Chapter 34: The child has gone astray!

Jiang Luan was stunned upon hearing this. "What are we doing in a brothel?"

Images unsuitable for children immediately flooded his mind, though he reasoned that Qi Shaolin, with his impaired mental capacity, shouldn't be capable of...

Wait, was Qi Shaolin truly mentally impaired?

Jiang Luan recalled the "skilled" way the lad had pinned him down to kiss him earlier; he felt that this was not something a fool could achieve. He looked at Qi Shaolin with a suspicious expression.

Qi Shaolin, however, seemed completely oblivious, having returned to his usual foolish, happy-go-lucky self.

"It was the person who saved you, my wife, who brought us here," Qi Shaolin said.

Jiang Luan was baffled once more. What kind of savior would be so improper as to bring someone to a brothel?

Before Jiang Luan could press for details, Qi Shaolin climbed back onto the bed, looking at him with expectation. "Wife, may Lin'er continue to kiss you?"

"..."

Jiang Luan said decisively, "No!"

He must have been out of his mind to have given the fool an "opportunity" earlier!

The romantic atmosphere had left no room for rational thought. Plus, having just awakened from a "nightmare," his psychological state was fragile, and he had been so disarmed by Qi Shaolin’s tenderness that he had actually felt the impulse to kiss him back.

Now, interrupted, Jiang Luan snapped to his senses, breaking into a cold sweat and feeling a lingering sense of fear.

Why had he wanted to kiss a man?

Help! Had he actually been turned by a fool?

Qi Shaolin pouted, then suddenly lunged at Jiang Luan like a large dog, frolicking over him. "But Lin'er doesn't want to listen to you this time, Wife!"

Qi Shaolin, like a giant canine, covered Jiang Luan’s face in slobber, but pointedly avoided his lips, which stripped the act of any eroticism.

This was a method of kissing Jiang Luan could begrudgingly accept. Like a neighbor’s boisterous child acting spoiled, Jiang Luan was tickled so much he couldn't help but laugh. "Get up, stop messing around..."

Just then, the door was pushed open.

"Jiang Luan, are you awake?"

Ruibao burst in excitedly, catching sight of Qi Shaolin pinning Jiang Luan to the bed.

Ruibao: "..."

Jiang Luan: "..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your baby-making," Ruibao said, lowering his eyes and shutting the door as he backed out.

Jiang Luan’s lifelong reputation was ruined in an instant. He hammered the bed in fury. "Ruibao, get back here!"

Ruibao froze at the door, stunned by the roar. His handsome face turned bright red as he muttered, "I didn't know you had such... hobbies. But I really don't like watching other people’s intimate affairs."

Evidently, Ruibao had believed Jiang Luan’s earlier ruse with the scarred man, where he claimed to have many "exotic tastes."

Jiang Luan was at his wit's end. "Just get lost!"

Ruibao felt deeply wronged, caught in a dilemma. "Do you want me to leave or stay?" He paused, then mustered the courage to say to Qi Shaolin, "Your wife is injured, can you... can you just hold back and stop tormenting him?"

At this, Qi Shaolin burst into laughter, burying his head on Jiang Luan’s chest.

Jiang Luan shoved the "big dog" off him, looking at Ruibao with tears in his eyes. "Brother, I’m begging you—could you please stop with the wild imaginings in your head?"

Ruibao blushed. "I wouldn't dare. I'm younger than you; how could I accept being called 'brother'?"

Jiang Luan: "..."

***

Just then, someone arrived behind Ruibao.

Zuo Lang was carrying a washbasin, blocked at the doorway by Ruibao. He asked expressionlessly, "Young Master Chen, are you planning on going in? If not, please make way."

When Ruibao saw Zuo Lang, his expression soured, so he simply pushed the door open and walked in.

Zuo Lang was a head shorter than Ruibao, small but possessing a calm, steady demeanor. He brought the basin in, set it on the stand, and said to Jiang Luan, "Young Master, please sit up and wash."

"I'll do it!" Qi Shaolin volunteered, grabbing a towel and wetting it to wipe Jiang Luan’s face.

Jiang Luan enjoyed the service and asked Zuo Lang, "Little Zuo, why are you here?"

"Young Master, you’ve been unconscious for a whole day," Zuo Lang replied. "The Qi household is... in total chaos. Fortunately, this Young Master Chen informed us in time that you had fallen off a cliff at Greenwater Isle, so I rushed over."

"..." Jiang Luan looked at the delicate-looking Ruibao, shocked. "Ruibao, you were the one who saved me?"

"Ah..." Ruibao glanced at Qi Shaolin, who was sitting on the edge of the bed wiping Jiang Luan’s face, his eyes darting away. "Oh... yes, I suppose so. Actually, it was my master who pulled you up."

"Your master is..."

"My master is surnamed Qiu, named Jietu," Ruibao said. "He went to fetch your medicine and should be here shortly."

Being saved from a cliff was no small matter. Jiang Luan took it seriously and immediately sat up. "Then I must tidy myself up properly."

"Wife, I’ll help you!" Qi Shaolin immediately offered, acting like a sycophant.

He wouldn't let Zuo Lang touch Jiang Luan at all, retrieving a coat to help him put it on and then picking up a comb to brush his hair.

Qi Shaolin even expertly directed Jiang Luan’s subordinate, "Zuo Lang, go see if there is any food and bring some for my wife."

Zuo Lang complied and left. Seeing Qi Shaolin taking care of Jiang Luan with such meticulousness, Ruibao’s expression was as if he had seen a ghost. He truly admired Jiang Luan—to be able to handle such a terrifying man...

"Ruibao, what's wrong with you?" Jiang Luan noticed Ruibao’s "swallowed a fly" expression and asked, bewildered.

"No, nothing," Ruibao turned away, unwilling to look. "I just didn't have a good lunch."

Qi Shaolin asked curiously from the side, "Then why don't you go eat now?"

"..." Ruibao immediately replied, "Fine, I'll go eat."

Watching Ruibao stumble away like a malfunctioning robot, Jiang Luan suddenly remembered something and pinched Qi Shaolin’s ear. "Did you and Ruibao know each other before? Why did you pretend to be strangers on the night of the market?"

"..." Qi Shaolin was silent for a moment, then said with an innocent face, "I don't know him. I only met him today."

"You don't know him?" Jiang Luan narrowed his eyes. "Ruibao, don't leave just yet."

"Ah?"

Ruibao had just reached the door; the two of them were driving him to distraction. Knowing it was his earlier slip of the tongue that had aroused Jiang Luan’s suspicion, he had no choice but to bite the bullet. "I don't know Young Master Qi. Previously, I was... oh, Master! You're back?"

Ruibao looked outside the door and called out happily.

Hearing this, Jiang Luan immediately got out of bed.

Ruibao stepped aside as a middle-aged man walked in. He had regular features and looked relatively young, though his hair was completely silver. He wore a white crane-patterned robe and had a smile on his lips, carrying an air of extraordinary grace.

"Young Master Jiang, how are you feeling?" the man asked as soon as he entered.

Jiang Luan stepped forward and knelt to bow. "Many thanks to you, Master Qiu, for saving my life."

"Young Master Jiang, please don't be so formal," Qiu Jietu said, immediately helping him up with a smile. "You saved my little disciple as well; I am deeply grateful."

"It was nothing."

***

The two sat by the table, exchanging pleasantries.

"I have already dealt with those kidnappers, though it is a pity the only survivor escaped," Qiu Jietu shook his head. "Greenwater Isle has always been peaceful; this kidnapping is highly suspicious. If you still have the strength, Young Master Jiang, I ask that you continue to investigate."

Jiang Luan knew that these people were after him... and it likely had something to do with Prince Su-Ping, but without witnesses or evidence, his words held no weight.

He could only agree. "It is my duty."

Qiu Jietu nodded. "Young Master Jiang, let me check your pulse again."

Jiang Luan reached out and bared his wrist. Although he knew this was to avoid impropriety, he was still quite skeptical—could one really tell anything through a handkerchief?

At the same time, he couldn't help but have unreliable, scattered thoughts: *I am quite formidable now; I can get pregnant and bear children. I hope Master Qiu doesn't mistake it for a pregnancy pulse—that would be a total joke...*

Before long, Qiu Jietu withdrew his hand, smiling at Jiang Luan. "There is no major harm, but your body is extremely weak. I will prescribe a few herbs to help you consolidate your health."

"Thank you, Master Qiu. Sorry for the trouble," Jiang Luan said.

Ever since he arrived, Jiang Luan had been taking medicine every single day, but what could he do? He had transmigrated into a "medicine jar" of a body.

Qiu Jietu nodded and instructed Ruibao, "Bao'er, stay here and keep Young Master Jiang company."

Ruibao: "..."

Qiu Jietu then smiled at the indifferent Qi Shaolin. "Young Master Qi, please accompany me for a moment to fetch Young Master Jiang’s medicine."

Qi Shaolin had no choice but to rise. "Wife, Lin'er will be back shortly."

Once the two left, Jiang Luan wore a dangerous smile and beckoned to Ruibao. "Ruibao, come here. I have questions for you."

"..."

Ruibao looked as if he were facing his doom, but he sat over helplessly.

...

...

They were currently in the largest brothel in Greenwater Isle—Red Sleeve Pavilion.

The pavilion was filled with young women, interspersed with a few handsome young boys.

Beautiful girls and boys roamed the pavilion, warmly greeting solitary guests, yet they avoided Qiu Jietu like the plague. It was clear they were well-acquainted with this master and didn't dare to spare him even a second glance.

Qiu Jietu led Qi Shaolin through the familiar layout into a room and closed the door.

Qi Shaolin asked a question he already knew the answer to. "Master Qiu, weren't we going to get my wife's medicine?"

"You have truly changed, learning to be so glib," Qiu Jietu said helplessly. "Take off your clothes."

Qi Shaolin stood still.

Qiu Jietu continued, "Young Master Jiang is already awake. Do you intend to let him help you apply medicine while you are covered in your own wounds?"

"Then I shall trouble you, Master," Qi Shaolin said.

He took off his belt and loosened his outer robes and undergarments one by one.

A floor mirror nearby reflected Qi Shaolin’s tall, slender, and firm physique, now covered in scars and bruises.

The injury on his shoulder from before had not yet healed, and his shoulder blade had suffered a heavy blow, leaving a terrifying, concave patch of deep purple bruising.

"Enduring these wounds for a day and a night, just waiting for him to wake up," Qiu Jietu shook his head, pulling out a jar of ointment to apply to the wounds. "I never thought a bloodthirsty little wolf cub like you would have a change of heart and turn out to be such a romantic fool."

"It was my fault for not protecting him well," Qi Shaolin said.

"So you punish yourself like this?" Qiu Jietu patted his shoulder, telling his disciple to turn around to finish applying the ointment to his front. "You protected him from the cliff fall and still survived. I had already bought a coffin to collect your body, but it was a waste of money. I should have bought Bao'er two sets of clothes instead."