Chapter 24: Hidden Butterfly Valley

Lady Yangyi: Lady Yangyi is one of the Five Beauties in Apricot Reborn Brothel. Ultimately, she is the most famous and prettiest of them all, her talent being the zither. When she met Silang, he made her feel as if she could write her own destiny.

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Madam Qiu flew in from the second floor, holding onto the pink muslin. When she landed on her feet a couple of yards from the stage, she pulled Chun Yi and the girl finally flew away, stumbling down at her feet.

Madam Qiu was sturdy and organized. She stood tall and meaty, but not chunky like the host madam. She wore a plain red robe underneath and a gray robe on top that had buttons going off to the side. The buttons disappeared under her arm. The gray robe had a slit in the middle that came all the way up to her rib cage, exposing a red robe underneath. The grey dress was decorated with yellow lotuses at the bottom and faded as it went up her waist.

Her eyes were small and vexed, her nose slightly wider, her lips red and slightly asymmetrical. She had some wrinkles beside her lips but other than that she doesn't quite look her age. Her appearance and stature told the audience that she held authority here. Under her roof, she was the law and order.

"I don't remember your face in the book of staff." She looked down at Chun Yi with aversion. "And I don't remember hiring girls to dance either. Do you, host madam?"

The host madam ran into the spotlight at the mention of her name. She shook her head at the Head Mistress and ran off again.

When Chun Yi's girls saw that their elder sister had been caught, they stopped fighting.

Madam Qiu took a deep inhale with tiring eyes.

"I hate the most when you people create trouble in my brothel. Do you know how to take your matters elsewhere?"

The Madam turned to the Elder Brother of the Four Evil Gates Heroes from the corner of her eyes before her body followed. He lifted his chin, showing that he was not intimidated by her appearance at all. Fire boiled in Madam Qiu's eyes. She suddenly waved her hand in the air, blasting an invisible slap onto his face.

The Elder Brother had no idea what hit him. He spit up blood after receiving the discipline he never saw coming. Before he could get a hold of what just happened, another pain shot in his leg and he went down on his knee.

Silang gasped from the back, covering his mouth dramatically with a hand.

"I told you she must've known martial arts," Lady Yangyi whispered.

Kun Shang put his hands together and bowed toward the Madam. It was obvious now that she knew martial arts. She was a stubborn one at it too. "Madam, please investigate properly before bestowing punishment. You seem to be a fair person who can tell from right and wrong."

"Who are you to talk?" Madam Qiu snapped at him, then turned to Chun Yi. "Are you acquainted with this girl?"

With his head still bowed, Kun Shang blinked and lifted his eyes to meet Chun Yi's, who was getting up and dusting herself off as well as loosening the muslin around her waist.

"Madam Qiu, this has nothing to do with him." Chun Yi broke off the connection. "This is only between Hidden Butterfly Valley and the Four Evil Gates Heroes."

Madam Qiu turned her shoulders to Chun Yi, her back straight and her body not losing its posture. She examined Chun Yi's outfit and her sword. After confirming in her head, she took a deep breath.

"You're from Hidden Butterfly Valley? Hm. I'm certain you shall know very well that I run this brothel, and yet you brought your Sect problems into my house."

Chun Yi raised her elbows in front of her and clamped one hand over a fist. "Hidden Butterfly Valley does not mean to disrupt your brothel. Normally, we wouldn't come out and involve ourselves in the martial arts community, especially when many have already defined us as unorthodox. If not for an important mission my Master would not send me here."

"Oh." Madam Qiu didn't seem convinced. "And that would be?"

"Two weeks ago, the Four Evil Gates Heroes breached our Sect and stole our most valuable vial potion. I've been tracking them."

Kun Shang pointed his sword on the Elder Brother's neck who was still kneeling on the stage. He was right to trust her, then.

"It's good that you know what you should do. However, I'm starting to think that your Master didn't teach you manners. Since the Four Evil Gates Heroes are my guests, I shall not allow you to authorize your actions here. As long as he is in my house, fighting will be an unspeakable topic. If you find him somewhere else tomorrow, you can have your way. As for other matters, breaking into my brothel disguising as a dancer is worthy of punishment. This one time I'll show you mercy. Men, send the guests!"

With that, Madam Qiu turned away from Chun Yi and to the security guards who were initializing her order.

Kun Shang attempted to push through all the security guards without a fight to approach Madam Qiu. Chun Yi collected her girls while the Four Evil Gates Heroes got their Elder Brother on his feet.

"Madam Qiu--" Kun Shang exclaimed

"Young man," Madam Qiu stopped him in his tracks. "I see that you are still young and clueless to the martial arts world to realize that you've encountered a dangerous person." Kun Shang's blank eyes showed that he didn't understand what she was trying to imply, so she continued speaking. "Stay away from Hidden Butterfly Valley."

Chun Yi shot her a look, then at Kun Shang before exiting the brothel.

"Madam, I think you're mistaken." He said after Chun Yi left. "This is only the third time I've encountered them and it was by chance each time. And with all due respect, whether I make friends with them or not, or with any type of individual, is none of your concern."

"Well said." She let out one rough breath at his comeback. "What is it you want to ask me?"

Kun Shang bowed his head slightly to the elder. "Madam, I'm humble to be in your presence. I couldn't help but realize that you are such a strong martial artist. I'm searching for someone with strong elemental powers and you seem like a strong wind user. May I ask if you've always had that power, or you learned it from somewhere?"

She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. For some reason, this young man exhibited a strange aura of trust and righteousness. He was a novice in the martial arts world, not knowing what was good and what was evil and she felt the need to urge him in the right direction before he followed the wrong crowd.

"Have you heard of Western Wind Ethereal Sect? The Western Sect specializes in the techniques of the wind and the cold. However, I'm afraid it won't do you any good because they only accept females."

"That won't be the case. I just want to know if anyone in the Sect is exceptionally strong in their qi towards wind."

She gave him one more look up and down. "Of course." She rested her weight on one leg. "I can't tell you any specifics due to confidentiality of the Sect, but you can go there and check it out yourself. With that being said, I want you to keep something in mind. Hidden Butterfly Valley is an unorthodox Sect. You will regret it one day if you don't stay away from them."

Right at that moment, the host madam rushed back out of breath. "Madam! It's--it's that stupid kid again. Chen Yunhai is in the building!"

Madam Qiu glared a smoldered look up into the second floor. She quickly dismissed herself and disappeared behind the stage.