, Lin Yi walked out of the Hidden Origin Chamber of Commerce.

The woman who had helped him shop was still gazing wistfully at his retreating figure, murmuring, "Take care, young master..."

Lin Yi looked completely transformed.

He had always been tall and straight. Though only sixteen, he already stood nearly five feet eight inches (185 centimeters). His plain hemp clothes had been replaced with a fine White Dragon Fish Robe, complemented by a jade crown and belt.

With his handsome, refined features, he looked like an immortal descended to the mortal world. As people streamed past the Hidden Origin Chamber of Commerce, their movements faltered the moment their eyes fell on him.

"Which family does that young master belong to?" In a carriage by the roadside, a young woman peeked through a gap in the curtain, her cheeks flushing.

"He's even more handsome than the portraits of those gentlemen on the Appearance Ranking..."

The Appearance Ranking was a widely popular list in Great Yan that ranked handsome men.

"I want to know everything about that young master within the hour. If he isn't betrothed, I'll have Father go ask for his hand..."

Noticing the fervent gazes around him, Lin Yi sighed faintly.

The effect was pretty good. At least those thirty taels he'd spent on this outfit hadn't gone to waste.

Thinking of that made his heart ache a little.

Aside from the twenty taels his family had given him for school expenses, he had also taken some of the private money he'd saved over the years, all to buy this flashy, impractical outfit.

But with matters so urgent, this outfit was the first key he needed to pry open the situation.

"Next, I can make my move."

Willow Pavilion, the largest brothel in Jiaqing County, had long been the place where local dignitaries and scions of powerful families came to enjoy music, food, drink, and pleasure.

As soon as Lin Yi reached the entrance, he heard the clamor inside. Through the towers and pavilions, he caught glimpses of graceful beauties. It was enough to make a man's eyes lose their way amid a sea of flowers.

This was Lin Yi's first time in a place like this. But even if he'd never eaten pork, he'd seen pigs run.

He took a deep breath and walked straight in.

"Well, aren't you a handsome young master! I don't believe I've seen you around before."

The still-charming old madam spotted Lin Yi and beamed, hurrying over to greet him.

It was only natural.

Serving this immortal-looking young man was surely better than catering to those fat, pig-faced men.

What was more, his clothes and air of refinement made it clear at a glance that he came from no ordinary family.

Lin Yi smiled calmly and flicked his sleeve. "Prepare a private room. I'd like to see what the girls are like."

Though his heart ached, his expression remained unruffled. He casually tossed a silver pouch into the old madam's hand.

She weighed it. It held a full five taels. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly replied, "Of course, young master."

Inside the private room, Lin Yi leaned lazily against the railing. His dignified bearing and air of refinement drew frequent glances from the courtesans performing below; they couldn't help but put a little more effort into their dancing.

His gaze wandered among the many women as he murmured, "Now I just need to lure the tiger out of its den."

Hu Ma was a threat.

Given how ruthless he was, if he truly resorted to anything to seize that meteorite iron from the heavens, the Lin Clan would sooner or later be in trouble.

Lin Yi's reasoning was simple—root out evil to the last.

But he stood no chance in a direct confrontation.

Hu Ma was a Grade Eight cultivator who had entered the Qi stage through the Martial Way.

Lin Yi was a Grade Nine cultivator who had entered the Qi stage through the Corpse Puppet Path.

Cultivators of the Corpse Puppet Path needed to create puppets and control corpses before they could fight effectively.

Lin Yi had been learning the path for less than half a month. He certainly didn't have anything like a corpse puppet.

Beyond that, he only had a few tricks to confuse people. At the early stages, he had almost no ability to fight enemies head-on.

What was more, Hu Ma was the county magistrate's son and a hall leader of the Black Wind Gang. Those identities made him far too sensitive a target.

If Lin Yi wanted to get rid of him, he had to make sure no trace led back to himself.

Over the years, he had grown thoroughly familiar with the abilities of his Destiny, [Know Heavenly Fate].

Destiny Talisman Coins could not only activate Strong Luck, causing a person's Aura of Fortune to surge in the short term, but also aid cultivation. Spending coins could remove the obstacles in one's training.

They could also be used to purchase [Destiny Intelligence], further helping one avoid misfortune and seek good fortune.

Lin Yi's eyes narrowed. His gaze passed through the crowd and locked firmly onto a woman in a patterned green silk dress. She was full-figured, with gentle, pure features.

[Destiny Talisman Coins: 14500]

[Current Destiny Intelligence: Infatuation Path—Yu Qinglian]

[...]

"Found you." Lin Yi's lips curled slightly.

"Lian Niang, Lian Niang, did you see that new young master on the second floor? He seems to be looking at you."

"That young master is so handsome—more handsome than any man I've ever seen."

A woman who was usually close to Lian Niang leaned over and whispered in her ear.

Yu Qinglian's expression shifted slightly. She discreetly looked up toward the second floor and immediately saw Lin Yi's tall, striking figure and immortal-like face, standing head and shoulders above the rest.

She examined him closely, and the corners of her lips rose slightly. What a handsome face.

Then those lazy, casual eyes met hers directly, and Yu Qinglian hurriedly looked away as if she'd been burned.

"Well? Was that young master looking at you?" her friend asked again.

A blush rose on Yu Qinglian's face, though a flicker of interest appeared in her eyes. "Not at all... Why would a young master that handsome ever take an interest in me?"

"Pah, Yu Qinglian, you're just being coy after getting your way. Is there any shortage of people who like you? There's the county magistrate's son, and Black Five-Short of the Black Wind Gang. I hear he's a hall leader, too—a Martial Artist lord of the land..."

Her friend teased her. "But compared to this peerlessly elegant young master, those men don't come close."

Yu Qinglian couldn't help sneaking another look toward the second floor, but Lin Yi had already disappeared.

For some reason, an emptiness welled up inside her.

The brothel was filled with music and dancing. Once one group of courtesans finished their performance, another took their place.

Yu Qinglian returned to the back courtyard and ran straight into the old madam.

The instant the old madam saw her, a smile spread across her face. "Lian Niang, have you made up your mind yet? Hu Ma looks honest, and he's a hall leader of the Black Wind Gang as well as a Martial Artist. If you go with him, you're sure to live comfortably from now on."

Yu Qinglian frowned, Hu Ma's face appearing in her mind without warning.

He was short and stocky, with dark skin and a hideous scar across his face. He wasn't even as tall as she was, and from a distance he looked like a squat, blackened wooden barrel.

The sisters at the brothel had even given him the mocking nickname "Black Five-Short."

Just imagining having to wake up and go to sleep every day facing that face filled Yu Qinglian with revulsion. She felt sick enough to vomit.

She knew the old madam had taken money from Hu Ma. Already disgusted with him, Yu Qinglian had grown to dislike the old madam as well. "Let me think about it some more..."

The smile on the old madam's face immediately cooled. "Yu Qinglian, of course you can take your time. It's a woman's life we're talking about, after all. But you need to remember your place. There are plenty of courtesans in this establishment."

"Someone's willing to buy your contract—that's a blessing from heaven. Don't start thinking you're some rare delicacy. You're not young anymore. How many more years can you stay a courtesan?"

Yu Qinglian gave the old madam a cool glance and sneered. "You needn't worry about that."

With that, she swayed her hips and walked straight back to her own courtyard.