Chapter 4: Sudden Murderous Strike
At these words, Wang Ai’s face turned deathly pale.
His sturdy and robust body, nearly two meters tall as a majestic warrior, now could not even stand steadily, turning into a soft-legged shrimp, staggering underfoot as if about to fall at any moment.
No matter how talented he was, he could not hold firm against the Mother of Virtue and Power.
Hong Yuan’s expression also changed drastically, ready to burst into action at any moment.
He remained still, glancing sideways at the robust women on both sides with the corner of his eye, considering angles and timing for a breakout, or perhaps taking that fat pig hostage as a better option?
This transmigration start was too unfavorable; he woke up straight into this Demon’s Den without even a moment to develop. Hong Yuan’s only reliance was his own reinforced body.
What to do?
Just as Hong Yuan was pondering countermeasures, a light laugh rang out from behind a curtain, followed by a lazy female voice: “Mother of Virtue and Power, you are too impatient. The Immortal Fate has not yet been bestowed, yet you eagerly take people into your embrace, claiming the two best Immortal Seedlings at once. Would that not leave us with mere scraps?”
“Oh? Si Yan Niangniang, do you have an issue with me?”
“I dare not, but Mother of Virtue’s actions may break the rules.”
The Mother of Virtue and Power chuckled hoarsely, her voice dark and grating: “Hehe Immortal Aunt, Yupuo Madam… do you all think the same?”
Before the words finished, the curtain to the right of the Mother of Virtue and Power was lifted at one corner by a fair and slender hand, revealing half a fox-like seductive face, faintly visible, as a slow voice drifted out.
“Mother of Virtue and Power, do not vent your anger on us. Yupuo Madam’s body is frail and cannot withstand it… Si Yan Niangniang’s words are a bit excessive. In this hall, all are top-quality Immortal Seedlings picked from a hundred miles; where are the scraps?”
Yupuo Madam’s alluring eyes scanned the hall, then the curtain dropped, and she smiled: “However, Mother of Virtue and Power seems to have forgotten that this gathering is slightly different. Xuan Su Niangzi ascended to the Golden Palace half a month ago, abandoning us six sisters for bliss in the Immortal Realm. Fortunately, a new sister has joined. Today is Tanxin Niangzi’s first time attending the Biwu Immortal Realm’s Bliss Immortal Gathering. With your generosity, Mother of Virtue and Power, how could you not offer some preferential treatment and share a bit?”
From behind the leftmost curtain came a soft voice: “I am deeply grateful for Sister Yupuo’s kind intentions. But as a newcomer to the Immortal Realm, I leave everything to the sisters’ decisions and dare not demand preferential treatment from Mother of Virtue and Power.”
The Mother of Virtue and Power ignored Tanxin Niangzi, her fat face gloomy and fierce. After pondering for a moment, she snorted coldly: “Fine!”
Her small eyes roamed over Hong Yuan and Wang Ai like appraising goods, then she pointed at Hong Yuan: “Let this Immortal Seedling go to Tanxin Niangzi.”
She knew the other five were very indulgent in their play and feared they would ruin him in one go, leaving her nothing. Tanxin Niangzi, being new, should show some restraint.
“Thank you, Mother of Virtue and Power!” Tanxin Niangzi lifted the curtain, revealing the face of a gentle and charming matron, her hair adorned with pearls and jade, exuding an air of elegance. Her soft eyes glanced at Hong Yuan below, seemingly shy and timid.
The Mother of Virtue and Power then looked at Wang Ai, licking her lips, seemingly losing interest in the rest. “This seat selects only this one Immortal Seedling this time; you all divide the rest.”
Wang Ai trembled all over and finally collapsed butt-first to the ground, his mind roaring, chest pounding like a drum. He also glimpsed that Tanxin Niangzi, filled with jealousy and hatred. Daring not to glare at the Mother of Virtue and Power, he fixed a venomous stare on Hong Yuan.
The Immortal Aunts on the high platform saw his wretched state and burst into laughter. Yupuo Madam chimed in: “Mother of Virtue and Power is truly magnanimous.”
The Mother of Virtue and Power waved her hand to interrupt: “This seat has more to say. The next Immortal Gathering will be set in one month.”
Si Yan Niangniang’s lazy voice drifted over: “Our gatherings are always every three months. Mother of Virtue and Power, have you seen fine seedlings and grown impatient? Understandable; such naturally talented Immortal Seedlings even stir this concubine’s heart—I want to take one under my wing immediately!”
The Mother of Virtue and Power snorted again, waving her greasy fat hand: “Bestow the Immortal Fate!”
As the words fell, the two colorfully dressed people beside the Mother of Virtue and Power each took a flower basket covered with embroidered cloth, stepped down from the high platform—one heading toward Yang Lie, the hook-nosed youth, and others, the other toward Hong Yuan and Wang Ai’s side.
“Immortal Fate of one hundred taels, bestowed by the Immortal Aunt! Eternal bliss!”
The colorfully dressed person uncovered the embroidered cloth, taking out a stack of grayish-blue silver notes, distributing them one by one, immediately eliciting a low cry: “Baoji Zhenji’s one hundred tael silver notes?!”
Even Wang Ai, slumped on the ground, perked up upon receiving the one hundred tael silver note. He sat up, pressing it to his forehead and sniffing lightly at his nose, his expression intoxicated.
Yang Lie, the hook-nosed youth, and their group, though excited, held back, carefully tucking the silver notes close to their bodies.
Hong Yuan finally understood why these ‘veterans’ returned here repeatedly, both fearful and eager.
Wealth truly moves the heart.
In this world, in Qingxu County Town, commoners at the bottom earned at most two or three coins a month, barely scraping by. Earning one or two taels monthly was decent, but with harsh taxes, government, and gang exploitation, without connections, one could hardly save anything all year.
One hundred taels of silver was undoubtedly a massive fortune!
If every visit brought this, for many, it truly was ‘Immortal Fate’!
Even if unluckily selected by the Mother of Virtue and Power, close your eyes and endure; it was not certain death.
On the streets, lives were wagered for two or three copper coins all the time.
One hundred taels!
“Why don’t I get any?” Among Hong Yuan’s group, a delicate youth shouted.
“Shut up!” The colorfully dressed person scolded, glancing at the youth and saying flatly: “You signed the ‘Immortal-Mortal Contract’ with the Immortal Realm; body and soul already belong to it, so naturally none for you.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Hong Yuan: “This young lord as well.”
“I… I didn’t know.” The delicate youth was somewhat afraid but, thinking of the one hundred tael silver note, said timidly: “I was brought here by someone; I didn’t sign any ‘Immortal-Mortal Contract’…”
Another one sold off!
“That doesn’t matter!” The colorfully dressed person finished distributing the silver notes, covered the basket, and turned back to the platform: “As long as you perform well in the Immortal Realm and please the Immortal Aunts, you will naturally receive Immortal Fate rewards later.”
On the platform, the Mother of Virtue and Power stretched out her two fat palms, supported on left and right by the two colorfully dressed people. Her enormous body like a flesh mountain resembled a monster devouring human essence and blood, her throat wheezing rapidly again as she rasped: “Tired. This seat will rest first.”
Her eyes turned to Wang Ai, revealing a grin like a malevolent ghost: “Little darling, come up quickly and follow this Buddha Mother.”
Thud thud thud!
Wang Ai retreated several steps, snapping out of the surprise of the sudden windfall, forcing a smile on his face uglier than crying. But the four robust women were already blocking behind him with quarterstaffs in hand.
The Mother of Virtue and Power’s gaze shifted again, fixing on Hong Yuan: “And you, young lord—do not be anxious. Buddha Mother will select you to join next month!”
Damn it!
Hong Yuan endured and suppressed again and again, but at this moment, the anger in his chest could no longer be held back. He felt a blaze rush straight to the top of his head, erupting forth.
Right!
He seemed ‘lucky,’ dodging this calamity. The Tanxin Niangzi on the left even appeared elegant and beautiful—perhaps even a night of pleasure. But in essence, in this Demon’s Den, was there any difference between Tanxin Niangzi and the Mother of Virtue and Power?
All just lumps of stinking flesh!
In his previous life, the internet was rife with ‘rich lady hungry, seeking sugar mommy,’ but in reality, ninety-nine percent were just memes, not taken seriously. Even if truly seeking it, that was a willing choice, not this utterly undignified picking like pigs and dogs.
Or, Hong Yuan could endure for now; after all, there was a month left to find a better opportunity, at least a month’s buffer greatly increasing escape chances.
But he could not endure—not for a moment!
The words ‘fat pig’ were already at his throat when suddenly, a change occurred. A vivid red glow flashed, and from outside the hall in the estate came bursts of clamor. Many people ran about with chaotic footsteps.
A colorfully dressed person on the platform peered out a few times, then cried out in alarm: “Bad news—fire! Quickly extinguish it!”
The eight robust women in the hall, upon hearing this, did not rush out to fight the fire but instead hurried toward the high platform: “Protect the Immortal Aunts, protect Buddha Mother!”
Seeing this, the colorfully dressed person’s face changed. She suddenly pulled something from her bosom, gripped it in her palm, gritted her teeth as if using all her strength, and smashed it viciously toward the Mother of Virtue and Power’s head, roaring from her throat: “Old hag, die for me!”
Bang!
The next moment, the colorfully dressed person’s ferocious expression froze. The Mother of Virtue and Power, who panted even while seated, reached out and grabbed the descending wrist with one hand, her immense strength seemingly able to snap his arm!
“Little bastard…” The Mother of Virtue and Power’s face was also savagely terrifying, drool flowing from her large mouth as she roared, only to cry out in pain the next instant!
It turned out the other colorfully dressed person had somehow produced a foot-long sharpened wooden stick in her hand, thrusting it viciously into the Mother of Virtue and Power’s facial flesh, embedding nearly halfway.
The Mother of Virtue and Power’s face twisted in agony, letting out a heart-wrenching howl.
Bang!
Almost at the same moment the two colorfully dressed people burst into action and the eight robust women rushed toward the high platform, Hong Yuan moved too. His fist clenched suddenly, surging with fury, and he swung it out, smashing into the back of the head of the last robust woman charging!
