When Zhuo Yuting heard that Yu Jiao was being redeemed, he felt as if lightning had struck him. It was as though all hope had been lost.
He quickly snapped out of his bewildered state and he felt as if a part of his heart had been ripped out from his chest. Zhuo Yuting grasped onto the woman's sleeves and asked:
"Who!? Who took Yu Jiao away!?"
"Master Zhou!" The woman tried to struggle her way out of his grip.
Zhou Yuting, in his panicked state, grasped the woman even harder. "Tell me! Who is it!?" he shouted.
"Master Zhou, you're hurting me!" the woman shouted angrily in response.
She was reluctant to reveal the truth, which made Zhou Yuting become irrationally mad and impatient. He shook his dainty body and kept shouting, "Quick! Tell me! Quickly!"
The woman felt helpless. She struggled and managed to push away Zhou Yuting's large hands to adjust her pink gown. "Master Zhou, could you please calm down?" she harshly scolded Zhou Yuting.
Zhou Yuting, taken aback, could only continue to look at her, but he had no time to question why she had a respectable grasp of martial arts. He hurriedly asked again, "Quickly tell me, who was it?"
"I don't know." The woman shook her head. "The man didn't tell us anything about his identity. He just took out a hundred thousand taels and redeemed sister Yu Jiao, moreover, she even agreed to it, too. Since the boss didn't stop her, sister Yu Jiao left with that master this afternoon."
"What did he look like!?" Zhou Yuting asked hastily.
"He had quite the impressive appearance." The woman smiled as she recalled, "He looked like a great man. Maybe that's why sister Yu Jiao agreed to leave with him without hesitation."
"Yu Jiao… Yu Jiao…" Zhou Yuting muttered repeatedly to himself. He felt as if his heart had fallen into an icy hole and his chest was being stuffed with cotton. He was almost unable to breathe.
"Master Zhou, there are sisters other than Yu Jiao. They will be able to satisfy you for sure! There's no point only looking for sister Yu Jiao! Come here, I'll bring you another sister!" the woman said.
"I only like Yu Jiao!" Zhou Yuting muttered, his soul lost and his spirit fallen.
The woman covered her mouth and smiled. "I had never thought that Master Zhou was such an infatuated seed! Sister Yu Jiao must be really happy to know that."
"Sister Yu Jiao didn't leave an address?" Zhou Yuting held out his hand in an attempt to grab her again.
The woman gently avoided it. "She sort of did leave one, but our boss won't give it to you!"
Zhou Yuting's face promptly lit up with a pleasing smile. "My great sister, please help me!"
The woman covered her mouth and smiled. "What do I get if I help you?" she asked.
Zhou Yuting took out a hundred silver from his pocket and delightfully handed it to her. "I will give this to you, my sister, to buy some candy! Help me please, I won't forget your gracious aid for sure!"
"… Very well. I shall help your helpless self, you infatuated man. I'll ask the boss." The woman took the banknote, put it in her sleeves and smiled at Zhou Yuting. She left daintily. "You shall wait for me here!"
Zhou Yuting nodded.
He felt as if his heart was being cut to pieces as soon as he thought about Yu Jiao leaving him without a trace. Zhuo Yuting had not come to terms with the fact. The moment he recalled Yu Jiao's lovely face, his love towards her bubbled up again. He wouldn't know if she was suffering or not at this very moment!
Yu Jiao was too innocent, too naive. What if the one who redeemed her was a wretched man who tortured and insulted her! What could a weak woman like her do!?
After a short moment, the woman gingerly returned. She stuffed a white piece of paper into his hand. "The deed has been done!"
"Thank you so much sister, thank you!" Zhou Yuting was extremely happy. He took the piece of paper and carefully opened it. He glanced at the address and nodded intensely. "Okay, okay!"
He gave her a closed fist salute. "I will return to thank you, my sister, until next time!"
"You're better off not causing any trouble" the woman replied. "You may be from the Public House, but that man easily forked over a hundred thousand taels. He's probably not part of the common folk either. You may not have what it takes to beat him!"
"I understand. I only want to see Yu Jiao for one last time." Zhou Yuting hurriedly nodded. "As long as she has a good life, I won't disturb her!"
"Hah…" The woman shook her head as she saw him leaving in large strides. Affection was such a wonderful and mysterious thing, so much so that it could make someone act like this.
Zhou Yuting left the New Moon Brothel in large strides. He ignored Gu Litong and quickly rushed to the address written on the piece of paper. The people who lived in the Luscious Fountain Alley were all rich, but it did not stop his determination.
Zhuo Yuting left the crowded main street and came to the Luscious Fountain Alley. He stopped in front of a residence.
He levitated into the courtyard without hesitation.
The courtyard was lit up. He saw that the door to the main hall was open. A wonderful body immediately caught his attention. Zhuo Yuting eyes widened and he started to take deeper breaths. He hurriedly rushed into the main hall.
In it was Chu Li, sitting on the armchair as he looked on at Yu Jiao dancing with his smiling eyes.
Yu Jiao had the perfect body proportions; she was tall and elegant, and her facial features were lovely. She looked weak and fragile, which compelled men to love her.
She danced gently with her elegant posture, her strict training regime shining through.
Chu Li suddenly clapped his hands and smiled. "That was great! Alright, Miss Yu Jiao, Brother Zhou Yuting is over there."
Yu Jiao turned around to have a look. She called out in surprise, "Master Zhou!"
Zhou Yuting hastily walked towards her. "Yu Jiao, what are you doing here?"
Yu Jiao jumped into his arms and raised her head. "Wasn't it you, Master Zhou, who redeemed me?"
"Me—?" Zhou Yuting was confused. He glanced at Chu Li.
Chu Li was sitting on the armchair in his green robes. He looked at them both, smiling all the while. "Chu Li, what kind of bullshit are you pulling?" Zhou Yuting asked furiously.
He was suppressing the massive wave of rage within him and was about to explode at any given moment. Chu Li had actually made Yu Jiao dance for him! He was truly a detestable man!
Chu Li smiled. "Miss Yu Jiao, would you please leave us for a moment?"
"Of course!" Yu Jiao lightly answered, and speedily left the hall.
Zhou Yuting opened his mouth to say something but did not stop her. He turned his head back around to stare angrily at Chu Li. It seemed as though Zhou Yuting had daggers for eyes, the way he was looking at him.
Chu Li held out his hand and pointed at the armchair next to him. He smiled. "Brother Zhou, come sit down. Let's have a discussion, there's no point in being so angry. I actually thought you were going to thank me?"
"Thank? You?" Zhou Yuting sneered. "Hmph!"
"I redeemed Miss Yu Jiao for you! Are you not going to thank me?" asked Chu Li.
"Yu Jiao is mine!" Zhou Yuting exclaimed.
"Of course." Chu Li smiled. "I'll take it as if you had borrowed a hundred thousand taels from me. You can take your time to return all of it."
Zhou Yuting's expression calmed down. He furrowed his brows. "Really?"
Chu Li smiled. "Since when have I not kept my word?"
Zhou Yuting observed him cautiously and scoffed, "You are trying to ask something of me, aren't you? What do you want?"
"Nothing much, really." Chu Li shook his head. "It's only a small deed to you, Brother Zhou Yuting. You can complete it very easily."
"Say it, what do you want me to do?" Zhou Yuting scoffed.
He understood that Chu Li was enticing him, but at the same time threatening him. If Zhuo Yuting did not agree with the terms, Chu Li would have taken Yu Jiao away from him.
"I just want you to be honest in front of Master Xiao." Chu Li sipped some tea as he continued, "You'll just have to talk about what Gu Litong did."
"Impossible!" Zhou Yuting firmly rejected.
Chu Li sighed. "Seems like Brother Gu Litong is far more important to you, Brother Zhou Yuting! You know what they say, women are like clothes but brothers are like your very own hands and feet!"
"Disloyal and untrustworthy." Zhou Yuting shook his head. "I won't be this kind of person!"
Chu Li broke into laughter. "Brother Zhou Yuting, how naive can you be?"
"Who said I was naive!" Zhou Yuting replied angrily. "I won't agree with it, no matter what!"
"I admire the strength of your code of brotherhood," said Chu Li, his expression somber.
Zhou Yuting sneered.
"But even so, you have to be loyal to the right people. Aren't you too naive to be loyal to a wolf?" Chu Li added.
Zhou Yuting wanted to say something, but instead met a dismissing wave from Chu Li's hand. "How about this, you try and imagine if it were Gu Litong over there right now. Do you think he'd agree?"
Zhou Yuting became speechless.
He knew Gu Litong well. He was extremely selfish, and he would have definitely agreed without any hesitation.
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