I woke up to find myself as the villain's older sister.

After Yun Qingyi finished speaking, the men nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, it's good that you realize your mistakes. Alright, go back now. I'll talk to your father about it later."

After the men walked away, Yun Qingyi lowered her head and began to ponder.

Who exactly are these middle-aged men?

The Gu family is one of the four major families in the Northern Spirit Continent. Other smaller families should theoretically be somewhat afraid of them.

They showed no fear whatsoever, and even said quite familiarly that they would visit again next time.

Yun Qingyi thoroughly investigated the network of relationships in Laizhou, but still couldn't find the corresponding family organization.

He looked up at Gu Qiqing, wanting to ask him, a local.

“Uh…” Yun Qingyi had just looked up when she saw Gu Qiqing’s resentful look.

"Haha... Senior brother, there's nothing we can do about it..." She laughed awkwardly, recalling the nonsense she had just uttered.

"After all, they look like locals. Among the families in Laizhou, the only one we know who is also powerful is your Gu family."

"Moreover, as the senior brother of the young master of the Gu family, he is definitely the most powerful among the powerful. Isn't this just trying to intimidate them by bringing out the senior brother?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qiqing raised an eyebrow. "Really? Is your senior brother that amazing in your eyes?"

"Of course!" Yun Qingyi nodded firmly, her expression serious.

Upon hearing the affirmation, the resentment on Gu Qiqing's face vanished instantly, and her expression brightened and became cheerful.

Seeing this, Ruan Qi and the others silently muttered to themselves: "So easy to coax."

"So, senior brother, do you know who those people are?" Seeing that Gu Qiqing was happy, Yun Qingyi pressed on while the iron was hot.

“Oh, they must be from the Asking Machine Pavilion,” Gu Qiqing said to Yun Qingyi after a moment of thought.

"Wenji Pavilion?" Yun Qingyi was somewhat puzzled. It was a completely unfamiliar term, and she was certain that she had never learned it.

"It's an organization unique to the Arctic region. They do all sorts of business, from intelligence trading to hiring hitmen, as long as you can afford the price."

A cool voice came from Yun Qingyi's ear. Turning her head, she saw Ji Zhaoze with a calm expression.

He then went on to explain to her, "The professional ethics of the people in the Ask Machine Pavilion are considered to be very high in this kind of organization."

Once they accept a job, the person who accepts the job will continue to do it until it is completed, unless they die while completing the task.

Even if the person accepting the task dies and cannot complete it, the person who posted the task won't worry too much, as the Quest Agency will refund all the payment made when posting the task.

After listening, Yun Qingyi nodded knowingly, "Senior brother seems to know a lot about the Questioning Pavilion?"

Ji Zhaoze met Yun Qingyi's gaze and said calmly, "After traveling for so many years, I naturally came to know."

"Yes, what Senior Brother Ji said is right."

Gu Qiqing nodded in agreement, "Although Wenji Pavilion is an organization that has only risen in the last few hundred years, its management system has led to a very good reputation in the Arctic region."

Therefore, in this Arctic region, their status is no less than that of the four major families of the Northern Spirit Continent. That's why they didn't react much when you mentioned the Gu family, Junior Sister.

"I see." Yun Qingyi murmured, then asked a somewhat awkward question, "So they really are going to go see your grandfather?"

Gu Qiqing: "..."

Thinking about how harmonious his family's relationship with Wenji Pavilion was, he felt like crying.

When he first got home, he told his father that he had brought his fellow disciples from his sect to Laizhou for a visit.

It's only been two days since they arrived. If their father knew that on his second day, he would take his junior sisters to the sea slave market to buy sea slaves, he would definitely give them a beating.

Not only her own father, but her mother probably beat her even more severely than her father.

Gu Qiqing sighed, somewhat helplessly. After all, she was her junior sister.

Seeing the worry in Yun Qingyi's eyes, he chuckled softly, "It's alright, I'm not going to get into trouble over something like this."

Upon hearing this, Yun Qingyi felt relieved.

It was midday, and the number of people in the Hainu Market was much greater than in the morning.

The place where Yun Qingyi and the others were standing was already a place with a lot of people, and with the cage there, it seemed even more crowded.

Looking at the iron chain holding the cage in her hand, Yun Qingyi glanced back at the cage a few times. As she pulled the cage away, the vendor casually covered it with the cloth.

So she wasn't entirely sure what was going on inside the cage, but judging from the restless atmosphere emanating from it, she could imagine that the merman inside must be extremely bored.

After discussing it with everyone, they left the slave market, carrying the cage.

After casually renting a courtyard nearby and restoring their original appearances, Yun Qingyi and the others dragged the cage into the courtyard.

Although Yun Qingyi was very close to the merfolk in the sea slave market, she didn't have time to take a close look, as her attention was focused on bidding against the older men.

The cloth covering the cage was lifted, and sunlight instantly poured into the cage.

The merman in the cage stirred, shifting his body uncomfortably. His thin robe did not conceal his fair and slender legs.

It appears even more dazzling under the sunlight.

Her long, seaweed-blue hair was also covered with a thin layer of luster, falling on the slightly open blouse at her chest.

The strong lines of her waist and the contours of her lower abdomen were faintly visible under the thin shirt.

“This…” Yun Qingyi’s ears turned slightly red, and she quickly made a few calming hand gestures.

After calming down, she suddenly felt everyone's gaze on her.

She was so engrossed in watching that Yun Qingyi only then realized that everyone was looking at her.

Ji Zhaoling said thoughtfully, "Uncle-Master, are you sure you don't have any thoughts about the people in this cage?"

Yun Qingyi: "..."

"Uncle-Master, you don't need to feel too guilty. After all, you are the sect leader's personal disciple. No one will know if you keep someone on the peak."

Yun Qingyi: "..."

Gu Qiqing asked hesitantly, "You didn't actually do what those older men said, and because you're just starting to fall in love, you've taken a liking to this sea slave, did you?"

Yun Qingyi: "...I'm telling you, don't go too far."

"It's not what you think."

"What's wrong, Uncle-Master? Your behavior is making us a little worried," Ji Zhaoling said cautiously.

"Hey, Aunt Qingrou, aren't you going to say something?" Leng Zhan was about to say something when he saw Yun Qingrou standing calmly to the side and couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm?" Yun Qingrou paused for a moment, then said, "I have nothing to say. I trust my sister."

Upon hearing this, Leng Zhan turned his head to look at Ji Zhaoze, who was equally indifferent, and asked, "Uncle-Master Zhaoze, don't you have anything to say either?"

"No."

……

Yun Qingyi looked at Yun Qingrou and then at Ji Zhaoze, and suddenly realized, "Did you two both know that this is a merman?"

Upon hearing this, the group of people who were about to offer advice were all stunned. Mermaids? What mermaids?

Yun Qingrou and Ji Zhaoze nodded to Yun Qingyi.

"Yes, we noticed it when we got closer to the merman with my older sister."

Ji Zhaoze said calmly, "His aura was very unusual; I found it incredible at the time as well."

Yun Qingyi: "..." No wonder only the two of them didn't find it strange that she bought this sea slave; it turns out they already knew it was a merman.

Yun Qingyi stopped looking at them, walked closer to the cage, and her gaze returned to the merman inside.

Upon hearing the word "mermaid," the person in the cage suddenly moved and opened their eyes.

Those eyes, as blue as her hair, fell into Yun Qingyi's gaze.

His eyes revealed confusion and bewilderment, but also a glimmer of hope.

"Your eyes are so beautiful," Yun Qingyi said softly with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the merman paused for a moment, a blush spreading across her face.

"Thank you," the merman said.

His voice was beautiful, clear and pure like crystal, yet with a deep, resonant quality unique to the sea.

The mermaid's ear fins twitched slightly, as if it were thinking about something. Finally, as if it had made up its mind, its azure eyes were filled with anticipation.

He looked at Yun Qingyi and said softly, "Can you take me home? I'll find you lots of treasures to repay you."

Yun Qingyi shook her head.

The mermaid's bright eyes dimmed visibly and quickly.

Yun Qingyi couldn't help but ruffle his seaweed-like long hair, her voice gentle: "I bought you to take you home, you don't need to give me a treasure just to thank me."

According to Yun Qingyi's understanding, although the merfolk are good at finding treasures in the sea, they are also easily injured because they have no offensive capabilities.

She doesn't save people by deliberately trying to hurt them.

The merman's eyes regained their color after hearing Yun Qingyi's words.

Her deep blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight. "You're so kind, thank you."

"Yes, you're welcome," Yun Qingyi said with a smile. "So, can you come out of the cage now?"

Yun Qingyi easily destroyed the cage with her spiritual power. Looking at the hole in front of her, the merman stood up slightly.

The cage was small, and he was bent over and could not stand up completely. Because he had been sitting for a long time, his body was not very coordinated when he walked.

He trembled, his long, azure hair falling to his ankles, and his thin shirt fluttering lightly in the wind.

Perhaps to create a unique sensory experience, the vendor wore the thin shirt loosely on him, as if it were about to fall off.

Yun Qingyi: "..."

After helping the merman out of the cage, Yun Qingyi waved her hand, and a men's garment appeared in her hand.

They used magic to change the merman's clothes.

The merman paused, somewhat puzzled, "Wasn't I ugly just now?"

Yun Qingyi shook her head. "No, it's very beautiful."

Objectively speaking, it is indeed very beautiful; it is almost as perfect as a work of art.

"Then why are you covering me up?" The merman looked at the clothes on her body, her eyes filled with confusion and sadness.

"You were looking at me the whole time, and I thought you liked it, so I deliberately showed more skin just now."

“Uh…” Yun Qingyi looked at the mermaid’s somewhat sad eyes and didn’t know how to explain for a moment.

Ji Zhaoze: "..."

Ji Zhaoze had been paying close attention to the situation, and his expression grew colder as he listened to the conversation between the two.

Yun Qingrou was also radiating coldness. At this moment, she stared intently at the merman in front of her, her natal spirit sword flashing and disappearing in her hand.

He seemed quite unhappy inside.

Ruan Qi, Ji Zhaoling, and the others retreated to the side to bask in the sun.

Those two senior uncles are really terrifying. The sun is so bright, yet they still feel cold in this courtyard.

It was like being infected with a cold poison.

Leng Zhan was puzzled. "Why can we still feel the chill emanating from our two senior uncles even though we've retreated so far?"

Ruan Qi sniffed and rolled her eyes at him, "Don't you even know who your two senior uncles are?"

"One who can kill a cultivator in the Void Refinement stage with the strength of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and another who can trap and kill a cultivator in the Integration stage with a wave of his hand."

"Their aura is so strong that at this distance, it's good enough if they don't get hurt, let alone feel cold."