Crack!
Excruciating pain exploded in an instant. The soldier let out a scream and staggered back in misery, a bloody welt instantly splitting across the back of his hand.
A frontier commander clad in gilded armor reined in his horse. Holding a riding whip, he swept his cold gaze over the gathered soldiers and barked, "Insolence! Who gave you the nerve?"
The agitated soldiers immediately fell silent, hastily concealing their greedy expressions and obediently retreating to either side. Yet they still unwillingly stole glances at the prison cart.
One soldier remained dissatisfied and lowered his voice to probe, "General, they're just a few lowly women. The brothers only wanted a little fun!"
The commander sneered, his face full of disdain and arrogance. "Lowly women? No matter how lowly they are, they're goods reserved by those above!"
He raised his hand and pointed toward the central command tent, his tone cold and domineering. "Five Royal Clan lords are stationed here. These women were specially rounded up as tributes for the lords to choose from and enjoy! They haven't had their fill yet. Do you think it's your turn to touch them?"
With those words, the surrounding soldiers fell completely silent, no longer daring to stir.
Everyone knew perfectly well that this was the rule at Yu Kingdom's border.
Low-ranking soldiers fought desperately and guarded the bitterly cold frontier, shedding blood and sweat upon the battlefield. Yet all beauties, resources, and benefits were forever supplied first to the five Human Immortal members of the Royal Clan who held great power.
Mortal lives and respectable women were, in their eyes, nothing more than toys for those above to amuse themselves with—insects that could be discarded at will.
The commander swept a cold glance over the crowd and shouted again, "Disperse and return to