Trying to Force an Innocent Girl into Prostitution-the Xuanming Sect?!

Tang Qi walked slowly out of his room, followed the corridor toward the voices, and arrived at a spacious hall.

On the sparring platform in its center, two figures were locked in fierce combat.

Fists and legs crossed so fast that the air hummed from the force of their blows.

Sensing approaching footsteps, both men broke off at once and turned to look.

"Little Qi, what's wrong?"

Tai Tan strode over with a broad grin and asked with concern.

Niu Tian said nothing, but his gaze was eager.

Tang Qi shook his head and said with a light laugh, "Nothing serious. Didn't Old Tang ask me yesterday to take that Soft Bone Rabbit girl with Innate Full Soul Power as my little sister? I thought about it, and there's no time like the present. I'll go see her today."

He paused and glanced between them.

"Which of you uncles has time to come with me?"

Hmm?

A gleam flashed in both men's eyes. The prospect stirred something in each of them.

"I'll go!" they shouted in unison.

Before the words had faded, Tai Tan and Niu Tian were glaring at each other. Sparks flew between their gazes, and the atmosphere turned delicate.

After a moment, Tai Tan spoke first, his tone coaxing. "Big Brother, you're getting on in years, and your legs aren't what they used to be. Leave this errand to me."

"Bullshit!"

Niu Tian's face darkened. "Er Ming, with that thick skull of yours, what if you botch it and hold Little Qi back? I'd better go myself."

He lifted a foot to walk toward Tang Qi, plainly set on going.

But a burly hand moved faster.

Tai Tan clamped it onto Niu Tian's shoulder and hauled him back.

"Nonsense! Back when Sister Xiao Wu needed something done, wasn't I the one running around for her? All you did was hide at the bottom of that lake like a shut-in! And now you want to show off? Go find somewhere else to be!"

Tai Tan spoke while shoving Niu Tian away.

"Oh, so you really want to have a go at me today?"

"Let's have a go, then! You think I'm afraid?"

The two were at daggers drawn, on the verge of fighting again.

Tang Qi felt a throb at his temples. He quickly stepped between them and spread his hands. "Stop! Let me say a couple of things. Both of you, calm down."

"I'll have to trouble Uncle Er Ming to come with me this time. Uncle Da Ming, you're so strong that everyone at Clear Sky Castle depends on you to hold the fort. Your responsibility is greater, and I wouldn't feel safe leaving it to anyone else."

Tai Tan broke into a delighted grin. Even Niu Tian's stern expression eased. He gave a soft "hmph," tacitly accepting the arrangement.

"All right. No time to waste. Let's go."

Once Tang Qi had placated the two of them, he wasted no more time. He and Tai Tan immediately left Clear Sky Castle.

On the border of the Dou Ling Empire, a quiet village nestled among the hills. Wisps of cooking smoke rose above it, and the calls of chickens and dogs carried from house to house.

In one farmhouse courtyard, a gentle-looking middle-aged woman was busy at the stove.

Wrinkles lined her face, and weariness showed between her brows, but her features still hinted at the stunning beauty she had been in her youth.

A young woman sat quietly beside the stone table in the courtyard.

Long golden waves fell loosely over her shoulders. Her white clothes set off skin fairer than snow, and her delicate features were soft and lovely. She was Jiang Nannan.

At the village entrance, several Soul Masters dressed as Xuanming Sect stewards were striding toward the house, their expressions haughty.

Members of the Xuanming Sect's direct bloodline awakened the Xuanming Turtle Martial Soul.

That Martial Soul contained an incomplete Black Tortoise Bloodline. To evolve into a true Black Tortoise, they had to use a secret yin-yang method to couple with a maiden at the age of fifteen and thereby trigger the bloodline's evolution.

Because of the method's peculiar nature, most girls who took part in the awakening ceremony later became the man's wives or concubines.

These stewards had come today on the orders of Chen Wen, the young master's page, to find a suitable candidate for the young master, Xu Sanshi.

Xu Sanshi was only eleven, with four years to go before his awakening ceremony at fifteen.

But four years might sound long; in truth, they would pass in the snap of a finger. They could hardly wait until the last moment and grab just any woman to make up the numbers, could they?

Did they want the young master to advance or not?!

Besides, even if there were no special requirements, a girl for this had to be reasonably attractive at the very least. Her talent could not be too poor, either.

So when the stewards heard that a girl in this village had both exceptional looks and Innate Full Soul Power, they took an interest.

With talent and looks like hers, she would surely satisfy the young master. Then wouldn't their own fortunes soar?!

What they had never expected was for this family to reject an "opportunity" ordinary households would have begged for. Each time the stewards came calling, they were thrown out.

The stewards stopped at the gate and exchanged glances, then swaggered into the courtyard.

Jiang Mother saw them through the kitchen window, and her expression changed drastically.

She dropped the spatula and hurried out of the kitchen.

In the courtyard, Jiang Nannan blinked her beautiful eyes at the "familiar" strangers who had barged in. Confusion filled her face.

Why were these people here again?!

The girl parted her pink lips to ask, but Jiang Mother had already reached her side.

"Mom..."

Before Jiang Nannan could finish, Jiang Mother nudged her toward the house and forced a faint smile.

"Nannan, go inside first. They've come to see me."

Though full of questions, Jiang Nannan nodded obediently. She went inside, looking back every few steps, and shut the door.

This time, however, she did not retreat to her room as she usually did. Instead, she crept to the window and strained to hear what was happening outside.

Once the girl was out of sight, Jiang Mother's face fell.

Suppressing her anger, she stared at the lead steward and said through gritted teeth, "I would rather die than let my daughter do such a thing!"

The lead steward gave a show of helplessness. Wearing a mask of compassion, he tried to persuade her.

"Madam Jiang, why be so stubborn? He's the young master of the Xuanming Sect! Your daughter should count it a blessing to give herself to him."

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

When the woman remained unmoved, his face darkened. His gaze swept over Jiang Mother's stooped figure, and he said with a sinister smile, "I hear your health has been poor for years, Madam Jiang. A serious heart condition, isn't it? You've been taking medicine all this time. You and your daughter have only each other. If you suddenly fell gravely ill, and only the Xuanming Sect had a way to save you, what do you think she would do? Hahaha..."

"You beast!"

Jiang Mother flew into a rage. Pain suddenly clenched her chest so fiercely that she staggered, her legs weakening beneath her. She was about to fall.

"Mom!"

Seeing this through the window, Jiang Nannan went pale. She flung open the door, rushed out, and caught her mother's swaying body.

Tears filled the girl's eyes. "Mom, what's wrong? Please don't scare me..."

"Nannan... I'm fine... Go back inside..."

Jiang Mother's face was deathly pale, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Weak and struggling for breath, she still forced herself to reassure her daughter.

Jiang Nannan's eyes reddened. She looked up at the sky, grief and helpless fury welling inside her, and murmured in despair, "Who will help us? Lord Sea God, can you see us?!"

"What do we do, Big Brother?" the stewards behind the leader asked in low voices, their faces grim.

They had only meant to force an innocent girl into prostitution. If they drove someone to her death, wouldn't that mean trouble?

"Sea God? What good will praying to the Sea God do you? We have a way to save your mother, but..."

The lead steward gritted his teeth and pressed on.

He would have to report the matter to Lord Chen Wen exactly as it was.