Chapter 678

But after the Great Catastrophe, social order collapsed for a time.

Only after great effort and barely restoring order did it happen.

The gambling business quietly rose again.

However, the military did not care much about gambling.

Their greatest challenges remained defending the city, clearing ferocious beasts, establishing safe zones, and expanding arable land to feed as many civilians as possible.

The military did not care much about gambling.

After all, most civilians were just glad to have enough to eat—how could they have time or chips to gamble?

The red-light district's business was the same situation.

As long as taxes were paid and no trouble was caused, no one interfered.

But selling sons and daughters? That was gambling too far.

Anyway, girls sold off never seemed to have a good fate.

Su Yang hesitated, then ordered Liu Mengyun: "Clear them out—I'll check the situation!"

"Everyone, move aside!"

Liu Mengyun barked sharply.

The crowd blocking the street turned and saw Liu Mengyun and Su Yang, then quickly scattered.

They were all wearing military uniforms.

Especially Su Yang—his rank was not low!

As the crowd parted, Su Yang saw two ordinary men, each gripping a girl's foot, as if dragging her away.

When Su Yang and the others appeared, the two ordinary men let go.

The girl lay on the ground, clothes disheveled, hair tangled over her face, but her pale skin and presumably decent features were still visible.

Beside her, besides the two men who had grabbed her, stood two menacing men.

The leader was even a Beast Tamer.

Though his power was negligible.

Nearby sat a thin, middle-aged man in gray clothes, watching Su Yang and the others in surprise.

Liu Mengyun spoke: "What's going on?"

The lead Beast Tamer, upon seeing Su Yang and the others, did not show the usual tension of non-military Beast Tamers.

"Officer, this is how it is: Liu Zhang sold his daughter to us—we have a contract as proof!"

The Beast Tamer pulled out a contract and respectfully handed it to Liu Mengyun.

Liu Mengyun took the contract, glanced at it, and asked the thin man: "Did you sign this?"

Liu Zhang shouted loudly: "Officer, I signed it, but I was drunk and blinded by losses at the casino!"

The Beast Tamer snapped angrily: "Liu Zhang, you signed the contract—don't try to renege!"

The girl on the ground crawled to Liu Mengyun and cried out: "Officer, please save me! I don't want to be sold! I don't want to go with them!"

Liu Zhang knelt directly before Liu Mengyun.

He begged Liu Mengyun for help.

Even the bystanders felt Liu Zhang and his daughter might be saved today.

But what of Liu Mengyun?

Her face remained cold, unmoved.

They had come to the wrong person.

Liu Mengyun would not care about their fates.

She turned her head toward Su Yang, waiting for his order.

Su Yang extended his hand; Liu Mengyun quickly handed him the contract.

The Beast Tamer stepped beside Su Yang and said respectfully: "Officer, don't listen to Liu Zhang's lies—he was perfectly sober when he signed the contract!"

Su Yang glanced at the contract—it was indeed flawless.

There was Liu Xing's signature and fingerprint.

Besides, Liu Xing himself had admitted it.

Su Yang said indifferently: "What era are we in now? Can a father just sell his own daughter whenever he wants? Don't you agree?"

"This…"

The Beast Tamer was troubled.

He clearly heard from Su Yang's words that this officer disapproved of the deal.

The bystanders also caught Su Yang's meaning.

"Liu Li is saved now!"

"Exactly—she got lucky this time!"

"Such a good girl, to end up with a father like this—so tragic!"

"…"

Liu Zhang hurriedly said: "Officer is right! Officer is right! I have no right to sell my daughter! I have no right to sell my daughter!"

He clung to this as if it were a lifeline.

Any chance to recover his loss must be seized.

"But Officer, Liu Xing already traded his daughter for chips and lost them all… My boss sent me to collect her—I can't return empty-handed."

Su Yang tilted his head, thinking slightly—it was true.

"Didn't his family have any money?"

"I've lost everything, even the deed to the house!"

"Then here's what we'll do!" Su Yang rubbed the rough bandage on his chin and pointed at Liu Zhang. "He has no right to sell his daughter, but he has the right to sell himself. Since he has nothing left, take him away. He doesn't look old—he's still useful!"

You can do that?

The beast tamer froze.

The onlookers beside him also froze.

Even Liu Mengyun hadn't expected Su Yang to handle it this way.

She thought Su Yang would show mercy and save this family!

The beast tamer hesitated: "But sir, what are we supposed to do with him?"

"He's still got some value," Su Yang said offhandedly. "Throw him into the sea—he makes a good bait."

"Uh…"

Liu Zhang did have some value.

More precisely, any living person has value.

He can be used as a laborer, or as bait—that's fine!

"Alright, that's how it's settled. Everyone, disperse!"

Su Yang felt his handling of the matter was decent enough.

He had taken both sides' interests into account.

A perfect example of mutual benefit.

After a brief hesitation, the beast tamer finally said: "Chen Quan, take Liu Zhang with us!"

"Yes, boss!"

The beast tamer wisely chose to follow Su Yang's advice.

As the beast tamer's two subordinates approached Liu Zhang, he began struggling desperately: "No! You can't take me! I don't want to be bait! I don't want to be bait!"

Su Yang turned to Fang Jing: "Let's go."

"Yes!"

Liu Zhang, seeing the three ignore him, shouted loudly: "Daughter, beg that officer! Beg him to save me! I don't want to be bait!"

Su Yang felt his foot grow heavy.

He didn't need to look down—he knew Liu Zhang's daughter had grabbed his shoe.

"What is it?"

"Please, sir, save my father! If you save him, I'll do anything you ask!"

Liu Mengyun extended her foot and coldly kicked away Liu Zhang's daughter's hand!

But she held back her strength—if she hadn't, the girl's hand would've been ruined.