"Can't believe they have slaves here."
Noire made a light remark.
"We're not slaves! We're indebted!"
"Yeah, a debt that you can't pay even if you lived your life a hundred times."
"..."
Currently, Noire sat on a hey-stash with Yue beside him. The environment is a ragged griffin stable owned by one of the rich families in Four Seasons City.
Opposite them sat two young males, their situation in living is worth than death.
Earlier this morning, the younger kid, Giyu, accidentally bumped into Yue whilst he ran aimlessly throughout the city searching for aid.
Later, from gossip and the kid himself, Noire and Yue learned that because the kid accidentally dirtied lady Feng's dress yesterday, his 'owners' decided to sacrifice him to show their sincerity and respect towards the lady.
The irony is, she never asked for it.
However, Giyu's owners wanted to make a scene anyway and flaunt their influence, or perhaps there was an ulterior motive, no one knows.
Therefore, Giyu was given a day for preparations before being sent into the Spiral Codex arena, presumably a battle colosseum where deathmatches are frequent. Of course, if both parties do consent to the death penalty.
There are some rules regarding participation, one of them is, the fighter can take part personally or assign a personal gladiator.
Giyu's elder brother was pressuring him to allow him to compete in his stead, but Giyu refused, and since the family head passed his decree, Giyu was running around the city non-stop pleading for help, apparent from his worn-out feet.
Due to the background behind why the fight took place, many cultivators decided to 'volunteer' to regain Lady Feng's lost 'pride' because a stable rat stained her pure demeanor.
- - -
"Senior, please be my gladiator and you can keep all the Qi crystals from the bets and reward!"
Giyu once again dropped to kowtow on the floor, much to the disbelief of his elder brother.
"Giyu! Are you insane! You wouldn't let your brother fight for you but you'd shamelessly ask a stranger!"
Giyu's elder brother, Taniu, kicked his brother aside before bowing to Noire, whilst the latter was still baffled by the turn of events.
"Senior, please forgive--"
"No need!" Noire cut him off with a wave of his hand, "I will help you guys."
"Senior, pardon my brother's insolence, I will educate him."
Taniu kept his head bowed for a moment before Noire's words fully registered in his mind.
Once the realization sunk in, he lifted his head in shock and disbelief.
"Eh?!!"
"What? You don't need my help?" Noire raised his brows and asked. Meanwhile, Yue turned her head sideways to suppress her laughter at the scene.
"N-no! I accept! I mean we accept!"
Almost as fast as lightning, Taniu dashed to the corner of the room where Giyu was still struggling to stand up.
Then, he dragged him back before planting his head into the ground to kowtow again.
"You ungrateful bastard! Where are your manners!"
"But brother you-"
"Shut up and thank Seniors!"
Giyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but Yue certainly picked the former as she burst out laughing, she couldn't believe how shameless Taniu behaved.
"Okay you two stand up and give me more details," Noire requested politely, to which the brothers happily compiled.
Honestly, as Noire wanted to use the auction as a last resort for monetary gain, this entire propaganda was a god-sent opportunity.
From one end, he can gather resources.
From another end, he can temper his body and slowly awaken the potential of his special physique.
Due to the incarnation, his physique's untapped potential is still dormant because it cannot withstand its drawback yet. However, after enough tempering, the drawback will be negligible.
For the next few hours till sunset, the siblings explained the system of the colosseum to Noire, and the four enjoyed a meal brought by Yue before heading towards the grand colosseum.
- - - -
Outside the Colosseum, which was located at the outer west region of the Four Seasons City, Noire and company stood before a massive wall that advertised the match-ups for the evening.
Their presence attracted a lot of eyes, especially Yue with her peculiar skin tone and stunning beauty. Although her figure was clad in a dress and her face hidden behind a veil, it did little to mask her radiance.
The brothers were anxiously observing the board ahead to check the details of the match.
Noire, the protagonist of the event, simply cast glances of curiosity from one corner to another, 'If only the Dragon Altar had a colosseum... Sigh, but building a colosseum grand enough to accommodate a single grown dragon would be troublesome, much less one for spars.'
Noire smiled bitterly, because its an incarnation, he can't transform into his Dragon body which is embarrassing. Otherwise, why would he shy away from meeting a phoenix in this backwater place?
"Senior, you should head to the gladiator gathering hall and find yourself a weapon. Meanwhile, we will register in the reception office."
"Though, can I trouble senior to sign the document with soul imprint? These are papers for legal reasons, this states that you consent on putting your life on the line..."
Giyu felt ashamed from asking, he felt he's asking something audacious unbefitting to his disposition. However, Noire merely smiled behind his mask and imparted a fraction of his soul.
Then he turned towards Yue and sent her a telepathic message, to which she nodded and left along with the siblings.
"Haa~, time to meet some spoiled brats, this never gets boring."
- - - -
The hall for gladiators, or contenders, is currently bustling with cheers and laughter.
In one dark corner, a muscular middle-aged swordsman sat on a bench with a female clad in official uniform riding his rod in full display.
The uniform had a short skirt which allowed her to discard her undergarments and pleasure the middle-aged man whilst he relaxed on the bench.
His nickname was 'golden row', due to his upper row of teeth being artificial gold imbued with Qi. It served no purpose, but no one questioned why he did it.
Although the female employee was moaning occasionally, and the sound of her mounds being spanked resounded through the room in uneven volumes, no one dared speak to him.
Because...
This is the man who will soon defend the pride of their princess.