Ever since becoming Ling Xiao's woman, Bai Yuxi had been in a state of unparalleled joy. She had finally become the Young Master's woman, and she couldn't believe how happy she was!
Ever since the Young Master rescued her from Li Guangyin's clutches, she had made up her mind to follow him for the rest of her life. Few people these days were willing to help a common woman, especially one who did so without asking for anything in return. Such a person was truly worthy of embracing. Later, when she arrived at the Ling family and interacted with the Young Master daily, she realized how different he was from all the other young masters in the family.
He always treated her with such courtesy, never treating her like a servant, but rather like a family member. He spoke with a touch of humor and grace, and was willing to risk his life for her. In his spare time, he taught her profound skills, helping her become a respected warrior.
All of this deeply moved her. For a maid who had resigned herself to a life of slavery, she had never dreamed of such experiences. Besides giving her body to the young master, she didn't know how to repay his kindness. She also fell deeply in love with him. She didn't expect him to marry her legally; as long as he had a small place for her in his heart, she would be content.
She brought him food every day. She knew his martial arts uniforms had all been destroyed. While she felt heartbroken, she also thought about how she had done nothing for him. So, today, she decided to go to the market and buy some high-quality fabric to make him some clothes. She could have a tailor make it, but that wouldn't reflect her feelings, so she decided to make the clothes herself. She used to make clothes for him at home, herself and her mother.
At the fabric store, Bai Yuxi selected several bolts of fine fabric. As she was leaving the store, she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh, you're blind! How dare you bump into me?" Bai Yuxi gently nudged the man with the fabric, and he immediately pulled Sangzi away, cursing. Bai Yuxi was kindhearted, and feeling she was at fault, she immediately apologized to the woman, "I'm sorry, young lady. I didn't mean to."
"A simple apology is all it takes? Do you know who I am? How could a lowly servant like you touch me?" The woman was quite pretty, but far inferior to Bai Yuxi. Seeing how charming Bai Yuxi was, her anger intensified, and she swung her arm towards Bai Yuxi's face.
"Pa!" A solid slap landed on Bai Yuxi's delicate face.
Not only that, the woman, taking advantage of her strength, kicked Bai Yuxi in the stomach.
"Ah!" Bai Yuxi cried out in shock, the cloth in her hands scattering to the ground as she collapsed. She was a fourth-level martial artist, but she had no power to fight back against the woman. Partly because she hadn't anticipated her sudden attack, and partly because she was far stronger. "Forget it, Miss Qing. She didn't mean it. Calm down. I have some high-quality fabric here. Come and take a look," the shopkeeper said respectfully, feeling sympathy for Bai Yuxi.
"Hmph, you slut! Don't let me see you again, or I'll beat you up every time I see you!" the woman continued to curse angrily, deeply jealous that Bai Yuxi was prettier than she was.
"Sister Qing, who made you angry?" a charming voice greeted from the doorway.
In walked a handsome young man, about twenty-five years old, dressed in a blue robe and holding a white fan, revealing his romantic nature.
His name was Lan Kuangsheng, a young master second only to the Lan family, one of the three great families in Meteorite City. He had recently achieved the Xuanshi level.
The woman who had assaulted Bai Yuxi was Li Qingqing, a twenty-two-year-old from the younger generation of the Li family, a member of one of the three great families, and possessed the strength of a mid-level Xuanshi. Lan Kuangsheng was currently pursuing Li Qingqing, primarily because the Lan family hoped to bridge the gap with the Li family through marriage, forming an alliance and preparing for future advancement into the ranks of the great families.
"Hey, that stinky bastard! He bumped into me," Li Qingqing said, pointing at Bai Yuxi, who was picking up cloth on the ground.
In reality, Bai Yuxi had only lightly touched her with the cloth; even an ordinary person wouldn't have felt any pain. Yet, as a mid-level profound practitioner, she claimed to be hurt. This was clearly just an excuse. Lan Kuangsheng's eyes lit up as he glanced at Bai Yuxi, and he exclaimed in amazement, "What a beautiful woman!"
Li Qingqing caught Lan Kuangsheng's look as he looked at Bai Yuxi, and her anger intensified. She immediately directed her rage at Bai Yuxi, walked over, and kicked her again, "Get out of here!"
Bai Yuxi felt deeply wronged. She hadn't expected to suffer this just for going out to buy something. Kind-hearted by nature, she endured the pain in her stomach and tears of grievance, clutching the fabric and attempting to run out of the fabric store.
However, before she could escape, Li Qingqing grabbed her hair from behind.
"Ah, I've already apologized, what else do you want?" Bai Yuxi cried out in pain.
"You idiot! You dare to talk back? I'll tear your mouth apart!" Li Qingqing raised her hand and slapped Bai Yuxi's face several times.
"Pa...pa..." The sounds were crisp and piercing. Poor Bai Yuxi, her delicate face was stained with several red handprints, and blood was oozing from the corners of her mouth. She looked utterly miserable.
At this moment, a female servant from the Ling family who had come with Bai Yuxi burst in, pointed at Li Qingqing, and shouted, "Why are you hitting people?"
This servant, nineteen years old, named Xiaomei, had been assigned by the Ling family to the Ling Xiao household. She had just gone shopping with Bai Yuxi, and she hadn't expected Bai Yuxi to be beaten like this just moments after they'd been apart.
She knew Bai Yuxi's status in the Ling Xiao household, and that Young Master Ling Xiao doted on her immensely. If Young Master Ling Xiao knew Bai Yuxi had been beaten like this, he'd be blaming her. "Another blind, slutty slave!" Li Qingqing, known for her bad temper, immediately pointed at Xiaomei and cursed at someone who dared to offend her. Then, she turned to Lan Kuangsheng, "Brother Sheng, help me teach her a lesson."
Lan Kuangsheng nodded, a fierce glint in his eyes, and swung his white fan at Xiaomei. "Smack!"
Xiaomei was just an ordinary person, without any physical strength. Lan Kuangsheng's blow sent her flying out the door, where she fainted.
"Xiaomei!" Bai Yuxi exclaimed, glaring at Li Qingqing and Lan Kuangsheng. "Have you had enough? We are from the Ling family."
Bai Yuxi hadn't wanted to bring up the Ling family's name; they were just servants, after all. But now they were nearly beaten to death. If she didn't resist, would she be left here to be humiliated and die?
No, she still had to go back to see the young master. She still had to make clothes for him. She refused to be trampled to death like this. "The Ling family?" Li Qingqing was stunned.
Lan Kuangsheng and the shopkeeper beside them changed their expressions. The Ling family was the largest family in Meteorite City, and they couldn't afford to offend them.
"Qingmei, I think we should just let it go," Lan Kuangsheng, feeling guilty, tried to persuade Li Qingqing.
Li Qingqing said angrily, "So what if it's the Ling family? You're just slaves. Even if I drag you all off and sell you, the Ling family won't stand up for you. Besides, would our Li family be afraid of the Ling family?"
Was the Li family afraid of the Ling family? The answer was yes. The Ling family was a large family with nearly a thousand years of history, and its foundation was far deeper than that of the Li and Luo families. Furthermore, the Ling family's Grand Elder was renowned and someone the Li family couldn't afford to offend for the time being.
However, Li Qingqing was unwilling to let this slave girl go. Considering her lowly status, she believed the Ling family wouldn't go against them over a slave girl. Thinking of this, Li Qingqing felt emboldened and also thought of a perfect way to vent her anger.
She would sell this slave girl, who was prettier than she was, and make her a slave girl for thousands of men to ride on.
It's undeniable that when a woman becomes jealous, she can be extremely cruel and deadly!
Lan Kuangsheng couldn't help but feel sorry for this beautiful maid; he hadn't even had the chance to enjoy her yet.
Bai Yuxi was forcibly taken away by Li Qingqing.
Half an hour later, Xiaomei finally awoke.
"Where are you, Yuxi?" Xiaomei's first thought was to look for Bai Yuxi.
The kind shopkeeper said to Xiaomei, "She's been taken away by the young lady of the Li family."
Hearing this, Xiaomei's face paled. After a moment's hesitation, she immediately rushed back to the Ling family. She was determined to tell the young master this news.
...
Zuixianglou, one of the Li family's properties, was a famous brothel in Meteorite City. Frequent visitors here were wealthy merchants and their sons, as well as mercenaries and adventurers who lived a life of hardship and danger, all of whom thoroughly enjoyed this extravagant and carefree lifestyle.
Li Qingqing knocked Bai Yuxi unconscious and brought her to Zui Xiang Lou. She then handed her over to the maid and gave her some instructions before heading upstairs to watch the show.
Li Qingqing glanced at Lan Kuangsheng and said, "Are you really reluctant to part with that stinky girl?"
Lan Kuangsheng immediately explained, "Of course not. She's not even one thousandth, no, one ten-thousandth, as pretty as Qingmei."
"You're smart," Li Qingqing snorted, feeling immensely pleased.
The Zui Xiang Lou lobby was buzzing with activity.
Bai Yuxi was awakened by a splash of cold water. She looked up and found herself in an iron cage, surrounded by menoung, middle-aged, old... all staring at her with lustful eyes. She didn't know where she was, but she knew her situation was dire. She immediately cried out, "Let me out... Let me out..."
However, even though she screamed at the top of her lungs, no one paid any attention; only obscene laughter echoed.
At this moment, the old maid slowly emerged from the back.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, this is our most valuable find yet at Zui Xiang Lou. Whoever offers the highest price today will own her. This opportunity only comes once, so don't miss it. The starting price is fifty gold coins," the maid beamed, calling out to the men upstairs and downstairs.
As soon as she finished speaking, a wealthy merchant called out, "Fifty gold coins."
"This girl is quite nice. Fifty-five gold coins!" As soon as the merchant finished speaking, another bidder shouted, "Sixty."
"Eighty."
...
The price continued to climb, and the atmosphere at the scene reached a fever pitch. Bai Yuxi, who was in the iron cage, felt a chill in her heart. She finally knew where she was.