The Holy Maiden's Apprentice

Zhu Zhuqing said, "They captured us to sell us to someone else."

"Sell us?" Su Yan's heart sank. "To whom?"

"It seems they're all going to the same person." Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together and thought for a moment before continuing, "I heard them say they'd send all of us over in a couple of days, but I don't know where."

"Okay." Su Yan saw her lower her head, looking dejected, and reassured her, "You did great. That was really useful information."

Su Yan got to his feet and questioned the children nearby, asking more than a dozen of them one by one.

Most had been abducted while their families were taking them to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain Soul Rings.

Only a few had been abducted after getting separated from their families.

Su Yan thought of the bearded man outside the Soul Hunting Forest. He'd sensed something was off when he saw their group back then.

Thinking about it now, it was a real mistake not to have his master deal with them.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

There was still one hurdle he hadn't overcome.

Killing.

He wasn't sure if he could kill those bastards without feeling the slightest qualm.

"You damn idiot!" Lord Xiao kicked the man kneeling on the ground. "Why did you lock him up with those children?"

"Lord Xiao, I..." The man stammered, unable to get the words out.

"You heard him. He's one of Ma Xiunuo's people. Do you think you can just send him away?" Lord Xiao's anger flared. He slammed his palm down, shattering the wooden table beside him. "That kid almost ruined Chenyu's chance to attend the Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy, and you went and threw him in the woodshed. Are you trying to ruin the whole plan?"

"I..."

"Reporting!"

A servant hurried into the main hall and knelt. "Lord City Master, Ma Xiunuo, the Spirit Hall deacon, has arrived."

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

After Tang Chi told Deacon Ma Xiunuo that Su Yan had been taken away by the enforcers, Ma Xiunuo rushed to the Enforcement Hall, only to have every enforcer there tell him they hadn't gone to the Soul Master Academy that day.

He hurried straight to the Soul Master Academy.

The Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy was holding admissions there. After searching for a long time, he finally got the story from Director Su, then rushed without stopping to the City Lord's Mansion.

At the entrance to the City Lord's Mansion, Lord Xiao clasped his hands and greeted him with a smile. "Deacon Ma Xiunuo, long time no see. What brings you here?"

"Where's Su Yan?" Deacon Ma Xiunuo asked in a grave voice.

Lord Xiao looked puzzled. "Su Yan? I don't think there's a child with the surname Su in my household."

"The boy you took from the Soul Master Academy."

"Oh, him." Lord Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't he taken away by the enforcers on suspicion of taking a Forbidden Pill? Why are you looking for him here?"

Ma Xiunuo glared at him and said coldly, "Lord Xiao, I advise you not to play dumb. Su Yan isn't just a member of the Spirit Hall; he's also the Holy Maiden's apprentice. If you dare lay a hand on him, you'll face not only the Spirit Hall but also the Holy Maiden's wrath."

"Deacon Ma Xiunuo, don't push me too far." Lord Xiao was also growing angry. "He isn't here. Your enforcers lost him, so don't try to pin the blame on me."

"Hmph. You'd better watch yourself!" Deacon Ma Xiunuo clenched his fists, turned on his heel, and left.

Everyone had seen the enforcers take Su Yan away, but no one had seen him enter the City Lord's Mansion.

Even if Ma Xiunuo forced his way in to search, he and Lord Xiao were evenly matched in strength. And even if he managed to search the place, Su Yan might have been locked up somewhere else. Then the City Lord's side could turn around and accuse him instead.

Fuming, Deacon Ma Xiunuo returned to the Spirit Hall and shut himself in his office, refusing to see anyone.

At the entrance to the City Lord's Mansion, Lord Xiao's expression darkened as well.

How could the apprentice of the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden possibly be in a backwater city like Notting City?

Perhaps that sly old Ma Xiunuo was bluffing, but he hadn't sounded as if he were lying.

He returned to the main hall and gave the man another beating.

Just then, seven men walked in, each carrying a sack.

A skinny man with a mouthful of yellow teeth grinned. "Lord Xiao, there are six more children and a woman here. The children are all under ten and have reached level ten. As for the woman, heh, the boys are eager for a taste."

"Do what you want with the woman. Take the children to the woodshed out back." As he spoke, Lord Xiao took the money pouch from his belt and tossed it to the skinny man.

"I trust Lord Xiao wouldn't cheat us." The man weighed the pouch in his hand and grinned. "We'll be off, then."

The seven men carried the sacks to the woodshed out back.

Su Yan was meditating. When he sensed movement, he opened his eyes, braced one hand against the ground, and placed the other on his waist.

The woodshed door opened, and six more children were thrown inside.

Su Yan looked outside and saw a familiar face.

The bearded man.

The bearded man seemed to spot Su Yan too. His pupils suddenly contracted, and he pointed at him. "Boss, that kid..."

The Yellow-Toothed Man followed his gaze and spotted Su Yan too. His heart lurched.

They kept their composure as they shut the woodshed door, then ran back to their quarters in the City Lord's Mansion. A woman's sobs could be heard inside.

The Yellow-Toothed Man rushed in and saw one of his men about to take off his clothes. He stopped him. "Forget the woman. We need to leave, now."

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

The short, stout man had barely finished speaking when the Yellow-Toothed Man smacked him hard on the head. "Do you want to keep your life or have your fun? Listen to me. We're leaving now."

The Short Fat Man reluctantly put his clothes back on, and the seven of them returned to the main hall.

Lord Xiao was surprised to see them return and asked, "Is there something else?"

"Lord Xiao, we've made a fair bit of money lately. We want to try our luck somewhere else."

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

The Yellow-Toothed Man continued, "To be honest, Lord Xiao, I just saw a child in the woodshed who'd been to the Soul Hunting Forest too. But we didn't dare touch him."

"Why not?" A sudden sense of foreboding came over Lord Xiao.

"The woman with him is a Seven-Ring Soul Sage! We followed them all the way, but we never got a chance—and we wouldn't have dared try anyway."

"Damn!" Lord Xiao sucked in a sharp breath. Could it really be as Deacon Ma Xiunuo had said?

"Lord Xiao, we'll take our leave." The seven men hurried away, leaving Notting City without looking back.

After the seven men left, Lord Xiao paced back and forth in the main hall, uneasy.

He kept at it until nightfall.

A man in a white robe and a bamboo hat walked into the main hall. "Lord Xiao, long time no see. Has the Strength Pill worked for your son?"

"Master, Chenyu has already reached level twelve and is about to reach level thirteen."

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

"Do you think the person who's taking us away will come tonight?" Su Yan sat on the floor with a piece of straw between his lips.

"I don't know." Zhu Zhuqing seemed much calmer too. At least she no longer kept her head buried between her knees.

Su Yan peered out through the door. It was completely dark outside, with only the occasional glimmer of moonlight.

"Wait here. I'll go find someone outside. We'll all head to the Spirit Hall tonight. We'll be safe once we get there." After saying this, 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 copper lock on the outside."

"Heh." Su Yan grinned. "I have a trick or two up my sleeve!"