Forcibly Seizing a Little Girl

Draped in a Daoist robe, Lu Shaolin headed straight for the clothing shop.

He couldn't exactly go to the docks wearing a Daoist robe!

When he arrived at the clothing shop, a woman of around thirty came out to greet him.

"Are you looking to buy clothes, sir?"

The woman asked as she looked at Lu Shaolin's extremely burly build.

"Are you the shopkeeper?"

Lu Shaolin asked.

"Yes."

The woman nodded slightly.

Lu Shaolin found it a little strange. Shopkeepers were usually men, and this woman was fairly pretty. Her figure was not especially voluptuous, more on the plump side.

But married women in Great Xia did not show themselves in public easily. Perhaps this shop had many female customers, which was why it had a female shopkeeper.

"Find me a few outfits that fit me."

Lu Shaolin said directly.

"Of course, sir. Let me take your measurements first."

The woman nodded and took out a soft measuring tape.

Lu Shaolin spread his arms and let the woman measure him.

By the time she finished, the woman's cheeks were flushed. In a soft, coquettish voice, she said, "Sir, you really are powerfully built!"

Seeing the woman look as though she were in heat, Lu Shaolin quickly said, "Do you have anything suitable or not? If not, don't waste my time."

"Hehehe~ Why the rush, sir? I'll go have a look."

The woman shot Lu Shaolin a coquettish glance and walked into the back room with a laugh.

Before long, she came back out carrying a Daoist robe.

The robe looked about eighty percent new. It was black and dark blue, and it looked quite good.

"Sir, this is the only Daoist robe that barely fits your size."

The woman said, shaking out the robe.

"Hmm? Don't you have anything like warrior's clothes?"

Lu Shaolin frowned. He couldn't really wear a Daoist robe to the docks, could he?

"No. Since I opened this shop, this is the first time I've encountered someone as powerfully built as you. If you want other clothes, they'll have to be custom-made."

The woman swept her gaze over Lu Shaolin's body again and spoke sweetly.

"Then make me two sets. How much? Can I pick them up today?"

Lu Shaolin asked.

"If you're willing to pay extra, I can have the embroiderers rush them. They'll be ready this afternoon!"

The woman said quickly.

"How much?"

Lu Shaolin reached toward his chest.

"One set of clothes costs two qian of silver, and the rush fee is one qian. Five qian in total."

The woman calculated silently.

"What about the Daoist robe in your hands?"

Lu Shaolin glanced at the gray Daoist robe he was wearing, then at the one in her hands.

"I'll give you the Daoist robe at half price, fifty copper coins."

The woman said with a smile.

"Fine!"

Lu Shaolin took out a tael of silver and tossed it over.

The woman caught it in one motion and handed the Daoist robe to Lu Shaolin.

"You can change in the back room, sir."

The woman pointed inside.

"Mm."

Lu Shaolin nodded, took the robe, and entered the back room.

After taking off his warrior's clothes, Lu Shaolin pressed on his skin. It was incredibly tough yet elastic.

It seemed as if there were a layer of membrane beneath his skin, as though he were wearing leather armor!

Perfected Skin Tempering greatly increased one's defense, like wearing a layer of leather armor. It seemed that was indeed true.

Lu Shaolin changed into the Daoist robe and looked himself over in the bronze mirror. Not bad!

This Daoist robe was short, with a hem that did not hang low, so it would not impede movement.

When he walked back into the outer room, the woman's eyes lit up at the sight of Lu Shaolin. She could not help praising him, "Sir, you look truly valiant and extraordinary in this Daoist robe!"

Lu Shaolin twitched the corner of his mouth. Other people looked immortal and ethereal in Daoist robes, but on him, it became valiant and extraordinary.

"Make the clothes a little loose. I'll come collect them this afternoon."

Lu Shaolin instructed.

With that, he left the clothing shop and headed for the docks.

At the dock entrance, Ma San and Li Si were still waiting for him.

"Boss!"

The two said in unison.

"Mm, let's go. We're on patrol this morning, right?"

Lu Shaolin asked as they walked.

"Yes, Boss."

Li Si replied.

"Boss, why are you wearing a Daoist robe today?"

Li Si could not help asking out of curiosity.

"I accidentally damaged my clothes this morning, so I just bought something to wear at the clothing shop."

Lu Shaolin casually made up an excuse.

The three patrolled around the docks and found nothing unusual, then went to the tea stall to drink tea and chat.

Old Man Zhang bustled about attentively, refilling their tea and pouring water.

As the three chatted, a disturbance broke out over by the docks.

Three men in gray were dragging away an eight-year-old little girl. Behind them followed a sobbing woman.

The commotion at the docks instantly drew the attention of Lu Shaolin and the other two.

"Aren't those the two sisters from the Dong Family?"

Li Si had a good memory and recognized them at once.

"Who are those men in gray?"

Lu Shaolin asked.

"They're from the Little Knife Society!"

Ma San replied.

At that moment, the elder daughter of the Dong Family had disheveled hair and tear-streaked cheeks. Clinging to the leg of a pockmarked man, she begged, "Second Master, please give us a little more time. We'll definitely repay the silver my father owes. Please don't take my little sister away!"

"Repay it? How are you going to repay it? By having you two haul goods at the docks? You can't even pay the interest!"

"I'm doing this for your own good. Use your sister to pay the debt, and you can go find yourself a good family. Why drag a burden along with you?"

The pockmarked man sneered. Then he kicked the woman in the chest, sending her sprawling to the ground.

The laborers around them were furious but dared not speak. Several who knew the woman stepped forward and helped her up.

Once she got up, the woman threw herself toward her sister, trying to snatch her back.

The pockmarked man showed no mercy. He kicked her to the ground again.

"Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. My patience is limited. Your sister won't suffer. Those rich masters will even dote on her properly."

The pockmarked man said with a lewd grin.

The woman let out a crying howl and charged toward her sister again.

The pockmarked man took a quick step forward and slapped the woman to the ground. Squatting down, he grabbed her by the hair and slapped her twice, snarling, "You filthy bitch, do you think my words are wind?"

Then he slapped her twice more.

The woman's cheeks visibly swelled red.

The little girl struggled desperately in another man's grip. She cried herself hoarse as she shouted, "Sister!"

"Boss!"

Ma San looked at Lu Shaolin, his face full of fury.

"Go. This is Blackwater Gang territory, after all."

Lu Shaolin waved a hand.

Hearing Lu Shaolin's words, Ma San sprang to his feet and rushed toward the pockmarked man.

"You're not going?"

Lu Shaolin looked at Li Si.

"Boss, Ma San is more than enough to deal with a drunkard and lecher like Ma the Second. Don't let Ma San's sour face fool you every day. He's cold on the outside but warm-hearted underneath!"

Li Si said with a grin, looking as though he were watching a show.

Ma San rushed up beside Ma the Second. With his left hand, he seized the hand gripping the Dong Family woman and twisted hard, forcing him to release her in pain.

He swung his right arm wide and, with a smack, slapped Ma the Second to the ground.

Ma the Second lay on the ground, clutching his cheek as he pointed at Ma San and shouted, "Ma San, debts must be repaid. Are you going to meddle in other people's business?"

"Get lost!"

Ma San cursed.

Seeing that he was no match for Ma San and that he was on the other man's turf, Ma the Second rolled over and climbed to his feet, intending to leave with the little girl.

"Leave the girl behind!"

Ma San said coldly.

"Fine, fine! Ma San, just you wait!"

Ma the Second snarled. With a wave of his hand, he had his two subordinates release the little girl, then led them toward the county town with resentment written all over his face.