CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 80: YOU’VE SUCCESSFULLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION

Clang!

As the first ray of sunlight streamed into the prison cell of the Red Moon Fortress, the sound of the door opening echoed at the entrance. The guard led a handsome young man with white hair inside, waking up the group lying in a torpid and weakened state.

The guard opened the previous cell but did not lay a hand on him, motioning the young man with white hair to go in by himself. Although he still wore handcuffs, the guard did not treat him roughly, not even touching him, and respectfully locked the door before leaving.

"Why are you back?" Luo Jue in the cell looked at Yue Yu with a surprised expression.

"Everyone here is talented. Returning here feels like going home, so of course, I had to come back." Yue Yu found a spot to sit down, couldn’t help yawning as though he hadn’t slept the whole night.

This action made Luo Jue’s expression even more peculiar. He scrutinized Yue Yu for a while and said, "You’ve... taken a bath, haven’t you?"

Not only had he bathed, but Yue Yu had also changed into a new outfit. Although it was still coarse linen, it was evidently cleaner than the one he hadn’t changed for three days. While others had tangled and matted hair, looking grimy and like refugees, Yue Yu’s skin was fair, his hair smooth, lips red, and teeth white, extraordinarily neat and clean. Dressed up, he could go out to receive guests, making him a standout in the cell.

Having bathed, changed clothes, and looking like he hadn’t slept all night... Luo Jue blinked and showed a look of sudden understanding, consoling him, "Ah, at least you’re not hurt. It’s how people are these days; once it’s over, they don’t acknowledge it. Being safe and sound is already good enough."

Yue Yu had the feeling that Yin Minghong’s reputation was being damaged... He glanced around and discovered that the expressions of others varied, with some cold, some disdainful, some curious, but most were enviously desirous.

Three days without a grain of rice, surviving only on water, hunger was nearly wrecking their sanity. Yue Yu even saw remnants of mouse blood and flesh on the ground—they were on the brink of collapse.

For Martial Artists, pain might be bearable, but the hunger—a survival instinct—is a torment they struggle to fight off, more so as their bodies require more nutrients, leading them to fall into the enslavement stage faster than women and children.

Once you experience the despair of hunger firsthand, it leaves an indelible mark on your heart.

From Yin Minghong, Yue Yu learned the enslavement process of the slave hunters: starve them for three days, then offer a little food, as a price they need to do some simple yet humiliating tasks like licking boots or mimicking a dog’s bark; then feed them one meal a day, force them into regular labor, punish mistakes with a whip, lock and starve defiance; this could eliminate their dignity quickly, breeding a servile nature, turning the whip into a ’calamity’ for slaves.

Due to Spiritual Power, the personality and dignity of ordinary people from Huiyao is unexpectedly strong.

Spiritual Power in Huiyao people is akin to a cubic block within. When they face external oppression, the cube rolls and pricks them, alerting them to resist; but if their dignity is completely shattered, converting the cube into a sphere, they wouldn’t feel any emotion even under oppression, it becomes almost impossible for Huiyao people to reclaim their dignity, permanently molding into emotionless machines.

This strengthened Yue Yu’s resolve to sabotage the human traffickers: if he leaves like this, these people will be ruined in days.

Yin Minghong doesn’t wish to save them either, but killing Huo the head of the slave hunters is insignificant. As long as there’s demand for slaves, another Huo the second, or Huo the third will emerge; dismantling Jing Zhengwei’s core family is of utmost importance. Yin Minghong’s current act is merely transferring some to work in the mine, ensuring their survival in the mine.

Xu Song’an was chosen yesterday, leaving Luo Jue and Feng Zhen alone in the cell. Feng Zhen had stopped crying, appearing resigned when he suddenly asked Yue Yu: "How did that person... treat you?"

Yue Yu strangely glanced at Feng Zhen, who wiped his face and said, "Many girls in the village liked me; I believe I look okay pretty... Do you think that person would want to buy me?"

"What are you talking about!" Luo Jue shook his head, "Don’t give up hope!"

"There’s no hope left, I just want a good meal, and a good sleep, I don’t want to live in a place teeming with rats and cockroaches... How did it come to this..." Feng Zhen curled up by hugging his knees, "I just want to live..."

"I don’t want to be disappointed anymore." Feng Zhen looked at Yue Yu and asked, "Can you tell me... what should I do?"

Yue Yu fell silent.

After a few seconds, he seriously said, "Believe in me, wait, and hold onto hope."

Yue Yu returned to the prison cell to prepare for tonight’s assassination. Initially, Yin Minghong planned to deal with Jing Zhengwei personally, but no matter the result, his involvement would draw suspicion from the Jing family, possibly being killed by the Jing family’s two expert guards on the spot—he had prepared to sacrifice himself for this assassination.

However, with Yue Yu’s assistance, Yin Minghong can actually withdraw from this action, not needing a direct confrontation with the Jing family; he merely has to aid Yue Yu. Once Yue Yu assassinates Jing Zhengwei, Yin Minghong arranges for someone to aid Yue Yu’s escape, even if the Jing family’s guards become angry, they’ll only target Huo the head’s group, having nothing to do with Yin Minghong.

Thus Yue Yu needed to return to the prison cell to show that beyond a one-night ’fleeting romance’ with Yin Minghong, he had no other involvement. According to Yin Minghong’s plan, Yue Yu was supposed to eat something before returning at midnight, but Yue Yu couldn’t adhere to such a miserable schedule these past few days, persuading Yin Minghong to sleep in the study while he took a bath and occupied Yin Minghong’s bed to have a good sleep.

After the assassination, Huo the head’s slave hunters would inevitably be detained in the Red Moon Fortress, awaiting the Jing family’s judgment. As for those captured, Yin Minghong can entirely decide to release them.

Though unable to personally kick them, feeling a tinge of regret, Yue Yu isn’t stubborn about pursuing personal revenge; as long as their outcome is tragic enough, he could rate it with five stars.

...

...

In the evening, the grand gates of the Red Moon Fortress opened wide as Yin Minghong and other mine heads waited at the entrance to welcome the arrival of this fortress’s big boss—Jing Zhengwei.

The big boss Jing Zhengwei mostly lived in Xuanzhu County, visiting the Red Moon Fortress only on monthly occasions to check accounts and collect profits. Otherwise, he didn’t bother with affairs. Yin Minghong, the second head, managed the fortress’s specific matters, while the third head represented the conference, discussing specific ore transactions with other forces.

In simple terms, the second head handles internal affairs, the third handles external, and the big boss manages the money.

A large ironwood horse carriage pulled by four horses slowly approached from afar. Accompanying it were eight knights along with two swift-sword guards patrolling and monitoring the sides. Yin Minghong glanced at those two and recognized them as Integration and Mastery realm experts guarding Jing Zhengwei: Mi Die and Li Sang.

The carriage entered the parapet city, two maids opened the door, helping a noble gentleman wearing a black mask to alight. Yin Minghong was puzzled but didn’t hesitate, leading the crowd and saying, "Welcome, Young Master!"

Jing Zhengwei didn’t respond to them, a norm Yin Minghong is accustomed to. Although Jing Zhengwei isn’t pompous or arrogant, he’s quite low-key in Xuanzhu County and within Jing’s family, reticent, even Yin Minghong had only seen him a few times.

Contrary to his low-profile nature is his dark personality. Since Jing Zhengwei came of age, rumors of him delighting in torturing women are rampant, even with women dying at his residence every few days, his brother already married while only he remains unmarried in his twenties, though Jing Zhengwei doesn’t seem to mind this.

Meanwhile, he was also an enthusiast of firearms, but while others used targets to test their guns, he used slaves—according to White Night’s investigation, the number of slaves who died under his gun in recent years was no less than a hundred.

Even if not for undermining the Jing Family, Jing Zhengwei as a person was a scoundrel who deserved to die. Yin Minghong was willing to sacrifice years of accumulation just to assassinate Jing Zhengwei, and the personal factor of Jing Zhengwei weighed heavily in this decision.

Yin Minghong looked at Jing Zhengwei’s mask and asked, "Is the young master feeling unwell? There are medical officers in the fortress..."

At this moment, a pale arm reached out from the carriage, like milk poured out, gently resting on Jing Zhengwei’s shoulder.

"The young master has just been too overworked these days, his throat is a bit uncomfortable."

A tall, veiled black-haired girl emerged from the carriage, intimately linking Jing Zhengwei’s arm, with eyes lined with shadow full of smiles. Jing Zhengwei nodded and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Let’s go inside, don’t waste time."

Yin Minghong was stunned.

How could there be a woman!?

He forced himself to calm down, "This, this is..."

"This is Weiwei." Jing Zhengwei said indifferently: "I bought her from Xiangxue Sea a few days ago... Why, are you interested?"

"I wouldn’t dare!" Yin Minghong quickly bowed his head, turned around to lead them: "Please go and dine first, the account books and the gold chest are ready, would you like to look at the account books first or freshen up?"

"No rush with the account books, I trust you and the third brother very much." Jing Zhengwei said, "Prepare the bath water first, I’ve been in the carriage all day, I’m tired."

"Yes."

Just as Yin Minghong was quickly thinking of countermeasures in his mind, he saw Boss Huo in the hall, and his expression changed abruptly: "Boss Huo, what are you doing here?"

Boss Huo was startled, wasn’t it you who called for me to appear now to serve tea to the young master? Why such a look of not recognizing me?

His mind turned, and he instantly understood—surely the second in command was too enamored with that pretty woman and didn’t want to part with her, but you need to pay! The money from last night hasn’t been paid yet!

Though he held some contempt for the second in command in his heart, Boss Huo still displayed a respectful demeanor: "Second boss, I just wanted to let the young master see this top-grade product I acquired. Come, bring it up."

Mi Die and Lisan stood in front of Jing Zhengwei, watching Boss Huo warily. But as the guards brought the person in, their attention immediately turned to that individual—

"Sword Concealer!"

"Prepare the light source!"

The two instantly took out items similar to firestones, evidently aware of how to deal with a Sword Concealer. The other guards immediately aimed their firearms at Boss Huo, whose face changed as he knelt and said, "Wait, you’ve misunderstood! This is someone we captured, he’s been starved for days now, poses no threat!"

Mi Die and Lisan remained vigilant, but it was Jing Zhengwei who curiously asked, "You caught a Sword Concealer?"

"Yes, three days ago he wanted a ride, we fed him Soft Bone Powder, and he’s been starved for three days now," Boss Huo quickly said, "Young master, you know that the new tea with white leaves can sell for a high price in Xuanzhu County. I didn’t want to take him back; when I heard the young master was coming, I wanted to show him first, hoping he would help my business... Although there’s no time to roast the tea yet, he’s already too weak, at most he can just struggle a bit."

At this, Boss Huo showed a smile that any man would understand: "If the young master is not assured, I can roast the tea for a few more days... But the young master seems to enjoy the thrill of struggle, so I came to ask for his opinion first."

"What beautiful white hair."

Hearing the wind chime-like voice, Boss Huo was startled, finally noticing the veiled black-haired girl standing behind the young master, cold sweat pouring down his back—they also had taboos in their line of work, selling tea is one thing, but if the patron has someone with them, discussions must be held separately.

Now, Boss Huo’s actions were equivalent to slapping the face of the black-haired girl. If the young master valued this black-haired girl, he might give Boss Huo a lesson; even if not, the young master could take the opportunity to negotiate a lower price based on the girl’s attitude.

Overall, it was a complete loss.

As for the idea that the young master might reward Boss Huo with more money after enjoying himself tonight, that was even more hopeless—with the black-haired girl there, the white-haired one wouldn’t even get into the young master’s room tonight!

"Hmm, so you mean to sell him to me..." Jing Zhengwei said while looking at the black-haired girl, and both Yin Minghong and Boss Huo immediately realized this venture was doomed—the young master clearly valued this woman greatly.

Truly, man proposes but God disposes... Yin Minghong sighed inwardly, preparing to proceed with the original plan to personally distract the two guards, creating an opportunity to assassinate Jing Zhengwei.

"Isn’t this great, buy it young master."

Everyone was taken aback, hearing the black-haired girl smile with her eyes curving into crescents: "Such beautiful white hair is rare to see, and the person is quite lovable, buy it!"

"Really?" Jing Zhengwei seemed very concerned about the black-haired girl’s feelings.

"Yes, yes, it’s okay, we can have a group activity tonight after all~"

Even Leyi, who was on the side, was dumbfounded by these bold words, only to see the black-haired girl suddenly approach him, stroking his hair, and giggling:

"Very good, you’ve successfully caught my attention."