Brothel Manager 2 :Path of DUAL CULTIVATION

Late evening,

Near the third aura tree…

Mo Han sat cross-legged beneath the aura tree, his eyes not closed in meditation but staring forward in heavy thought. One single thought made him forget the world around him. He twirled a spirit stone in his hand but never circulated it into his meridians.

Jia Kai watched him for a long time. But she finally approached him to know his dilemma.

"Why are you just sitting like this? Not cultivating?" Jia Kai's voice drifted softly as she approached, the sweet fragrance of her robes mingling with the spiritual energy of the aura tree. She stepped closer and tilted her head. "Or… are you stuck in doubts again?"

Mo Han exhaled a long breath and looked at her. "You already know my doubts. This sect… it won't be able to support us. If we want to reach higher cultivation faster, we can't rely on this place.

Look at them—at best, the sect master is barely touching the Grand Master stage, and the elders haven't even crossed Master rank. Do you think such a foundation can carry us to the peak of the-world?"

Jia Kai remained silent for a while, then crouched down near him, watching his side profile as the fading sunlight lit his jawline. "I can understand your concern," she said at last.

"But, Mo Han… you should also understand something. No matter where you go from now on, people will test your meridians. Once they do, they will know you are a dual cultivator. That means you will inevitably be bound to the path of dual cultivation sects. There's no escaping it."

Mo Han's gaze hardened, his voice-steady yet heavy. "I know. But how many powerful dual cultivation sects even exist in this realm? Do you think any of them are worth placing my future in?"

"There's only one option," Jia Kai said quietly, her tone carrying weight. "The Eternal Night Mansion. It is the only sect where disciples have the potential to reach true Grand Rank. Entering there won't be easy for ordinary people. But you—" she paused, her eyes narrowing as though trying to pierce through his very soul, "—you are different. You carry a Heavenly Rank Dual Cultivation Body Constitution. That will open doors for you that no one else could even touch."

Silence fell between them, broken only by the sighing of the wind through the aura leaves.

Mo Han's eyes flickered, and for a long while, he said nothing. His jaw tightened. Finally, Jia Kai leaned closer and asked softly, "What are you thinking about, Mo Han? Are you worried about me and Fatty Lambu?"

"Yes." His reply was immediate, his tone firm. "Fatty is terrified of dual cultivators. His fear runs deep. But if I give my word, he'll follow me—even into the jaws of the Eternal Night Mansion. As for you… what do you think?"

Her lips pressed together. "I'm not a dual cultivator. What will I do by entering such a sect? Won't I just waste my time?"

Mo Han turned his head toward her, his expression unreadable. "You'll waste even more of your life staying here. You helped me when I needed it most, so I will help you. If you come with me, you'll join as my servant under name only. But I will provide you with resources, manuals, fighting techniques, and wealth. You can grow stronger at your own pace. When the day comes, you can repay me if you wish—or walk away free."

Her eyes widened slightly. Mo Han continued, his tone firm as a mountain: "And don't worry about harassment. If anyone dares to even think about it inside Eternal Night Mansion, I will cut them down. If they allow it, I'll even bring your sister. She will be safe."

The firmness in his words made Jia Kai blink in disbelief. "Why?" she asked suddenly. "Why are you so concerned about us? In this cultivation world, keeping people around you only consumes resources. Others would call you a fool and discard those who can't immediately benefit them. Why carry burdens?"

The past of the cursed sword master swirled in his mind for a second.

His voice dropped, cold yet resolute. "Because one day, I will need loyal people. Not slaves. Not opportunists. But those who know I will never abandon them. When that day comes, I will rule this realm, and for that, I need those who can stand beside me without fear."

Jia Kai froze, her heart thudding. For a moment, the world seemed to still around them. She looked at him, truly looked—and saw that his words weren't empty bravado. They were his path, his conviction.

Her lips parted slightly. She had always suspected that Mo Han had a mysterious background, but hearing him speak so directly about ruling realms, about loyalty, shook her. She inhaled slowly, her expression softening.

Mo Han broke the silence, his voice gentler now. "Think about it, Jia Kai. Staying here is a dead end. If you want to touch the sky, if you want to break through the ceiling placed on us by this weak sect, then you must change places. My target is not this mountain, nor this sect—it is to step into the Dragon Realm. Whether you walk with me or stay behind is your choice."

His gaze softened for the first time as he added, "Take your time. I'll respect your answer."

Her throat felt tight. She lowered her head, her fingers twisting in her sleeve as her mind turned over his words again and again. Finally, she said quietly, "Convince Fatty first. His decision will help me make mine."

Mo Han nodded slowly. "I will."

The wind picked up, carrying the faint cry of a mountain eagle from a distance. Jia Kai glanced toward the direction of the sound, then back at Mo Han. "Tomorrow morning, I'll visit my mother on the eagle. By tomorrow evening… you'll have my answer."

"Good." Mo Han leaned back against the trunk of the aura tree, closing his eyes, though his mind still burned with decisions and strategies. "But make sure to feed the eagle well before flying. It likes honey bread."

That earned the faintest laugh from Jia Kai, a sound rare and soft. She stood, her robe fluttering in the breeze, and gave him one last look before walking away toward the stone houses.

Alone again, Mo Han sat beneath the shimmering aura tree, its leaves glowing faintly against the encroaching night. His fingers curled around the spirit stone again, and his eyes flickered with a light far fiercer than the fading stars.

"Eternal Night Mansion…" he muttered under his breath. "The night deepened, but Mo Han's resolve only grew brighter.