C8 Bullying Men and Women

"Everyone's aware that you're under the thumb of your wife, Lu Donggua," the corpulent merchant taunted the diminutive middle-aged man with a sneer. "Imagine her fury if she discovers you've bought a maid. She'd likely break your legs." Turning his attention to the girl, he ordered, "Hey, lift your head. I want to see if you're worth the purchase."

With a slight shiver, the girl slowly lifted her head, parting her long hair to reveal her visage.

A visage of pure, pale beauty was unveiled to the men. Her allure was natural, unenhanced by makeup, with brows arched like willow leaves and eyes that held a depth of unvoiced grievances, eliciting sympathy. Her nose was sculpted, her lips plump and tempting.

Unexpectedly, she was a beauty. A trace of youthful innocence lingered on her face, mingling with her charm. Her figure was exquisite, suggesting the grace of a woman who would surely turn heads in just a couple of years.

The surrounding men swallowed hard, their eyes gleaming with avarice.

"I'll start with ten gold coins," the round merchant hastily offered. Ten gold coins was enough to support an average person for a year, and a typical servant might only command half that price. Given the vast population of the Profound Spirit Continent, and with Meteor City's population in the hundreds of millions, the sheer number of people across the land was immense.

"I bid twenty gold coins," the slender man interjected, determined. He was prepared to brave his wife's anger for the chance to claim such beauty.

"Hmph, make it thirty gold coins," the first merchant retorted, raising the stakes.

"Fifty gold coins," joined another affluent voice, eager to compete.

"Fifty-five gold coins!"

"Sixty gold coins!"

The bidding war escalated, astonishing the commoners who had never seen a servant command such a price. They would be overwhelmed with joy to be showered with such fortune.

The girl remained kneeling, her hair falling forward to shield her face once more. She was still, seemingly detached from the escalating bids of the wealthy merchants.

At last, the portly businessman trembled and shouted, "Two hundred gold coins is my final offer! If anyone dares to outbid me, I'll bow out."

A wave of awe swept through the onlookers. Two hundred gold coins could secure a small army of servants, or a collection of exquisite beauties.

The merchants around fell silent, not because they lacked the funds, but because they realized that shelling out 200 gold coins for a maid was far from a wise investment.

"Heh... No more bids? Then she belongs to me," the corpulent merchant gloated, leering at the girl who knelt before him.

Suddenly, the crowd became restless, parting to create a path.

A bold servant pushed through, pointing at the girl and proclaimed, "Our Young Master has taken a fancy to this lady. She's not up for grabs by anyone else."

"Impossible. I've already bid 200 gold coins. Is your Young Master prepared to top that?" the rotund merchant challenged, his reluctance evident.

The servant sneered, "Do you even know who my Young Master is?"

"No matter who your Young Master is, if he wants to compete for this woman, he'll have to beat my offer," the merchant countered, confident in his standing within Meteor City. He was unafraid of anyone but the most powerful families.

"Is that so? It seems the Lee family's clout isn't what it used to be in Meteor City," a voice rang out as the crowd parted again. A young man in his twenties walked in, his muscular servants in tow.

The young man had a forgettable face and a slight build, with a pallid complexion and unsteady gait that betrayed a life of excess in wine and women. He was Lee Guangyin, a direct heir of the Lee family, one of the three major dynasties in Meteor City. Known as a notorious bully, he abused his family's influence to oppress others. Together with Ling Rui and Luo Biao, he was one of the infamous "three evil young masters" of Meteor City.

The hefty merchant turned to see who had spoken and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. With a deep bow, he addressed Lee Guangyin respectfully, "My apologies, Young Master Lee. I would never contend with you over a woman. I will withdraw at once."

As he bowed, the merchant started to retreat with careful steps.

"Hmph, you think you can just leave? Without a lesson, you'll never learn to respect the Lee family. Break one of his legs!" Lee Guangyin ordered coldly, a sneer on his lips.

Upon hearing the command, the portly merchant immediately dropped to his knees, his voice trembling with fear, "Young Master Lee, please, I implore you to have mercy on me!"

His sweat-drenched pleas fell on deaf ears as Lee Guangyin's attention remained fixated on the kneeling girl before him.

The servants, well aware of their young master's ruthless streak, wasted no time in carrying out the punishment. The merchant's cries of agony echoed as they mercilessly beat him.

With a sickening crack, one of the servants broke the merchant's leg. The pain was too much, and he fainted on the spot.

Bystanders had already scattered, keeping their distance to avoid any trouble.

"Get him out of my sight," Lee Guangyin commanded, his voice laced with disdain. The servants quickly lifted the merchant and carried him away.

"Now, little sister, look up at me," Lee Guangyin demanded, barely concealing his urgency.

The girl hesitantly lifted her head, her hair parting to unveil a face of stunning beauty.

"Wow! You're absolutely gorgeous!" Lee Guangyin's eyes lit up with lust as he rubbed his hands together, almost drooling.

"If you would kindly pay for my mother's funeral, I am ready to serve you," the girl pleaded from the ground, her voice a pitiful blend of crying and begging.

"Bad luck follows the dead; there's no need for a funeral. Just come with me. If you serve me well, I'll shower you with new clothes, jewelry, and trinkets," Lee Guangyin offered, reaching for the girl.

But the girl stood her ground, her loyalty unwavering. She sidestepped his hand and firmly stated, "Young Master, unless you're willing to pay for my mother's burial, I will not go with you."

Lee Guangyin's patience wore thin. "Do you not see how irritated I am? If you come with me willingly, I might even make you my personal maid. But if you defy me again, expect no mercy," he warned, his hands on his hips and a note of annoyance in his voice.