Maple Leaf City was smaller and quieter than he'd imagined.
The autumn afternoon sun filtered through the maple trees, their leaves dyed in a riot of colors, and scattered golden-red leaves across the ground.
This little city, built against Maple Leaf Mountain, had none of Spirit City's towering grandeur, nor Falling Star Town's noisy bustle.
Street vendors hawked their wares, women carried baskets home, and children chased one another in little groups. Life here was simple and peaceful.
Shi Jian drove the carriage, following the address Ling Xi had found, until they reached the poor quarter in the south of the city.
The carriage stopped in front of a dilapidated courtyard in the alley.
The wheels crushed through puddles and ruts, spraying tiny flecks of mud.
"Boss, this is the place."
Ling Xi lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the weathered wooden door. A trace of bitterness flickered in her eyes.
Ling Xiao stepped down from the carriage.
His robes swept over the fallen leaves, utterly out of place in this shabby alley.
He looked toward the wooden door.
From inside came the ingratiating laugh of a man and the faint sobs of a girl.
Shi Jian stepped forward and quietly spread his Soul Power, probing the activity inside.
He leaned toward Ling Xiao and said softly, "My lord, besides a family of four, there's a middle-aged man inside with two guards."
Ling Xiao gave a slight nod.
His eyes remained calm as he said two words:
"Open the door."
Shi Jian stepped forward and pushed open the half-shut wooden door.
"Creeeak—"
The scene inside came into view.
The room was small, dim, and cramped.
At its center sat a middle-aged man in a silk robe, occupying the seat of honor.
He held a teacup and leered at the girl huddled in the corner.
Two tall guards stood beside him, steel sabers at their waists. They were clearly not to be trifled with.
Across from them, a dark-skinned, middle-aged man bent at the waist, ingratiating himself with the visitor.
He was Bai Wei's father, Bai Laoshi.
Beside him stood a sallow-faced woman, holding two small children in her arms.
The girl huddled in the corner was Bai Wei.
She had a lovely little face, with arched brows and delicate features.
But her face was streaked with tears and her hair was a mess. Even so, they couldn't hide the lively spirit in her.
She was still just a child, yet it was already clear she'd grow into a beauty.
Her bright eyes now held nothing but despair and helplessness.
Tears fell like beads from a snapped string. She bit her lip hard, not daring to sob aloud.
Before Ling Xiao had burst through the door,
Bai Laoshi had just pushed the contract toward the wealthy merchant, smiling obsequiously.
"Master Zhang, see? I've already put my thumbprint on the deed. Our Bai Wei will belong to your household from now on. Rest assured, she's quick on her feet, sensible, and obedient. She won't cause you any trouble."
The merchant known as Master Zhang smiled with satisfaction, picked up the deed for a quick glance, then tossed it to the guard behind him.
He took five silver coins from his money pouch and slapped them onto the table.
"Don't worry, you'll get your money. I'm quite pleased with the girl. She'll have food on my table from now on."
Five silver coins.
That was all it took to buy a six-year-old girl's whole life.
Bai Laoshi stared at the coins, eyes gleaming. He reached for them, thanking Master Zhang over and over.
"Thank you, Master Zhang! Thank you, Master Zhang!"
Just then, the wooden door swung open.
Ling Xiao entered with Ling Xi and Shi Jian.
Everyone in the room turned to look at the three figures in the doorway.
The young man in front wore lavish robes and stood tall, handsome and dashing.
He was utterly out of place in the shabby room.
Bai Laoshi's hand froze in midair, his smile stiffening.
Master Zhang frowned too. He set down his teacup and glared at the uninvited guests.
Bai Wei, still huddled in the corner, raised her tear-streaked face.
She stared blankly at the young man in the doorway, her eyes full of confusion and bewilderment.
"Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
Bai Laoshi snapped back to his senses and shouted at the three of them, his voice full of bluster but thin on courage.
He could tell they were important, but with Master Zhang watching, he couldn't afford to show weakness.
Ling Xiao ignored him.
His gaze fell directly on Bai Wei in the corner.
Then he looked back at Master Zhang beside the table.
"I want this girl."
The words silenced the room.
Master Zhang paused, then burst into laughter as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
He pointed at Ling Xiao and turned to Bai Laoshi.
"Where did this little punk come from? You haven't even grown hair in all the right places, and you dare steal my people? Bai Laoshi, is this what you call sensible and obedient? She hasn't even entered my household yet, and she's already carrying on with other men?"
Bai Laoshi went pale and hurriedly smiled at Master Zhang.
"Please don't be angry, Master Zhang! I don't know them! I swear, I don't know them!"
Then he turned and shouted at Ling Xiao, "You little wild brat, get out of here! This is our family's business, and it has nothing to do with you! If you don't leave, I'll report you to the authorities!"
Ling Xi stepped forward, putting herself between Ling Xiao and Bai Laoshi.
She stared coldly at Bai Laoshi, anger surging in her heart.
"My boss said we want this girl."
Ling Xi's voice was cold. Her gaze passed over the five silver coins on the table as she spoke.
"You're selling her for five silver coins. We'll pay double—ten silver coins."
Ten silver coins!
Bai Laoshi's breathing quickened.
His face filled with unmistakable hesitation.
"How dare you!"
Master Zhang flew into a rage and sprang to his feet, slamming his hand on the table.
"Boy, do you know who I am? I'm the city lord's brother-in-law! You dare fight me for someone? You must be tired of living!"
The two guards behind him immediately stepped forward, hands on the hilts of their sabers.
Ling Xi watched his arrogant display and curled her lips into a cold smile.
The city lord's brother-in-law?
Even a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire wouldn't amount to anything in front of her boss.
A pink glow flickered in Ling Xi's eyes.
A Yellow Soul Ring lit up beneath her feet!
"First Soul Skill: Mind Control!"
An invisible wave of spiritual power swept out, locking onto Master Zhang and the two guards behind him.
The three men's vision blurred. Their minds went completely blank.
Their bodies stiffened on the spot, their eyes turning vacant.
Ling Xi looked at the three frozen men and issued an order in a cold voice.
"Take your money and get out of this house. Forget everything that happened today, and never come near the Bai Family again. Do you understand?"
"Yes..."
Like puppets on strings, the three men answered woodenly.
Master Zhang mechanically picked up the five silver coins from the table and walked out of the house, his two guards following with stiff steps.
She turned to Ling Xiao and spoke in a low voice.
"Boss, it's taken care of."
Only the four members of the Bai Family and Ling Xiao's group of three remained in the room.
Bai Laoshi and his wife were both completely stunned.
Even with their limited experience, they knew that these people were far beyond their reach. They were Soul Masters!
Bai Laoshi's legs began to tremble.
He bent over, smiling nervously at Ling Xiao.
"My lord! Please forgive me! I was blind to Mount Tai and offended you. You're a magnanimous man—please don't hold it against a nobody like me!"
Master Zhang was gone, and this lord was willing to pay ten silver coins for Bai Wei!
He was clearly more powerful and influential than Master Zhang. Perhaps he could even be persuaded to pay more!
Once greed reared its head, it was impossible to rein in.
Bai Laoshi swallowed, his smile growing even more obsequious.
"My lord, you see, our Bai Wei is pretty and sensible. She'll surely serve you well. About those ten silver coins... could you perhaps add a little more? You know how hard it is to raise a child..."
He hadn't finished speaking before he met Ling Xiao's gaze.
Those dark eyes looked down at him with the indifference of someone gazing upon an ant.
His words caught in his throat, never to emerge.
Terrifying pressure erupted from Shi Jian behind Ling Xiao.
The aura of a seventy-third-level Soul Douluo bore down on Bai Laoshi like a mountain.
His legs instantly gave way. He hit the floor with a thud.
His whole body shook like a sieve. His face turned deathly pale, and even breathing became difficult.
"Ten silver coins. Bring me her deed of sale."
Ling Xiao's voice was calm, yet carried the authority of someone born to command.
"Sign the contract now."
"Either take the money, and from this moment onward, have nothing more to do with her."
"Or I'll make you and your whole family disappear from Maple Leaf City this very moment."
"Choose."
Bai Laoshi wouldn't dare hesitate.
He scrambled to the table, picked up a pen and paper, and began signing with shaking hands.
He kept begging as he wrote.
"My lord! I'll write it! Ten silver coins is fine! No need to add more—not even one coin!"
"From now on, Bai Wei has nothing to do with the Bai Family! In life, she'll be your person; in death, she'll be your ghost!"
Bai Laoshi pressed his trembling thumbprint onto the deed, then held it out to Ling Xiao with both hands, bowing respectfully.
Ling Xi stepped forward and took the deed. After checking it and confirming everything was in order, she handed it to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao glanced over it and put it away.
Ling Xi took ten silver coins from her money pouch and set them on the table.
The crisp clink of the coins rang out clearly in the silent room.
Ling Xiao didn't spare Bai Laoshi another glance.
His gaze shifted to Bai Wei in the corner.
The girl was still huddled there, staring at him blankly.
Confusion, shock, and a trace of hope mingled in her eyes.
Ling Xiao walked over to her.
He bent slightly to look at the girl.
His voice softened.
"Bai Wei, would you like to come with me?"
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