The woman stumbled, nearly losing her footing.

Her expression darkened; once she’d steadied herself, she turned back, and the smile returned to her face.

“Oh my!” Drawing close again, the woman waved her hands, no longer daring to touch Gong Xinyue.

“Second Young Master, please don’t be angry! It’s this humble woman’s fault, this humble woman will punish herself with three cups, three cups.”

“My second brother has a blunt temper.” Qiao Mu’s voice rang out. “But, this price really is the lowest.”

“You both know quite well how much an untouched maiden with such devastating beauty can sell for, don’t you?”

Qiao Mu gripped her longsword and stood up.

“If this esteemed establishment has no sincerity, then we’ll go elsewhere.”

Before the two women could speak, Qiao Mu continued muttering, “I know that every brothel in this town belongs to the town chief.”

“Amusing, that the town chief runs brothels—though this open secret isn’t really a big deal.”

“Tell me, if the town chief takes a liking to my little sister, could your establishment possibly lose money?”

The woman in black-and-red still said nothing, but shot the pink-robed woman a glance.

The pink-robed woman immediately understood and hurried closer to Qiao Mu.

“Her elder brother, you’re easier to talk to. Let’s discuss this properly—this deal can’t be settled with just one sentence, can it?”

“How about…”

Just as she was about to touch Qiao Mu, Qiao Mu swept her with a glance, and she immediately withdrew her hand.

“Y-young master is indeed right, we do admire your little sister very much.”

“However, whether our boss will take a liking to your little sister remains uncertain.”

“How about this.” The woman waved the handkerchief in her hand. “The price you mentioned, we can agree to it, but we have one condition.”

“What condition?” Qiao Mu asked in a low voice.

Clearly, she too was growing a bit impatient.

The pink-robed woman glanced at the black-and-red-robed woman, then turned her gaze back to Qiao Mu.

“Could we give six hundred taels first? Six hundred taels is already the price of two top courtesans.”

“If our boss truly takes a liking to your little sister, we won’t shortchange you a single coin of the remaining four hundred taels.”

“What’s more, we’ll arrange the best private room for the two of you, with free food, drink, and entertainment for half a month.”

“If the town chief ultimately doesn’t take a liking to her, you won’t lose out either—you’ll get the six hundred taels and half a month of free indulgence.”

“Young master, second young master, you must know the current state of Plains City. Even if you went to another city now, you wouldn’t find a better price than ours.”

“Isn’t it because we can see your little sister is so lovely that we’re willing to make this concession?”

“Well? Will you consider this little woman’s suggestion?”

The pink-robed woman kept casting flirtatious glances at Qiao Mu, but Qiao Mu paid her no mind.

She furrowed her brow slightly, then went over and patted the back of Gong Xinyue’s hand.

“Second brother, this condition seems acceptable.”

The moment Qiao Mu gave Gong Xinyue a look, the pink-robed woman knew right away there was a chance.

“Oh my!” She waved the silk cloth in her hand again. “Young master, second young master, it’s settled then.”

“The women here are all quite good. Perhaps after half a month, you won’t want to leave either.”

“Are you sure this last remaining town in Plains City can even hold out for half a month?” Gong Xinyue stared at the pink-robed woman and asked coldly.

The woman was stunned for a moment, then immediately frowned.

“You need not worry about that. With our boss around, no one dares set their sights on our Fenggang Town.”

“When will your boss be coming?” Qiao Mu asked.

As for who this “boss” was, who didn’t know it was the town chief himself?

“In three days, we’ll be leaving—so the half month you mentioned won’t be necessary,” Qiao Mu explained in a low voice.

“Three days?” The pink-robed woman frowned, glancing at Feng Jiu’er.

“Do you think in three days this little girl’s skin can turn pale enough? With that complexion of hers, how could I dare present her to our boss?”

Feng Jiu’er (inwardly): Sure enough, so I really can’t let myself stay this dark color?

“Don’t worry about that!” Qiao Mu waved a hand, turned, and returned to her seat.

“Her mother brought a family secret recipe back in the day—soak in it one night and you’ll turn pale.”

“The matter is settled then. We won’t be leaving either. In three days, let the town chief give us his answer.”

“If the town chief takes my little sister, we’ll leave with the one thousand taels, and my sister stays. If it’s six hundred taels, that’s fine too—if the town chief doesn’t take her, we’ll still take her with us.”

“Think about it—no matter what, we’re her cousins. Leaving her here in this war-torn town for six hundred taels just isn’t worth it.”

Qiao Mu murmured a couple more words, then poured herself a cup of wine.

She didn’t drink right away—instead, she took another cup and placed it in front of the black-and-red-robed woman, filling it for her.

“Here.” Qiao Mu raised her cup, looking at the black-and-red-robed woman.

The black-and-red-robed woman raised her cup, looking back at Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu was already good-looking, and now dressed as a man, she was every bit a handsome young gentleman.

Qiao Mu lifted her cup, clinked it against the one in the black-and-red-robed woman’s hand, tilted her head back, and drained the wine completely.

The black-and-red-robed woman’s deep, seductive peach-blossom eyes blinked, and the corner of her mouth curved up slightly.

She raised one hand, using her sleeve to block others’ view of her, while the other hand, holding the wine cup, slowly lifted.

The woman finished the wine in her cup, and as she lowered her head, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Qiao Mu took on a peculiar glow.

“Since elder brother has said as much, then let’s decide it this way.”

Just as Qiao Mu was picking up food with her chopsticks, someone hooked an arm through hers.

The black-and-red-robed woman looped her arm through Qiao Mu’s strong, powerful one and stood, her expression growing even more delighted—that was the feeling of a fluttering heart.

The woman stepped back two paces, bending slightly to look at Qiao Mu.

“I’ll arrange things as soon as possible. Young master, rest well tonight.”

She cupped her hands toward Qiao Mu in a bow, and as she turned, her eyes were full of blooming peach blossoms.

Gong Xinyue and Feng Jiu’er both startled at the same moment, but neither showed any sign of it.

The black-and-red-robed woman walked out, and the pink-robed woman also cupped her hands in a bow, turned, and followed.

The door closed once more, and sensing the people outside had gone some distance away, all three inside the room let out a breath of relief.

Feng Jiu’er shook out her arm and looked up at Gong Xinyue. “Xinyue, you gripped me so hard it hurt.”

Only then did Gong Xinyue react, immediately releasing Feng Jiu’er’s hand.

“Jiu’er, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head, turned, and went back to her seat to sit down.

“Let’s eat. No point not eating—who knows, maybe tomorrow we’ll actually see that person.”

Seeing Feng Jiu’er’s relaxed manner, Gong Xinyue also let out a breath of relief.

“I’m just worried that with things so tense right now, he won’t have the interest.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Gong Xinyue sat down beside Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er glanced up at her, then handed her a chicken leg.

“Don’t worry! This dog can’t change its shit-eating ways!”