Little Han's expression turned cold as she ignored Li Qingqing's words and said indifferently, "Ever since you left me at the Feng family's doorstep, I've had nothing to do with you. Don't come looking for me again."
She had been abandoned at the Feng family when she was not even two years old.
If it weren't for the kindness of a Feng family steward, she might not have survived.
After saying this, Little Han turned to leave.
Seeing this, Li Qingqing's face filled with desperation. She pleaded, "Little sister, our parents didn't have a choice at the time. We couldn't even afford food, and that year was especially cold. You were too young and wouldn't have survived."
"That's why our parents had to send you to the Feng family. Please, I beg you, help us."
As she spoke, Li Qingqing knelt in front of Little Han, nearly kowtowing.
Little Han paused, took a deep breath, and her face showed hesitation.
She knew the situation back then,it was indeed difficult.
When she was younger, her family had occasionally visited her. During festivals, they would ask if she wanted to come home to celebrate.
However, Little Han harbored deep resentment toward her family. Why had they abandoned her at the Feng family? She had three older sisters; why was she the one discarded?
Despite her harsh words, Little Han didn't truly want her family to face disaster. If something happened to them, she'd live with guilt forever.
Turning back, Little Han spoke coldly, "Tell me, what happened?"
Seeing Little Han stop, Li Qingqing's face lit up with gratitude. She quickly explained, "A few days ago, members of the Longfang Gang captured Ying-jie and Xiu-jie, and they even injured our parents. Luckily, their injuries aren't severe, but Longfang Gang wants to force Ying-jie and Xiu-jie into working at Changhong Pavilion as courtesans. You're the only one who can save them."
Tears welled in Li Qingqing's eyes as her voice trembled with despair.
The Longfang Gang was a notorious faction in Myriad demons city , with two Level 4 experts. Apart from the Feng family, it was one of the top-ranked powers in the city.
Her family was just an ordinary mortal household. How could they possibly contend with a powerful cultivation Gang like the Longfang Gang ?
Little han's eyes sharpened, and her face flushed with anger.
"Where are Ying-jie and Xiu-jie now?"
They were her elder sisters, and though she had only met them a few times growing up, blood ties ran deep. Hearing that her sisters were being forced into such a fate ignited a fury within her.
"They're at Changhong Pavilion. It's already been two days, and I don't know what's become of them."
Li Qingqing quickly stood up, still crying, and led the way.
Soon, they arrived in front of a bustling establishment, adorned with red banners. Women stood outside, warmly inviting customers in.
Changhong Pavilion.
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Little Han strode forward, and one of the women at the entrance smiled at her. "Oh, what a beauty we have here, but this is a place for men. We don't allow women inside."
Several of the women nearby couldn't help but laugh.
Little Han face darkened. "I'm from the Feng family. Bring out your manager!"
Feng family!
The woman's smile faded, and she scrutinized little Han with suspicion before replying, "Please wait a moment."
Though she doubted Little Han's claim, the Feng family was too influential to risk offending, so she decided to report it just in case.
After all, the Feng family's reputation in Myriad demons city was formidable, and very few dared to provoke them.
Soon, five men emerged from Changhong Pavilion, led by a middle-aged man whose brow furrowed upon seeing Little Han.
"I'm Hu Huan, the deputy leader of Longfang Gang . May I ask who you are?"
"Feng family," Little Han said, taking out a token, the symbol of the Feng family.
Previously, Little Han had been just a servant, and her token was made of simple wood. However, due to Feng Yuan's influence, Little Han was now treated with greater respect, and her token had been upgraded to a silver one reserved for stewards.
A silver token!
Hu Huan's face tightened. Anyone with such a token would at least be at the Late-layer level 3.
Though he was puzzled by Little Han's youth and cultivation level, he couldn't deny the authenticity of the token. He stepped forward and bowed slightly with a smile. "Ah, a steward of the Feng family. Apologies for not recognizing you. How can I assist you?"
Though he remained respectful, Hu Huan was secretly assessing Little Han.
When did the Feng family appoint such a young female steward, and why had he never heard of her?
Despite his many doubts, no one in the Myriad demons city dared to forge the Feng family's identity, so he could only half-believe what he saw.
Little Han's voice turned cold. "I'm here to retrieve two people."
Retrieve people?
Hu Huan was thoroughly confused. What was going on?
One of the men beside Hu Huan, Gao Qiu, suddenly glanced at Li Qingqing, his expression stiffening. His eyes narrowed, and he whispered in Hu Huan's ear.
"Deputy Leader, that girl over there, she's…"
Hu Huan's eyes narrowed as he looked at Li Qingqing, then back at Little Han. His voice boomed, "How dare you forge the identity of the Feng family! Seize them both!"
The men surrounding them immediately moved to encircle Little Han and Li Qingqing.
Little Han's eyes flashed with anger, and she asked furiously, "What are you doing? Are you not afraid of offending the Feng family?"
"Offend the Feng family?" Gao Qiu sneered contemptuously. "You overestimate yourself. Do you think you can pretend to be part of the Feng family just like that?"
Turning to Li Qingqing, he added, "And you, Li Qingqing, to save your sisters, you dare impersonate a Feng family member? If the Feng family finds out, your entire family will be executed."
"If you want to save your sisters, it's simple. Just pay me a thousand spirit stones, and I'll let them go. As long as the debt is repaid, you can take them home."
Hearing this, Li Qingqing's face twisted with rage. She shouted, "Gao Qiu, my sister only borrowed fifty taels of silver to pay for our parents' medical bills, and now you want a thousand spirit stones? Where would we ever get that many spirit stones?"
In the areas surrounding Myriad demons city , many mortals still used silver and gold as currency.
Such people made up the majority of the population, nearly seventy percent of whom were ordinary mortals.
One spirit stone was worth roughly five hundred taels of silver, showing just how outrageous Gao Qiu's demand was.
It was nothing short of a predatory loan.
The women working in Changhong Pavilion couldn't help but look sorrowful when they heard Li Qingqing's words.
Most of the women there had been coerced by the Longfang Gang , forced into working as courtesans to entertain men.
A crowd began to gather, drawn by the commotion.
"The Longfang Gang is shameless, turning fifty tales of silver into a thousand spirit stones."
"This is their usual tactic. I've heard all the women in Changhong Pavilion were forced into it by them."
"What a pity. These girls are so young."
"I saw her holding a Feng family steward's token. The Longfang Gang dares to offend the Feng family?"
"Feng family? Do you really think someone that young is a steward? And she's only at the Level 1 ."
"The situation is clear. That girl's sister was taken to Changhong Pavilion, and in her desperation, she pretended to be from the Feng family to rescue her."
"That's a foolish move. If you're going to impersonate someone, at least make it believable. A Level 1 pretending to be a Feng family steward? Ridiculous."
The murmurs grew louder, and no one believed Little Han was truly a steward of the Feng family.
Gao Qiu sneered after hearing Li Qingqing's words. "If you couldn't repay the debt, why did you borrow the money in the first place?"
"I didn't force you to take out a loan, did I? It's only natural to repay what you owe. If you can't pay with spirit stones, then working at Changhong Pavilion is a fair way to settle the debt."