After Rong Yan became well - known, more and more noble guests came to Yanzge Pavilion.
The madam, as long as there was money to be made, almost accepted everyone without hesitation, completely ignoring Rong Yan's physical condition.
Even at night, she made Rong Yan serve two guests alone.
Zhao Shuning dared not imagine how humiliating those days were. However, as everyone could see, Rong Yan managed to get through it.
Moreover, on a dark and stormy night, Rong Yan drowned the madam in the lotus pond behind the brothel.
Over the years, Rong Yan had received many noble guests and accumulated quite a few connections. She held too much dirt on many people, so no one dared to touch her easily.
After the madam's death, she became the madam of the brothel.
From then on, Yanzge Pavilion was transformed into Chunhui Pavilion in the black market.
Rong Yan was financially well - off and was also a great contributor to the founding of the black market.
Now, the black market was booming and had become a coveted piece of cake in the capital of Chang'an. It was also a piece of fat that the four major families eyed jealously but could never swallow.
Rong Yan's Chunhui Pavilion had become the most prosperous building in the entire black market.
During the day, it was just an ordinary high - rise building, but at night, it was a paradise on earth.
"The madam of Chunhui Pavilion is someone no one dares to provoke. But since the arrival of that Ghost - faced Hades, after only two meetings, the madam regarded him as a bosom friend."
"Yeah, I've also heard that. Now, that man who often wears a ghost mask is the only honored guest who can enter Chunhui Pavilion without a pass."
"Not only that. The madam of Chunhui Pavilion even set aside the last room in the building. No matter when the Ghost - faced Hades comes, he has a place to stay."
As Zhao Shuning listened all the way, she became more and more curious about the Ghost - faced Hades.
What kind of person was he that could make a woman like Rong Yan, who had experienced the vicissitudes of life, be willing to pave the way for him?
So deep in thought, Zhao Shuning didn't notice a carriage speeding towards her.
It was not until she heard exclamations that she looked up and found the horse was right in front of her.
Before she could react, a hand reached around her waist and pulled her away from the carriage.
The coachman was about to scold Zhao Shuning for being careless, but when he saw the young man beside Zhao Shuning, he swallowed the curse words back.
"I was too reckless when driving the carriage. I wonder if I scared Young Master Yan?"
Yan Xun shook his head and said, "You may go."
The coachman heaved a sigh of relief and immediately drove the carriage away.
Zhao Shuning let out a sigh of relief. Although she could have avoided the danger by herself, she was still very grateful for the timely help.
"Thank you."
Yan Xun nodded.
"It's nothing. Just a piece of cake."
After saying that, Yan Xun was about to leave. He came here this time just to deliver a message from his master to the madam of the black market.
Saving this little girl was purely accidental.
Zhao Shuning quickly stepped forward and followed Yan Xun, asking, "Young Master Yan, I'd like to ask you something."
"I want to auction something. Do you know where is the most suitable place in this black market?"
Yan Xun stopped and looked back, saying, "Don't follow me."
"I just want to ask about a place. I can tell that you are very familiar with this place. Could you please show me the way?"
Looking at Zhao Shuning, Yan Xun always felt that the little girl's eyes resembled those of his master.
He raised his hand and pointed to a dark alley.
"Go through there, and you'll find what you're looking for."
Zhao Shuning quickly thanked him and then turned around and ran into the alley.
She really was a naive little girl. She shouldn't have come to a place like the black market. Moreover, she had no sense of caution at all. She didn't even suspect the place he casually pointed at and just ran there.
Yan Xun suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.
He wanted to step forward and call the little girl back.
But in a moment of distraction, the light - green figure had disappeared.
"Forget it. Those who die in the black market are usually such reckless people."
Yan Xun sighed and finally slowly left the black market.
But things were not so easy for Zhao Shuning. She thought that Yan Xun should not be a bad person, so she didn't doubt his words much.
It wasn't until she walked into a dead - end alley.
In the depths of the darkness, there was a small shop with dim lights. In front of the shop, there stood five or six big men.
Two of them were kicking and punching a little girl on the ground.
As soon as Zhao Shuning appeared, those men turned their eyes on her.
The little girl on the ground was now on the verge of death. Seeing Zhao Shuning, her hand slowly reached out and then dropped.
In the dim light, Zhao Shuning could see that the little girl's face was covered in blood and her arms were bruised.
"Save me—"
The little girl uttered these two helpless words.
The big men immediately turned their eyes on Zhao Shuning, with rather unfriendly looks.
Zhao Shuning roughly estimated that among these big men in front of her, three were fourth - level elixir masters, and two were ordinary people.
She waved her hand.
"Sorry, I took the wrong way."
Saying that, Zhao Shuning ignored the little girl's pleading eyes and walked out.
But obviously, the big men wouldn't give her this chance.
Two of them quickly flashed and blocked in front of Zhao Shuning.
"What are you doing here? Did this little girl ask you to come and save her?"
Zhao Shuning widened her eyes and said, "Come on, gentlemen. Look clearly. I'm just a child. I just took the wrong way. How could I come to save her?"
The two big men looked at each other.
They both stood still, blocking Zhao Shuning's way.
This was a narrow alley. Blocked by these two big men, Zhao Shuning had no way back.
"Save me—"
From behind came another weak cry.
Hearing this, the three big men standing beside the little girl kicked the little girl on the ground even harder.
There was a cracking sound.
The little girl's rib might have broken.
All she could do was let out painful moans. She couldn't say anything else.
"Keep your mouth shut!"
"If you're not here to save her, leave quickly. You'd better be more careful and never come into this alley again."
Saying that, the two big men returned to the front of the small shop.
Zhao Shuning was just about to leave when the sobbing sound from behind, the little girl's out - stretched and then dropped hand, and her helpless eyes kept replaying in her mind, making her stop in her tracks.
The sound of kicking and punching behind became even more violent.
"That's enough."
Hearing this, the big men looked at Zhao Shuning's back.
"Who are you talking to?"
"I'm talking to you. That's enough."
"You little bitch, you're looking for death! How dare you meddle in our business!"