The old man grabbed Gouzi, who was trying to rush out, and said to him sternly, "You hide. I'll go out and see."
With that, he pushed the door open and stepped out.
"Your Highness, here..."
The stench filling the air made Bai Zhi feel a bit nauseated. They had followed the Princess all the way into this street, and all they saw were impoverished families. This place was a world apart from the Yunlan Street they had just left, making it hard to believe these two areas were separated by only a dozen streets.
Nan Shiying looked at the little girl in front of her, who was putting on a brave front. Her gaze swept around the area, filled with children everywhere.
As she was thinking, the door to the inner room opened, and a very old man emerged.
"Young sirs, whom are you looking for?" The old man shuffled over to the little girl. Even though the three of them seemed like intruders, the old man's face remained adorned with a kind smile.
The old man's clothes were simple, and his garments were not just dirty but seemed to be the original color. In truth, they looked no different from those of the beggars by the roadside.
However, Nan Shiying treated him with considerable politeness, "Old sir, we are looking for a boy, about twelve or thirteen years old. He found our money pouch."
In front of the children, Nan Shiying rephrased her words.
Were they the victims of theft?
Hadn't he told them that one must choose their target carefully? How could he steal from someone capable? The man's tracking scent technique was used with unparalleled skill.
He pondered for a moment, then said to Nan Shiying, "I see. Please wait a moment."
Nan Shiying nodded at the old man. She seemed to understand why the little rascal had stolen the money.
"Old man, have you sent them away?"
The old man pushed the door open, and Gouzi, who had been hiding behind the door, inquired impatiently.
The old man glared at him, then extended his hand, "Give me the money pouch."
Gouzi's eyes widened, and he exclaimed incredulously, "No way, old man! This is what I worked so hard to steal, and you want to give it back to them? They're just a bunch of greenhorn suckers. What are you afraid of? Just send them away, you..."
"Greenhorn suckers?"
The old man couldn't help but laugh in anger. He grabbed Gouzi's clothes and pulled the mark in front of his eyes, "Can you smell it? They're using tracking incense, and you still dare to call them greenhorns?"
Gouzi was shocked, "What the heck, poison?"
Did that pretty boy smear poison on the rock?
As expected, the fairer the face, the more venomous the heart.
"Old man, have I been poisoned?" Gouzi's face instantly turned pale.
The old man disdainfully let go and sneered, "This kind of poison is only for tracking. Unless you're unlucky enough to encounter certain medicines or incense that trigger the toxins, you'll be perfectly fine."
Hearing the old man's words, Gouzi was finally relieved and exhaled deeply.
Just as he was about to speak, everything in front of him suddenly blurred. Gouzi blinked, somewhat dazed, "Old man, why am I seeing double..."
Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground with a "thump."
The old man reacted instantly. He grabbed Gouzi by the leg and dragged him out of the house.
Damn!
Bad luck!
There were triggering agents inside the house.
As he dragged Gouzi, he shouted to the children in the yard, "Ya Dan, quickly open all the doors and windows in the inner room. The rest of you, go out and play with the neighborhood aunties. Come back when it's time to eat."
The children responded and rushed out in a swarm. Ya Dan obediently walked towards the inner room.
The old man dragged Gouzi all the way to the courtyard and then searched Gouzi, finding the money pouch. He took a glance and exclaimed, it was actually a purse.
He threw the purse to Nan Shiying and said, "Young sir, here is your money pouch. Could you perhaps do me a favor and tell me the formula for your tracking powder?"
Nan Shiying took the purse and then handed it to Lu Wan. Upon hearing the old man's request, she frowned, "I'm sorry, but I cannot help you with that."
The old man didn't insist. He nodded, "It was my mistake..." Then, his voice paused, and he continued, "Then, could you perhaps cure Gouzi's poisoning?"
Nan Shiying looked at the old man and said faintly, "This poison is not fatal. It will only cause them to sleep for a few days."
This meant she would not provide an antidote.
After a few seconds of silence, the old man sighed leisurely, "Gouzi is strong and will be fine, but the children in the house are not in good health and might not be able to withstand this ordeal."
The old man turned and looked towards the house. Nan Shiying followed his gaze inside. Ya Dan had already opened all the windows and doors that could be opened. The room was almost bare, and one could see the children lying on straw beds, with their disabilities.
"Ah~"
Bai Zhi and Lu Wan let out a cry of alarm.
The next moment, they quickly covered their mouths, afraid that the children in the house might hear.
Nan Shiying withdrew her gaze, her eyes slightly narrowed. She didn't say a word, and silently stepped towards the house.
The old man followed Nan Shiying. Gouzi was simply left in the courtyard.
It was Ya Dan who dragged him to a shaded spot.
Before even entering the house, the fishy stench emanating from within made Bai Zhi and Lu Wan's faces change drastically. However, Nan Shiying, with a composed expression, walked in.
The old man watched her intently, his expression shifting as he seemed to be thinking about something.
"These children?"
She squatted on the ground, looking at the sleeping children. The face of wet nurse Wang flashed in her mind, along with scenes she thought she had long forgotten but had never truly forgotten.
The old man sighed and asked instead, "Do you know about the East City Black Market?"
Nan Shiying shook her head. The old man organized his thoughts and then said, "The East City Black Market is the darkest and most terrifying place in the capital. It's a melting pot of all sorts of people, a paradise for all evildoers... These children were abducted from various places by an organization called 'Dark.' Among them, the clever and beautiful ones are selected and sent to brothels, gambling dens, or the mansions of wealthy families. As for the rest, their limbs are broken, they are made into cripples, and then thrown out to beg."
"They usually dump these children around the mansions of wealthy families. Out of sympathy or a desire to show who is kinder, the wives and daughters of these wealthy families will always reward them with more silver."
"In a day, a single child can earn about ten taels of silver."
"A while ago, no one knows who in the black market offended the Demon Hunting Army. The captain of the Demon Hunting Army led a team and turned the black market upside down. It's hard to say whether the 'Dark' organization was unlucky or deserved it, but they were almost wiped out. These children and the children outside are all escapees from the 'Dark' organization."
"Demon Hunting Army?"
Does Lin Yuan Country have such an army?
Lu Wan leaned closer to Nan Shiying and whispered, "Your Highness, the Demon Hunting Army is an army created by the Prince himself."
Nan Shiying: "..."
Why is he everywhere!