Zhao Huai got up, not wanting to stay in the Orchid Pavilion any longer.
"Madam, I'd like you to consider what I've said."
Zhao Huai had noticed the desolation on Rong Yan's face. He was already fifteen, at an age when the innocent feelings of a young man were just budding.
"Sir, don't be in such a hurry to leave."
"I've already said what I needed to with the madam. Staying here any longer would only cause trouble for her."
Rong Yan slowly sat down.
"I know, sir. Do you think that a woman of my age still maintaining such a complexion must be some kind of old monster?"
Zhao Huai frowned slightly but remained silent.
Rong Yan continued, "Actually, I know I'm not worthy of you, sir. I've never had such delusions. All I want is to be by your side, even if it's just as a servant girl. I'd be willing."
"Sir might think that since I've been wandering in the jianghu for most of my life, I can't possibly have true feelings. Even if I did, they must have been mostly devoured by this mottled jianghu, right?"
"I used to think so too, until I met you, sir."
"I know my status is humble and my past is sordid. I have no other intentions. I just want a trusted friend in the future. You, sir, are the first person who looked at me without mockery or admiration, treating me like an ordinary person. You didn't abandon me at that time, and I decided then that I would follow you. Even though you're still young, I'll do my best to obtain whatever you desire."
Rong Yan's words were sincere.
But Zhao Huai was no ordinary person.
He was truly cold - blooded.
He treated Rong Yan's words rationally.
Because Zhao Huai had someone he cared about and loved.
"Madam, there's really no need for you to say all this. Our relationship is just that of friends. I understand a bit about the rules of the Eastern Wilderness. With your looks and personality, you can attract countless men's admiration."
"But you, sir, are not among those men who admire me, right?"
Zhao Huai replied, "Naturally not. I have someone I care about. I'll never do anything to hurt her in my life."
Rong Yan was extremely sad. Her legs were already a bit weak.
This was the first time she had talked to Zhao Huai so much, and he had flatly rejected her.
Rong Yan knew that this fifteen - year - old boy, Zhao Huai, had extraordinary abilities. There was a mysterious power within him. Usually, he seemed like a gentle and amiable young man, but when someone encroached on his rights or hurt the people he cared about, he would show no mercy.
The boy's ambition was extremely great. Rong Yan could sense that beneath that great ambition, there was a hint of tenderness.
Although Zhao Huai had never shown that tenderness in front of her.
"I want twenty thousand gold coins."
"What?"
"I agree to sell the black market, and I'm willing to be the second - in - command. But I want twenty thousand gold coins."
Twenty thousand gold coins was an astronomical figure. But when Zhao Huai heard this, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips.
He replied, "Okay, madam. Give me a month. In a month, I'll surely present the twenty thousand gold coins intact."
Rong Yan nodded.
"I'll be waiting for you, sir."
Zhao Huai walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Not long after, Xiaoxiao, Rong Yan's personal maid, came in. She saw her mistress looking as if all her strength had been drained, leaning on the couch. Her clothes were still intact.
"Madam, how are you?"
"Xiaoxiao, help me up."
The maid stepped forward, and Rong Yan leaned on her arm and slowly stood up. She opened the window, looked at the boy's fading back, and couldn't help but sigh.
"Madam, what's wrong? Usually when the Ghost - faced Hades came, you were very happy. But this time, why are you so desolate?"
Rong Yan's smile was full of bitterness.
She turned around and said casually, "Xiaoxiao, I've sold the black market. I've sold it to him."
"Madam, the black market is something you've built up over about twenty years through various connections. It's such a powerful force. How could you just sell it like that?"
Rong Yan shook her head.
"He wants it, so of course I'll give it to him."
"Madam, did you give the black market to the Ghost - faced Hades without asking for a single cent?"
"No, I asked for twenty thousand gold coins."
Twenty thousand gold coins? Hearing this figure, Xiaoxiao couldn't help but open her mouth wide.
Did she hear it right? Twenty thousand gold coins was such a huge amount. If the madam really asked for this much, wouldn't the Ghost - faced Hades resent her?
"You also think it's a lot, right? But if I don't say so, he won't be able to let it go. He'll always feel that he owes me."
"Madam, you're asking for twenty thousand gold coins to put the Ghost - faced Hades at ease? But isn't the amount you're asking for a bit too high?"
"It is high, but he has the ability to get this money. Xiaoxiao, from now on, I'll be the second - in - command of the black market. I won't use the twenty thousand gold coins for myself. I've heard that Qingyun Country is rich in resources, and the black market hasn't been established there yet. If I can use this fund to open up the market in Qingyun Country, it will surely strengthen his power."
Rong Yan was really a very considerate madam.
She thought that even if she got the twenty thousand gold coins, she wouldn't keep them for herself. Instead, she wanted to use this money to develop a new market for Zhao Huai and expand his power.
"Madam, you've done so many things for him silently. I wonder if the Ghost - faced Hades will appreciate you."
Rong Yan fell silent.
What she wanted had never been Zhao Huai's appreciation.
But now, all she could get was his appreciation.
To help Zhao Huai calm the rumors about him in the jianghu, Rong Yan didn't know how many of her own forces she had mobilized. She completely cut off the connection between the Ghost - faced Hades and Zhao Huai, fearing that trading with the black market would have a bad influence on Zhao Huai from the sect.
Rong Yan looked into the distance and murmured, "I just hope that in the future, even if I can't be with him, I can still stay by his side. Just being able to see him is enough."
True feelings were too rare for Rong Yan.
Now that she had finally obtained this feeling, she would cherish it well and not disturb anyone.
"By the way, Xiaoxiao, how are those two people we picked up from the alley last night?"
"Back to you, madam. I passed by the room where they were resting on my way here. They're still not awake."
"Okay."
Rong Yan pushed open the door of the Orchid Pavilion and stepped out.
Her mind was full of thoughts.
Did the sir really have someone he cared about in his heart? Was he doing all this for his own ambition or for someone else?