Chapter 3: Wu Tenglan?

( ) The women's area on the right, like the men's area, is divided into sub‑areas within the larger zone, sorted by profession: Blade Badge Warrior, Long Spearman, Long Knife wielder, Short Knife wielder, War Halberd wielder, swordsman, bow‑and‑crossbow users… everything is present.

Li Bucai exclaimed that this place is absolutely a beauty exhibition hall unmatched anywhere else, encompassing every type of beauty: pure, delicate, elegant, genteel, sunny, healthy, stunning, charming, cold‑elegant, dignified, pretty‑lively, refined, fragile, sensual‑wild, obedient, graceful, noble, mournful…

The various beauties are overwhelming.

I really want to enlist all the beauties into **'s team, but funds are limited, so I can only temporarily pick a few most favored; the future is long.

"Bro, you want beauties, huh?" The voice was coarse, a bit like a male duck's croak.

Li Bucai was about to ask when someone patted his shoulder; turning around, he saw a lord of about the same age, whose looks were a bit sleazy, especially against the backdrop of the beauties.

"Big brother, you clearly have great taste; what do you think of the one behind me compared with the beauties here?" The duck‑like voice said, then slipped aside.

At once a Leather‑armored girl caught his eye; Li Bucai involuntarily inhaled a cold breath, and his gaze froze on her face in an instant.

The girl appeared no older than eighteen, with slender beautiful legs, round plump hips, a delicate waist, and a pair of protrusions that made one salivate at a glance; her features included eyes so indifferent they seemed untouched by the mortal world, a finely chiseled nose bridge, cherry‑like luscious crimson lips, a flawless face like fresh milk, making it hard to look away.

"How about it? Absolutely a masterpiece!"

Li Bucai swallowed: "You... what do you mean?" The one behind him, indicating he was his man.

"Big brother, I have no other intention; I see you appreciate beauty, so I plan to give her to you—a set of Leather Armor, a Hardwood Longbow, plus Fivefold Precision, all for 40 silver, yours."

Li Bucai weighed the silver in his hand and said helplessly, "I want it, but I'm a newcomer and can't afford such a price."

The duck‑voiced man pulled him aside, lowering his voice as much as possible: "Big brother, you're not afraid I'd... you know, get her? Rest assured, I swear to the heavens I've never touched a single hair of hers."

Li Bucai was stunned, wondering if these beauties could... which made him want them even more, but then he thought: there are no top‑tier stunning beauties here; he didn't know where the man got her. The locals only have weapons, no armor. That set of gear plus Fivefold Precision would cost at least 30 silver for anyone here. According to Zheng Zheng, bow‑crossbow users start with only Single Precision, and reaching Fivefold Precision requires time to train. It seemed this man had arrived early. A beauty like this for 40 silver means the duck‑voiced seller is definitely making a loss; a loss‑making deal implies either a defective item or some hidden issue.

"I want it, but I'm lacking money, not people. How about you calculate… can you give me 15 silver? If you give it, I'll take it," Li Bucai mimicked his Northeastern accent.

"Damn, stop mimicking me!" The duck‑voiced man, hearing the price, snapped: "Big brother, just walk around here and pick— is there anyone prettier than her? I'd have to bite my teeth to part with 40 silver. You lack money; I lack it even more. You give me 15 silver, you expect me to jump off a floating island?"

"Big brother, I truly want it, but I really don't have enough money— I can only spare 15 silver."

"Big brother, I spent 40 silver buying her from someone else; when I first got her she had nothing, so I specially equipped her with that gear and even a fine horse. Now I'm asking you 40 silver just for the gear with skills, and you're haggling. I truly lack money; otherwise I couldn't possibly sell."

"Big brother, you've been duped; what's in your hands is no longer that thing."

The man hurried, "Big brother, I never touched her; how could she not be a virgin?"

"So you're saying you have the first-hand? Where did you buy it? How much exactly?"

The man made a smiling face, scratched his head and said, "Damn, I accidentally let you snag her. Fine, I bought her from the market administrator— isn't that also someone else's? When I first arrived they gave…". He meant to say they gave her to him for free, but stopped and corrected, "I arrived half a month before you; back then the market wasn't crowded, everyone was at the administrator's stall. He presented her to me for selection. My body was frail, so I thought having a beauty would be enough. I didn't want the beauties around me doing heavy work, so I chose the men, hehe. Actually I didn't know she could be used; I thought picking the prettiest would prove my devotion. Later I learned, but it was too late, now I regret it. I'm a hot‑blooded type; soft approaches don't work, only hard ones. Her skill is too high, and she even shot an arrow into my backside. I forgot to buy a golden wound‑healing pill, and after half a month of cultivation I spent all my money, leaving only a little travel fund, so I came here to sell her, otherwise I can't return. Big brother, please help me."

Li Bucai thought to himself: this person must have been sent from the castle; we were probably catching the last train, so we didn't get such treatment.

"You mean I should spend 40 silver to buy her as eye candy, let her stick a needle in my backside, then I also cultivate for half a month and find a fool to sell her to? Why don't you sell her to someone else?"

If he could sell her to others, he certainly wouldn't have come to Li Bucai; although she's a top‑class beauty, others would only be able to look at her, not make use of her. The many beauties here, though slightly inferior in allure, are all first‑rate, so who still wants a mere vase.

The duck‑voiced man hurried, "I have no one usable by my side now; there is one I wouldn't sell to you either. You, being new, surely have plenty. Big brother, help me, otherwise if I keep holding back I'll burst a nosebleed and die; saving a life is worth building a seventh‑tier pagoda."

"Alright, I'll take the 15 silver, consider it buying a vase."

The duck‑voiced man indeed seemed eager to swap people; he bit his teeth and said, "Yes, you newcomers aren't flush either, big brother. How about this: I take the gear back, you give me a bit extra, so I don't lose too much?"

"If it's only for looking, you take the gear back; 10 silver would be fine."

"Her aptitude is absolutely top‑tier, Fivefold Precision, half a month to train; I'm already prepared to hang myself."

"Why don't you sell her back to the market?"

"The best sales are between lords; the market's buy‑back price is so low it could make you vomit blood."

Li Bucai said, "I can get something both viewable and usable for 10 silver; I want that gear of yours, spend 15 silver on a vase. You can buy two on the first floor; the beauties there aren't much worse in allure. Otherwise… give me the gear back for 15 silver?"

The man pondered for a while, then stamped his foot and said, "Eye‑greedy, stomach‑burning, unseen eyes are not annoyed; so big brother, final offer: give me 20 silver and it's yours."

Seeing his frantic demeanor, Li Bucai felt some sympathy, and more importantly, the girl was truly captivating. "Fine, 20 silver is 20 silver," he approached her and asked, "Your lord wants to transfer you to my command; what do you think?"

The girl remained expressionless, gave a faint "Hmm."

Li Bucai finally pulled out 20 silver coins from his pocket and handed them to him; the girl also returned the Leather Armor to that man.

The duck‑voiced man finally sold her, exultant: "Damn, let the devoted one die, now I can pair four; step outside and beauties are all around, so badass, haha, almost lost the one behind. Thanks, bro, I'm Qian Feng, in Territory 9528, and you?"

Unexpectedly his neighbor across the river, Li Bucai replied, "Shalan River South Bank, Territory 9527, Li Bucai."

"Fate, then, as neighbors, you helped me today; if you ever want to go to sea, the east side I won't block—you may use my waters, I'll charge you no tax."

"Then thank you in advance."

"Alright, that's it for now; I'm hurrying to the first floor to select beauties, see you later."

Li Bucai saw him dash out of the market, waited until he vanished at the doorway, then turned to the girl: "I'm Li Bucai, call me whatever you like, and you?"

The girl, maintaining her calm expression, performed a Master‑Servant Salute and said softly, "Reporting, my lord, subordinate Wu Tenglan."

"Eh?!!!!" The name made Li Bucai break into a cold sweat.

"How…" The girl sensed his odd expression and added, "This name was given by the previous lord; my original name is Wu Zhuoran. If my lord doesn't like it, you may give me another name."

Li Bucai said, "Better keep Zhuoran; it suits your temperament, so stick with the original name."

Wu Zhuoran gave a faint "Hmm."

Li Bucai said, "I've just arrived at Sky City, still unaware of what our territory looks like. Right now my only subordinate is you; I'd like to recruit more, but our funds are limited. Do you have any suggestions?" He wanted his subordinates to feel involved, and since she's from here, perhaps she could offer good advice.

"May I ask whether my lord prefers civil or martial?"

"You mean me personally?"

"Hmm."

"Both are fine; if forced to choose, I prefer martial."

"If it's martial, may I ask whether my lord has ever been to the library?" Wu Zhuoran, usually terse, only speaks when it concerns business.

"Not yet."

【55】 Wu Zhuoran said, "The library contains Lord's Skills, divided into civil and martial categories. The civil side focuses on politics; the martial side is split into Military Section and Strategy Section. The Military Section includes the Vajra with massive defense, the War God with stunning attack, the Rapid Wind with swift reach, the Hundred‑step Piercing Yang, and the Mystic Gate that controls Nature. The Strategy Section covers various formations for horses, infantry, chariots, and ships. May I ask which type of the Military Section my lord prefers?"

Wu Zhuoran said: "In the library there are Lord's Skills, divided into civil and martial categories; the civil category is mainly politics, the martial category is split into the Military Section and the Strategy Section. The Military Section includes the highly protective Vajra, the astonishingly powerful War God, the swift and agile Rapid Wind, the hundred‑step piercing‑willow Divine Archer, and the mysterious art that controls Nature. The Strategy Section mainly covers various military formations of horse, foot, chariot, and ship. May I ask which type of the Military Section you, esteemed lord, prefer?"