It wasn’t long before Qiyue arrived at the private room. This time, with Ning Yan nowhere in sight, Bai Qingqing could fully devote herself to admiring the beauty before her.

After a courteous bow, Qiyue removed the veil from her face, revealing a countenance of unparalleled beauty—so radiant that Bai Qingqing couldn’t look away.

“You’re stunning!”

The words escaped her lips before she realized, and when she did, a hint of embarrassment flushed her cheeks. But thinking about it, she found no fault in what she’d said, and lifted her chin with newfound confidence.

Qiyue let out a soft laugh. “You’re the true beauty here, Miss Qingqing. To receive your praise—it’s an honor.”

Ah… even her voice was enchanting. In that instant, Bai Qingqing fully understood why men would spend fortunes just to earn a smile from such a beauty. She would too!

The elegant room held no incense, only the gentle sweetness of fresh fruit wafting from a nearby tray. Qiyue took the seat across from her and spoke with gentle grace.

“Forgive my presumptuous invitation today, Miss Qingqing. There’s a matter I’d like to discuss with you.”

Bai Qingqing blinked in confusion as Qiyue asked, “Have you ever heard of the Suiyun Pavilion?”

“I have.”

Even a sheltered young lady like Bai Qingqing had heard of the Suiyun Pavilion—let alone Yaoyao, who constantly whispered about its mystery and power in her ear.

Suiyun Pavilion was a unique force in the martial world. No one knew who had founded it, but its presence was everywhere. If you had the means, you could obtain anything you desired through them.

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“And why does Miss Qiyue bring up the Suiyun Pavilion?”

Qiyue tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her voice light. “Because I am one of them. And I’d like to propose a deal.”

“……”

Bai Qingqing had tried to guess why Qiyue wanted to see her, and she thought she’d already let her imagination run wild. Never did she expect the truth to be even more unbelievable than her wildest guesses.

“Miss Qiyue, are you joking with me?”

“There is a type of mind-altering incense quietly spreading in Xuancheng,” Qiyue said. “Suiyun Pavilion has learned that you’ve crafted a scent that can counter it. We would like to purchase the formula and, as is customary, share the profits with you.”

Bai Qingqing was stunned. Suiyun Pavilion? Wanted to do business—with her?

“I don’t understand…” she murmured. “If what I made could truly help, I wouldn’t hesitate to offer it freely. It’s just…”

Qiyue’s smile was gentle. “Your kindness is admirable, but possessing a treasure makes one a target. If word of your skills reached the wrong ears, you could be putting your family in danger. That’s something I’m sure you wouldn’t want to see happen. But Suiyun Pavilion is different.”

“Suiyun Pavilion won’t covet your talents. We can make this incense known, prevent it from being used against others, and still keep your identity a secret. Isn’t that the best of both worlds?”

Her words struck right at the heart of Bai Qingqing’s concern. Of course she didn’t want to bring trouble upon her family.

But she wasn’t naive either. “And what benefit does Suiyun Pavilion get from this?”

Qiyue chuckled softly behind her sleeve. “To form a good relationship with you, of course. That alone is worth everything. Suiyun Pavilion doesn’t want to let someone else get ahead of us.”

Bai Qingqing was momentarily dazed. She’d lived so cautiously for so long that hearing someone talk about competing for her favor felt almost unreal.

“There’s no need to overthink it,” Qiyue said gently. “Suiyun Pavilion is a business. We follow our own rules. Whether you agree or not, we will never speak a word of this to anyone.”

Qiyue had expected her to take several days to weigh her options—as any proper young lady from a noble family would. But to her surprise, Bai Qingqing gave her answer after the time it took to finish just one cup of tea.

“I’ll do it,” she said.