99: My benefactor, I am in pain...

"Why are you crying?"

"No... nothing..." Gu Yan'er didn't complain, only said it was nothing, and forcibly held back the urge to cry.

Although Jiang Lan didn't know the reason for Gu Yan'er's tears, he figured it must be related to what happened last night.

Women at such times always valued their purity greatly.

Even though she was in a Brothel, she was an entertainer who didn't sell her body.

But now that her body was broken, it was impossible for her to only perform in the future.

She was once pure, but after he poked her a few times, her purity was gone.

Anyone in her shoes would cry.

Jiang Lan sat on the bed.

"Don't cry. From today on, you are free."

"What?" Gu Yan'er was stunned, even forgetting her sadness, wondering what Jiang Lan's words meant.

Jiang Lan said, "I've redeemed you."

The expression in Gu Yan'er's eyes changed rapidly.

Suspicion, surprise, disbelief.

Her small mouth was slightly agape, and after a long while, she asked in disbelief:

"Rea... really?"

"Naturally, it's real," Jiang Lan said unhurriedly, "How could I deceive you with something like this?"

Gu Yan'er was stunned for a long time again.

Finally, she came back to her senses.

"Benefactor, your servant is willing to be your beast of burden."

Saying that, she was about to lift the quilt.

Jiang Lan reached out and pressed her down.

Others didn't know, but he did.

Gu Yan'er had nothing on under the quilt.

"No need to be a beast of burden; it's good for you to be a person."

Saying that, Jiang Lan stood up and turned his head.

"Put on your clothes; let's go."

Gu Yan'er didn't care about so much; she immediately threw off the quilt and put on the dress scattered beside her.

Only when she was dressed did Jiang Lan turn around.

Although her hair was a bit messy, it exuded an indescribable cuteness.

It wasn't that beauty was in the eye of the beholder; it was that Gu Yan'er truly possessed a beautiful appearance.

An oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and cherry-red lips.

The appearance of a standard beauty in a painting.

Her figure was also good; recalling yesterday's scene, her waist was slender, and rarely, a pair of ample breasts adorned her delicate frame.

After careful observation this time, Jiang Lan felt that the madam's words were not false.

Gu Yan'er might really be the daughter of some disgraced official.

After all, ordinary families in Great Yan couldn't cultivate such a girl.

Gu Yan'er looked at Jiang Lan, her knees softened, and she was about to kneel on the ground.

"Benefactor..."

Jiang Lan took a step, and although the distance between them wasn't close, he appeared in front of Gu Yan'er the next second, extending his right hand and gripping Gu Yan'er's shoulder like an iron clamp.

"Don't kneel. Don't kneel to anyone from now on."

Gu Yan'er was startled.

After two breaths, she said:

"Benefactor, it hurts..."

Jiang Lan: "..."

After a moment of silence, Jiang Lan released his grip on Gu Yan'er's shoulder.

Without explanation, he took Gu Yan'er's hand and led her out the door.

"Benefactor, your servant hasn't washed yet..."

"Wash later."

As he spoke, Jiang Lan led Gu Yan'er downstairs.

At this time, the madam had already prepared the documents for her release from servitude, as well as the deed of sale and other such things, and was waiting for Jiang Lan.

Seeing Jiang Lan, she quickly approached with the documents.

"Sir, it's all done! From today on, Gu Yan'er is your person."

After speaking, she looked at Gu Yan'er, "You are also blessed. After being a pure courtesan for half a year, your first patron redeemed you. After you leave, serve Sir well, do you understand?"

Previously, Gu Yan'er's mind had been muddled.

It wasn't until she saw the documents with her name in the madam's hand that Gu Yan'er felt some sense of reality.

She nodded repeatedly and said:

"Madam, I understand."

The madam said nothing more, only handed all the documents to Jiang Lan, her face full of fawning smiles.

"Sir, here are the documents."

Jiang Lan took them and casually handed them to Gu Yan'er.

"Go pack your things, then come with me."

Gu Yan'er was stunned, apparently not expecting Jiang Lan to give her the documents, and waved her hand, saying:

"Benefactor, you redeemed your servant; you can keep these documents."

These items in Jiang Lan's hand were no different from identity cards in later generations, and even far more important than identity cards.

Only with these items could one be considered to have an identity.

If Gu Yan'er held them herself, she would be completely free.

But if they were in Jiang Lan's hands, it would mean she was Jiang Lan's person.

Jiang Lan naturally knew this.

However, he still pushed the items into Gu Yan'er's hand.

"I'm giving them to you; just take them. Hurry up and pack your things."

Gu Yan'er bit her lower lip lightly, hesitated several times, and then still trembling, took them, "Thank you, Benefactor..."

After speaking, she turned and scurried upstairs.

It only took about fifteen minutes for her to come back downstairs with a small bundle. It clearly contained no clothes; judging by its size, it could at most hold some gold, silver, and valuables.

A hint of appreciation flashed in Jiang Lan's eyes.

Gu Yan'er was indeed good; she knew what was important and wasn't petty.

If it were someone stingier, they might have packed several bundles of clothes and miscellaneous items.

But Gu Yan'er only took some important gold, silver, and valuables.

Without saying much more, Jiang Lan led Gu Yan'er out of Chun Quan Courtyard.

Even at this point, Gu Yan'er was still bewildered.

Everything had happened too suddenly. Although she had already seen the sun, she still felt it wasn't real.

She had dreamt of this scene more than once.

Looking at Jiang Lan, who was half a step in front of her, Gu Yan'er tugged at Jiang Lan's sleeve.

"Benefactor, where are we going?"

Jiang Lan stopped.

"Is there anywhere you want to go?"

Although he had redeemed Gu Yan'er, Jiang Lan had no intention of buying her back and then making her his servant.

If Gu Yan'er wanted to leave, he wouldn't hold her back.

Gu Yan'er's face turned pale with fright, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Benefactor, you don't want me anymore?"

Jiang Lan: "..."

Well, she's clingy.

Gu Yan'er was clearly not someone with her own opinions; this immediately showed that she regarded him as her backbone.

But this was also normal.

If what the madam said was true, as the pampered daughter of an official who suddenly faced family misfortune and ended up in Chun Quan Courtyard, she naturally wouldn't have much initiative.

To put it bluntly, if Gu Yan'er were thrown onto the street now, she could survive for a while with her gold, silver, and valuables, but once those ran out, her life would clearly not be good.

However, since he had redeemed her, Jiang Lan couldn't just abandon her.

Moreover, he had already made up his mind.

Jiang Lan said:

"I need to go out for a few days, so I'll temporarily settle you in the Demon Suppression Division."

"Everything is up to Benefactor," Gu Yan'er was obedient.

The Demon Suppression Division was not far away, just diagonally opposite. Soon, Jiang Lan led her into the Demon Suppression Division.

Along the way, many people who saw Jiang Lan stopped to greet him.

"Greetings, Demon Subduing Envoy Jiang."

Jiang Lan nodded faintly.

Until he met Yu Zhi.

Yu Zhi was also stunned to see Jiang Lan with a girl by his side.

"Boss, this is...?"

"Go, call Centurion Chou and tell him to meet me in Lin Hong Hall."