Bracelet

"Fine. I won't haggle with you. If I ever find out you lowballed me, you know what the consequences will be."

Gao Fei knew nothing about the trade, and Lu Xiaoliu knew even less. But the original owner's reputation was there, intimidating enough that no further words were needed.

Two hundred and fifty it was. These people did not know what that meant anyway.

After receiving the silver, Gao Fei directly tossed a fifty-tael ingot to Lu Xiaoliu.

He had killed the three Rat Demons. Debts and grudges had to be kept distinct; he could not deny him his share just because he had "stolen the kills."

They had barely stepped outside.

Lu Xiaoliu bade him farewell and left. Carrying so much silver on him left him uneasy; he wanted to bury it in a hole at home.

Gao Fei did not mind.

He muttered to himself as he walked, wondering where else he could get silver.

One hundred portions of Qi-Blood Soup would cost five hundred taels. He was still three hundred taels short of fully tempering his blood and qi.

Walking slowly, he unconsciously arrived at Blossom Street.

"Young Master Gao, my lady misses you so much she cannot sleep, and she has grown thinner by the day. Since you are passing by, why not go in and take one look at her?"

A girl of sixteen or seventeen stood before Gao Fei, blocking his path.

She was fairly pretty, though she had a few tiny freckles on her face. Flat in front and flat in back, her figure left something to be desired.

"Cut it out. I've got things to do."

Gao Fei waved a hand and sidestepped her. He did not believe it at all; it was just a routine.

Seeing that Gao Fei was about to leave, the girl grew anxious.

She quickly ran ahead and spread her arms to block his way.

"Nothing means nothing. Spreading your arms to show it off won't change that."

Following Gao Fei's gaze, the girl looked down and understood. She hurriedly hugged her chest with both arms, her breasts heaving violently.

"Ah! Shameless!"

Gao Fei curled his lip. He only had two months left to live; he had no time to waste on love and romance.

What did the original owner's rotten entanglements have to do with him?

Seeing Gao Fei walk away, the girl stamped her foot furiously, then hurried into the main hall, went upstairs, and entered a lady's chamber.

"My lady, Young Master Gao seems to be out of money, so he cannot come keep you company. He said he would come once he had money."

The woman standing by the window did not turn around, so her face could not be seen. The bright light outside made her figure seem even more graceful and alluring; even the maid who had just entered the room stared blankly.

Although she had not heard what was said, she had watched everything that had just happened.

"Xiaocui, tell me... can people like us live out the rest of our lives in peace?"

"Sister Qiu Mei..."

Gao Fei did not head straight back. He first went to the apothecary.

He returned carrying two large wine jars.

As he walked, he cursed, "Damn it, Second Uncle is unreliable. He even wants to profit off his own nephew. A portion of Qi-Blood Soup clearly only costs four taels of silver..."

The moment he entered, he saw two women standing in the small courtyard and chatting with his Second Aunt.

Judging by their expressions, both sides were having a very pleasant conversation.

He ignored them and headed straight for his bedroom.

"Hey! You brat, we have guests. Come greet them!"

After hearing Second Aunt, it would have been rude not to respond. He set down the wine jars and walked over.

Before he reached them, Second Aunt grinned and turned to leave.

When the two women turned around, Gao Fei was stunned by one of them.

Even though little remained of the original owner's memories, there happened to be memories of this person: Qiu Mei.

Whether in figure or appearance, Qiu Mei could be considered first-rate.

At eighteen, she had a bright and lovely face touched with faint sorrow.

Her top had a crossed collar, her skirt fell to the ground, and she was dressed with perfect propriety.

Qiu Mei bent her knees and gave a gentle curtsy, with her maid beside her.

"Seeing with my own eyes that Young Master Gao is safe and sound has put my heart at ease. Please forgive the disturbance."

There was a hint of fragility amid her sorrow, so pitiful that even stone would soften.

After doing all this, she stood where she was and looked at Gao Fei with tender affection, waiting for his reaction.

"I have already resolved to train in martial arts. Those who practice martial arts do not indulge in women. Miss, you should seek someone else."

"As far as I know, martial artists consume great amounts of money and silver. If you do not disdain it, this humble woman still has some silver."

As she spoke, she took out a palm-sized brocade pouch and offered it to him.

"No need. Yours is hard-earned money too."

Gao Fei hastily refused. Some soft rice could be eaten, but some could not. With the original owner's sorry state, could he really make a woman like this devote herself to him completely?

He remained skeptical.

Qiu Mei's expression dimmed for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. She had not expected someone to change so quickly.

The day before yesterday, he had sworn that he would gather money to redeem her and marry her into his household. Yet today, he was keeping her at such a distance.

Shaoyang Jun had gone to Qing Province with the Martial Suppression Guard and had not contacted her for a year. Had he changed his heart too?

That was only natural. Once a woman had entered such a place, even if she remained pure, who would truly want to spend a lifetime with her?

In a daze, she felt there was not the slightest hope left in life.

Redemption meant rising from a lowly registered status to become a commoner. It was exceedingly difficult, especially for a courtesan queen like her; there would surely be obstacles piled upon obstacles.

After asking around in many places, she had finally settled on Gao Fei. He had no father or mother, so no one would oppose it, and he had a Second Uncle in the Organ Tempering Realm. He had backing.

She had also wanted to find an ordinary man, or wait for Shaoyang Jun to return.

But an ordinary man might lose his life the moment he paid the money, while Shaoyang Jun had sent no word at all.

She had already received an ultimatum: if she was not redeemed, she would receive clients.

She could only make one final struggle and directly knelt before Gao Fei.

"If Young Master can redeem the two of us, I am willing to offer five hundred taels as compensation. I only hope to be listed under Young Master's name and receive your protection for a time. I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

Before she could fully kneel, Gao Fei reached out, lifted her hand, and helped her up, just as he was about to refuse.

A pure current of heat flowed from his fingers and spread through his entire body.

From what he had felt just now, it came from the wooden-looking bracelet on Qiu Mei's wrist, which had a white gemstone set within it.

That made him change his mind.

"Your redemption price should not be cheap, right?"

"To redeem the two of us, two thousand five hundred taels should be enough."

As she spoke, she reached into her chest and took out three banknotes she had kept close to her body. She held them upright for him to see.

One thousand taels each, three thousand taels in total—but she did not hand them to Gao Fei.

"Fine. Add your bracelet as compensation!" Gao Fei had no money to buy it, so this was his only choice.

"A deal is a deal! Let's leave at once!"

Qiu Mei paused only briefly before agreeing.

The longer they delayed, the more likely things were to change. All the nobles and officials had shut themselves indoors, making this the best time. At any other time, she feared Gao Fei would not be able to hold down the fort.

After bidding farewell to Second Aunt, the three of them immediately set out.

With a beauty at his side, Gao Fei drew special attention wherever he went.

"Could this guy have visited a brothel and not paid?"

"That might really be it. Look, Miss Mei has come to collect the money."

Just then, a stout, fierce woman appeared nearby and grabbed one man by the ear.

"Speak! How did you get to know the four great courtesan queens of Blossom Street? When did you go give them money?"

People along the road said all manner of things. Even Gao Fei could hear the voices of those who were not afraid.

Gao Fei swept his gaze around, and the surrounding voices instantly quieted. Then he shook his head.

"Above the character for lust hangs a blade. Usually they cower and cringe..."

Just then, Qiu Mei walked to Gao Fei's side and hooked her arm through his, continuing forward like a pair of lovers.

"If we are putting on a show, we should see it through."

The sensation against his arm made him stiffen. He had originally thought a figure like this was all fake.

He had not expected it to be real.

Just as he was carefully savoring the feeling, the little maid began spreading the news beside them.

"Master Gao and my lady have long since joined their hearts in marriage. Today, they are going to redeem her..."

The discussions around them rose again.

Gao Fei only glanced over once, but he could feel the woman beside him tremble. She hugged his arm even tighter.

"Since I promised, I will do it. There is no need to be nervous."

Gao Fei did not care what anyone else thought. He once again grabbed the hand wearing Qiu Mei's bracelet. As their fingers touched, that current of blood-and-qi power flowed into him again.

Looking at Qiu Mei again, he discovered that although she had not cultivated, her blood and qi were flourishing, and a faint blush tinged her fair face.

Qiu Mei did not feel embarrassed. Instead, she placed her other hand atop his.

This little girl was afraid he would go back on his word.