Everyone was on the ground, rolling and clutching one part of their body or another, groaning in pain, while Chang’e stared in bewilderment.

The neighbors were quite flabbergasted, but they soon erupted into applause.

"Serves them right!"

"Someone needed to teach these hooligans a lesson!"

"Run back to your dens, gutter rats!"

The people hurled curses at them as the gang scrambled around, helping themselves and their leader up before limping away.

"Yuen Chang’e, you and that stranger with a pig face — this is not the end!"

Chang’e smacked her teeth and moved forward threateningly, as if she intended to strike them again. The gang leader quickly staggered away in fear, and all of them broke into a run — albeit a limping one.

Chang’e bowed respectfully to the neighbors.

"Thank you everyone, thank you for coming out. It’s all ended now."

She was not unaware that they had merely come to gossip and would never have interfered if it weren’t for Shi Lan. But now was not the time to start nitpicking with her neighbors.

One of the neighbors — a middle aged woman — hurried over to Chang’e’s fence as others dispersed.

"Hia hiaa, Xia Xia’s mother, who is that handsome man there?"

Confused at first, Chang’e turned to look at Shi Lan. Truly, he looked more handsome than he had yesterday.

’Is it because his wounds are gone? No... his skin also looks more jade-like now...’

She wondered briefly before turning back to her neighbor and responding to the middle-aged woman with a polite smile.

"It’s none of your business, Chuyen’s mother."

The woman glanced at the man with envy, trying to mask her lustful gaze with feigned concern for Chang’e.

"You know, you have a husband, and that man held you tightly, you know. Whatever Xia Xia’s father might have done, he will come back, try to forgive him. And don’t dishonor your marriage by touching any man. It’s a taboo against the Will of the Heavens, I tell you, Xia Xia’s mother." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Chang’e kept a polite smile.

"That is also none of your business, Chuyen’s mother."

She touched her temple and looked up, as if remembering something.

"Ah, last I remembered, your business had something to do with that promiscuous husband of yours."

Chuyen’s mother cleared her throat and walked away in embarrassment.

Chang’e gave her a slight look of disgust as she left. Then she belatedly caught herself.

She couldn’t quite define why she had acted so out of line like that. After all, she was not one to speak harshly to people, even though she was deviously capable of it.

But Chuyen’s mother had vexed her for some reason — the way she kept eyeing Shi Lan and trying to act clever.

She turned and returned to her family with a warm smile on her face.

Until now, Xia Xia had been flabbergasted.

"Mother, you were so awesome! You were like a mighty crane! You went vooo, and whoosh, and then gave him bam!"

Chang’e couldn’t help releasing a light laugh as Xia Xia excitedly tried to demonstrate the moves.

The atmosphere was lighthearted, and even Shi Lan couldn’t help but smile. He didn’t remember being in a family this warm in his former life.

But then again, he had been a vile and ruthless being in that life. He would never have given himself the chance to enjoy a moment like this if he had not been weak as he was now.

’Perhaps this has its advantages...’

Even though Wei Shi Lan felt despondent about his situation, he saw a faint glimmer of hope and light in it.

"What are you all laughing for? This is going to turn into a big issue, you know. Fuchen and his herdsmen are the least of the Gambling Den we have to worry about. Do you even know they’re in business with the Peach Blossom Sect? What do we do if they send their Outer Court disciples?"

She glared at Wei Shi Lan.

"The trick you used just now won’t work on a cultivator. You just created more problems for us."

Xiao Fa declared this with a furious look in her eyes.

The atmosphere was suddenly poisoned the moment Xiao Fa opened her mouth. Now everyone looked melancholic.

Shi Lan sighed deeply.

’Leave it to these arrogant children to ruin the moment.’

He sat down on the bench and gathered everyone’s attention. For some reason, despite looking young, his bearing resembled that of an elderly instructor.

"This isn’t as much of an issue as you’re making it out to be. So what if they send some pathetic outer-court disciple? Besides, all of this will be over as long as we pay off the debt and I have an idea to make money."

Wei Shi Lan looked straight into Chang’e’s eyes.

"For the plan, you will have to trust me and lend me your house."

Chang’e looked a bit puzzled and uneasy.

Noticing this, Shi Lan quickly added,

"Of course, I’m not going to send you out of your house. I just need you to go out and bring customers for me."

He raised his index finger.

"Just make sure they come here once, and I will ensure they become addicted to my services, willing to pay as much money as they can to get it again."

Xia Xia beamed when she heard this.

Xiao Fa merely looked at Shi Lan as if he were an arrogant man who didn’t know what he was doing. But that was simply what she wanted to believe. She couldn’t deny the sagacious air Wei Shi Lan carried.

"But Brother Shi Lan, what service is this?"

Xiao Fa paid close attention as her mother asked.

Wei Shi Lan remained silent for a moment.

Then he lifted his eyes to Chang’e with a charming smile, making her heart hammer.

"Do you trust me?"

Chang’e carefully considered his words before responding.

She looked confused at first, but when she spoke, a stalwart resolve rose across her face.

"After what you did for us today... yes, I trust you."

Wei Shi Lan smiled in satisfaction. He stood up and walked inside, waving for Chang’e to follow him.

"Come with me. It’s better to show you."

Shi Lan paused for a moment and sternly warned the two sisters.

"No one must be allowed inside until I am done."

Then he continued walking with Chang’e hesitantly following him. Her heart still hammering.