CHAPTER 571: A DOLL

The receiving chamber of the Slave District was dimly lit, shaped like a hollow stone cube carved directly beneath the administrative building.

Torches burned in the corners, each flame tinged with a faint red hue that made every shadow seem alive. The room smelled faintly of old blood and cold rust. A stone table occupied the center and two armored guards stood beside it like statues.

Han Yu sat on a plain bench along the wall, hands clasped tightly enough that his knuckles were white. His mind was calm only on the surface. Inside, everything churned.

When he heard the metallic clanking of chains from the corridor, his heart lurched.

Then she appeared.

Two zombie guards dragged a woman between them. She wore the standard slave robe, dull gray and thin enough that the outline of her figure showed clearly beneath it. Her wrists were bound in thick chains. A metal collar was clasped around her neck, etched with glowing runes that pulsed like a beating heart.

Han Yu stood up at once.

The movement was too fast and too tense, but he caught himself halfway and forced his shoulders to relax. To the guards, it looked like nothing more than eagerness.

But Han Yu felt something inside him crack when his gaze met hers.

Xuan Qing.

Her face was unchanged, perfectly the same as when he last saw her on Twin Leaf Peak. Delicate features, long lashes, the elegant bearing that had always made juniors admire her. Even her cultivation base, now sealed, still gave her body a faint vitality.

No bruises. No cuts. Nothing visible to indicate pain or mistreatment.

Yet her eyes were vacant.

Completely empty.

No recognition. No confusion. No sorrow or anger. They were simply hollow, like the eyes of a doll placed in a display window.

Han Yu felt something cold crawl through his chest.

He stepped closer, but one guard blocked him for a moment. Then the guard held out a gauntleted hand.

"Identity token."

Han Yu handed it over without a word.

The guard took a small needle from his armor, pricked Xuan Qing’s finger, and squeezed out a drop of blood. The droplet fell onto the token, immediately spreading in a thin line across the surface as if pulled by some unseen force. The runes etched into the token flickered, then glowed crimson before fading back to their usual metallic sheen.

The guard returned the token and said in a monotone voice, "Bonding complete. She is registered to you. Orders cannot be disobeyed. Attempted escape... if even possible, will trigger auto-destruct sequence. Harm to owner will trigger paralysis."

Han Yu’s stomach tightened. He kept his face cold.

He looked again at Xuan Qing. Her lips were slightly parted. Her breaths were shallow but steady. Her gaze did not shift even when he moved directly in front of her.

It was as if her soul had been locked away somewhere deep, unreachable.

Han Yu forced his tone to remain bored and mildly critical, like a customer inspecting a slightly flawed item. "Is something wrong with this one. Her expression seems unusual."

One guard snorted. "Strong willed. One of the troublemakers. Normal conditioning did not take well."

The other guard nodded. "She was selected for the Bed Slave category. So she needed a gentler form of processing. Could not risk physical damage."

Han Yu swallowed a surge of fury and said coolly, "Then why is she like this?"

"Doll Seal," the guard replied casually. "Applied last night. A perfect solution for stubborn ones. It turns them into obedient puppets. No resistance. No emotional interference. She will behave exactly as you desire."

Han Yu felt his entire body tense, and he nearly lost control of his expression. He steadied himself with sheer will.

"I see," he said as flatly as possible. "Although a bit disappointing. A puppet in bed is less interesting. She looks nice, but if she cannot make expressions, it will feel lacking."

The guards laughed.

"You can tell her to smile. Or cry. Or beg. The Doll Seal can emulate emotions quite well. Just command her." One guard’s voice carried amusement, which made Han Yu clench his fist behind his sleeve. "Better than the real thing if you ask me."

Han Yu simply nodded. "I will take her now."

The guards pushed Xuan Qing forward. She stumbled one step, then steadied herself. Her movements were smooth but devoid of emotion, like a puppet guided by invisible strings.

Han Yu reached out and grabbed the chain near her collar. Her skin was cold. Not icy, but cool in a way that made his chest ache.

He turned without another word.

The guards did not even look at them again. To them this was nothing unusual. Just another purchase.

Han Yu walked out of the chamber with Xuan Qing behind him, her steps matching his perfectly, her expression unchanged. The metal collar glowed softly, drawing eyes from everyone they passed.

The Slave District was bustling. Disciples walked by with slaves trailing behind them, laughter and jeers echoed from nearby halls, the faint sound of weeping came from the branding chambers.

Han Yu kept his face perfectly stone cold.

But as he walked, the attention they received grew.

Xuan Qing’s beauty was simply too striking. Even with her lifeless expression, she turned heads wherever they went. Some disciples paused mid conversation. Some stared openly. Some smirked with envy. Some whispered about how good the slave looked.

Then the jeers began.

"Tsk, that one is nice."

"Lucky bastard. Look at those legs."

"Must be rich to buy a bed slave of that quality."

"She looks fresh. Wonder how long she will last."

Han Yu stopped walking. Slowly he turned his head.

The cold glare he gave them was sharp enough to shred bone. There was no warmth, no amusement, no hesitation. Only the silent promise that if they said one more word, someone would bleed.

Then he released a sliver of his aura that startled all those that felt it nearby.