Chapter 2: Turning Points

The third cousin seemed to be in a hurry.

After a simple greeting at home.

He just drank a bowl of herbal tea.

He took Cao Rui away from Shijia Village.

Cao Rui didn't take anything with him, because the third cousin said that there was everything in the city.

In this way, Cao Rui followed the third cousin on the mountain road to Lianhua County.

Cao Rui walked farther and farther along the mountain road.

Cao Rui couldn't help but look back at this small village that he had brought not long ago.

His father squatted at the door of the house smoking a dry pipe.

And his mother, who was supported by his eldest brother and was wiping tears.

There were also villagers who heard the news from afar and came over, talking about something sparsely.

......

Walked along the narrow mountain road for a long time.

Cao Rui turned around and looked behind him again.

In his eyes, the village had completely disappeared.

This time he was completely in the mountain road.

The villagers said that it would take more than two hours to walk on the mountain road to Lianhua County.

This time, the third cousin brought him along again and slowed down his pace. I'm afraid it will take longer.

"Shiwa, is this your first time going out? Aren't you afraid at all?"

The third cousin turned around and asked Cao Rui with a smile.

Cao Rui nodded: "Following the third cousin, there should be nothing to be afraid of."

"That's not necessarily true." The third cousin replied and started to hurry on his way again.

That's not necessarily true? Cao Rui's heart tightened inexplicably.

It's just that the third cousin quickened his pace, and Cao Rui had to hurry up to catch up without asking any more questions.

Three hours passed.

The mountain road became steeper and steeper.

Cao Rui's heart gradually rose with a haze.

The back of the third cousin in front of him was no longer reliable.

The long gown wet with sweat on his back was mottled with patterns, and it was like a demon who was choosing people to eat and laughing at Cao Rui crazily.

"Third cousin." Cao Rui stopped.

"Yeah." The third cousin stopped and turned around.

"It's been such a long journey to Lianhua County, we should have arrived early." Cao Rui said.

The third cousin smiled and said, "No, it's your first time going out, you don't know, just walk a little further and you'll be there."

"Third cousin, I'm not a fool."

"What do you want to do?"

"Are you going to sell me?" Cao Rui frowned and said.

Now he is just a child, powerless, and there is no way to resist what the third cousin wants to do to him.

Cao Rui had no choice but to ask this question.

"You are so smart, Shiwa, it's hard to imagine that you grew up in a mountain village."

"If the third cousin hadn't lost the bet, I would have personally taken you to the city."

"Sorry."

As soon as the voice fell, the third cousin took something out of his arms and threw it at Cao Rui.

Although Cao Rui was prepared, he was too small, and the stride he took was only half of that of an adult.

He closed his mouth and nose tightly, but something similar to a drug still choked him in. Cao Rui felt dizzy and fell asleep.

The first malice Cao Rui received from this world came from his third cousin who was related by blood.

This also made Cao Rui's vigilance against this ancient world directly rise to the highest level from nothing.

"The effect of this drug is really good."

The third cousin carried Cao Rui on his shoulders.

Then he began to walk quickly in the mountains.

At dusk, the third cousin went down a small stream in the mountains and a big river came into view.

There was a small pier beside the river, and there were several ships parked on the small pier.

The third cousin quickly found one of the black ships.

"The goods have arrived!"

Standing in front of the black ship, the third cousin shouted into the cabin.

The curtain at the entrance of the cabin opened wide.

A strong man with a beard, two scars on his face, a long knife hanging on his waist, and a fierce look on his face walked out.

Through the curtain that opened in a flash, the third cousin clearly saw a large group of gagged and tied children in the cabin.

The strong man stood at the bow and saw Cao Rui on the shoulder of the third cousin.

"Throw it up and let's see."

"Give me the money first." The third cousin said bravely.

The strong man frowned, and when the third cousin was about to surrender, he took out a silver ingot from his waist and threw it out.

The third cousin picked up the silver from the ground, bit it with his teeth, put Cao Rui down, and ran away.

He was afraid that he would be eaten alive if he ran too slowly.

The strong man spat, jumped off the boat, and picked up Cao Rui like a chicken.

After a brief inspection, he threw him into the cabin.

"He's a little older, but still up to standard. His facial features don't have any major flaws, and his hands and feet are intact. He should be able to fetch a good price!"

"Eight boys and two girls are here, it's time to go!"

The strong man grinned, untied the ropes, and rowed the boat himself, and then went far away along the river.

......

Cao Rui woke up again.

He found that his mouth was stuffed with thick cloth.

His hands and feet were tied.

It was dark all around.

The sound of the oars cutting through the water was particularly clear.

"Woo."

"Woo."

There were sobbing sounds in the cabin.

Cao Rui looked carefully in the moonlight that came through the gaps in the cabin curtains.

He found that the ones making the sounds were the children who were tied up as tightly as himself.

"My third cousin really sold me." Cao Rui smiled bitterly and recognized the current situation.

My cousin kidnapped his nephew.

A bizarre story like the Arabian Nights happened to me.

The sound of water outside disappeared, and a tall figure walked in holding a whip.

"Pa pa pa."

The whip mercilessly whipped the child who made the sound.

"Try to make a noise again, and I'll throw you into the river to feed the fish!"

The whipped child howled in pain, and immediately closed his mouth while enduring the pain.

The cabin returned to silence.

With cloth stuffed in his mouth and the cabin stuffy, it was difficult to breathe.

Cao Rui was thinking about how to get out of trouble, but he couldn't help but feel tired because of lack of oxygen and slowly fell asleep.

Woke up again.

Cao Rui was awakened by a burst of warm liquid splashed on his face.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that the cabin curtain was opened, the sky outside was just getting bright, and two figures holding swords stood there.

And on his chest, the head of a bearded strong man was looking at him with wide eyes.

How did this human trafficker die?

What happened again?

Cao Rui realized that his situation had changed again.

A figure holding a sword stepped forward, picked up the head, and threw it into the river with a plop.

"Are you not scared?" This was a female voice that tried to make herself appear gentle, but was still extremely rough.

Cao Rui shook his head gently.

"What a calm child."

The woman turned her head: "Ye Sheng, these children should be the children kidnapped and sold by Liu Dadao. Isn't the gang about to hold a new election meeting? How about taking them back and giving them a chance?"

The sword-wielding man outside the cabin shook his head: "You decide for yourself, and you can explain it to the higher-ups when the time comes."

The woman used a long sword to pick up the ropes of the children one by one.

Then she said softly: "We are from the Luoshui Gang in Luocheng, don't worry. You are safe now."