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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 8: The Cannibal Beast Prison
Corner Lodge is divided into two cities: the outer city, where commoners reside, and the inner city, accessible only to two types of people—wealthy merchants and officials. Lin Chuyu sat in the sedan chair, gradually approaching Lord's Mansion. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Father, how could you be so heartless!"
Inside a study at Lord's Mansion, the city lord named Lin Kou held significant power over Corner Lodge. The people of the city both respected and feared him. Lin Kou was around fifty years old, tall and thin, with a rugged face and a cold demeanor. His deep-set eyes gave off an impression of ruthlessness, yet there was also an intimidating aura about him.
Lin Kou sat like a silent giant beside his desk, his gaze intimidating as it fell upon General Xiang, who stood resolutely before him. General Xiang, who had come from the southern region of Yongyuan, carried a large bow on his back and looked directly at Lin Kou with piercing eyes. He spoke earnestly, "Brother Lin, I, Xiang Yan, once again implore you not to marry Second Sister off to the Western King. Did we not agree to work together to utilize the Vermilion Bird Pearl to find the Divine Dawn Ruins and share the wealth?"
Lin Kou replied sternly, "She is my daughter. Do you think I want this? Our agreement was made ten years ago. In these ten years, have you found the location of the ruins? My view remains unchanged; Divine Dawn is nothing but a legend."
Xiang Yan, tall and imposing, with eyes that shone like torches, insisted, "If you give me some time, I will definitely find Divine Dawn!"
Lin Kou shook his head coldly. "Brother Xiang, although our positions differ, I have never underestimated you. Even if our two cities unite, we cannot defeat the Western King. Everyone covets the wealth within the ruins, but who has ever seen it? I cannot let a mere legend bring disaster upon Corner Lodge. The Vermilion Bird Pearl is a curse; for the sake of all the citizens in this city, I cannot keep it."
Xiang Yan realized that Lin Kou would not change his mind. He scoffed, "To save your own life by selling your daughter—what a good father you are! Don't you know that the Western King even marries his own daughter? He is a demon!"
A fierce glint appeared in Lin Kou's eyes as he retorted, "Xiang Yan! This is Corner Lodge! How dare you insult me!"
Xiang Yan gritted his teeth and pondered for a moment before deciding to suppress his anger. His tone softened as he asked, "What would it take for you to change your mind?"
Lin Kou did not wish to escalate the conflict either. After some thought, he spoke frankly. "The Western King personally requested her; the dowry has already been sent. Unless you can take the Western King's life—which neither of us can do—if you want me to stand with you against him, then I will need a substantial military fund."
Xiang Yan contemplated for a while before responding, "Asking for military funds is putting pressure on me."
Lin Kou stated matter-of-factly, "The West King Phantom Group has already dispatched slaves; they will arrive in two days to collect them. You can handle it as you see fit."
Xiang Yan left the study and stepped into a garden outside. The garden was filled with blooming peach blossoms, pear blossoms, apricot blossoms, and azaleas in various shades of red, yellow, and pink—all mingling beautifully together. However, to Xiang Yan's eyes, this picturesque scene meant nothing. He stood in a pavilion in the garden with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the fish swimming in the pond outside.
Lin Chuyu was on her way to the study to see her father when she passed through the garden and spotted Xiang Yan. She approached him and bowed slightly, saying, "General Xiang."
Xiang Yan was taken aback, never expecting Lin Chuyu to be in the city at this time. However, he quickly suppressed his emotions. He glanced at the Vermilion Bird Pearl around her neck before looking up at her. "Did you not ask Lin Guardian to escort you out of the city to search for the ruins? Why are you back?"
Lin Chuyu said with sorrow, "It was my stubbornness. If I hadn't insisted on searching for those ruins, Lin Guardian wouldn't have died."
Xiang Yan sighed. "I wish you hadn't returned."
He turned his multifaceted gaze toward the fish in the Fish Pond. "I've known your father for over twenty years. This time, the Western King pressured him too much. Don't be angry with him. If you don't want to marry, just nod your head, and I will do everything I can to help you escape the city."
Lin Chuyu understood that Xiang Yan's actions were not solely for her benefit. "Does it make a difference? What you all want is not me, but someone who can control the Vermilion Bird Pearl."
She said her goodbyes. "General Xiang, I will take my leave now."
Xiang Yan did not say much more and watched as Lin Chuyu walked away.
The sun's rays cast a golden hue over Corner Lodge, making it look like a city of gold. Ji Zichen did not linger after receiving his payment from the City Officer, as he disliked places like that. He led his horse onto the street, where the heat from the recent slave trade still lingered, and the streets were bustling with activity. Ji Zichen arrived at an Inn, where a clerk greeted him with a smile. "Sir, would you like to eat or stay overnight?"
Ji Zichen unfastened his bamboo box and replied, "Accommodation."
The clerk took the bamboo box and said, "Follow me."
He led Ji Zichen to a clean guest room. Ji Zichen rewarded him with a few pieces of silver, and the clerk thanked him. "Today there is a celebration in the city; you're quite lucky! This is the last room available; the front hall is already full. Would you like me to bring your meal to your room?"
Ji Zichen nodded. "That would be fine."
Ji Zichen stepped out through the door.
A sharp crack of a whip echoed in the air, followed by the pained cries of a woman. Kiko pushed the door open and entered the inn, where he saw a well. He noticed several male slaves locked in a cage, and beside it, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen was crouched on the ground, sobbing. The girl was bare, with only a tattered cloth wrapped around her lower body.
A brute stood two yards away from her, whip in hand, glaring fiercely. "Playing dead, are we? Get up!" he barked.
The slave girl trembled all over, shakily covering her chest as she rose to her feet. The brute showed no mercy, glaring at her and shouting, "I paid for you; you are my property! You will serve me well while I sleep. If you keep resisting, I'll kill you!"
Ji Zichen stood still, imagining what the girl was about to face. He felt powerless; he could save her, but what would happen afterward? He couldn't take care of her for the rest of her life.
A lonely girl would only fall into another's hands; the outcome would be the same.
Kiko remained as still as a statue. At that moment, a young boy inside the cage grasped the bars tightly, tears streaming down his face. "Lan...!"
The boy pleaded with the brute, "Sir, I beg you, spare us."
The brute laughed heartily. "Spare you? That would mean my money was wasted! Come here quickly!"
A man stepped out from the neighboring room, resembling the brute. He smiled obsequiously and said, "Brother, she was bought with money; at least treat her a bit better."
The brute snorted dismissively. "Second brother, if she doesn't obey, how can I treat her well?"
The second brother approached the slave girl and gently patted her shoulder, coaxing her softly. "Don't be afraid; if you're obedient, this will end soon."
With tear-streaked cheeks, the slave girl rushed to the front of the cage in utter despair and clutched the boy's hands tightly. "Brother Lin, I'm so scared! Please save me!"
Brute laughed heartily, "He can't even save himself, how can he save you?"
Brute stepped forward and roughly grabbed the girl, dragging her away. The boy shook the cage desperately, tears streaming down his face, cutting deep lines into his cheeks. His lips were also torn from the intensity of his anger as he screamed, "Lan... Lan...!"
Lan was being dragged step by step towards the door by Brute. The boy's cries went unanswered until he suddenly spotted Ji Zichen standing silently to the side. He turned to Ji Zichen and pleaded, "Help us, help us! We are not slaves!"
Ji Zichen understood that no one was born a slave; slaves were merely the spoils of war. Looking into the boy's eyes filled with despair and fear, losing faith in the world, Ji Zichen felt a surge of compassion.
The second brother noticed Ji Zichen locking eyes with the boy and warned, "Hey! Do you want to meddle in things that don't concern you?"
Suddenly, Ji Zichen recalled Lin Chuyu's eyes that had cried out for the plight of slaves—eyes that cared about the warmth and coldness of the world. Such eyes were rare. In an instant, Ji Zichen disappeared from sight as he moved forward and kicked Brute, sending him tumbling. He then scooped up the girl and spun her around before placing her beside the cage cart.
The second brother dashed into the room, brandishing a knife as he shouted, "Are you looking for death? You dare to act tough for a slave! I'll cut you down!"
As he raised his knife, Ji Zichen swiftly turned and seized his wrist, causing him to drop the knife in pain. With a quick motion, Ji Zichen struck him on the back of the neck, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Holding the knife, Ji Zichen approached the cage cart and swung it down on the lock. With a loud clang, the lock fell away.
Brute, getting back up, howled angrily, "You dare to rebel! You dare to forcibly take a slave!"
Taking two steps forward, Ji Zichen pulled out two large silver coins, ready to toss them to Brute as payment for the girl's freedom. But then he thought, "No way! I worked hard for this money; I can't let him have it so easily."
Retrieving the coins back into his pocket, Ji Zichen declared fiercely, "Get lost!"
With a vicious glare at Ji Zichen, Brute said nothing more and helped his brother up as they exited the inn.
The slaves emerged from the cage, kneeling before Ji Zichen in gratitude. Ji Zichen helped each of them to their feet, saying, "Get up, there's no need for that."
Yu Ren stood up as Ji Zichen entered the room and took out a tablecloth for the young girl to wrap around herself. He handed them some silver coins. "It's not much, but it should last you for a few days. Go on."
The slaves thanked him again and were about to leave when Ji Zichen, feeling a pang of concern for the silver, reminded them, "Make sure to spend that money wisely. Count every coin carefully; that’s my hard-earned money."
The slaves found it amusing and nodded as they hurried out of the inn.
Ji Zichen returned inside, having finished his meal as the full moon hung high in the sky.
He poured himself a cup of tea and was just about to take a sip when the door was kicked open by an Officer. Ji Zichen was taken aback as he saw the Brute from earlier peek out from behind the Officer, pointing at him and exclaiming, "Sir, this is the one who forcibly took the slaves!"
The leading Officer stepped forward with a stern expression. "You bold thief! How dare you steal slaves! Seize him and throw him in jail!"
Ji Zichen sneered at the Brute. "Do you really think I’m afraid just because you called a few Officers?"
The leading Officer glanced at the box containing The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant artifacts on the table and smirked. "So you're one of The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant people. You might think you can use your artifacts to kill us, but can you take on all the Officers in Corner Lodge? Do you really want to become a Fugitive for a few slaves?"
Ji Zichen could hardly believe that his moment of kindness had led to such trouble.
Though anger simmered within him, he didn't want to escalate the situation. "I don't believe you dare do anything to me!"
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