CHAPTER 570: A STEEP PRICE

When Han Yu left the Fifth Rib Peak and made his way toward the Slave District, the morning mist clung to the stone paths. The sky above was tinted with the perpetual red reflection of the Slaughtered Moon. It lit the world in an oppressive crimson hue.

Han Yu walked quickly, but not too quickly.

In the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect, moving in a hurry often attracted unwanted attention. Maintaining Ju Fan’s expressionless face was important. He kept his shoulders straight, his gaze forward, and his steps controlled.

Yet internally, his heart throbbed with a tension that bordered on panic.

’Please let her still be unsold.’

’Please let her still be there.’

When he reached the main building of the Slave District, the cold fog from the Blood Moon River drifted along the lower courtyard. The carved skull pillars at the entrance stared down at all visitors, their empty sockets flickering with dull red flames. Inside, chants from the branding halls echoed faintly, mixing with muffled cries from distant rooms.

Han Yu ignored them and walked inside.

The same clerk was sitting at the same counter, leaning on his elbow with that permanently bored expression. His face brightened slightly, though, when he saw Han Yu.

"Well look who it is," the clerk said, straightening. "Senior brother Ju Fan, you sure came back fast. Usually you show up once every few weeks."

Han Yu kept his voice cold and flat. "I am here to purchase."

The clerk blinked in surprise but quickly smirked. "Ah, so you finally found something you like. Good timing too. We got a lot of new shipment from the purge ready now."

Han Yu’s eye twitched at the casual way he phrased it, but he kept his expression unreadable.

The clerk activated the formation screen. Rows upon rows of slave profiles lit up. The man tapped a sigil on his desk and the list automatically scrolled to the most expensive new entries.

"You are looking for someone specific, right? One of the ones you checked yesterday?" the clerk asked.

There was a suggestive tone in his voice, as if he assumed exactly why Han Yu had returned so soon.

Han Yu did not answer, but his silence was confirmation enough.

The clerk chuckled. "I see. Well, here she is again. Quite the pretty one. And strong too. Would make a durable bed slave, I tell you that. Not like those fragile mortal ones."

A cold shadow flashed across Han Yu’s gaze, but his face remained calm.

He pointed at Xuan Qing’s entry. "Her. Can I place a bid immediately."

The clerk nodded. "Yes. The conditioning was completed last night. They should have moved her to the pens already. So she is open for bidding."

Han Yu kept his voice low. "Is there a buyout option."

The clerk froze, then blinked.

"You want the buyout price?" he asked slowly. "You know that is different from bidding, right? Buyouts are very expensive. Only the rich ones go for that route."

Han Yu did not blink. "Tell me the price."

The clerk tapped on his formation screen. A status window appeared with several numbers. He whistled loudly.

"Well now. The upper estimate for her auction is one point two million merit points. With the standard buyout markup, you would be looking at... let me see, yes, exactly fifty percent more."

He turned the screen toward Han Yu.

"One point eight million merit points."

Han Yu’s heartbeat thudded once. A heavy, painful thump.

He had just enough. A few hundred more, but not much beyond that. If he paid this now, he would be left with almost nothing. The ability to buy more slaves later would become a distant fantasy.

His companions were many. Senior Brother Duan, Wu Shuan, Elder Bai’s disciples, the junior brothers from Twin Leaf Peak. If they appeared on the list, he would be helpless to purchase them.

He knew that.

But he also knew one thing very clearly.

If he let even one more day pass, Xuan Qing would be gone. With her looks it was just inevitable.

He inhaled quietly, letting the air fill his lungs, then nodded once.

"I will pay the buyout price."

The clerk’s smirk widened. "So impatient, senior brother. Could not wait, eh? Well, no shame in that. She is quite something."

Han Yu’s hand tensed for a moment, but he did not react.

"Yes or no," he said softly, "can the purchase be completed now."

"Of course," the clerk said, already tapping on his screen. "Let me initiate the buyout sequence. Once you pay, she becomes your property. You will receive her within the hour."

Han Yu produced his identity token.

The clerk placed it on a square crystal pillar. A faint humming filled the room. The pillar lit up with red runes that pulsed rhythmically, revealing the massive amount of merit points bound to the token.

"One million eight hundred thousand merit points," the clerk confirmed. "Please approve the transfer."

Han Yu touched the token with his Spirit Sense.

A chime sounded.

The number dropped instantly. From overflowing wealth to near emptiness in a blink.

Only one thousand four hundred merit points remained.

Barely enough to buy a few batches of pill ingredients.

The clerk whistled again. "Well, you are really hungry," he snickered. "But congratulations. The buyout is complete. The girl is yours."

Han Yu exhaled slowly. The air left him in a long, almost invisible breath. Relief, tension, anxiety, and determination all collided in his chest.

"She will be transferred to one of the receiving rooms," the clerk continued. "I will notify the handlers to get her ready. You can wait in the corridor or return later."

Han Yu shook his head. "I will stay."

The clerk shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Han Yu turned away from the counter and walked toward the waiting corridor. Each step felt heavier than the last.

He had spent almost everything.He had committed himself completely.He had crossed a point of no return.

But Xuan Qing was saved.

That alone made his sacrifice worth it.

Han Yu sat on a stone bench, hands resting on his knees, back straight. His expression was calm, but his eyes were hard as blades.

Now came the next question.

How damaged was she.

What had she suffered.

And most importantly...

Would she even recognize him anymore?