Contract of Sale

Maple Leaf City was smaller and quieter than imagined.

The autumn afternoon sunlight filtered through the maple trees, their leaves dyed in layers of color, casting a carpet of gold and red across the ground.

Built against the slopes of Maple Leaf Mountain, this small city lacked the towering grandeur of Martial Soul City and the bustling clamor of Falling Star Town.

Street vendors at their stalls, women carrying baskets home, and children chasing each other in small groups—life here was plain and peaceful.

Shi Jian drove the carriage, following the address Ling Xi had scouted, all the way to the slums in the south of the city.

The carriage stopped in front of a dilapidated courtyard in the alley.

The wheels rolled over a puddle, splashing fine specks of mud.

"Boss, this is the place."

Ling Xi lifted the carriage curtain, looking at the mottled wooden door before her, a trace of bitterness flashing in her eyes.

Ling Xiao stepped slowly off the carriage.

His robes swept across the fallen leaves, looking completely out of place in this run-down alley.

He looked toward the wooden door.

From within, the sound of a man's ingratiating laughter could be heard, along with the faint sobbing of a young girl.

Shi Jian stepped forward, his soul power quietly spreading out to probe the movements inside the house.

He whispered to Ling Xiao, "My Lord, besides a family of four, there is a middle-aged man inside, accompanied by two guards."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly.

His eyes remained calm as he uttered two words:

"Open the door."

Shi Jian stepped forward and pushed open the ajar wooden door.

Creeeak—

The scene inside the room was revealed to the three of them.

The room was small, dim, and cramped.

In the center of the room, a middle-aged man wearing a silk long-gown sat in the seat of honor.

He held a teacup, looking at the girl huddled in the corner with a lecherous expression.

Standing beside him were two burly guards with steel blades at their waists; one look was enough to tell they were no good.

Opposite them, a dark-skinned middle-aged man stood with his back hunched, fawning over him.

It was Bai Wei's father, Bai Laoshi.

Beside him stood a sallow-faced woman holding two young children.

Huddled in the corner was Bai Wei.

Her small face was exquisite, with curved brows and a delicate nose.

But at this moment, her face was streaked with tears and her hair was disheveled, yet she could not hide the natural grace in her bones.

Though she was still just a child, one could already tell she would grow into a beauty.

Her lively eyes were now filled only with despair and helplessness.

Tears fell like beads from a broken string; she bit her lip hard, not daring to make a sound.

Before Ling Xiao burst through the door.

Bai Laoshi had just pushed the contract toward the wealthy merchant, smiling obsequiously:

"Master Zhang, look, I've already pressed my thumbprint on the contract. From now on, our Bai Wei is a person of your estate. Rest assured, this child is quick-handed, sensible, and obedient; she will never cause you any trouble."

The wealthy merchant known as Master Zhang smiled with satisfaction, picked up the contract to glance at it, and tossed it casually to the guard behind him.

He pulled five silver coins from his purse and slapped them onto the table with a clack.

"Don't worry, the money won't be short. I am very satisfied with this child; she won't go hungry in my estate."

Five silver coins.

That was all it took to buy the life of a six-year-old girl.

Bai Laoshi stared at the silver coins on the table, his eyes fixed, reaching out to grab them while thanking the man repeatedly.

"Thank you, Master Zhang! Thank you, Master Zhang!"

Just then, the wooden door was pushed open.

Ling Xiao, accompanied by Ling Xi and Shi Jian, walked in.

The eyes of everyone in the room converged on the three people at the entrance.

They looked at the youth in the lead, dressed in luxurious robes, standing tall and handsome.

He was completely out of place in this dilapidated room.

Bai Laoshi's hand froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face solidified.

Master Zhang frowned as well, setting down his teacup and glaring unkindly at the three people who had suddenly burst in.

Bai Wei, huddled in the corner, lifted her tear-stained face.

She stared blankly at the young man in the doorway, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Who are you people? What are you doing breaking into my house?"

Bai Laoshi snapped back to reality, looking at the three of them and shouting with a feigned show of strength.

Although he could tell that the three had significant backgrounds, he could not lose his nerve in front of Master Zhang.

Ling Xiao ignored him.

His gaze landed directly on Bai Wei in the corner.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Master Zhang by the table.

"I want this girl."

A single sentence caused the room to fall silent.

Master Zhang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world.

He pointed at Ling Xiao and said to Bai Laoshi:

"Where did this greenhorn come from? He hasn't even grown his hair out yet, and he dares to come and snatch my people? Bai Laoshi, is this what you call sensible and obedient? She hasn't even entered my manor yet, and she's already flirting with others?"

Bai Laoshi's face turned pale, and he quickly apologized to Master Zhang with a fawning smile:

"Master Zhang, please don't be angry! I don't know them! I really don't!"

After saying this, he turned his head and sternly scolded Ling Xiao:

"Where did you wild brats come from? Get out of here right now! This is our family's business, it has nothing to do with you! If you don't leave, I'll report you to the authorities!"

Ling Xi stepped forward, shielding Ling Xiao.

She looked coldly at Bai Laoshi, her anger surging.

"My Boss said that we want this girl."

Ling Xi's voice was icy, and her gaze swept over the five silver coins on the table as she spoke indifferently.

"You are selling her for five silver coins; we will pay double—ten silver coins."

Ten silver coins!

Bai Laoshi's breathing became rapid.

Obvious hesitation appeared on his face.

"How dare you!"

Master Zhang was instantly enraged, slamming his hand on the table as he stood up.

"Boy, do you know who I am? I am the brother-in-law of the Maple Leaf City lord! Daring to snatch someone from me? I think you're tired of living!"

The two guards behind him immediately stepped forward, their hands resting on the hilts of their blades.

Ling Xi watched his arrogant display, a cold smirk curling the corners of her lips.

The city lord's brother-in-law?

Even if he were a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, he wouldn't be worth mentioning in front of her Boss.

A pink halo flashed in the depths of Ling Xi's eyes.

A yellow soul ring lit up beneath her feet!

"First Soul Skill: Mind Control!"

Invisible spiritual power swept out, locking onto Master Zhang and the two guards behind him.

The three of them felt their vision blur, and their minds instantly went blank.

Their bodies froze in place, and their eyes became hollow.

Ling Xi looked at the three frozen figures, her voice cold as she issued her command.

"Take your money and get out of this house. Forget everything that happened today, and never come near the Bai Family again. Do you hear me?"

"Yes..."

Like marionettes, the three responded woodenly.

Master Zhang mechanically picked up the five silver coins from the table and, with his two guards in tow, walked out of the room with stiff steps.

She turned to Ling Xiao and whispered:

"Boss, it's taken care of."

Only the four members of the Bai family and Ling Xiao's group remained in the room.

Bai Laoshi and his wife were already frightened out of their wits.

Even with their limited experience, they knew that these people before them were definitely big shots they couldn't afford to offend—they were Lord Soul Masters!

Bai Laoshi's legs began to tremble.

He hunched his back, bowing and scraping before Ling Xiao with a fawning smile:

"My lord! My lord, please forgive me! This lowly one was blind and failed to recognize a person of your stature. I have offended you greatly; I beg your lordship to be magnanimous and not hold this against me!"

Master Zhang had already left, but the lord before him was willing to pay ten silver coins for Bai Wei!

This lord clearly possessed more power and influence than Master Zhang, so perhaps he could squeeze a little more out of him!

Once the seed of greed sprouted, it could no longer be suppressed.

Bai Laoshi swallowed hard, the smile on his face becoming even more obsequious.

"My lord, look, our Bai Wei is beautiful and sensible; she will surely serve you well in the future. As for these ten silver coins... could you perhaps add a little more? You know, it hasn't been easy for us to raise her all these years..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he met Ling Xiao's gaze.

Those pitch-black eyes looked over, carrying the indifference of one looking down upon an ant.

His words caught in his throat, unable to be uttered.

A terrifying pressure erupted from Shi Jian, who stood behind Ling Xiao.

The aura of a level 73 Spirit Douluo pressed down upon Bai Laoshi like a mountain.

His legs went weak in an instant, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

His entire body shook like a sieve, his face turned deathly pale, and even breathing became a struggle.

"Ten silver coins. Bring me her deed of sale."

Ling Xiao's voice was calm, carrying the authority of one in a high position.

"Sign the contract now."

"Either you take the money, and from this moment on, she has no further connection to your Bai Family."

"Or, I will make you and your entire family disappear from Maple Leaf City this very instant."

"Choose."

Bai Laoshi dared not hesitate any longer.

He scrambled to the table, grabbed a pen and paper, and began to sign with trembling hands.

He kept begging for mercy as he did so:

"My lord! I'll write it! I'll write it! Ten silver coins is fine! No need to add any! Not a single cent more!"

"From this day forward, Bai Wei has absolutely nothing to do with our Bai Family! In life, she is your person; in death, she is your ghost!"

Bai Laoshi tremblingly pressed his thumbprint onto the paper, then held the contract up with both hands, presenting it to Ling Xiao with the utmost respect.

Ling Xi stepped forward to take the contract, checked it to ensure everything was correct, and handed it to Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao glanced at it and tucked it away casually.

Ling Xi took ten silver coins from her purse and placed them on the table.

The crisp clinking of the silver coins was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

Ling Xiao did not spare him another glance.

His gaze shifted toward Bai Wei in the corner.

The girl remained huddled there, staring at him in a daze.

Bewilderment, shock, and a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.

Ling Xiao walked slowly toward her.

He leaned down slightly, looking at the girl before him.

His voice softened:

"Bai Wei, are you willing to come with me?"