Early the next morning, Madam Wang returned, bringing another batch of people with her.

She ordered her subordinates to make proper arrangements.

Madam Wang looked around. “Why don’t I see the Overseer today?”

Whenever she came back, the Overseer would always come to check on the new arrivals.

Qin San stepped forward, his face expressionless. “I killed him.”

Madam Wang showed no sign of anger; instead, she seemed rather intrigued.

This boy had been here for three years, always carrying his large machete, yet never once had she seen him use it.

She had even found it strange—how could someone in their line of work be such a saint?

But unexpectedly, the first time he took action, he killed one of their own.

Madam Wang couldn’t help but suspect—was he working for the authorities?

“Why did you attack one of our own?” she questioned sternly.

Qin San hesitated for a moment, then said coldly, “He tried to take a woman I had my eyes on.”

Madam Wang let out a smirk that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “So, you’re not as righteous as I thought. Turns out, you just hadn’t found anyone you liked.”

“Well, work hard, then. If you fancy someone, this old lady will gift her to you.” Winning people’s loyalty was the first rule of using them.

Qin San nodded to Madam Wang and turned to escort the new arrivals away.

A warrior stepped forward from behind Madam Wang. “Do you want me to take care of him?”

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

“No need. That fool Overseer’s death is actually convenient for me.”

Many of the girls they brought in ended up being ruined by the Overseer, causing buyers to keep lowering their offers.

She had been worrying about how to get rid of that nuisance—someone else just did it for her.

Qin San was reliable. The girls under his watch always fetched good prices.

She needed more obedient subordinates like him.

Still, Madam Wang seemed uneasy. “Go find out which woman he spent the night with. Keep her here.”

If a woman could make Qin San act, then she needed to be in her control.

“The capital is under martial law. Tell our people over there not to make any moves.” Madam Wang’s voice was cold.

On this trip back, they had almost been discovered by the soldiers.

They had to take several detours to return safely.

“Did you find out why there are so many soldiers in the city?”

The warrior cupped his hands. “We’re still investigating. No news yet.”

Madam Wang waved him away, and he withdrew.

After so many years in this business, this was the first time she had felt such an intense sense of unease.

“Wait,” she called out to the warrior. “Double the patrols.”

“Yes.”

..

A small child was crying out for food.

Qin San, a burly man of nearly eight feet tall, had already mastered the art of milking, boiling, and cooling the milk.

Li Lan found this fascinating—a grown man, knowing how to do all this.

And last night, Qin San hadn’t touched her.

“Drink up.” Qin San handed her a bowl impatiently. “After taking care of you, I still have another one to deal with.”

Trying to claim a wife had only given him extra trouble.

Why had he listened to that little kid’s nonsense yesterday?

Li Lan hesitated, clutching her dress, debating whether to speak. Gathering her courage, she whispered, “I can help you.”

Qin San turned back, his gaze sharp and murderous, scaring Li Lan into taking a step back.

Moments later, Qin San dragged a small monk out from another room and threw him down before walking out.

Jiang Yuanxi toddled over, her bright eyes sparkling.

“Big brother, you look like me.” She waved at Jun Molin.

The other person didn’t respond.

“How strange.” Jiang Yuanxi reached out and took his pulse.

“His pulse is weak… He’s close to death.”

Behind her, Li Lan was astonished.

This little girl knew medicine at such a young age?

Had she been trained by a renowned healer?

Under Li Lan’s shocked gaze, Jiang Yuanxi rummaged through her robes.

She pulled out a piece of toilet paper, dipped her finger in milk, and began drawing symbols on it.

Once the symbol was complete, a faint golden light traced along the lines she had drawn.

“With my heart, I banish demons and evil spirits—leave this place at once!”

“Break!”

With a crisp sound, the paper stuck to Jun Molin’s forehead.

The little girl clapped her hands, relieved.

Li Lan was dumbfounded.

“That… that’s it?” She stared in disbelief at the yellow-stained toilet paper on the monk’s bald head.

“It’s just temporary suppression.” Jiang Yuanxi mumbled through a mouthful of food.

Li Lan: What kind of strange healing method is this? Some kind of ancient con?

..

Countless demons howled in Jun Molin’s ears.

“Give me your body, and you won’t have to endure this suffering anymore.”

“Do you really want to see your father, mother, and brother struggle for you?”

“Get out! Get out!” Jun Molin shouted in his dream.

“I heard that Jun Mo injured his leg searching for the Miao Gu poison. Do you want more people to get hurt for you?”

Jun Molin’s gaze dropped, his eyes filled with sorrow.

“If you surrender your body, you won’t have to endure this anymore. You won’t have to make them worry.”

Just as he was about to give in, sunlight suddenly pierced through the darkness in his dream.

Golden rays poured down, banishing the whispers around him.

A wave of warmth flooded his heart.

Jun Molin let himself sink into that warmth, falling into a deep sleep.

In the room, Jiang Yuanxi caught a small, fleeing ghost from Jun Molin’s body.

“What are you?”

The thing in her hands was a bright red blob, its shape indistinct.

No matter how much Jiang Yuanxi looked, she couldn’t find its nose or eyes.

“You… you can see me?!” the blob shrieked.

Jiang Yuanxi scrunched up her little face. “Not fun. Feels like squishing poop.”

In the next instant, the red blob turned into mist and completely disappeared.

Li Lan, watching this unfold, frowned deeply.

Was the little girl talking to herself?

Had she gone mad from the trauma of being captured?

Poor child, snatched away at such a young age by these vile traffickers.

Thinking of her own mother, alone in the capital, Li Lan was overwhelmed with sorrow.

“Don’t cry, big sister. Someone will save us soon,” Jiang Yuanxi comforted her.

Li Lan couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

This place was so remote. Even if they were missing, the authorities might never find them.

And even if they did, by then, they might have already been sold off to who knows where.

If they lost their purity, their families would see them as a disgrace.

How could they ever return home?

..

Just as Madam Wang finished her preparations, a warrior rushed in.

“Bad news! The village has been surrounded by soldiers!”

Madam Wang jumped up in alarm.

“The soldiers are demanding we hand over Princess Xihe, or they’ll arrest everyone in the village!”

“Princess?!” Madam Wang’s voice sharpened.

“How the hell am I supposed to find a princess? Xihe who?!”

Wait—suddenly, a thought struck her.

“What about the investigation I asked you to do?”

The warrior hesitated. “That’s just it—Princess Xihe has gone missing, and the Emperor has sent the Imperial Guards to search for her.”

And somehow, they had tracked her to Stone Baby Village.

A shiver ran through Madam Wang.

“This has nothing to do with us! Tell them to stand guard at the entrance.”

The warrior didn’t leave.

“There’s more,” he said hesitantly. “Princess Xihe… is only a year and a half old.”

Madam Wang’s legs went weak.

Among the captives she had taken recently…

There was indeed a baby girl who matched that description.

Could it be…?!