As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Xiling turned and stepped alone through that door.

Shuipei was both shocked and anxious. How could she let her pure and innocent young miss enter that tiger’s den alone? She naturally hurried to follow, but the gatekeeper immediately closed the hall door and blocked Shuipei, saying, “Your young miss already said she would go in alone. Why are you still following? Come out with me quickly, so as not to disturb the master’s peace.”

Shuipei naturally refused and tried to push past the gatekeeper to force her way in, but he was already prepared. From nowhere, two servants appeared and directly covered Shuipei’s mouth, dragging her toward the main gate.

Thunder rumbled and rain poured down torrentially. Shuipei was soaked through, watching helplessly as she was dragged farther and farther from that tightly closed hall.

But there was nothing she could do.

On this side, Shen Xiling had already entered the hall alone.

As soon as she stepped into the room, she first smelled an unusual fragrance – not any incense she was familiar with, but a mixed odor that made her feel vaguely uncomfortable.

Of course, she didn’t know that part of that fragrance came from Five Stone Powder.

Five Stone Powder had long been popular in Jiangzuo, especially favored among the wealthy nobility. It was no longer anything rare, but Shen Xiling had always been too well protected by Qi Ying and had never encountered such things, which was why it felt strange to her.

The so-called Five Stones referred to stalactite, sulfur, white quartz, purple quartz, and red ochre, crushed and ground into powder. Legend said consuming it could bring one to paradise, and it had always been considered elegant in Jiangzuo. But the medicine was warm and dry in nature – after taking it, people would become hot and excited, requiring not only cold food to dispel heat but also cold baths and loose clothing to cool down. People often used it to enhance virility and indulge in lust. Taking too much could even cause madness and frenzy – it was truly a substance of debauchery.

The Qi family maintained proper conduct and had long forbidden its children from touching such substances. Qi Ying especially never touched such things, so Shen Xiling had never known the taste of this substance, much less what people became like after consuming it. She simply walked around the screen into the hall and finally saw Yang Dong.

She had once met this guild leader at Yilou. At that time, he had appeared scholarly and elegant, wearing a fine jade thumb ring on his right hand. Sitting across from her, he had been composed and articulate, conversing with graceful ease. But now when she saw him, he was half-reclining on the sitting bed in the room, his clothes somewhat disheveled, with cups and plates scattered about the room. He seemed completely unconcerned, and seeing Shen Xiling enter, he showed no intention of rising to tidy his appearance, displaying a somewhat abnormally wild demeanor.

If this had been any other time, Shen Xiling would have found it strange early on and become wary, but now she had completely lost her rationality, coming only in anger, completely unaware of the surrounding dangers.

She stood in the middle of the hall looking coldly at Yang Dong. This guild leader was also looking at her, holding a white jade cup in his right hand with the jade thumb ring, smiling at her rather frivolously and saying, “Miss Fang has such refined interest, visiting on such a stormy night. It truly brings glory to Yang’s Southeast Villa.”

With Shopkeeper Feng newly deceased, Shen Xiling had no heart to continue playing games with this man. Her expression was extremely cold and unmoved as she directly interrupted Yang Dong, saying, “What did you do to Shopkeeper Feng?”

Hearing this, Yang Dong raised his eyebrows, then closed his eyes and smiled, asking with some puzzlement, “Shopkeeper Feng? Who is that?”

Shen Xiling looked at him coldly without speaking.

Yang Dong laughed again, tilting his head back to drain the wine in his white jade cup, his wild behavior becoming even more apparent. “Miss Fang need not be angry. Yang has many daily visitors, and with advancing age and poor memory, I truly don’t remember who you’re referring to – if Miss Fang doesn’t mind, could you remind Yang?”

Shen Xiling’s gaze grew colder. After a long silence, anger filled her heart even more. She had never been so enraged, to the point of aggressively questioning him: “You don’t remember him? You had people smash his shop and drove him to death. Today is his funeral day – his wife and child are kneeling before his spirit weeping – yet you say you don’t know who he is?”

She and Yang Dong had never torn off the mask of civility before, even during their most intense confrontations, but now Shen Xiling abandoned all pretense of peace with the guild. She had torn everything apart.

Yang Dong showed no embarrassment or panic at being exposed. He remained completely composed, even picking up the wine pot to refill his white jade cup.

He held the cup and laughed softly, looking at Shen Xiling as if she were an ignorant child, saying, “Miss Fang, watch your words. Yang has always acted according to law and deeply believes in Buddhist teachings. I would never commit such unconscionable acts. Might there be some misunderstanding here?”

Yang Dong spoke with conviction, presenting a compassionate Buddha-like appearance, but his eyes openly revealed a triumphant smile, as if he were pleased with his victory and mocking something.

Shen Xiling’s anger was stoked beyond measure. She stepped forward and knocked the wine cup from Yang Dong’s hand, shattering it completely!

She looked down at Yang Dong, saying word by word, “Acting according to law? Believing in Buddhist teachings? Doesn’t Guild Leader Yang find his own words laughable? Or do you think everyone in the world is blind and unaware of your actions? You killed him – that was a living human life!”

Though Shen Xiling spoke so directly and forcefully, even smashing his white jade cup, Yang Dong showed no anger and maintained his nonchalant appearance.

He still leaned against the sitting bed with a slight smile, looking up at Shen Xiling with increasing amusement, saying, “Miss Fang, when I first met you, I praised your talent for commerce. Now it seems I spoke too early.”

He leisurely twisted the white jade thumb ring on his right hand, his expression relaxed: “You may not be suited for the merchant path.”

Shen Xiling frowned tightly without speaking, while her hands hanging at her sides quietly clenched into fists.

Yang Dong seemed oblivious to Shen Xiling’s fury. He stretched his limbs comfortably and continued, “The merchant path is not a lady’s boudoir – where would you find gentle warmth? It’s full of sudden rises and falls overnight, and family ruin is commonplace. I truly don’t know who this Shopkeeper Feng you mention is, nor have I met him. If he’s dead, I regret it, but that’s all. Moreover, I dare assert he didn’t die wrongfully.”

Sweat beaded on Yang Dong’s forehead, apparently from the effects of the Five Stone Powder, but he didn’t seem uncomfortable. Instead, his expression showed a strange pleasure as he continued, “Whether in politics or commerce, what’s more important than ability is always vision. Only by choosing the right person to follow can everything go smoothly – otherwise, disaster will follow. He chose you instead of the guild – that was his sin. He lobbied others for you, becoming that bird that stuck its head out – then you can’t blame the one who shot the bird.”

“The merchant path always belongs to the capable. No matter what methods are used, surviving is the proper principle – everything else is nonsense,” Yang Dong smiled as if everything was under his control. He looked at Shen Xiling again with that same look for viewing children. “Miss Fang may find Yang despicable hearing this today, but only when you understand this principle will you truly enter this path’s door.”

Outside, rain poured heavily and thunder rumbled frighteningly. Shen Xiling’s ears were filled with wind and rain, her hands hanging at her sides clenched tightly, nails already deeply embedded in her palms.

She had never been so angry, and never… so bewildered.

She felt Yang Dong’s words were absurd and despicably sinister – yet she vaguely felt… he was right.

He really was right.

What wrong had Shopkeeper Feng done? He was just an ordinary small merchant, working hard and diligently in business. The reason he ended up in such a state was simply because he made a wrong choice. If he hadn’t followed her, if he had chosen to compromise with the guild, or even if he hadn’t worked so hard and wholeheartedly for her, he would certainly be safe now. Even if he lived in poverty and hardship, even if he suffered the guild’s bullying, at least he wouldn’t have lost his life.

It was her self-righteousness and inflexibility that had cost that shopkeeper his life, leaving his wife without a husband and his child without a father.

…She had harmed his entire family.

Shen Xiling’s hands went limp, her eyes becoming vacant, growing increasingly bewildered and helpless.

Her wretched state fell into Yang Dong’s eyes, bringing an even deeper smile to this guild leader’s face.

He had heard that the second young master of the Qi family had protected this beautiful young girl, thinking there was some deep relationship between them. Because he feared that man, he had never dared deal her a harsh blow. However, in recent months, as conflicts between the guild and this young girl increased, he hadn’t seen that lord intervene, which surprised him. Later, news came from the Fu family that the marriage between that lord and the Sixth Princess was settled. The princess couldn’t tolerate others and had long viewed this Fang Jun as a thorn in her side. That lord also intended to marry her off.

Since that was the case, what need did the guild have for restraint?

She was just an inexperienced little girl. Now without Second Young Master Qi’s protection, wasn’t she just there for anyone to manipulate?

Yang Dong’s smile deepened as he slowly sat up straight, his eyes showing the madness made more apparent by the Five Stone Powder.

He suddenly grabbed Shen Xiling’s hand!

Shen Xiling had been somewhat lost in thought, but this action brought her sharply back to awareness. She immediately tried to pull her hand back, but Yang Dong gripped her tightly with force, preventing her escape.

Shen Xiling was shocked and angry, asking coldly, “What is the guild leader doing?”

Yang Dong gripped her hand tightly, feeling it was like fine soft jade, delicate and cool, providing momentary relief from the burning heat throughout his body after consuming Five Stone Powder. He immediately became entranced.

He looked at Shen Xiling and smiled, saying, “Yang is a merchant who always considers profit and loss, never making unprofitable deals. Today I’ve spent so much effort talking with Miss Fang – surely you won’t let me leave empty-handed?”

Before Shen Xiling could speak, his other hand reached for her arm, staring at her intently and smiling, “Today I intended to reach paradise, but was suddenly interrupted by you – this is harmful to the body… Since you’ve come, why not compensate me!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately pulled hard. Shen Xiling was so thin and weak – how could she be a match for Yang Dong, a grown man? She was immediately pulled down onto the sitting bed.

Shen Xiling had never encountered such a situation. Suddenly faced with this change, she was naturally both shocked and frightened, her mind completely blank. When she came to her senses, she began struggling and resisting violently, using all her strength to try to escape Yang Dong’s control. But he gripped her hands firmly, leaving her unable to move at all. His palms were full of hot sweat, making her feel sick when pressed against her skin. His face drew closer and closer to hers, his smile becoming wild and crazed.

He looked down at her with eyes full of greed and lust, saying like drooling, “Little girl, let me teach you what your real advantage is… With your looks and figure, why do you need to work so hard competing for profit on the merchant path? Better to be a pampered canary – I guarantee your life would be a hundred times better than now!”

Shen Xiling was in extreme pain. Yang Dong’s closeness not only disgusted her but also made her feel terrified and afraid. She struggled desperately, but seemed only to make him more excited. She heard him laugh loudly, saying, “The Qi family’s young master doesn’t want you – no matter! You can certainly auction yourself to the highest bidder! Isn’t this the merchant way? Change to a different business – it’s worth it, very worth it!”

He laughed viciously and loudly. Shen Xiling had never expected to hear someone mention Qi Ying at such a moment.

She was already terrified and miserable, and thinking of that person made her even more heartbroken and wronged. She thought how truly foolish she was – without his protection, she was worthless, and she had been stupid enough to fall to this state!

She desperately wanted to see him, but she knew he wouldn’t come anymore. Just as Yang Dong said, he didn’t want her anymore…

Her heart sank to rock bottom, as if all the sorrow in the world had become tonight’s thunderstorm, pouring down on her head, instantly extinguishing all hope.

At this moment, Yang Dong suddenly lowered his head to kiss her. His body carried the stench of decay and debauchery, making Shen Xiling feel so sick she could die. She quickly turned her head away, but he still kissed her neck. She immediately felt horrified, her whole body trembling as she used all her strength to struggle desperately, calling loudly for Shuipei. But outside there was only wind, rain, and thunder – not even one person answered her cries for help…

Yang Dong’s burning breath with its foul smell was so close to her. She was extremely terrified, hearing him speak to her in a filthy tone with lust: “So inexperienced, still a virgin? That Qi family young master could actually resist not touching you? Good, good, good – then let me show you what human paradise feels like…”

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Xiling heard a thunderclap explode beside her ear. At the same time, fierce winds arose, throwing the doors wide open. Slanting wind and cold rain suddenly swept into the room, overturning the screen inside and creating even greater noise.

In such boundless chaos and despair, in such endless wind and rain.

Shen Xiling vaguely saw the person she was waiting for, traveling through wind and rain, coming toward her without hesitation.

—Just like their meeting many years ago.

Author’s Note: Next chapter: mutual affection confirmed.

Charge forward!