Chapter 124: The Twelve Profound Immortals, Jinxuanzi

Outside the private chamber, a crowd of onlookers had gathered to watch the spectacle. Bi Yue and Xiu Hua, the two women who had suddenly realized their guest had vanished from their room, hurriedly dressed and stepped outside. Upon hearing the commotion, they stood frozen in surprise. The madam of the Yihong Pavilion, who had rushed over with a group of lackeys intending to throw out the troublemakers, felt her legs turn to jelly the moment she heard what Baili Mo said; she stood trembling, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

"Nan... Nanxuan Sect? Master Jinxuanzi?" Zhao Wenshang, standing before him, felt his knees knock together. He stammered, "You... you are the disciple of the Twelve Immortals’ Master Jinxuanzi?"

"Was I not clear enough?" Baili Mo asked, looking with confusion at the man shivering before him.

"Clear! Perfectly clear! Immortal, it was my ignorance that led to this offense. Please, I beg you, do not hold it against me. It will never happen again!" Zhao Wenshang collapsed to his knees with a loud thud, begging Baili Mo incessantly.

Baili Mo was somewhat bewildered by the reaction, but he understood that some things could not be forgiven. Based on what he had been told, there was no telling how many others had suffered at this man's hands.

*My master once said that those who walk the path of cultivation must act with chivalry and justice! When you see injustice, you must roar! When it is time to act, you must strike!*

...Wait? Did Master actually say that? Oh well, living alone in the mountains has made me strange. I must have read too many of the novels the Junior Sister brought up from the mountain after she left.

"Death may be spared, but punishment is unavoidable! What must be severed shall be severed!" Baili Mo said coldly. The memory of the young woman behind him, weeping like rain, fueled his righteous indignation.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together, and a wisp of spiritual energy suddenly manifested between them, sharp as a blade. With a swift motion, he flicked his hand, and a visible edge of spiritual energy flew straight toward Zhao Wenshang’s lower body.

A shriek followed—a wail so miserable it sounded as if the man had lost both his parents. Zhao Wenshang clutched his groin tightly as blood began to drip, waves of agonizing pain crashing over him.

He was no longer a man.

"Take this as a warning! If I ever hear that you are using your family’s influence to commit atrocities again, even if I have to descend from the mountain, I will come back to take your miserable life!" A flash of sharp severity crossed Baili Mo’s eyes.

"Ha... yes, yes!" Zhao Wenshang forced a smile through his pain, though the resentment in his eyes could not be hidden. Baili Mo frowned, wondering if letting him go was the right choice.

Staggering and reeling, Zhao Wenshang forced himself up. He left the Yihong Pavilion with a lonely, desolate silhouette and a trace of lingering malice, while the other patrons dared not even breathe loudly. Neither Zhao Wenshang, son of Zhao Yuan, nor this incredibly young man was someone they could afford to provoke.

The madam swallowed hard, her eyes wide as she approached the youth. "Are... are you truly an immortal from the Nanxuan Immortal Mountain?"

"Nanxuan Immortal Mountain? You must mean the Nanxuan Mountain that’s missing a few trees. I did indeed come down from there," Baili Mo replied nonchalantly.

He then turned and walked over to Lu Qinglian. He offered a smile—bright, warm, and sincere—causing all the women nearby to glance his way. His appearance, already like that of a celestial being, combined with such an approachable smile, left the other women feeling faint. Had they not been wary of his status, they might have swarmed him instantly.

"Well, Lianhua, the matter is resolved. How did I do?" Baili Mo asked with a gentle smile. The lofty immortal from moments ago now seemed like a shy boy from next door.

"Pfft... hahaha!" Lu Qinglian burst into laughter. It was a reckless, unrestrained, and lighthearted sound. Perhaps this was the first time she had laughed so freely since she began earning her living in this brothel.

Baili Mo did not speak, merely smiling softly along with her. The dim light filtering into the small chamber created a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.

*Goodness, a truly important person has arrived,* the madam thought, her small eyes darting around. She could not let such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip through her fingers. The Nanxuan Sect was the premier power of the Southern Province in the Heavenly Domain, and Jinxuanzi was one of the twelve immortals—a true titan.

Although this boy seemed a bit dim and inexperienced, he clearly cared deeply for Lianhua; it was likely love at first sight. She had to seize this chance to make the Yihong Pavilion rise to new heights.

"Scatter! Everyone, get lost! Back to work! What are you looking at? Girls, take your guests and go enjoy yourselves!" The madam suddenly saw the path forward clearly. She hurried to shoo the others away—if she didn't leave space for this young couple now, when would she?

The madam then bustled over, ushering Baili Mo and Lu Qinglian into a much finer private chamber without another word.

As he left, Baili Mo felt he had forgotten something, but he couldn't quite place it. Seeing the boy’s dazed expression, the madam sighed deeply. It was clear her two top attractions had failed. She glanced back to see Bi Yue and Xiu Hua pouting with resentment and bitterness. They were likely regretting not being bolder; if they had managed to cling to the Nanxuan Sect, would they still have to endure the whims of others?

To have such a prize slip through their fingers—how could they not be furious?

In the new chamber, sandalwood incense drifted in the air. The room was antique and much larger than the others. Only the two of them remained. Lu Qinglian looked up, lost in thought, while Baili Mo beamed at her. For some reason, he felt wonderful; if he could, he wouldn't mind if this moment lasted forever.

"Fool," Lu Qinglian said after a long silence, looking at him.

"Do you know that by offending the Zhao estate this way, you might face trouble from your master?" she asked softly.

"My master says a gentleman has things he must do and things he must not. If one watches others being bullied and remains indifferent, acting like a coward and standing by, that is when the real trouble begins," Baili Mo replied naturally.

"That is true. And it is the Nanxuan Sect, the greatest sect in the Southern Province. I doubt the Zhao estate would dare go there to complain and make a fool of themselves," Lu Qinglian said quietly, though a trace of worry remained between her brows.

"What is it, Lianhua? Are you afraid the Zhao estate will cause trouble for you?" Baili Mo asked, noticing her expression.

"No one calls a woman by her nickname the moment they meet. How rude," she said with a hint of feigned grievance, though the slight upturn of her lips showed she was in a good mood. She added, "Because of you, Zhao Wenshang shouldn't dare to do anything to me."

Though Baili Mo was a bit naive, he sensed that if he had truly changed how he addressed her, the girl before him would have been genuinely upset. It was a man’s intuition regarding a woman.

"No, I shouldn't have been so merciful. What if something happens to you?" Baili Mo felt uneasy at the thought of the malicious look Zhao Wenshang had worn when he left.

"Why? We only met today, and you are already thinking of me like this?" Lu Qinglian smiled gently.

"I, I, I was just..." Baili Mo stammered, repeating "I" several times without finishing his sentence. His face turned bright red, prompting another bout of laughter from Lu Qinglian.

Baili Mo watched her quietly, feeling that this was the most beautiful thing in the world. He didn't know if this counted as a vow, but he truly wanted to protect her—to protect this girl.

Innocent and unaware, perhaps this was the most beautiful form of love.

As the sun set, lazy rays of light pierced through the window paper, bathing the floor in warmth. Inside the chamber, laughter continued—cozy and bright.

Outside, the madam heard the faint sounds of laughter and was very satisfied with the situation. As she listened, she began "counseling" her two top girls. Those two were truly devastated; they had already taken off their clothes, yet the man had ignored them entirely to go to the next room to see another girl.

*Hmph. That is just how men are.*