On the bustling commercial district in the heart of Qingyun City, a large carriage bearing the Mu family crest moved unhurriedly. Someone inside the carriage reached out to lift the curtain, eager to gaze at the streetscape outside.

    "Miss, look! The market area has been bustling lately. It seems it will soon return to its normal state before the flood,"

    Su Su observed the shops and stalls lining the streets, sharing her thoughts. Mu Yingying, who had been resting her eyes, now opened them and looked outside indifferently.

    Commerce might indeed flourish again as Su Su mentioned, but the significant aftermath of this flood was the people, which wasn't an issue that could be easily resolved.

    A mere glance revealed that the market was mostly frequented by the well-to-do and the upper class, shopping and bustling about, with hardly any ordinary townsfolk in sight.

    While the wealthy could recover swiftly, the ordinary folks and survivors of the flood lived in hardship, and it probably took a long time to recover.

    Mu Yingying withdrew her gaze and slightly closed her eyes, pondering.

    In her previous life, she had heard that after the flood, countless homeless people emerged, lacking homes, families, and means to continue living. Orphans were everywhere, separated from their families by the disaster.

    Impoverished people struggled to find ways to survive, often resorting to selling their children in exchange for some money to get by!

    As a result, there were so many unfortunate orphans. Some became beggars, others were sold into slavery...

    Mu Yingying sighed softly, feeling pity for their fate. Despite her sympathy, she knew she alone couldn't change anything and thus silently sighed in resignation.

    Days earlier, Mu Yingying had obtained permission from Elder Mu Furen to visit the commercial district, which Elder Mu Furen readily granted.

    The carriage stopped in front of the Xiang Rong Building, the largest jewelry store in Qingyun City. Su Su helped her mistress down from the carriage.

    The duo entered the building leisurely, browsing the jewelry until a servant unfamiliar to them approached Su Su and whispered something.

    "Miss, the prepared carriage is ready,"

    Su Su informed her mistress quietly. Mu Yingying nodded, and they followed the servant to the back door of the Xiang Rong Building, where a plain carriage awaited, guarded by more than five burly men.

    The two boarded the carriage, which then headed towards Qingyun City's eastern district.

    “Miss, why are we going to the eastern side?”

    Su Su asked curiously. Her mistress had changed so much recently and had a lot of unpredictable behaviors, like the mysterious arrangement of a plain carriage with guards at the Xiang Rong Building's back door, which the young miss asked her to find someone to arrange it yesterday.

    Even though she was bewildered and confused, not understanding her mistress's actions, she still complied without any objections.

    Mu Yingying glanced at her devoted maid with a faint smile, "We're going to meet someone..."

    Su Su blinked rapidly, finding it even harder to understand after the explanation.

    Seeing her maid's confused expression, Mu Yingying didn't elaborate further, simply closing her eyes to rest.

    Previously, she had asked Su Su to find someone to rent the plain carriage to ensure no one knew where she was heading next.

    What she planned to do had to remain a secret.

    Because this was a crucial secret pawn for future strategies!

    As the carriage entered the eastern district, the lively noise from outside faded, replaced by silence and occasional eerie sounds carried by the wind.

    If the city's northern district was heaven for the elite, the eastern district could be called hell on earth!

    Su Su peeked outside, shocked by the sight.

    The streets were lined with beggars and homeless, all in dire states — gaunt, filthy, and wearing torn clothes, scrounging for food or fighting over scraps.

    Seeing a skeletal figure slumped against a post, Su Su gasped, covering her mouth. It wasn't a living person but the corpse of a homeless individual who had died alone, either from starvation or disease, unnoticed by passersby.

    As the carriage delved deeper into the eastern district, the scenes grew more harrowing, from assaults on homeless women to group attacks.

    Despite these rampant crimes, the authorities turned a blind eye, allowing the area to become a lawless wasteland.

    This was why…the eastern district was known as hell on earth!

    When people reach the lowest point in their lives, their humanity often fades away unconsciously until they become complete beasts!

    This is the nature of humans!

    Mu Yingying closed the curtains to prevent Su Su from seeing any further. Just that had already turned her face pale as if drained of all color. If it wasn't necessary, she wouldn't want to come to this area either. But what she sought required her to enter the tiger's den to obtain a tiger cub…

    'We've arrived, Miss,' the coachman announced.

    When the carriage came to a stop, Su Su assisted the young miss in stepping down. Before they descended from the carriage, they had already donned hats to cover their faces thoroughly, ensuring no one could recognize them.

    Mu Yingying lifted her gaze to look at the dilapidated wooden building in front of her for a moment before noticing a middle-aged woman coming out to greet them with a swagger.

    “Oh dear! What a fortunate day! To have customers so early in the morning!”

    The hired coachman stepped forward to handle the negotiations on their behalf as agreed with Mu Yingying.

    “Auntie Fang, I've heard that the slaves from your household are of the highest quality in this area. Therefore, my young miss has decided to come and have a look.”

    He spoke while handing a pouch of money to the middle-aged woman named Auntie Fang.

    Auntie Fang, the largest slave trader in the eastern district of Qingyun City, was notorious for sourcing and selling slaves to various cities. With extensive connections in the underworld, she was a feared figure.

    “Oh! So that's what this is about. Well, the young miss has come to the right place. I'll take you to see by myself.”

    Auntie Fang said with a laugh, leading the way for Mu Yingying and her entourage into the building. As they walked, she secretly observed the young miss, noticing her demeanor and posture that were as elegant as the young lady from the large noble families, despite her face being hidden.

    Typically, large noble families would acquire slaves from official slave houses or through middlemen, rarely personally selecting them from lower-tier slave markets like this. However, some nobles have unique preferences that differ from the norm.

    Some enjoyed using violence, others delighted in the cruel treatment of their servants, and some saw these slaves merely as playthings to alleviate boredom, capable of being used for any desire. For this reason, they often purchased slaves from lower-tier markets to avoid future complications.

    Auntie Fang, having conducted business with many noble manors, was well versed in these matters and wasn't particularly concerned that this customer was just a young miss. It's possible that this young miss could be a cruel individual who enjoys beating servants to death. Otherwise, why would she personally come to select a slave?

    Concluding her thoughts about this customer, Auntie Fang smiled pleasantly and led her guests deeper into the building until they reached a long corridor flanked by iron cages. Inside these cages, numerous figures were sitting, huddling, and shaking, their bodies trembling as if they were mere fragile chicks.

    Clang! Clang! Clang!

    Auntie Fang tapped her fan continuously against the cages to wake the slaves, causing them to tremble even more, fearing her presence like the grim reaper.

    “Wake up, you lazy lot! Today we have a special customer. Behave, or else...if you cause me any trouble, I'll beat you to death!”

    Her harsh voice echoed, instilling immense fear among the slaves trapped in their cages. Especially after her last sentence, many scrambled closer to the bars, crouching and waiting to be inspected like mere objects.

    Mu Yingying swept a glance over them. The rumors that Auntie Fang was a cruel woman, delighting in the torment of these slaves with vicious methods, seemed to be true. Otherwise, why would they exhibit such fear?

    As Auntie Fang led them past each cage, introducing the background and merits of each slave, Mu Yingying followed quietly. Her gaze met each of theirs in turn, unhurried, her eyes so sharp that those she looked upon felt utterly exposed, unable to hide anything from her.

    Mu Yingying continued her inspection, indifferent to Auntie Fang's commentary. She wasn't interested in their pasts or their so-called advantages or disadvantages. She would make her own decisions!

    If she had to choose someone, she definitely had her own way to select!

    While passing a particular cage, Mu Yingying suddenly stopped. She intently observed a slender figure hidden in the shadows against the wall inside the cage. Amid the darkness, a pair of familiar eyes appeared.

    Those eyes...were eerily reminiscent of someone.

    Caught in a trance, Mu Yingying stepped closer to the cage, her gaze locked with those mysterious eyes in the shadow for a long time. A familiar sensation arose, bringing back memories.

    Elder sister...

    Those empty eyes in the cage seemed lifeless, yet beneath that void, there was a trace of despair, isolation, and suppressed rage.

    That’s the indicative of someone who had endured great turmoil in life!

    It was a look Mu Yingying could never forget!

    Because it bore a striking resemblance to her elder sister's eyes in her previous life when she was betrayed by those around her — her lover and family members — before she was drugged until she lost her sanity!

    Mu Yingying vividly remembered the anguish and torment that eroded her elder sister until she had such an expression in her eyes. In her final moments, she was nothing more than a living corpse…

    Reflecting on her past brought intense pain to Mu Yingying’s heart, her lips pressing tightly together to endure the ache. She closed her eyes to steady her emotions.

    Because of those eyes...she was inadvertently overwhelmed.

    Mu Yingying took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, regaining her composure. She opened her eyes slowly, meeting the gaze in the darkness once more, and spoke calmly,

    "I want this person."

    Auntie Fang, who was busy introducing another slave, paused briefly, glancing at the cage Mu Yingying was interested in before approaching with a concerned look. "This one is quite different from the usual…you might be shocked."

    Mu Yingying raised an eyebrow slightly and moved closer to the cage. "Do you want to come with me?"

    “…”

    There was no response from the shadow in the cage, as if it hadn't heard her question. Auntie Fang, standing nearby, became anxious, her eyes turning stern as she prepared to scold, but Mu Yingying raised her hand to stop her.

    Mu Yingying whispered something to the coachman who had followed them, and after she finished speaking, he nodded and went to speak with Auntie Fang.

    "Auntie Fang, my young miss wishes to personally select the slaves quietly. Let's wait outside."

    Auntie Fang frowned slightly, knowing that letting a customer choose personally wasn't an issue, but considering this one was still so young, she worried about potential consequences.

    Mu Yingying, knowing Auntie Fang's thoughts, added, "There's no need to go outside. Just keep a distance and follow behind."

    "Oh! Then that can be arranged!" Auntie Fang agreed readily. As long as they were within her sight, safety could be assured.

    Then, Auntie Fang and the hired guard retreated to maintain a distance as requested by Mu Yingying. Although they couldn't hear the young miss's conversation with the slaves, they could still observe any actions.

    Once the two people had moved away, Mu Yingying turned back to the person before her. "Don't you want to seek revenge?"

    There was an immediate reaction from the shadow when the last word fell. The previously empty eyes lifted to meet hers quietly, as if waiting for what she would say next.

    Seeing this response, Mu Yingying felt even more certain about her intuition. This person...was just like her elder sister in her previous life.

    And if that was the case, this was exactly the person she needed.

    "Do you want to continue living in despair?"

    “……”

    "Can you let go of your hatred?"

    “……”

    "Are you satisfied with your life as it is?"

    “……”

    The figure in the shadow kept silent, but the empty eyes slowly filled with anger, then shifted to hopelessness and resignation.

    Mu Yingying quietly observed these changes, giving the person time to ponder and reflect without further interruption.

    Even though she truly sought such a person, for brutal experiences could forge strength, without the will to fight, one would merely be a pitiable being.

    And that, she did not desire!

    "…It must be my fate,"

    Came a hoarse, barely audible reply, filled with resignation, acceptance, despair, and hopelessness.

    "Hah! What fate?"

    The small figure chuckled in her throat before continuing, "Life is in our own hands. Should we let others dictate it?"

    "If you surrender just because of fate, then you should accept that you are worthless. Bow your head, endure, and despair over the fate you believe in!"

    Her clear yet powerful voice was like a heavy hammer smashing down on the shadowed figure's head, awakening him from his prolonged darkness. The empty eyes slightly widened, the words from outside the cage kept echoing in his mind.