Violent Murder

The moment those words were spoken, Wang Ai's face turned deathly pale.

A brawny, solidly built man nearly two meters tall, he could not even stand steady now. His legs had turned to jelly, and he staggered as though he might collapse at any moment.

No matter how extraordinarily gifted he was, he could not stay hard before this "Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue."

Hong Yuan's expression changed drastically as well, ready to rise up and strike at any moment.

His body remained still, but the corner of his eye swept over the sturdy women on either side as he considered the angle and timing for a breakout. Or would it be better to seize that old fat pig and take her hostage?

This beginning after transmigrating was far too unfavorable. He had awakened only to fall into such a "devil's den," without even being given a moment to develop. The only thing Hong Yuan could rely on was this strengthened body of his.

What should he do?

Just as Hong Yuan was considering his options, a soft laugh sounded from behind a curtain, followed by a languid female voice. "Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue, you are far too impatient. The immortal fate has yet to be bestowed, yet you are already eager to gather people into your embrace. You even took the two finest immortal seedlings for yourself. Would that not leave the rest of us to divide nothing but cold scraps and leftovers?"

"Oh? Lady Siyan, do you have an objection to me?"

"I would not dare. It is only that your actions may have broken the rules."

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue chuckled, her voice hoarse and grating. "Hehe Immortal Maiden, Yu Po... do the rest of you think so as well?"

Before her words had faded, a pale, slender hand lifted one corner of the curtain to Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's right, revealing half a seductively foxlike face. It appeared and vanished behind the curtain as a leisurely voice drifted out.

"Buddha Mother, do not vent your temper on us. Yu Po is frail and cannot withstand it... Lady Siyan went a little too far as well. Every one of the immortal seedlings in this hall is a cream-of-the-crop choice from a hundred. How could any of them be called cold scraps and leftovers?"

Lady Yu Po's alluring eyes swept around the hall before she lowered the curtain again and laughed. "It is merely that Buddha Mother may have forgotten that today's gathering is somewhat different. Lady Xuansu ascended to the Golden Palace half a month ago, abandoning us six sisters to go enjoy herself in the immortal realm. Fortunately, a new sister has joined us. Today is Lady Tanxin's first time attending the Jade Wutong Immortal Realm Blissful Gathering. Buddha Mother is broad-minded and generous—how could you not show her some favor and let her share a little?"

A gentle voice arose from behind the far-left curtain. "I am deeply grateful for Sister Yu Po's kind intentions. But this little sister has only just entered the immortal realm. I shall follow the decisions of all my elder sisters in everything, and would not dare ask Buddha Mother for preferential treatment."

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue ignored Lady Tanxin. Her fat face darkened viciously. After pondering for a moment, she snorted coldly. "Fine!"

Her tiny eyes roamed over Hong Yuan and Wang Ai as if selecting merchandise, before she pointed at Hong Yuan. "This immortal seedling shall go to Lady Tanxin."

She knew the other five were very good at playing, and feared they would ruin him after just one round, leaving her with nothing to play with. Lady Tanxin was new, however, and should know some restraint.

"Many thanks, Buddha Mother!" Lady Tanxin lifted the curtain, revealing the face of a gentle and lovely beautiful woman. Pearls and jade adorned her coiffure, lending her a dignified air. Her soft eyes glanced at Hong Yuan below, seemingly shy and timid.

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue turned to Wang Ai, licking her lips. She seemed to have lost interest in everyone else. "This time, I shall choose only this one immortal seedling. You may divide the rest among yourselves."

Wang Ai trembled all over. At last, he dropped to the floor on his backside, his mind roaring and his chest pounding like a drum. He had caught sight of Lady Tanxin as well, and felt both jealousy and hatred. He did not dare direct them at Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue, so he instead fixed Hong Yuan with a venomous stare.

The Immortal Maidens on the raised platform burst into laughter at his miserable appearance. Lady Yu Po flattered, "Buddha Mother truly is magnanimous."

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue waved a hand to cut her off. "I have more to say. The next immortal gathering shall be set for one month from now."

Niang Niang Si Yan's lazy voice drifted over. "Our gatherings have always been held once every three months. Has Buddha Mother encountered fine seedlings and become too impatient to wait? Understandable. Even I am quite tempted by immortal seedlings of such natural gifts and wish to take them under my wing at once!"

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue snorted again and waved her greasy fat hand. "Bestow the immortal fate!"

As soon as she spoke, the two Colorful-Clad Attendants beside Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue each picked up a flower basket covered by embroidered cloth and descended from the platform. One walked toward Yang Lie, the Hook-nosed Youth, and the others, while the other headed toward Hong Yuan and Wang Ai.

"A hundred taels of immortal fate, blessings bestowed by the Immortal Maidens! Eternal life and supreme bliss!"

The Colorful-Clad Attendants lifted the embroidered cloths and took out stacks of blue-gray banknotes, distributing them one by one. At once, low cries erupted. "One-hundred-tael banknotes from Baoji Zhenji?!"

Even Wang Ai, still sprawled on the ground, perked up after receiving the hundred-tael note. He flipped himself upright, pressed the banknote to his forehead, then brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply, his face intoxicated.

On Yang Lie and the Hook-nosed Youth's side, however, though the group was excited, they still managed to contain themselves. Each carefully tucked the banknote close against their body.

Hong Yuan finally understood why these "old hands," despite having come here more than once, were still both nervous and terrified, yet longing for it.

Money truly moved people's hearts.

In this world, ordinary commoners at the bottom of Qingxu County could earn at most two or three qian a month, barely enough to scrape by. An income of one or two taels a month was already considered decent. Yet under the burden of every kind of harsh tax and levy, along with exploitation by the authorities and even gangs, anyone without backing could not save much money over an entire year.

One hundred taels of silver was undoubtedly a staggering fortune!

If they received it every time they came, then for many people, it truly counted as "immortal fate"!

Even if they were unlucky enough to be chosen by Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue, they only had to shut their eyes and endure it. It was not as if they would certainly die.

There was no shortage of people on the streets who risked their lives over two or three copper coins.

One hundred taels!

"Why did I not get one?" Among Hong Yuan's group, a delicate-looking youth shouted.

"Shut up!" the Colorful-Clad Attendant snapped. After looking the youth over, he said indifferently, "You signed an Immortal-Mortal Contract with the immortal realm. Your body and soul belonged to the immortal realm long ago, so naturally you receive nothing."

As he spoke, he glanced at Hong Yuan as well. "This young gentleman is the same."

"I... I did not know." The delicate youth was somewhat frightened, but at the thought of those hundred-tael banknotes, he said timidly, "I was brought here by someone else. I never signed any Immortal-Mortal Contract..."

Another one who had been sold!

"That is not important!" Having finished distributing the banknotes, the Colorful-Clad Attendant covered the basket and turned toward the platform. "As long as you perform well in the immortal realm and please the Immortal Maidens, you will naturally receive immortal-fate rewards in the future."

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue stretched out her two fat palms and was supported on either side by the two Colorful-Clad Attendants. Her enormous, flesh-mountain body resembled a monster that fed on human blood and essence. Her throat began wheezing rapidly again as she rasped, "I am tired. I shall go rest first."

Her eyes turned toward Wang Ai, and her smile was like that of a vicious ghost. "Little treasure, hurry up and come with this Buddha Mother."

Thud, thud, thud!

Wang Ai staggered several steps backward, snapping out of the joy of suddenly gaining a fortune. He forced a trace of a smile onto his face, but it looked worse than crying. Four sturdy women, however, had already blocked his path behind him with cudgels in hand.

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue shifted her gaze again and fixed it on Hong Yuan. "And you, young gentleman. Do not be impatient. This Buddha Mother shall select you to enter my door next month!"

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Hong Yuan endured and suppressed it again and again, but the fury in his chest could no longer be contained. It felt as if a blaze shot straight to the crown of his head and erupted.

That was right!

He had seemingly been "lucky" and escaped disaster this time. Lady Tanxin on the left even appeared dignified and beautiful; perhaps he might yet enjoy a night of spring breeze. But in essence, within this devil's den, was there any difference at all between Lady Tanxin and Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue?

They were both nothing more than lumps of stinking meat!

In his previous life, the internet had been full of the phrase, "Rich lady, I'm hungry, please keep me." Yet ninety-nine percent of it was merely a joke; no one took it seriously. Even if someone truly sought to be kept, it would be their own choice—not this kind of utterly undignified selection, like pigs and dogs being picked over.

Or perhaps Hong Yuan could endure for now. After all, he still had a month. He would surely find a better opportunity. At the very least, with a month's buffer, his chances of escaping would be far greater.

But he could not endure it—not for another instant!

The words "dead fat pig" had already risen to his throat when, at that very moment, a sudden change occurred. Scarlet light seemed to flare up, and bursts of shouting erupted from the manor outside the hall. Many people began running about, their footsteps chaotic.

One of the Colorful-Clad Attendants on the platform looked outside several times, then suddenly cried out, "Not good! There is a fire! Quickly, put it out!"

Upon hearing this, the eight sturdy women in the hall did not leave to fight the fire. Instead, they all hurried toward the platform. "Protect the Immortal Maidens! Protect Buddha Mother!"

Seeing this, the Colorful-Clad Attendant's face changed. He abruptly pulled something from his robes and gripped it in his hand. Gritting his teeth as though using every ounce of strength he had, he viciously smashed it toward Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's head, roaring, "You old hag, die!"

Bang!

The next moment, the Colorful-Clad Attendant's savage expression froze. Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue, who wheezed even while sitting down, had actually reached out and caught the wrist of his descending hand. Her immense strength seemed capable of snapping his arm in two!

"You little bastard..." Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's face became equally savage and terrifying. Drool streamed from her huge mouth as she roared—then she let out a cry of pain the next moment!

The other Colorful-Clad Attendant had somehow produced a foot-long sharpened wooden stake and viciously driven it into the flesh of Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's face, nearly halfway in.

Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's face twisted in agony as she released a heart-rending howl.

Bang!

Almost at the exact moment the two Colorful-Clad Attendants rose up and the eight sturdy women rushed toward the platform, Hong Yuan moved as well. His fist suddenly clenched, carrying surging fury as he threw a punch into the back of the head of the last sturdy woman running ahead!