"Why did it fall to you?"
Qinglan hesitated for a moment, then slowly said,
"I went to see Sister Yulan, and he saw me. He stared at me for a long time, with eyes like a venomous snake, sticky and disgusting..."
"I guess he harbors ill intentions."
"And after Sister Yulan died, Mother also told me..."
"Mother?" Mo Hua was slightly startled.
Qinglan looked around, and seeing no one else, she whispered, "It's the female brothel keeper."
Mo Hua nodded.
The female brothel keeper is the old matron of the brothel, whose girls she raises, referred to as "Mother".
Qinglan continued, "Mother also told me that there's a client who specifically asked for me... I inquired who this client was, and Mother gave a smile that wasn't quite a smile and didn't clarify."
"I asked her over and over, and Mother got angry, hit me, scolded me, saying that I've grown too bold to question her like this, and even said I was a financial loss, that it would serve me right even if I died..."
Mo Hua frowned and said, "Your Mother is really mean."
Qinglan dared not speak ill of the female brothel keeper and just nodded slightly.
"What happened next?" Mo Hua asked.
Qinglan said, "Then, I guessed that he must want me to accompany that man in gray."
"After Sister Yulan died, there have been some other sisters who didn't survive either."
"I, I..."
Qinglan couldn't go on and silently wiped away her tears.
Mo Hua poured her another cup of tea and comforted her softly,
"Don't worry, nothing will happen to you."
With tears on her cheeks, Qinglan clung to a lifeline, her eyes full of hope,
"I won't die...?"
"Everyone has to die," Mo Hua said matter-of-factly.
Qinglan: "..."
Mo Hua set her small face firmly, "But before he harms you, he will definitely die first!"
Although Qinglan felt that the words were somewhat ambiguous, she still felt comforted and slowly let out a sigh of relief.
She didn't know the origin of this young gentleman, but seeing his young age and how even Elder Su respected him greatly, she assumed his status was extraordinary and a hint of hope grew in her heart.
"Have you told these things to anyone else?" Mo Hua asked curiously.
Qinglan shook her head and said bitterly,
"Who would I tell? Sister Yulan is dead, the other sisters are living on borrowed time, and who knows when they'll displease a client and get beaten till they can't leave their bed, and Mother is... not of a good temper..."
Mo Hua listened with a frown, "Is there no one in charge here?"
Qinglan gave a bitter smile, "We lowly people are only used for others' entertainment; who would care if we live or die?"
Mo Hua felt uncomfortable hearing this, "What about your parents?"
Qinglan's eyes dimmed, "I was sold here by my parents."
At this, Mo Hua was momentarily taken aback, and Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi looked at her with sympathy.
Mo Hua was silent for a while, then quietly asked,
"Do you hate your parents?"
Qinglan shook her head, "I don't. They're already dead."
"Dead?"
"Yes." Qinglan nodded, "They died of starvation."
With tears glistening in her eyes and a bit of a choke in her voice, Qinglan said,
"My parents... sold me to the brothel so that I wouldn't starve to death. Even the Spirit Stone they got for selling me... they secretly gave it to me, so that I could survive..."
Hearing this, Mo Hua felt a pang of sorrow, "Were they Mining Cultivators?"
Qinglan nodded, "Yes. My father mined for the Lu Family, and when the mine collapsed, he broke a leg and was invaded by Filthy Qi into his heart meridians, unable to mine anymore..."
"My mother struggled to support the family, toiled too hard, fell seriously ill. Both of them knew they wouldn't live long, so they sold me to the brothel, as a last resort to keep me alive..."
Mo Hua's gaze hardened, "Is this brothel owned by the Lu Family?"
"Yes," Qinglan said, "Not just this brothel, but most of Jinhua Street, the business of food, drink, prostitution, gambling, mostly belongs to the Lu Family..."
"Then do you want to leave the brothel?"
Qinglan gave a sorrowful shake of her head, "There's no way out."
Mo Hua frowned, deep in thought, murmuring to herself,