Swindler in Action (4)

The masked teen slowly walked towards Su Xuan like a predator homing in on its prey. He roughly gripped her chin and tilted her head upwards. "You have a pretty face and average body. From your files, we know your mother was a dancer, and you inherited her talent. After her death, dance wasn't paying well enough so you sold yourself to Winter Pavilion to pay for her funeral. I think you can fetch a good price at the Spring Palace. 

"Your monetary issues will be solved if you work there and you can pay back what you owe me. I'll even give you a discount: ten percent interest for the IOU option that you'll be taking instead of twenty percent. And since you like seducing men with power, money and status so much, I think this job will suit you better. Isn't this a generous offer?" 

The six other people in the room nearly spat blood again. Generous?! The Spring Palace was exactly what its name implied: a place that sold the company of women in the form of tea and chat and arts. But what really happened behind closed doors? It could be a high classed brothel for all everybody knew.

It was a widely known fact that Winter Pavilion's Master hated women approaching or touching him. What Su Xuan did earlier had seriously angered the Pavilion Master, hence this harsh punishment. If Su Xuan was sold to Spring Palace, her life and reputation was basically over.

"You can't do this to me, I didn't do anything wrong! I'll tell everyone what you did and drag you down with me!"

The teen laughed at Su Xuan's deranged state. "Resorting to petty threats? When did I say I would sell you to Spring Palace?"

Su Xuan suddenly jerked her head, hope filling her eyes once again. 'Could it be he was just scaring me? Yes, this has to be it. It's all empty talk... He has to watch out for the pavilion's reputation.' 

Even though Su Xuan  was convincing herself that, a small part of her still thought that was impossible. She shook off that feeling. 'He won't sell me. No. Definitely not.'

But the teen's next words shattered all her hopes and fantasies. "It's your choice. I gave you three options: be beaten– Manager Song, how many times was it again?"

Manager Song swallowed with difficulty as he checked his pocket notebook and announced, "One thousand beatings in total for lying, rule-breaking, touching the Pavilion Master and threatening us."

Inwardly, Manager Song winced at the large number. Even a grown man with high cultivation like himself wouldn't be able to escape unscathed.

"Right, what he said," the teen waved his hand in the general direction of Manager Song without taking his eyes off the sobbing servant. "Option two is to pay back everything you owe Winter Pavilion, and don't forget the IOU interest. 

"Option three is to work at Spring Palace to settle your debt. Again, with added interest, unless you're able to earn one million, six-hundred and twenty-four thousand, five-hundred and thirty four silver taels in one month, in which case it is impossible."

The teen leaned back in his chair and tasted a cookie, speaking as he chewed. "As you can see, nobody is forcing you. You should thank me for giving you so many choices, but like I said, I'm a considerate person. I'll gladly accept the thanks. You're welcome!"

This was the third time. The four guards quietly slunk out of the room for fear of internal damage from all the blood they nearly spewed out; Manager Song choked on his own saliva and began praying that the Pavilion Master's mood wouldn't worsen.

Su Xuan spat out blood for real, but the teen poured himself a cup of tea and threatened, "If you haven't made a decision by the time I finish this tea, I will assume you choose all three options. Silence is a sign of agreement after all. Also, who made these cookies? They're too sweet. I prefer the lemon ones."

Manager Song quickly said, "I will inform the chefs, Pavilion Master."

In the end, Su Xuan glared at the teen with all the hate of a hundred women scorned. "I'll go to Spring Palace, but once my debt is settled, I'll never let Winter Pavilion go!"

The teen put down his cup when a knock sounded outside. A woman in a pink dress greeted him politely and said, "My mistress received a message that Pavilion Master has an offer for her and has sent me to settle it."

The teen gestured at Su Xuan. "How much is she worth?"

"It's a good thing those lashes won't leave scars. I'd say about six thousand."

"Ten. She's a dancer, and is good at acting delicate and innocent, too."

Behind him, Manager Song had a coughing fit and spat out his tea. 

"We have other girls who can do that. Seven thousand."

"Eighty five hundred is my final offer. She's not like your fussy girls who nitpick every customer they accompany. She'll take anyone so long as they pay in full."

"Deal. I'll take her with me now." The woman tossed an outer robe at Su Xuan and left the room. Before the door fully shut, the teen saw Su Xuan's hate filled eyes. 

He said, "Send someone to monitor her. Who knows if she might really be able to latch onto a big thigh and threaten us one day."

"I've already arranged for someone to apply for a job at Spring Palace." Manager Song said while shuddering. Pavilion Master was too scary. Su Xuan had been driven half crazy by him with her extreme changes of emotion. 

The teen nodded approvingly. "Don't let this matter leak, but use it to reevaluate all the workers, especially the men with ties to Su Xuan. I'll leave now and if all goes well, I'll be back next month as usual."

When Manager Song left the room, the teen moved over to a large painting and swiped his hand over it as if checking for dust. That action caused the surface of the painting to ripple, and a dazzling white light enveloped the teen. Then, he walked into the painting.

It wasn't a painting, though. It was a portal to Mortal Realm.