Chapter 60

Chu Li frowned and said, "There are quite a few idle people. I'll go and check it out."

"Senior Brother, is there really a problem?" Zhao Ying asked, her brows furrowed.

To her, it seemed quite normal. Chen Yin and the other women were all beautiful, and which man wouldn't be attracted to beauty? It wasn't strange to fall in love.

Chu Li shook his head and sighed, "It might not be a good thing."

"What kind of trouble?"

"There have been many cases throughout history where love turned into hate!"

"Only a few meetings, just a liking, it's not to the point of love turning into hate, right?" Zhao Ying was half-believing, half-doubting.

To her, love at first sight was just a joke, a shallow impulse.

Without knowing each other, just liking someone based on a few glances was too frivolous and irresponsible. How could someone who was so irresponsible with their feelings do something out of love turning into hate?

Chu Li said, "Better to prevent trouble before it happens. Let's go and check it out."

"Alright, you should go and take a look too." Zhao Ying smiled.

After going once when it opened, he rarely went back, seeming indifferent.

Chu Li smiled.

Actually, he was avoiding suspicion and didn't want to make the women feel awkward or bring up painful memories.

Chu Li quickly changed the subject, telling some interesting stories. Zhao Ying's attention was soon diverted, and she no longer pressed him about the servant issue.

In the evening, the city of Chongming was brightly lit.

The street where Xianyun Tavern was located was quiet but as bright as day, with lanterns hanging densely, even more splendid than during the day.

Chu Li and Li Yue strolled down this street. Li Yue looked around and praised, "What a great place, bustling yet peaceful. Who would have thought it would be so lively on the other side?"

Chu Li nodded.

The two slowly walked to the front of Xianyun Tavern.

Li Yue looked around. The exterior of Xianyun Tavern was quite ordinary, not luxurious, similar to the surrounding shops, all quiet and cold.

Chu Li lifted the curtain and entered, and immediately, the noise and coolness, mixed with a faint fragrance, hit him.

"Sir?" Chen Yin and Chen Xue's eyes lit up as they came forward.

Chu Li smiled, "Is there still a seat available?"

"By coincidence, there is one left!" Chen Yin smiled charmingly, her face radiant.

Chu Li smiled, "I'll sit with Brother Li."

"Follow me quickly!" Chen Yin and Chen Xue walked gracefully.

Their arrival didn't attract much attention, and they were soon led to an eight-person table, with the surrounding tables already full.

Li Yue smiled, "Hehe, quite lively!"

He didn't expect the inside to be a different world from the outside, completely two different places.

Chen Yin glanced at Li Yue and smiled, "Sir Li, it's always full every night."

"Brother Chu has good eyes. He can still make money in this corner." Li Yue chuckled.

Chu Li smiled, "Brother Li, order the dishes. Give me four of my favorites."

"Sure thing." Chen Yin and Chen Xue smiled and agreed. They had cooked for him in the mansion and knew his tastes and preferences.

Li Yue carefully selected six dishes from the menu.

Chen Xue left, and Chen Yin stayed by his side, smiling, "Sir, have you been busy lately?"

"Um, very busy. Ask Brother Li if you don't believe me." Chu Li pointed at Li Yue.

"… Yes, yes, yes." Li Yue chuckled, "The flowers in the garden got sick, and I've been busy treating them. Sigh…, I've been worrying a lot!"

He glared at Chu Li, not seeing what Chu Li was busy with.

"Is that so?" Chen Yin smiled, staring at Chu Li, trying to discern if he was telling the truth.

Chu Li's gaze fell on Feng Wen, who was squinting his toad-like eyes at them, his eyes flashing with cold light, full of murderous intent. Chu Li activated the Great Round Mirror Wisdom and frowned.

"Sir, that is Feng Wen, Master Feng." Chen Yin said.

Chen Xue brought the teacup and smiled as she left.

"Who is he?" Chu Li took a sip of tea.

Chen Yin said, "The son of Feng Shicai, the great hero!"

"Feng Shicai…?" Chu Li turned to look at Li Yue.

Li Yue shook his head, clearly not having heard of him.

Chen Yin smiled, "It's said that this Feng Shicai is a great hero, a famous innate expert, and has a warm heart. He is highly respected in the martial world!"

"Highly respected…" Chu Li glanced at Feng Wen, "But this Feng Wen…"

"Feng Wen has been coming every day, staring at me, but he hasn't made any inappropriate moves. Let him look." Chen Yin smiled.

"Have you investigated his character?" Chu Li asked.

Chen Yin hesitated and shook her head.

"Stay away from him." Chu Li frowned, "This guy is quite skilled in martial arts."

Chen Yin was surprised, "Feng Wen knows martial arts?"

"Postnatal perfection." Chu Li said, "He's a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"Really didn't expect that…" Chen Yin shook her head, "I thought he was just a pretentious young master who didn't know martial arts."

"He's very good at hiding himself." Chu Li said, "Be cautious, especially don't go out alone recently!"

"Would he…?" Chen Yin was surprised.

Chu Li said, "Better to be cautious."

"… Alright." Chen Yin hesitated and nodded.

She thought Chu Li was being too cautious. This Feng Wen didn't seem like a bold person. He came every day just to stare at her, and did nothing else.

Chu Li looked at her and smiled. This Feng Wen was ugly both in appearance and in heart, a twisted individual.

It was best not to provoke such a person, as once they went crazy, they might do anything.

---

The tavern closed at midnight.

Chen Yin and the others were exhausted, their bodies feeling like they were falling apart, both physically and mentally drained. Dealing with so many people, even with over twenty of them, was tiring.

"Let's go eat something good." Someone suggested.

"Sure, let's go to Baiyun Tower."

"Our cooking isn't worse than Baiyun Tower's."

"Who makes better food, us or others? We serve others all day, let's enjoy being served for a change. Let's go to Baiyun Tower!"

"Baiyun Tower is quite expensive."

"Rich girls, you've earned a lot!"

The tavern's income was divided into fifty-two shares, with Chu Li and Zhao Ying each getting one share, and each of them getting one share. Even with the daily profit divided into fifty-two shares, it wasn't small, and they all had savings.

"Alright, let's go to Baiyun Tower for a big meal!" The women giggled, ready to relax.

They left Xianyun Tavern and walked to the central street, which was still bustling. The city seemed to have no distinction between day and night, with people around at all times.

The twenty or so women, chatting and laughing, walked down the street, attracting attention. People looked at them, thinking they were courtesans from a brothel, but seeing their simple clothing and reserved demeanor, without any signs of being from the pleasure quarters, they became even more curious.

Chen Yin looked around, remembering Chu Li's warning not to go out alone. Although she didn't fully agree, she followed his advice. Chu Li's words had to be heeded, so she usually didn't go out alone.

Now, with everyone together, it should be fine. They chatted and laughed as they headed to Baiyun Tower.

Baiyun Tower was still open. When the twenty or so people arrived, they were immediately treated as honored guests, and the food and drinks were quickly served. They ate and chatted, discussing gossip.

"Do you think Sir Chu is avoiding us?" A woman took a sip of wine, her face flushed, and she asked lazily.

The lively atmosphere suddenly froze.

"No way, right?" Chen Xue shook her head. "I think Sir Chu is just avoiding suspicion, after all, men and women should be separate."

"Hmph, even if men and women should be separate, it shouldn't be to this extent, right?" Someone grumbled. "Since the tavern opened, he's been nowhere to be seen. He only showed up a couple of days ago, and just sat for a while without talking much to us."

"Hehe, he talked to Chen Yin!"

Chen Yin glared at them, "Sir Chu has done enough for us. Without his protection, how could we be so peaceful?"

"That's true." The women nodded.

They were weak women in a world of the strong preying on the weak. They were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered. Running such a large tavern without incident was only possible because of the Marquis's reputation.

"Chen Yin, are you defending Sir Chu so much because…?"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"What's wrong with liking Sir Chu? We all like him, right?"

"Ah…" The women sighed and shook their heads.

Thinking about their backgrounds, they felt sad and pitiful. They had no qualifications to be with Sir Chu.

"Maybe he thinks we're dirty…" Someone said.

"Alright, stop talking about this!" Chen Yin quickly interrupted, raising her voice, "Sir Chu is a very busy person. How can he be idle when serving in the mansion? … Everyone, hurry up and eat, and go back to rest early!"

The women lost their mood for chatting and eating, and soon finished their meal and headed back.

To return to the mansion, they had to cross two streets, which were brightly lit, like daylight. They were in low spirits, having drunk wine, and walked unsteadily, supporting each other.

As they crossed the second street, two black shadows suddenly darted out, grabbing Chen Yin and rushing away, disappearing from the women's sight in an instant.

"Ah…"

"Chen Yin—!"

The women were in chaos, screaming and calling out.

"Let's go back!" Chen Xue shouted, and they stumbled back to the mansion.

Zhao Ying was practicing swordsmanship in the front courtyard, her movements light and continuous, the sword flashing.

She was worried about them living alone and stayed there at night.

The women rushed in, talking all at once. Chen Xue shouted at them to be quiet and pulled Zhao Ying, saying, "Sister Zhao, quickly, … quickly, Chen Yin… Chen Yin was kidnapped!"

"Chen Sister was kidnapped?" Zhao Ying was stunned.

Chen Xue, red-faced from running, gasping for breath, and unable to transmit her inner strength to help, asked, "Who kidnapped her?"

"… I don't know, two masked men, they kidnapped Chen Sister and ran off!"

"… I'll go find Senior Brother!" Zhao Ying turned and disappeared in a flash.

The women's spirits were crushed, and they collapsed on the ground, feeling helpless and terrified, as if they were back in the days when they were kidnapped to the Tiger Den.

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