35 The Dawn of an Association

"Long story short, you want me to take care of these children from now on? And you're asking me? You? A kid?"

"Yes."

The man sighed then shook his head, "I can't do that. We are already barely living from the food scraps we're collecting. Besides, we already have enough members---"

"If I said that I have money, will you be able to?"

The man stopped then stared at Chang Xiuying before laughing out loud. He couldn't seem to stop until there were tears coming out of his eyes, "Again… you, a kid will give us money? What kind of bullshit is this---"

But then, three large chests came out of nowhere. The floor creaked and shooked from the sudden weight.

"It's 50,000 gold and 100,000 silver coins. I got them from the slave trader."

The man eyed the chests greedily but he suddenly shook his head, seemingly not convinced. "Even if all of these money---"

"Fine," then she stored them all in her storage then quickly left.

"Wait!" However, the man's voice never reached Chang Xiuying.

"Fuck!"

Outside the building, Flora ran after Chang Xiuying, but she seemed to be out of breath just from running for a short distance.

"Ma'am! Wait!"

"Hmm..."

"Why..." she wheezed, "why did you suddenly turn back?"

"That man is no good."

"Eh? Ah… I see..."

"Alright. I already have a plan for us."

"Wait… us?! You mean..."

"I will be taking care of you all from now on."

"..."

"What's the matter? Do you not want to be taken care of by a child?"

"No! No… not that… it's just… surprising..."

"Hmmm… I see. Well then, let's go back to the slave's building."

"Yes!"

When they got back, they happened to see the other slaves at the corners of the room, staring at the ceiling lifelessly. Chang Xiuying suddenly felt grateful that a slave like Flora still hadn't lost her mind.

In the span when they are asking about where the leader's hideout was, they got information that, fortunately, this establishment is the only one dealing with slaves. With the poor state of the city, it would only be one existing slave trading firm.

Then, she clapped her hands loudly, earning the slaves' attention back to her, their eyes lifeless as ever.

"I want you all to collect the corpses here and the others will help clean the building in and out."

"Ma'am..." Flora called meekly.

"Call me Xiuying."

"Shiyu?"

"... just Ying then."

"Ying… Ying..."

"Yeah?"

"Nothing," Flora said as she shook her head.

"Well then, you can help with the cleaning, Flora."

"Of course!" Then she went off.

The slaves did as they were told while Chang Xiuying did her best to cook the monster carcasses she acquired from her hunt. In the end, she cooked seven huge pots of food. When she gathered the slaves in the cramped dining area, which was quite luxurious, she ordered them to line up for their food.

The slaves just looked at their bowls and then at Chang Xiuying who was smiling at them.

"Come on now, eat until you're full! Don't be shy to ask for seconds!"

A few started to eat while the others looked at their bowls then slowly ate. Chang Xiuying nodded and then started eating with them.

"Uuuuuu!!! This is the best!" She exclaimed.

The slaves looked at her, their eyes wide as they hurriedly finished their food and then stood at the sides of the room.

"Eh? What are you all doing? Just eat!"

"I would like for a second helping," Flora initiated and Chang Xiuying smiled.

"Of course," she exclaimed then gave her another serving. This led the other kid to approach her then get their second helping.

In the end, seven pots were licked clean.

They dispersed and then slept like a log on the floor with their stomachs full. Chang Xiuying eyed the chests she took out from her storage and thought for the slaves' own well beings. Train them, perhaps? Yes, that would be good since she wouldn't just stay in this world forever. They needed to earn their living.

"Master Ying?" Flora called out.

Chang Xiuying broke out of her stupor. Looking at the female demi-human, she said, "Yeah? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is the matter, master. It's just… are you sure about this?"

"Sure about my treatment of you guys?"

"Yes… we've been treated harshly and our body remembers those beatings whenever we do something out of the normal means… we may not recover from it… but are you sure you want to take care of us?"

"Of course," Chang Xiuying tersed.

"We slaves have a brand instilled on us that we are unable to disobey our master's commands. Although our master already died, we still have the brand on our skin, permanently engraved on us..."

"And that's bad?"

"Yes. By the orders of our previous master, we cannot disobey them."

"Hmmm… okay, I'll remove them for you."

"Eh?!"

"What?"

"What… Master--- nevermind… how will you be able to remove our brands?"

"Let me see it."

"Eh?"

"Let me see it."

"But… but..."

"But? Or maybe… it's in an embarrassing place?"

"Ye-yes..."

"We're both girls. You don't have to be shy. Come now, let me see it."

"But!"

"No buts! Remove your clothes!"

"Kyah!!!"

Chang Xiuying examined the deeply blushing Flora as she tried covering her private parts. Upon closer look, she had a tail… and some scale marks on her skin. At the center of her chest, there was a red mark engraved on their skin.

Chang Xiuying observed the mark by their energy flows and then she inserted her own power into the mark. It flowed into every stroke until it shattered and a deep wound was left. Blood trickled down the wound and Chang Xiuying finally registered that Flora was gritting her teeth in pain.

She patted the former slave's back and said, "Thank you for putting up with it. It's all good now. Let's dress your wounds first."

"Ye…yes..." then Flora collapsed, unconscious.

-----

A few days had passed after Chang Xiuying successfully removed the slaves' brands on their chests. All of them stayed behind to serve this new master with their own will. She started by buying a bulk of clothes with the money from the slave trader and had it delivered to the building. The sign was destroyed and the firm was cleaned in and out.

Then Chang Xiuying started teaching the children what they wanted to know like cooking and some skills needed for housework. However, when this particular slave wanted to read, she didn't know how to.

"Xue, can you make me read these mysterious letters?"

[You finally talked to me, host.]

"Ah… sorry. I was just busy with the kids."

[And yes, I can make you read any language. Just buy it from the system.]

"... how much?"

[10,000 Rubies.]

"... fine… I'll buy it."

[Good decision.]

"... money… Oh right! You said back then that gold can be converted to Rubies."

[Uh… yeah, I did say that.]

"Great!"

Then she called on Qiang Zhihao.

"Yes?"

"I want you to teach the children about cultivation."

"Hmmm… this place has a denser Qi than this so-called mana. So, yes, I can train them."

"Thanks. Let me introduce you to them."

"Alright."

"Guys!"

"Yes!" They all said in unison.

"Call this man 'Hao'. From now on, he will teach you how to cultivate your powers to a certain degree. Who would object?"

None.

"That's good! Training starts tomorrow morning."

Flora stepped forward and asked, "Would 5 A.M be okay?"

"A.M?" Qiang Zhihao asked.

"Uhm… it's like early in the morning," Flora stammered.

"Oh right!" Chang Xiuying exclaimed, "I want you all to decide what name you shall be called from now on! So, dismiss!"

The children raised their voices in awe and then cheered. Qiang Zhihao glanced at the grinning Chang Xiuying. He smiled for a moment then looked at the children with warmth.

In the dead of the night, Chang Xiuying sneaked out of the city and then started hunting monsters for their future meals. She encountered groups of those same uniformed people camping in the woods. Then she remembered a tavern somewhere and started walking needlessly. However, she encountered a barrier the same as the one in Central Marsh.

"Xue, can you sketch a map for me?"

[Sure. How about 100 Rubies for the whole sketch?]

"Deal."

[Alright. I'll inform you whenever I am done with it.]

"Thanks."

Then she sneaked into the city once again and slept in the luxurious room the children prepared for her as her quarter. When morning came, Xue's voice greeted her.

[The map is done.]

"Thanks a lot."

Then she examined the map of the whole continent. From the slums, near the Grayhill district, there was a market where they could buy ingredients. Outside the city, to the south, there was the forest of Avira. Then, at the center of the forest, there was a blank circle where they found that barrier.

"Good."

She would have to go there once she deemed the children capable of maintaining themselves.

At a blink of an eye, two years had passed.

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