Chapter 287: Forbidden Immortal Harem Invitation

The door suddenly opened, and the attendant from earlier entered, carrying several jade bottles along with a pouch of spirit stones.

He bowed respectfully. "Manager, the transaction has been completed."

Esmeralda gave a small nod.

The attendant turned toward Damian and carefully placed everything on the table. "Sir, these are the spirit stones from the sale."

He gestured toward the jade bottles beside them. "And these are the Low-Rank Royal Grade pills you requested."

Damian immediately picked up one bottle and briefly examined it.

Satisfied, he swept everything into his storage ring. "Perfect. Thank you."

The attendant bowed once more before leaving the room.

Esmeralda calmly returned her attention toward Damian. "When the festival begins, come here first."

Damian raised an eyebrow.

Esmeralda continued, "We can leave together from the Golden Medicine Pavilion. It’ll be easier that way."

Damian nodded without hesitation. "Sure."

He began getting up from his seat.

Cynthia suddenly spoke. "Master Damian."

Damian stopped. "Hm?"

Cynthia glanced toward Esmeralda before calmly saying, "You can go ahead first."

Damian frowned. "I want to speak with Esmeralda privately for a moment."

His frown deepened instantly. "About what?"

Esmeralda looked between them before giving Damian a reassuring smile. "It’s alright, Damian."

She gestured casually toward Cynthia. "Let her stay. I actually wouldn’t mind speaking with her either."

Damian remained suspicious.

Considering these two women had spent half the conversation subtly insulting and analyzing each other, leaving them alone somehow felt like an incredibly questionable fucking decision.

Neither of them appeared openly hostile, but Damian knew there was no way he could persuade either of them.

Eventually, he let out a sigh. "Fine."

He turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped. "Oh, right."

Esmeralda looked toward him.

Damian reached into his storage ring. "It’s been almost half a year since we last met."

His expression became casual. "So I should probably give you something."

A stack of talismans appeared in his hand.

Esmeralda’s eyes immediately widened slightly.

Even Cynthia looked over.

Damian casually placed them in Esmeralda’s hands.

Each talisman radiated powerful fire and sealing fluctuations.

[Mid-Rank Royal Grade Blazing Heaven Sealing Talisman]

And there wasn’t just one but an entire stack.

Esmeralda stared down at them before looking back at Damian.

For once, her refined expression showed genuine surprise. "Damian... these are Mid-Rank Royal Grade."

Damian shrugged. "I know."

Her eyes lingered on him, and then a warm smile gradually appeared. "Thank you, Damian."

Damian smiled back. "No problem."

He waved toward the two women. "Try not to kill each other while I’m gone."

Cynthia gave him a flat look.

Esmeralda laughed softly.

Damian finally left, closing the door behind him.

The moment his footsteps disappeared down the corridor, the atmosphere inside the room subtly changed.

Cynthia and Esmeralda looked directly at each other.

Neither spoke immediately.

---

Esmeralda remained silent for several breaths before finally placing the stack of [Mid-Rank Royal Grade Blazing Heaven Sealing Talismans] into her storage ring.

She looked toward Cynthia. "Well, then."

Her elegant smile returned. "Now that Sir Damian is gone, I suppose we can speak properly."

Cynthia calmly lifted her teacup.

Esmeralda leaned back slightly. "Let me guess."

Her eyes carried obvious amusement. "You asked him to leave because you wanted to warn me to stop seeing him?"

Cynthia paused for a moment before smiling and waving her hand dismissively. "Of course not."

Esmeralda raised an eyebrow.

Cynthia continued calmly, "Even if I told you never to see Master Damian again, do you honestly think that would stop him?"

Esmeralda thought about Damian’s shameless behavior for all of half a second. "No."

Cynthia snapped her fingers. "Exactly."

She took another sip of tea before continuing, "Knowing my Young Master, telling him not to visit a beautiful woman would probably only make him want to visit her even more."

Esmeralda laughed softly. "That does sound like him."

She rested one hand beneath her chin, her expression turning curious. "Then what exactly did you want to discuss, if not that?"

Cynthia set her cup down, and her expression grew slightly more serious. "I want to invite you to join us."

Esmeralda blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Join you?"

Cynthia nodded calmly. "Yes. You could call it his harem. We named it the [Forbidden Immortal Harem]."

For once, Esmeralda looked genuinely stupefied.

Her brows rose as she stared at Cynthia in stunned silence, as though waiting for the slightest hint that this was some elaborate joke.

Then she slowly raised two fingers to her forehead. "Please tell me you’re joking."

Cynthia met her gaze without the slightest change in expression and shook her head. "I’m not joking, Esmeralda."

She continued calmly, "At the moment, there are only four official members: myself and three of my friends."

Esmeralda’s expression grew increasingly strange. "And you’re seriously trying to invite me?"

Cynthia nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

Esmeralda stared at her for another few seconds before letting out a disbelieving laugh. "My, Cynthia..."

She studied the woman sitting across from her. "You were practically ready to bite me the moment we met."

Cynthia smiled faintly. "That was before I knew your background."

Esmeralda’s eyebrow rose.

Cynthia continued, "You’re talented, intelligent, connected to the Verdanthe Clan, and already hold influence within the Golden Medicine Pavilion."

Her voice remained calm and analytical. "You also clearly have a good relationship with Master Damian."

Esmeralda’s smile became more knowing. "So this is partly recruitment based on usefulness."

Cynthia nodded, not even bothering to deny it. "We don’t need useless women around him."

Esmeralda laughed again. "You’re remarkably straightforward."

Cynthia leaned back. "I prefer efficiency."

Esmeralda lightly tapped one finger against the table. "Well, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you."

Cynthia’s gaze remained steady.

Esmeralda continued elegantly, "Sir Damian is an interesting man and certainly an unusually valuable client."

Her smile softened slightly. "But for now, that’s all I consider him to be, a wealthy client."

Esmeralda lifted her teacup, amusement flickering in her eyes. "So, while I appreciate the invitation, joining something called the [Forbidden Immortal Harem] sounds rather ridiculous."

Cynthia’s lips slowly curved into a knowing smile.

Esmeralda noticed immediately and raised a brow. "What?"

Cynthia tilted her head slightly. "Are you sure about that, Miss Esmeralda? You might be giving up far more than you realize."

Esmeralda let out a faint scoff, clearly unconvinced. "Giving up? What exactly am I supposed to be losing? Care to tell me."

Cynthia didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she calmly raised one hand toward her storage ring. "I think it would be better if you decided after seeing this."

A faint light flashed from the ring.

The moment the object appeared in Cynthia’s hand, the mocking smile on Esmeralda’s face vanished.

Her eyes widened, and for several seconds, she simply stared at it in stunned silence. "You..."

For once, Esmeralda looked genuinely shocked.