52: So beautiful

"What is it?"

Pei Qingli's face showed curiosity upon hearing this.

"Just some small matters, Revered Master needn't worry about it." Jiang Susu thought for a moment and did not plan to tell the truth. After all, back then, Revered Master had bought her from Chen Qingxuan.

Although she was never mistreated because of it—on the contrary, she was treated as Revered Master's own child and carefully nurtured—she was deeply grateful to her Revered Master.

If she said she was looking for Chen Qingxuan... she was afraid Revered Master would think she still held a grudge over what happened back then, or even suspect she harbored resentment toward Yihua Palace.

Instead of that, it was better to say nothing.

"Susu, put aside what you're doing for a moment." Thinking of the promise she made to Chen Qingxuan, Pei Qingli did not let her Beloved Disciple leave. "What I have to tell you is quite urgent... listen to me first."

"Revered Master, I'm also in a hurry..."

"Do you still remember the person who... sold you to Yihua Palace back then?"

Pei Qingli went straight to the point.

"Huh?" Jiang Susu was stunned.

She clearly hadn't expected that what Pei Qingli wanted to talk about actually concerned Chen Qingxuan.

For a moment, astonishment and confusion enveloped her heart, making the words on the tip of her tongue impossible to say.

Meeting her surprised gaze, Pei Qingli continued, "Actually, back then... I lied to you. He didn't sell you to Yihua Palace. He just wanted you to stay in Yihua Palace to cultivate, but you insisted on leaving with him. In desperation... we had no choice but to lie and say we bought you, just so you would stay with a settled mind..."

"..."

Upon learning the secret behind it all, Jiang Susu was completely dumbfounded.

She wasn't sold?

Afterward, Jiang Susu lifted her pretty face. "Revered Master, why are you suddenly telling me these things?"

"I..."

A flash of guilt crossed Pei Qingli's eyes.

However, she knew very well that she couldn't mention that Chen Qingxuan had visited, lest her Beloved Disciple run off to throw herself at him again just like back then.

That kid had no respect for his elders and only knew how to flirt; he didn't look like a good person at all.

She couldn't let the Beloved Disciple she had carefully nurtured... be sent off to be ruined by that kind of lecher.

Pei Qingli showed a gentle smile. "Now that you've grown up, you can distinguish right from wrong. To be honest, I lied to you back then... it has always been a knot in my heart. Now I want to tell you the truth, partly to clear my conscience, and partly because you have the right to know the truth."

"Susu... do you hate me for taking matters into my own hands back then?"

Pei Qingli asked softly.

"Of course I don't hate you." Jiang Susu shook her head repeatedly. She was no longer a little girl who couldn't tell good from bad, so how could she ignore the care she received from Revered Master and Yihua Palace?

This kindness was beyond words.

Or rather, she never regretted becoming Pei Qingli's disciple, and she wouldn't regret it if she had to do it all over again.

"Then what about him? Now that you know the truth... you don't hate him anymore either, right?" Pei Qingli asked again.

"Heh..."

Jiang Susu suddenly laughed.

Thinking of that delicate, handsome face, she couldn't help but grit her teeth and clench her pink fists.

Although she was very surprised to learn she hadn't been sold... back then, he had clearly promised never to leave her, yet he still sent her to Yihua Palace.

That was also a fact!

What made her feel most displeased was... back then, Chen Qingxuan repeatedly claimed she was too young... and that he wasn't the kind of person who was worse than a beast.

But then he turned around and kidnapped other young girls to be his Cauldrons?

He even opened a world-renowned Brothel, recruiting women of exceptional beauty from all over.

He was clearly so lustful... yet he acted so pure toward her?

Who was he trying to insult?!

"Susu?" Pei Qingli looked at her silent Beloved Disciple and spoke up in surprise.

Coming back to her senses, Jiang Susu squeezed out a sweet smile. "Revered Master is overthinking it... of course I don't hate him... if I hated him, wouldn't I be failing the teachings of Yihua Palace all these years? I don't regret joining Yihua Palace... so naturally, I won't hate him... if possible... I'd even like to 'repay' him properly!"

By the time she reached the end, Jiang Susu was practically speaking through gritted teeth.

But hearing this, Pei Qingli showed a look of worry. "Susu... there's something I don't know if I should say... I feel... he doesn't seem like a good person... so you don't need to think about any repayment."

"Oh? Revered Master saw it too?"

Jiang Susu was somewhat surprised.

As expected, it was all her wishful thinking back then... she was too foolish.

Even Revered Master could see that the heartless man wasn't a good person... yet she was the only one foolishly kept in the dark, thinking he was a man of integrity.

He was clearly a lecher... yet in order to not touch her... he didn't hesitate to bear the infamy of a human trafficker just to leave her.

Heh, you actually despise me that much, do you?

Fine, I'll make sure to ruin you!

Jiang Susu reaffirmed her resolve. "Revered Master, you go back to the inn and wait for me... I have something to take care of for a while."

Whoosh—

After saying that, her figure suddenly flew away.

"Susu...?"

Watching her Beloved Disciple's receding figure, Pei Qingli started to speak but stopped.

Where exactly was she going?

But she wasn't worried. After all, with her disciple's current strength, she was more than capable of protecting herself... In front of the Hundred Flowers Tower.

People were coming and going, bustling with activity.

Compared to the typical impression of a Brothel, there were no heavily made-up women soliciting customers at the entrance, nor was there the worldly clamor of wine, sex, and greed.

There were only graceful zither melodies lingering in the air, and everyone expressing their own views on art.

"...Hundred Flowers Tower!"

Arriving there, Jiang Susu looked up at the gold-plated sign.

At this moment, a sharp cold light flickered in her eyes, and a restless power gathered in her gaze. She almost couldn't resist smashing the sign first.

But after taking a deep breath, she suppressed the impulse.

She wanted to see if, after more than ten years apart, that heartless man could still recognize her now.

Thus, Jiang Susu walked into the Hundred Flowers Tower wearing a veil, just like an ordinary guest.

A short while later.

A pure-looking maid came forward to receive her. "Miss, are you the only guest?"

Jiang Susu didn't waste words. "I want to see your boss."

The maid was taken aback for a moment, then showed a polite smile. "Apologies, Miss, our boss doesn't see guests casually..."

Jiang Susu didn't waste words either. "How much money will it take to book him for service?"

"?"

The maid blinked.

Seeing Jiang Susu's posture as she reached for her space ring, how could she not understand what she meant? "This... Miss, you've misunderstood... our boss has never accepted guests... it's not a matter of money."

"Fine then." Jiang Susu didn't waste words, removing her veil to show the maid her true appearance. "Go tell him what I look like... and have him book me!"

"?"

The maid was instantly stunned.

Upon seeing the face beneath the veil—a face so beautiful it could topple kingdoms and be called a masterpiece—even though she worked in the Hundred Flowers Tower where beauties were plenty, and as a woman herself... she was struck with awe.

So beautiful!

How could there still be such a beautiful woman in the world... who hadn't been recruited by the Hundred Flowers Tower?

Although the maid's own appearance was decent, compared to Jiang Susu... she felt a strange sense of inferiority.

Struck as she was, the maid's heart was also filled with bewilderment. "Miss... what exactly are you here for?"

"Today, either I book him, or he books me... otherwise, I'll smash your Hundred Flowers Tower to pieces!"

Jiang Susu said in a cold tone.