Tian Mingyun did not feel all too different during his casual chat with Appraiser Tong. As always it took him a night of sleep to notice the change. His injuries were trivial for a Skin Refinement Realm Cultivator, and so they had healed in a good night's sleep, only scabs and faded traces remained.

When he opened his eyes from his slumber, the world in front of him was cast anew. The colours were more vibrant and the smells were sharper. He could see the edges of clouds and the light coming from the sun in between them. Every breath he took filled his lungs with a pleasant sensation and he felt as though he was carrying a huge load upon his back before today, a weight that was finally lifted off.

This was when Shupi Juren looked over at him and smiled, he knew of that pleasant shock of waking up as a Cultivator to a world pleasant to one's senses. Tian Mingyun reciprocated the smile. They exchanged no words but still had an understanding. Power, extended life, riches, fame, and such things were trivial compared to this elevated feeling upon reaching a higher realm. Though such euphoric states were short lived, as the body would adapt even to joy as it did to cold.

The good news were exchanged as whispers among the 4 caged children. Huo Lan was covered in bandages due to her still open sword wounds, yet she was energetic enough to smile. Yanku Zhimei was also still exhausted, a week's rest would not suffice for her body going overboard for so long. Yet, she sang a celebratory song while lying down on her back.

Tian Mingyun felt happy and relaxed, resting, until he remembered that Shupi Juren was not supposed to be there. He quickly asked him.

"Shupi Juren! Why are you even here? You were supposed to have your own tent!" Tian Mingyun had a concerned voice.

Shupi Juren smiled and waved his hand.

"The wine was cheap, it did not even make my cheeks red. The meat was also stale, there was no taste. I am not in the mood for a girl in my bed either. What comfort is there in being alone like that?" He spoke while smiling, no regret in his face or voice.

Tian Mingyun could understand. Neither meat nor wine must have had a pleasant taste to Shupi Juren when he knew the three others were injured and away from him. He was a good friend. Yanku Zhimei and Huo Lan who had been awake for longer probably already realized Shupi Juren's intentions too.

"You are about the age where you should be able to charm girls with how big and strong you are. Girls like handsome boys like Senior Brother Hou Yun, but there are totally girls who will like you as well. So you have no need to force yourself upon a girl like those evil slavers! Just wait for a bit, once we are out of here, your Older Sister Yanku Zhimei will hook you up with a good girl!" Yanku Zhimei was too tired to even speak, but she could not let such a good kid like Shupi Juren get sad over trivial things. What was being caged or being sold as a slave? Yanku Zhimei would see Shupi Juren wed and happy even if they were thrown in a cave.

Shupi Juren and Yanku Zhimei held hands through the cage, the most they could do when they truly just wanted to hug as found brother and sister in such an unforgiving and brutal place. Shupi Juren was truly glad none of them had died during the bloody and hellish arena fights yesterday.

Tian Mingyun did not remove his bandages, not willing to reveal the fact he had healed to Appraiser Tong. He instead sat in a lotus position and started meditating again. He only needed to steadily circulate the impurities out of his skin and he would make slow yet consistent progress in his Cultivation. One did not need a specific Cultivation Technique until they tried to break into the Qi Condensation Realm. Of course, having a Cultivation Technique in these realms would be like having a horse instead of walking if one compared the pace of progress.

Tian Mingyun had a Cultivation Technique, yet there was no way for him to use Venom Arts here, he had neither the privacy nor the resources. His Cultivation Technique only achieved its promise of rapid progress by using Venom Arts on one's own body, and had no other way to aid the Cultivation of these early bodily purification stages.

The camp was oddly on the move at the moment. Every Slaver seemed to be busy moving from one location to another and preparing carriages. Horses, oxen, and even slave pulled carriages were busily moving from one location to another. Soon, Appraiser Tong also came out of his tent and attached a shoddy wooden carriage with half its roof missing behind his large ox. Other slavers soon rushed over and placed all 4 of the kids into that carriage and tied the cages down to the carriage.

None of the kids asked what was going on. Yanku Zhimei had already told all of them that they would be sold off soon. Now, it seemed that all the slaves were being either chained up and forced to walk or being carried away in cages to be sold. Yanku Zhimei even noticed that Qin Fen was being made to pull a carriage full of boys in cages on her own. It seemed that only hardship and labor were in her destiny.

Tian Mingyun and Shupi Juren did not bother observing their surroundings and were instead meditating. Their skins shedding specks of black impurities smaller than dust, and impossible to see with the naked eye.

Yanku Zhimei was the one who was watching everything around her. After the muddy and bloody scenes of the week prior, she was relaxed as she observed the trees and the birds. Her face even adopted a kindhearted smile, making some forget their troubles as they looked at the wounded girl smiling despite her pain.

The forest looked welcoming and alive, the birds looked free and without trouble. Yanku Zhimei could understand how the poets of the poems she often recited were so easily inspired by just looking out of their window now. She even understood the girls she had called foolish in the songs and plays, the characters who fell in love with the first man who saved them from trouble. Yet now, she would certainly fall for whichever man with the sword came to slay these slavers and free her and her friends, though she knew her life would have no such fortune.

Hours later, the carriages and the chained up slaves came to a stop. The sun was setting, and every slaver looked tense and on edge except Appraiser Tong and Lian Lingzhu who had walked into the middle of an opening, Shupi Juren and Tian Mingyun stopped meditating and started to wait for what would happen just like everybody else.

From the now darkening forest came a few footsteps, one figure was walking ahead of two others as they emerged from the treeline. All the slavers took several steps back, Lian Lingzhu and Appraiser Tong alone were standing still.

As the figures walked into the dark red light of the setting sun, their appearance could be seen clearly. The two figures wore black wooden masks with no features and black clothing with red outlines. Their clothing looked like those of martial artists but was tightly bound to their bodies with black bandages around the wrists and ankles, with swords at their hips with no intent to hide them.

The central figure was more imposing, he had a white wooden mask on his face, with the features of a demon painted upon it with red ink. His hair was long and flowing, only tied up on top with a golden hair ornament. His clothing all seemed to be made of high quality silk and he seemed to have no weapons upon him, his sleeves were also wide and majestic looking. He looked like a Noble among Nobles, his appearance captivating one's gaze with a mask on.

Tian Mingyun's mouth was left open. He had seen Nobles in Yellow Leaf City, and those folk seemed to be dressed sharply and expensively, yet he had never seen a Noble ever look this beautiful and majestic. Even the way this man with the demon mask stood seemed dignified.

When the masked man spoke, his voice also easily captivated Tian Mingyun's heart. His voice was deep yet not guttural, his words were clear yet not cut short. His sentences were also punctuated so well as he spoke them, that nobody had a doubt that he was done with that sentence. Even in the pauses in between sentences, he was dignified.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"I see you are still in good health, Lian Lingzhu. Your dedication to Body Arts has not betrayed you." The demon masked man even seemed kind and caring.

Lian Lingzhu, an arrogant and legendary slaver, easily bowed his head while responding.

"I am glad that my efforts were even worthy of your notice, Great Crimson Apothecary. I pray for your and the Sect Master's good health!" Lian Lingzhu was respectful, though his tone was still naturally brash. He made sure that he was speaking as formally as he could manage.

The demon masked man, who was now made clear as the Great Crimson Apothecary, looked at all of the slaves with one arc of his neck. Not one of the slaves was afforded more than a passing glance. He then spoke with audible delight in his voice.

"Great harvest this season, my congratulations, Lian Lingzhu. I will negotiate the prices with Appraiser Tong as usual then." The words of the Great Crimson Apothecary resulted in Lian Lingzhu bowing, and ordering his men to bring chairs, paper, ink, brushes, and even a table. The haste of the men and the fear in their eyes were visible.

Upon the clearing, a table was set, and even tea was being served to the Great Crimson Apothecary. He casually debated the price of the lives of the humans here, talking of the slaves like fruit being sold and bought.

"The regular price for every slave that is not noteworthy and is between the ages of 10 and 19 will remain 25 Copper Coins. We will purchase the ones younger than 10 for 30 Copper Coins." The Crimson Apothecary spoke, and Appraiser Tong simply nodded. Despite his age, it was clear who the senior one here was.

Appraiser Tong then started showing off the noteworthy ones, one by one. First off, Qin Fen was dragged by her collar and tossed onto the floor.

"This one is named Qin Fen. Despite how she is injured or used for labor, she can still work for more if fed. She also knows how to wash, cook, dig, and fight to a certain extent." Appraiser Tong talked like a merchant while showing Qin Fen's teeth and body as if showing off a horse.

Qin Fen was quiet and obedient, knowing well that her life could be easily taken if she was disobedient.

Great Crimson Apothecary nodded, then named what he would pay.

"I will pay 5 Silver Coins for her."

Appraiser Tong was delighted, he quickly grabbed the next slave and resumed the process, and before long, Hou Yun was being shown off. The Great Apothecary did not wait for Appraiser Tong to even attempt to make a sale pitch and instantly gave a price.

"10 Silver Taels is what I will pay for him."

Appraiser Tong's coyote like smile was hard to wash off from his face, he quickly showed off Wei Shixian next. The reaction from the Great Crimson Apothecary was the same.

"10 Silver Taels."

Appraiser Tong noted down each price down with ink and paper.

When Xie was offered, the Great Crimson Apothecary spoke in a more annoyed tone.

"30 Silver Taels, but chain him up and blindfold him."

Appraiser Tong already knew that the Great Apothecary understood more about unique Physiques more than the old man ever could hope to. He knew there must have been a reason for such a reaction and quickly had Xie tied up, who put up no resistance as usual.

Huoli Jingzi and Huoli Yue were sold together, for a lowly 10 Silver Coins each. Appraiser Tong knew that the boy being hairless would take away from his value, as well as the girl having such an obvious scar.

Appraiser Tong did not let that disappointing sum for good fighting slaves ruin his mood and instead spoke with a bright smile.

"The final 4 are my personal selection, they will not disappoint you."

He first offered up the one his innate ability to discern value told him would be the most worthless. The best was certainly fit to be sold last, this was always the norm.

"She is called Yanku Zhimei. She knows how to dance, sing, recite poems, and even fight. She has clearly practiced some form of Body Arts. Though she is not the most beautiful, she does not lack much in that regard either if one prefers more muscle filled girls. Even her abdominal muscles are developed enough to be discernable without her flexing, but her high point is her legs."

Yanku Zhimei was disgusted by being described like a piece of merchandise by a perverted old man. Her face quickly soured as she felt the gazes of Appraiser Tong and other disgusting slavers all over her body, she felt naked despite her full body clothing.

Great Crimson Apothecary did not seem too impressed, speaking without much excitement or emotion.

"3 Silver Taels. Wash her clothing and repair it, also allow her to bathe with hot water before she travels with us." He did not seem to speak out of pity, but rather because it would be inconvenient for him to allow her to travel beside him while she was dirty.

Yanku Zhimei had no thanks to give, nor did she even feel thankful for slave purchasing scum like that man. She knew that their fates from now on would likely not be much better than back at the Thousand Link Slavers Camp.

The next sale target was Tian Mingyun, Appraiser Tong was about to start speaking, yet stopped when the Great Crimson Apothecary raised his hand to silence him.

"2 Golden Taels."

Appraiser Tong had no complaints. Such price was way above his expectations and he could barely contain himself from laughing out of joy. Tian Mingyun was instead annoyed. It was clear that the fact he was not injured under the bandages and that he was a Cultivator had been seen through.

The next was Huo Lan, Appraiser Tong was about to keep her for last, but his eyes and innate talent clearly were convinced that Shupi Juren was worth more.

"This girl has a unique Physique! She is very young and was still able to tear boys twice her age apart with bare hands. She is currently injured but there is no doubt that her injuries will heal soon. She eats more than a grown man without getting fat, so her health is bound to be good if not starved. She even displayed wits by catching a blade that was being thrust at her and counter attacking."

The Great Crimson Apothecary thought for a moment and then spoke out.

"4 Golden Taels."

Appraiser Tong was delighted, and so was Lian Lingzhu. This year was truly a harvest, yet they could not hope to predict what would occur in the next moment. Before Appraiser Tong even started showing Shupi Juren off, the Great Crimson Apothecary simply pointed at his cage and declared the price he would pay.

"15 Golden Taels."

Lian Lingzhu and Appraiser Tong's faces could not contain their smiles, so much so that Lian Lingzhu dared to speak.

"Hahaha! Many thanks, Great Crimson Apothecary! Truly, your wisdom is only rivaled by your generosity. As thanks, allow this humble slaver to offer 40 of the young girls we would otherwise sell to the brothels. They are completely free of charge! Consider it our goodwill gift that the sales in the following seasons and years will go this smoothly." Lian Lingzhu was bowing as much as he could without bending his knees.

Tian Mingyun, Shupi Juren and Huo Lan did not know the value of a tael of gold, but Yanku Zhimei knew fully well. A single tael of gold would be enough to feed a family of 5 for 100 years and meet their every need. Even Cultivation Technique books of poor quality could be bought. But 15 Gold Taels was enough to start a small merchant group from nothing.

Yanku Zhimei could only fear what fate would follow his dear Little Brother Shupi Juren if these evil people were willing to buy him for so much money.