Human Traffickers

Chapter 17: Human Traffickers

Even on Blue Star, practicing martial arts was a difficult and tiring endeavor.

Lu Li trained with great enthusiasm, sweating profusely for an entire day.

By the second day, the soreness was unbearable. Moving a single finger sent sharp pains for half the day, and he almost couldn't get out of bed.

Conversely, his spirit was exceptionally full.

It was only 5 AM, but Lu Li was completely free of drowsiness, his mind incredibly active.

He closed his eyes and visualized the "Pine Stillness Diagram." He succeeded in just one minute, and was even able to keep the image from dissipating in his Sea of Consciousness.

It was clear his mental strength had increased again.

Lu Li couldn't help but sigh, "If only Martial Arts cultivation were this easy."

Unlike the exhausting practice of martial arts, Spirit Refining only required lighting an incense stick, and then pouring one's spirit into a Magic Treasure while inhaling the fragrance.

The difficulty between the two was like night and day.

Lu Li endured the stinging pain and stood up, walking out of the room with an awkward gait.

The courtyard was bathed in sunlight, and birds chirped merrily.

Xiao Cha was already practicing her punches.

The set of punches she performed today was different from her usual routine. Her movements were broad and powerful, her slender arms whipping out like lashes, creating a continuous series of sonic booms.

Sometimes, when she made a large movement, her fair and rosy waist would be revealed, with hints of a sexy set of abs.

Seeing Lu Li approach, Xiao Cha smiled, revealing her small, pearly white canine teeth.

"Oh, you actually came. I thought you wouldn't be able to keep it up~"

"How could I let down Master Xiao Cha's teachings."

He replied with a smile, then rounded his arms and assumed a stance to begin practicing.

"Lu Li, which country did you return from?"

"Mexico."

"Oh, I've heard of it. It's a country on the American continent. Why did you come back?"

"Traveling."

During breaks, they would also chat a few times.

Lu Li increasingly felt that the two worlds were extremely similar, with all the same countries existing in both.

After a few rounds of practice, Lu Li was about to ask why he hadn't seen Wan Qing.

As if by telepathy, in the next second, Wan Qing appeared at the entrance of the medical hall, carrying a bag of herbs.

Behind her followed about ten children, also dragging large bags of herbs.

Lu Li asked curiously, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Cha replied, "Wan Qing took on a job processing medicinal herbs. She invited Tong Shao and the others along to teach them a skill to make a living."

Tong Shao was the little beggar they had met on the street earlier.

The children, looking pale and thin, were carefully selecting herbs under Wan Qing's guidance.

However, the sun was scorching hot. Wan Qing's face was flushed red, and sweat trickled down her smooth neck like dew.

Lu Li didn't want to see the young lady suffer and frowned, "Why take on such a job on a hot day?"

Xiao Cha scratched her head. "Wan Qing also wants to earn some more money... It's not good to always be taking advantage of you."

"Sigh, there's no need to be so polite."

Lu Li immediately understood and walked towards Wan Qing.

When the group of children saw him approaching, instead of the innocence they should have possessed, they fearfully lowered their heads.

Only the little girl with the pigtail standing up, named "Tong Shao," boldly sized him up.

Lu Li smiled gently and then said, "Miss Wan Qing, I still have some spare funds, enough for cultivation. Please don't overwork yourself."

Wan Qing tucked a sweat-soaked strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "I already owe Young Master Lu so much. Please let me help as much as I can."

Lu Li, not wanting to refuse the young lady's kindness, turned to persuade her instead.

"Then please focus more of your energy on cultivation. I still need to ask you for advice when I encounter something I don't understand."

"Mhm, I understand," Wan Qing nodded with a smile.

Lu Li nodded, turned, and left to continue practicing martial arts.

As soon as he left, Tong Shao chirped, "Sister Wan Qing, who is this? Your lover? He's so handsome, and he really dotes on you..."

Wan Qing rubbed her little head and smiled without a word.

After that, Tong Shao's big, dark eyes kept stealing glances at Lu Li.

When it was time to rest, she even solicitously brought over a jug of water.

"Thank you."

Lu Li thanked her politely and took it to drink.

Seeing how gentle he was, Tong Shao blinked her innocent big eyes and blurted out a string of questions:

"My name is Tong Shao~ What's yours~ You're so pale~ Are you a young master from a wealthy family?"

"My name is Lu Li, just an ordinary person."

The little girl was lively and cute, and Lu Li was about to reach out and pinch her pigtail...

But she was very wary, covered her pigtail, and ran off.

Xiao Cha chuckled from the side, "This little girl darts around like a monkey, and she's so quick with her words. She really likes you, though."

Lu Li gave a faint smile, suddenly feeling that a peaceful life in this other world was quite nice.

But just then, two burly men entered the medical hall's main entrance.

They wore tight-fitting clothes, had full beards, and looked strong and powerful, but their expressions were extremely sinister. When they stared at people, they looked like hungry wolves.

As soon as the children saw them, they showed fear. Even the most lively Tong Shao cowered.

Xiao Cha immediately leaped forward, pointed at their noses, and yelled, "Wang Wen! Wang Wu! You two human traffickers dare to come here? Are you looking for death!"

Human traffickers are people who sell people.

The two brothers who had arrived stared at the group of children and Wan Qing with looks of intense greed!

Their expressions and demeanor were no different from gangsters in Mexico, as if all the bullies in the world had the same disgusting faces.

Lu Li silently stood beside Xiao Cha.

At this moment, Wang Wen said with a fake smile, "Calm down, Officer Luo. You're not in the Organ Refining realm yet. Killing someone will cost you your life~"

"At worst, we'll just part ways with you, you beast! It'll save you from harming children!"

Xiao Cha's pretty face turned icy. She wiped her waist and drew out a Nine-Section Whip!

With a flick of her arm, the whip transformed into a silver dragon, erupting with a loud "Pa!" sound!

Wang Wen's expression changed slightly, showing a hint of apprehension. But he quickly suppressed it and said fearlessly, "Let Officer Luo know, we're here on official business representing the [Tooth Brokerage]!"

Wang Wen took out a piece of paper from his pocket and continued, "The Gear Factory is recruiting child laborers. Do any of these beggars want to go?"

Human traffickers sometimes did work similar to labor dispatch.

Xiao Cha coldly took the paper and looked at it. It was indeed a recruitment advertisement for child laborers, with no wages, only room and board.

Hiring child laborers was common in those days; some entered factories at five or six years old.

But Xiao Cha didn't trust the people in front of her.

She crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it at Wang Wen's face, sneering, "If they want to go, I'll have them sign up at the match factory themselves. You can get lost."

Seeing that Xiao Cha had touched and looked at the paper, a barely perceptible joy appeared on the two brothers' faces.

Wang Wen feigned indignation, "Officer Luo, that's not very nice of you..."

"Not nice? It's better than you sending them to a workhouse or a brothel," Xiao Cha said coldly.

"After doing so many wicked deeds, be careful your ancestors' graves aren't dug up one day."

Hearing this, Wang Wu, who had been silent the whole time, showed a fierce look and reached for his waist.

Wang Wen grabbed his brother's hand and said with a half-smile, "Alright, Officer Luo is busy. We'll meet again someday."

The two turned to leave, but before they did, Wang Wu stared intently at Wan Qing for a long while.