Chapter 37

This long corridor is filled with beautifully pruned potted plants, their shapes meticulously maintained. On the dark golden walls, a series of landscape and lady paintings line the walls. Though not the work of masters, they still have a certain charm!

Among them, a large painting of a lady stands out, its brushwork exquisite. The woman in the painting is lightly colored, exuding a noble and graceful demeanor that is both dignified and gentle, making it an outstanding piece of art!

"Is being a squad leader so profitable?" Yun Mo looked at these valuable items and muttered to himself. (For the fastest novel updates, visit ,)

It really is very profitable! Yun Mo had not yet entered that circle, so he did not know how generous the empire was to these warriors.

First, all their clothing, food, housing, and transportation are provided. Second, their monthly salaries are so generous that they make most people envious, and during holidays, the benefits never stop! Of course, this is just the treatment for ordinary guards. At Hu Changqing's level, a squad leader of the Sixth Rank of Heavenly Protection, he can have his own private residence and command a hundred guards. He can also receive some heavenly materials beneficial for cultivation! If one can reach the level of a commander, they would instantly become wealthy, even receiving high-grade cultivation pills.

These expenses, of course, are covered by the empire for military personnel in the imperial army, but Hu Changqing and his ilk belong to the private army of the city lord, so all expenses are the responsibility of the city lord!

From a single leaf, one can know the season. Seeing the luxury of this squad leader's residence, Yun Mo could not even imagine how wealthy the city lord must be.

If the city lord is like this, then what about those powerful figures who rule the world, the imperial retainers, and the top sects? Thinking of these, Yun Mo felt his blood boil!

But now is not the time to let his thoughts wander; he must focus on the task at hand!

Yun Mo thought to himself, gathered his thoughts, and moved silently along the shadows by the wall, not even stirring the air as he moved, clearly being extremely cautious.

As he was moving forward, Yun Mo's ears twitched, and he quickly hid in a dark corner, holding his breath.

A moment later, four beautiful young maids in white servant attire appeared around the corner, carrying various fruits, pastries, and tea, their steps disordered and extremely panicked.

This area belonged to Hu Changqing's residence, where his family and his parents were settled. The guards were not allowed to enter, so these young maids were the ones who did the work!

These young maids, in the prime of their youth, should have been as radiant as spring flowers, but these few had worried expressions. One of them, a petite and beautiful girl, had a noticeable red swelling on her left cheek, and blood dripped from the corner of her mouth onto the carpet in the corridor. A closer look revealed that she had been slapped!

Her eyes, filled with tears, were brimming with委屈 (grievance). She softly sobbed to the older sisters in front of her, "Captain Hu must have had some problem today. He hit me so badly, I hate him so much! This woman-beating scoundrel, why doesn't he just die?"

A small hand quickly covered the girl's mouth. It turned out that the older maid, with her hair in a double bun, had covered the mouth of the complaining maid and whispered, "Xiao He, you know very well that Captain Hu has always wanted to take you as a concubine! But his wife is too powerful, so you didn't agree. This time, I think he was just holding in his anger and found an outlet in you! Men are all the same; they want what they can't have! He has no backbone and wouldn't dare to make such a request to his wife. I think you should find a way to leave this place as soon as possible. I'm afraid if he loses control, he might ruin you, and what can we do then?"

The other two also nodded in agreement! Today, when Xiao He was serving the injured Hu Changqing, she accidentally spilled some tea, and Hu Changqing slapped her so hard that blood spurted from her nose and mouth. The other maids quickly begged for mercy, and Hu Changqing, after cursing, finally drove them out.

Xiao He had always been very favored by Hu Changqing, but today's incident made her realize that he would never have the courage to take her in! This slap also made her understand Hu Changqing's fickle nature. Hearing the analysis from her sisters, Xiao He instantly decided to leave.

Although the Purple Wisteria Empire has a strict hierarchy, the nobles would never force civilian women to comply, as that would make everyone look down on them! In this regard, women in this world still have some autonomy! Their marriages must be decided by themselves, and parents and elders have no right to interfere, which is more enlightened than the feudal society Yun Mo remembered from his previous life!

Moreover, although Hu Changqing is a squad leader, he is not considered a person of high status. Without reaching the peak of Heavenly Punishment, a civilian cannot be ennobled as a low-ranking noble in the Purple Wisteria Empire! At best, he is a reserve noble, just a step above a civilian. Therefore, if Xiao He wants to leave, Hu Changqing has no right to forcibly keep her.

"I'll listen to my sisters. I'll find a civilian man in the future. Being a civilian's wife is better than being a concubine to a woman-beating scoundrel!"

"That's right. Don't be sad. We'll leave together in a few days!"

With these words, the maids gradually moved away.

Beating women? Yun Mo spat inwardly, feeling extremely disdainful towards Hu Changqing.

Of course, he understood why Hu Changqing had lost control today.

Last night, he failed in his assassination attempt, and instead of finding his target, he was severely injured by Ying Ying's protective artifact. Frustrated, he had long coveted Xiao He but was deterred by his wife's dominance. The combination of these frustrations made him lose control and hit the maid he could see but not touch!

Hmph, Yun Mo sneered. He then darted out of his hiding place and used his skill to absorb the blood droplets from Xiao He's mouth into his body!

A few moments later, a black-clad 'Xiao He' emerged from the corner. Yun Mo had no time to get a servant's uniform, but fortunately, he had a large practice suit in his bag, which barely fit Xiao He's petite figure. She now carried a strange bundle on her back and moved gracefully towards the bedroom of the building!

For Yun Mo, who was skilled in architecture, determining the location of the main bedroom was a piece of cake!

On the way, he encountered a dozen maids, who greeted Xiao He warmly. They were curious about her strange attire but did not ask. Yun Mo, disguised as a maid, casually replied and came to a red door, where he lightly knocked three times.

"Come in!" a listless voice came from inside.

Xiao He's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Yun Mo, of course, recognized the voice; it was undoubtedly the assassin who had attacked him and Ying Ying last night!

A cruel smile appeared on his lips. He then gently opened the door and silently entered.

Hu Changqing was slumped on the bed, feeling extremely frustrated! He had been in a bad mood and had accidentally hit Xiao He, whom he had long wanted to take in. It was a huge mistake!

Xiao He was graceful and affectionate, in the prime of her youth. Hu Changqing had been eyeing her for a long time, but he knew his wife would never agree to taking a concubine. He couldn't force her either. Once, he had hinted to Xiao He that if she would be with him, he would give her a lot of gold, but she immediately refused, saying she wanted at least some status. This was something Hu Changqing couldn't give her, so he was quite dissatisfied with her refusal. Last night's failed mission and the encounter with Miss Ying Ying had left him terrified, and the accumulated anger led him to hit Xiao He when she made a mistake. Now, he was feeling regretful and self-pitying.

But now, seeing Xiao He open the door, Hu Changqing was startled, unsure of her intentions in this strange attire. He was afraid she might have told his wife, which would be disastrous for him.

So, he decided to comfort the wronged maid.

Xiao He closed the door and slowly walked to the surprised Hu Changqing, looking at him with a complex expression, as if trying to see through his heart.

Hu Changqing was shocked, not knowing what had gotten into the girl or why she was carrying a bundle. He subconsciously touched his face and said softly, "I didn't mean to hit you. I had some difficult matters to deal with, so I was a bit out of sorts. Don't take it to heart!"

As he spoke, Hu Changqing took Xiao He's hand and stroked it comfortingly.

Yun Mo's skin crawled! He wanted to kill this guy on the spot but knew that Hu Changqing, despite being injured, was still a Sixth Rank of Heavenly Protection and not easily defeated. So, he endured the disgust and let Hu Changqing touch him.

Hu Changqing was overjoyed. He took advantage of the situation, grabbed Xiao He's waist, and pulled her into his arms, feeling elated. He thought, "This little girl finally gave in. I didn't expect a slap to have such an effect, what a pleasant surprise!"

"I want ten thousand gold coins!" Yun Mo said softly.

"Deal!" Hu Changqing felt relieved, knowing that Xiao He had finally come around. Ten thousand gold coins was a lot, but he could earn it back in two months. It was worth it for this woman he had long desired.

"I'm still a virgin, so I want it now, or I'll leave immediately!"

Yun Mo forced himself to say this, suppressing his disgust.

Hu Changqing was taken aback, thinking, "You changed your mind so quickly, now you only care about money? Well, this way, we both get what we want, and I don't have to worry about my wife finding out!"

"Alright!" Hu Changqing released his arms and turned to reach for a hidden compartment under the bed!

Xiao He's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "A good opportunity!" he thought. The dagger coated with a paralyzing poison was silently drawn by Yun Mo and swiftly stabbed into Hu Changqing's thigh as he turned, unsuspecting.

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(End of the chapter)