Chapter 46: Slave
Although it felt like a self-destructive move—shouting “Master” to her enemy made Ji Ma’s whole body tingle—it was a strategy that would inflict a thousand wounds upon oneself while damaging the enemy by eight hundred. However, when Lis’s doubtful gaze fell upon Ji Ma, Ji Ma felt that her sacrifice was worth it.
“Sir Knight George, you have good taste,” the red-haired Stron exclaimed, as if he feared that Lis wouldn’t recognize the relationship between Ji Ma and George. He then let out a laugh that men understood, “Hehehe.”
Lis lightly tossed her hair back and smiled, “Everyone says that the appearance of a personal maid represents the taste and heritage of a family. George, I look forward to meeting your family in the future.”
Ji Ma was at a loss for words and suddenly thought that Shalin City seemed to practice polygamy. More accurately, the mainstream of marriage in this world was still multi-partner relationships; as long as you were strong enough, a woman could have many husbands.
The poet Disha sang a sorrowful song, “Better to be a hero’s concubine than a beggar’s wife.”
Red-haired Stron shot an angry glance at the poet Disha.
However, such blatant insinuations would surely be rejected by George, considering that he was a moral zealot who wouldn’t marry the daughter of a slave owner.
Just as Ji Ma thought this, she saw George nodding seriously.
Lis’s smile became even brighter, while Ji Ma’s expression grew darker. Lis placed her small hand on her slim waist and smiled at Ji Ma with a hint of provocation.
It feels like I’ve triggered Lis’s rebellious instincts… and that dead virgin probably wouldn’t mind having a beautiful encounter with the daughter of a slave owner… Ugh, this is so frustrating. I have never had such a high-level girl throwing herself at me in my entire life.
Ji Ma felt soured like she had just eaten several lemons, and her tail rolled up beneath her skirt.
Continuing on their journey, Lis stood by George’s side, chatting with him, while George only responded with body language, yet they still managed to engage in a lively conversation.
During this time, Ji Ma tried to find ways to disrupt this “illicit relationship,” stirring up Stron’s anger and jealousy based on the “behind-the-scenes manipulator” principle.
But the fact proved that a sycophant is ultimately a sycophant; when Lis gave Stron a cold shoulder, he, as strong as an ox, immediately wilted like a dog. George, clad in silver armor, appeared even more heroic in contrast.
Red-haired Stron was not to be relied on. As for the poet Disha, Ji Ma had no intention of provoking this enigmatic man.
During the earthquake, not only did he not fall, but he could also hide himself. It was impossible without extraordinary abilities. Afterwards, everyone tacitly refrained from asking for details; after all, extraordinary abilities were like a pair of underpants, also a trump card.
Thus, Ji Ma decided to approach George.
Finally, she seized an opportunity during a rest. She took George’s hand, left the group, and walked behind a tree.
It was quiet nearby. Ji Ma glanced around to confirm that no one could overhear them.
“George, do you know Lis’s identity?” Ji Ma asked.
George shook his head, “Not sure.”
“She’s probably a direct descendant of the great benefactor,” Ji Ma said. “That’s a super villain. As a paladin, shouldn’t you keep your distance from her? You should be washing yourself a dozen times when you get back.”
George looked at Ji Ma oddly, “Paladins are not babies, Ji Ma, you’re strange.”
“Is it weird?” Ji Ma replied, “I’m just… concerned that you might be corrupted by evil.”
Hearing the lie, George instinctively furrowed his brow, then looked at the little succubus in front of him with even more curiosity. He opened his mouth, intending to remind her of her race. Succubi are inherently evil, and all the historical records from various races described succubi in derogatory terms.
But he didn’t say anything and instead asked, “Ji Ma, what are you worried about?”
“Not at all.”
“That’s a lie. Be honest; I really want to know. This is good for you.”
George became serious, with focused blue eyes locking onto Ji Ma, making her feel pressured.
So direct; it really is the style of the sanctuary.
Ji Ma considered for a moment and spat out a half-truth, saying, “So, are you going to sleep with Lis?”
“Ah?” George was taken aback.
“Aren’t you?” Ji Ma pressed, “You’ve been chatting so warmly. She wants to meet your family and even asked what color dress you like, clearly heading towards the bed.”
“Ah?” George was stunned again, “But I just met her! We’re just talking like normal friends! Wanting to meet my family doesn’t mean she wants to harm them; why shouldn’t I agree? And about the dress color, my friends often ask me for colors for skirts and longbows.”
“Your friends?”
“Jenna and the brothers I practice sword-fighting with.”
Ji Ma was also momentarily dumbfounded. If it weren’t for the fact that paladins couldn’t lie, she would have doubted that the heroic figure before her was, on the surface, a dead virgin, but behind the scenes, just as promiscuous as his horse, a womanizer, and a promiscuous enthusiast.
She asked, “Do you really think so?”
“Of course,” George retorted, “How did you even come to think about the bed?”
Under the righteous counter-questioning, Ji Ma, the old-hand, felt unusually embarrassed.
“I… I… my memories tell me these are the steps leading to a romantic encounter.”
George gently patted Ji Ma’s head, saying, “I understand what you’re worried about, but remember not to lie next time.”
Ji Ma immediately became alert; this dead virgin wouldn’t think she was jealous out of love, would he? Ugh, that’s really disgusting.
She quickly rebutted, “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I understand.” George nodded seriously, “Lis is just a naive and somewhat vain girl. I just want to find New Delhi soon.”
Your explanation makes me feel like you don’t truly understand.
Ji Ma opened her mouth to ask more but, reflecting on her own behavior, realized she sounded like a jealous little girl, so she shut her mouth.
After their conversation, the two returned to the group.
The poet Disha and red-haired Stron were still bickering.
“You’re the most useless here, just quietly squatting in the dark corner waiting to collect heads.”
“Better than someone who can only bully weak goblins,” the poet Disha lazily replied, flipping the coins between his fingers. “According to the storyline for dealing with goblins, only those village kids playing mud at the village entrance would play family games according to a novel’s plot.”
“You!”
Red-haired Stron clenched his fists, veins bulging.
Ji Ma couldn’t help but start to look forward to how spectacular it would be when that fist landed on the poet Disha, who was as slender as an elf.
Lis said, “Alright, alright, stop arguing; we’re all teammates.”
But Ji Ma noticed a hint of a smile in her eyes.
She truly enjoyed watching her suitors argue. Hmph, anyway, she’s just a woman with looks and poise; her thoughts and morals are lacking, so I’m not interested.
Ji Ma felt sour in her heart. She walked toward the three of them with George.
Lis immediately turned to George, her chestnut-colored hair swaying behind her slim waist. She smiled, “George, shall we set off now?”
George nodded.
The five of them continued on their way. Leading the group was still the lively George.
If the next moment these two disappeared into the grass, Ji Ma wouldn’t have been surprised.
The bitterly pained Ji Ma and the jealously looking Stron were unexpectedly similar. The poet Disha looked at the two and nodded thoughtfully.
“What a pity, there’s only one goblin nest nearby. After we go back, we’ll have to go through the Rainbow Festival without any time to play.” Lis said, “I wish we would encounter something else; it’s really enjoyable being with you.”
George nodded.
It seemed that at this moment, the goddess of fate heard her request.
A noise echoed from the grass, making it seem like something had scurried into the thicket.
George’s figure immediately halted, and he waved at Ji Ma. Ji Ma jogged to his side.
“What’s wrong?”
Lis leaned against George. Red-haired Stron gritted his teeth as he observed.
“There’s someone,” Ji Ma said, looking around the environment.
Next to the five of them grew dense grass, as tall as Ji Ma, perfect for hiding and ambush. George immediately drew his sword, the sound of the blade unsheathing startling the hidden creature in the grass, which made another noise.
“There’s an ambush! It’s a goblin ambush!”
Red-haired Stron immediately shouted, raising his small shield to protect Lis with his back. Lis furrowed her brows, drawing her wand, prepared to scout with magic.
Ji Ma examined carefully; although the grass was dense, none of it was trampled.
What ambush?
Ji Ma spoke, “It might be a wild boar; how could it be a goblin?”
“You little brat, you have no idea how cunning goblins are,” Red-haired Stron said gravely.
Ji Ma ignored him and pointed toward the noise’s source. George nodded and charged ahead, stepping through the grass.
Rustling noises came from ahead, as if unknown creatures were escaping from them.
George pushed aside the grass, and Ji Ma saw the true form of the unknown creature.
It was a man and a woman. The man had dark skin, a strong build, wearing tattered linen clothes. His back bore lash marks from years of labor, and he was slightly hunching. He had several arrows stuck in his back and a rough long knife covered in blood hanging from his waist.
A slender brown-skinned girl supported him, trying hard to drag him away. She had fresh lash marks on her neck, wearing a revealing silk dress, and her exposed waist bore dark bruises.
Ji Ma recognized these wounds well; they were caused by human hands. Resulting from activities in bed.
“Stop! Who are you?” Red-haired Stron yelled as he rushed from behind.
The brown-skinned girl turned around, tears streaming from her swollen eyes down her cheeks, flowing over the black iron collar tightened around her neck. She could only breathe heavily, saying, “Please… please, have mercy on us.”
The more Ji Ma looked, the more she felt the brown-skinned girl seemed familiar. Suddenly she remembered—it was that day when the dead virgin took her to squander his hard-earned money. In the market area, wasn’t she the brown-skinned girl being auctioned?
She actually escaped, but her luck wasn’t good.
Ji Ma thought.
“How pitiful,” Lis said. “Were you being chased?”
“Yes, yes.” The brown-skinned girl nodded hastily, “Thank you.”
“Your companion looks like he needs proper bandaging.” Lis smiled and said, “We can help you.”
At that moment, Red-haired Stron pointed to the collar around the brown-skinned girl’s neck, saying, “Lis, they are escaped slaves. That man looks like a slave bandit! He killed people!”
Lis’s smile immediately vanished from her face, replaced by disgust. She raised her wand, the tip glowing faintly.
In Shalin City, runaway slaves only receive reports and disdain, not help. No one would feel sympathy, just as no one would empathize with a pig that bites its owner and then tries to escape.
Now the “pig” had encountered the daughter of the pigpen owner. This was their misfortune.
Ji Ma thought.
