"Well, you seem to be very well-informed," Gu Changqing remarked with a strange expression.
If it were said that Xiao Yan had jumped off the cliff to retrieve the ring he had thrown away, no one would believe it now.
People were more inclined to believe that Xiao Yan had committed suicide out of shame after failing to meet Nalan Yanran's request to cancel the engagement.
In short, Xiao Yan's reputation had taken a significant hit.
"I thought that guy was supposed to be impressive. Turns out he's just such a coward," Nalan Yanran said, pouting and mumbling unhappily.
Seeing Xiao Yan's furious reaction that day, she had been worried about how he might retaliate.
She hadn't expected him to run off and jump off a cliff instead.
.
.
.
"Oba Tuo, go up and break Gu Changqing's legs. This year, our Mo family and your Oba family's human trafficking and organ trading cooperation will give you a 30% profit!"
As Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran walked along the street, Mo Li, who had returned to Wutan City after originally leaving, was now in a room on a charming balcony, holding two scantily clad women. He glared coldly at a young man beside him and gave the order.
The young man, in his early twenties, was tall and robust with a fierce presence. Most notably, he wore a badge with four golden stars on his chest, indicating that he was a four-star Dou Fighter!
From Mo Li's words, it was clear that this man was a formal member of the Oba family, one of the three great families of Wutan City.
The Mo family was one of the four great families in the northeast province of the Jiama Empire. They had long dominated the northeast region, being a significant power just below the Nalan family, the Mitter family, and the Mu family, though they were not far behind.
The strongest member of the Mo family, Mo Cheng, was a Dou Wang expert who had once joined the Yun Lanzong. Backed by the Yun Lanzong, many forces were reluctant to offend them.
The Mo family's ancestors included a pharmacist who was more interested in organ transplantation and talent research than traditional medicine, which made the Mo family a major player in human trafficking and organ trading in the Jiama Empire.
The Oba family mainly operated underground casinos and brothels in Wutan City and thus had numerous business dealings with the Mo family.
"Young Master Mo, there are still Miss Nalan. We're worried…"
Oba Tuo showed concern. Given Nalan Yanran's status, offending her could mean the end of the Oba family.
"What are you worried about? Just have your Oba family's guards stop Nalan Yanran and prevent her from helping Gu Changqing. As long as Gu Changqing is dealt with, any issues that arise, I'll take responsibility!" Mo Li said coldly, glaring at Oba Tuo.
"Yes! Young Master Mo, we'll bring you good news soon!"
With that, Oba Tuo and his guards rushed towards the direction of Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran.
Bang!
"Catch her, grab that woman! Since she's been sold to our Miaoxiang Building, she should behave. How dare she try to escape! Catch her and execute her in public!"
"Help! Someone help me! I'll serve you for the rest of my life!"
"This young master, this young lady, please save me! I'll serve you faithfully for life!"
While Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran were strolling through the street, a commotion broke out ahead. A disheveled woman ran toward them, pursued by a group of rough-looking men.
In an instant, the fleeing woman reached Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran. Seeing people ahead, the woman seemed to have found her saviors and ran joyfully toward them.
Nalan Yanran frowned, instinctively wanting to step in.
Gu Changqing, however, pulled her aside, letting the woman and her pursuers pass.
Though surprised, Nalan Yanran followed Gu Changqing's lead and stepped aside.
But the woman seemed to be fixed on them. After a brief pause, she charged toward them again.
Thud!
"This young master, this young lady, please save me! I don't want to become a courtesan. I don't want to serve those unfamiliar men. Please save me, I'm willing to serve you for life!"
Thud, thud, thud!
The woman frantically kowtowed to Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran, hitting her head so hard that it bled. Her plight was pitiful to the extreme.
"Brother Chanqing, she—"
Nalan Yanran showed a look of sympathy. Though such occurrences were common in the Dou Qi Continent and were difficult to address, seeing a fellow woman in such distress stirred her compassion.
"Shameless! How dare you make a scene! Drag her back and beat her to death in public! Today, let everyone see what happens to those who betray Miaoxiang Building!"
The rough men from Miaoxiang Building quickly arrived and, grabbing the woman by the hair, rudely dragged her away.
"Stop!"
Seeing the woman being dragged and nearly having her scalp torn off, Nalan Yanran could no longer bear to watch. She stepped forward and shouted angrily.
"Hmm? Miss, I advise you not to meddle. This is a private matter of Miaoxiang Building and not something for others to interfere in!"
A fierce-looking man stepped forward, his eyes scanning Nalan Yanran's graceful figure with a hint of lewdness as he spoke coldly.
"Let her go! How much is her ransom? I'll pay for her!"
Nalan Yanran's eyes flashed with disdain as she stepped forward and addressed the burly men holding the woman.
"Oh, so someone wants to pay her ransom? Fine, she's our top courtesan. We've invested a lot in her, so the ransom is twenty to thirty thousand gold coins. If you can come up with twenty thousand gold coins, you can take her away!"
The fierce-looking man walked up to the woman, roughly grabbing her by the hair and lifting her up as if she were a sack of goods. He smiled at Nalan Yanran and said.
"Twenty thousand gold coins? You're robbing people!"
Nalan Yanran was furious. For a brothel woman, the ransom would typically be a few thousand gold coins, and even ten thousand was rare. Twenty thousand was a sky-high price.
"Heh, don't make trouble and tarnish the reputation of Miaoxiang Building. Twenty thousand gold coins is the fixed price. Pay up or get lost. I don't have time to play with you."
The fierce man continued to drag the bloody woman away.
"Stop!"
Seeing that reasoning was futile, Nalan Yanran decided to act. With a clang of metal, a blue longsword appeared in her hand, aimed directly at the fierce man.