Chapter 87 – Truly Knows the Game

Behind the apothecary stretched a street about a hundred and fifty zhang long and three zhang wide. There was no exit at the far end; everyone entered and left through the storefronts along either side.

Lining the street were rows of prison carts. Yet the carts didn’t hold criminals, but people kidnapped from all across the country: children, young girls, beautiful women, even strong men.

Kan Chaoyan’s heart ached as he looked at the frail children and helpless women. Anger surged within him; he wished he could lead the entire Jinyiwei of the Commander’s Office to wipe out these traffickers in one sweep.

The trafficker who had brought him in smiled as he introduced the place. “We’ve got anyone you might want, sir. There’s no one we don’t have. Whoever catches your eye, we’ll bring them out for you. As for the price, that’s negotiable.”

Kan Chaoyan said evenly, “Show me around first.”

“Right away.”

The trafficker led him deeper in.

Kan Chaoyan observed his surroundings carefully. Every customer who entered was accompanied by a “broker,” supposedly to guide and introduce, but in truth to monitor them and prevent guests from doing anything that might disrupt business.

After viewing more than ten carts’ worth of captives, Kan Chaoyan asked, “I’ve seen so many women already, but none of them seem particularly beautiful. You said earlier there were women here more stunning than any courtesan in the pleasure houses. Were you lying to me?”

The trafficker waved his hands frantically. “Heavens, I wouldn’t dare deceive you, sir! The true beauties are just… kept in another place.”

“Where?”

The man’s grin turned sly. “That’ll cost ten taels of silver before I can tell you.”

Kan Chaoyan raised an eyebrow. “Ten taels, just to hear where they are?”

The trafficker chuckled. “That’s the entrance fee. Our house rules.”

Kan Chaoyan didn’t pay right away. “And if those women turn out to be plain, won’t I have wasted my money?”

“I promise, sir; absolutely, positively, definitely beautiful! If you’re not satisfied, I’ll refund every coin!” He looked ready to swear an oath on it.

Kan Chaoyan hesitated briefly, then drew out ten taels of silver. “Fine. Now can we go?”

“Of course, sir.” The man pointed toward the largest building at the end of the street. “They’re inside that one. Please, this way.”

Meanwhile, inside that very building, Mu Nanjin stood before the overseer of the traffickers.

Chewing on a strand of dragon-beard candy, she surveyed the surroundings. The hall was vast, perhaps five hundred zhang across, with no furniture, only rows of massive wooden cages stacked three high. Each cage was roughly the size of a bed, about four chi tall, and inside every one sat two young, beautiful women.

Their faces were streaked with tears or pale with despair. None spoke.

Those who disobeyed were whipped mercilessly. Mu Nanjin’s gaze darkened as she saw a girl being beaten in the corner.

The man who had kidnapped her, Zhang Song, was grinning obsequiously at a fat man. “Boss, I spotted this girl in the market. I waited until her family wasn’t looking, then grabbed her.”

Boss Jiang’s small eyes lit up as he looked Mu Nanjin over. He patted Zhang Song’s shoulder. “Good work.”

Zhang Song beamed. “As long as Boss is satisfied!”

Boss Jiang rubbed his chin, squinting at her. “Something’s off. Most girls cry and beg when they’re taken, but this one is quiet as a stone. Don’t tell me she’s simple-minded?”

Zhang Song quickly protested. “Boss, look at her eyes, clear as spring water! No fool could have eyes like that.”

“Hmm. True enough.”

Zhang Song added, “I bet she just thinks her family will come save her.”

Boss Jiang chuckled. “Her family? Who are they supposed to be?”

“Looks like a martial artist’s household,” Zhang Song muttered.

“Hah! Martial artist or not, they’re nothing to me,” Boss Jiang sneered.

“With your men and the court backing you, of course not,” Zhang Song flattered.

Boss Jiang’s laughter boomed. “The cages are full anyway, put her in…”

He was pointing toward the first cage when Mu Nanjin suddenly strode over and grabbed the whip out of the guard’s hand.

The guard snarled, “Who do you think you are—”

Crack!

Mu Nanjin lashed out, the whip striking with a sharp snap.

“Ah!”

The guard was thrown across the floor, landing at Boss Jiang and Zhang Song’s feet, bloodied and groaning.

The two men froze in shock. “What are you waiting for? Get her!” Boss Jiang shouted.

Guards surged from every direction.

Crack!

Mu Nanjin flicked the whip at the ground. The blow left a deep gouge in the floor.

Some of the guards halted mid-step, swallowing hard. The few who had charged too far forward couldn’t stop in time.

Crack!

The whip tore through the air again.

“Ahhh!”

Five guards went flying, collapsing unconscious before they even hit the ground.

Boss Jiang’s face twisted in fury. “Useless trash! Zhang Song, get Elder Li and the others!”

He could tell now this was no ordinary girl.

“Yes, sir!” Zhang Song bolted from the room.

Mu Nanjin walked toward Boss Jiang.

“You little brat, dare to rebel against me? I’ll kill you myself!”

He drew his longsword and swung.

Mu Nanjin’s whip struck once more.

The instant the blade met the whip, it snapped clean in half.

“My sword!” Boss Jiang wailed.

It had cost him thirty thousand taels, forged from the finest black iron and ranked among the top hundred blades in the land. It was said to withstand any force, until now.

He’d been swindled.

Crack!

Mu Nanjin’s whip lashed again, coiling around his neck.

“Mercy, miss! Have mercy!” Boss Jiang choked, his voice trembling. “Guards! Save me!”

They hesitated.

Mu Nanjin kicked the broken sword toward them. The blade skittered across the floor, stopping at their feet. None dared move again.

“Unlock the cages,” she said coldly.

They exchanged glances but didn’t dare act.

“Hmm?” She tugged the whip tighter.

Boss Jiang almost wet himself. “Didn’t you hear her? Open them, now!”

“But we don’t have the keys!” one guard stammered.

“Where are they?”

“I, I have them!” Boss Jiang fumbled the keys out and tossed them to a guard, signaling subtly for him to stall.

Mu Nanjin dragged him to his usual seat and pressed him down.

“Easy, miss, easy!” he gasped, feeling the whip bite into his neck.

“You didn’t go easy when you beat those women,” she said coldly.

He scrambled for distraction. “I’ll pour you some tea!”

Mu Nanjin sat, watching him pour.

“Please, miss, have some tea.”

She accepted the cup.

“And some pastries?” He picked one up and offered it to her.

Just then, a guard called from outside, “Boss, Old Fish brought a customer to see the goods!”

Boss Jiang glanced at her nervously.

“Let them in,” Mu Nanjin said lazily.

“You heard her!” Boss Jiang snapped.

Old Fish soon entered. “Boss Jiang, I brought—”

He froze mid-sentence. Boss Jiang was serving tea and pastries to a girl, a whip wrapped around his neck like a leash.

“Boss Jiang… what’s with the new look?”

“It’s the lady’s gift,” Boss Jiang said through clenched teeth.

Old Fish blinked, then turned as his client entered, Kan Chaoyan.

The moment Kan saw Mu Nanjin, his eyes widened. There she was, calmly seated while Boss Jiang served her sweets.

【This Boss Jiang really knows how to please people.】

【Knows when to bow and when to flatter, now that’s what I call streetwise.】

【Should I recruit him to serve tea at Laughing Fragrance Pavilion?】

【No, too easy on him. A man like that deserves punishment for his crimes.】

Kan Chaoyan: “…”

So he had worried for nothing. Maybe he should just head home.

Old Fish beamed. “Sir, all our finest girls are here. See anyone you like? I’ll make sure you get the best price.”

Kan Chaoyan pointed at Mu Nanjin.

“You… you want her?” Old Fish gawked.

Boss Jiang forced a laugh. “She’s not for sale. Right, miss?”

He offered her another pastry.

“I’m here for her,” Kan said flatly.

Boss Jiang and Old Fish: “…”

Mu Nanjin said, “Come give me a massage.”

【Ha! Getting a massage from Old Kan himself, what an honor. I’ll be bragging about this for a month.】

Kan Chaoyan’s lips twitched. “You looking for a beating?”

“Then pretend I didn’t say that.” She glanced behind him. “Where’s Captain Liu?”

“He went back for reinforcements,” Kan replied.

“Oh.”

A cold voice boomed from the doorway. “Who dares make trouble in our territory? Tired of living?”

Two elders stormed in.

Boss Jiang’s eyes lit up. “Elder Li! Elder Wu!”

Elder Wu scowled at Mu Nanjin. “So you’re the brat causing chaos here?”

“Even the officials show us respect in this city,” Elder Li said with a sneer. “You’re the first to raise a hand against us. Since you reject mercy, you’ll die here.”

He leapt at her.

Kan Chaoyan’s face darkened as he met him midair, exchanging a single heavy strike.

Mu Nanjin said lazily, “He’s a third-rank grandmaster.”

Kan Chaoyan immediately stepped back. “You couldn’t have said that earlier?”

Mu Nanjin’s whip lashed out again.

Elder Li tried to catch it, but the wind pressure alone sliced his palm clean open.

“Ahhhh! My hand!”

Mu Nanjin recalled the whip and looped it once more around Boss Jiang’s neck.

Boss Jiang blanched. Even Elder Li couldn’t match her.

Elder Wu rushed to staunch his companion’s bleeding. “We can’t take her. Send for the others, now!”

He dashed outside and fired a red signal flare into the sky.

Mu Nanjin glanced at the guards unlocking cages. “Faster.”

Boss Jiang shouted hoarsely, “You heard her, move it! Hurry!”

“Yes, sir!”

Terrified, the guards quickened their pace, unlocking cages and herding the women out.

The freed captives ran to hide behind Mu Nanjin. Some tried to flee but froze when they saw the guards blocking every exit.

Clutching his bleeding hand, Elder Li sneered, “Reinforcements will be here soon. You won’t escape.”

The women panicked. “Please, miss, save us! Don’t let them sell us again!”

Elder Li laughed darkly. “She can’t protect all of you alone.”

Kan Chaoyan smirked. “You’re right, she’s not alone.”

Elder Li frowned. “Even with you, two people can’t guard two hundred captives.”

Kan Chaoyan’s smile deepened. “Who said there’s only two of us?”

Zhang Song burst in, panting with excitement. “Boss Jiang, they’re here!”

Elder Li’s eyes brightened. “Our men from the Haixing Gang?”

“No, the Jinyiwei!”

“What?” Elder Li, Elder Wu, and Boss Jiang all froze. “The Jinyiwei?”

The women turned pale. “The Jinyiwei? No! They’re with the traffickers! They’ll take us back!”

Elder Li laughed. “You hear that, girl? Better surrender now, or you’ll rot in prison.”

Just then, a troop of Jinyiwei stormed through the doors.