Chapter 160: Reward, News of a Powerful Extraordinary
Tang Wen took out a one hundred tael silver note and stuffed it into her hand. "Selling or not?"
"Uh?"
The middle-aged woman hesitated. She couldn’t earn one hundred taels in half a year!
"Fine, forget it." He made a motion to take it back.
"No, no, no! I’ll sell, I’ll sell!"
"If you sell, how will you explain it?"
Stuffing the silver note deep into her robes, the middle-aged woman put on a fawning smile. "She’s just a sample! There’s always some attrition, isn’t there?"
Tang Wen took out his money and counted out another fifteen hundred taels.
The middle-aged woman gave him a Redemption Certificate. It briefly described the woman’s details and served as a receipt.
Tang Wen took the certificate, led the dazed-looking woman, Number 10, out of the room, and continued browsing.
[Two: Ages 17–20, virgins, above-average looks, skilled in Bedroom Skills and calligraphy. Quantity: 144]
[Three: Ages 15–17, virgins, above-average looks, skilled in Bedroom Skills and tea ceremony. Quantity: 289]
[Four: Ages 17–20, Third-class Martial Disciple, average looks, skilled in manual labor, cooking, etc.]
[Five: ...]
Tang Wen went from room to room, looking in.
He only paused briefly at the doorway of each one.
[Eleven: Age 28, lactating woman...]
Room Eleven.
Tang Wen started to step inside, but as he reached the entrance, he heard the Steward inside shout, "It’s full! Get in line to inspect the merchandise, or come back early tomorrow!"
He shook his head. He didn’t need to look to understand the condition of the women inside.
They had surely been made to feel that they were born to be bought and sold.
To serve others forever, and to endure any grievance in silence.
Just like the Number 10 he had purchased.
[Thirty-two: ...fifteen years old...]
He cursed them as animals.
Tang Wen strode away.
He reached the staircase to the third floor.
The Maid in green was privately puzzled by Tang Wen’s behavior, but she continued her duties, explaining:
"The third floor is the premium section. You can’t just inspect the merchandise at will, you know."
With that, she took Tang Wen’s arm. "Valued guest, please head upstairs."
The wooden floors of the third floor were covered with thick Beast Skins. The rooms were larger and much fewer in number.
As a Beastmaster, Tang Wen stared at the long, white fur beneath his feet, stunned that he couldn’t identify it.
It was the Maid who explained it was the white pelt of a Long-horned Ox.
By now, countless people had walked across the third floor, yet the white oxhide on the ground remained as pristine and snow-white as ever, completely stainless.
This was also why the Long-horned Ox, an Exotic Beast, was rare and nearly extinct everywhere.
Its entire body was a treasure; even its hide made for a natural, high-end carpet.
’With a body like that, how could it not go extinct?’
Stepping on it felt like walking on thick cotton.
But his feet didn’t get that bogged-down, sinking feeling.
It was perfectly soft.
The first room.
[Sisters: Ages 16–20, superior looks, skilled in the Four Arts (zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting), Martial Arts: Second-class Martial Disciple]
The door to the room was shut tight, with a sign outside that read: Occupied.
The faint sounds of a man’s and a woman’s voice in conversation drifted out.
It was just normal conversation.
Clearly, the clientele on the third floor was more refined and patient than those on the second.
The Maid in green lowered her voice and leaned closer to Tang Wen.
"There are no samples on the third floor. If a valued guest sees someone they like, they simply pay the silver and take them away."
As she spoke, the three of them walked to the door of the next room.
The door to this room was wide open, and a woman’s saccharine voice drifted out.
Tang Wen listened for a moment. He couldn’t detect the slightest hint of unwillingness in her voice.
He couldn’t help but ask, "I’ve heard that your Slave Pavilion uses a certain Curiosity to tame these women."
The Maid in green shook her head. "Curiosity? I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, valued guest."
Tang Wen had heard about this from Wu Hao the previous night while they were drinking.
The reason the Slave Pavilion was able to become a Slave Factory...
...was because the Huang Family possessed a Curiosity.
Tang Wen led her to a corner of the hallway and said softly, "Don’t be afraid. I’m just curious. During your training, did you ever encounter anything... unusual?"
Confusion flickered in the Maid’s eyes. "Valued guest, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Should I take you to see the supervisor?"
Tang Wen shook his head, then asked the woman, Number 10, who was standing behind him.
She was even more bewildered.
Tang Wen could only suppress his curiosity and continue on.
[Begonia: Age 18, superior looks, skilled in: playing instruments and singing, Martial Arts: First-class Martial Disciple]
Begonia meant twins.
Just then, a pair of girls who looked as if they’d been cast from the same mold were led away, not a trace of unwillingness in their eyes.
’It seems even those with the strength of a First-class Martial Disciple can be controlled and made to serve others willingly.’
’There’s truly something sinister about this Slave Pavilion.’
He continued on, wanting to see the Martial Arts Realm of all the women.
In no time, he had finished touring the third floor.
The strongest among these women was only a First-class Martial Disciple.
’Hm, perhaps this means the Slave Pavilion can’t control Martial Artists?’
Before he knew it, he had reached the staircase to the fourth floor.
He looked up to see a large steel gate blocking the path.
"What’s this?"
"Our honored guest may not be aware, but the merchandise on the fourth floor is... unusual. The iron gate is to prevent them from rushing down and harming people."
"Harming people? They’re Martial Artists?"
"You’ve guessed correctly. The women upstairs are all Martial Artists."
The Maid in green maintained a slight, toothy smile, her tone light and cheerful.
"Not everyone likes docile women.
The fourth floor above us is what we call the ’Wild Mare’ floor. They have not been tamed.
Therefore, only a Martial Artist may enter the fourth floor.
If you truly wish to go up, you must pay an additional fee and promise that the Slave Pavilion will not be held responsible for any incidents."
Tang Wen’s apparent strength was currently that of a Peak Martial Artist.
He didn’t insist on going up.
He simply asked if there was any other "merchandise."
The Maid in green spoke at length in a low voice.
The Slave Pavilion’s operations were, of course, much larger than what was visible here.
The merchandise was diverse, but some types were very rare and wouldn’t be available in batches today.
To put it bluntly, everything in this building was common stock.
"...I also only heard rumors, but a Baima Tower was recently built. They say the women inside have golden hair and skin as white as goat’s milk..."
’Foreigners, too?’
’Or other ethnicities, at least.’
’Where did they come from?’
’The Huang Family’s connections really run deep.’
He suppressed his many questions, bid the Maid farewell, and descended the stairs.
In the first-floor hall, Wu Hao was leaning back in his chair, idly sipping tea.
’Oh? It’s only been this long and you’re already out of bed? You don’t have much stamina, do you...’
"Brother, you bought one? She’s a fine specimen!"
A product of the Slave Pavilion is always a premium product.
And being premium, the price was not cheap.
Tang Wen settled Number 10 in the small courtyard of their inn.
He then followed Wu Hao back to the Black Water Gang’s Main Altar to train the Water Spirits.
「Time passed in a flash.」 He deliberately waited a full ten days before reporting his progress to Elder Li and Vice Gang Leader Zhao.
He claimed that two Public Water Spirits, one large and one small, had been tamed and were awaiting verification.
The verification method was simple.
Tang Wen commanded the two Water Spirits to accept a gang member as their new master.
Then, Tang Wen left the Water Spirits’ line of sight, moving far away so that not even his scent remained.
If this gang member could command the two Water Spirits to perform tasks and labor just as he had, then the taming would be considered a complete success.
The verification was, unsurprisingly, a success.
The gang’s leadership was very satisfied.
「Two days later.」 The Water Spirits were already at work, their taming complete.
Vice Gang Leader Zhao and Elder Li personally summoned Tang Wen to reward him for his meritorious service.
For his service, there were naturally rewards:
His position as Vice Commander would remain unchanged, but he would receive Commander Level benefits.
As a Commander, he was required to tame three Middle-level Exotic Beasts per month.
For Tang Wen, this amount of work wouldn’t even take a full day.
He was also rewarded with three thousand taels of silver.
Three opportunities to comprehend the Night Divine Fist.
And one opportunity to attend a lecture by an Extraordinary Powerhouse at the Martial Arts Hall.
After they left, Wu Hao grabbed Tang Wen’s arm and said enviously:
"Brother, you have to seize that lecture opportunity! It’s the key to becoming the strongest Martial Artist and achieving a perfect transformation!"
"The strongest Martial Artist?"
"Awakening your abilities naturally, without any external stimuli, and refining your root marrow to transform into an Extraordinary—that is a perfect transformation."
Tang Wen nodded. ’Oh, then that’s fine. I’ve already done that.’
He asked, "If there’s a ’strongest Martial Artist,’ is there also a ’strongest Extraordinary’?"
"Of course. Those who undergo a perfect transformation are stronger than a typical Extraordinary. Plus, I’ve heard that some genius Extraordinary Powerhouses can fight above their Realm, even taking on two opponents at once. How’s that for strong?"
Tang Wen’s interest was piqued, and he pressed for more details.
But Wu Hao didn’t know any more. He just laughed at Tang Wen for being too ambitious.
’You’re not even a Martial Artist yet, and you’re already thinking about becoming the ’strongest Extraordinary’?’
Tang Wen didn’t bother to explain. ’If Wu Hao doesn’t know,’ he thought, ’the Extraordinary Powerhouse at the Martial Arts Hall is bound to know, right?’