The three became the center of attention the moment they went out. Zhao Mengyou went without saying. Her rare beauty, combined with the characteristics of her Glazed Crystal Physique, nearly made everyone take a second look. Gu Han drew quite a bit of attention for being so old and standing next to her.

Although the combination was a bit strange, they didn’t encounter any messy or unsavory situations. On the contrary, quite a few people proactively came forward to greet them. This was because of Yun Fan.

Gu Han glanced at Yun Fan. “You have quite the reputation.”

He had long known Yun Fan was the Flame Emperor’s nephew, the War Prince’s only son. He was revered and noble. No one would dare come and provoke him.

Although Yun Fan had only met Fatty once, he had already learned Fatty’s demeanor. “It’s nothing. I’m just a little prince, not worth mentioning. Of course, as long as you have me—ahem, have my sister around, we can do anything within the capital city!”

Zhao Mengyou couldn’t help but humble him. “Ha! Still relying on a woman?”

Gu Han shook his head. “You’re wrong. Just like you, he had rung the Dao Bell seven times. At such a young age, reaching this level goes far beyond Senior Sister’s help. It’s also inseparable from his own tempering and hard work.”

Zhao Mengyou was taken aback. She recalled the murderous aura Yun Fan had revealed when facing Luo Wushuang earlier. Without having experienced life-or-death struggles many times, it would be extremely difficult to possess such a temperament.

Yun Fan immediately gave a thumbs up. “Brother Gu, you’ve got an eye for talent!”

Gu Han was silent for a moment. “Actually, sometimes, brains are more important than the cultivation base.”

Yun Fan was baffled.

Zhao Mengyou couldn’t help it and burst out laughing. Yun Fan glared angrily at her. Gu Han ignored them as he looked at the cultivators coming and going, lost in thought.

Compared to the Northern Domain, the cultivators here had less leisure and carelessness about them, exuding faint solemnity and murderous aura. Perhaps they experienced more battles than the former.

After pondering for a while, his thoughts turned to that sliver of an opportunity. What exactly am I missing?

He frowned slightly. Just as he was lost in thought, wisps of fragrance greeted him. Smells like powder and makeup?

Just at that moment, Yun Fan’s voice came again. “We’re here!”

Gu Han looked up and saw that they had arrived in front of a huge tower. Luxurious and magnificent, the tower consisted of twelve floors. Male cultivators flowed in and out, faces flushed with radiance, a peculiar glint flickering in their eyes.

Three large words were boldly displayed at the entrance: Xian Ya Pavilion. Although he had never been to such a place, he instantly guessed what kind of establishment this actually was, based on male instinct. His face darkened.

Zhao Mengyou’s face was red all the way to her ears. Looking at the strange expressions of the people around her, she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. She finally understood why Yun Fan had smiled so slyly earlier.

Gu Han expressionlessly stared at Yun Fan. “This is the nice place you mentioned?”

Yun Fan was taken aback and quickly made an excuse. “Brother Gu, you’ve misunderstood! I-I’m not the kind of person you think I am!”

Gu Han didn’t believe it for a second. Judging by his behavior, he was clearly a repeat offender, and he still dared to deny it?! Gu Han seriously wondered how Feng Xi could restrain herself from slapping Yun Fan to death.

Yun Fan panicked. “Brother Gu, you have to believe me! I brought you here, not for—I just wanted to bring you to see someone. Trust me, with her here, maybe you could find that opportunity?”

Gu Han ignored him, turned around, and left.

Yun Fan looked dejected. “Brother Gu, why won’t you believe me? I’m still a kid! I’m very pure!”

Zhao Mengyou forcibly suppressed her discomfort and glanced at him. “You don’t know?”

“Know what?” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Zhao Mengyou glanced at Gu Han, incredibly red with embarrassment, finding it hard to explain. “He... he actually... doesn’t like women, especially beautiful women...”

Yun Fan and Gu Han were flabbergasted.

Gu Han stopped in his tracks and spun around, gritting his teeth. “Who told you that?!”

Zhao Mengyou was a bit scared by his murderous gaze. “Z-Zuo Yang.”

Gu Han felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. Only then did he understand why Elder Li and Zhao Mengyou had let him go, and why their gazes had been so strange. He wished he could drag Zuo Yang out and give him a beating.

Senior Brother!!!

When it came to such a disparaging matter, even his usually calm temperament couldn’t endure it. “Nonsense! That’s just bullshit!”

Yun Fan took a few steps back, widening the distance from Gu Han. “Brother Gu, don’t be angry. I believe you.”

Zhao Mengyou chimed in. “I-I... I believe you too.”

In truth, Zhao Mengyou regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth. How could she expose such an embarrassing matter to his face? What was stopping him from killing her on the spot?

Gu Han’s complexion was even darker than before. Believe my ass! Why are you two standing so far away!

“Forget it. Brother Gu, since you don’t like—ahem!” Yun Fan pretended nothing was wrong, but quickly changed his tune upon seeing Gu Han’s murderous gaze. “No, no, I was overthinking it. How could that opportunity be so easy to find? L-let’s just go back!”

“Go back my ass! Let’s go inside!” Gu Han turned grim and pointed at Zhao Mengyou. “You! You’re coming in too!”

At this moment, life or death was a trivial matter. This issue concerning his reputation was the top priority.

***

Inside the building, it was a different world altogether. Exquisite private rooms were arranged neatly in rows, carved with fish, insects, flowers, and grass patterns. The isolation restrictions lent the place a quiet, refined elegance. Few people lingered in the main hall. It was clear they had already gone where they were meant to go.

Upon seeing Gu Han’s appearance, an Acupoint Unsealing servant boy frowned slightly as he approached. “Guest, please wait for a second. For Xian Ya Pavilion, if one comes without a referral, a payment of one hundred thousand—”

With a wave of his hand, Yun Fan sent the boy flying from the side. “What audacious insolence! How dare you stop Brother Gu!”

Instantly, those who were about to watch the fun trembled in fear and quickly bowed. “L-Little Prince!”

Yun Fan didn’t even have to look at them directly. In front of Gu Han, he was a loyal sidekick. In front of them, he was the mighty, awe-inspiring, and domineering little prince.

Just then, a gust of fragrant wind arrived.

“Little Prince, please calm your anger.” A graceful, elegant, and extraordinarily beautiful female cultivator with profound cultivation appeared, gently offering a bow. ”He doesn’t seem to understand the rules. I’ll deal with him swiftly—”

Gu Han waved his hand lightly. “Forget it. There’s no need to go that far.”

Yun Fan glared. “Did you hear that?! Thank him now!”

The servant boy was overcome with gratitude, kowtowing like a pestle pounding garlic. “Thank you! Thank you!”

If Gu Han hadn’t spoken up, death would have been the least of his worries.

The woman was secretly astonished. Even in the entire Great Flame Empire, someone who could make Yun Fan so deferential would be hard to find. While marveling inwardly at Zhao Mengyou’s temperament and beauty, her expression also turned somewhat strange. No way! Could this young lady be the—

Zhao Mengyou, uncomfortable under her gaze, completely lost it. “What are you looking at?!”

She sensed that this woman’s gaze assessed her just as she had once sized up Gu Han.

Gu Han glanced at her. “Do you still take people in at your establishment here?”

The woman didn’t react. “Ah?”

Gu Han pointed at Zhao Mengyou. “Her. How much is she worth?”

For a moment, the woman couldn’t figure out Gu Han’s intention and cast a pleading look at Yun Fan. “What...?”

Yun Fan said impatiently, “Speak up! Brother Gu is asking you!”

The woman glanced at Zhao Mengyou again, a stunning admiration flickering in her eyes. “Yes! This young lady’s appearance and temperament are both of the utmost quality. She’s worth at least ten million spirit sources!”

Zhao Mengyou was about to explode with rage. “Gu Han, how dare you?!”

Gu Han thought for a moment. “By the way, she had rung the Dao Bell seven times.”

The woman’s eyes lit up. “Is that so! Thirty million spirit sources!”

“And she has the Glazed Crystal Physique.”

“Fifty million spirit sources!”

“She’s also the current Divine Maiden of the Tiansheng Hall.”

The woman didn’t even think twice as her eyes shone brightly. “One hundred million! One hundred million spirit source! If you find it too little, the price can also be negotiated.”

Gu Han stroked his chin, a bit tempted. “One hundred million? That valuable?”

Meanwhile, Zhao Mengyou was deathly pale. She didn’t even dare breathe loudly, genuinely afraid Gu Han would sell her on the spot. Of course, Gu Han wouldn’t actually do so, but her fear of him had already penetrated to her very bones.

She thought that Gu Han and Luo Wushuang were the same. Both were madmen!

Upon seeing Zhao Mengyou thoroughly cowed, Yun Fan admired Gu Han even more. “Brother Gu, that’s brilliant!”

Gu Han sighed and patted his shoulder. “Brains, they’re a good thing.”

Yun Fan was speechless. The woman was shocked once more, speculating about Gu Han’s origins.

Yun Fan, feeling rather dejected inside, waved his hand. “Pavilion Master Yu, take us to see Sister Xue Yu. We have business with her.”

Pavilion Master Yu showed a troubled expression. “Xue Yu... is currently with a guest. I’m afraid it’s not very convenient...”

Yun Fan frowned deeply. “With a guest? Who? Whose business could be more important than Brother Gu’s?!”

***

The top floor of Xian Ya Pavilion held a single, luxurious private room that took up nearly the entire level. Contrary to the outside, the inside was extremely elegant and simple, far from the external luxury. A batch of rare incense lay there, capable of soothing the heart and sharpening the mind.

As he held a cup of spirit tea, a middle-aged man stared at the jade zither not far away.

“Miss Xue, have you considered the proposal from last time?” he asked lazily.

Opposite him, a stunning beauty in a blue robe bit her lip and remained silent. She was Xue Yu, who Yun Fan had mentioned.

The man’s gaze turned cold. “Why? Do you think the young marquis isn’t good enough for you?”

Xue Yu shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s just... I only have zither skills, nothing else—”

“Only have zither skills? Having entered the Xian Ya Pavilion, do you still think you can leave like that? Miss Xue, I’m afraid you’re overthinking it!” The man cut her off, turning aggressive and overbearing. “Let me tell you this. Whether you agree or disagree, you are destined to be the young marquis’ woman. If you agree, you might suffer a bit less. If you disagree...”

Then, he sized Xue Yu up a few times, his gaze was full of greed and lewdness. “When the young marquis is tired of you, heh. You should know, I have also admired you for a long time...”

Xue Yu’s face lost all color.

Suddenly, a loud crash came as the private room door flew open.

The man’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s there?! Which ignorant dog dares disturb my important business? I’ll kill you!”

Yun Fan stepped inside.

“Is that so? Come on then.” He stared at the man as a murderous aura swirled in his eyes. “You better kill me if you want to stay alive!”

In an instant, the man’s spirit tea fell to the floor and shattered.

Sweat instantly soaked his back. “L-Little Prince!”