374: Chapter 374 I've Become a Brothel Owner?

Two months ago, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Canghai Sword Pavilion died in Huaqing Pavilion, along with three women from the pavilion, all on the same bed.

For the Canghai Sword Pavilion, this was a scandal. As a Sword Cultivator, he had actually died in a woman's bed.

That Disciple was promptly expelled from the Canghai Sword Pavilion's records.

But expulsion aside, the cause of death still had to be investigated; after all, he was a Disciple of the Canghai Sword Pavilion.

Dying on the Canghai Sword Pavilion's territory in such an ugly manner was undoubtedly a provocation toward the sect.

Because of this, Huaqing Pavilion was closed for fifteen days while the Canghai Sword Pavilion conducted its investigation.

Judging by the state of the four corpses, they had been killed in a single strike during their moment of pleasure, without any chance to fight back.

Furthermore, there were no external injuries on the bodies, suggesting it was an attack on the Divine Soul level.

The murdered Disciple from the Canghai Sword Pavilion was at the sixth level of the Spirit Treasury Realm, indicating that the perpetrator was no weakling.

However, after fifteen days of thorough investigation, nothing was found. The other women in Huaqing Pavilion didn't seem to be under suspicion.

This led Senior Sister Cui Mingxi to wonder if it was another guest or perhaps the pavilion Revered Master of Huaqing Pavilion who did it.

When she wanted to investigate the pavilion Revered Master, she was stopped by her Revered Master.

It was only then that she learned the rumors about a Nirvana Ancestor backing Huaqing Pavilion were not false.

She had always assumed that the claim of a Nirvana Ancestor being the pavilion's backer was fake news spread by Huaqing Pavilion itself.

In her eyes, the idea of a Nirvana Ancestor backing a brothel was simply absurd.

But she learned from her Revered Master's mouth that it was true; behind Huaqing Pavilion stood a Nirvana Ancestor of the Sea Race.

Otherwise, how could Huaqing Pavilion have remained the number one brothel in Dongchao City for hundreds of years?

When Senior Sister Cui Mingxi learned this wasn't just a rumor but the truth, she was quite surprised.

Was running a brothel really that profitable?

To the point of attracting a Nirvana Ancestor to act as a backer.

But even if it was a Nirvana Ancestor, so what?

This was their Canghai Sword Pavilion's territory; killing their Disciple was a provocation.

However, her Revered Master guaranteed that this matter had nothing to do with Li Zhiting or the powerhouse behind her.

Furthermore, the ban on Huaqing Pavilion was lifted, allowing it to resume business.

But this matter remained on Senior Sister Cui Mingxi's mind.

Something like this had happened under her jurisdiction, and the victim was a Disciple of her own Canghai Sword Pavilion.

This made her constantly want to investigate and find out exactly who was responsible.

But she still had no leads. The perpetrator had acted very cleanly, leaving behind almost no clues.

Crucially, her Revered Master had actually told her not to continue the investigation.

It was as if even if she did investigate, there wouldn't be a satisfactory result.

Her Revered Master seemed to know something but wouldn't tell her.

This instead piqued Senior Sister Cui Mingxi's competitive spirit; she was determined to investigate this to the end and find the truth.

Until just now, when she received a message.

Regardless of whether it was true or false, she had to verify it.

“First Madam and Second Madam of Huaqing Pavilion, come with me,”

Senior Sister Cui Mingxi said, her gaze returning to the two women.

This was Young Master Cao Feng's handiwork. Currently, the Chief Manager of Huaqing Pavilion was away and wouldn't be back anytime soon—if they could return at all.

According to the rules of Huaqing Pavilion, the pavilion was controlled by the First Madam and Second Madam.

But if those two were absent, management would fall to Third Madam and Madam Si in order of succession.

This was precisely Young Master Cao Feng's goal.

Now that these people were on his side, wouldn't he be the one in charge of Huaqing Pavilion?

Then, winning the beauty's heart would be no difficult task.

Furthermore, he could complete the task assigned to him by that person along the way, killing two birds with one stone.

As for the Nirvana Ancestor behind Huaqing Pavilion...

He never believed that a Nirvana Ancestor would act as a so-called backer for a brothel.

“Chief Cui, this matter has nothing to do with my Huaqing Pavilion. The City Patrol Bureau should have verified this at the time,” First Madam said in a heavy voice.

She didn't think Senior Sister Cui Mingxi and Young Master Cao Feng were in league. They had interacted with Senior Sister Cui Mingxi several times and had some understanding of her.

She likely received some information from somewhere.

And that 'somewhere' was likely Young Master Cao Feng.

“That was then, this is now. They cannot be lumped together,” Senior Sister Cui Mingxi said with a firm attitude.

Her stance was clear: she had received information, and this information was indeed verifiable, not some baseless false lead.

That was why she had come to take them in.

If the two before her didn't go willingly, then they couldn't blame her for what happened next.

First Madam and Second Madam exchanged glances, their expressions turning grim.

Once the two of them were taken away, Huaqing Pavilion would no longer be under their control.

If those few hadn't turned traitor, it wouldn't have mattered, but the situation was completely different now.

It was at this moment that First Madam's gaze fell upon Lin Ming.

She seemed to have made a certain decision.

“Young Master Lin, Huaqing Pavilion hopes you will manage it on our behalf,” First Madam said directly.

She had originally intended to hand Huaqing Pavilion over to Madam Lu and the next in line.

But there was no guarantee that they hadn't been bought off as well.

Therefore, First Madam simply bypassed the rules of Huaqing Pavilion and handed the management rights to Lin Ming.

Hand it to me?

Lin Ming, who was watching the drama from the side, was stunned for a moment.

He thought First Madam would ask him for help, but he hadn't expected her to temporarily hand the pavilion over to him.

This was getting interesting.

“This is against the rules!” Third Madam and the others' faces changed as they immediately objected.

“The rules were set by me, First Madam, and the Chief Manager. With the Chief Manager away, the rules within Huaqing Pavilion are decided entirely by me and First Madam.”

Second Madam now understood First Madam's intent and supported her decision.

“First Madam, Second Madam, you cannot be so arbitrary!” Madam Si said coldly.

“Arbitrary? It's better than handing it to you.”

First Madam walked straight up to Lin Ming.

She took out a token, one carved with a single flower.

This token represented Li Zhiting and the control over Huaqing Pavilion.

“Young Master Lin, I'm counting on you,” First Madam said as she handed the token to Lin Ming.

Seeing this, Lin Ming did not refuse and accepted the token.

This scene caused Young Master Cao Feng's expression to change.

His originally confident expression stiffened slightly as his gaze fell upon Lin Ming.

This guy who had appeared out of nowhere had snatched away Huaqing Pavilion.

His face gradually turned unsightly.

“We will go with you,” First Madam said, looking at Senior Sister Cui Mingxi.

“Withdraw,” Senior Sister Cui Mingxi nodded upon seeing this.

She couldn't be bothered to meddle in the affairs of Huaqing Pavilion; she only cared about her own objective.

“Senior Brother Lin, enjoy yourself.”