Drunken Immortal Tower!

The room was bare. Aside from a bed and a rice jar, there was nothing else of value.

The girl had a younger sister who looked only five or six.

With her hair in cute little pigtails, she hid behind her sister and watched them timidly.

"Life on the road isn't easy for anyone. Have this bowl of porridge, then leave!"

The girl held her little sister as she spoke to them.

Ning Que glanced at the still-warm, watery porridge on the table, then at the completely empty rice jar.

"What about you two?" he asked.

The light in the girl's eyes dimmed at once. Behind her, the little girl with pigtails stared at the porridge and swallowed hard.

"Big Sister, Nian Nian doesn't want any porridge... not even a little... gulp!"

The older girl said nothing, only hugged her tighter.

"..."

Ning Que fell silent for a moment, then fetched a bowl and poured half the porridge into it.

He handed it to the girl.

He cast another glance at Yin Jiuyou, who understood immediately. Yin Jiuyou pulled a hefty piece of silver from his pocket and handed that over as well.

The girl froze.

A trace of astonishment entered her eyes as she looked at Ning Que.

Bang, bang, bang!

Suddenly, someone began violently kicking the door.

"Open up! Two wanted fugitives have escaped here. Every household must be searched!"

"Open the door, now!"

The girl's face changed instantly. She hurriedly lowered her voice and told Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou, "Quick, hide..."

There was a pile of firewood beside the rice jar, and they hid there.

At the same time, the soldiers kicked the door open.

Clad in iron armor and looking like vicious fiends, they scanned the room as soon as they entered.

Then they asked the girl, "Have you seen anyone suspicious pass through?"

"N-no..."

The sisters trembled in each other's arms, not daring even to raise their heads.

"Then why are there two bowls?"

The two bowls of watery porridge on the table had caught their attention.

The girl's heart lurched. Trembling, she explained, "Th-that's for me and my little sister. It's the last rice we have... half for each of us..."

The soldiers remained doubtful, but after searching the room, they still found no one.

They could only leave in frustration.

The two men emerged from the firewood pile and brushed the dirt off their clothes.

Ning Que drained his half bowl of watery porridge.

"Thank you. It was delicious."

Ning Que grinned, his smile coming from the heart.

This was his first meal since crossing into this world. Naturally, its flavor needed no explanation.

As they chatted, Ning Que learned that the girl was named He Hua, and her younger sister was He Nian.

Their mother had died young, and their father had once shouldered the burden of supporting the family.

Yet somehow, he had become addicted to gambling!

Whether the stakes were high or low, gambling was gambling. Win, and you wanted to keep winning; lose, and you wanted to turn the tables.

Once that gambling fever took hold, you would not stop until you had gambled your household into ruin.

A glimmer rose in He Hua's eyes as she looked at Ning Que. Several times, she seemed about to speak.

But each time the words reached her lips, she held them back.

Ning Que did not dwell on it. After all, they were only staying for one night.

Tomorrow, they would set out and continue their journey.

The He sisters were merely passing encounters in their lives.

Yet the next morning, Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou were awakened by crying.

He Hua was nowhere to be seen. Only her younger sister, He Nian, remained.

She wept like pear blossoms drenched in rain, and Ning Que hurriedly asked what had happened.

"Big Sister... those bad men took Big Sister away!"

At that, Ning Que immediately exchanged a glance with Yin Jiuyou.

The two headed straight out onto the street.

Perhaps after a night of panic, when every gust of wind and crane's cry had seemed a threat, the streets were much quieter.

Still, they could hear a few idlers chatting.

"Ah, sold to the Drunken Immortal Tower at such a young age. Her whole life's ruined..."

"Isn't it just? He Hua's father is a real piece of work... gambled himself neck-deep in debt, then ran off and left his two daughters to pay it!"

"Fifty taels of fine silver. How could they ever afford that?"

Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou immediately walked over.

Seeing unfamiliar faces approach, the idlers instinctively started to leave.

But Yin Jiuyou tossed out a few copper coins, and their eyes turned greedy as they scrambled to pick them up.

"You're saying Miss He Hua was sold to a brothel?"

"That's right. The Treasure Abundance Hall gave the He family a month to scrape together the money. If they couldn't pay, his daughter would settle the debt! Today marks exactly one month!"

For the sake of those copper coins, the idlers told them everything they knew.

Ning Que's expression darkened. "They seize people in broad daylight, and the authorities do nothing?"

The idlers scoffed. "Do something? How? The Treasure Abundance Hall belongs to County Magistrate Qian's own son. Officials and bandits are one happy family. Who would dare interfere? Someone tired of living?"

Ning Que said no more. He glanced at Yin Jiuyou.

Yin Jiuyou's eyes were also brimming with killing intent.

They returned to the house.

Ning Que wiped the tears from He Nian's face and smiled. "Don't cry. Your big sister will be back soon."

After soothing the little girl, the two set off for the largest brothel in town, the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Ning Que suddenly grinned. "She gave us a bowl of food; we'll save her life. That makes us even."

The Drunken Immortal Tower was not open for business during the day.

But the people inside were still busy.

New girls were delivered to the Drunken Immortal Tower every day.

"Oh my, Brother Hu! Bringing us more 'lychees'?"

"You're too kind. Sorry for the trouble, but do tell Young Master Qian at the Treasure Abundance Hall that if there's more stock next time, I'll offer a better price!"

Wang Hu was a familiar face here.

As one of the Treasure Abundance Hall's capable men, he handled several duties himself. He collected debts and delivered the goods.

"Brother Hu, I beg you, don't sell me to a brothel... I still have a little sister. She's only six. Without me, she won't survive..."

"I'll repay the money. I really will... please give me a little more time... sob..."

Behind Wang Hu, several burly men held a girl whose tears fell like rain over pear blossoms, forcibly dragging her into the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Wang Hu raised his eyebrows and gave a flippant whistle. "Fifty taels of fine silver. What are you going to pay with? Young Master Qian told you, didn't he? You had one month to raise the money. If you couldn't, you'd settle the debt yourself."

"If you want to blame someone, blame your gambling-addict father for running away! Since I can't find him, I can only come for you!"

Wang Hu stroked He Hua's fair cheek with his large, black-haired hand, his smile growing increasingly unrestrained. "Right, you just reminded me-you've got a little sister. Quite a good-looking one, too. She should grow into a beauty. Might as well sell her along with you. Hahahaha..."

He Hua's pupils shrank to pinpoints, and her voice turned shrill. "No! Sell me! Leave my little sister alone! Leave her alone..."

She could bear it herself. Sold to a place like this, her life was already ruined. At worst, she could smash her head against something and die here.

But what about her little sister, who was only six?

She wanted to do something to stop Wang Hu from laying hands on her sister.

Yet no matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free of the burly men's grip.

Tears spilled from her eyes...

Tap, tap, tap...

Just then, she heard footsteps.

Two familiar figures came to stand before Wang Hu.

One of them asked the man beside him for two copper coins.

He tossed them onto the ground.

Then he smiled at Wang Hu and said, "We're here to buy this girl's freedom."