You've Really Made Me Suffer!

The short man was named Liu Junmao. His beady eyes gleamed, and his steps were light and flighty. He was a well-known human broker in both Liu Family Village and Dragon Creek City, specializing in supplying maids and servants to the city's wealthy households.

Though human brokering was hardly a respectable trade, Liu Junmao had always been generous with his money and never drove down prices. Even if the people of Liu Family Village looked down on him in their hearts, they still greeted him with smiles.

"Liu Yulan, I've got all the silver ready. I'm just waiting for you to deliver the goods," Liu Junmao said with a smile.

"Well... Master Jun, could you give me another two days? I've run into a little trouble..." Liu Yulan said hesitantly.

"Another two days? That won't do. The Principal Household urgently needs people, and I can't afford any delays. If you really can't manage it..."

Liu Junmao eyed Liu Yulan's voluptuous figure and teased with a smile, "Why don't you sell yourself instead, Madam Liu? I'll give you a hundred taels of silver."

Liu Yulan might have had a shrew's temper, but she really was attractive. She was also unmarried, and countless men in the surrounding villages had their eyes on her.

Liu Yulan immediately shrank back and shook her head. "Please don't joke like that, Master Jun."

Selling Chen Xinqiao for fifty taels was fine.

But selling herself for a hundred taels was absolutely out of the question.

Could Chen Xinqiao possibly compare to me? With my looks, I ought to be worth a thousand Metal at the very least!

"What sort of trouble have you run into?" Liu Junmao asked.

"If your brother-in-law can't bear to part with her, I can add another ten taels to the fifty. Sixty taels is already well above the market price."

Although Liu Yulan had not said so, he could actually guess that she wanted to sell the daughter her younger sister had left behind.

The problem Liu Yulan mentioned was most likely that she had failed to reach an agreement with Chen Qinkuai, and they had fallen out.

Liu Yulan hesitated, then said quietly, "Master Jun, it's not about Chen Qinkuai."

"It's that little brat Chen Xinqiao. Who knows where she found an immortal, but he's staying at their house now. Chen Xinqiao has probably already hooked up with him. Look at my younger brother's hand. That immortal did that."

"If we hadn't run fast enough, we'd probably be dead."

Liu Junmao looked where Liu Yulan pointed and indeed saw Liu Zhenghong, whose hand had been stripped of all flesh. He could not help frowning.

He had heard from Liu Song, who guarded the village entrance, that Chen Qinkuai had found Chen Xinqiao a husband. The man had even been wearing bright red wedding robes and was exceptionally handsome.

Could Liu Song and Liu Yulan be talking about the same person?

An immortal...

Liu Junmao often dealt with wealthy households in Dragon Creek City and knew things that others did not. For example, the immortals ordinary people spoke of were actually cultivators.

But whether they were called immortals or cultivators, they were not people mere mortals could afford to offend.

Liu Yulan was truly lucky to have returned alive.

Liu Junmao's brows knitted tightly.

Even knowing that Zhang Yuan was a cultivator, he still did not want to give up on Chen Xinqiao.

This time, the Principal Household had specifically given him a list of names. Not a single person could be missing.

"Leave it alone for now. Let me report this to the Principal Household first," Liu Junmao said after a moment's thought.

Hearing this, Liu Yulan could only nod in agreement. Then she remembered that she still needed to find a doctor for her younger brother and hurried out of the house.

Liu Family Village.

The dawn light was faint, and indistinct figures moved about.

Some of the village men headed into the mountains, while others went into the city.

Though their destinations differed, they all learned a piece of news from Liu Song, who guarded the village entrance.

Chen Qinkuai had found a husband for his mute daughter.

One told a hundred, and a hundred told ten.

In less than half a day, the news had spread throughout Liu Family Village. Aside from Zhang Yuan and Chen Xinqiao themselves, and Chen Qinkuai, who had gone into the city early, everyone knew.

Chen Qinkuai returned to the village with his herb basket on his back. Puzzled, he noticed that the villagers were looking at him strangely.

He asked around briefly.

Chen Qinkuai's expression shifted, and he abruptly turned to look at Liu Song, the gatekeeper.

Liu Song gave him a smug look and patted his shoulder. "Well? I didn't misunderstand you yesterday, did I?"

The man yesterday had clearly been from the city. When Chen Qinkuai had signaled him with his eyes, he must have wanted him to spread the news. That way, the man's reputation alone would keep him from running off.

"You've really made me suffer!" Chen Qinkuai said in distress.

Liu Song did not understand. Thinking Chen Qinkuai was speaking ironically, he laughed and added, "Oh, right. Liu Junmao came back to the village today and bought quite a few more children..."

"Liu Junmao? When?" Chen Qinkuai's expression changed, and he hurriedly pressed him.

"Before dawn, I think. I remember it was pretty early. Why do you ask? Liu Junmao may be a Human Broker, but all his dealings are aboveboard. Your Xinqiao never sets foot outside the house. She's perfectly safe," Liu Song said, recalling what had happened.

Chen Qinkuai stamped his foot. Without stopping to explain to Liu Song, he ran toward his home.

Liu Junmao had a decent reputation, but he did not trust the Liu family's old woman or Liu Yulan!

What if!

What if they'd abducted Xinqiao the moment I left...

He sprinted all the way home.

Chen Qinkuai kicked the gate open.

Zhang Yuan was sitting on a folding stool in the courtyard, with Chen Xinqiao seated six inches away from him. At the sight of the panting Chen Qinkuai, he looked over in puzzlement.

Chen Qinkuai froze on the spot. "I-Immortal Master?"

He had left early and hurried back before daybreak, partly to guard against the old woman and Liu Yulan abducting Xinqiao during the day, and partly to guard against Zhang Yuan. He could not rest easy leaving Zhang Yuan alone with Chen Xinqiao during the day.

But now that he thought about it, with a ruthless evil cultivator of the demonic path in the house, if Liu Yulan and the others really dared come knocking, they would probably be the ones in trouble, not Xinqiao.

Zhang Yuan nodded and withdrew his gaze.

"Father," Chen Xinqiao said.

Chen Qinkuai looked her up and down. Once he was certain that Chen Xinqiao was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief, then asked to make sure, "Xinqiao, did anything happen at home while I was away?"

Chen Xinqiao counted off the time and the people. "Two quarters into the hour of the tiger, Liu Xiufang, Liu Yumei, Liu Zhenghong, Liu Peng, and Liu He came."

Startled, Chen Qinkuai hurriedly asked, "Where are they? Did they do anything to you?"

Chen Xinqiao answered concisely, "The Immortal Master crippled one of Liu Zhenghong's hands. They ran away."

The demonic cultivator staying in our house... no, the righteous Immortal Master saved Xinqiao?

And he even crippled one of Liu Zhenghong's hands?

Good! Serves him right!

Chen Qinkuai turned toward Zhang Yuan and immediately bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving my daughter."

"It was nothing," Zhang Yuan said, unconcerned.

Despite his words, Chen Qinkuai was deeply grateful, and his impression of Zhang Yuan improved considerably.

The old woman and Liu Yulan had brought Liu Zhenghong and the other two today. Had Zhang Yuan not stepped in to save her, Xinqiao would probably have been sent into the city by the time he returned from the mountains!

"Immortal Master, you saved my daughter. I'll cook for you right away to thank you for your great kindness. I hope you won't find my humble fare unworthy."

Chen Qinkuai set down his herb basket, his gaze fixing on a hen in the fenced enclosure in the corner of the courtyard.