Chapter 76

Just like the Dawn Church divides its battle priests into categories such as Twilight, Dawn, and Radiance, the Wogin Church also has its unique classification system. From the lowest to the highest, the members of the Wogin Church are divided into three tiers: Copper, Silver, and Gold. Each tier is further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower ranks. There is also the highest rank, called "Holy Gold," which is usually reserved for the church leaders or the holy ones of the goddess. The regional bishops are generally Upper Gold, while Middle Gold forms the backbone of the church.

The plump-faced Middle Gold priest warmly led Gao Dun and Xie Ouna to a luxurious reception room, serving them exquisite pastries and drinks. Gao Dun glanced at the gold crown on the priest's head, which was inlaid with five rubies, but had no interest in making small talk.

Gao Dun decisively took out the IOU and threw a bag containing thirty white gold coins to the Wogin priest. After a series of formalities, the debt was finally settled.

"Lord Freeman, if you need funds in the future, please visit the Wogin Temple. We will provide you with the best service," the Middle Gold priest's round face broke into a smile like a chrysanthemum.

"I'll come back when pigs fly! One exploitation is enough," Gao Dun grumbled to himself, pulling Xie Ouna, who looked heartbroken, out of the Wogin Temple—the ponytailed girl was still pained by the loss of the thirty white gold coins.

"Being debt-free feels great," Gao Dun stretched lazily on the steps of the Wogin Temple's entrance.

Xie Ouna finally came to her senses, her face breaking into a smile. "Yes, it's like a heavy burden has been lifted from my heart."

Gao Dun tossed the money bag, which still contained a few white gold coins, to Xie Ouna. "Sis, you keep this money."

"What for?"

"My dear sister, of course, you will take on the responsibilities of the lady of the Freeman household and manage the house. I will be working for the Lord of the Scepter and busy with my spell research, so I won't have time to handle household matters."

Xie Ouna nodded and put the money bag away. After all, she had always taken care of the household chores alone, so it was nothing new to her.

"By the way," Gao Dun added, "you should buy a carriage when you have the time. It doesn't have to be too fancy, a single-horse carriage will do. Then hire a reliable coachman. Hmm... I'll let Duro handle this; he should have the connections."

"A carriage? That's expensive..." Xie Ouna frowned, seemingly pained by the thought of spending the gold coins.

"We are nobles, after all. We can't always walk when we go out, can we? Or do you want to keep riding a horse with me like we did just now?" Gao Dun teased with a mischievous smile.

Xie Ouna blushed and her posture became a bit awkward.

The Wogin Temple was far from home. On the way there, Gao Dun didn't want to walk, so he summoned a riding horse using the Summon Mount spell, just like he did when he went to the city council.

Xie Ouna was riding behind Gao Dun for the first time. Although the man was her brother, being so close in public made her feel uncomfortable, and a strange feeling began to grow in her heart.

Now, seeing Gao Dun bring up the earlier incident, she felt both embarrassed and flustered, biting her lip and deciding to retaliate.

"Right, now that our family is financially stable, we can afford a carriage and a coachman. It's also time to start thinking about your marriage."

"Why bring up my marriage now?"

Xie Ouna rolled her eyes and huffed, "Brother, don't think your sister is a fool. Do you think I don't know about you and Shaleyah? This morning... I heard everything clearly while practicing my sword in the garden. Irel and Ilian heard it too; you should be careful not to corrupt the children."

"Those two maids, who have been trained, probably know more about such matters than you, a naive girl, but they just haven't had the chance to practice," Gao Dun thought to himself.

He liked to keep the air circulating while sleeping, so he usually didn't close the windows unless it was too cold in winter. This morning, Shaleyah came too suddenly, and in the heat of the moment, he didn't think about soundproofing, so the sounds of their lovemaking were heard by his sister practicing in the garden below.

"So, are you unhappy that I have an intimate relationship with your good friend?" Gao Dun asked. He knew Xie Ouna wasn't the type to be petty, so he was just asking casually.

Xie Ouna shook her head. "Of course not. Shaleyah is a good girl, much better than those hypocritical and shallow noble daughters. I'm happy that you and she are together. But Shaleyah's status doesn't make her suitable to be the official lady of the Freeman household. She can be your lover, but you should eventually marry a noble lady with a good background."

Gao Dun lightly tapped Xie Ouna's forehead, annoyed. "You, what's going on in that little head of yours? At your age, shouldn't you be pursuing romantic and pure love? Instead, you're judging relationships with such utilitarian standards."

"Romantic and pure love? Is it more important than reviving the Freeman family?" Xie Ouna touched her forehead, wrinkling her cute nose. "The Royal Autumn Hunt starts on the second Monday of November. I'll help you find a suitable noble girl then. You should also be more proactive; with your current status, many girls will be eager to approach you."

The Royal Autumn Hunt is a national event for the Ferelden nobility. It was initiated by the second emperor, Anthony Anduin, when Ferelden was still in its early years, with limited power and territory, and surrounded by strong enemies. The annual hunt in November not only maintained the martial traditions of the nobility but also provided meat for the army. However, this tradition has lost its military significance over time and is now mainly a social and entertainment event for the nobility. After all, there are few activities that can gather so many nobles in one place.

Many noble parents also bring their children and younger relatives to the hunt. Sometimes, a pair of young people or their parents might hit it off, leading to a noble marriage. In a sense, the hunt is a special matchmaking event.

Gao Dun didn't expect Xie Ouna to be planning to find him a match. He wasn't sure whether to be happy about having such a proactive sister.

"Alright, you're the lady of the Freeman household, so you can arrange it as you see fit," Gao Dun smiled and took Xie Ouna's hand. "You practice swordsmanship regularly, yet your hands are so smooth and tender. My sister is truly a natural beauty."

"Stupid brother, what... what are you saying?" Xie Ouna's face turned a deep red, but although she was embarrassed, she didn't pull her hand away.

"Brother, where are we going?"

"To introduce you to my partner so you can get to know each other. In the future, my share of the profits from the store will be given directly to you."

At "Duro's Treasure Box," as soon as they entered, a plump figure rushed over. "Hey, old friend, it's been a while."

Duro squinted and looked at Xie Ouna beside Gao Dun. "I see why you've been absent lately. You found such a pretty little lover."

The fat boss bowed awkwardly, using a clumsy noble tone. "Hello, beautiful lady, I am Duro, the closest friend and partner of Lord Freeman."

Xie Ouna quickly pulled her hand away from Gao Dun's and explained, "No, you misunderstood. I'm his sister, Xie Ouna."

"Uh..." Duro, quick to react, immediately smiled after a brief awkward moment. "You two have a great relationship; it's enviable. I have a sister too, but she's even stronger than me and used to chase me around with a wooden sword when we were young..."

"Alright, my friend," Gao Dun patted Duro's shoulder. "We'll talk about your past later. I have something to tell you."

Gao Dun first introduced Duro and Xie Ouna, telling the shop owner to give the future profits directly to Xie Ouna instead of making the long trip to Rainbow Spring Manor.

Then, he took out a small vial containing a light purple liquid and handed it to Duro.

"A new magic potion?" Duro's interest was piqued. He pulled out the cork and sniffed it. "Hmm, it smells like roses, like a lady's perfume... Can I drink it?"

"If you want to lose all your facial and chest hair, go ahead," Gao Dun smirked.

Duro quickly resealed the vial, afraid that even a whiff of the potion might make his prized beard fall out.

He examined the potion carefully and asked tentatively, "Is this... a depilatory potion?"

"Yes, I named it the Depilatory Potion."

Xie Ouna, sitting nearby, couldn't help but ask, "Brother, what's the use of this? No one would buy it, right?"

"My dear sister, you are naturally beautiful, so you don't need it. But for other women, this is like a gift from the goddess of beauty."

"Gao Dun is right, Miss Xie Ouna. The women who frequent the places I often visit..." Duro stopped mid-sentence, realizing he shouldn't talk about his visits to brothels in front of a young girl. He quickly changed the subject. "In short, for women, an item that can easily and conveniently make their bodies smooth will definitely make them ecstatic."

Due to the lack of reference, it took Gao Dun a lot of effort to formulate the depilatory potion. Fortunately, with his extensive alchemy experience as a 20th-level high-level mage, he had a deep understanding of various alchemical materials and their effects. With the help of the system and continuous experimentation, he managed to develop the depilatory potion a week before the party at the Elven Castle.