SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Mm~ Not bad, little one. You brought us quite a bit of money again today.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The tall man in front of me laughed greasily.
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After counting the money, he rubbed my head with his hands caked in mud.
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“Mm.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I could only nod in response, forcing a smile.
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But they couldn’t tell I was faking it.
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That’s my special skill.
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This is a hideout.
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Those cultivators of low cultivation, lacking talent and too lazy to put in any effort, come to this remote town to bully the weak.
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They forcibly take over other people’s homes, then kidnap children from who-knows-where and make those kids sit on the streets begging.
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Those who disobey don’t get to eat, or they get beaten up.
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Occasionally, there are those hot-blooded types who try to resist, who try to run away.
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The result is that they get their legs chopped off and are sent to the streets to beg in an even more pitiful state.
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Ironically, that earns even more money.
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But the adults who toss them a few coins have no idea how much harm this does to those hot-blooded ones.
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What they want is to escape, to be free.
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They don’t want to work for the wicked.
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Yet the result is that they lose their freedom, can never escape, and even end up working better for the wicked.
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In the hideout, children starve to death or are beaten to death every day.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But it doesn’t matter.
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The next day, new replacements will fill the vacancies.
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And me?
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I’m the hideout’s equivalent of a top earner.
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At age three, my birth parents sold me to my foster parents.
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Because they discovered I had grown strange ears and a tail, and my hair had changed color—white—along with red eyes, all omens of misfortune.
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At age five, my foster parents sold me again, this time to human traffickers.
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I was taken to an old, dilapidated house.
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There, besides me, there were over a dozen other kids around my age.
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Our assigned task was to go to different places, each of us begging on the streets, then bring back all the money.
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If the amount didn’t satisfy them, we’d go hungry or be punished.
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As for those who did “poor business,” the light punishment was starving for a few days and getting beaten a few times.
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The heavy punishment was having their hands and feet cut off, then begging as disabled people.
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Fortunately, I’ve been good at pretending since I was little.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
It’s like an inborn talent.
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That made me the most favored child in that den.
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But I know they don’t like me.
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They like what I can bring in.
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Normally, I wear a hooded cloak to hide my ears and tail.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I dye my white hair black with ink.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
My eyes, there’s nothing I can do about.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Today, I brought these bastards a few taels of silver again.
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They were very happy and gave me some bread that wasn’t yet rotten.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
So I sat there, eating my bread, watching the kids who did “worse” than me get whipped, my face expressionless.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
What expression should I make?
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
If I showed even a hint of sympathy, those guys would come after me.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“If you feel bad for him, then you can take on his share of the money.”
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They’d definitely say that.
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And if I begged for mercy for him, that would be asking for trouble.
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So, expressionless is my expression.
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Besides, being born ugly and stupid is their fault, not mine.
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As long as I take care of myself, that’s fine.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
And one day, I’ll leave this place.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
After finishing the bread, I slept on the wooden bed that was hard and uncomfortable, but I was long used to it.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The next morning, I got up on time, ate breakfast, and went out to beg.
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Of course, I couldn’t earn that much money by begging alone.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I’m really afraid of pain, so if I don’t have enough money before going back to turn it in, I steal from other people.
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Today’s target was a pretty good-looking adult with a white gourd hanging from his waist.
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He was dressed well and looked wealthy.
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That gourd of his alone looked valuable.
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I was walking toward him from the opposite direction.
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Just as we were about to pass each other, I bumped into him.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Ah! Sorry, sorry, big brother, sorry, sor—”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Huh?
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
What’s going on?
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Why didn’t I reach out my hand?
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The moment I bumped into him, I pretended to fall and sat down on the ground.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But just as I looked up, about to reach for his gourd, he also lowered his head, and our eyes met.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Damn… what’s happening…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
My chest feels so tight… my head is burning… why is this happening…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
What is it about this man?
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He’s different from everyone I’ve ever met…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He’s… too handsome… but besides that… what is that clear, pure feeling?
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Are you okay?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He reached out his hand to me.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
My body moved on its own, placing my hand in his.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He pulled me up and even brushed the dust off my clothes.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Sorry, I was lost in thought and wasn’t watching where I was going.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“N-no problem…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I couldn’t take my eyes off his face, only able to murmur like I was sleepwalking.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Seeing the concern in his eyes, I finally snapped out of it.
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I quickly turned around, patted my cheeks, and woke myself up.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Turning back, I put on my usual fake smile, looked up at him, and smiled:
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“I’m okay. Thank you, big brother.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He looked into my eyes, opened his mouth, but then closed it again.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He smiled bitterly and shook his head: “Good. Then I’ll be going.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Mm, goodbye, big brother.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Watching his retreating back, I looked down at my empty hand.
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Then I looked down again and saw my empty money pouch.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I could already see my future.
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…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Smack!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The man slapped me to the ground.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Useless! I feed you all that good stuff, and this is all you bring back?! What good are you!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
With that, he raised his leg, ready to kick me.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I held my face with one hand and braced myself on the ground with the other, squeezing my eyes shut.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But the pain never came.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I slowly opened my eyes.
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Another man had stopped the one about to kick me.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Don’t be so irritable. Maybe Yuying is just having an off day. She’ll be back to normal tomorrow, right?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
That man smiled like a fox.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
So disgusting.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
It was the same kind of smile as the man from this morning.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Both were equally handsome.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But the feeling was completely different.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
This morning, that man’s smile was like clear water under sunlight—a gentle stream, crystal clear, dazzling as if sprinkled with golden light.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But the man in front of me, though handsome as jade, smiled like a venomous scorpion.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
All I felt was a creepy, chilling sensation down my spine.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Come, Yuying, get up.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The man smiled and reached out his hand to me.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I didn’t want to, but I had no choice.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me to my feet.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Hungry? Have something to eat.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He handed me a piece of bread.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I took it automatically, but just as I was about to take a bite, I noticed—the bread was already rotten, even covered in maggots.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I looked up at the man.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He looked down at me, still smiling.
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“Hm?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He tilted his head slightly.
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“N-nothing…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The maggots were crawling all over the bread.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I swallowed hard, gritted my teeth, closed my eyes, and shoved the whole thing into my mouth.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The sour, stinking juice of the maggots exploded in my mouth—a hundred times more disgusting than sewage.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The maggots I hadn’t bitten through wriggled against the inside of my cheeks, itching and stinging, even biting back into my flesh.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Urgh…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Bile rose from my stomach.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I nearly vomited everything back up.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But I held my breath and finally forced it all down.
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