Reclaiming a Girl's Dignity, the Third Maid

Ye Wushuang and Xie Qianli strolled through the streets of the imperial capital.

Xie Qianli's hands were already full of delicacies. Judging by his utterly absorbed manner, he had eaten himself into oblivion.

Every so often, a few refugees would appear, only to be suppressed by patrolling soldiers for spoiling the appearance of the streets.

In war, it was always only the people who suffered.

With the nine princes vying for the throne and constantly clashing, the various factions within the imperial dynasty had grown ever more ruthless in their exploitation of the common people.

How ironic. A power on the level of an imperial dynasty had a glittering imperial capital, yet refugees in ragged clothes formed a stark contrast to it.

These refugees had fled from distant frontier cities, longing for nothing more than a full meal.

They had naively believed that the imperial capital was so prosperous that there would surely be a little room for them.

Yet all that greeted them was merciless suppression.

Ye Wushuang sighed softly and activated a spell. The delicacies Xie Qianli had purchased appeared before the refugees one after another.

Startled, they looked fearfully at the imposing Ye Wushuang, thinking he was toying with them.

As far as they knew, people like him never paid them any attention.

"Eat," Ye Wushuang said softly.

As soon as Ye Wushuang spoke, they threw all thought of consequences aside and wolfed down the food.

At that moment, they had only one wish: to fill their stomachs.

Xie Qianli was also taken aback as he looked at them. He could not quite bear the sight either and said nothing about what Ye Wushuang had done.

Xie Qianli asked, "Brother Wushuang, there are so many refugees. Can we possibly look after them all?"

With a calm expression, Ye Wushuang said, "Perhaps we can't, but for every one I see, I'll help that one."

Ye Wushuang had never been a bleeding heart. If he saw it, he acted. He would simply do what he could without asking what came afterward; all he sought was a clear conscience.

Xie Qianli gave a good-natured smile as well. "True, Brother Wushuang. It's already good enough to help those we happen to meet when we can."

"I never imagined that not only could you fight, Brother Wushuang, but your thinking was so progressive too."

Then Xie Qianli clenched his fist and said angrily:

"Brother Wushuang, what exactly is the ruler of this rotten imperial dynasty doing? Things have come to this, and he still won't do anything?"

Ye Wushuang raised his brows slightly. "This ruler is choosing his crown prince."

"These princes have already lost all sense of restraint. Their fighting has plunged their country into darkness."

Ye Wushuang felt helpless too. Is a crown prince chosen under these circumstances really fit to be emperor?

Up ahead, another group of riders came charging over. A girl was still beside the street, about to be trampled by the soldiers' horses.

Ye Wushuang's expression chilled slightly. He activated his Supreme Bone, and its pressure spread, forcing the soldiers and their horses straight to their knees, unable to move an inch.

Ye Wushuang approached the girl, crouched down gently, and rubbed her hair.

Her hair was not as dry as he had imagined. The girl's life before this had probably been fairly good.

Yet now, because of the princes' struggles and their wars, she too had been left on the streets.

The girl froze slightly, then raised her head to look at Ye Wushuang. Sunlight shone down from afar, overlapping with his figure.

At that moment, Ye Wushuang was like a light that illuminated her.

Something filled her heart as well.

"I'll give you food. From now on, you'll work for me. You'll be my girl."

Ye Wushuang did not choose to give her charity, instead having her work for him. She wanted to restore this girl's dignity.

This time, there was no fame as a peerless genius, no halo of the Ye Lineage's Heavenly Son.

At this moment, there is only a youth named Ye Wushuang, representing nothing more than what I want to do, Ye Wushuang thought with satisfaction.

The girl stared intently at Ye Wushuang, remaining dazed for a long time.

Ye Wushuang did not hurry her, simply waiting quietly where he was for her answer.

The girl's eyes were no longer vacant. As though she had found a new meaning in life, her gaze became firm as she looked at Ye Wushuang.

"My name is An Xuchen."

"From now on, I am your servant."

"From now on, I live only for you."

Grant me a lifetime, and I will gladly become dust, guarding your peace for a lifetime.

"Good." Ye Wushuang smiled softly, stroked her cheek, and held out both hands to her.

An Xuchen reached out with both hands as well, gripping Ye Wushuang's hands tightly.

She was too weak and could only use Ye Wushuang’s hands for support as she slowly got to her feet.

She stood up and took her place behind Ye Wushuang.

Beyond avenging her family, An Xuchen's future seemed to have gained a new meaning.

That meaning was protection.

Beside them, Xie Qianli was already visibly moved. He gently wiped away his tears.

"Brother Wushuang, what you do is so moving."

"Don't worry. I definitely won't tell Sister Qingcheng that you've taken in a new little maid. Make sure you hide her well."

The corner of Ye Wushuang's mouth twitched slightly. In such a moving atmosphere, Xie Qianli had gone and spouted this rubbish again.

Even An Xuchen beside him burst into a giggle, revealing a smile that had not appeared for a long time.

"Who dares provoke us?! We are patrol soldiers serving the imperial family!" the soldiers kneeling on the ground roared.

"The one who'll kill you." Ye Wushuang's voice was icy. All life left them as they were annihilated on the spot.

The next moment, what had happened there caused an uproar. Hearing the commotion, the officers came with rank upon rank of troops.

They charged over and saw the soldiers on the ground, long since lifeless, and their expressions turned somewhat ugly.

"You dare run wild in our Heavenly Star Imperial Dynasty? No one can save you today," the middle-aged man in the lead said furiously.

"With the way you lot behave, your grandpa Xie Qianli will teach you a lesson today!"

In the next instant, Xie Qianli charged straight out and engaged the middle-aged man in battle.

He had seen the plight of some of the refugees in the imperial capital, along with the arrogant faces of the patrolling soldiers.

The dereliction of these Heavenly Star Imperial Dynasty patrol soldiers had angered Xie Qianli as well. He charged out of his own accord, wanting to teach them a lesson.

Single-handedly, Xie Qianli forced them all back step by step.

The longer they fought, the more terrified the middle-aged man became. This youth alone had already suppressed him.

Moreover, his saber techniques grew stronger and stronger, each strike fiercer than the last. The middle-aged man was already showing signs of defeat.

"Nine Heaven-Burning Forms-Wind Howl!"

Xie Qianli shouted, and a fiery-red slash of saber Qi swept over. Every patrol soldier spat blood.

Xie Qianli had no intention of stopping and prepared to finish them off.

An old man suddenly arrived, raised his hand to extinguish Xie Qianli's saber Qi, and sent him flying with a palm strike.

"Boy of the Xie Family, this is no place for you to run wild. Back down."

With that, he turned to Ye Wushuang and said, "Show mercy where you can. If you dare act recklessly again, don't blame this old man for being ruthless."

Ye Wushuang had only visited the Heavenly Sword Secret Realm once with his Human Emperor Body, showing his face just that once.

On this outing, those present still did not know Ye Wushuang's identity.

Yet a length of vermilion gauze descended from the sky at a nearby restaurant.

A graceful figure approached slowly from afar, her toes lightly touching flowing water as she stepped down along the gauze.

An unusual fragrance instantly filled the space around everyone, and they all showed a trace of intoxication.

A sharp cry came from the fairy's lips.

"Old wretch, let me see who dares lay a hand on my people!"