There weren't many people on the road, but the most conspicuous were the traffickers conducting human trafficking in a nearby corner.
Su Yun walked forward, looking at the children in cages and the sharp-tongued trafficker.
A hint of disgust flashed in Su Yun's eyes as he empathized.
If he hadn't been born in Udan City but here...
Maybe he wouldn't even have survived to grow up before being abducted and tortured by the traffickers in front of him.
The border was chaotic.
When the trafficker saw Su Yun, he approached.
"Sir, care to take a look at the goods?"
Su Yun frowned, not inclined to play the hero and rescue these children.
The world was murky, and he was powerless to change it. Even if he rescued them now, then what?
Let another trafficker capture them again?
The red ideology was not suitable for this world.
The great men of the past were truly remarkable.
Su Yun walked up to the cages, crouching down to inspect each child.
The system was currently undergoing an upgrade, rendering the scanning function unusable. He had to rely on his own eyesight.
There was only one important supporting character left to appear nearby.
Su Yun looked one by one until he finally found a trembling little girl in a corner.
Su Yun carefully examined her arms.
Sure enough, there were some snake scales on her wrists.
Su Yun waved to call the trafficker over.
"Just her."
"Sir, for your sincerity, one hundred gold coins."
Su Yun took out a pouch from his spatial ring and handed it to the trafficker.
For an ordinary little girl, this price was excessive, but for someone with the possession of Azure Serpent Triple Lotus Eyes, it was a bargain.
The trafficker weighed the pouch of money in his hand, a smile appearing on his face.
A big fat sheep indeed.
"Sir, care to have a look at another? I'll give you a ten percent discount on the second one."
"No need."
Su Yun said, instructing the trafficker to open the cage and hand him the little girl.
Walking onto the street, now that he had encountered Azure Scales, he didn't rush to find Haibodong.
Feeling the trembling Azure Scales in his arms, Su Yun sighed inwardly.
Another unfortunate child.
A hybrid of the human and snake races, they were not well-regarded anywhere.
Su Yun arrived at an inn and rented a room upstairs.
He placed Azure Scales on the bed.
The little girl seemed shy, curling up into a ball and timidly looking at Su Yun.
"Um, hello, I... I will serve you well in the future..."
Su Yun sat on the bed, gently stroking the girl's soft back, his voice gentle.
"What is your name?"
"I... I don't have a name..."
Perhaps it was Su Yun's gentle demeanor, but the fear in the little girl's heart dissipated slightly. Finally, she lifted her head from between her legs and looked at Su Yun.
The little girl was wearing patched clothes, but she was relatively clean all over.
Even when dealing in slaves, appearance mattered.
The traffickers wouldn't have these children well-fed and clothed, but when they were brought out for sale, they would be wiped clean and dressed in simple but clean clothes.
This way, they could fetch a higher price.
Su Yun's voice remained gentle as he used his large hand to pat her small head, his smile very affable.
"I'll give you a name, okay?"
"Whatever master says."
As time passed, the little girl gradually relaxed, although her face still had a timid look, like a startled little rabbit.
But at least she didn't stutter anymore.
"Then from now on, you'll be called Azure Scale."
Su Yun gently stroked the azure scales on Azure Scale's snow-white arms.
Feeling Su Yun's touch, Azure Scale's already pale face turned even paler.
Because of these scales, she was often ostracized and subjected to discriminatory looks.
After her mother died from overwork, she was captured by traffickers.
But it was also because of these scales that no one was willing to buy her...
She was afraid that because of these scales, this gentle master in front of her would abandon her.
She didn't like these scales. She hated them. She hated the snake person who violated her mother!
Even in the dead of night, she would muster the courage to tear off these scales, leaving her soft snow-white arms bloody.
But it was futile. No matter how many times she tore them off, the scales would grow back.
As if knowing what she was thinking, Su Yun's gentle voice reached her ears.
"They look very beautiful. The scales on your arms are as lovely as you. I really like them."
Su Yun's movements were extremely gentle, as if he were caressing precious jade, reluctant to let go.
A look of astonishment flashed across Azure Scale's cute face as she looked at her gentle master.
Her young heart skipped a beat.
Su Yun didn't know what the little girl was thinking, but he gently comforted her.
Unexpectedly, Azure Scale's eyes immediately turned red, tears filling her eyes and streaming down her soft cheeks, soaking the bedsheet.
Am I dreaming...? Someone actually likes my scales, someone... likes me?
Azure Scale's head felt heavy as she fainted in Su Yun's arms.
A hint of headache flashed across Su Yun's face.
How could this girl faint while crying?
Su Yun had someone prepare hot water in the room, stripped the little girl of her clothes, and intended to give her a bath.
He held Azure Scale in his arms.
Hmm, fragile body, soft and yielding, easy to push down.
Putting the little girl in the tub, Su Yun began to wipe her body.
She was just a little girl, and she had been malnourished for a long time, like a washboard.
Su Yun didn't have any reservations.
He had even bathed with the Little Doctor Fairy before.
Midway through the process, Azure Scale's dazed eyes opened, and the little girl woke up.
Where am I? It's so gentle.
Just like when I was a child, when mom was still around, taking a bath together was so gentle and comfortable.
"Awake."
At this moment, Su Yun's gentle voice sounded.
The little girl realized what had happened, looked at the gentle Su Yun in front of her, and then at her own situation.
Her small melon-seed face instantly flushed, like a ripe apple.
In such a situation, Azure Scale, feeling dizzy, was played around by Su Yun.
After being washed clean, she changed into clean clothes and sat at the table, dining with Su Yun.
These clothes were brought over by the innkeeper in exchange for a bag of gold coins.
Looking at the table full of dishes and her neat and beautiful clothes, Azure Scale's eyes turned red again.
Seeing Azure Scale about to cry again, Su Yun felt a splitting headache.
Why does this girl cry so much?
"Why... why are you so good to me?"
At this moment, Azure Scale's soft voice came.
Su Yun stood up, holding Azure Scale in his arms.
"Do I need a reason?"
Azure Scale was stunned, staring at Su Yun with wide eyes, not understanding what he meant.
Azure Scale's body was delicate and soft, like a warm cushion in his arms.
"Sometimes, liking someone doesn't need a reason."
Steam rose from Azure Scale's head, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted again.
Su Yun: "..."
This girl is really something.
(End of this chapter)