Chapter 96: Collect the Debt! Collect the Debt!

Auntie Gongsun rose and walked away.

Gu Qing’s figure, originally behind her, flashed forward and blocked Auntie Gongsun’s path, smiling: “This time, you won’t escape so easily.”

Auntie Gongsun’s lightness skill was high; Gu Qing’s was higher.

Auntie Gongsun, disguised as a female butcher with a twisted mouth and skewed eyes, grotesque in appearance, suddenly opened her mouth and screamed: “Rape! This man is trying to rape me!”

The sound Auntie Gongsun emitted was piercingly sharp.

Most of the people in Five Sheep City were warm-hearted; if Auntie Gongsun cried for help here, passersby would usually step forward to defend her—but now, no matter how desperately she screamed, the passersby ignored her and walked on as usual.

Auntie Gongsun looked at Gu Qing, saw his two fingers slightly raised, and realized he had used his profound inner energy to block her cries.

Such inner energy was terrifying.

Seeing this, Auntie Gongsun gave up struggling and shot Xue Bing a furious glare.

Auntie Gongsun believed she had been seen through precisely because of Xue Bing.

“What do you want?”

Auntie Gongsun’s voice turned into that of an ordinary woman, cold and sharp, her gaze icy.

“That’s not the attitude of someone facing a creditor.”

Gu Qing smiled warmly at Auntie Gongsun.

Auntie Gongsun stomped her foot in anger and walked toward a nearby small courtyard; Gu Qing and Xue Bing followed close behind.

The courtyard was neat, adorned with intricate carvings. After entering, Auntie Gongsun removed her disguise on her own, then turned around—radiant as morning clouds, graceful as a fairy. Gu Qing, seeing her face, felt as if beauty had forcibly surged into his soul, erasing all other thoughts, leaving him merely awestruck by her beauty.

“Auntie…”

Xue Bing, overwhelmed by Gong Sun Lan’s radiance, spoke in a much quieter voice, moved by reverence solely because of Gong Sun Lan’s appearance.

Gong Sun Lan scooped up a handful of water, washed her face casually, then looked at Gu Qing and Xue Bing and said: “Besides collecting the debt, what else do you want?”

Gong Sun Lan set aside the debt first.

“Auntie, it’s like this.”

Xue Bing, seeing Gong Sun Lan’s coldness fade, gained courage, stepped closer to her, and explained how Gu Qing had come to clear the Red Shoes’ name.

“I didn’t leak a single word about you—he came here and spotted you at once.”

Xue Bing also cleared up the misunderstanding.

“Xue Bing abandoned Lu Xiaofeng for the sake of her sisters.”

Gu Qing spoke up for Xue Bing: “I don’t understand—everyone’s working for the Red Shoes, yet the more you do, the more unjustly you’re treated!”

Xue Bing nodded in deep agreement.

Gong Sun Lan was infuriated by Xue Bing… Wasn’t it because your plan was sloppy, bringing Gu Qing right to me, letting him corner me?

He blocked me today—who knows when he’ll block me again tonight?

Gong Sun Lan knew Xue Bing’s message to her had been intercepted by Gu Qing, which explained how he’d immediately searched for her upon entering the city—but since it was done, no amount of second-guessing helped. Gong Sun Lan exhaled deeply, calmed herself, and thought at least she hadn’t been betrayed a third time, feeling somewhat better. She asked Gu Qing: “Why are you helping us?”

“Because I can’t stand the Embroidery Bandit.”

Gu Qing’s reason was simple and straightforward.

Jin Jiuling intended to scheme against Lu Xiaofeng and Gong Sun Lan; even if Gu Qing did nothing, Lu Xiaofeng could kill Jin Jiuling—but regarding Xue Bing, Gu Qing disliked Jin Jiuling, so he had to intervene.

In the Embroidery Bandit case, Xue Bing vanished after Lu Xiaofeng broke into the Pingnan Prince’s mansion. Lu Xiaofeng asked the Snake King to search for her; the next news about Xue Bing was Jin Jiuling holding her clothes in front of a house, claiming she had moaned inside. When Jin Jiuling’s identity as the Embroidery Bandit was finally exposed, he said Xue Bing was already dead.

Jin Jiuling was extremely lecherous; if Gong Sun Lan fell into his hands, he’d have wanted to enjoy her for two days before even starting the investigation. Xue Bing’s fate was obvious.

Such a man—Gu Qing wanted to kill him, loved to kill him.

“Is that all?”

Gong Sun Lan asked, surprised.

“Now there’s another reason.”

Gu Qing studied Gong Sun Lan’s face and said: “Because I find you very pleasing to look at.”

Gong Sun Lan knew her beauty was unmatched, knew Gu Qing spoke sincerely, and felt a quiet pride; her beautiful eyes studied him and said: “I find you much more pleasing too…”

Still, Gong Sun Lan had grievances: Shangguan Feiyan, as a member of the Red Shoes, seized control of the Green Robe Pavilion and the Pearl and Treasure Pavilion, then became disobedient, making many of Gong Sun Lan’s investments vanish.

Shangguan Feiyan’s confidence came from Gu Qing.

Now, no one in the Jianghu dares to provoke the Green Robe Pavilion because of Gu Qing.

“You say you can’t stand the Embroidery Bandit—but do you already know his true identity?”

Gong Sun Lan’s beautiful eyes narrowed, her beauty intensifying.

What a seductress…

Gu Qing’s heart stirred, and he smiled: “I’ve guessed.”

“Guessed?”

Gong Sun Lan asked: “So you have no concrete proof?”

“That’s enough.”

Gu Qing said: “When I reach the Pingnan Prince’s mansion, I’ll turn his world upside down.”

Gong Sun Lan’s eyes flickered, considering the people inside the Pingnan Prince’s mansion, then asked Gu Qing: “Did you really come to Five Sheep City just to uphold justice?”

“Of course.”

Gu Qing said: “When the Embroidery Bandit is finally caught, every single member of the Red Shoes must sincerely thank me.”

Jin Jiuling had made many enemies; if Gu Qing handled this well, he’d gain plenty of good merit.

“We’ll certainly thank you sincerely.”

Gong Sun Lan smiled gently.

Gu Qing looked at Gong Sun Lan and suddenly added: “But debts must still be collected. You, Auntie Gongsun, are famous in the Jianghu—you’re known for your word, and you’d never dodge a lost bet.”

Back in Shanxi, Gu Qing ate a candied chestnut, and Gong Sun Lan bet her body.

The gentle smile on Gong Sun Lan’s face instantly froze into ice.

Gu Qing smiled warmly at Gong Sun Lan—he’d waited so long for this chance, and he was determined to savor it!

“Let’s be clear first.”

Gong Sun Lan extended a finger and said: “We have three bets between us.”

Gu Qing nodded—he ate one candied chestnut by looking at her face; the second and third bets, each of five, were her own proposals: one to see her upper body, the other to spend a night with him.

Gong Sun Lan reached for the buttons of her robe.

Xue Bing, watching the situation unfold this way, stood utterly bewildered—Gu Qing was going this far with Gong Sun Lan, yet no one had even suggested she step aside… Xue Bing felt truly helpless.

Gong Sun Lan unfastened the front of her robe, standing before Gu Qing like a delicate flower, then immediately pulled it closed and rebuttoned it herself.

“Go on.”

Gu Qing felt a little dizzy.

“Heh.”

Gong Sun Lan picked up her teacup and said: “You must know that women have certain days when their bodies aren’t well.” She looked at Gu Qing: “I can only drink warm water now.”

You cunning little harlot!

Gu Qing cursed inwardly—he’d been stirred up, and now she didn’t care!

(End of Chapter)