The old man was invigorated, his eyes sparking with energy, he was none other than the well-seasoned Elder Sun of Mianshui County, also known as Leader Sun of the Shunfeng Escort Agency.
As Leader Sun entered the room, Zhou Chu followed him and gave Chen Jie a look as if to say, "Brother, Iâm here to support you."
Chen Jie nodded slightly as Leader Sun approached, and said to the front courtyard madam, "With my humble influence, may I ask the madam to show some leniency? As for the required Silver Taels, my Shunfeng Escort Agency can take care of it."
Upon seeing Leader Sun, the corners of the madamâs mouth slightly raised, she quickly followed by saying, "Leader, itâs not that I donât want to give you face, but there are rules that I simply cannot break. Please donât take offense."
"However, since Leader Sun has come all this way, I cannot let him return empty-handed. Todayâs expenses on Leader Sunâs account are on me, please donât make things difficult for me."
Sun Buâer frowned and said, "You would deny even my face?"
The madam replied, "Itâs not about denying you face, itâs that I canât afford to give it!"
"Yihong House has been running for twenty years and no one has ever redeemed anyone. While Leader Sunâs influence spans the four seas, a twenty-year tradition isnât simply overturned by his word alone."
In other words, even Sun Buâerâs influence isnât enough.
Sun Buâerâs expression darkened slightly, but just then, another voice rang out from outside.
"If Leader Sunâs influence isnât enough, how about adding mine?"
At those words, everyone turned towards the doorway and saw Peng Shizhong arriving with Feng Xuan, Peng Fu and the Twelve Eagle Guards.
The moment Peng Shizhong appeared, everyone exclaimed in surprise, never expecting such an important figure to show up here today.
"My God, Peng Shizhong has arrived."
"Holy shit, itâs true, Peng Shizhong really came. Chen Jiusi actually managed to invite him!"
"Yeah, now Yihong House is in trouble!"
The crowd around gasped in astonishment; after all, Peng Shizhong wasnât just anyone like Sun Buâer. Sunâs influence was gained through relationships, but Peng Shizhongâs was pure power.
The Mianshui Thirteen Grand Protectors were not just empty titles; each one carried a significant weight with them.
With Peng Shizhong entering the scene, the situation became all the more complicated.
Upon seeing Peng Shizhong, Chen Jie immediately greeted him with respect, "Adoptive father."
Peng Shizhong replied, "Hmm, itâs nothing."
After speaking, Peng Shizhong stepped in front of Chen Jie, as if to say, "No big deal, your adoptive father will handle it."
Meanwhile, inside the building, while drinking, the County Lord Tang Wannian glanced at his guard who said, "County Lord, Peng Shizhong has arrived."
Tang Wannian squinted his eyes and murmured, "Hm, not surprising. Peng Shizhong is known for his protectiveness, but just him alone canât take people away. If it were so that a single Grand Protector could remove someone, there wouldnât have been any unredeemed people over the years."
The County Lord continued drinking as a commotion started outside. Peng Shizhong looked at the front courtyard madam and asked, "Iâm here; can I take the person away now?"
Peng Shizhongâs tone was far from polite, showing little respect for Mianshuiâs top-ranked establishment. After all, as one of the Thirteen Grand Protectors, even seeing the County Lord wouldnât make him flinch, much less a madam.
But the front courtyard madam seemed overwhelmed by Peng Shizhongâs demeanor.
Just as she took a step back, uncertain about how to respond, suddenly a voice came from upstairs.
A window was pushed open, revealing a woman dressed in purple with a veil covering her face, with two stunningly beautiful women standing behind her; the guests below instantly exclaimed, "Itâs Chun and Xia!"
Indeed, these were two of Yihong Houseâs most famous Four Great Courtesans, Chun and Xia.
At that moment, they willingly played second fiddle, standing behind the veiled woman.
Amid the support of the two courtesans, this veiled woman in purple exuded an ethereal beauty. Though her face was unclear, her figure alone was breathtakingly stunning.
The woman stood at the window, listening to the noise outside and laughingly said, "Hall Master Peng, youâre a well-known hero, coming to my small place and bullying a group of weak women, wouldnât that be laughable?"
Peng Shizhong looked up and replied, "Heh, Qiao Hongyan is hardly a weak woman."
The woman chuckled, "Just trying to make a living here, Hall Master Peng, please donât mock me."
Peng Shizhong responded, "Heh, Mianshuiâs top house is no jest, indeed Qiao Hongyanâs fame is well-deserved, but I wonder if Qiao Hongyan could do me a favor today and release my adoptive sonâs sister?"
"Hall Master Peng, you put me in a difficult position by asking that. Strictly speaking, since you are here, I should show some grace."
"But rules are rules and cannot be changed. However, rest assured, since your adoptive sonâs sister holds a status, we wonât force her to entertain guests. Weâll just keep her housed here at Yihong House, preserving White Tiger Hallâs reputation without breaking our rules. How does that sound?"
Hearing this, Peng Shizhong glanced at Chen Jie.
Chen Jie remained silent, his discontent quite apparent.
Peng Shizhong thought for a moment and replied, "Perhaps we shouldnât trouble Yihong House any further. My adoptive son still has money for fostering a sister."
Upon hearing that, Qiao Hongyan responded, "Hall Master Peng, Iâve already compromised. If you canât agree, then thereâs nothing I can do. The rules canât be changed, no one can leave today."
"What if I forcibly take her?"
Hearing this, the woman laughed, "Hall Master Peng, youâre welcome to try."
With those words, the woman astonishingly leapt directly out of the window, and like a butterfly, swiftly descended the stairs in just two bounds, a blast of fragrance wafting throughout the venue.