Inside Xianshi Court, everything the seven women said left Meng Huan, Yan Jin, and Liu Qiyue somewhat dazed.
"Bring all the women out from these buildings," Yan Jin demanded sharply.
He didn't believe it.
The maid who had been so kind to him when he was a child had ended up in a place like this, tortured to death.
"Bring them all out," the elderly man in the luxurious robe ordered with a smile. Over thirty women emerged, gathering together in a bustling crowd.
"Young Master Meng Chuan?"
"It's Meng Chuan from the Meng family!"
Many of the women's eyes lit up at the sight of Meng Chuan!
The genius of Dongning City, the subject of much envy and admiration, Meng Chuan frequently traveled between Meng's Mansion and Jinghu Taoist Academy. Over the years, many had seen him.
"If any of you were abducted, you can speak up. Don't worry about retaliation from the Black Wolf Gang," Meng Chuan said. "They don't have the guts."
"Young Master Meng, although some of my sisters came here crying, it really has little to do with the Black Wolf Gang. I came here voluntarily so my younger brother could get married. The sisters beside me also have their own hardships, but they came willingly too," one woman said with a smile.
"Young Master Meng…"
The women were all eager to talk to Meng Chuan.
Meng Huan, Liu Qiyue, and Yan Jin listened, growing more and more confused. They could sense that these women bore no resentment toward the Black Wolf Gang. As they listened to the women recount their struggles, they were even somewhat shocked.
Although they knew that some ordinary people lived difficult lives—due to the imperial decree that those who hadn't reached the Marrow Washing Realm and served in the military couldn't take up many professions—they thought that by engaging in small businesses or odd jobs, people could still manage to feed themselves. But today, they learned that among these ordinary people, there were those living even more tragic lives. Some had family members with severe illnesses, others had gambling-addicted relatives, some had survived famines, and others had their homes destroyed by demons…
These women still possessed some beauty, which allowed them to take this path. If they didn't even have that, this path wouldn't be an option.
"Sister!" A child named Tiesheng, standing to the side, suddenly widened his eyes and shouted excitedly. He hadn't been moved by the women's tales of hardship because his own father was a gambling addict. If it weren't for his sister working as a maid in a wealthy family and supporting them, their family would have been ruined long ago.
"Tiesheng," the woman being escorted by the Black Wolf Gang members hurried over.
"Haha…" The elderly man in the luxurious robe laughed. "We've found her. What's the story? How did this woman end up in our Xianshi Court without my knowledge?"
"Reporting to the Protector," the gang member said respectfully. "This woman, named Hongyu, her father owes our Black Wolf Gang three hundred taels of silver. So, the brothers in charge of debt collection temporarily hid her here to pressure her father to come up with the money."
The elder in the luxurious robe, upon hearing this, immediately turned his angry gaze towards Wei the Boss and the other two, shouting, "You came to collect debts and hid someone here without telling me?"
Wei the Boss shuddered and quickly forced a smile, saying, "Elder Protector, Elder Protector, how could we dare to disturb you with such a trivial matter? We only intended to keep her here for a few days to intimidate that chronic gambler."
Meng Chuan and the others frowned upon hearing this.
When one party owes a large debt, the creditor might temporarily detain their family to force repayment. Even the authorities would only impose a fine for such actions. Only if the abducted woman... was forced into prostitution, severely beaten, or killed would the punishment be severe.
However, Tie Sheng's sister 'Hongyu' clearly showed no signs of injury.
"Sister, did they bully you?" the child Tie Sheng hugged his sister and asked repeatedly.
"No, they just locked me in a room," Hongyu shook her head and said.
"Could it be that we were mistaken?" Liu Qiyue whispered softly upon seeing this.
Yan Jin frowned.
Meng Chuan looked at the large group of women, each with their own story, yet none of them were forced. What he experienced today truly showed him another side of the world.
"Young master," the old servant standing beside Yan Jin chuckled softly, "The Black Wolf Gang wouldn't readily expose any truly illegal activities."
Yan Jin's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
"This Hongyu was undoubtedly taken by force, and the Black Wolf Gang doesn't have her indenture. If they've done it once, they've done it ten or a hundred times," the old servant laughed. "Moreover, the place where Hongyu was held is clearly somewhere in the back of the estate. I bet there are other unfortunate women there as well."
These words caused the Black Wolf Gang members to change their expressions, and the elder in the luxurious robe looked even more displeased.
"Exactly, things that can't see the light are hidden more carefully," Yan Jin said coldly. "Old Wang, search this estate thoroughly. I want to see just how bold this small gang is."
"Are you all going too far?"
The elder in the luxurious robe stepped forward with a grim expression, and his subordinates followed, completely blocking the path ahead. The elder said in a low voice, "You wanted to save someone, and we've given her to you. Are you still pushing us, leaving us no way out?"
"Step aside," Yan Jin said coldly.
"This is the territory of the Black Wolf Gang, and more importantly, the Bai Family," the elder in the luxurious robe sneered. "Are you planning to break all ties?"
"Haha, for a mere protector, you certainly have some nerve," the old servant laughed. "In Dongning City, who dares to threaten Yuyang Palace?"
In Dongning City, Yuyang Palace holds the highest status, representing Primordial Mountain.
"Anyone who dares to hinder Yuyang Palace's actions may be executed on the spot. Your Black Wolf Gang should know this rule," the old servant took out the Yuyang Palace insignia, and the group of gang members behind the elder in the luxurious robe immediately changed their expressions, involuntarily stepping back. The reputation of Yuyang Palace was indeed too formidable! It's said that while the authorities manage the mundane, Yuyang Palace governs everything in Dongning City.
Offending Yuyang Palace means death without consequence.
"Protector, don't fight with Yuyang Palace."
"Let's endure it."
"Report this to the gang, we can't hold them off." The gang members all said in succession. Even if this incident blows up! Abducting some women is a serious crime, but with so many members in the Black Wolf Gang, if the court really wants to punish... it probably wouldn't reach these minor members.
Under the night sky, the women inside Xianshi Court watched the scene with bated breath, while the members of the Black Wolf Gang retreated. Even the three leaders, including Wei, dared not utter a word. Only the old man in the luxurious robe had a grim expression as he blocked the path ahead. "Are you really going to break all ties?" he asked.
"Break ties? Are you even worthy?" the old servant chuckled softly. In terms of background, his family was far beyond the reach of the five Divine Lord families of Dongning City.
"Step aside!" Yan Jin's eyes were cold, his killing intent surged as he thought of the women being tortured, some even to the point of death.
"Haha, fine, I'll step aside, let you investigate!" The old man in the luxurious robe laughed, his laughter causing the old servant's expression to change slightly.
At that moment—a figure emerged from the shadowy corridor. He was hunched but still tall, with disheveled hair. He walked over with a smile, looking at Meng Chuan, Yan Jin, Liu Qiyue, the old servant, and the others.
Meng Chuan saw this man. Though his aura seemed ordinary, Meng Chuan felt an overwhelming sense of terror approaching, as if a monstrous beast was closing in.
"I heard you want to investigate this place?" the hunchbacked man said with a grin. "You're choosing the path of death over life?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a dense green aura erupted from his body, his eyes glowing green. His entire body grew larger and more muscular, and his fingernails elongated sharply. With a wave of his hand, pebbles on the ground flew into his grasp.
"Let me send you off," the hunchbacked man said, his sharp claws slicing through the air.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!!!!
Dozens of stones, each enveloped in green energy, shot out at terrifying speeds. "Thud! Thud! Thud!" Some stones pierced through wooden pillars, others through rock formations, leaving gaping holes in their wake.
"Ahhh!" Along the path of the stones, three gang members and two innocent women were struck, their bodies pierced with bloody holes, blood spraying as they died instantly.
"Be careful!" Meng Chuan's entire body tensed as he stepped in front of his dear sister Qiyue, his blade instantly unsheathed. Liu Qiyue quickly pulled the pair of siblings behind her.
"The Heavenly Demon Sect, with demonic energy unleashed?" The old servant's face turned pale as he brandished a soft sword. "Young master, be careful!"
Yan Jin also drew the twin swords from his back, immediately putting up a desperate defense.
Thud! Thud! Thud!!!
The terrifying onslaught of green-encased stones struck them. Meng Chuan, the old servant, and Yan Jin fought with all their might against the deadly attack. Meng Chuan felt each stone was incredibly heavy, more forceful and faster than an arrow shot by a Transfiguration Realm expert. The dozens of stones were more terrifying than a volley from a hundred Transfiguration Realm martial artists.