Chapter 30: 030: Save Me!

The shopkeeper next door perked up as soon as he heard.

Peering out to "tease" the customer, he spoke with contempt: "Hey, can an old thing like you even tell the difference between something meant for a noble?"

Another customer, who had come to buy meat, chimed in.

"Perhaps he's seen too many 'nobles' in that building..."

Facing the slightly malicious mockery of those around him, the customer's expression remained unchanged; his eyes, which had weathered many storms, held nothing but tranquility.

To the butcher, however, the words were grating.

He gripped his boning knife, making a gesture as if to drive people away.

His face was fierce: "Go, go, go! Don't stand here ruining my business. You want meat or not? If you're not buying, go stand somewhere else."

The other onlookers found the scene dull and dispersed one after another.

Though the butcher performed dirty and strenuous work, he was the most well-off and prosperous on this street, and his words carried weight—ordinary families could only afford meat during festivals, but the butcher's family ate meat every few days, and their dishes were always rich with oil.

The neighbors didn't dare offend him lightly.

Seeing the crowd disperse, the butcher finally asked the customer, "Old man, was what you said just now true?"

The customer smiled. "Naturally, it was true."

The butcher pondered for a moment, then asked, "How did you know?"

He was also quite curious how this old man, from so far away, could recognize at a glance that it was a Literary Heart Sigil rather than an ordinary accessory.

The customer tapped the butcher's counter with a finger and said with a smile, "That doesn't matter. What matters is that if you lose, you must accept the loss."

"Fine, fine, fine. If I lose, it'll be a celebration! I'll go get two taels of old wine to go with your meal later..." The butcher waved his hand dismissively; he held a high-paying job and didn't mind such a small "bet." While waiting, the butcher propped his arms on the wooden counter and began to chat with the customer. "Hey, old man, you sound awfully scholarly. Did you actually go to school?"

The customer replied, "I know a few characters."

The butcher's interest was piqued, and he slapped the counter. "Old man, you know my kid is about to start his schooling..."

The customer asked calmly, "You want your child to study?"

The butcher nodded and continued, "He doesn't need to learn many words. I'm not expecting him to become an official; with our background, how could he have the fate of a noble? Just teach him a few words so he won't get cheated when settling accounts in the future. I'll eventually have to leave this shop to him..."

"What if your child has a Literary Heart or a Martial Gall? Would you support him? Cultivating the Literary Heart requires study, and training the Martial Gall requires physical discipline; they will consume your entire family fortune."

The butcher thought the old man was merely mocking him. He curled his lip and lowered his head to slice meat briskly. "With our background? My kid isn't worthy of that. He can just follow me and learn how to slaughter meat..."

In his memory, anyone with a Literary Heart Sigil or a Martial Gall Talisman was a noble. They were either high-ranking officials or immensely wealthy—in short, they were the elite. These people could scale walls and conjure things from nothing; those were the powers of gods and immortals.

They were just common folk rolling in the mud.

He was a butcher, and his child would surely be a butcher too.

Anything else?

How could he dare to hope for so much?

The customer looked at the butcher with eyes as calm as still water. He didn't even dare to indulge in a daydream of what might have been, feeling a pang of bitterness in his heart.

He let out a sigh and said, "The family trade..."

The butcher didn't understand. "What's that?"

"It means a son inheriting his father's profession," the customer explained. "The son of a master smith will surely learn to forge; the son of a master bow-maker will surely learn to craft bows."

The butcher understood even less, but he was certain of one thing—this old man really could read, and likely quite a lot!

Thus, he became even more confused.

In this day and age, who didn't respect those who were literate?

If the old man had gone out to teach children to read and write, he wouldn't have ended up like this. How could he have been bought by the Yuehua Pavilion to work as a kitchen laborer?

The butcher was filled with doubt, but the customer did not wish to say more, and with business arriving, he could only set aside his wandering thoughts.

He thought to himself that he would take his child to see the old man tonight and bring a couple of catties of good meat, so they wouldn't fall ill from eating nothing but offal all day.

***

Meanwhile, the thug was leading Shen Tang away.

He first walked along a main road, and once Shen Tang's attention was diverted and her guard was down, he suggested taking a shortcut through the alleys.

The further they went, the more remote and quiet it became.

Shen Tang finally felt a distinct sense of unease.

She asked the man, "How much further to the inn?"

The man replied, "Almost there, almost there."

After winding through two more alleys, Shen Tang asked again.

"Are you sure you haven't taken a wrong turn?"

The man grew impatient. Since they were only a few steps from the destination, he felt emboldened and raised his voice several octaves to intimidate her: "I said we're almost there! Why is such a young lady in such a hurry?"

Sensing something was wrong, Shen Tang said in a panic, "I want to go back..."

The man gave a low chuckle and refused to stop. "Too late!"

With a kick, he flung open a door and shouted into the courtyard, "Business is here!"

It was a very remote and filthy courtyard. Weeds crawled through the cracks in the walls, and the faint sound of conversation could be heard from within.

Shen Tang made a move to climb off the back of the motorcycle to escape.

The moment her feet hit the ground, before she could steady herself, the man shoved her forcefully into the courtyard. Losing her balance, she stumbled heavily and turned her head in terror toward a man and a woman walking out from the courtyard.

The woman said, "What a handsome young lady. Laitou, where did you trick her from? Look at that fine, tender skin..."

As she spoke, she reached out to pinch Shen Tang's cheek.

Shen Tang dodged in terror and glared at the man named "Laitou." "You... you didn't call Yuanliang, did you?"

Laitou ignored her and answered for himself, "She followed me obediently after just a few words. She's pretty, but her brains aren't working."

The man beside the woman leaned in to inspect Shen Tang's face. Shen Tang shrank back timidly, on the verge of tears.

The man licked his lips and snickered, "What does a girl need brains for? If women had brains, how would we do business? We'll take her to the Yuehua Pavilion later; they've been pressing for good stock."

The woman ignored her companion's sweeping comment. "The Yuehua Pavilion? Isn't that place full of male entertainers? What do they want a girl for?"

Laitou and the man exchanged a knowing look.

Lecherousness flowed between them, everything understood without words.

"You don't understand. If they come asking for goods, we just provide them."

"Exactly. Women shouldn't meddle so much."

Laitou pushed against Shen Tang's shoulders, preparing to lock her in a dark, filthy little room that reeked of an indescribable stench.

Shen Tang stepped aside to dodge.

Shamed and furious, she gritted her teeth. "You dare sell me?"

The woman sneered, her eyes suddenly turning sharp. She reached out to grab Shen Tang's flesh, threatening her, "Don't think you're special just because you're a young lady. Even if the daughter of the Heavens came here, we could sell her. Behave! Or you'll regret it!"

Shen Tang darted around a pillar, her eyes reddening as she cursed, "Aren't you afraid of divine retribution for doing this?"

Seeing Shen Tang becoming more spirited as she ran, the three of them prepared to join forces to take her down and give her a good beating to teach her a lesson.

"Retribution?" Laitou spat. "I am the Heavens!"

"Please, Yuanliang, save me!"

The man said, "No one is coming to save you, even if you scream your lungs out!"

This little girl was quite the runner, as slippery as an eel.

"I'm so scared!"

Shen Tang's voice took on a sob.

The courtyard was small, and Shen Tang was quickly cornered by the three. The young lady, nearly in tears, hunched her shoulders.

In the next instant, the fear vanished from her face.

"As if!"

Using the wall for leverage, her long legs swung around in a sweeping kick.

(End of Chapter)