After much deliberation, I couldn't make up my mind, so in the end, I told Wang Xin to go back first. I would need a couple of days to think about it.
Wang Xin knew very well that if I said I would consider it, it meant there was a chance. She left happily, looking forward to my good news, and even threw me a seductive glance when she left. This kind of woman understands what men like and knows how to make them happy.
Seeing her smirk and twist her waist, I really wanted to give her a good lesson, not for anything else but to rid the people of an evil.
After Wang Xin left, I started to think seriously. Around noon, Xu Meng came.
Xu Meng seemed in a good mood, smiling broadly as soon as she arrived. I asked her if there was good news.
Xu Meng said that the person named Chen Xiaomei had been dealt with by her boss. Her boss, Li Qi, also known as Brother Li, is the owner of the entertainment city. It was said that he had been involved in the underworld before and was a tough character.
Now, Xu Meng was the top lady in the entertainment city. To harm Xu Meng was to harm Brother Li's interests, so how could Brother Li let her off the hook?
Upon investigation, it turned out to be Chen Xiaomei stirring up trouble. She had spent money to hire a sorcerer to perform a ritual of possessing a body with a spirit, leaving the vengeful spirit in Xu Meng. Within seven days, the possessed spirit would have to take Xu Meng's life.
At first, Brother Li gave Chen Xiaomei a chance to find the sorcerer to resolve the issue, and just breaking one of her hands would have been enough to let her go. After all, Xu Meng was his cash cow, and he didn't want her to suffer any harm.
But Chen Xiaomei refused, even declaring that she would take Xu Meng down with her even if it meant death.
Brother Li was furious and cut her face with a knife many times, then sold her to human traffickers.
That would be worse than death. Who knows where the traffickers would sell her? Maybe to villagers in some poor mountainous area, or they might cripple her to elicit sympathy and then force her to beg. The worst might be selling her organs on the black market; that's truly worse than death, an outcome less gratifying than suicide by biting off one's own tongue.
Doing harm eventually harms oneself. Chen Xiaomei brought this upon herself, and even in death, she showed no sign of repentance. She was given a chance but did not take it; instead, she wanted to perish together with Xu Meng.
Brother Li is certainly ruthless, but in such times, a person who can do such things usually has some power and background. However, I always felt there was something wrong; even if Chen Xiaomei hated Xu Meng, she wouldn't have been stubborn to such an extent.
Sacrificing a hand is a much lighter price to pay than this; she had no reason not to cherish the opportunity!
Xu Meng, however, didn't think too much of it. She had eliminated a rival who wanted her life; she was happy enough. Now all she needed to do was perform the ghostly Yin-Yang tattoo to drive away that ghost and save her life.
Chen Xiaomei never imagined that the magic of her sorcerer would be broken by my ghostly tattoo. Her plan to drag Xu Meng to death with her did not succeed, and she ended up suffering herself, a real loss in both aspects.
The effectiveness of the ghostly Asura tattoo had already been tested by Wang Xin, so there shouldn't be any problems. Once I had the ink, I would tattoo her.
After entering the tattoo room, Xu Meng was quite casual; apart from her back, she didn't need to cover up much. She said her body was just merchandise, and it made no difference who saw it.
Though she said so, Xu Meng was still an acquaintance, and I didn't dare to take any liberties. I tattooed without allowing my eyes to wander.
While tattooing, Xu Meng started chatting with me, smilingly asking if I was still a virgin.
I gave a wry smile as an answer. I'm unlucky, twenty and never had a girlfriend. Thankfully, my grandfather arranged a marriage with twin girls for me, but I still have no idea if it's settled.
Xu Meng then took my hand and said if I needed it, she could offer herself to me for free, as she didn't mind.
Xu Meng said, in the whole village, it was only my grandfather and I that could make her feel a little warmth. Others did nothing but gossip behind her back.
Due to Xu Meng's family circumstances, she had been bullied a lot from a young age. When she turned eighteen and had just come of age, she experienced a terrible event. Instead of sympathizing with her, the villagers gossiped behind her back.
Only my grandfather and I often lent a helping hand to her family. My grandfather would occasionally give her money. For Xu Meng's sake, I even fought with other boys when I was younger. Back then, though I was young and heroic acts were forgotten as I grew, Xu Meng's departure from the village gradually faded my memories. It was only now when Xu Meng brought it up that I slowly recalled those days.
But I gratefully declined Xu Meng's offer. I didn't want to be just like those other men. She wasn't like that contemptible Wang Xin.
Xu Meng actually had a good heart and was still very kind. Despite how the villagers treated her, she even occasionally sent money back to help the orphans in the village.
Heroes are often unsung, and we should not judge her for her profession.
After refusing, Xu Meng seemed a bit disappointed and asked if it was because I was disdainful of her?
I shook my head vigorously, denying it. I never discriminated against her and always regarded her as a normal friend. Xu Meng then revealed a sweet smile.
Later, I suggested that she find a respectable job instead. In this world, poverty may not be ridiculed as much as prostitution, but after all, this kind of work is dishonorable and not sustainable. She could do other things just as well.
Xu Meng sighed and said I didn't understand. The city was different from the countryside; she had no education, no skills, nothing, and it was harder to make a living there than reaching for the sky.
She said that though she was living off her youth in the entertainment city, as long as she worked hard, she could save enough money to buy a small house and open a small shop, securing her future. She didn't want to go back to that village again.
Xu Meng had an even more beautiful smile on her face as she described this; maybe it was her heartfelt longing.
By six o'clock, the ghostly Asura tattoo was finally done. Normally, a retouched tattoo would finish faster than the first time, but I was too engaged in chatting with Xu Meng, so it took longer.
After finishing, Xu Meng felt the Asura was too ugly and might scare the customers, so I had to use a solution to wipe it away. It would fade gradually over a few days.
Once everything was settled, Xu Meng paid me twenty thousand yuan. As she left, she told me to seek her out if I needed, free of charge, saying it would be great if I gave my virginity to her. She said it jokingly, making me a bit embarrassed.
I wonder if being a twenty-year-old virgin is a bit shameful?
I don't want to touch Xu Meng, but I have to deal with Wang Xin!
Finally, I made up my mind. Doing Yang tattoos was for fun, but making money had to rely on Yin tattoos.
I will do Yin tattoos!
Right away, I called Hong Wu and told him I wanted to do Yin tattoos!
Hong Wu was thrilled when he heard it and asked what kind of Yin tattoo I wanted. The ink for Yin tattoos is different from Yang tattoos—it needs to be handled with care.
I said I wanted a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon tattoo and asked him if he had the Yin tattoo ink, that is...ghost!