The Holy Maiden's Disciple

Zhu Zhuqing said, "They're grabbing us to sell to someone."

"Sell?" Su Yan's heart sank. "Sell to who?"

"Sounds like it's all the same person." Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, then continued, "I heard them say they're sending us all over in a couple of days. No idea where exactly."

"Alright." Su Yan said, seeing her lower her head, a bit dejected, so he offered comfort, "That's great. You've given me some very useful information."

Su Yan got up and asked the children nearby, going through over a dozen one by one.

Most had been abducted while their families took them to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain soul rings.

Only a few had gotten separated from their families and were taken.

Su Yan recalled the Bearded Man outside the Soul Hunting Forest. He'd thought something was off about their group at the time.

Now he thought about it, what a sin it was that he hadn't let his master deal with them then.

He looked down at his own hands.

There was one hurdle he hadn't crossed yet.

Killing.

He wasn't sure if he could kill those who deserved death without any psychological burden.

--

"You goddamn moron!" Lord Xiao kicked the man kneeling on the ground. "Why the hell did you lock him up with those kids!"

"Lord Xiao, I..." The man stammered, unable to speak.

"You heard it too. He's Ma Xiunuo's man. Someone you can just ship off casually?" Lord Xiao's anger flared, and he smashed the wooden table beside him with a palm strike. "That brat almost ruined Chenyu's chance to get into Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy. And you, you toss him in the Woodshed. Are you trying to ruin the whole thing?"

"I..."

"Report!"

A servant rushed into the main hall and knelt, saying, "Lord City Lord, Ma Xiunuo, the Hall Master of Martial Soul Hall, is here."

"I'll deal with you later." Lord Xiao walked out of the main hall and followed the servant to the entrance.

Hall Master Ma Xiunuo had heard from Tang Chi that Su Yan was taken away by Enforcers. He rushed to the Enforcer Hall, but all the Enforcers inside said they hadn't been to the Soul Master Academy today.

He hurriedly rushed to the Soul Master Academy.

At the academy, Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy was recruiting. It took him a long time to get the situation from Director Su, and then he rushed nonstop to the City Lord's Mansion.

At the City Lord's Mansion gate, Lord Xiao cupped his fists and smiled. "Hall Master Ma Xiunuo, long time no see. What wind blows you to my humble abode?"

"Where is Su Yan?" Hall Master Ma Xiunuo said in a low voice.

Lord Xiao looked puzzled. "Su Yan? There doesn't seem to be a child named Su in our mansion."

"The one you had taken from the Soul Master Academy."

"Oh, that one." Lord Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't he suspected of taking a Forbidden Pill and taken away by the Enforcers? Why are you looking for him here?"

Ma Xiunuo stared at his face and said coldly, "Lord Xiao, I advise you not to play dumb. Su Yan is not only a member of Martial Soul Hall, he is also the disciple of the Holy Maiden. If you dare touch him, you will face not only Martial Soul Hall but also the Holy Maiden's wrath."

"Hall Master Ma Xiunuo, don't be so aggressive." Lord Xiao's temper also flared. "The person isn't here with me. Your Enforcers lost him. Don't try to pin it on me."

"Hmph. You'd better watch yourself!" Hall Master Ma Xiunuo clenched his fists and left with a flick of his sleeves.

Everyone only saw Su Yan taken away by the Enforcers, but no one saw him enter the City Lord's Mansion.

If he forced a search, not only was Hall Master Ma Xiunuo's strength on par with Lord Xiao's, but even if he could get in to search, they might have Su Yan locked up somewhere else, and then he'd be bitten back.

Hall Master Ma Xiunuo returned to Martial Soul Hall in a rage, locked himself in his office, and refused to see anyone.

At the City Lord's Mansion gate, Lord Xiao's face also turned cold.

How could a disciple of the Martial Soul Hall's Holy Maiden be in a border city like Notting City?

Maybe that old fox Ma Xiunuo was bluffing, but his tone didn't sound fake.

He went back to the main hall and beat that man again.

Just then, seven people walked in from outside, each carrying a burlap sack.

One of them, a scrawny man with yellow teeth, laughed. "Lord Xiao, here are six kids and one woman. The kids are all under ten and have reached level ten. As for the woman, heh heh, the boys have been craving some fun."

"Do what you want with the woman. Throw the kids in the back Woodshed." Lord Xiao said, taking the money pouch from his belt and tossing it to the scrawny man.

"I trust Lord Xiao's character. You wouldn't cheat us brothers." The man jingled the money pouch, grinned, and said, "Then we'll take our leave."

The seven men carried the sacks to the Woodshed in the back.

Su Yan was meditating. Sensing movement, he opened his eyes, one hand on the ground, the other at his waist.

The Woodshed door opened, and six more children were thrown in.

Su Yan looked outside and saw a familiar face.

That Bearded Man.

The Bearded Man seemed to see Su Yan too. His pupils suddenly contracted, and he pointed at Su Yan, saying, "Boss, that..."

The Yellow-Toothed Man followed his gaze, saw Su Yan, and his heart skipped a beat.

They feigned calm as they closed the woodshed door and hurried back to their quarters in the Lord's mansion, from which came the sound of a woman's sobbing.

The Yellow-Toothed Man rushed in to find one of his brothers about to undress. He called out, "Forget the woman. We need to leave now."

"Boss, I haven't even had my fun yet."

No sooner had the Short Fat Man finished speaking than the Yellow-Toothed Man smacked him hard on the head. "Life or woman? Listen to me. We go now."

The Short Fat Man reluctantly dressed, and the seven of them returned to the main hall.

Lord Xiao was somewhat surprised to see them back. "Is there something else?"

"Lord Xiao, we brothers have made a fair bit of money lately. We thought we'd try our luck elsewhere."

Lord Xiao narrowed his eyes. "Is the reward not enough?"

The Yellow-Toothed Man continued, "Lord Xiao, to be honest, I just saw a kid in the woodshed. He'd been to the Soul Hunting Forest too, but we didn't dare make a move."

"Why?" A bad feeling suddenly stirred in Lord Xiao's heart.

"The woman with him—she's a seven-ring Soul Saint! We brothers tailed them the whole way, but we had no chance and didn't dare try."

"Hiss—" Lord Xiao sucked in a cold breath. Could it really be as Ma Xiunuo the Hall Master had said?

"Lord Xiao, we'll take our leave then." The seven men hurried off, not once looking back as they left Notting City.

After they were gone, Lord Xiao paced restlessly back and forth in the main hall.

He continued like this until nightfall.

Outside the main hall, a man in a white robe and a bamboo hat walked in. "Lord Xiao, long time no see. Has your son felt any effect from the Strength Pill?"

"To answer Master, Chenyu has already broken through to level twelve and is almost at thirteen."

"Good. As agreed, tonight I've come to take the children away."

"Do you think the one taking us away will come tonight?" Su Yan sat on the ground, a stalk of straw dangling from his mouth.

"I don't know." Zhu Zhuqing was clearly more relaxed now, at least no longer burying her head tightly in her knees.

Su Yan crouched by the door and peered out. Outside was pitch black, with only the occasional flash of moonlight.

"You two wait here. I'll go find someone outside. Tonight, we're all going to Martial Soul Hall—we'll be safe there." As he spoke, Su Yan pressed his ear tightly against the woodshed door.

"Su Yan, how are you going to get out?" Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously. "There's a huge brass lock on the outside."

"Hehe." Su Yan grinned. "This humble one has his ways!"