Xu Qi'an didn't wait for Wei Yuan's reply, but instead saw the Nightwatchers arrive. Figures with powerful aura appeared on the seventh floor, and two of them were familiar faces.

Nangong Qianrou and Zhang Kaitai.

"Wei Gong, are you alright?"

A burly Nightwatcher with a purple-gold hammer in his hand scanned the surroundings with his copper bell-like eyes, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"I apologize for our negligence, Wei Gong. We failed to detect any intruders. Please forgive us."

While Zhang Kaitai spoke, he spread his spiritual power to sense any potential danger or enemies.

Gradually, the experienced Nightwatchers sensed that something was amiss. Firstly, based on their foundation in the Divine Refinement Realm, their spiritual perception would give feedback if there was any crisis nearby.

But there was none at all.

The entire Haoyi Tower was calm and peaceful, while the officials inside were in a state of panic.

Secondly, if a powerful enemy had invaded and managed to conceal themselves from their perception, then Wei Gong would not be unharmed.

Could it be true that there were hidden experts protecting Wei Gong, as the rumors said?

This speculation arose in the minds of the Nightwatchers. None of them associated it with Xu Qi'an. It was simple, really. The roar from earlier may not have meant much to the Nightwatchers in terms of his spiritual strength, but the intensity and depth of it were truly astonishing.

It was not something that a newcomer to the Divine Refinement Realm could unleash.

At this moment, they heard Nangong Qianrou ask Xu Qi'an, "Was it you causing trouble just now?"

Nangong Qianrou knew that Xu Qi'an was not an ordinary cultivator in the Divine Refinement Realm.

"What trouble? I'm not Ning Caichen..." Xu Qi'an looked at Wei Yuan and saw him nod, so he admitted frankly, "It was me. Wei Gong wanted to test the strength of my spiritual power, so I just roared casually."

There was a brief silence in the tea room.

The Nightwatchers looked at him silently, lacking any expression on their faces.

After a while, Zhang Kaitai tentatively said, "Xu Ningyan, you advanced to the Divine Refinement Realm in Yunzhou, right?"

They had learned about Xu Qi'an's advancement to the Divine Refinement Realm when Jiang Lvzhong's secret letter was sent back to the capital. Wei Gong was in a great mood when he mentioned it.

However, even so, Xu Qi'an had only advanced to the Divine Refinement Realm for a little over half a month. The intense and pure spiritual fluctuations just now should not have been something a cultivator at this stage could produce.

His talent was truly astonishing.

With this in mind, the Nightwatchers looked at Xu Qi'an as if they were examining a strange object.

"I suddenly understand why Jiang Lvzhong and Yang Yan had such a big fight over him," muttered one of the Nightwatchers.

Suddenly, it all made sense!

The gazes of the Nightwatchers became even more intense.

"Don't misunderstand..." Xu Qi'an waved his hand, "I advanced to the Divine Refinement Realm only at the last moment before death."

The Nightwatchers once again scrutinized him. After a moment of silence, they said in unison, "Wei Gong..."

Wei Yuan shook his head. "Xu Qi'an is still under Yang Yan's command. If anyone wants him, go find Yang Yan."

"It's a deal!"

Except for Nangong Qianrou, the six Nightwatchers said in unison again.

It doesn't matter to me who I serve under, but isn't Yang Nightwatcher too innocent... Xu Qi'an prayed that Yang Yan would return to the capital later, at least after the heat had died down.

Just imagine, after working hard outside to suppress rebellions and bandits, Yang Nightwatcher returned all the way to the capital, only to be greeted not with cheers, but with the fists of his colleagues. And the backstabbing from Jiang Lvzhong after learning about this.

Zhang Kaitai walked to the lookout hall and looked outside. Helplessly, he said, "The Nightwatchers and guards have gathered downstairs."

Wei Yuan said, "Disperse. You all know about this matter, but don't spread it."

"Yes!"

...

After the guards and Nightwatchers outside dispersed, Xu Qi'an leisurely drank a cup of tea before taking his leave from Haoyi Tower and returning to Chunfeng Hall.

His aunt and Xu Lingyue were sitting at the table waiting, while Xu Lingyin was curled up in her mother's arms, already asleep.

"Big brother, where did you go?" Xu Lingyue approached, her eyebrows furrowed with lingering fear. She said, "Why was there thunder just now? Mom and Lingyin were scared."

Xu Lingyue was a cunning and slightly malicious younger sister. Just now, she had been scared to the point of turning pale, but in front of her big brother, she had to maintain a perfect image.

Cleverly using her younger sister and mother.

"It's just a bolt from the blue. It happens sometimes," Xu Qi'an took out a one hundred liang silver note from his pocket and said, "The matter has been resolved. This is the compensation from the Zhao family. You don't need to worry about it anymore."

Aunt looked at the silver note, unable to believe it. "For me?"

Xu Qi'an nodded firmly. "Aunt, you have worked hard for the family. This is what you deserve. Unfortunately, there's only one hundred liang. After all, the backing behind them is not small."

Aunt took the silver note and looked at him, feeling moved. She said softly, "Ningyan, I'm just venting my frustrations. Don't take those unpleasant words to heart."

"We are family," Xu Qi'an said sincerely.

"Oh, by the way, I have something to do tonight, so I won't be coming home."

"Something?" Aunt put away the silver note and asked, "You haven't spent a day at home since you came back from Yunzhou. What's going on?"

I'm going to develop two mountains and a gorge, investing billions of gold... Xu Qi'an thought to himself.

Search tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w for the original.

"Big brother didn't come back last night, and tonight it can't be another work-related gathering," Xu Lingyue said suspiciously. With a woman's intuition, she asked, "Dad said you like to go to the Official Brothel Sector."

"Get out of here!" Aunt scolded her, "Your big brother is not that kind of person. He wouldn't go to such places."

"Then big brother, swear to me that you've never been to the Official Brothel Sector," Xu Lingyue pursed her lips, her eyes filled with stubbornness.

No, who are you, a little sister, to question me... Xu Qi'an's face turned serious as he swore, "I, Xu Qi'an, have never spent money at the Official Brothel Sector."

Xu Lingyue smiled sweetly, her eyes filled with ripples."Lingyue, you can also question Erlang like this when you go home." Xu Qi'an felt unfair in his heart and instigated, "I believe Erlang is just like me, a righteous gentleman."

"Erlang will definitely not go to the Official Brothel Sector." Auntie was full of confidence and thought to herself, when Xu Pingzhi returns home tonight, she will question him like this and see if he dares to swear.

After sending off Auntie and the sisters, Xu Qi'an planned to go back to Qingyun Hall to retrieve the gold medal, but unexpectedly, it was returned to him by someone.

"Master Xu, the Chief Catcher of the Prefectural Government's yamen, Lv Qing, requests an audience." The clerk from Chunfeng Hall came in to report.

"Bring her into the hall." Xu Qi'an turned his head and entered Chun Ge's office again.

Not long after, he heard hurried footsteps, as if chasing after something. Then, the agile female Chief Catcher crossed the threshold and entered the hall.

At the moment she saw Xu Qi'an, Lv Qing, with a delicate and beautiful face filled with surprise and excitement, suddenly froze and stared at him in confusion.

Xu Qi'an also took a long look at his long-lost friend. Her eyes were bright and spirited, her skin was wheat-colored, she had a high nose bridge, big eyes, and a small, rosy mouth. It seemed that her cultivation had advanced.

Her official authority was also stronger than before.

"Chief Catcher Lv, it's been a long time. Are you well?" Xu Qi'an smiled and stood up to greet her.

"Xu, Xu Master?" Chief Catcher Lv stared at Xu Qi'an intently.

"I took the Transcendence Pill in Yunzhou, that's how I managed to survive. But my appearance has also changed." Xu Qi'an explained.

Lv Qing nodded and forced a smile. She took out the gold medal from her bosom and said, "The catchers at the yamen told me about the private school matter. I made the decision to send Zhu, the Chief Catcher, back and personally return the gold medal to Master Xu. I also came to visit."

"I hope Master Xu can give me some face."

As she spoke, Lv Qing's delicate eyes stared at Xu Qi'an. If there was any displeasure on his face, she would quickly apologize and leave after returning the gold medal.

"The gold medal is not important." Xu Qi'an threw the gold medal on the table and smiled, "It's been a long time, let's have a drink together tonight?"

Lv Qing shook her head and politely declined, "Master Xu, I am after all a woman..."

If you were a man, what I just said would be: let's go to the Official Brothel Sector for a drink. Xu Qi'an muttered in his heart.

The two of them drank tea and chatted, forgetting about the time until the sound of the dispersal bell rang. Lv Qing suddenly came to her senses from Xu Qi'an's "beauty" and stood up, clasping her fists:

"Then this young lady will take her leave."

Xu Qi'an escorted her to the gate of the yamen and watched the graceful figure of the female Chief Catcher, unable to resist touching his chin.

"It seems like Lv Qing has some interest in me? Song Tingfeng said she has never married, although in this era she would be considered an older unmarried woman, but for me, a woman in her thirties is truly in her prime."

"Forget it, Lv Qing is a married woman, not the same as the girls from the Official Brothel Sector. The world of married women is not something you can enter and leave as you please. You have to constantly go in and out."

This is something Xu Qi'an definitely cannot do.

..........

In the evening sun, Xu Qi'an rode his horse and slowly traveled on the spacious ancient street, entering the Official Brothel Sector.

Fu Xiang was sick, infected with a cold, lying on the bed in a daze with a pale face.

When she saw Xu Qi'an coming, she was very surprised and struggled to get up.

This made Xu Bai Piao feel guilty, he held down Fu Xiang's shoulder and blamed himself, "It's my fault, I made you work too hard."

Fu Xiang's beautiful eyes half-opened and half-closed, drowsy and said softly, "The girls in the courtyard can serve Master Xu as they please, let them take care of you."

In the bedroom, the eyes of the three beautiful maidservants lit up.

Xu Qi'an shook his head and refused seriously, "Madam is suffering from a cold, how can I have the mood for pleasure? I will help you recover."

After speaking, he held Fu Xiang's wrist and transferred strands of Qi into her body.

The Qi could clear the meridians, activate vitality within the body, nourish the organs, and greatly enhance resistance. A mere cold was nothing.

"Cough cough cough..." Fu Xiang coughed violently, her pretty face turning red.

After fifteen minutes, her complexion indeed improved significantly.

"Master Xu, I feel much better now." Fu Xiang's eyes sparkled with affectionate gaze.

The three maidservants also showed joy.

Madam didn't get better even after taking medicine, but as soon as Master Xu arrived, her condition immediately improved. It feels so good to have a man to rely on.

"Rest well, I will come to see you again tomorrow." Xu Qi'an pinched her cheek and left the Shadow Plum Pavilion.

After confirming that he had left, Fu Xiang opened her eyes and whispered, "You can all leave, there's no need for anyone to stay in the room."

The three maidservants left as they were told.

The bedroom door slowly closed, and Fu Xiang's previously improved complexion quickly became bleak.

In the bedroom, a soft sigh echoed.

...........

Xu Qi'an turned his head and went to Qingchi Courtyard, where another courtesan named Ming Yan lived.

Ming Yan, a courtesan with a petite and delicate figure, a typical southern girl. After Xu Qi'an taught her the phrase "lying down, knees can touch shoulders," the two of them had a preliminary intimate relationship and shared many heartfelt words.

Ming Yan was born in the southern region and followed her father, who was promoted, to the capital during her teenage years. She thought it was the beginning of a prosperous life, but it turned out to be a shattered dream.

The following year, her father was purged for being on the wrong side and was exiled three thousand miles away, never to be heard from again. Ming Yan was also sent to the Official Brothel Sector.

"Master Xu!"

After receiving the message from the gatekeeper's servant, Ming Yan, dressed in a light blue intricate long dress and precious headpiece, adorned herself beautifully and charmingly. She was overjoyed to greet Xu Qi'an.

After seeing Xu Qi'an, her smile turned into astonishment, almost thinking that she had mistaken the person.

"A day without seeing you feels like three autumns." Xu Qi'an smiled and nodded, "Let's talk about the change in appearance later. I haven't seen Lady Ming Yan for over a month, it feels like we've been separated for three lifetimes... Ah, it turns out our love is destined for three lifetimes.""Such sweet words..." The courtesan Ming Yan's eyes moistened with surprise and delight, her smile growing even sweeter, filled with affection.

Ah, these irresponsible sweet nothings, I'm getting better and better at them... Xu Qi'an felt a pang of guilt in his heart.

But in a place like the Official Brothel Sector, only the seasoned could thrive. There was no room for straight-laced men.

Ming Yan led Xu Qi'an to a seat, her voice soft, "Why didn't Master Xu stay at the Shadow Plum Pavilion?"

As she spoke, she held a jug of wine in one hand and her sleeve in the other, pouring a cup of wine for Xu Qi'an.

"Because I missed Lady Ming Yan." Xu Qi'an answered sincerely.

Ming Yan turned her head joyfully and ordered her maid, "Close the courtyard gate, no tea party tonight."

She nestled against Xu Qi'an, lifting her bright and delicate face, gazing at him with infatuation. It had been over a month since they last met, and Xu Qi'an's appearance had changed dramatically.

If before she was attracted to his talent, now, Ming Yan was somewhat craving his body.

Xu Qi'an simply began to talk about what happened in Yunzhou:

"...At that time, eight thousand rebel soldiers besieged the Yunzhou Prefecture's office. There were people everywhere, and the governor was trapped inside, his life hanging by a thread.

"Left with no choice, I had to stand alone with a knife against the eight thousand rebels. I killed one if one came, and a pair if two came. Who else could stand against them? I think, only I, Xu Qi'an, could.

"I fought for half an hour straight, without even blinking. Finally, I held out until the reinforcements arrived."

As they talked, they moved from the hall to the bedroom, then to the bathtub, and finally rolled onto the bed.

"Master Xu, didn't you promise to let me dance for you?" Ming Yan pouted, playfully sulking.

"Then let's have a Latin dance."

In the Qingchi Courtyard, Ming Yan's bed rocked until the wee hours of the morning.

......

The next day, a refreshed Xu Qi'an left the Qingchi Courtyard and rode his horse to the palace.

From a distance, he saw the eunuch who supervised him pacing anxiously not far from the palace gate.

"Oh, the little eunuch is especially courteous today."

Xu Qi'an sat on his horse, teasing with a smile.

"Master Xu, you're finally here." The little eunuch hurried over, saying as he walked, "Something has happened, a woman's body was found in the well last night."