Chapter 41
Reaching a Consensus
The newcomers all wore masks—each one different in shape, yet all hideously grotesque. Perhaps the darkness of night had emboldened them, for the way they looked down at the crowd below was as if they were gazing upon a nest of ants—aloof and superior.
“Isn’t that Mr. Yi? Why is he here too?”
As soon as this group appeared, everyone present gasped softly, even the human traffickers among them. It was clear that even they rarely saw these few leading figures in person.
Xiao Sheng kept a terrified and timid look on her face, but from the corner of her eye, she secretly observed the man they called Mr. Yi. He was tall and well-proportioned, with the bearing of a scholar—but the aura he gave off was that of a demon crawling out from the depths of hell, exuding endless darkness. Just looking at him evoked thoughts of death, cruelty, and damnation.
Mr. Yi stared coldly at the filthy crowd below, discreetly covering his nose and mouth. To him, even these loyal subordinates were hardly human—merely useful tools. And no matter how much they disguised themselves, they couldn’t hide the stench of their corruption.
Still, it seemed he had come tonight on an important mission. His hawk-like eyes swept across the crowd and finally stopped on the group of children surrounded by the women. How pathetic, he thought. These wretched bottom-dwellers, even now, were trying to show mercy and compassion—as if they could afford such nobility. A swarm of desperate ants, imagining themselves virtuous.
“Bring those children out.”
The women wanted to protect them, but surrounded by wolves, they could barely save themselves, let alone the children. Before long, a group of kids—most between five and eight years old—were dragged out and lined up in five neat rows.
Mr. Yi clearly despised the idea of touching such sacrificial lambs, yet duty compelled him to descend from the platform and walk among them.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
His footsteps echoed faintly through the deathly still cavern. Xiao Sheng’s fingers, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly—her nails digging into her palms to keep her focus. This Mr. Yi had certainly killed many people; only someone drenched in blood could radiate such lethal menace. Every instinct in her screamed to fight.
If even she reacted so sharply, the terrified children fared far worse. Each time that chilling gaze swept over them, they shivered involuntarily. No trafficker dared to scold them, though—they themselves were trembling, their heads bowed deeply.
Time crawled by like incense burning to ash. Finally, Mr. Yi stopped before two children who stood hand in hand, supporting each other. They were about five years old, with fair skin and delicate features—like twin cherubs under the bodhisattva’s seat. Dressed in coarse linen, they were clearly poor, yet they managed to hold on to a sliver of composure, making them stand out amid the trembling line. Children that young couldn’t hide what set them apart—and that difference had just betrayed them.
A cold smirk curled at the corner of Mr. Yi’s exposed mouth. His voice, when he spoke, was low and eerie—like a hunter who had finally found his last hiding prey, with a trace of perverse delight.
“Found you.”
Every hair on Xiao Sheng’s neck stood on end. She finally understood—this man was insane.
One of the two children lifted his chin despite the fear trembling in his voice.
“D-do you need something from us, sir? I don’t think we’ve done anything to offend you.”
Mr. Yi looked slightly surprised at the boy’s composure. That made it even more amusing.
“Of course you haven’t offended me. We’ve never met before. But your father did. If you must blame someone, blame him—for not knowing his place.”
The boy spoke cautiously, trying to reason.
“My father is just an ordinary man. He’s always been kind to everyone. You must be mistaken.”
Mr. Yi slowly bent down, his frigid breath enough to make the scalp crawl.
“You’re a clever child…”
He paused briefly—
“…and I despise clever people the most.”
Xiao Sheng’s heart clenched tightly. She had just realized—one of those children was her young master!
Having found his target, Mr. Yi’s killing aura eased somewhat. But he didn’t leave. His eyes—cold, predatory—swept lazily across the gathered crowd.
“All right. Let’s begin. Show me who tonight’s champion will be.”
At his command, the atmosphere below slowly loosened. He returned to the high platform. The young master still stood among the children, but now countless eyes were fixed on him, making it nearly impossible for Xiao Sheng to act.
Touching the two small devices hidden in her sleeve, Xiao Sheng frowned. She needed to get closer to the platform. If those tools were truly as powerful as the county lady claimed, she couldn’t afford to misfire.
Fortunately, Mr. Yi seemed to have a severe aversion to filth. He refused to let the captives approach him, standing aloof and relaxed upon the platform. The higher-ranked members of the Wuyou Cavern stood near him as well—a perfect opportunity to strike them all at once. But the lesser thugs were scattered among the women and children, making it difficult to separate them.
If only she could hold them off for a short while…
As she desperately calculated her move, Xiao Sheng suddenly felt a tug on her sleeve. Looking down, she saw a young woman gazing up at her cautiously.
“I… I can help.”
Xiao Sheng’s lashes trembled. She didn’t know how this girl had noticed her abnormal behavior, but her willingness to help—at such a dangerous moment—was invaluable. To step forward now was to risk one’s life.
Leaning close, Xiao Sheng whispered a few quick words into the girl’s ear. The petite young woman froze briefly, then nodded and slipped quietly into the crowd, weaving between people without drawing attention. Before long, Xiao Sheng sensed subtle signals from several directions—hidden eyes meeting hers in understanding.
In the face of mortal danger, in utter silence, the seemingly fragile women reached a shared understanding.
