Chapter 96 (1/2)
Chapter 96
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhuge Yue nodded, and Yue Qi brought several servants to clear the path in front. Swiftly sweeping his gaze through the entire market, he could hear the weeping girl slaves. Turning his head, he saw that these children are merely around eight to 12 years old, and wore shabby clothing that could barely cover their body. The old man looked like he was over sixty, and wore a luxurious set of bright red clothes with gold embroidered ingots. Right now, he donned an evil smile, while perversely touching the girls' tender faces.
Zhuge Yue's brow knitted together, and his eyes were full of disapproval and disgust. He waved his hand, and signaled Zhu Cheng over. Zhuge Yue instructed, ”Go, buy those kids.”
”Master?” Zhu Cheng was stunned. ”Why are we buying slaves? It would be inconvenient along the way.”
”When I tell you to buy something, it means you do it. Why so much confusion?”
Having being admonished, Zhu Cheng shuddered, and immediately moved out. At this time, he heard some loud sounds of scoldings. Zhuge Yue turned to observe, and saw that a neat and graceful male slave was kicked to the side. He crawled up, looking excited, as if he was trying to say something. That man was too far away from Zhuge Yue, so his words were inaudible.
Zhuge Yue did not mind either, but unconsciously, he saw in the corner of the cage, there was a frail teenager slumped in the corner. Their shoulder and the clothes were blocked by other slaves, and only the hand and the lower half of the body could be seen.
All of a sudden, it was as if he had been struck by lightning! Zhuge Yue's eyebrows locked together, and his gaze sharply scanned the cage. Although it was just a hand, he felt a strong sense of familiarity. It was as if his blood started boiling, and his heart sped up with the boiling blood. Without much thought, a senseless recklessness sent him jumping off his horse, and pushing into the crowd forcefully.
The crowd was overwhelming and messy, and his shovelling of people brought about scoldings. Not caring about them, Zhuge Yue remained frowning, and after much effort, arrived at the front of the crowd. Holding the iron bars of the cage, he sought for the owner of that hand.
The cage reeked of filth, and was full of cowering bodies and terrified eyes. Many cautiously looked at him, and upon noticing his piercing gaze, immediately avoided eye contact.
Not here, not here, still not here! Anger rose within him. Unsatisfied, Zhuge Yue looked again and again, but was unable to spot any traces. Could he really have seen wrongly? Exasperated, he stood in front of the cage, with his frown even deeper than before.
”Master!” Yue Qi joined him, and confused by his demeanor, cautiously said, ”We can leave now.”
”Master! Master!” Zhu Cheng trottered forward with almost a dozen young girls trailing behind him. These young girls had suddenly been traded again, and all heaved a sigh of relief knowing that they need not serve that infamous pervert. Frightened, they darted their gazes at their new master, and quickly realized that they were in luck. The slaves in the cages looked at them with jealousy, and desperately hoped that this rich young man would be compassionate enough to purchase them as well.
”Master?” Zhu Cheng carefully called out. The young master had been staring intently at the cage for a while. Could he have spotted another slave of interest?
”Let's go.” Zhuge Yue turn around, and brought his servants away from this moral grey zone. Just when he turned around, a blood curdling scream sounded. But alas, that scream had been washed out by the combined cheers of the spectators as they spotted a batch of female slaves going up on the stage! Because of that, Zhuge Yue had not noticed at all, and took his men away from Boss Mu's store and headed towards the Water Transport Yamen.
The sleeping lady let out a shriek of pain, and slumped into Liang Shaoqing's bosom. The old doctor waved the arrowhead at Boss Mu and stated, ”Look, such a long segment stuck in her shoulders. If it was left in the shoulders for even one more day, even the gods would not be able to save her!”
In the tent behind the cage, Boss Mu impatiently snapped, ”As long as this kid is alive, it'll be fine. Later, there will be rich people coming along. Mix him in and sell him. After he leaves us, I do not care if he lives or dies.” With that said, he turned and left the tent.
Liang Shaoqing heaved a long sigh of relief, and thanked the doctor. ”Doctor, I really appreciate your help.”
The doctor seemed to be a man of compassion. He sighed. ”This person just needs rest to recover. On the other hand, in order for him to get treated, you got beaten up. I can tell you are a scholar, how can you survive that? How unfortunate!”
”Doctor, do not fret, I am fine.”
”Come here, I will examine you too.”
The crowd was boisterous, and the sky was clear, devoid of clouds. Deep into June, the climate of the southeastern region became very warm. Birds of all species flew in the air above the crowds, painting a scenery of prosperity.
Zhuge Yue sat atop his horse in deep contemplation, without uttering a single word.
”Master? Master?” Zhu Cheng shouted at him several times before Zhuge Yue finally noticed. The young master snapped back to reality and asked, ”What happened?”
Zhu Cheng sighed, and answered, ”Shall I buy a few horses and a carriage? There is no way these children can follow us all the way on foot, right?”
Zhuge Yue turned back, only to see that the young slaves were sweating and panting profusely from chasing after his horse with their short legs. The bunch looked at him with eyes full of anticipation, although traces of fear still could be found.
”Alright,” Zhuge Yue approved, ”while you are at it, buy some new clothes too.”
”Roger, I will go ahead now.” Zhu Cheng left, and the entourage moved on. Some of the servants gossiped quietly. ”The master is so kind to slaves.”
”You didn't know? The master has always been kind to slaves.”