Xiao Wanchang

"Husband, which one caught your eye?"

Baili Qiuyue looked at the ragged slaves standing in front of them, then glanced at Lu Wanyuan.

"Heh heh, Sister-in-law, we should definitely pick the stronger ones. We're hiring servants, after all. What good is one who can't work?"

"I think the man standing at the far left looks perfect!"

Lu Wanhe spoke impatiently from beside them.

At that, Lu Wanyuan and Baili Qiuyue both turned their gaze to the man on the far left. He looked to be in his thirties, his face pale, as if he'd lost too much blood.

He had a sturdy build, and his already-tattered clothes could no longer hide the muscles packed across his body.

Like a bodybuilder, his explosive muscles bulged high!

But the many dark bruises on their surface made it clear he'd been through a fierce fight.

Then they looked at the price tag around his waist and saw that it was marked at a staggering 150 Spirit Stones.

Ordinary slaves usually cost only 10 to 20 Spirit Stones.

"Why is the one on the far left so expensive? Is there something special about him?"

Seeing this, Lu Wanyuan immediately asked in puzzlement.

"Esteemed customer, you certainly have a discerning eye!"

"You can see for yourself how well-built this fellow is. He's a body-tempering cultivator, currently at Qi Refining Layer 5, but with strength equivalent to Qi Refining Layer 9!"

"We lost several of our brothers trying to capture him. This fellow is incredibly tough, so of course we have to make our money back!"

"If you buy him, esteemed customer, he'll be able to do all sorts of work for you. You definitely won't lose out!"

"Is that true or not? You're not trying to swindle me, are you?"

Hearing this, Lu Wanyuan asked, unconvinced.

"Of course it's true. The Good Hope Cape Slave Merchant Guild has an impeccable reputation."

"Think about it. We've been in business for so many years. Would we really ruin our century-old reputation just for 50 Spirit Stones...?"

"Enough. Stop your chatter. We'll take him!"

Lu Wanyuan cut the Tooth Agency man off mid-rant and bought the slave on the spot, then tossed him 150 Spirit Stones.

As soon as he spoke, a gleam appeared in the man's eyes as he stared at Lu Wanyuan. After all, this was to be his future master, and he wanted to get a good look at him.

Otherwise, he might not even know how he died later. The man's gaze flickered, then went blank again, as if he'd never been there at all.

"Mm, esteemed customer, you're certainly decisive. Please take this Control Token. The incantation is written on it; activate it, and you can control the slave!"

"Payment is final. If you lose or damage the Control Token, we won't be responsible for what happens afterward."

After seeing the Spirit Stones Lu Wanyuan handed over, the Tooth Agency man took them.

He immediately pulled a palm-sized token from his robe and handed it to Lu Wanyuan, speaking coldly.

It made sense. These people were slavers; where would they find any sympathy?

It was unlikely that every one of these people was a prisoner. They might just as well have been captured elsewhere specifically to be sold.

Thinking of this, Lu Wanyuan couldn't help sighing. This world was truly chaotic. If you weren't strong enough, you could easily be snatched up by slavers like these and sold somewhere else. You could cry to the heavens and get no answer, call to the earth and get no reply. It was downright terrifying.

Lu Wanyuan took the Control Token from the Tooth Agency man and familiarized himself with the incantation, then activated it.

The man was able to move his limbs again. Lu Wanyuan gestured for him to come down and follow behind them.

Two hours later, Lu Wanyuan had bought several more slaves. Just as they were about to leave, they heard the Tooth Agency man call out again, "Slaves on clearance! Our last 20! If you're interested, hurry over! Don't miss out, or you'll have to wait another three months. One price: 150 Spirit Stones!"

At the sound of his voice, everyone looked over, including Lu Wanyuan and the others.

But after a glance, they all lost interest. The twenty-odd slaves before them were basically the ones everyone else had passed over.

They were probably slaves who'd been rejected time and time again.

The people at the Tooth Agency weren't fools. If slaves like these never sold, their costs would skyrocket.

First, they weren't moving through the business in a timely manner. Second, they needed food every day to keep their bodies going. That was manageable for a short time, but if it dragged on, the costs would soar and they'd lose money. Naturally, they had to find a way to sell them quickly.

That was why they'd slashed the price. Everyone knew the trick, but no one wanted to take home such defective goods.

The ones left behind had been passed over for a reason.

Some were too old and no longer young, while others had severe injuries that would cost a great deal to treat. Still others were missing limbs.

In short, they all had plenty of problems, which was why no one wanted them.

But Lu Wanyuan studied them carefully, turning the matter over in his mind.

Among the twenty-odd slaves before him, several were quite old, nearly sixty. A few were missing arms, and some were blind.

Most importantly, several young women had four- or five-year-old children with them. He truly couldn't bear to look at them.

"Fine. I'll take these too!"

Lu Wanyuan shouted, then took 150 Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and handed them to the man.

"Husband, what are you doing? Why did you buy so many at once?"

Baili Qiuyue was completely dumbfounded. Hadn't they agreed that five slaves would be enough? Now they had thirty in all.

"Dear, don't worry. I'll explain when we get back!"

"Eldest Brother, honestly, what were you thinking? You bought so many all at once. Can you even keep them busy?"

Lu Wanhe chimed in from beside them.

"You brat, what are you thinking? Hurry up and go buy some household supplies. Get plenty. Your sister-in-law and I will head back first!"

Lu Wanyuan glared at Lu Wanhe and immediately sent him off to buy daily necessities.

The people around them saw that Lu Wanyuan had bought so many slaves at once, especially since he looked young, around twenty.

"Is this kid planning to change careers? Why else would he buy so many?"

"I'd say so. Otherwise, why would he buy so many at once?"

"Haha, exactly!"

"Other people buy just a few slaves at a time. This guy goes and buys a whole bunch—and on top of that, he buys the defective ones nobody else wanted!"

"Maybe he's got Spirit Stones to burn..."

"..."

Everyone chattered away, laughing at him.

Baili Qiuyue felt embarrassed, her face turning bright red. She hadn't expected to be ridiculed in front of so many people.

Seeing this, Lu Wanyuan immediately scolded them loudly, his words rattling off like a machine gun.

"You don't have any Spirit Stones, so you're trying to mock us with this kind of trick!"

"You've got it all wrong! Did you really think I'd be fooled by such a clumsy trick? You're underestimating me!"

"So what if I have Spirit Stones? You're just sour grapes, pretending the grapes are sour because you can't get them. You think nobody knows you're all dirt poor, without even a few Spirit Stones to your names."

"If you don't have Spirit Stones, then just watch quietly. Why keep yapping away? Are you trying to show off your superiority?"

"I'm willing to spend my Spirit Stones on stupid things!"

"The problem is that you don't have any Spirit Stones. You couldn't do something stupid even if you wanted to. Yet here you are, passing judgment on everyone. I don't know what gives you the nerve..."

After Lu Wanyuan tore into them and exposed their poverty, everyone fell silent and began to leave.

Then a boy who looked around eighteen, fair and clean-cut, stepped forward of his own accord.

"Mm, so you're Eldest Brother. You certainly have a sharp tongue!"

"You are?"

Lu Wanyuan was a little bewildered. Who was this fellow, just walking up and acting like they were relatives?

"Hello, I'm Xiao Wanchang. My mother is Ouyang Tingting of Green Bamboo Peak. You know that, right?"

Xiao Wanchang spoke as if he were certain Lu Wanyuan would accept him.

At that, Lu Wanyuan immediately glanced at Lu Wanhe beside him.

The name Ouyang Tingting had just been mentioned. For nearly two years, he hadn't dared forget how he'd been forced to leave the mountain back then. His mind exploded with memories.

But the situation was unclear. Though a thousand horses galloped through his heart, he kept his expression calm.

Seeing this, Lu Wanhe nodded to confirm that it was true.