Witch, please have some self-respect!

The coachman replied, "Honorable guest, you may not know this, but many female cultivators in the Hall of Delightful Desires who do not reach the top-grade level after training are sold as maids, their bodies still pure and innocent."

Shen Yun said helplessly, "I don't need this kind of maid. I just need someone who can help with the chores at home."

"This means you can not only work from home during the day, but also at night..."

The driver gave him a knowing look.

Shen Yun shook his head. The Palace of Delightful Desires was not the Palace of Melodious Sounds. The training here was all about how to serve men.

Those who are eliminated are likely to be easily swayed by circumstances.

He does not need it.

He wanted a well-behaved, content, and undemanding maid to share some of the housework with Wan'er.

As for whether or not to bind a partner, we'll consider that later.

Of course, it's definitely not because of the maids here; even the cheapest one costs three hundred source stones.

It's not that I can't afford it, it's just that there's no need for it!

Then, the coachman took Shen Yun to see several markets selling maids.

Those who sell themselves are mostly pitiful people whose families have no cultivators or whose cultivation level is low, and who are about to be unable to make a living in the Holy City.

The quality varies, and the factors that determine the price are not just appearance, but more importantly, the foundation and cultivation level.

In a decent-quality people market.

Shen Yun looked at the pretty girl in front of him, who appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old.

The wooden sign in front reads: "Eighteen years old, 30-year-old Dao Foundation cultivator, second level of Body Nourishing cultivation, hoping to continue cultivating after selling herself. Price: 200 Source Stones."

Shen Yun was speechless.

This is normal, though. Once you embark on the path of cultivation, you must have paid the "cultivation tax" and invested resources.

Two hundred Originium is normal.

Moreover, he discovered that the higher a woman's spiritual foundation, the higher her demands, with some even requiring her to return home to visit her family every month.

Compared to these, Shen Yun preferred those unattached girls.

Those who sell themselves without any ties are selling themselves; the price is no longer important.

Most of them seek spiritual practice, while a small number have certain obsessions that they feel they need to fulfill for them.

Searching for missing parents and relatives, destroying enemies, or selling oneself for ten years, some even openly stating their desire to become concubines and have children in the future.

There are basically no maids with direct price tags; those sold in the human market are mostly maids obtained through legitimate means.

"A 22-year-old cultivator, an ordinary person with no cultivation, offering himself for servitude on the condition that he hopes to embark on the path of cultivation."

Before me stood a young girl, barely fifteen years old, still bearing the innocence of childhood, dressed in a patched plain dress, who asked for a cultivation manual.

Shen Yun didn't look at it much and skipped over it.

He wasn't in a hurry to buy it today; he would visit a few stores to check things out.

It wasn't that Shen Yun was choosing; the good ones had already been bought up and wouldn't even appear on the market.

Those who were left behind all had some difficult problems to deal with.

Of course, there were a few suitable ones as well, and Shen Yun planned to go back and discuss them with Wan'er.

Even the cheapest maidservant costs at least fifteen Originium.

This price is roughly equivalent to renting a house in Lingnongfang for nine years.

After all, it's a living, breathing person; it's not expensive, and it's within a reasonable range.

The price is slightly higher than the bride price in my previous life.

"Huh!"

Just as Shen Yun was leaving, he saw a slender and petite figure carrying something at the door.

She walked towards the market with her head down, giving off a dazed feeling.

"Get out of my way! How many times have I told you, you good-for-nothing! If it weren't for your dead grandmother's sake, I'd kick you to your death!"

The captain of the guards standing at the door looked annoyed as the man approached.

One of the guards stepped forward and shoved the petite figure to the ground.

Shen Yun then realized that it was a young girl with a messy black dress covered in patches, and she looked quite dirty.

She was very thin, not very fair-skinned, and had many scratches on her arms.

She lay there, clutching the tattered bundle in her arms, her petite body trembling uncontrollably.

Her almond-shaped eyes were clear but not sharp, lively yet with a hint of dullness, and also contained a trace of unconscious naivety.

She turned to look at the human market, her gaze filled with longing.

That's really strange.

Shen Yun was puzzled. Why would the human market push business outwards? Shouldn't they just grab and sell it?

"This is?"

The gatekeeper captain looked at Shen Yun's outer disciple robes and explained:

"Guest, this girl was originally a tenant in the neighborhood. After her grandmother died, she wanted to sell herself to bury her grandmother."

We took pity on her and let her sell her things here for two months. She carried her grandmother's memorial tablet and urn every day, but no one bought from her, and the shop's business got worse and worse.

The shopkeeper, thinking she was unlucky, kicked her out, but she kept coming back to freeload.

Shen Yun looked at the big man in surprise. Did the "human market" really have such a kind heart to do human things?

Such a young girl, all alone and helpless, wouldn't she be forced into a sale?

The burly man continued, "Her grandmother had a good relationship with the neighbors before she died, so it's no big deal for us to handle the funeral arrangements. It's just that this girl is too stubborn and insists on having her grandmother's ashes buried in Shenyou Cemetery."

Shen Yun nodded, understanding.

Ordinary people who die are usually buried far outside the Holy City. Even within the Holy City or the surrounding area, burial costs are charged.

You can't just bury someone whenever you want; most families can't afford to let someone die.

One drawback of burying the deceased outside the holy city is that wild beasts roam freely, and some of these beasts specialize in digging up graves, so you can basically forget about performing rituals after burial.

It's upsetting.

The Divine Blessing Cemetery is a cemetery developed by the Holy City.

It is said to be blessed by the gods and supported by the dragon vein, with formations constantly performing rituals to help the deceased find peace and rebirth.

A more mystical explanation is that it can gather the shattered soul light, and after decades or even centuries, there is a chance to reunite the soul and escape into the divine realm to live another life.

This kind of propaganda is indeed effective; many people believe it.

Many families also consider it an honor to have their ancestors buried there.

of course.

The prices of burial plots in the Divine Blessed Cemetery are quite attractive, with the cheapest costing 30 Originium Stones.

"It's not that expensive."

Having seen many maids worth hundreds of source stones today, Shen Yun felt that thirty source stones wasn't much.

"The main problem is that this girl is thin and small, and she's also dull and mute. She doesn't talk much and doesn't seem like someone who knows how to serve others."

Even after selling herself, she still had to hold onto her teeth... Her grandmother's memorial tablet had been enshrined her entire life, but many people considered it unlucky and were unwilling to buy her.

Shen Yun nodded, no longer paying attention, and prepared to leave. There were too many pitiful people in the world.

He's already met quite a few today.

Unexpectedly, the little girl got up, stood there in a daze for a while, and seeing Shen Yun about to leave, she hugged the package in her arms and suddenly knelt down in front of Shen Yun.

He didn't say anything, he just stood there foolishly kowtowing repeatedly.

Looking at the petite figure in front of him who was constantly kowtowing, Shen Yun felt a strange, inexplicable flutter in his heart.

It's amazing.

"Get up."

Shen Yun was not one to easily show kindness. He squatted down, helped the girl up, and carefully examined her.

Perhaps she was dizzy from kowtowing, for the girl stumbled as soon as she stood up and fell into Shen Yun's arms.

Shen Yun gently helped her to sit up straight.

He didn't feel anything. The girl was thin and frail, with hardly any flesh on her body. Her black dress was messy, but not dirty or smelly.

"Hmm..."

The girl seemed to reminisce about her grandfather's embrace, which was very warm, as her grandmother rarely held her.

This was one of the few times she had received a hug since she could remember.

After being helped up, the girl stared intently at Shen Yun, her eyes filled with a kind of bewildered disorientation, appearing somewhat dazed.

"Can you do laundry and cook? Do you know how to clean?"

Shen Yun asked with a gentle smile.

The girl's face was dirty and slightly dark.

Her hair wasn't black, but chestnut brown and somewhat dry, though her facial features were quite defined.

I snapped out of my daze from that brief but warm embrace.

The little girl nodded, staring blankly at Shen Yun, and replied in a hoarse, weak voice, "I will."

"What's your name?"

"Mianzhi".

"Mianzhi, what a nice name. She's not exactly stupid either. Would you like to come with me?"

After a moment's thought, Shen Yun decided to follow her heart and said, "I can help you bury Grandma in Shenyou Cemetery."

It's only about thirty Origin Stones.

When was the last time I had this feeling?

I think it was when I first met Feng Luoyi as a child that I felt a connection with her and told her many fantastical stories.