Chapter 19: The Masked Bandit's Dirty Deal

Under the cover of night, amidst the eager anticipation of many, Lu Wu arrived punctually with her steamed bun stall.

Her calls for business cut through the dust and bustle of Yanliu Street, drawing many serious food lovers to this otherwise disreputable street.

“Good evening, Boss Lu.”

“Back again, Boss Lu? Any new bun flavors tonight?”

A crowd greeted Lu Wu warmly, their fiery gazes fixed intently on her as she prepared her goods.

Lu Wu smiled in reply and hung up today’s sign.

“Spicy beef vermicelli buns, soul-stirring soup dumplings. Oh... there really are new flavors tonight! I must have some.”

The customers chatted merrily, while the courtesans mingled among her loyal patrons, flirting as they waited.

“Miss Furong, how about I buy you tonight for two buns?”

A man, fancying himself a charming rogue, sidled up to Furong with a sly grin.

Far from handsome, he was awkwardly unappealing, almost painful to look at.

Furong, who only entertained high-quality company, rolled her eyes and flicked a finger to gently push him away.

“Get lost, I’m not interested in you.”

“The only one I’d bother with is Boss Lu.”

As she spoke, Furong cast a coquettish glance at Lu Wu, her seductive expression melting the bones of every man present.

The infamous enchantress of the Hehuan Sect, rumored to bend men with a single look, was living up to her reputation.

Lu Wu, however, whose orientation was unquestionable, received the signal poorly and declined.

Furong’s words flushed the man’s face red; forced to give up, he turned only to find his spot taken.

“That’s my place!” he shouted in frustration.

“You left, so you don’t want it anymore, right?”

“Besides, who says that’s your spot?”

A venerable gentleman standing there responded arrogantly.

Even moving up just one position meant getting Boss Lu’s buns sooner.

The hopeful crowd behind ignored the man’s protests.

“You’re all too much!”

Having failed to charm the beauty and lost his place, the man had no one to appeal to.

Angry enough to lash out, he was cowed by the overwhelming pressure of the group and shrank back.

He was supposed to leave in disgrace, but unwilling to give up his buns, he quietly took his place at the end of the line, praying he’d get served today.

“Buns are ready!”

Unaware of the minor drama, Lu Wu called out, prompting the first customer to eagerly drop two spirit stones.

“Boss, two soup dumplings, please.”

This was unusual; most orders were for two different flavors—perhaps a regular.

Lu Wu glanced over and noticed the man was unfamiliar.

“Are you sure?” she asked, warning that once sold, no refunds would be given.

“Absolutely,” the man nodded earnestly.

Lu Wu packed the order without further comment.

“Boss, two spicy beef vermicelli buns, please.”

The next customer made the same unusual request.

Curious, Lu Wu watched as the first two customers didn’t eat immediately but headed toward a nearby corner.

Lu Wu’s presence had invigorated business on Yanliu Street.

She had become the goldmine in the eyes of the brothel madams.

To facilitate her work, many red lanterns had been hung these past few days, casting a warm glow over the darkness.

What Lu Wu saw in that corner was some kind of transaction.

One figure wore a black hood, eyes the only visible feature—like a bandit from a crime drama.

Their furtive, suspicious behavior was unmistakable.

When the third customer also moved toward that spot, Lu Wu was alarmed.

Could her customers be threatened by some dark, malevolent force?

But recalling her own strength, she felt powerless.

Soon, however, she realized she had misunderstood.

Those customers left with smiles, carrying storage bags bulging with goods.

Strange, but mutual consent prevailed, and Lu Wu relaxed.

That day, dozens of customers at the front of the line conducted transactions with the bandits, and no one spoke against it.

None of the eager bun lovers—eager to monopolize Lu Wu’s stall—dared intervene.

They barely dared to look, deeply wary.

Thankfully, such scenes were rare.

“Good evening, Sister Lu.”

“I’d like a red bean paste bun and a soup dumpling.”

Little Hua dropped spirit stones and smiled sweetly at Lu Wu.

The dark patches on her face were barely visible now; restored to her original beauty, she looked like a porcelain doll.

Confidence shone on her face, her eyes sparkling bright.

“Got it.”

Seeing Little Hua’s transformation, Lu Wu felt genuinely happy for her.

“In eight days, it will be Awakening Day. Will you come see me then, Sister Lu?”

Little Hua stepped aside for the next customer and whispered shyly, cheeks flushed crimson.

Only twelve, the girl’s large, watery eyes melted Lu Wu’s heart.

“It depends. If I’m not working the stall, I’ll come.”

Lu Wu wasn’t sure how the system’s tasks would be assigned.

She was curious about Awakening Day in the Qingyuan Realm, a three-day event celebrated annually when many sects came to recruit disciples.

“All right, then.”

Little Hua’s disappointment was tempered by her maturity; she didn’t press further.

Before long, Lu Wu had sold ten baskets of buns, and the line stretched like a dragon.

Shaking her arms, she got back to work.

“Boss, one beef vermicelli bun and one red bean paste bun.”

A gentle voice sounded, and when Lu Wu looked up, it was as if she had seen a fairy.

The woman appeared about twenty-something, dressed in a broad-sleeved, flowing vermilion robe, her figure exquisitely shaped.

Her delicate features were as radiant as blossoms, and her smile unforgettable.

Lu Wu’s heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed by such beauty.

“Boss Lu, this is my mother,” Lou Xiaotian said from behind, poking his head forward.

Lu Wu blinked in surprise.

Such a stunning fairy sister already had a family, and yet she bore this unreliable son.

“Pfft…”

The fairy, reading Lu Wu’s expression, chuckled softly, her brows gentle.

“My useless son is in your care, Boss Lu.”

Lu Wu’s heart swelled with warmth at the beautiful woman’s thanks, though she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to care for Lou Xiaotian.

“Little missy, I want two soup dumplings.”

Another large man stepped forward and spoke.

His hand rested on the fairy’s waist, their intimate posture revealing their relationship.

So these two were Lou Xiaotian’s parents.

“All right.”

Lu Wu replied, sneaking a glance at Lou Batian.