A farce

Time slipped past like a white steed flashing through a gap, gone in an instant.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Only one day remained before the third trial for the Misty Sect's prospective disciples.

After two days, Ying Ming Hao finally pushed open his door and stepped outside again. He stretched as he looked up at the bright, sunny sky.

Since I'm already here in Ascension City, wouldn't it be a shame not to have a look around?!

"Young master!" the two guards on either side called in unison.

Ming Hao shook his head, then took off running toward the entrance.

He promptly collided with Qing Yun and the others, who had come at the sound of his emergence.

"Young master, are you heading out for a stroll?" Qing Yun asked softly.

"Yep. I've been here for days and still haven't had a proper look around. I'm in a good mood today, so I'm going out for a stroll."

"Stop standing guard here all day, too. Take the day off and go have a look around."

"Qing Yun, Qing Ying, Wang Yong, Meng Yi, you four come with me. Everyone else, do whatever you like."

Ming Hao gave his instructions as he walked, never pausing his stride.

A little worried, Qing Yun said:

"Young master, isn't having just the four of us a little too few? What if..."

Ming Hao waved a hand. "It's broad daylight. What danger could there be in Ascension City? Stop fussing and follow orders."

Qing Yun and the others could only answer helplessly, "All right."

On the bustling Main Street, Ming Hao seemed determined to make up for everything he had not eaten over the past few days.

His mouth was so full that he could barely speak clearly. Even Qing Yun, Wang Yong, and the others could not defy his orders, and their cheeks bulged with food as well.

"A seventh-grade Rejuvenation Pill? You little brat, do you take us for fools?"

"Could this girl be here specifically to swindle someone out of a pill..."

A commotion suddenly broke out up ahead, where a large crowd had gathered in a lively throng.

The moment Ming Hao saw it, his feet seemed to stop obeying him and carried him straight toward the crowd.

"Young master, it's dangerous! There are too many people over there!"

Qing Yun and Qing Ying hurriedly hooked him under the arms from either side and hauled him back. No amount of kicking did him any good.

Realizing he would miss the spectacle, Ming Hao plopped down on the ground in a fit of anger and stubbornly refused to budge.

Qing Yun and the others looked utterly helpless. They could only wait until the crowd had thinned considerably, then squeeze inside with all four of them guarding him tightly in their midst.

After finally making his way to the front, Ming Hao found Qing Yun's and Qing Ying's voluptuous figures blocking his view. He shoved them aside with both hands and strained to poke his little head through, looking this way and that.

The onlookers stopped watching the little girl in front of them. Instead, they all stared at Ming Hao with envy, jealousy, and resentment, their eyes practically begging to trade places with him on the spot.

A closer look revealed a filthy little girl curled up against the wall. Fear was written all over her face, yet she gritted her teeth and held on!

A sign sat in front of her, reading: Selling myself to save my mother. I ask only for one seventh-grade Rejuvenation Pill to save my grievously injured mother. I am willing to sell myself to my benefactor and toil like an ox or horse to repay this kindness!

A seventh-grade pill was clearly worth a considerable sum, while the little girl looked only eight or nine years old.

Moreover, she was filthy from head to toe, making it impossible to make out her features. Her aptitude appeared perfectly ordinary, too, so naturally, no one wanted to be the sucker who handed over a seventh-grade pill.

At that moment, however, a man in outrageously flashy clothes stood before her. He sported long bangs and considered himself suave and dashing, and he had begun haggling away all on his own.

This man was none other than Luo Bai.

Initially, he had dismissed the whole thing, until the old man in his ring told him that the little girl possessed a special constitution, the "dual-cultivation sacred physique." She was the ideal cultivation vessel, and cultivating with her would let his progress cover a thousand miles in a single day.

For now, however, her physique remained dormant. To awaken it, he would also need...

Luo Bai heard only the words "dual-cultivation sacred physique." Everything else went in one ear and out the other, and his attitude immediately took a full 360-degree turn.

He became kindness itself.

Yet Luo Bai could not produce such an expensive seventh-grade pill. He was penniless himself.

What could he do, then? Naturally, he thought of catching a white wolf with empty hands-getting something for nothing. He would trick her into his grasp first, which led to the scene that followed.

"Little sister, what serious illness does your mother have that requires a seventh-grade pill?"

"I think someone deliberately deceived you. I've been well versed in medicine since childhood. These miraculous hands of mine have brought countless gravely injured and dying people back to life."

"People call me Divine Doctor Luo. Why not take me to treat her? I guarantee the medicine will cure her illness."

Luo Bai babbled on without stopping, looking as though he would never give up until he got what he wanted.

Crouched in the corner by the wall, Yu Wanchuan watched Luo Bai ramble on with a lecherous expression, his drool practically dripping onto the ground.

Disbelief showed plainly on her face. She might have been young, but she was no fool. One look at the leering Luo Bai made it obvious that he was no decent person.

Yet Luo Bai failed to notice the change in Yu Wan'er's expression at all. His head was full of scenes unsuitable for children, and every so often, he let out a couple of foolish chuckles.

Most of the onlookers wore contemptuous expressions. Was he kidding? He was trying to swindle an eight- or nine-year-old girl, and leering at her to boot. Surely he had some peculiar fetish!

"Little sister, don't believe this swindler's sweet talk. One look tells me he's no good. He's definitely plotting something nasty."

A heavily bearded man spoke up to warn her.

"Exactly! Just look at that sleazy face. We knew ages ago that he was no good."

"Even tricking an eight- or nine-year-old child! Pah! Shameless bastard..."

One after another, the crowd called out warnings.

Luo Bai's face alternated between red and ashen, and he argued:

"You short-sighted fools! What could you possibly know of my abilities?"

"I think you simply can't bear to see others prosper."

"Little sister, don't believe their nonsense. Only I can cure your mother!"

"Bullshit! If you're so capable, show everyone right here!"

"Exactly! Talk is cheap. Show us a trick or two."

"If you really have that ability, then I, Zhang San, will bow to you..."

"Me too! I, Li Si, will do the same..."

The crowd were no fools, and they all fired back.

Luo Bai's expression grew increasingly awkward. He had only been shooting his mouth off to fool the girl. If he actually had to demonstrate his paltry skills, wouldn't he make an utter spectacle of himself?!

He immediately continued making excuses. "I'm injured today, so a demonstration would be inadvisable. Once I've recovered, I'll dazzle the lot of you!"

"Boo! You can't even heal your own injuries, yet you stand here making such outrageous boasts. We've never seen anyone so utterly shameless."

For a time, mocking laughter rang out without end.

Even the old man inside the ring looked speechless. Fuck, what the hell did I pick?

In the end, someone gave Luo Bai a hard shove, sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt.

Luo Bai cried out in pain. Before he could get up and see who had pushed him, a dense barrage of feet came stomping down on him, forcing him to curl up and cover his head.

Ming Hao had already retreated into the crowd, but at the sight, he turned back and landed several vicious kicks before sauntering away again.

Even Qing Yun, Qing Ying, and the others went over to give him a few hefty kicks.

Before long, everyone left whistling little tunes in high spirits, pretending nothing had happened.

Only Luo Bai remained, rolling on the ground and howling!

Seeing this, Yu Wanchuan knew that today would be another day when no one was willing to give her a seventh-grade pill in exchange for her service to save her mother. Utterly dejected, she braced herself against the wall and rose, then staggered away.

A conflicted look crossed Ming Hao's face. He stood there thinking for a moment, then finally stamped his foot and followed her!