Chapter 17: 17. human trafficker
Even in Blue Star, practicing martial arts was a bitter and tiring affair.
Lu Li, filled with immense passion, sweated profusely as he trained throughout the day.
The next day, the soreness in his body was indescribable—moving a single finger would leave him in pain for a long time, and he nearly couldn't get out of bed.
Yet, contrary to that, his spirit was exceptionally rejuvenated.
It was only 5 in the morning, yet Lu Li was wide awake, his mind extremely active.
He closed his eyes to visualize the "Serenity Meditation Diagram," and within a minute, he succeeded, and he could barely keep the image stable within his Sea of Consciousness.
It was clear his spirit had grown stronger.
Lu Li couldn't help but feel deeply moved, "If only martial arts cultivation was as simple as this."
Unlike the exhausting training of martial arts, Refining God only required lighting an incense and channeling one's spirit into the magic treasure by inhaling the fragrance.
The difficulty of the two was truly worlds apart.
Lu Li endured the pain and stood up, his posture awkward as he walked out the door.
By then, the courtyard was bathed in bright sunshine, and birds chirped merrily.
Xiao Cha was already practicing her fist technique.
Today's movements were different from usual, large and wide, and her two pink arms whipped out continuously, creating a sequence of cracking sounds.
Sometimes when she moved broadly, a glimpse of her fair, rosy waist would show, revealing the seductive lines of her toned midriff.
Seeing Lu Li coming, Xiao Cha flashed her small white teeth and said,
"Wow, you actually came. I thought you wouldn't last!"
"How could I let down Master Xiao Cha's teaching?"
Smiling, Lu Li replied and started practicing with his arms circled, setting his stance.
...
"Lu Li, which country did you come back from?"
"Moxico."
"Oh, I've heard of it; it's a country on the America Continent. Why did you come back?"
"To travel."
...
During their rest, the two would chat.
Lu Li increasingly felt that the two worlds were extremely similar, with identical countries.
After several rounds of practice, Lu Li was about to ask why he hadn't seen Wanqing.
As if by telepathy, the next second, Wanqing appeared at the entrance of the medical hall, holding a bag of herbs.
She was followed by about ten children, also carrying large and small bags of herbs.
Lu Li curiously asked, "What's this all about?"
Xiao Cha answered, "Wanqing took on a job processing herbs. She thought it'd be good to include Tong Shao and the others, teaching them a skill to earn their keep."
Tong Shao was the beggar they had encountered on the street earlier.
The thin and pale children, under Wanqing's guidance, selected the herbs, each studying seriously.
However, the sun was really harsh, making Wanqing's face turn red and sweaty, the sweat glistening as it slid down her smooth neck.
Not wanting to see the girl suffer, Lu Li frowned and said, "Why take on such a task in this scorching heat?"
Scratching her head, Xiao Cha explained, "Wanqing also wants to earn more money... It's not good to always depend on you."
"Ah, there's no need to be so formal."
Lu Li instantly understood the situation and walked over to where Wanqing was.
The children, seeing him approach, showed none of the innocence they should have, instead lowering their heads in fear.
Only the little girl known as "Tong Shao," with her hair tied in a ponytail, boldly sized him up.
Lu Li smiled warmly, then said,
"Sister Wanqing, I have some spare wealth, enough for cultivation. Don't overwork yourself."
Wanqing, having tucked her sweaty strands of hair behind her ear, softly said,
"I already owe Young Master Lu a lot, let me help as much as I can."
Lu Li couldn't disregard the girl's good intentions and instead persuaded,
"Then focus more on your cultivation. There are some things I still need to consult you about."
"Mm, I understand." Wanqing smiled and nodded.
Lu Li nodded and turned to leave, continuing his martial arts practice.
He had just left, when Tong Shao started chattering:
"Sister Wanqing, who is that? Is he your sweetheart? He's really handsome and seems very fond of you..."
Wanqing rubbed her little head and just smiled without saying anything.
Afterwards, Tong Shao's big round eyes kept stealing glances at Lu Li.
When it was time for a break, she eagerly brought over a can of water.
"Thank you."
Lu Li politely expressed his thanks, then took it and drank.
Seeing how gentle he was, Tong Shao blinked her innocent eyes and blurted out nonstop:
"My name's Tong Shao~ What's yours~ You're so fair~ Are you a young master from a wealthy family?"
"My name is Lu Li, just an ordinary person."
The little girl was lively and cute, and Lu Li was about to reach out to pinch her pigtail...
But she was very vigilant and ran off covering her braid with her hand.
Xiao Cha laughed from the side: "This little lass slips away like a slippery monkey, and she talks fast too. She seems to really like you."
Lu Li flashed a faint smile, suddenly feeling that life in the Otherworld was actually quite nice.
But just then, two burly men suddenly entered through the clinic's main door.
Both were dressed in tight clothing, faces covered with stubble, strong and brawny, but their expressions were unexpectedly sinister, staring at people like hungry wolves.
As soon as the children saw them, they immediately showed expressions of fear, even the lively Tong Shao curled up into a ball.
Xiao Cha immediately sprang forward, pointing at their noses and scolded:
"Wang Wen! Wang Wu! You two human traffickers dare to come here, looking for death?"
~~~~~~~~~~
Human trafficker is another term for human trafficker.
These two brothers, eyeing a group of children and Wanqing, showed a thick look of greed!
Their demeanor was no different from the Black Gang in Moxico, as if all the world's bullies had the same disgusting faces.
Lu Li silently stood by Xiao Cha.
At that moment, Wang Wen said with a faux smile:
"Officer Luo Xunbu, cool down, you still aren't in the Refining Realm, and murder demands life~"
"I'd rather break with you beast! It would spare the children from your harm!"
Xiao Cha's pretty face turned icy cold, her hand moved to her waist and suddenly drew out a nine-section whip!
With a flick of her arm, the whip turned into a silver dragon and burst out with a loud "snap"!
Wang Wen's face changed slightly, showing a hint of fear, but he quickly composed himself and arrogantly said:
"Just so Officer Luo knows, we're here on behalf of 'Yahang' for legitimate business!"
Wang Wen took out a document from his chest and continued, "The gear factory is hiring child workers, any beggars here want to go?"
Occasionally, human traffickers would do something akin to labor dispatch.
Xiao Cha coldly took the paper and glanced at it, and indeed it was a recruitment advertisement asking for child workers, no pay, but food and accommodation provided.
In these times, employing child labor was very common, some as young as five or six years entering factories.
But Xiao Cha didn't trust the people before her.
She crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it in Wang Wen's face, sneering:
"Those who want to go, I'll let them apply at the match factory themselves, you can leave now."
Seeing Xiao Cha touched and looked at the paper, the two brothers facially displayed a barely noticeable joy.
Wang Wen even feigned indignation, "Officer Luo, that's not very honorable..."
"Not honorable? Still better than ending up in the Bitter Cave Brothel because of you." Xiao Cha coolly said:
"Do so many immoral things, be careful one day your ancestral grave gets dug up."
Upon hearing this, Wang Wu, who had been silent the whole time, his face showed a fierce look, and his hand reached towards his waist.
Wang Wen quickly held back his brother, mockingly said: "Fine, Officer Luo is busy, we'll meet again some other time."
The two turned and left, but just before leaving, Wang Wu fixed his gaze on Wanqing for quite a while.