Chapter 534: 488 Simple and Unadorned

With a shout, two tall servants entered and said to the servant from before, "The manager has ordered to select three ordinary Sword Slaves for use."

That servant looked as if granted amnesty, hurriedly stepped back, distanced himself from Chi Mingjing, took out a ring of keys, and opened a pen. Chi Mingjing did not press further, but instead took a step back.

He dragged three children out from inside and handed them to the newcomers.

Chi Mingjing noticed that he had not chosen them at random, but had selected the candidates from the start—at least two of the little girls were like this. Then, perhaps because he was not fully prepared and had not readied a third person, he simply grabbed a boy to make up the number and pushed them all to the newcomers.

This series of actions was like throwing a large stone into stagnant water, instantly breaking the deathly silence; the children in the courtyard all trembled, and suppressed sobbing erupted everywhere.

The servant who selected the people barked, "What are you crying for? Shut your mouths. Their fate has arrived; the sooner it ends, the sooner they can be reborn as people again. If you have the luck, you might pass this tribulation at the foot of the mountain and still be a person when sent outside; I only fear you lack that fortune!"

When he said this, most of the children did not understand, but the two servants who came to collect the people were displeased and cursed, "Old Laomatou, what nonsense are you spouting again? 'Only outside is a person'? We are all servants in the manor; are you a person?"

That Laomatou hurriedly apologized, and the two cursed and grumbled as they dragged the three sobbing children away.

Chi Mingjing watched silently, not moving at all. She was as indifferent as those who picked the slaves.

In truth, she had never been a soft-hearted person, nor was she a compassionate one.

At least in these years, she considered herself already very cold-hearted.

Ever since her teacher died, Chi Mingjing had wandered the pugilistic world alone, struggling between black and white; not to mention having a heart like iron and stone, she did not even know how much fresh blood had stained her hands. She would not even be moved upon seeing human traffickers transporting children.

Otherwise? If she saved a child out of a moment of kindness, where would she send them to be raised? It was difficult enough for her to support herself.

Since she was powerless, it was better to be indifferent from the start.

Just as Baorenwu said, she pretended to be selling herself to do odd jobs in the traffickers' group, and even took care of the boys and girls being sold, without showing any sympathy, not inviting suspicion at all. At that time, she was truly able to control herself.

However, she did not expect that the Baorenwu she encountered happened to be the younger brother of Baorenxing, who had trafficked her back then, and she was the one saved by her teacher during that incident. This experience was her weak spot; once touched, it was hard to remain calm.

With her heart surging, her emotions went out of control, and she nearly killed Baorenwu and his party to the last man. After losing control, she could not find the state of "still water in the heart" she had before; she was like an egg—the shell was hard, but once a crack was knocked into it, there was a risk of shattering.

Just now, she could not let go of the girl in her hands; one reason was that she remembered the time she was trafficked, and the other was that during a period of emotional fragility, it was inevitable to act on impulse.

But Chi Mingjing was a ruthless person; she sensed her own abnormality and would not allow herself to remain so fragile. Once her resolve was set, she immediately blocked her emotions, and looking at other tragedies happening before her eyes, she remained composed. At first, she had to endure it, but after adjusting, she returned to complete calm.

Lowering her head to look at the girl who appeared wooden, she hesitated slightly, thinking: My teacher was also a resolute and heartless person, yet she saved me out of a moment of kindness on the road; it shows that occasional soft-heartedness is not a big deal, as long as one does not let it go unchecked.

She then pulled the girl in her hand and said, "Let's go."

The two left the small courtyard and headed toward Chi Mingjing's living quarters.

On the way, Chi Mingjing asked, "What is your name?"

The girl, who had been expressionless like a ghost the whole way, opened her mouth, her voice clear and cold, and said, "My name is Feng Zhilie."

Chi Mingjing was clearly shaken by this name, but she could not imagine any absurd possibilities; instead, she explained it to herself: "So that's it, were you raised as a boy in your family, so you were given a man's scholarly name? You must come from a good family, you weren't sold by your family, were you?"

Feng Zhilie adjusted her state, and instantly her large eyes became watery, as if tears were shimmering, and she said, "Yes, I wasn't sold by my family, I was caught by bad people. I was perfectly fine at home... my home is over a thousand miles away, I don't know when I'll be able to go back."

She added a sentence in her heart: The bad person is the Gaoyuan Marquis, and that brat Tang Zhao, who treats me like livestock. I'm already dead, yet they still make me take on such a big job, running thousands of miles to this godforsaken place.

Chi Mingjing's heart stirred, wanting to comfort her that she could send her back in the future, but then she stopped, thinking: Whether the matter here can succeed, even whether I am alive or dead is uncertain, why say more? If it succeeds, my long-cherished wish will be fulfilled, I will be light of heart, and sending her home will be a mere trifle; if it cannot succeed, I will send her out, just as my teacher released me back then; whatever the fate, it all depends on providence.

As they were walking, she saw two young servants in green robes coming toward them. Chi Mingjing was secretly surprised, recognizing them as the two personal attendants by the side of the YoungMaster; one was called Weise, and the one surnamed Jiang seemed to be ranked eighth, known as Brother Ba, who supposedly had a very imposing and tongue-twisting name, but she did not remember it.

According to her observations, although these two were young and neither was a Sword Guest, they should be the YoungMaster's true confidants, and all important matters were handled by them.

The two sides brushed past each other; that Jiang Bage showed no reaction, Weise nodded in greeting, and Chi Mingjing also nodded politely: among this group of people, she still had a better impression of Weise, because his words and actions were the closest to a normal person.

Seeing the two enter the courtyard where the slaves were kept, Chi Mingjing was curious, and finally turned back, following behind; even through the wall, she could hear the commotion inside.

She heard that Jiangba inside say, "These are all the YoungMaster's property; who allowed you to dispose of them privately? Aha, the YoungMaster has arrived, and you don't wait for his orders, coming and going—did you get the YoungMaster's permission? You are insane; is it that you have no days left to profit, so you are in a hurry to make one last haul?"

The person inside said a few words in a subservient tone, and Jiangba's voice rose another octave, saying, "Grand Steward? Is the Grand Steward greater than the YoungMaster? You're pulling the tiger's skin to scare me; who the hell are you trying to frighten..."

Then she heard a chaotic clatter of ping-pong-pang, as if things were being smashed, along with Weise's voice trying to mediate. Finally, Jiangba said, "You better get it straight: whose place is this? Everything from top to bottom belongs to the YoungMaster alone. If you try to use the Grand Steward or the Second Steward to pressure people again, I'll let you know the power of your Eighth Master! From today on, the people in this courtyard are under Weise's management, and you are also under him. Just work honestly; if you aren't honest, if you are beaten to death, is there anyone who will seek justice for you?"

Chi Mingjing found it somewhat amusing, thinking: Is this how wealthy families seize power? Is it a bit crude?

But then again, the highest-end struggles often only require simple and unadorned means. The YoungMaster is legitimate; if the manpower he brought has enough strength, then isn't anything possible?

Regardless, whether it is the YoungMaster seizing power or dogs biting dogs and black eating black, if this cage can be pried open a crack, Chi Mingjing is naturally happy to see it.

At this time, Jiangba slammed the door and came out, while Weise stayed behind. Chi Mingjing guessed he was going back to report, and suddenly said, "Eighth Master—"

Jiangba turned his head, looked at her with some surprise, and said, "No need to be polite, just call me Brother Ba. What is it?"

Chi Mingjing said, "They have another place, which should be where they specifically turn slaves into Sword Slaves. I just saw a few children being taken away; do you want to take it over?"

Jiangba said, "There's such a thing?" As he spoke, he turned back, then dragged the servant who watched the slaves out, saying, "Lead the way, to that place where Sword Slaves are made."

That servant hurriedly begged, "It's not that this small one won't go, but according to the rules, this small one cannot go there. By the rules, only first-class house slaves can go there; whichever foot a person of my status steps in with, that foot will be chopped off."

Jiangba sneered, "What rules? Which lifetime's rules? What sword from a previous dynasty can behead an official of the current dynasty? You just go; the YoungMaster's rule has always been: whoever is obedient gets benefits; as for those who are disobedient, let alone first-class or second-class, they won't even have a share of the lowest class."

He pressed hard, and the servant had no choice but to lead the way, trembling.

In fact, how big could a dyeing business be? It was just one courtyard away. Upon reaching the courtyard gate, one could hear moaning coming from inside.

The sound was not loud, but it was not because it was not painful; rather, their mouths were blocked, and the sound could not be emitted, only muffled whimpering. Yet, the few people outside, except for that servant, all had extremely sharp ears; the sound drilled into their ears like needles, making their whole bodies uncomfortable.

Jiangba put on a full display of "the dog acting on the master's power," stepped forward, raised his foot, and with a *slap*, kicked the door flying.

Inside the small courtyard, cabinets were arranged one by one, all made of miscellaneous wood and thin boards, looking just like coffins. One of them was open, and a burly man was stuffing a child, who was bound and gagged, into the cabinet.

Another burly man was sitting on a bench in the courtyard, next to a table piled with materials of various shapes, and at his feet sat two children, paralyzed like wooden chickens, tears and snot flowing.

Seeing Jiangba, Chi Mingjing, Feng Zhilie, and that servant enter, the burly man did not react in time and blurted out, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into the forbidden area?"

Jiangba shouted, "I am your ancestor... ptooey, the hell, how could I have such a beastly grandson? I am sent by the YoungMaster! This place is under my management now; get out of my way."

After saying this, without bothering with the burly man shouting at him, he first kicked, sending the burly man who was stuffing the person into the coffin flying.

That burly man had also studied martial arts for a few days and had the consciousness to resist, but his body could not keep up; his eyes blurred, and he had already been kicked in the face, flying into a tree nearby and hanging upside down from a branch.

On this side, Jiangba did not stop, immediately kicking the other burly man down. Seeing that the burly man was about to fall onto the table, he caught a glimpse of the many materials on the table, felt a sense of wonder in his heart, and reached out, actually grabbing the person at the critical moment and throwing him aside, without knocking over the table full of materials.

On this side, Chi Mingjing stepped forward, pulled out the girl who had been stuffed halfway in, and reached out to take the cloth from her mouth.

The servant behind hurriedly stopped her, "Wait, don't take it yet..."

But he spoke too late; Chi Mingjing had already removed the cloth, and the child's sharp, miserable scream pierced the eardrums!