【Second Update Today】
The Western White City was clearly livelier at night, bustling with traffic and crowds, filled with the cries of merchants and vendors hawking their wares.
Yan Xun's carriage wove through the bustling crowd. The streets were aglow with flickering lights, lined with all sorts of rare items, many imported from places like Huai Song and Biantang. As they neared the border city, commerce flourished, and the lives of the common people grew increasingly prosperous.
"Young Master," A Jing said in a low voice, "We need to replenish our dry rations, and the horses need to be replaced. Xi Rui has already gone to prepare. We'll have to wait here for a while. Should we find lodging first?"
"No," Yan Xun replied, "We travel through the night."
"Yes." A Jing did not argue. In truth, it was only a small suggestion. Ever since leaving Shangshen, Yan Xun had been rushing at full speed with little rest. Having followed Yan Xun for so many years, A Jing understood the deeper meaning behind this. On the surface, this journey was to scout the situation in Biantang, meet with that person, and form an alliance through a joint agreement. But he knew exactly what was on the Young Master's mind.
May the young lady be safe and sound!
A Jing silently repeated the prayer in his heart once more.
They had traveled for a long time but still hadn't left the craft and jewelry market. The horse market at the far eastern end seemed even more distant. Xi Rui and the others would likely need more time, so A Jing leisurely guided the carriage, slowly looking around as if they were genuine tourists.
Just then, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly pierced the air from the western side of the market. The carriage remained calm and unresponsive, but a scholarly-looking man subtly approached and said to A Jing, "I'll go check it out."
"Old Yue, stop beating around the bush. I want this woman. Either name your price and we can discuss it, or if you keep wasting my time, I'll just take her by force."
A man in white robes, holding a fan, spoke softly and deliberately under the protection of several servants. His lavish clothing suggested he came from a wealthy family, but his face was thoroughly unpleasant, marked by a lewd and shameless expression. Even as he spoke, his eyes remained fixed greedily on the woman sitting on the ground, covered in wounds.
The surrounding onlookers, seeing a spectacle unfold, laughed and cheered, clearly accustomed to such scenes. They had grown numb to it, seeing nothing wrong with the situation.
The woman had jet-black hair and a pale face, sitting on the ground with her head bowed, her hands and feet bound, motionless. Though her head was lowered, her smooth skin and perfectly shaped chin hinted at her striking beauty. A loose, ill-fitting robe, soaked and clinging to her, accentuated her curvaceous figure. Her exposed arms were densely covered with whip marks, evidence of severe abuse.Yue the Boss waved a piece of white paper in front of the man in white, saying with extreme arrogance, "Young Master Wang, take a good look. Is this an ordinary woman? This is the biological daughter of the Zhaoming Duke of the Empire's Elder Council, the top favored daughter of our Daxia. Under normal circumstances, forget about buying her to keep in your private chambers—even if you just wanted a glimpse, someone would be ready to gouge your eyes out. If the lady weren't in such dire straits now, would we brothers have a chance? With this status, this position, and this appearance, is two hundred gold really expensive?"
At these words, the crowd was instantly shocked. Inside the carriage, Yan Xun frowned slightly, lifted the curtain, and said to A Jing in a low voice, "A Jing, go take a look."
With that, he jumped down from the carriage and strode toward the center of the crowd.
The hidden guards in the crowd immediately squeezed through the throng, clearing a path for him.
Just then, the woman suddenly raised her head, her eyes stubbornly fixed on Yue the Boss, and said word by word in a low voice, "You will pay for this!"
At that moment, the crowd finally got a clear view of her full appearance and let out a collective gasp of astonishment. The woman was exceptionally beautiful, with almond-shaped eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows, red lips and snow-white skin. Her slender neck was as graceful as a swan's, her bosom full and waist narrow, her figure elegant and graceful. Even in such a wretched state, her radiance could not be concealed. Her eyes were like autumn water—though cold and filled with hatred, they held an undeniable charm.
This was the first time Young Master Wang had heard her speak. He only felt her voice was sweet, like silver bells, and paid no attention to what she had said. He stared at her greedily, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and said resolutely, "Not expensive! I'll buy her!"
Yue the Boss was overjoyed and said with a laugh, "Then it's settled. We exchange money for goods right here, how about that?"
Young Master Wang gleefully reached for his silver notes, but then his eyes shifted, and he chuckled, stroking his chin as he said, "Yue the Boss, I'm spending so much money. Don't you think I should inspect the goods to feel at ease?"
The onlookers burst into an uproar at this. Yue the Boss was taken aback for a moment, then punched Young Master Wang hard in the chest, laughing and cursing, "You lecherous scoundrel! If you're bold enough to inspect the goods right here, I won't stop you."
The crowd understood perfectly well what was implied, and they all began to clamor loudly, as if afraid Young Master Wang wouldn't go through with it. The woman finally showed fear, tears welling in her eyes, though she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She bit her lower lip tightly, breathing rapidly, wishing she could dash her head against something and die, yet she was unable to move.
A slave trader guarding her saw this and lashed her with a whip, shouting, "Behave yourself!"
Young Master Wang saw this, shoved the man who had whipped her aside, and said, "Get lost! I'm about to buy her, and you're still hitting her? Do you even have any respect for me?" Then he turned to Yue the Boss and said, "How can we do it here? Let's find an inn and inspect the goods there. If you're worried, you can watch from the side."
Yue the Boss laughed and cursed, "You eat while I watch? Do you think I'm a fool? Fine, considering our long-standing friendship, let's go to the Returning Goose Inn up ahead. We'll do it there."Young Master Wang chuckled lewdly and instructed his attendant before stepping forward toward the woman. As he walked, he continued grinning, "Don't be scared, little beauty. I'll treat you well."
The woman's gaze was as lifeless as dead embers, yet she stubbornly declared in a low voice, "Just kill me. I won't submit to you."
Though her words were resolute, her voice remained crisp and melodious like a lark's song. Young Master Wang grinned even wider with a lecherous smile. "Don't be afraid! How could I bear to kill you? You're my precious darling, bought at a great price. I'd sooner cherish you than harm you! As for whether you'll submit or not—that's not for you to decide!"
"You beasts! My Huaibei warriors will never let you get away with this!"
"Haha! Huaibei? Huaibei was already destroyed by the emperor. Do you know what the charge was? Betraying the empire and colluding with foreign enemies. No one can save you now—not even if the Yanbei Lion himself came. I could crush him like an ant!"
"Boom!" Suddenly, the crowd saw a flash of a blue figure. The arrogant Young Master Wang, dressed in white, was sent flying through the air like a kite, soaring seven or eight meters before crashing heavily to the ground with a thunderous impact.
"Young Master," the scholar cast a cold glance at Young Master Wang before turning back respectfully. From behind the crowd, a man in a dark green robe slowly emerged. His steps were unhurried, his expression indifferent, revealing no trace of emotion.
His gaze swept indifferently over the crowd, pausing briefly on Young Master Wang, who was struggling awkwardly to rise from the ground. Then, pointing at the disheveled woman sitting on the floor, he said, "Take her away."
Old Yue, watching Young Master Wang lying on the ground, unable to get up for a long while, stammered fearfully, "Who are you? Trying to snatch her by force? How audacious! Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the authorities?"
Hearing Old Yue mutter for so long only to come up with such a line, the crowd burst into laughter. After all, Old Yue had been recruiting soldiers and trading slaves in West Bai City for quite some time. He was known for bullying the weak and fearing the strong—always squeezing the meek to death while reporting formidable figures to the authorities. Seeing him so terrified now clearly indicated he had sensed something amiss.
Yan Xun turned his head slightly, frowning faintly, and said in a low tone, "Shopkeeper, this young lady is the daughter of the Helian clan of Huaibei. With such status, how dare you lay hands on her? Isn't that a bit too bold?"
Old Yue mustered his courage and shouted, "So what if she's from the Helian clan? Huaibei has already fallen. Anyone can trample on them now. Not just her—even the current King of Yanbei was bullied by everyone back in Zhenhuang. Fortunes change like the tides. Once these high-and-mighty people lose their power, they're worse than dogs. This is a legitimate business transaction—what's wrong with that?"
Yan Xun said nothing. He merely narrowed his eyes slowly, watching the man with a faint, penetrating gleam in his gaze.
Old Yue grew uneasy under his stare and feigned composure as he said, "The road is wide enough for each to walk their own path. Brother, let's not interfere with each other. How about we become friends and let this matter slide? I won't pursue it further."
Yan Xun glanced at him sideways, the corner of his mouth twitching as he found the situation somewhat amusing."Goddammit, what are you all standing around for? Get him! Beat that bastard to death!" Young Master Wang, who had been thrown so hard he saw stars, finally scrambled up from the ground, screaming frantically at his underlings.
Yan Xun seemed not to hear him, striding directly toward the woman.
Boss Yue gritted his teeth and waved his hand fiercely, signaling his men to step forward. They rolled up their sleeves, ready to fight. But just then, some of the ordinary bystanders suddenly sprang into action with surprising agility, engaging the thugs in combat. In a matter of moments, they had knocked Young Master Wang and Boss Yue's men to the ground. Instantly, the area was littered with burly men groaning in pain, writhing and rolling about.
Yan Xun stood before the woman, looking down at her tattered clothes. He turned to A Jing and said, "Fetch a garment."
A Jing was momentarily stunned but quickly removed his outer robe. Yan Xun took it and handed it down to the woman. "Put this on," he said.
The young lady of the Helian family froze in disbelief. Her hands trembled as she looked up, seemingly unable to grasp the clothing. The relentless torment, the unstable wandering, the shame and humiliation of being sold from one person to another—the hardships and setbacks she had never before endured had left her physically and mentally exhausted. She had been holding back, neither crying nor causing a scene, striving to maintain the last vestiges of the Helian family's dignity. But now, her eyes reddened. Pressing her lips together, she took the robe and hurriedly lowered her head. A tear splashed onto the back of her hand.
Young Master Wang's face paled dramatically. He never expected his supposedly unbeatable guards to be so easily defeated with a mere wave of the hand. Trembling with fear, his teeth chattering, he stammered, "You just wait! If you've got any guts, don't you dare run!" With that, he turned and fled, disappearing in a flash.
Seeing Young Master Wang escape, Boss Yue completely broke down. Shedding all his earlier bravado, he suddenly dropped to his knees before Yan Xun, wailing loudly, "Please, great hero, spare my life! I have an eighty-year-old mother above and an eighteen-year-old wife below to care for!"
Yan Xun was taken aback, staring at the man weeping as if his own life were at stake. Hearing such a familiar plea, he felt a wave of disgust but maintained his composure, speaking slowly, "Do you want money? How much did you sell her to that scoundrel for?"
Boss Yue's heart leaped with joy. It seemed this man truly had the demeanor of a chivalrous hero—soft-hearted rather than tough. He continued to sob, explaining how he was forced by circumstances, with no way out, and had resorted to this thorny, treacherous path for the sake of his parents, wife, and children. He claimed that most of his comrades had died in the chaos of war, leaving countless elderly, weak, women, and children depending on him for support—painting himself as a public servant caring for the widowed and orphaned. Finally, as if offhandedly, he mentioned the woman's selling price was two hundred gold pearls. Of course, he dared not ask the hero for such a sum, but to ensure his brothers' parents lived comfortably and their children could attend school for a proper education, he was willing to be seen as the most despicable scum in the world. Thus, he decided to offer a discount, charging Yan Xun only one hundred and ninety-nine gold pearls.Just as all the onlookers couldn't bear to listen any longer, Yan Xun finally mercifully interrupted the man's long-winded speech that sounded like a misguided youth symposium, uttering words that made Boss Yue utterly devastated.
"What's with all your nonsense? Besides, I don't have any money either."
Boss Yue's expression instantly froze, his whole body stiff as a wooden chicken, nearly choking on his breath. His eyes kept darting toward the woman, almost saying aloud, "If you have no money, then put her down."
Yan Xun looked at his greedy expression and gave a cold laugh, saying, "But I have gold. See if this is enough."
As he spoke, he glanced toward a tall, blue-eyed woman of foreign ethnicity standing nearby. The woman smiled sweetly, her eyes like honey, casting a peach-blossom gaze over the surrounding crowd. Then, she retrieved a bundle from the carriage behind her and, with a clatter, dumped its contents out.
A small mountain of gold instantly cascaded down. Boss Yue and everyone present immediately wore expressions of stunned disbelief, their jaws dropping as they stared at the pile of glittering gold scattered across the ground. The entire market fell silent.
Yan Xun said lightly, "It seems it's enough. Then I'll be on my way."
Boss Yue had lost the ability to speak. This much money was enough to buy an entire Western White City, yet it was only being used to purchase a mere slave girl? Only when Yan Xun's subordinate actually picked up the woman and headed toward the other end of the long street did he realize he wasn't dreaming.
By the time Yan Xun had gone far away, the onlookers finally snapped out of it. But instead of reflecting, they surged forward en masse toward the gleaming gold, each fearing to fall behind. Even from afar, Yan Xun could still hear Boss Yue screaming desperately, "This is mine! Get away, all of you!"
A cold smile slowly crept onto Yan Xun's lips. A bunch of greedy fools, turning a blind eye to suffering and disaster—well, it was up to him to teach them this lesson.
The young lady of the Helian family, covered in wounds, was supported by A Jing and followed Yan Xun into the carriage. Lifting her head, she said, "Thank you, young master, for saving me. I have no way to repay you."
Yan Xun didn't speak. He leaned back, seemingly lost in thought. Seeing his silence, the woman didn't dare to speak either and could only sit quietly beside him.
"How did Duke Zhaoming die?"
The low voice suddenly broke the silence. The Helian young lady was taken aback, then quickly asked with delight, "Do you know my father, young master? Are you a friend of his?"
"No," Yan Xun shook his head. "I was just curious."
The light in the Helian young lady's face instantly faded. She bit her lower lip lightly, thought for a moment, and said, "My father was betrayed by his subordinates. His head was cut off before the city even fell. My second uncle took the Huaiyin token and defected to the Fourteenth Prince, surrendering the city."
"The Fourteenth?" Yan Xun's eyes narrowed slightly, murmuring, "Zhao Yang?"Struggling to recall this person, he had almost no impression at all. It seemed Heaven truly did not wish to annihilate the Zhao Clan. Without Zhao Che garrisoning Zhenhuang to stabilize public sentiment, without Zhao Yang leading troops to subdue the rebellious vassal kings across the land, this turmoil alone could have completely ended the Zhao dynasty. After all, this unrest was not merely a disturbance in the imperial capital—it acted as a fuse, igniting the hatred and rage Yanbei had accumulated over eight years, detonating the revolution the Great Alliance Society had planned for decades, setting off the grievances and suffering of the people under the Great Xia Dynasty's three centuries of oppressive rule, and even exploding the entire Ximeng land's millennia-old vicious system of slavery!
"My name is Helian Ling. You saved me, young master, so from now on, I am yours," the woman's delicate voice said softly. Yet Yan Xun showed no reaction, still lost in his own thoughts and offering no reply.
Helian Ling sighed faintly, feeling an inexplicable pang of sorrow in her heart. Just then, a series of heart-wrenching, agonized screams suddenly erupted from outside, as if many people were crying out in unison—a sound so piercing and brutal it seemed to tear at one's very soul.
Helian Ling was startled and moved to lift the curtain to look outside.
But Yan Xun swiftly reached out, pressing her head down and covering her eyes with his hand, his voice low and firm: "Don't look."
Helian Ling froze, her body stiffening instantly, yet two faint blushes slowly rose on her cheeks. She obediently remained still, allowing Yan Xun to cover her eyes without resistance, only blinking repeatedly beneath his large hand. Her long eyelashes brushed against his palm, creating a faint, tingling itch.
"These people dream of nothing but wealth, so I gave it to them. It's just a pity they lack the fortune to enjoy it."
Yan Xun's voice was deep, a cold sneer tugging at the corner of his lips.
There were far too many scheming individuals in this world—they ought to be eliminated and replaced with new ones.
The year 775 was destined to be a chaotic era, one deeply worthy of remembrance by future generations. At the very least, that was what Wang Shouzhi, the garrison commander of Xibai City—a key strategic town in the southeast of Daxia—believed. Upon hearing that his son had suffered a grave humiliation in the marketplace, Commander Wang rushed to the scene with a large contingent of government soldiers. Yet the sight that met his eyes was enough to haunt his nightmares for countless nights to come.
Upon a pile of glittering gold lay densely packed corpses, their bodies utterly corroded and festering beyond recognition. Some had even gouged out their own eyes, a testament to the excruciating torment they had endured in their final moments. Before them, the winding trails of blood had coalesced into several stark, crimson characters: "Heaven's punishment upon those devoid of conscience!"Everyone standing before those large characters felt a chill slowly creeping up their spines. Wang Shouzhi’s son, in particular, trembled uncontrollably, his legs shaking violently. Suddenly, he leaped up abruptly, and from a tiny blood hole on his body, a small green gu worm emerged. The gu worm grew and multiplied at a visible rate, and within a quarter of an hour, it had spread all over his body. In the blink of an eye, the once arrogant city guard’s son was transformed from a living person into a lifeless skeleton. Even as his last eyeball was devoured by the gu worms, he continued to let out desperate, piercing screams.
Everyone present was deeply shocked by the scene. Wang Shouzhi did not even order anyone to save his own son. Daxia and the northwestern tribes were separated by the fierce Quanrong soldiers, and for over three hundred years, there had been no contact with the tribes beyond the pass. In these southeastern regions, no one had known that such cruel methods existed in the cold northwestern continent. What they witnessed before their eyes was no longer something that human power could contend with.
Upon learning the full details of the incident, all merchants involved in slave trading at Xibai City fled overnight, not even bothering to take their slaves with them. That same night, City Governor Wang Shouzhi led his officials in freeing all the slaves, then burned incense and offered sacrifices to heaven, praying for divine forgiveness. With eighteen sons, losing one didn't seem to matter—so he consoled himself. Thus, the matter was quietly dropped, with no one daring to investigate further. The pile of gold left in the streets remained untouched, gradually buried by the desert sands. Until one day, a few three- or four-year-old children stumbled upon it, digging out round golden beads from the sand. Delighted, they used them as pellets for their slingshots, and without anyone noticing, they shot away all the golden beads that the people of Fengya County had regarded as a scourge.
Future generations would only know that in the annals of Ximeng's history, Yanbei was the first to raise the great banner of abolishing slavery and promoting equality for all, paving the way for a renewed and prosperous empire. Little did they realize that long before this, Xibai City in southeastern Daxia had already abolished slavery. The city's records noted: "The wise, benevolent, and far-sighted City Governor Wang Shouzhi, compassionate and sympathetic to the plight of the lower-class slaves, courageously risked divine wrath to abolish slavery, setting an example for the era and becoming a great figure in history, a paragon of the empire..."
But all that was for later. On the seventeenth day of the eighth month, in the year 775 of the Baicang calendar, the ancient capital of Biantang, Tang Capital—a city with a millennia-old history ruling the southeast—finally announced to the world on that stormy, gloomy night: On the ninth day of the ninth month, Crown Prince Li Ce would marry the Ninth Princess of Daxia, Zhao Yan, with a general pardon and nationwide celebrations.
Yan Xun was on the road when he heard the news. A Jing lifted the carriage curtain and said gravely, "Young Master, that woman is still following us."
Outside, a torrential rain poured down, the sky dark and desolate.
Yan Xun frowned slightly, his face pale. He slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Did you give her everything?"
"The forged identity documents, over a hundred gold beads and silver notes, along with provisions and luggage. But she stubbornly refuses to stay in the city and keeps following us."
"Then there's nothing more to be done," Yan Xun said slowly. The relentless travel had left him looking unwell. He leaned back in the carriage and let the curtain fall.
A Jing glanced back and saw the young noblewoman stumbling through the heavy rain in the distance, nearly falling several times. He couldn't help but sigh softly.
"A Jing," Yan Xun called out suddenly, "Give her a rain cloak and tell her to stop following us."
A Jing was taken aback but quickly assented, relaying the order verbatim to a servant nearby.
After a while, the rain began to ease, though the sky remained dark. It was only afternoon, yet everything was already shrouded in gloom.
Up ahead, a roadside tea shack came into view, and the group stopped to rest. Throughout the journey, A Jing had been puzzled, occasionally casting questioning glances at Yan Xun. As Yan Xun quietly sipped his tea, he suddenly asked in a low voice, "What is it you want to say?"
A Jing started, scratched his head, and chuckled. "Young Master, I'm just curious. You usually don't bother with others' affairs, so why are you so concerned about this Lady Helian?"The implication was clear, but Yan Xun did not refute it. He fell silent, and A Jing couldn't help but inwardly scold himself for speaking out of turn. The young master was a man, after all—a man of high status and authority, in the prime of his life. With the young lady absent for so long, what was strange about him glancing at other women? Why did he have to bring it up?
"A Jing, do you believe in ghosts and gods?"
Yan Xun suddenly spoke up, startling A Jing, who gaped foolishly and asked, "Huh? Young master, what did you say?"
Yan Xun continued as if talking to himself, "I never used to believe in such things, but now I'm starting to believe in karma and retribution."
He set down his teacup, suddenly let out a light laugh, and lifted his head to gaze toward the southeast, taking a slow, deep breath.
"If A Chu is wandering alone out there and encounters something like this, I hope someone will lend her a helping hand too."
Yan Xun's gaze was distant, filled with an indescribable weariness, like the deep, heavy sea.
The dark clouds on the horizon dispersed, the rain had passed, and the sky cleared. Biantang was not far away now.
Everyone, don’t say I’m treating Zhuge unfairly—it’s just that this chapter didn’t include him. I’m not tired yet, so I’m going to write the next chapter now. I’m not sure when I’ll post it, but I’ll try to get another chapter out today.
And don’t worry about me randomly pairing Yan Xun with someone else. There has to be a female supporting character—it’s necessary for the plot.
Also, hehe, I didn’t skip updating today
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