After being poisoned by mushrooms, all the strange creatures became fascinated by me.

Have you ever heard of evil martial arts?

King Zhou of Han asked.

"Evil arts?" Tang Li looked up, asking with great interest, "What are evil arts?"

The book "Xingtian Divine Skill" was hidden in her bosom, pressed quietly against her chest, like some kind of harmless little animal. Tang Li, however, seemed to be hearing the term for the first time in her life, curiously waiting for Han Zhou to answer her questions.

That silver-haired boy still locked up in jail should see that if he wants to hide any secrets, he should at least act like this.

Han Zhou looked down at the ripples in the bowl: "To disregard one's innate constitution and meridian pathways, to force others to do what is impossible, and to go against the will of Heaven, is to engage in evil practices."

"Ah..." Tang Li sighed softly, her tone neither wary nor longing, "It sounds like a gift prepared for people like us who have no talent."

Han Zhou gave a light sneer: "That's right."

"But others can," he pointed at the pear, "you can't."

After reading that cultivation manual... Jiang Hui seems to have said something similar.

Tang Li tilted her head: "I'd like to hear the details."

Han Zhou said calmly, "The cultivation of evil arts uses people as raw materials—human blood, flesh, skin, bones, and even the entire living person. Tang Li, so don't delude yourself into thinking you can use this opportunity to rise to the top in one step."

"That's a cruelty you can't bear."

"—It's also your cruel disregard for the truth." Tang Li narrowed her eyes.

The two looked at each other.

"Those buyers that Manager Zhou contacted, are they connected to evil practices?" Tang Li shrugged. "But what does that have to do with you?"

The little girl said casually, "Coach Han, you wouldn't even blink an eye for those innocent people who were used as 'raw materials' and died tragically."

"What do you want to achieve by pursuing this matter?"

"Yes, yes," Han Zhou laughed with pleasure, "I'm glad you can see through my true nature."

"Tang Li, whether it's the senior brother of that disciple in the 'Cotton House Case' years ago, or Steward Li who just hanged himself last night, what do you think they have in common?"

A flash of inspiration crossed her mind.

"...They all practiced evil arts?"

"You guessed right." The boy chuckled. "Now you know why I investigated this matter."

"Well then, Tang Li, my clever and capable assistant." Han Zhou finally stood up, stood behind Tang Li, and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Find a way to get Manager Zhou's token, sneak into the buyers' auction, and see what kind of scene it is inside."

"Whether you're treated as merchandise for auction or disguised as a servant to pour tea and water, go and find out for me."

"Remember to contact me with that paper crane."

"Whether it's discovering intractable problems—"

"It was you who encountered danger."

So, at this moment.

Tang Li left the fighting crowd far behind. The little girl walked along the road, with Steward Zhou's token lying quietly in her sleeve.

The token had a small line of text engraved on the bottom, which was Tang Li's address for this trip: Xue Man Lou.

Blood filled the building.

Tang Li lowered her eyes and thought to herself, "What a poetic and picturesque name."

She considered to herself that such shady dealings mostly occurred at night, and it was still evening now. If she went directly to their door, it might be...

Then again, even with the token, how would she, at her age, possibly infiltrate the Snow Pavilion...?

"Whoa!" she exclaimed involuntarily.

A sudden tightening at the back of her collar, followed by her feet leaving the ground—an irresistible force that even her most determined struggles couldn't shake.

Shu Yijiao's words rang in her ears again at just the right moment: "...Those kidnappers love to kidnap pretty young girls like you the most..."

Tang Li's heart began to pound violently.

who is it? !

The next moment.

Tang Li was grabbed by the collar by that big hand and led into a shop on the side of the street.

"Yes, just like her. This size, this age..." a woman's voice rang out, "Do you have any in stock?"

Height? Age? Available now? In this day and age, are people buying people from human traffickers or finding models on the spot?

Tang Li raised her eyes angrily.

"Yes, yes," the shopkeeper grinned, his face crinkling with wrinkles. "Take a look at this one..."

Tang Li: ...

The shop owner, beaming with delight, pulled out a set of... a beautiful lotus-root colored dress from the side, clearly something a little girl would wear, and began to measure it against Tang Li.

"Look, it fits perfectly! It couldn't be better!" The shopkeeper squinted, admiring his own craftsmanship, praising the clothes and Tang Li as if they were the best in the world.

"Hmm...it's not bad," the woman stroked her chin, took two steps back to examine Tang Li, "Do you have any other styles? Bring a few more, and we'll wrap them up together."

Then he handed this lotus-root-colored dress to Tang Li, saying, "Go inside and change into this one first."

The basket slung over the woman's arm swayed, and a little dog's head peeked out from inside, staring at her with shifty eyes, as if trying to figure out if there was any fragrant food in her arms.

Tang Li: ...

"What are you doing here?" She stared blankly up at Lian Sheng, who was dressed smartly and looked much better...

Yes, the garment that was inexplicably given to her was from Lian Sheng, whom she hadn't seen for only a day.

The carefree puppy in the basket is without worry.

The one who appeared silently behind her and picked her up without saying a word was none other than "Sand" Lian Shi.

"Huh?" Lian Sheng tilted her head at her, puzzled. "Didn't you notice? We're going to buy you more clothes."

She took another peach-colored dress from the shopkeeper and continued to hold it up against Tang Li. "This one seems a bit short... Didn't you say you'd come with us after we got the puppy? I'll buy you two outfits in advance. That stingy Han Zhou... we can't let you wear this rag forever, can we?"

...Oh, really, you guys.

Tang Li lowered her eyes, feeling a softness in her heart, and even the pent-up frustration in her chest dissipated considerably.

"Speaking of which," Lian Sheng stuffed a bunch of different clothes into Lian Shi's arms and directed him to pay the bill, then turned to Tang Li and asked, "What are you doing here again? Are you lost? Why are you wandering around the streets by yourself?"

Tang Li was about to speak when she looked up and saw Lian Shi's tall and strong back and the fearful look in the shop owner's eyes. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.

"Um, can I ask you for a favor?"

Lian Sheng was about to agree immediately when she noticed Tang Li's evasive gaze. She quickly retracted her words and instead said cautiously, "Tell me more."

The wooden token hidden in his sleeve had an unprecedentedly strong presence.

Tang Li coughed lightly and said apologetically:

"...You two, can you sell me?"