128: Alcoholism

Seeing that Han Yi didn't reply, Huang Jiu'er seemed to fall into some kind of memory, and continued, "At that time, older women and those with unattractive appearances, bought back to be used as servants, only cost five or six taels of silver. Women with outstanding beauty cost ten, twenty taels of silver, and there were even some people with special identities, whose prices were even higher..."

"For example, innocent family members implicated inJianghu grievances, sons and Miss Tantais from declining families who were treated as commodities, and even wives and concubines of criminal officials..."

"If these people were caught, after being trained by human traffickers, it was like taming a hawk; first, your spirit would be broken, and if you had martial arts, your martial arts would be crippled. Then you would be brought from hundreds or thousands of miles away and sold in the Black Market..."

"Alas..."

As she spoke, Huang Jiu'er seemed to recall some unbearable memories. She looked sad and hurt, her eyes red, as if tears were about to fall.

"Miss Huang Jiu'er..."

Han Yi wanted to say something to comfort her, but the words reached his mouth and he didn't know how to speak them.

'This damned world!'

For a moment, he felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on his heart, making him feel uncomfortable.

At this moment, Han Yi felt even more strongly how cruel this world was for ordinary people.

"Chanting poems while planting peonies in the poetry garden, getting drunk at the wine pavilion after descending from theCornus officinalis... This wine truly lives up to its reputation as the famousCornus officinalis wine... Just smelling it makes one feel completely comfortable!"

The voice arrived before the person. Just then, a sound of drinking and reciting poetry came from the courtyard. Han Yi quickly stood up.

He saw an Old Man in the courtyard with a flushed face, a circle of white whiskers on both cheeks, holding a wine gourd in his hand. He seemed to be about the same age as Bai Sanren.

This Old Man rubbed his face with his hand, closed his eyes, picked up the yellow gourd in his hand, and just sniffed at his nose.

He had a look of intoxicated emotion, as if the wine gourd in his hand contained intoxicating jade dew. He raised his head and held the wine gourd as if drinking.

Drip!

Only a few drops of wine trickled out from the mouth of the gourd, which was soaked white by the wine.

"Oh dear, Master Huang, you've been secretly drinking again. If my sister sees you, she'll scold you again!"

Huang Jiu'er looked anxious and quickly stepped forward to help him.

"Haha, little Huang Jiu'er, I, your Master, only drank one gourd, I'm not drunk yet!"

Huang Ze swayed his body, dodging Huang Jiu'er's help.

"Master Huang..."

"Eh, isn't this the 'Three Flavor Wine' from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion?"

After entering the front hall, his eyes lit up. Ignoring the standing Han Yi, he directly rushed towards the 'Three Flavor Wine' that Han Yi had bought from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

"This wine is mellow on the palate, sweet on the finish, has a lingering fragrance after drinking, and a long aftertaste. It's most suitable for drinking now!"

Huang Ze opened the cork and took several big gulps of wine. The wine that overflowed from the corner of his mouth flowed down his whiskers and onto his clothes.

"Master Huang, you're actually drinking in front of me... I must tell my sister!"

Huang Jiu'er, who had jogged over from the courtyard, said angrily.

Tap, tap, tap

A woman around thirty years old quickly walked out from the back hall. She was quite attractive, with a round face. Perhaps because she had stayed indoors for a long time, her skin looked a little unhealthily pale.

"Master Huang, you've been secretly drinking again!"

She raised her eyebrows, put one hand on her hip, and pointed at Huang Ze with the other, yelling.

"Hehe..."

Huang Ze smiled sheepishly and put down the wine jar.

"And Huang Jiu'er, I told you to keep a close eye on him and not let him buy wine!"

"It's not that I didn't watch him, it's someone else who brought it..."

Huang Jiu'er shrank her head, stuck out her tongue, secretly glanced at Han Yi, and whispered softly. Fortunately, her sister didn't hear her.

"This Young Master, I'm sorry, you've seen something unsightly... Please have a seat for a while..."

After bowing to Han Yi, this woman dragged Huang Ze to the back hall.

"This is..."

Han Yi quietly asked Huang Jiu'er. The aura of that woman just now was really imposing. She didn't look like a maid, but rather like a Young Miss Tantai.

"That's my sister, Huang Xiuxiu... She manages the family affairs..."

Huang Jiu'er also responded in a low voice.

"Hahaha, little friend, you must be the Han Yi that Old Bai mentioned!"

Before long, Huang Ze came out from the back hall after changing into a clean robe.

"Hmm, good, good. Just by looking at your face, I can tell you are a person who values affection and righteousness. You're a good child!"

After he came out, he sized up Han Yi.

"Master Huang!"

Han Yi smiled faintly, cupped his hands, and bowed while also glancing at Huang Ze a few times.

The overall strength floating around Huang Ze was '101~120'. Although he was a Tongmai Stage Martial Master, he was considered the weakest among the Connecting Vessels Stage...

Indeed, just as Bai Sanren said, Huang Ze had previously suffered an accident, was seriously injured, his cultivation plummeted, and his temperament also changed a lot...

"Come, have tea!"

After they were seated, Huang Jiu'er served two bowls of fragrant tea and several plates of pastries.

Han Yi looked closely and saw that among them was the 'Phoenix Tail Crisp' he had bought from the pastry shop a few days ago.

"Han Yi, I've also learned some information about you. According to me, the Outer Affairs Hall and Elder Li are much more promising than me, this old drunkard..."

Huang Ze said self-deprecatingly, with a hint of confusion in his words.

It's no wonder he had this doubt. The rules of the Crimson Flame Sect's recruitment test stipulated that new Disciples who entered the Sect could freely choose which Elder and which hall to enter.

Although the scope of choice for new Disciples was not large, generally speaking, it was still mostly screened by Elders.

The Crimson Flame Sect's Law Enforcement Hall is responsible for supervising the behavior of inner and outer Disciples. Although the job in this hall looks impressive, it is like a chicken rib, tasteless to eat and a pity to discard. If you're not careful, you might get into trouble.

For example, when enforcing the law, you might encounter the children of high-level Sect members, or run into Seniors with strange tempers, and you wouldn't even understand how you died...

The Inner Affairs Hall is responsible for various affairs within An Yan City. The city is generally quite stable, and things are relatively leisurely. Of course, the task rewards are also relatively small, and it is not a good choice for new Disciples.

Therefore, only the Outer Affairs Hall is responsible for various affairs outside An Yan City, such as escorting Ore, clearing out demonic beasts from camps, chasing down bandits, and so on...

Although these tasks are a bit busy, the rewards are generous. Moreover, when performing tasks, it is also possible to earn extra money. Therefore, the Outer Affairs Hall is a good choice for Disciples who need a lot of resources to break through.

The Outer Affairs Hall is also considered the hall with the largest number of people and the strongest strength in the Crimson Flame Sect!