Chapter 142: Ignite Them
Hehe, it turns out I still couldn’t fool the Shadow King.
Ji Ma did not believe the Shadow King’s words at all. She had deliberately tried to deceive him earlier, telling him that even if she wasn’t dancing on stage, she could still find some audience to watch her. But the Shadow King clearly analyzed that the effectiveness of Ji Ma’s abilities was directly proportional to the number of spectators.
From the perspective of revenge, he definitely wouldn’t save Ji Ma. If he did, it would be a waste of energy and time. If he didn’t save her, Ji Ma might, driven by desperation, unleash her extraordinary powers and disrupt the entire city.
Ji Ma clenched her fists, crumpling the note into a ball.
She was furious at her own weakness, unable to take control of her fate and just going with the flow.
At that moment, the old maid behind Ji Ma cast a glance at her. Ji Ma’s expression immediately returned to normal; she raised her hand and pretended to play with her hair to cover up the existence of the note.
Although she harbored the thought of selling out the Shadow King, thinking that if she couldn’t have a good life, she would drag him down with her, she didn’t want to make things easy for the benevolent Master Branshi. That bastard, who coveted her treasure, was a white-eyed wolf who would sooner or later burn down his own city and family.
“Are you ready?”
The door opened, and the old maid with a face full of wrinkles leaned in, asking.
Ji Ma gathered her long black hair behind her and said, “Ready.”
The old maid walked over, looking at Ji Ma, who was dressed in a snow-white dance dress with a white flower dangling from her ears, and her old face broke into a smile of delight.
“How beautiful! Today, you are the most beautiful person in Shalin City, and everyone is looking forward to your performance. You must dance well; your future master’s status will depend on this dance. Hehe, don’t be afraid, you are the most beautiful flower of Shalin City I have ever seen. Relax, take a deep breath.”
Right, this dance will also determine how much money you can get from selling me. Don’t think about having a comfortable life in your old age, because I will definitely stab you in the back.
Ji Ma’s heart was filled with resentment, but she did not show it on the surface. Instead, she pretended to look nervous, taking several deep breaths to calm her complex emotions.
“Good, good, just like that, my little treasure.” The old maid couldn’t wait to reach out her hand, “It’s almost your turn to go on stage.”
Ji Ma placed her hand on the old maid’s wrinkled hand, and they slowly walked out the door, with the benevolent Master Branshi following closely behind.
Right now, Ji Ma could only hope for George; at least, that’s how she felt.
She wondered if the benevolent Master had lied to her. If George was defeated three times and his sword cracked, then even if he came again, it would be of no help. He could only play the tragic role like the main character in an NTR story, providing an NTR experience for the buyer.
Ji Ma’s emotions were conflicted. She had constantly reminded herself not to rely on George, more out of a sense of pride, not wanting to be rescued by her enemy. But now, when she was at the end of her rope, she had no choice but to depend on him.
The staircase covered with red carpet appeared before her, and a commotion could be heard outside, along with the sounds of rowers straining to paddle their boats. Ji Ma stepped onto the stairs and looked up to see a pitch-black night sky, devoid of any starlight.
So dark, damn dark. After being killed by the hero, turning into a woman, and then getting captured, I became a worthless vase of a main character in a novel, only able to hope for the hero’s rescue. What kind of bullshit fate is this?
“Are you still thinking about Hero George?” the benevolent Master Branshi smiled and said, “Let me take you to the stage; it’s high up there, and you’ll see how strict my defenses are. It’s only there that you might see Hero George.”
Ji Ma walked onto the deck and saw the stage built in the center of this huge flower boat. It was nearly three meters high, decorated with over thirty obsidian artifacts. Twenty-odd alchemical lanterns hung high, emitting bright light that chased away all the shadows on the stage.
In this underdeveloped era, there were very few artificial light sources at night. On the floating spectator boats circling this flower boat, the audience moved around barely by the dim oil lamps that were few in number. Even on the noble flower boats on the other side, the alchemical lanterns hung there only emitted a light slightly brighter than torches.
Compared to this bright stage, it was like the moon compared to the midday sun.
Ji Ma stood still, staring at the obsidian artifacts on the stage. The Shadow King hadn’t completely lied to her; there were too many obsidian artifacts in the hands of the benevolent Master. She estimated that as soon as she activated her abilities, all the obsidian artifacts on the stage would light up, and the commotion would prompt the benevolent Master to act without hesitation.
At that time, revealing her trump card would drive the auction price even higher. A slave that could be ridden at night and used to fight for herself during the day would undoubtedly please any man.
In the end, she could only remain a worthless woman, waiting for him to rescue her.
Ji Ma could no longer maintain her expression and displayed a wry smile.
The benevolent Master Branshi said:
“Trust in the healing power of Shalin City; no matter how hard the obsidian is, if you smash your head against it to commit suicide, I can rescue you immediately.”
I definitely won’t commit suicide; I will live well.
Ji Ma approached the steps leading to the stage. Below the stage, an entire band was assembled, with ten young horn players standing at the edge of the boat, holding long horns that displayed purple flags. The horn players blew their horns in unison, and the resonant sounds echoed across the round lake.
The view from the stage was excellent. The moment Ji Ma stepped onto the stage, she instinctively glanced around and immediately lost hope in George. It was too difficult; she couldn’t understand what other good plan George could use to save her.
This was the round lake, and the flower boat was heading towards the center of it. Apart from a boat carrying distinguished guests, all other boats were at least fifty meters away from the flower boat. And these boats were large and few in number. The benevolent Master must have carefully checked the people on them, leaving no room for any suspicious individuals.
The only floating spectator boats suitable for commoners were the farthest from the flower boat. They were also the most guarded spots, with two small boats filled with soldiers hovering nearby.
In the distance, chains were seen stretching across the empty waterways, almost grazing the water surface, to prevent Hero George from launching a rapid assault with a small boat.
If Hero George were to board this flower boat, Ji Ma could only think of one possibility: flying.
However, even if he could fly, he wouldn’t have much chance. The flower boat was filled with soldiers standing at the railings, armed with spears to guard against any stealthy swimming attacks from Hero George. Although this possibility was slim, as there were people in small boats patrolling the water surface, it would only be possible if Hero George could swim without needing to breathe.
Ji Ma walked to the center of the stage. The white light shone down on her shiny black horns, and her drooping soft tail clearly revealed itself to everyone.
The flower boat fell silent.
“Is that a succubus?”
Someone whispered. Ji Ma’s golden eyes glanced to the side.
The source of the voice came from the audience seats on the flower boat, prepared for VIP clients, the closest place to Ji Ma. Thirteen distinguished guests sat in their positions, openly scrutinizing Ji Ma. They were all quite old, with the youngest being middle-aged.
Noticing Ji Ma looking over, witnessing her beauty, all thirteen pairs of eyes lit up, their lecherous gazes fixating on Ji Ma, lingering on her stunning face, bare collarbone, and slim white legs.
Ji Ma felt a chill run down her spine and quickly averted her gaze. George couldn’t possibly be up there, nor was the Shadow King Akarnis.
The poet was also in the audience. He felt disgusted by the blatant desire the nearby distinguished guests displayed and stared at Ji Ma, feeling increasingly sorry for her. He couldn’t help but tighten his grip, determined to be her knight in shining armor today.
He would rescue her with gold coins and purchase her. Only he could give her a happy life.
The horn players lowered their long horns, and the dance was about to begin. Though no one called for silence, as a series of gazes fell on Ji Ma, the noise quieted down, and the audience stopped chattering.
Although the stage was a bit far for the common citizens, that figure possessed a strange charm that firmly captured their attention.
Ji Ma, at the focal point of attention, took a deep breath as the music’s prelude began. Instinctively, she raised her hands and started to wave her delicate hands in rhythm with the music.
She could only rely on her soul’s strength to endure the slave contract while silently bearing the humiliation among this group of middle-aged greasy men, plotting her revenge in silence, then killing her way back to Shalin City to burn it down. She had to endure, she had to endure; she must not use her powers.
Ji Ma braced herself for the most rational yet worst outcome.
She stood on her tiptoes and turned around.
But why?
Ji Ma suddenly felt strength surging through her body, just as the music intensified. She wiggled her waist, blending charm with a hint of fierceness.
From afar, a brown-skinned woman, Ji Ma’s dance instructor, could not help but rise on her toes, her eyes filled with amazement. She felt that Ji Ma was performing extraordinarily well, nearly reaching her former peak.
As the music’s rhythm slowed down, Ji Ma’s movements became subtler in her eyes. She saw the pink mist rising from the nearest audience seats; not only that, but even from the farthest seats, where the visibility was the worst, clouds of pink mist were rising.
Endless pink mist billowed and spread among the spectators. Ji Ma was all too familiar with it; it was the desire directed towards her.
She merely raised her foot, straightened her toes, and elegantly extended her leg, revealing the slim lines of her legs. She watched as the pink mist surged like a flood.
Ji Ma instinctively flicked the tip of her tail, intending to harness this desire.
Endure, endure, you must not; a gentleman’s revenge is not too late after ten years.
As the music reached its lowest point, Ji Ma bowed her head slightly.
But I’m a petty person; why should I endure!
Suddenly, the music reached a climax.
Ji Ma abruptly lifted her head, her glossy black hair flying. She revealed a confident and crazed smile, and in that moment, it seemed as if she was radiating light.
In the distance, the brown-skinned woman was also captivated by her dancing, muttering complexly to herself, “Better than me; is this what a succubus is like?”
But strangely, Ji Ma did not continue dancing. Instead, she smiled and stretched out her hand, reaching out forcefully to grasp the swirling pink mist.
“Burn!”
All the obsidian artifacts lit up simultaneously, bright green light overwhelming the glow of the alchemical lanterns, casting a brilliant light on Ji Ma’s face. In her eyes, she saw all the pink mist ignite and surge upwards, igniting the entire pitch-black night sky.
