You have no idea what it means for a male cultivator to lose his virginity—it ruins the very foundation of his cultivation! Cultivation with one’s body is so hard-won. Am I supposed to sacrifice myself for your family’s money?

  As his thoughts raged, Lord He on the stage suddenly froze.

  All color drained from his face. Holding the so-called “young lady’s token” with both hands, he stared at the brocade pouch as if seeing a ghost, eyes wide as brass bells.

  How could this be here? This isn’t my daughter’s!

  With a wail, Lord He broke down crying and collapsed to the ground. He pointed shakily at the pouch.

  “It’s wrong… all wrong! This isn’t my daughter’s—it’s… it’s—”

  He suddenly flung the pouch downward. It flew straight and hit a thin, monkey-faced old man right in the chest.

  The old man jolted as if electrocuted. He dashed up the stage in disbelief, snatched the token, checked it again and again, then flipped open the pouch. The next moment he erupted into wild, ecstatic laughter, jumping and cheering.

  “Hahaha! It’s my daughter’s! It’s mine! Heaven has eyes!”

  Han Jiuqiu was completely dumbfounded.

  Did I mess up again? Had I gotten nothing right since stepping foot in the Southern Dynasty?

  “Old He, don’t be sad,” Lord Hou comforted. “Maybe the kidnappers who have your daughter are still on their way. By the way—how much did you negotiate? I’ll bring the money to pick her up later.”

  So this thin, monkey-faced old man was the real grieving father, Lord Hou! He hadn’t even realized his own daughter was missing and had been happily eating at the feast. Now the news felt like a gift from heaven.

  Lord He leaned in and whispered the ransom amount into his ear—ransom sums were usually kept secret in the Southern Dynasty, to save face.

  But Lord Hou couldn’t hold it in. He shouted it out, furious and disbelieving.

  “He! Are you trying to disgrace me?! My daughter is worth far more than this! Are you mocking my family?!”

  In the Southern Dynasty, ransom size reflected family honor. Lord Hou felt the sum was insultingly low.

  One shouted, the other argued.

  From quarrel they escalated to insults, then to a full-on fight—tugging beards, shoving each other, rolling on the ground. A middle-aged brawl in full swing.

  Han Jiuqiu had already taken too many shocks. His vision went dark, his chest tight with grief and rage. Before he could react, everything went black and he fainted straight away.

  The guests finally noticed.

  “The Northern guest has passed out from drinking! Someone help! Bring iced sobering soup—quick!”

  “He couldn’t hold his liquor at all, but he’s too bold to refuse a drink!”

  They carried Han Jiuqiu back to his side room, none noticing a pair of eyes in the dark, locked coldly onto him.

  Elsewhere, Xie You was trapped at the heart of a formation.

  All the illusions around her shattered, leaving only an inn called Xian Lai built on an abandoned grave, and a steaming hot spring beside it.

  A hot spring in a graveyard—eerily unique.

  At that moment, the formation erupted!

  Thunder and fire raged down like a reversed river, mixed with freezing lightning and icy rain. The inn instantly turned to powder, stones flying, smoke choking the air.

  At the last second, Miss Qiu in her arms flapped her wings, ready to act.

  Wearing her monocle, she could see truth and yin-yang at a glance. If she could mark the formation’s eye, she could break Xie You out.

  Survive this wave, and they would be safe.

  But Xie You held her tightly, not letting even a wing show.

  “I’d rather you not burn your feathers. It would break my heart.”

  The colorful-feathered crowned phoenix’s heart warmed instantly.

  Even in mortal danger, she still cared about her feathers… To follow such a master in this life was truly a blessing.

  Miss Qiu struggled lightly, but Xie You held her firmer, pressing her small head against her neck, shielding her from the apocalyptic scene.

  “Xiao Bai,” she said to the dragon sword. “Can you take a beating?”

  The sword trembled beside her, as if jealous, letting out a low hum.

  “You only care for that fancy peacock! What about me, taking the thunder for you? No love at all?”

  “Nonsense,” Xie You patted the blade gently. “I’ll polish you extra well later.”

  In the final instant, white light exploded!

  Xiao Bai soared up, turning into a shining barrier firmly above Xie You and Miss Qiu.

  Thunder and fire crashed against the blade, making crisp, pleasant ding-ding sounds.

  For half an hour, lightning and flames lit up the night sky.

  The clear, steady clanging never stopped.