"What are you doing?" Yan Mo found her actions rather amusing. "You're actually this scared."
"I'm just a bit afraid of the dark," Shi Muyuan retorted, glaring at him fiercely.
After passing through the darkness of the corridor, they stepped into a well - lit area. What greeted their eyes was the complete opposite of the outside, looking like a mini - version of the Wanhua Tower.
Shi Muyuan ran her hand along the wall and got a handful of gold powder. No wonder she felt something was different about the wall, even though it looked the same as the outside one.
"Aren't we here to arrest people? Can the four of us do it?"
"Of course not. What are you thinking!" Yan Mo was becoming more and more bold with his attitude towards her. "We're mainly here to see who else is involved and then find a good opportunity to act."
"Oh." Shi Muyuan gave him a haughty look, tilting her chin slightly and looking at him askance. For a moment, Yan Mo seemed to sense the old Shi Muyuan, and goosebumps rose on his skin.
They walked in with a token they had seized from someone in the Wanhua Tower. Immediately, someone led them into a private room without asking any questions. It seemed that the confidentiality here was quite good.
The tables and chairs in the private room looked very special. There was also a small couch for people to rest on, along with fresh fruit platters and tea. There were even some out - of - season fruits, which would cost a great deal to preserve. The person behind this was really generous.
Sure enough, it was a money - burning den.
There was a large window on one wall of the private room that extended outwards. From here, they could clearly see a stage in the middle with an empty iron cage on it.
Not long after, there was some movement outside. Shi Muyuan quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and rushed to the window.
Huo Qizhou saw her coming and silently made room for her. Yan Mo, on the other hand, stared at the almost empty fruit platter lost in thought.
A young man walked onto the stage outside. He was dressed in black and held something in his hand. Behind him, several people carried the empty cage off the stage and then brought up another cage covered with a black cloth.
"Everyone, tonight's auction is about to begin. I'm Dongfeng, the auctioneer for tonight. I hope you've all prepared your gold," the man said.
There were scattered voices in the venue, but it was hard to make out what they were saying.
Huo Qizhou saw Shi Muyuan peering curiously out of the window with wide - open eyes. He reached out and pulled down the mask that had been pushed up to her forehead, putting it back on her face.
Shi Muyuan was startled by his sudden action. "What are you doing?"
"Some of the people in these rooms might be court officials. Be careful not to let them see you," Huo Qizhou, who was much taller than her, had to lower his head to look at her.
Shi Muyuan's face instantly flushed red behind the mask. She covered the mask with her hand. "I know. You could just remind me. Why do you have to do it yourself, Master National Teacher?"
"Sorry, it was a reflex."
Humph, I don't think you're the least bit sorry.
The little mouth hidden behind the mask pouted so high it seemed to reach the sky. Fortunately, the movement on the stage at this moment caught Shi Muyuan's attention and distracted her.
Dongfeng suddenly pulled off the black cloth covering the cage, revealing what was inside. A little girl, half - naked and covered in wounds, was exposed to everyone's gaze.
The little girl curled up helplessly in the corner of the iron cage, as if hiding like this could protect her.
Dongfeng inserted a special long stick into the cage and hit the little girl. She let out a terrifying scream, and her voice sounded hoarse. Dongfeng forced her to raise her head. A young, tear - streaked face appeared. "Please, let me go!" the little girl pleaded.
But Dongfeng ignored her. Instead, he thought this first item might fetch a good price. Most of these gentlemen liked little girls like this.
"As you can see, this little girl is not very old, but she already has outstanding looks. Given time, she will surely be a great beauty. And she has been trained by our people. You all know the skills of our brothel. The starting price is fifty silver taels," Dongfeng said with a lecherous smile.
Then Shi Muyuan heard one bid after another, along with the little girl's sobs.
In the end, the little girl was taken away in despair.
"Don't worry, everyone. This is just our first item. If you missed this one, the following ones will surely satisfy you."
Shi Muyuan felt nauseous. "How could they do this!"
"Otherwise, what do you think they captured so many little girls for?"
"Can't we save them?"
"Don't you know what you're here for tonight?" Yan Mo took a sip of tea and ate a piece of pastry.
Shi Muyuan let out a sigh of relief. She would be able to save them soon.
Dongfeng auctioned off several more girls in succession. Later, there were even boys. Shi Muyuan wasn't surprised, but Yan Mo was extremely shocked, and even Huo Qizhou frowned.
"So when are you guys going to act?" Taking advantage of Yan Mo's shock, Shi Muyuan snatched the pastry in front of him. This man had been guarding this plate of pastries since the beginning. It was really annoying.
Yan Mo came back to his senses and wanted to grab it back, but was made uncomfortable by a look from Huo Qizhou. Forget it, he wasn't going to argue with a child over food.
"Wait a little longer."
Shi Muyuan made a face at Yan Mo. Yan Mo had said that the manpower was already ready. She didn't know what they were still waiting for.
Watching the price of the people in the cage on the stage getting higher and higher, and even seeing foreigners, Shi Muyuan and Yan Mo lost their playfulness. It seemed that the subordinates of the Duke had even infiltrated outside the Great Liang Dynasty.
The black - clothed man who had disappeared after entering the room suddenly returned. He held a list in his hand and handed it to Huo Qizhou. Shi Muyuan smelled the fresh ink and immediately knew what Huo Qizhou was waiting for.
On the way here, he had said that there were quite a few people of high status here. It was difficult to secretly investigate those who had connections with the Wanhulou. It was much quicker to check who showed up at this hidden auction site. Although there might be some omissions, the scope had been greatly narrowed.
A new iron cage was brought onto the stage. When the black cloth was pulled off, a handsome young boy, about sixteen or seventeen years old, was sitting in the cage with a blank look in his eyes, as if the things outside the cage had nothing to do with him.
Shi Muyuan admitted that she was a sucker for good looks. This little boy was exactly her type. But she was powerless. Fortunately, it would all be over soon. This damned place should be hidden from the light just like it was covered by that black cloth.
She withdrew her sympathetic gaze and listened intently to Huo Qizhou's next plan.
However, Huo Qizhou still noticed her emotional change and looked down at the stage. The young man had just been bought by an unknown merchant, and Dongfeng happily pocketed another sum of silver.