Yun Manman stepped forward and removed all the silver needles. With a turn of her wrist, a dagger slid into her hand.
She walked toward the girl hanging from the ropes.
Seeing the figure in the darkness, the girl froze for a moment, then smiled in acceptance.
This was just as well. She had no one to depend on anyway. Rather than suffer endless humiliation here, at least she would preserve her chastity before death.
Surprise flashed through Yun Manman's purple eyes. This girl had a fierce, unyielding nature, quite to her taste. Unfortunately, she could not die this time.
Snap, snap, snap, snap.
The ropes binding the girl's wrists and ankles snapped. Her body went limp, and just as she was about to collapse, Yun Manman caught her around the waist and leaned close to her ear, whispering,
"Eat this, and your body will recover. It's dangerous here. Leave as quickly as you can, and live well for yourself."
"You..."
Having spoken, Yun Manman turned and walked straight toward the gauze curtains. Those inside noticed nothing.
The girl's mouth fell open in shock. She hastily covered it before a sound escaped.
Tears filled her autumn-water eyes, but her gaze remained fixed on that slender, retreating figure.
She's a woman?
She saved me. Can I really go on living?
Raising her trembling hands, she saw the bright red fruit and stuffed it into her mouth without hesitation.
She crouched down, hugged herself, and wept bitterly. After a long while, her tears turned to laughter, and her gaze gradually grew resolute.
She had begged from childhood before being abducted and taken to the Flower-Filled House. Her temperament had brought her endless suffering and torment there.
Whenever she thought of those hideous faces late at night, she could not help trying to kill herself.
To prevent her from attempting suicide again, Madam Qin had someone watching her constantly.
Until today...
To her, living meant merely clinging to her last breath. Yet today, a woman had told her to live well for herself.
Perhaps she could use this wretched life to do something she wanted.
Yun Manman lifted the gauze curtains with her dagger and immediately held her breath. Suppressing her discomfort, she shot out silver needles, and the four women promptly fainted.
Old Master Wang shuddered, his corpulent body about to turn toward the intruder.
Yun Manman swiftly struck his acupoints.
Master Wang could no longer move, and his murky eyes filled with terror.
"You-who are you? You can't kill me! If you kill me, you won't survive either! Spare me, and I can give you all my money. I'll see you safely out of the county town!"
"I'll take the silver, and I'll take the gold and such as well. As for your life, it's too filthy. I don't want it. Take your time enjoying the rest of your days."
Master Wang's pupils contracted at the mention of gold. Then, thinking she must mean the gold in the granary, he relaxed slightly.
"Who are you?"
"My name is... Daddy!"
With that, Yun Manman tossed the pill in her hand straight into the man's mouth.
Terror filled the man's eyes as he tried to resist, but his body would not move. He had not even caught sight of the intruder.
Just like that, he gradually lost consciousness.
Yun Manman swept her gaze over the women on the floor. After removing the silver needles, she tossed some clothes over their bodies to cover them.
These women would all wake in a quarter of an hour. Whether they wanted to leave then would be up to them.
Yun Manman turned and walked out through the gauze curtains. Seeing the girl at the entrance, she noticed that much of the color had already returned to her face, and something seemed to have appeared in those autumn-water eyes.
Yun Manman had no interest in examining it. She simply said to the girl, "You're afraid to go out? Come on, then. I'll take you out with me."
With that, she walked past the girl.
The girl looked at Yun Manman. Though black gauze covered her face, it could not conceal her noble, peerless, aloof beauty, or those unusual, exquisitely beautiful purple eyes.
The girl pressed her lips together as she watched Yun Manman's retreating figure. Her gaze grew even firmer, and she followed at once.
Yun Manman went straight to the back gate. Before the guard could react, she knocked him unconscious with a chop of her hand and led the girl out through the residence's back gate.
Yun Manman never looked at the girl again, gazing instead at the distant lights. Should I head to a brothel first, or a gambling house?
Behind her, the girl dropped to her knees and respectfully knocked her forehead against the ground three times.
Yun Manman's gaze was indifferent, and she did not refuse. "I accept your thanks. We part ways here."
With that, Yun Manman turned to leave. The girl behind her hurriedly rose and caught the hem of her clothes.
Yun Manman turned toward the girl and raised an eyebrow.
The girl's soft, clear voice rang out. "Thank you for saving my life, benefactor. My name is Mu Xue. Please let me stay by your side. I'm willing to serve as your slave and maid for the rest of my life."
"Hehe..."
Yun Manman chuckled without removing her veil. She simply pointed at herself, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness.
"Miss, offering yourself to me won't work. Don't you know I'm a woman too?"
The girl still clutched the hem of Yun Manman's clothes, her expression earnest and solemn, her clear eyes full of determination and sincerity.
"I know you're a woman, benefactor. This wretched life of mine only survived because I met you and you saved me. Please take me in and let me care for you by your side. I'm willing to offer you my loyalty, forever!"
Yun Manman's thoughts stirred.
She truly did need to build her own force now, and a woman like this could be of great use.
She had sensed something more in those eyes earlier. So it was resolve.
"Why choose me? I'm just a poor farmer. I really can't afford to feed you, so you'd be better off seeking a position elsewhere!"
The girl's eyes dimmed, and urgency crept into her voice.
"Benefactor, I have enough silver for both of us. If you still won't take me in, I'm willing to offer you all my money. I only wish you every blessing, peace, and good health."
Yun Manman looked at the girl bowing slightly before her. Her eyes were clear and resolute, and Yun Manman could plainly see the sincerity in their depths. If she gave Yun Manman all her silver,
What would become of her?
Would she keep seeking death?
Yun Manman looked straight into her eyes and held out the pill in her hand.
"Eat this, and I'll trust you enough to let you stay by my side for now. If you betray me, your whole body will rot, and you'll die."
The girl's dim eyes instantly lit up. She snatched the pill from Yun Manman's hand and tossed it into her mouth, then dropped to both knees and said,
"I will never serve a second master in this life, nor will I ever betray you. I will pledge my life to serving you faithfully until my dying day. My original resolve will never change."
Yun Manman helped her up and removed the veil from her own face. Shocked, the girl hastily closed her mouth.
My benefactor is actually so transcendently beautiful, her beauty enough to topple a city. Her face is like jade, her bearing like an orchid; her icy skin is luminous, her exquisite grace beyond compare. Her purple eyes gleam with a lotus-like clarity, otherworldly and soul-stealing.
Such a woman...
"From now on, just call me Master. Your name will be Yuanwei from this day forward."
Yuanwei hurriedly came to her senses and dropped to one knee. "Yuanwei greets Master."
Yun Manman frowned slightly. "There's no need to kneel from now on. I don't like it. Put this veil on properly. We're going to visit a brothel and a gambling house."
"Master, those places are a jumble of fish and dragons. They aren't safe. Shouldn't you cover your face a little as well?"
Yun Manman stopped in her tracks. Could she say she regretted this already?
With someone following her around, entering her space would be terribly inconvenient!