46: Chapter 46 Let go of that girl, let me handle it!

The night in the Servant District was like a man-eating ghost realm.

The bone-chilling wind, mixed with the sour stench of fermented garbage and a faint scent of blood, drilled into every crevice of Su Aili's clothes.

From the dilapidated adobe houses on both sides of the road, suppressed screams and the desperate weeping of women occasionally drifted out, like venomous snakes hiding in the dark, constantly gnawing at her nerves.

Su Aili walked alone in the muddy, gloomy, and narrow alleyway, her frail body shivering in the cold wind.

The courage to face death she had felt just moments ago in the courtyard was now being drained away, bit by bit, by fear as the surrounding environment grew increasingly eerie.

"There's nothing to be afraid of... I am a Level 5 Mortal... I can take on several ordinary Menial Laborers by myself..."

Muttering to herself, Su Aili hugged her shoulders tightly, constantly trying to psych herself up in her heart.

She tried hard to stimulate the Qi and blood within her body, attempting to stay alert.

However, as a mere "little white rabbit" with absolutely no combat experience, in this dark forest where the weak are prey to the strong, her pitiful cultivation not only failed to protect her but instead became the most delicious bait to attract predators.

"Step, step, step..."

A sticky and heavy sound of footsteps suddenly came from the corner ahead.

Su Aili's footsteps came to an abrupt halt, her heart instantly leaped into her throat, and the hairs all over her body stood on end!

"Yo, in the middle of the night, I thought it was some stray cat scurrying about. Turns out it's that high-and-mighty flower that used to be in our Middle District!"

An extremely sleazy, lecherous voice sounded abruptly in the empty alley.

Immediately after, two figures exuding a strong, fierce aura slowly walked out from the shadows, one in front and one behind, completely sealing off Su Aili's path forward and her retreat!

The one in front had a pockmarked face, and his triangular eyes gleamed with undisguised greed.

The one behind was gaunt as a skeleton, skillfully toying with a hemp rope stained with dark red blood.

They were none other than the two notorious old rogues of the Ding District—Pockmark and Skinny Monkey!

What was even more fatal was that the Qi and blood fluctuations radiating from these two were clearly both at Mortal Rank 6!

"What do you want?!"

Su Aili retreated a few steps in fear, her back pressed tightly against the cold, damp wall as she shouted, trying to feign composure: "Get out of my way! I am a Level 5 Mortal. If I really fight for my life, you won't have a good time either."

"Hahaha, Level 5 Mortal?"

Pockmark seemed to have heard a huge joke, laughing so hard that his pockmarked face quivered. He licked his cracked lips with his tongue, his gaze wandering unscrupulously over Su Aili's heaving chest, and sneered: "Little girl, do you think this is playing house? I heard every word you shouted at the courtyard gate just now!"

"Since you're the broken shoe that Qin Feng doesn't want, and you have nothing to do with that courtyard anymore, out here on the main road, you're just ownerless property!"

Skinny Monkey, turning the rope in his hand from behind, chimed in sinisterly: "Big Brother, don't waste words with her. She's so delicate and tender, let's have some fun with her tonight, and then find a chance to secretly trade her away. We can get at least ten bottles of Blood-Qi Pills!"

"You dare—"

Hearing their lewd and vicious scheme, Su Aili felt her scalp tingle, and a chill shot straight from the soles of her feet to her skull. Despair and fear were instantly pushed to the extreme.

"Get lost!"

Su Aili shouted angrily, her Level 5 Mortal Qi and blood exploding within her. Gritting her teeth, she swung her delicate fist, striking wildly and without any technique towards Pockmark, who was blocking her path!

This was the first time in her life she had actively attacked someone, filled with a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve!

However—the cruelty of reality far exceeded the poor imagination of a hothouse flower.

"Bang!"

Facing Su Aili's full-force blow, Pockmark didn't even dodge. He just casually raised his right hand, his rough, large hand like an indestructible iron plate, easily catching Su Aili's incoming fist.

"You've got some strength, but it's a pity, it's soft and weak like a woman's—oh wait, you are a woman."

Pockmark sneered and suddenly twisted his wrist!

"Ah—!"

Su Aili let out a shrill scream as her entire right arm was twisted painfully at the joint. The intense pain instantly made her legs give way, and she fell heavily into a muddy puddle with a "thud."

Her proud Level 5 Qi and blood, in front of a battle-hardened Rank 6 veteran, were as flimsy as paper; she hadn't even lasted half a round!

"You little bitch, you still dare to fight back?!"

Skinny Monkey, behind her, snorted coldly, stepped forward, and kicked Su Aili hard in the back!

"Wah!"

Su Aili was kicked so hard she spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing into the filthy mud like a broken sack. Half of her delicate face was submerged in the foul-smelling sewage, coughing violently, her hair tips covered in disgusting grime.

"Don't ruin her face; if you ruin it, she won't fetch a good price!"

Pockmark grabbed Su Aili by the hair and yanked her up from the muddy water.

"Let me go... Help... Help me..."

Su Aili struggled frantically, tears mixing with the mud flowing freely down her face. She screamed desperately for help towards the tightly closed doors on both sides of the alley.

But not a single door opened, and not even a sound came out. In this area, who would offend two ruthless Rank 6 experts for the sake of a stray dog that had been kicked out?

"Scream all you want; even if you scream until your throat breaks, no one will come to save you!"

Pockmark lecherously brought his nose to Su Aili's neck and greedily took a deep breath of her scent. "So fragrant... Skinny Monkey, bring the rope over. Tie her up first and drag her into the abandoned cellar behind. I'm going to teach her the rules of the Servant District properly today!"

"You got it."

Skinny Monkey stepped forward with a lewd grin. The hemp rope in his hand, like a venomous snake, instantly coiled around Su Aili's hands as she tried to resist, and he tied it into a tight knot!

Feeling the stinging pain of the rough hemp rope digging into her skin, and looking at the two faces in front of her, twisted like evil ghosts, Su Aili stopped struggling completely. Her eyes lost focus, staring blankly into the bottomless darkness at the end of the alley.

At this moment, she finally understood... understood how ridiculous her naivety was, and how stupid her aloofness was!

In her mind, images uncontrollably surfaced: her mother kneeling by the cold well water, washing clothes for her; and Qin Feng's cold, aloof, yet incisive eyes.

"The reason you feel tired is because you have the temper of a Young Miss, but you happen to have the life of a servant..."

The cruel and truthful words echoed crazily in her ears like a curse.

"So... I really am a piece of trash..."

"Mother... I'm sorry..."

Tears fell from her beautiful eyes, streaking across her cheeks. Su Aili let out a desperate and painful moan in her heart, waiting for the abyss that was about to descend.

"Let's go, little beauty. Big brothers will take you to a nice place and let you learn a thing or two... Hehehe~"

Pockmark laughed loudly, pulling Su Aili by the hair, preparing to drag her deep into the dark alley.

However, just at this critical moment, a not-too-loud but cold voice rang out clearly in the surroundings: "Let go of that girl!"