125: Choosing a maid

Chi Yu led Xu Sanyan inside, and along the way, he saw many men and women. Chi Yu pointed at them and said, "Junior Brother Xu can choose now. Just pick whoever you like and take them away."

His words showed no regard for the opinions of those Disciples, as if they were not people, but rather pigs or sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

"Mm, thank you, Senior Brother."

Xu Sanyan looked left and right, and indeed found a few women who were quite attractive.

Some people avoided the two of them, while others straightened their clothes, their faces showing a desperate plea, as if eager to escape this demonic lair.

The two slowly arrived in front of a pavilion. Chi Yu entered first and bowed to the old man inside, saying, "Greetings, Elder Zhang."

Xu Sanyan turned to look and saw an elderly man in a gray robe sitting behind a desk. When he saw Chi Yu, he immediately stood up and said kindly, "Haha, so it's Junior Martial Nephew Chi. Please, have a seat."

Although he was an Elder, he dared not put on airs with Chi Yu. Of course, what he valued was not Chi Yu, but Luo Yu, who was behind Chi Yu.

No one was sure if Luo Yu could become the Saint, so it was better to be polite. After all, the Saint's status was far above that of an Outer Sect Elder like him.

"This is..." Elder Zhang looked at Xu Sanyan.

Chi Yu smiled and introduced, "This is Junior Brother Xu. I brought him here to pick a few Junior Sisters so they can support each other in the future. I hope Junior Martial Uncle can make it convenient."

As he spoke, he handed over a cloth bag, which by its weight seemed to contain many Spirit Stones.

This Elder Zhang was quite old, already over three hundred years old, with not much lifespan remaining.

However, his cultivation was barely at the initial stage of the Mystic Path Realm, having been stuck there for a hundred years without any progress. He had long lost his ambition and only placed his hopes on his descendants.

Therefore, he had a great need for Spirit Stones and money. He happily took the cloth bag and then looked at Xu Sanyan, "This old man has a very good relationship with your Senior Brother Chi. If you see anyone you like, don't be shy; just pick them yourself. Leave the rest to this old man."

The rest of the matter...

Is it coercion and inducement?

Perhaps there's no inducement, only coercion.

Elder Zhang led the two to the plaza and said to those around him, "Gather all the female Disciples from Room A."

"Yes."

"Wait." Elder Zhang pondered for a moment. "Also call the male Disciples from Room A."

Some Cultivators preferred men but were too embarrassed to say so directly.

Xu Sanyan waved his hand, "No need, women will do."

"Haha, good." Elder Zhang smiled, intending to curry favor, "Only Disciples with handsome appearances can live in Room A."

Xu Sanyan cupped his hands, "Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle."

Before long, many women came one after another. Xu Sanyan roughly counted them, about forty or fifty people.

Chi Yu said from the side, "Junior Brother, choosing three to five people to serve you is enough. Women are not something the more the better, does Junior Brother understand?"

"Understood." Xu Sanyan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the women in front of him.

These female Disciples had various appearances. Some lowered their heads shyly, not daring to look directly, while others were bolder, staring intently at Xu Sanyan, hoping to be chosen.

To these female Disciples, such an event, similar to selecting concubines, was already commonplace. Within this Demon Sect, they were considered the lowest in status, and anyone could bully them.

Xu Sanyan stepped forward and observed carefully, immediately spotting a woman.

She wore a blue long dress, with tiny three-inch feet in green short boots. Her hair was tied into a bun at the back of her head. She wasn't tall, barely reaching Xu Sanyan's shoulder, and her head was buried, like a quail, utterly adorable.

Xu Sanyan lifted her chin. The woman pressed her lips tightly, her eyes darting away, not daring to look directly.

"What's your name?" Xu Sanyan asked.

"Meng Zhuer." The woman's voice trembled slightly.

"Are you willing to come with me?"

"I am willing..."

The woman knew she had no room to refuse. Her gaze quickly scanned Xu Sanyan's face, and she let out a sigh of relief in her heart; at least he was quite handsome.

"Pack your things, let's go." Xu Sanyan nodded.

Chi Yu smiled, "Junior Brother, you're only choosing one?"

Xu Sanyan nodded, "One is enough. My Immortal Cave isn't big, and if there are too many people, there won't be enough space to live."

"If Junior Brother isn't comfortable living there, you can go to the Affairs Hall and spend some Spirit Stones to exchange for another Immortal Cave," Chi Yu said.

Xu Sanyan thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head, "Let's forget it for now; we can talk about it when I return."

"Alright."

Elder Zhang stood by, smiling. Since the female Disciple was willing, he didn't need to waste his breath, and the money Chi Yu gave him was enough for him to choose five people, but in the end, only one was taken, so he naturally profited.

After leaving the back mountain, Xu Sanyan and Chi Yu chatted in front, while Meng Zhuer's fingers were intertwined, full of nervousness. She occasionally looked up secretly at Xu Sanyan. She didn't know if this Senior Brother had any strange habits, and she was full of worries about her future life.

The three arrived at a crossroads. Chi Yu said, "Junior Brother, if you need anything, you can come find me. This Senior Brother lives in Immortal Cave B-7."

"Okay, Senior Brother, take care." Xu Sanyan cupped his hands in farewell and led Meng Zhuer toward his Immortal Cave.

"Where is your home?" Xu Sanyan habitually inquired about her background.

Meng Zhuer's lips moved, and she spoke in a very low voice, "My home is in Wangchuan County of Li Kingdom. I still have my parents, an older sister, and two older brothers at home."

Before Xu Sanyan could ask further, Meng Zhuer revealed all her background.

"Why did you come here?" Xu Sanyan was curious how they all ended up here.

Meng Zhuer's expression was dejected as she said, "My parents sent me here..."

"Sent you here?" Xu Sanyan was startled. He had thought they were captured.

"Mm... Wangchuan County is under the Saint Sect's jurisdiction. Every year, they must offer a thousand men and women of suitable age. This year, it was our family's turn."

"But I heard that the three great Sects once jointly issued an edict prohibiting harassment of the common people? With the Saint Sect acting like this, is no one managing it?" Xu Sanyan was curious.

Meng Zhuer slowly shook her head, "Senior Brother, you don't know. Those three great Righteous Path Sects are high above, like in the clouds. How can they see the ants living in the dirt? As long as the Saint Sect doesn't go too far, they usually turn a blind eye."

Xu Sanyan understood. This world was never black and white. Rules were rules, and practices were practices; they were never the same thing.

The three great Righteous Path Sects would not fight to the death with the Tongxin Demon Sect for the sake of some poor common people, because it wasn't worth it.

Walking along, Xu Sanyan asked, "Do you know which other places besides Wangchuan County are under the Saint Sect's jurisdiction?"

Meng Zhuer thought for a moment, "Many. The Saint Sect has as many as ten thousand new Disciples every year."

"That many?"

"Yes, but very few survive until the end..." Meng Zhuer seemed to recall something unpleasant, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Xu Sanyan looked back at her. His Qi Observation Art could instantly discern her cultivation, which was merely at the initial Inner Qi Realm, and her talent was quite ordinary.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven," Meng Zhuer replied.