Chapter 52: Purity Never Lies Beneath a Skirt

The second-floor lobby of the Red Rose Brothel.

Now, corpses lay strewn everywhere; the stench of blood had stained the luxurious carpets and walls.

“Huff, huff.”

Blood splattered across his body and face, Xia Mingyu gripped his bloody sword and panted heavily as he stared at the decapitated corpse kneeling before him.

Only after he had personally split the head of the brothel’s owner—the mastermind behind countless crimes—into two halves did the boundless rage that had stirred within him begin to fade.

“Gag! Gag!”

Seeing the white and red masses on the floor and smelling the thick stench of death, Xia Mingyu, who had never killed anyone before, couldn’t help but retch.

Beside him, Boge Chu quickly patted his back.

Swish!

At that moment, the prostitutes who had been staring dumbfounded at the emerald text above his head, questioning reality, finally snapped out of it and knelt in unison before him.

Their bodies bent so low their foreheads nearly touched the floor.

“Before the gods, noble and merciful lord, please forgive us for our disrespect when we were unaware of your identity.”

The eldest among them, trembling, spoke—her name was Wu Li, the very woman who had led Xia Mingyu to the washroom and witnessed him emerge from the burning sea of flowers.

They were nothing but the filthiest rats in the gutter; who could have imagined they would one day speak to a true dragon from on high?

And worse, they had not answered his question immediately, even calling Lu Ka “my lord”—an offense worthy of death!

“It’s nothing. Rise. I pardon your sins.”

After holding his breath to block out the stench of death, Xia Mingyu finally quelled his nausea and spoke calmly.

The prostitutes then helped one another to their feet, still bowing low, daring not to straighten up.

Tap-tap-tap.

At that moment, a rhythmic marching sound came from outside the window; hearing it, Boge Chu rushed to the second-floor window to look.

“Your Highness, it’s the miners’ town guards.”

Boge Chu said nervously; if a fully armed squad with spears formed a coordinated assault, even as a transcendent, he would struggle to break out while ensuring his lord’s safety.

Wait—guards.

Boge Chu’s expression calmed instantly. Having been a lone wanderer for so long, he’d nearly forgotten—he was now a hound with a master.

“Go down. You all follow me.”

Xia Mingyu put his black top hat back on; once the black mist concealed the text above his head, he spoke.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At the entrance of the Red Rose Brothel.

Over thirty guards in leather armor held their spears tightly, surrounding the brothel’s entrance.

“Damn it, what trouble has that bastard Hoke caused now?”

Guard captain Jona lit a cigarette, sniffing the thick stench of blood wafting from inside, and cursed under his breath.

Does he think it’s easy to clean up after him every time?

If not for the favor of his patron and the town mayor’s plea, he would’ve driven him out of Miner’s Town after that massacre!

Tap-tap-tap.

At that moment, chaotic footsteps echoed from within the brothel.

Hearing it, Jona raised his hand slightly; the guards instantly tensed, pointing their spear tips forward.

But to Jona’s surprise, what emerged from the brothel was not that bastard Hoke, but a cold-eyed black-haired youth, a boy carrying bow and sword, and over twenty terrified prostitutes trailing behind them.

“Who are you? Why did you bring slaughter here?”

Seeing the well-dressed youth before him, whose head bore no title aura, Jona bit back the curse he’d been about to spit out and instead asked in a calmer tone.

Years of dealing with all manner of scum had given him sharp eyes—he knew this man was almost certainly nobility.

If he was nobility, the law punishing murderers could not be applied to him.

Xia Mingyu said nothing, only silently drew forth the seal bearing a snarling wolf’s head.

On the lands of Black Wolf Domain, the Hughes family crest carried authority equal to the lord’s own presence.

Swish!

The next instant, Captain Jona and all the guards dropped their weapons and knelt on one knee.

“My lord, forgive us for drawing weapons on you,” Jona said, sweat beading on his brow.

Whoever bore the wolf-head crest was either a direct member of the Hughes family or a figure so powerful even the lord himself would seek to court him.

The only known direct members of the Hughes family were the lord, his daughter, and his newborn son—so this man must be the latter.

The thought of having nearly cursed such a person sent cold sweat pouring down Jona’s back.

“Search the brothel. Bring out anyone still alive. Pile the corpses and clear them away.”

Fortunately, the nobleman did not press charges—only gave a cold order.

“Hurry, hurry! Didn’t you hear the lord? Get inside!”

Jona, as if granted divine mercy, rushed in first; the other guards followed quickly.

“What are your plans now?”

After finishing everything, Xia Mingyu turned to the twenty-plus prostitutes behind him and asked softly.

“I want to go home—I miss my parents so much!”

“I’m from Oak Village. My father’s gone, but my younger brother is married—he might take me in.”

“Eddy, I can finally find you.”

“Wahhh! I have no home left!” One prostitute collapsed to the ground, wailing.

Most of the prostitutes were eager to return home, yet some had no home left to return to.

Xia Mingyu counted: twenty-seven prostitutes, eighteen still had homes, but nine had lost everything.

How should he settle these nine women? He couldn’t take them back to Black Wolf Keep as maids—even if Karun wouldn’t mind, it was Karun’s castle, not his.

Xia Mingyu frowned in hesitation.

“Your Highness, I too have long been homeless. I will lead these sisters to open a bakery or laundry in town and spend the rest of our lives there.”

Wu Li spoke softly.

The other eight homeless prostitutes stopped crying and nodded in agreement.

For the weak among them, sticking together was the only way to survive.

“Very well. Those who wish to return home, I will order these guards to escort you safely.”

Xia Mingyu exhaled, speaking firmly.

This was truly the best solution.

“Noble and merciful lord, thank you for rescuing us, these filthy, insignificant rats from hell—we shall pray for your safety every day, may the gods protect you!”

The women, long-suffering and broken, spoke with deep gratitude.

“I do not need anyone to pray for me. If you truly feel gratitude, stop calling yourselves filthy.”

“For a woman’s purity lies not beneath her skirt—if anyone still believes you are tainted, let him come and question my sword.” Xia Mingyu said calmly.

One more chapter coming—today was university registration, so I was delayed, but I’m rushing to finish. Thanks (ω)

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(End of Chapter)