Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Slave Market—Woodenheart’s Inner Confusion

Gu Feng insisted that everyone stay a few more days in the magical realm, and though the others were initially reluctant, they eventually agreed, not wanting to refuse his good intentions. After all, the recent battle, while rewarding, had nearly cost them their lives, and everyone wanted to take the opportunity to relax.

However, returning to the imperial capital of the Canglan Empire presented a major problem. The Fearless One had suffered severe damage and could not transform, making it impossible to carry them back. No one had the ability to fly such a distance, and being in a deserted area, even finding a horse-drawn carriage was out of the question.

“See? That’s what happens when you don’t plan ahead—you end up stuck,” Zigu said smugly, pulling out a book titled “Harem,” forming seals, and chanting a spell. Instantly, a massive airship appeared before them. “This is a leisure craft from the sci-fi realm. It's not the fastest, but it’ll get us there in a few hours.”

They boarded the airship and found the interior lavishly decorated. Even more intriguing, two rows of attendants in red uniforms lined up, bowing gracefully. “Welcome aboard! We’re honored to serve you!”

These women were all strikingly beautiful, around 1.68 meters tall, with perfectly proportioned figures. Their uniforms revealed skin as soft and fair as lotus roots, making it a visual delight.

Mu glanced around and counted eight attendants, astonished. “Zigu, you really know how to live it up. Bringing an airship is one thing, but to have such stunning attendants—impressive!”

Gu Feng chimed in, “Zigu, you always did like to indulge. I bet this is your usual ride.”

Zigu grinned. “You can’t get anything past your sharp eyes! How about these girls? They may not be as remarkable as your twin sisters, but they’re not far behind. And there’s the matter of quantity—surely a group of beauties is more tempting than just one or two!”

Gu Feng curled his lip in disdain. “I care about quality, not quantity. Only a shallow man like you would think otherwise.” He then turned to Mu. “I promised to find you a few maids. Once we’ve recovered, we’ll pick out some together—got to outdo this guy.”

Zigu protested at once. “Gu, how can you play favorites? Besides, I’ve got some good stuff too…” He began whispering with Gu Feng, no doubt tempting him with certain “items” from the sci-fi realm. Mu simply smiled, picked a seat, and settled in to meditate and restore his vital energy.

This airship, a marvel of sci-fi technology, glided so smoothly that Mu felt not the slightest turbulence. After a few cycles of meditation, he opened his eyes to see the uniformed attendants clustered around Zigu, massaging his legs and shoulders, murmuring sweet nothings as he reclined with eyes half-closed, clearly savoring the experience.

“Heh, I bet he’s given those women some kind of secret potion. Otherwise, even if they fancied him, they’d be fighting over him by now,” Gu Feng joked, having just finished meditating himself. “Zigu’s certainly a bit of a rake. If not for Baldy’s viral evolution serum, he wouldn’t be able to keep up!”

Mu nodded, then suddenly remembered something. “By the way, I wonder where he got that potion—I could use some myself.”

Gu Feng looked at him, surprised. “You too? I wouldn’t have guessed—you seemed so reserved, but it turns out you’re just discreetly lustful!”

Mu was speechless. “Zigu said the potion can influence a person’s disposition, making them obedient. I need it to control some people and expand my influence in the Material Realm.”

Gu Feng nodded seriously. “That’s a good plan. I take it back—you’re not secretly lustful, you’re cunning!” He pulled out a black crystal vial covered in arcane symbols. “I’ve got some too. This is a product from another agent in the magical realm.” He proceeded to explain how to use it in detail.

While they talked, the airship arrived at the capital. To avoid attracting undue attention, it landed outside the city. They flew a short distance, then hailed a carriage to the Protector Mage’s residence. Gu Feng dispatched people to return the Grand Sage to the Astral Hall and sent word to the palace reporting their mission’s outcome.

As Protector Mage, Gu Feng held such high status that he didn’t need to report to the Emperor in person. Once arrangements were complete, his first order was to have the steward prepare a carriage to take Mu to the city’s largest slave market to select maids. Mu, raised in a society that preached equality, might once have felt uneasy at the thought of buying and selling slaves. But now, those feelings had vanished. In fact, he had long considered acquiring slaves—after all, expanding his influence on Earth required manpower. And slaves had their advantages: he would only need to provide food and shelter, and as master, he held absolute power over their lives and deaths, with no need to consider their feelings. Mu realized that possessing power had made him a little more ruthless. Perhaps he had never been a true gentleman—he had simply lived at the bottom of society, unable to fight back against the world. Now, with power at his command, he could do as he pleased.

“Am I still the same person I once was?” Mu wondered, feeling lost.

“We’re here.” Gu Feng’s loyal servant lifted the carriage curtain and announced, “Sir, we have arrived.”

Through the open curtain, Mu saw a chaotic crowd clogging the clean street, the air thick with shouts and curses. Men and women with hopeless eyes stared blankly, like prisoners awaiting execution, resigned to let fate decide their future.

This was the slave market.

“Steward! We need refined, literate maids—not these laborers. Why bring us here?” Gu Feng frowned.

Before he finished speaking, the chaotic crowd was driven aside by a band of burly enforcers, and a fat man, escorted by guards, rushed to the carriage and prostrated himself, bowing deeply. “I heard Protector Mage himself was coming to select maids. I have specially prepared a batch of high-quality virgins for your selection. It is my greatest honor to receive you.”

Gu Feng frowned and looked at the steward.

The steward hurried forward. “Sir, all the servants in our household were purchased from this slave master. He’s the largest in the capital—Bruce Nan.”

Gu Feng nodded. “I don’t care who we buy from, but there’s no need to make such a spectacle.”

The slave master, realizing he had overstepped, quickly apologized. “I had no idea you wished to keep things low-key, sir. Please forgive me. Besides, no one outside knows that Protector Mage is in this carriage, and I was simply eager to meet you. In my haste, I acted rashly. Please allow me to present a few maids as a token of my respect.”

A sly smile played at the corners of Gu Feng’s mouth. Only now did Mu understand that his earlier indignation was just an act—Gu Feng clearly intended to extort the slave master. As expected, Gu Feng whispered, “Look at all that fat. Who knows how much he’s made off me over the years? Time to make him bleed a little.”

He then straightened, adopting a serious expression. “Very well. As Protector Mage, I can afford a few extra coins. Lead the way.”

Delighted, the slave master scrambled up and led them into a grand mansion. In stark contrast to the noisy marketplace outside, the interior was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“Upon learning you would come personally to select maids, I closed for business today and have prepared only the finest virgins for your inspection,” the slave master announced, clapping his hands. Immediately, three young women were driven out by attendants.

All three were undeniably beautiful—though not as stunning as Gu Feng’s twin sisters, they were on par with the attendants on Zigu’s airship.

Mu noticed the fear on their faces, struggling to conceal their terror. They had no idea what fate awaited them. The slave master’s oppressive presence left them too frightened to resist. They knew they were beautiful, but such beauty often boded an even crueler fate for slaves.

“These were maids in a noble house of the Westchuan Empire, a family that was executed to the last. I bribed the jailers at great risk to acquire these girls, all still virgins. As high-born maids, they’ve been well-trained and know how to serve. If you’re interested, I’d be honored to present them to you.”

Gu Feng glanced at them and frowned. “Is that all?”

The slave master hesitated. “Actually, there is one more—she surpasses the others in both looks and figure, but she is wild and refuses to obey. She’s been starving for days now.”

Gu Feng’s interest was piqued. “A headstrong girl? That’s just my type. Bring her here.”

The slave master hurried to obey, whispering orders. Soon, the sound of chains echoed through the hall, and a young woman was led out, shackled hand and foot, a slave collar locked around her neck. This collar, a magical device inscribed with a lightning array, was designed to subdue the unruly; at the slightest sign of resistance, the master could trigger an electric shock, making life unbearable and death impossible.

The moment Mu saw her, he felt a jolt—this girl was different. Around eighteen or nineteen, her face was as fair as white jade, with delicate features: fine brows, long lashes, a proud nose, and flawless contours that grew more captivating the longer one looked. What struck him most were her eyes, veiled in a misty haze, as if concealing endless secrets.