Brothel Manager 2 :Path of DUAL CULTIVATION

Even the Mountain Eagle opened one eye, sniffed the air, and made a soft, pitiful cry.

"Haha," Mo Han chuckled. "Fine, you've earned it too."

He tossed a large chunk to the eagle, who caught it mid-air and munched gratefully.

Jia Kai leaned back, the warmth of the fire softening her expression. "You're really something, Mo Han. Sword art in one hand, cooking fire in the other."

Mo Han stared into the flames. "I just do what I must."

-

Like that, their journey continued. Jia Kai drove the eagle in the day and Mo Han led the path at night. Days passed easily.

The sixth-day of their journey dawned beneath a blood-streaked sky.

Fiery clouds curled in the east like coiling serpents, and the wind that swept through the heavens carried the scent of scorching embers. The trio had long left behind the vast Mountain Desert and had entered the burning skies above the Vermillion Range, a place infamous for its violent spiritual fluctuations and unpredictable beast attacks.

"Push higher, we don't have time," Jia Kai's voice was strained as she clung tightly to the saddle, her silver hair whipping like threads of moonlight behind her.

Mo Han stood near the crown of the Mountain Eagle's skull, his robes billowing in the wind. His eyes were locked on the glowing map unfurled in his hand, marked with blood-red ink that shimmered faintly with spirit runes. "If we fly above these clouds, we can cut half a day's distance."

Fatty Lambu, despite his bulging belly and trembling legs, nodded vigorously. "Only one day left! If we're even a few hours late, the entire journey is a waste!"

With a soft murmur, Mo Han whispered into the Mountain Eagle's ear and fed it a honey bread. The majestic creature let out a cry that shook the clouds themselves and soared higher—beyond the cloud cover—piercing the flame-red sky like a javelin of wind and thunder.

They were less than six hours from the Green Jade City.

But the heavens were not silent.

A ferocious screech shattered the stillness of the high skies. Something moved in the flaming clouds—fast and monstrous. A shadow darker than dusk spiraled down with flames trailing behind its colossal wings.

"Fire Beast!" Jia Kai screamed, her hand gripping the carved bone spear on her back. Her eyes widened as the creature emerged from the clouds—a Firewing Chimera, born from volcanic pits, wreathed in lava scales, and eyes burning like twin suns.

The Mountain Eagle shrieked in distress and twisted in the air, barely avoiding the beast's flaming claws.

"It's playing with us!" Lambu howled, nearly falling from the saddle as the Fire Beast swept above them again, taunting the eagle and releasing tiny sparks in the air, scorching the sky.

The Fire Beast wasn't attacking yet. It was toying—like a predator playing with prey before the final strike.

Mo Han's gaze darkened. He crouched low, whispering something to the Mountain Eagle, trying to stabilize its flight. But the fear in the eagle's eyes was growing—it would not last.

Then suddenly, the Fire Beast pulled back its wings and opened its jaws, gathering a massive flame within. The flames took the shape of a blooming lotus—its signature attack.

"We'll burn alive in mid-air!" Fatty Lambu squealed. Forcharactersheetsandglossaries,visitMV|LEMPYR.

Jia Kai bit her lower lip. Her eyes glanced at her robes' inner lining and with trembling fingers, she tore a silk pouch free.

"This is our only shot."

Mo Han turned. "What are you—"

Before he could finish, Jia Kai raised a delicate talisman, carved with ancient phoenix glyphs and embroidered with silver threads of a mystic beast's fur. She slapped it against her chest, and the paper instantly turned to ash, releasing a massive golden shield around them.

"Skyguard Talisman?" Mo Han's eyes widened in recognition. "That's a one-use artifact worth—"

Before he could protest further, the golden shield expanded and surged forward like a burst of divine will.

The Fire Beast's flaming lotus struck the shield directly—and in a blinding flash of gold and red, the sky cracked with thunder.

When the light dimmed… the Fire Beast was gone.

Its body, turned to ash, scattered into the wind.

The sky fell silent.

The Mountain Eagle flapped weakly, recovering its breath. A few of its feathers were scorched, but it continued onward, guided once again by Mo Han's steady hand.

Jia Kai collapsed into the saddle behind them, panting. Her fingers trembled. "That was my only life-saving treasure."

Fatty stared at her, mouth agape. "You—you just used it… for us?"

"I used it for the mission," she replied coldly. But her cheeks were slightly flushed.

Mo Han didn't say a word, but silently adjusted her blanket and handed her a sweet berry to chew on. Her eyes flickered but she accepted it without a word.

The rest of the journey was eerily smooth. As if the heavens themselves had been pacified by the death of the Fire Beast.

By mid-noon of the seventh day, the golden spires of Green Jade City rose on the horizon like shining swords piercing the sky.

Mo Han's eyes gleamed. "We've made it."

The city was enormous, surrounded by three layers of jade-green walls, with towers that sparkled under sunlight and floated palaces drifting in the skies above—held up by arrays older than memory. Spiritual energy here was dense, refined, and tinged with a mysterious pressure.

They descended at the Eastern Sky Platform, designated for high-level flying beasts. Fatty helped the eagle rest under the beast shelter while Mo Han and Jia Kai moved ahead.

As they approached the Khan Family Auction Hall, a vast sea of people had already gathered—nobles, sect disciples, rogue cultivators, and masked merchants. Exotic beasts were tied outside, and even some elders hovered mid-air, exuding divine pressure.

Two tall servants in crimson robes stood at the gates.

An old man with a long goatee and a voice that carried like rolling drums stepped forward, raising his arms. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Twin Sun Continent, your presence graces our humble venue!"

A few murmurs stirred in the crowd. Mo Han furrowed his brows.

"Due to… unexpected developments, the Khan Family Auction shall not be held today," the old man announced.

A moment of silence. Then chaos broke out.

"What?!"

"Do you know how far we've come?"

"You're postponing without warning?"

The old man remained calm and gestured behind him. Dozens of maids appeared in unison, each bowing and offering apology tokens—small jade pieces embedded with spirit energy.

"Please accept this as a token of goodwill. We are preparing to present a new and unprecedented item—an item so valuable it demands a recalibration of the entire auction list."

"What kind of item?" someone from the Star Cloud Pavilion yelled.

The old man only smiled mysteriously. "A treasure that even the Prime Sect's envoy requested to inspect privately."

Gasps spread like wildfire.

Mo Han's eyes narrowed. "This wasn't in the schedule?!"

Fatty grinned. "Looks like fate gave us a bonus day!"

Jia Kai, ever watchful, whispered, "Or someone… manipulated fate for us."

The crowd slowly began dispersing, many choosing to remain in the city and enjoy the spiritual gardens, tea houses, and beast petting zones provided by the Hen family to appease guests.

Mo Han glanced at the high tower behind the auction hall, where veiled figures moved behind pearl curtains.

He had a strange feeling.