(MC's POV)
Beauty is a sin.
Beauty is a sorrow.
Especially ones like mine ought to be downright illegal.
( ･᷄ ︵･᷅ )ｼ
I thought so as I received an invitation card from the sexy receptionist right after the auction ended.
It seems like the young mistress of the auctioning hall was interested in meeting me.
Damn.
I knew that even the fox mask could not hide my overflowing charm (self-proclaimed).
But for it to be this potent.
*sigh* my existence is destined to be a tragedy for all men.
Lamenting at my great destiny, I followed the receptionist towards the receiving room where I was supposed to meet the young mistress of the auctioning hall.
With Lily following behind me.
You gotta have protection from female molesters.
After all, we are going to meet female B from Young Che's past life harem.
B instead of A because of her heaven-defying breasts.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I swear if this was a wuxia world instead of a Xianxia, she just needed to keep her posture straight and she would gain muscles.
Even for my tastes, she was a bit… too heavy.
"Welcome young sir and miss. Please have a seat."
Soon after I and Lily entered the room with the receptionist, I was greeted by a female who seemed to be in her early twenties.
She had a face which could be described as above average, lips which glossed seductively, a sharp outline of eyebrows which resembled a smooth curve, and a dirty blonde hair which had a strange charm of its own.
No matter whom you asked within the city, one could only describe her as a beauty.
But as a person who was an ardent fan of 'Immortal Idol XX' in the Spiritual plane and had seen geniuses of the Heavenly plane, I could only register her as female B.
My lackluster reaction seemed to have surprised her, as evident by her briefly widened eyes.
Seriously girl, just how high is your ego to think everyone must act amazed.
Geez.
Spoiled brat.
No wonder she got scammed by Young Che when he visited her the next hour after he exhausted his 'vital Yang Qi'.
In comparison, Lily is much better.
Although she will turn into a beauty capable of shocking all three planes after she grows up in the future, she shows no signs of arrogance now and neither did I hear such rumors in my past life either.
Feeling pleased with my excellent choice of disciple, I patted Lily's head with a sense of satisfaction.
After which, her grip around my arm loosened and she gave me a cute smile.
What an angelic smile.
My disciple is indeed the cutest.
(❁´▽`❁)*✲ﾟ*
Reaffirming my thoughts, I sat across female B along with Lily.
Pouring tea in the tea cup placed before us, female B said.
"As you may be aware, our Auctioning hall is one of the most prominent halls in Black Rock city as well as its nearby areas."
"As such, we take good care in having a good relationship with potential business partners. Judging from your attire and how you casually bought a useless crystal for 500 low grade SS, we are very interested in you."
She said as she leaned forward to look seductive.
However, from my perspective it looked as if she was trying to lift her 'heavy' body upward.
How in the world did Young Che take this absurd scene without laughing?
I wondered as I circulated my qi to contain my laughter.
Trying to look calm, I said in a deep voice.
"What do you have to offer?"
She then said in a tone with a hint of proudness.
"Anything within our capabilities as long as you pay the required fees."
Heh.
Big stuff to say for someone whose hall is cheaper than Lily's clothes.
It seems like she only knows that our clothes are expensive not how expensive.
"Armories, scrolls, cultivation technique, connections. Anything of your choosing. Even marrying any woman from our clan may be allowed."
Is that so.
Hearing her words, I gave her a kind smile and said.
"Shut up."
Her smile froze.
....
I should have known that birds of a feather flock together.
To so casually sell off your own blood kin like they are commodities yet pretend it to be normal.
I wonder how females E, G, and H that were saved from forced marriage by Young Che would feel if they heard this statement from B.
I wonder how her clanmates would feel when they heard her say this.
Perhaps nothing? Or would they feel betrayed?
Well, I am not necessarily in the position to talk nor disparage them.
After all, I am a hypocrite as well.
Even though tragedies occur beyond my sight, I don't act.
Even though it plays before me, I don't mind.
That is because in the end, it does not affect me.
If it does not affect me, it does not matter to me.
I know my thinking is twisted.
In fact, to achieve my goals I may even end up working with those I hate.
But the topic regarding this matter is different for me.
It reminds me of some memories of the Spiritual plane I would rather forget.
{related to 'some tragic backstory' mentioned in ch 1}
'𝐼𝑓 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡, 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑤𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒? 𝐽𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟.'
The words she said before she pierced her heart with a dagger still haunts me till today.
That said, I know the limits of a single person.
Can I sniff out all the forced situations in the red-light districts next to me?
Can I stop forced engagement ceremonies which occur in virtually all noble families?
No.
I can't.
But, the least I can do now is to not associate myself with people who do so for benefits alone.
The only thing I have the capability to do for the future is to stop the devil cults who will make such practice and many more tragedies common due to increased deaths and lack of continuing bloodline.
The tragedies of the world will never stop.
But I suppose I should at least try to minimize it.
I thought so as I sent my dharmic artifacts with spirit stones to free the slaves in the suspicious shops close to me.
Maybe my actions are useless.
But my disciple looks happy now, so who cares.