Chapter 19 A Shared Peril, Affection Arises (Part Two) This temptation is enough to make…
"Lead the way," she said calmly.
Yun Yi smiled slightly and led the way. Wu Luozhu wanted to follow, but Yun Yi raised her hand to stop her, her tone gentle but unquestionable: "The shop owner only invited Miss Ye."
Wuluozhu looked at Ye Yixiang with concern. Ye Yixiang gently shook her head, indicating that she should wait there, and then followed Yun Yi inside alone.
The inner courtyard of Qiankunfang is even more ingeniously designed, with a corridor every five steps and a waterside pavilion every ten, the pavilions and towers scattered in a well-organized manner, offering a changing view with every step. Passing through a moon gate, one arrives at a more secluded courtyard. Here, it seems unaffected by the harsh winter outside; exotic flowers and rare herbs remain lush and verdant, and even a few flowers that shouldn't be blooming in winter exude fragrance, filling the air with a delicate aroma.
Upon reaching an elegant house, Yun Yi stopped and opened the door for her: "The owner is waiting inside, please come in, young lady." After saying that, he stood respectfully outside the door, clearly not intending to go in.
Ye Yixiang took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The interior was spacious and elegantly furnished, without excessive decoration, yet exuding a refined taste. Several simple screens stood directly in front, their patterns not the usual landscapes, flowers, and birds, but rather simple yet enigmatic lines and symbols, giving them an air of mystery.
She stood in the room, curiously looking around, her vigilance undiminished.
Until a gentle, clear male voice, like the clinking of jade stones, with a touch of lazy laughter, rang out leisurely from behind the screen, breaking the silence of the room:
"Miss Ye seems... quite curious about my residence?"
Ye Yixiang stiffened at the sound, immediately withdrawing her gaze from looking around and turning to the screen. She composed herself and replied calmly, "I was just a little curious because I found the lord's residence to be elegant and unique, so different from the noisy and extravagant places in the ward."
"Oh?" The voice chuckled lightly, with a hint of amusement. "What does the young lady consider to be extravagance?"
Before the words were finished, a figure slowly emerged from behind the screen.
He was a tall, slender man in a moon-white silk robe embroidered with subtle silver patterns that shimmered under the light.
He stood tall and straight, his every movement exuding a natural elegance. However, what was most striking was the silver mask he wore. The mask covered most of his face, revealing only his well-defined jawline and a pair of deep-set eyes. Those eyes, like stars in the night sky, shone brightly, yet carried an elusive mystery.
Ye Yixiang was startled; she had never seen anyone dressed like this before. The mask not only concealed his appearance but also made it impossible to fathom his true thoughts.
"Why are you so nervous, young lady?" The man approached, his tone gentle. "Could it be that in your eyes, Miss Ye, I am some kind of black-faced demon?"
He walked slowly to a low table and sat down, his posture casual yet possessing an innate air of elegance. Ye Yixiang couldn't see his eyes, but she could feel an invisible pressure, as if she were being silently scrutinized by a pair of deep eyes.
"You flatter me, Master," she smiled slightly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant. "I have never met you before, so I have no reason to be nervous. However, your mysterious nature inevitably arouses curiosity."
He chuckled softly, a deep and pleasant laugh tinged with a hint of amusement: "Miss Ye, there's no need to be nervous. I mean no harm. I just heard that you spent a fortune at Qiankun Workshop yesterday and showed great interest in those 'goods,' so I'm curious and would like to invite you for a chat."
He raised his hand and handed over a cup of tea, its fragrant aroma soothing and refreshing.
Ye Yixiang did not sit down immediately, but said indifferently, "The shopkeeper's information network is quite impressive."
“Miss, there’s no need to be so formal.” The figure behind the screen seemed to adjust her posture slightly, and her tone became more casual. “Famous titles are nothing to mention. You can just call me ‘Zheyu’.”
He introduced himself, then picked up the teacup in front of him, his sleeve fluttering slightly to reveal a section of his fair wrist. He took a sip, his movements fluid and graceful, exuding an innate elegance.
Despite being separated by a screen, Ye Yixiang keenly sensed that a gaze full of interest was falling upon her.
"I have come here to redeem someone," Ye Yixiang said directly, no longer beating around the bush.
"Redemption? Oh, it's Wuluozhu's younger brother, isn't it?" Zheyu's voice didn't reveal much surprise, only a calm indifference of complete control. "Redemption in advance will naturally come at a high price. Although your jade bracelet is of excellent quality, it's probably not enough to redeem a child of decent aptitude."
Ye Yixiang's heart sank; he really did know everything about the jade bracelet.
Just as she was about to speak, Zhe Yu slowly added, his tone playful like a cat playing with a mouse: "However, rules are rules, but people are flexible. I see that you are sincere, so I may give you a chance."
His long, slender, jade-like fingers tapped lightly on the smooth rosewood table, producing a rhythmic and clear "tap-tap" sound, like some ancient, alluring melody spreading through the silence. "How about we play a game? A little game purely about...luck."
He deliberately emphasized the word "luck," as if hinting at something. "If you win, young lady, I will make an exception and allow you to take the boy away free of charge. What do you say?"
Ye Yixiang's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, but her vigilance only increased, becoming as taut as a bowstring. This shop owner was a shrewd strategist; he would never do a losing business. She remained silent, offering no immediate response.
Zheyu seemed to enjoy her caution and silence at this moment, and did not urge her. However, the sound of her tapping on the table seemed to hit the tip of one's heart.
"What game?" After a long pause, Ye Yixiang asked in a deep voice, her tone devoid of emotion.
“I’m sure you’ve heard of it,” Zhe Yu’s voice carried a mysterious, alluring quality, “that the second basement level of my Qiankun Workshop is a different world altogether. There is a gladiatorial arena there, where the most ferocious beasts in the world are kept, and the most primal and bloody battles and competitions are staged every day. It is a paradise for many distinguished guests… seeking thrills.”
He paused, his tone becoming more meaningful, "I would like to invite you, young lady, to come and have a look around. Would you be willing to do me the honor?"
A gladiatorial arena? A barely perceptible look of disgust flashed across Ye Yixiang's eyes. She had no liking for such places where people fought for pleasure and death; in fact, she loathed them. She had come only to save people, not to satisfy her curiosity.
“I’m sorry, I have no interest in such bloody matters.” She refused decisively.
Zheyu seemed to have anticipated her reaction and was not surprised. "Miss, please don't be so quick to refuse."
He spoke slowly, his voice deep and magnetic, like a fine vintage wine, carrying an intoxicating danger, "I can... add another bet with you, young lady."
His thin lips, visible beneath the mask, curved into a faint yet breathtaking smile. His long, slender fingers gently traced the smooth edge of the table, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty: "If you, young lady, are willing to condescend to go and can accurately predict which beast will emerge victorious, then I will grant you... any of your conditions."
"Any condition?" Ye Yixiang's heart skipped a beat. She suddenly looked up, trying to see through the obstructing screen to discern the true expression on the person behind it. His thin lips, with their cold, hard lines yet playful curve, were unfathomable to her.
“That’s right, any one of them.” Zhe Yu repeated confidently, his tone even carrying a hint of provocation. “As long as it’s within my capabilities, I will not refuse. Even if you want Qiankun Workshop… I would gladly give it up.”
Ye Yixiang's breathing quickened slightly involuntarily. Any condition! These six words stirred up a tidal wave in her heart! She instantly thought of Wuluozhu and her brother, and the injured children in the attic.
If we could use this opportunity to demand that he stop this human trafficking business...
This temptation was enough to make her take the risk.
"Is this true?" Her voice was slightly deep, her gaze sharp as she locked onto the other person.
Zhe Yu chuckled again, calmly taking out an object from her wide sleeves. It was a heavy golden token, about the size of an infant's palm, with intricate cloud patterns carved around it and an ancient and vigorous "Kun" character in the center, shimmering with a dark luster under the indoor light. "This is the token of the Qiankun Workshop Master. Seeing the token is like seeing the man himself."
He gently placed the token on the table, making a dull sound. "I swear by this token that if the young lady wins, I will never go back on my word."
Ye Yixiang stared at the token representing absolute authority, her mind torn between two conflicting emotions. The risk was immense, but for that sliver of hope…
"Okay." She finally agreed, her voice firm and resolute.
A satisfied smile played on the lips beneath the jade mask. Although Ye Yixiang couldn't see his full face, she could clearly sense the aura of pleasure emanating from him, as if a hunter had finally seen his prey step into a carefully laid trap.
"Please." Zhe Yu stood up, his dark robes fluttering like flowing clouds. He made an elegant gesture, indicating that Ye Yixiang should come along.
Yun Yi remained silent outside the door, like a shadow. When she saw the shop owner and Ye Yixiang walk out one after the other, a deep surprise flashed almost imperceptibly in her eyes, but it was quickly hidden under her lowered eyelashes, and she regained her unchanging submissive appearance.
“Yun Yi,” Zhe Yu’s voice was flat and emotionless, “lead the way to the arena.”
"Yes, Master." Yun Yi bowed and accepted the order.
Instead of taking the corridor leading to the bustling upper level they had come from, they turned onto a more secluded underground passage that led deeper into the building.
At the entrance, two guards dressed in light black iron armor with cold and hard faces stood watch. Upon seeing Zhe Yu, they immediately bowed silently and then pushed open a heavy, dark stone door that seemed to blend into the wall.
A note from the author:
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