After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly 'Repay' Their Gratitude-Chapter 11 - Tonight, I Came to See You

2:00 a.m.

Qin Shiyan arrived at the underground black market in Yong’an City.

Wearing a mask, she had barely taken a few steps into the bustling market when she spotted the familiar figure of a young vendor at the end of a crowded alley.

As usual, the boy was dressed in simple black clothing and wore a half-mask. His sharp and handsome side profile was unmistakable to Qin Shiyan, even with the upper half of his face covered. It was none other than He Ange, the disciple who had just joined her faction the day before.

His business was as lively as ever.

Despite the late hour, at least five wealthy women surrounded his shop, chatting and laughing as they browsed his wares. They weren’t just shopping—they were openly flirting with the masked boy.

Every time Qin Shiyan saw this, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disdain. These women, wives and concubines of noble families, had the audacity to flirt with an 18-year-old vendor. Truly, the saying “women in their thirties are like wolves and tigers” held some truth.

But to be fair, He Ange was skilled at his trade. With just a few flattering words, he could make these women blush and laugh uncontrollably, eventually handing over their money without hesitation.

Was this what they called “mutual benefit”?

Recalling the compliments He Ange had showered her with during his apprenticeship ceremony, Qin Shiyan now felt those words might have been just another sales pitch. He had likely said the same things to every female customer.

So young, yet so adept at winning women’s hearts…

“This isn’t necessarily a good thing,” she muttered coldly.

With a huff, Qin Shiyan found a seat at a nearby tavern and rested her chin on her hand, quietly observing the boy as he charmed his customers.

Meanwhile, in a shadowy alley nearby, a group of demonic cult disciples had their eyes on the black-dressed fairy sitting alone.

…

“Madam, you can rest assured! This Cold Beauty Pill is crafted from the snow of Mount Everest. It protects and rejuvenates your skin. I can’t promise it’ll make you look ten years younger, but it will certainly preserve your youth and fight wrinkles for at least twenty years!”

“And just so you know, the recipe comes from the Hehuan Sect… If you know, you know.”

“Madam, you made the right choice with these lace black stockings. Wear them when you surprise your husband at night, and he’ll be utterly captivated!”

“Once you’ve got him wrapped around your finger, won’t all the household matters be under your control?”

“Madam, don’t underestimate this Fairy Wand. I can’t demonstrate its effects here, but once you take it home, you’ll understand!”

Surrounded by noblewomen, He Ange skillfully pitched his products, his words flowing effortlessly as he secured sale after sale.

In truth, it was almost time for him to close up shop.

It was already 3:00 a.m., and these ladies were likely his last customers for the night. Once they left satisfied, He Ange planned to pack up and head back. Any late-night customers wouldn’t be worth the time and effort to stay open.

“Thank you for your patronage, madams. Please come again!”

As the women left with smiles on their faces, He Ange finally let out a sigh of relief, allowing his professional smile to relax.

Counting his earnings, he estimated he had made at least a hundred silver taels that night.

Converted to spirit stones, that was about two or three pieces—a decent income.

So why was He Ange still broke?

The answer was simple: all his money went toward buying spiritual herbs and materials for alchemy.

Without a spiritual vein, his body couldn’t generate spiritual energy. To cultivate, he relied entirely on consuming pills infused with spiritual power.

However, the production and distribution of such pills were tightly controlled by both the righteous and demonic factions, as well as the imperial court. The scarcity drove up prices, making it incredibly difficult for someone like He Ange to sustain his cultivation.

Most people used pills as supplementary aids, consuming only a few per month.

But He Ange was different. He relied on pills as his primary source of spiritual energy, consuming them as if they were meals.

“At least Master gave me a Sha Pill yesterday. That should cover my cultivation needs for the next month.”

With that thought, He Ange smiled optimistically.

It was time to close up shop. He had inner sect training during the day and might even be summoned by Qin Shiyan to learn sect rules. He needed to return to the sect early.

“Hm? Who’s that lady?”

As he packed up, He Ange noticed a black-dressed woman sitting at a tea stall nearby, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him.

What caught his attention even more was the group of men behind her, slowly approaching with ill intent.

Being targeted by thugs?

In a place like the black market, such incidents weren’t uncommon…

But the issue was that the black-dressed woman exuded an air of nobility. Her dark gold heels and embroidered black stockings clearly marked her as one of his regular customers.

Having spent so much time in the black market, He Ange had built a decent network. Most of the local thugs knew better than to cause trouble near his shop, let alone harass his customers.

Tonight, it seemed outsiders were breaking the unspoken rules.

“Messing with my business? That won’t do.”

Sighing, He Ange rolled up his sleeves and approached the men.

…

“What’s he doing?”

From her seat at the tavern, Qin Shiyan raised an eyebrow in confusion.

She had been watching He Ange prepare to close up shop, intending to approach him for a chat. But to her surprise, he noticed her first.

Not only that, but he was now walking toward her with a cold expression and an unfriendly gaze.

“I see.”

Glancing behind her, Qin Shiyan quickly understood the situation.

She had been so focused on observing He Ange that she hadn’t noticed the group of insignificant pests approaching her.

“Hey, lady! What’s a pretty thing like you doing out here alone—”

Predictably, the men began their lecherous taunts.

Qin Shiyan’s phoenix-like eyes turned icy, her mood plummeting.

Just as she was about to deal with the trash herself, the boy stepped in first—delivering a powerful kick.

Boom!!!

The man who had spoken was sent flying, crashing into a wall with such force that the bricks cracked. He didn’t even have time to scream before losing consciousness.

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The remaining men froze in shock.

A series of swift blows followed, and soon the entire street fell silent.

When Qin Shiyan turned back, she saw the men kneeling before He Ange, their faces battered and bruised.

“Had a bit too much to drink? Or are you just bored enough to harass my customers?”

“P-Please spare us, boss! We’re new here and didn’t know the rules!”

“New, huh?”

Frowning, He Ange noticed the demonic tattoos on their sleeves.

What was strange was that he didn’t recognize the design.

They weren’t local demonic cultivators from Yong’an City?

“Forget it. Get lost, and don’t let it happen again.”

Waving them off, He Ange dismissed the troublemakers. He still had to return to the Shengxu Sect for training and didn’t have the energy to deal with black market drama.

With the men gone, He Ange turned his attention back to the black-dressed woman.

As their eyes met, he realized who she was.

“Ah.”

“So it’s Madam Yan. Long time no see.”

…

…

Qin Shiyan was surprised.

Though she had seen He Ange handle thugs before, experiencing his “heroic rescue” firsthand was a novel experience.

Now, she understood why so many noblewomen were drawn to him.

“I didn’t expect to see you tonight, Madam Yan. Apologies for the earlier commotion,” He Ange said, wiping a trace of blood from his face with an apologetic smile.

“It’s nothing. Your skills are quite impressive, He Jun,” Qin Shiyan replied, covering her mouth as she laughed softly. Her phoenix-like eyes, hidden behind her mask, locked onto He Ange with an enigmatic intensity.

Her gaze unsettled him.

Madam Yan was one of his most unique customers. Unlike the other noblewomen, her demeanor was far from ordinary. She carried herself more like a ruler of the sect or a figure of authority in the imperial court.

Their first meeting had been over a transaction for a Blood Pill.

Blood Pills were a specialty of the Western Region’s demonic sects, virtually unheard of by the general public. Even those who knew of them avoided any association with the demonic sects.

But He Ange was different.

As a demonic cultivator from the Northern Region, he had no qualms about dealing with rival sects. In fact, he saw no issue in selling Blood Pills from the Western Region’s Blood Refining Sect, especially to someone as wealthy as Madam Yan.

Their first deal had been a success, and Madam Yan had become a regular customer. Over time, her purchases shifted from rare pills to custom-made clothing, including the black stockings and heels she wore tonight.

“So, Madam Yan, what brings you here tonight? Looking for something new?”

Eager to secure another sale, He Ange turned toward his shop, ready to offer her the best deals.

But before he could take another step, his arm was firmly pulled back.

“Tonight,” she said, her voice low and deliberate, “I came to see you.”