"Out of the blue, Fang Che and his companion were stunned for a moment.
Both fixed their eyes on what lay before them, only to see a young girl in tattered clothing, slender and weak, the very picture of chronic malnutrition.
Her hair was dry and yellow, resembling weeds.
Petite in stature, she looked pitifully delicate.
Exposed arms and ankles bore the clear signs of being lashed with a whip, black and blue stripes evident on her skin.
Her face was filthy and covered with wounds, yet through the dirt one could still detect her striking beauty.
At the moment, her eyes were tightly closed, she was unconscious, blood streaming from all seven orifices, creating a rather horrific scene.
Under her frail body, a large pool of blood slowly spread out.
Its color was a dark red.
Clearly, her internal organs were injured.
Anyone with some common sense could tell, if she was not treated promptly, this young girl would not survive another two hours.
Blood splattered.
A few droplets landed on Fang Che's shoes.
Fang Che looked down at the blood on his shoe, his facial expression clearly shook.
"Don't meddle in these trifles."
Sun Yuan was indifferent.
A single human life, in Sun Yuan's eyes, was not worth much.
No different from a rat dying in front of him.
"Master, wait a moment."
Fang Che's youthful face showed a tinge of guilt as he softly said, "Just saw so many people die, and I... I think this young girl seems pretty pitiable."
Sun Yuan turned his head and frowned at him.
But, remembering that today was his first encounter with such cruelty in the world, he could not help but sigh and said, "Suit yourself!"
Fang Che looked down at the unconscious girl, his face full of compassionate sorrow.
He slipped an elixir pill into the girl's mouth, murmuring quietly, "Such a pity."
Lifting his head, he glanced at the vicious-looking men above the brothel and upon seeing his attempt at aid, several men leaped down from the building.
Fang Che immediately figured it out.
The Guardians were already targeting him indeed.
And this girl in front of him must be their spy, sent to infiltrate and stay by his side.
He had been suspicious from the start since the situation seemed too convenient.
Just as he happened to pass by, the girl met with such a tragic fall right in front of him.
[What a convincing performance. But these injuries, they are all too real.]
Fang Che mused internally.
However, he also felt somewhat relieved.
Since among the local Guardians there existed such tactically astute individuals, his own future might be a bit easier.
"Drag this worthless wench back!"
A burly man, face contorted with malicious intent, roared out the order.
Immediately, two men, ferocious as wolves, charged at them.
With a lift of his foot, Fang Che sent them sprawling with a couple of thuds, tumbling to the ground like gourds.
"Sir, this matter concerns the Jinyu Building alone!"
The burly man frowned deeply, glaring at Fang Che with a menacing face: "Who are you to intervene in our household affairs?"
Bystanders suddenly began to shout: "Could this be the amazing Mr. Fang, who'd go through fire and water for friends, who holds his word even at the risk of death?!"
Those around who did not understand began asking.
As a result, explanations were made.
Mr. Fang has an oath-sworn brotherly relation with Young Master Su Yue, bound by life and death. With Young Master Su missing and the Su Family in calamity, how Mr. Fang exemplifies unsurpassed righteousness, how his loyalty and integrity reach the heavens...
Suddenly, everyone held a bit more respect.
So this Mr. Fang was truly a man of significant character.
No wonder he could not stand to see injustice; upon seeing this young girl, he felt pity.
As it turns out, he is a man of chivalry and compassion.
Thus, the situation took a swift turn for the better, and the toughs dared not move anymore.
Fang Che spoke calmly: "I just see this girl as pitiable, I mean you no trouble. Since I've stumbled upon this, and I happen to need a maid, you can call your manager here, and tell me how much. I'll buy her freedom."
The brothel's manager and madam soon came out, very respectful towards Fang Che.
After all, the reputation of "Righteous Young Master Fang" was currently very prominent in Bibo City.
Although privately, many had different opinions and countless things were said, when faced with him in person, not many were so tactless. — Regardless of anything else, the fact that Fang Che has reached such a position must mean he's backed by something deeply frightening.
Who'd dare provoke such misfortune?
Fang Che kindly inquired: "What is this young lady's name? How old is she? I'll take her. How much? Bring her indenture to me."
"This girl is called Erya, no formal name; found collapsed at our doorstep some days ago, we took her in, she's sixteen this year. I was thinking to have this girl... *cough cough*, unexpected that she wouldn't remember our life-saving grace..."
Fang Che frowned slightly, saying indifferently: "Erya, what an awful name. From now on, she shall be known as Ye Meng."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Fang comes up with such nice names, this girl is truly fortunate to have met you..."
"Enough talk, how much? Bring the indenture."
"Well... that would be one thousand..."
The madam looked at Fang Che's gentle face, yet his cold eyes gave her a chill, making the price of one thousand taels of silver hard to utter: "... three hundred...?"
Fang Che nodded: "One tael of silver? Agreed!"
He took out a tael of broken silver and handed it over, saying: "Bring the indenture."
"Sir... this... this..."
"""
Fang Che's eyes turned cold, and with a smack, his palm struck the old brothel keeper's face. Before she could fall, he grasped her hair and yanked her back, delivering another slap to the other cheek. Holding her hair, he asked mildly, "Are you mocking me? Did you just say one tael is a trivial amount?"
The old brothel keeper felt wronged and wanted to cry. When did I ever say one tael?
Fang Che's expression was indifferent, his heart undisturbed.
This young girl must be the one arranged by the Guardian. But these people from the brothel, they were not part of the Guardian's forces.
A Guardian would not leave such a blatant flaw.
As for Fang Che, he had always disliked those who dealt in flesh and forced the innocent into prostitution. At this moment, he was only too happy to take advantage of his position to bully others!
Another slap hit the old brothel keeper's face, suddenly sending blood and teeth flying together, the bloodied skin a uniform color.
"You, just a lowly brothel keeper, dare to mock me!"
Fang Che raised his hand.
The old brothel keeper started shouting desperately, "I dare not... It's my fault, it was one tael of silver, truly just one tael of silver... I'll get the deed of sale right away, hurry... bring me the deed of sale, quick!"
Smack!
Fang Che slapped her other cheek, from which six teeth fell out. He rebuked, "You were indeed making fun of me!"
The old brothel keeper's face swelled up, bleeding from all seven orifices, her hair in disarray.
The scene was bloody and gruesome beyond belief.
Yet, no one else in the brothel dared to move.
With the recent massacre of hundreds from the Su Family, who would dare?
The brothel steward had already run over, waving the deed of sale desperately, "Mr. Fang, Mr. Fang, here is the deed of sale!"
Fang Che slapped the steward across the face, knocking him to the ground, "You damn thing, can't you speak clearly? Whose deed of sale? Mine?"
"No, no, no... it's Erya's deed of sale..."
Smack!
Teeth flew out.
"Haven't I told you already, this is Ye Meng! Ye Meng! Are you stupid?!"
"Yes, yes, it's Miss Ye Meng's deed of sale..."
Smack!
Blood sprayed.
"That's for not thinking!"
After snatching the deed of sale and tearing it up without a look, he threw down one tael of silver and smacked both the old brothel keeper and the steward several times, "Can't you get me a carriage? Don't you see Miss Ye Meng is still passed out?! Do you have eyes for piss only?!"
"Yes, I'm on it right now..."
The steward hurriedly scrambled up and ran off.
The old brothel keeper wanted to run too but, unable to outpace the steward, could only tremble and collapse on the ground.
Soon, a carriage arrived.
Before getting on, Fang Che stomped on the old brothel keeper, cursing, "You black-hearted brothel wench! A nearly dead girl, you dared to charge me so much!"
"Damned old swine and dog!"
With a kick, the old brothel keeper flew three yards, "You've dirtied my clothes, such ill fortune!"
"Mocking me, pah!"
Finally, Righteous Young Master Fang drove the carriage away.
Complete silence fell over the scene.
Watching the departure of Righteous Young Master Fang, renowned for his chivalry and generosity, everyone questioned their existence.
Although beating a brothel keeper felt satisfying, why did Mr. Fang seem... not quite like the rumors?
Complaining about one tael of silver being expensive?
The rental for the carriage alone from the brothel definitely exceeded one tael of silver!
...
Sun Yuan saw Fang Che's way of handling the situation as truly characteristic of the Yixin Sect's style.
Want something? Just take it. What could be simpler?
This was the way to dominate the weak, to be utterly unruly.
This was the way to be unconcerned about others' feelings and focus on your own fulfillment.
"Che'er, you handled today's affairs extremely well!"
Sun Yuan praised him.
"Ah, Master, you still don't understand me. I was merely venting my frustration," Fang Che replied modestly.
"The motive doesn't matter, what counts is the action!"
Sun Yuan laughed heartily, "It pleases this old man greatly!"
"That's what a disciple should do."
Sun Yuan then asked, "Are you really taking this girl back home with you?"
Fang Che replied, "I have no one to wait on me, which is inconvenient; besides, this girl is quite attractive. I've seen her; she could indeed be called a beauty in the making. Once she recovers, elevating her to a concubine wouldn't be a bad idea."
"After all, a little extra fragrance from the red sleeves," Fang Che smiled.
Sun Yuan cackled oddly, "Who would have thought my disciple would finally see sense, hahaha..."
He was very pleased.
Indeed, this was the expected way.
What noble son wouldn't be lecherous?
In this way... yes, it was quite satisfactory.
This temperament was certainly not characteristic of a Guardian.
In the carriage.
The unconscious young girl's body trembled slightly, her eyelashes quivering gently.
This demon…