It’s late at night. Duan Wu was woken up by the noise outside.
The cabin was crowded and stuffy due to an overwhelming stench. There are a lot of male and female slaves here, and they all share the same toilet every day. To prevent someone from committing suicide or escaping, there are only a few open windows. Most of the time, slaves are given pig and dog food. No different from a prisoner, we’re not allowed to see the sun or the moonlight.
Duan Wu sat up and moved her sore arms and feet caused by an uncomfortable sleeping position. Twenty days had passed since she was put on this ship. The ship slaves were like a revolving door: every time the ship docked, a new set of slaves embarked.
The old lady with the disabled eyes is the chef, who had been bought a long time ago. Duan Wu didn’t talk to other slaves, and the other slaves didn’t have the energy to talk to her either. She always puts her head down, pretending to be sad, and depressed because of this unfortunate luck. No one noticed her, which gave her room to recharge herself and think about countermeasures.
Duan Wu carefully paid attention to the noises, and thought to herself ‘will the windows be opened after docking?’ Then she quickly and quietly crawled through the crowd and lay down under the window to wait.
Sure enough, someone immediately removed the boards sealed on the window. Duan Wu took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide. Even though her knowledge of this ship is as small as a mouse, but she quickly figured out some of the rules for servants on this ship.
She looked at the fishing boats on the shore and the lights shining from the restaurants through the windows. Suddenly, a drunk man on the pier shouted: “Master, since we’re arriving at Citong Port…”
Is this Citong Port? Duan Wu excitedly smiled, held on to the window and murmured: “I’m here! I’m coming.”
Citong, also known as Quanzhou was very famous during this era, and was ranked first in the world for the silks, along with Egyptian Alexandria. When Duan Wu was in Lianzhou, she heard the 8th Lady talk about this city many times. It’s a place for overseas travellers to gather, the houses are clean, the people here are calm, and there are many treasure shops. The merchants here are willing to hire women to come and examine the jade and pearls of this place…You can say this is Duan Wu’s dream to be here.
The sounds of a baby crying interrupted Duan Wu’s thoughts. The mother of the baby is a young woman, who is trying to feed her baby, but the child is refusing and spitting it out. This young woman is thin-skinned and easily embarrassed when she smiles in public.
Duan Wu made a sound, grabbing the young woman’s attention: “Come here, you can take my place.”
The young woman thanked Duan Wu. At the same time, the baby has started to drink the milk.
Duan Wu’s eyes are like two small grapes, she curiously touches the baby’s nose.
“This baby is so small.” She quickly pulled her hands back.
“Only 5 months. If my husband hadn’t died from tuberculosis, and my uncle lost all his money to gambling, this child wouldn’t have suffered like this with me.” The young woman said bitterly.
Duan Wu watches the young woman caressing the baby’s head. If she could be with her mom, being a slave wouldn’t be a big deal, but where is her mom? She doesn’t have any family.
The young woman said: “I’m just afraid that the person buying me wouldn’t want the child. I would rather die than leave my baby.”
Duan Wu wanted to say something but was interrupted by a man at the door. He’s quite famous on this ship. She heard someone call his name before, it was ‘A Chang’.
A Chang glanced at everyone: “All the women here, come out and eat some porridge. Then, wash your face and mouth after eating.”
The young woman was puzzled: “All women?”
Duan Wu’s heart skipped a beat, she knew tomorrow would be the day she had to ‘meet’ the clients. Women can be sold at the highest price when arriving at big ports like this. The woman kitchen slave knows a lot of things, as she has been passed around many times. Before leaving, she has already told Duan Wu everything she needs to know about human trafficking.
When buying a slave, all the merchants will focus on their teeth. As for young girls, their skin is more important than their faces. Things like skills and personality are just add-ons.
Duan Wu hid herself in the group of women to exit the ship, while A Chang was occupied with ordering people to chain each woman down. Each person was given a bowl of rice porridge and a handkerchief. Duan Wu carefully observed her surroundings, and then quickly ate half her food. At this time, a young woman slave suddenly stood up, Duan Wu used the opportunity, to pretend as if something caught onto her sleeve, wobbling back and forth, spilling the bowl of rice porridge on her hands and thighs.
A Chang shouted: “Stupid! Go wash up!”
Duan Wu slowly walks toward the side of the ship. A Chang was behind her, watching her carefully.
She wetted the corner of the handkerchief, then slowly wiped her face. Then using the dry part of it, pretending to dry her hands and legs.
A Chang was getting impatient: “Hey, you…”
Duan Wu quickly looked at him with wide-opened puppy eyes. A Chang didn’t understand why he swallowed the remainder of his words.
When all the women slaves returned to the cabin, A Chang asked: “Is that the girl that Master saved from the Broken Hope Pond?”
Someone replied: “Who else could it be? Those big bright eyes, why is the Master selling her off so early?”
A Chang was stunned: “Master is a businessman, therefore he has his plans.”
***
Duan Wu fell deep asleep in the corner of the room. Her hands started to unbutton her shirt, pulling up her sleeves, showing the undergarment, and the white pale arms still had a little bit of the rice porridge.
Suddenly, she felt a sudden rush of itchiness, she thought to herself: These bugs are probably hungry, come and eat…
She endured it for a while, then finally started to scratch harshly, then fell back asleep.
***
At dawn, A Chang arrived at the cabin to take a few people. Duan Wu was busy lining up the grass bugs on the side.
Grass bugs are like tiny centipedes, there are many layers on them and can be found in places that have high humidity.
Duan Wu had already discovered that there were many on the ship. After catching a few, she wrapped them in her handkerchief. A smile slowly appeared on her face. Upon landing, Duan Wu and the others walked towards a tent. Sure enough, buyers were awaiting them.
There are two types of services, the first one is bidding, and the second one is bargaining, after examining the goods.
The female slaves are typically shy, and will only talk if asked. Duan Wu did not care about etiquette, smiling at the buyer with uneven teeth.
In this world, not every flaw is beautiful.
The buyers hesitated when they saw her, but due to her youthful appearance and big eyes, they pushed the thoughts aside and asked for the price anyway.
Following the rules, the slaves’ skin and teeth must be examined before they can come here. The young woman carrying the child has smooth and soft skin. She was bought by a ‘good’ man who even allowed her to bring her child along with her. Duan Wu bid farewell to her, not caring about the buyers checking her out thoroughly.
Duan Wu knows: Perverts cannot be satisfied by a girl’s poor skin, despite her beautiful face. She was bitten by insects and scratched herself last night, there are many rashes visible on her smooth-silk skin. All the buyers continuously shook their heads, and some even got angry: “Your girl got skin disease, yet you want me to take her as a concubine?”
During the argument, Duan Wu secretly laughed, but she wore a disappointed expression as if she wasn’t good enough to sell.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man stepped forward, stroking his beard and said: “It’s not a disease, just bitten by insects.”
It seems like this man is very interested in her, and to her surprise, he’s a doctor.
She squatted down while watching the bargains, she took out her handkerchief and started playing with the insects.
A moment later, the middle-aged man walked up to her: “Let me ask you…Why did you catch them?”
Duan Wu blinked, in a low voice, she said: “They are my friends. I have always disliked flowers and plants, but I like them. Master, do you have centipedes at home? Are there tea tussock moths by your bed?” The man’s face suddenly changed while listening to her and ran as fast as a rabbit.
Duan Wu slowly let the insects free, then turned to the ship seller: “All I said was the price shouldn’t be too low, yet he’s already angry!
***
In the end, only Duan Wu and an old lady with sickness returned to the ship.
She wiped her sweat and scratched her itchy arm.
A Chang suddenly opened the door. Initially, Duan Wu thought he was here to punish her, but he stood there, looked her up and down, using a not very harsh tone and said: “We have a special guest on the ship, but a little understaffed. How about you clean the cabin?”
After each slave trade, the ship would remain still for a couple of days and Duan Wu was determined to escape during this time. She couldn’t run during the daytime, so she had no choice but to run at night, if not tomorrow, then the next day, but she couldn’t delay it anymore… As she had already observed the shoreline, taking on this job would be an excellent way for her to get to know the ship. In a flash, she got up, grabbed a rag and basin of water and began wiping the room.
As of right now, many servants may have gone ashore to have fun. The male slaves were seasick and hungry, therefore there was no one around.
After A Chang brought tea to the upper floor, Duan Wu went from one room to another. The kitchen is full of knives. Duan Wu hesitated for a moment but decided not to touch them. She picked up a piece of firewood under the stove, sharpened it and hid it in her sleeve. After cleaning the knife and putting all of the dust in the fire, she picked up two leftover steamed buns and hid them in her clothes. When footsteps were heard, she hurried out of the kitchen and quickly cleaned the door handle.
Someone was standing on the deck above. A voice sounding quite old said: “…There are many problems in Hotan City, the two biggest bandits in Kunlun Mountain are becoming more violent. Just this year alone, several local businessmen have lost their lives for the jade. You need to think twice before you act.”
Another voice was heard, but this time a bit younger: “I’ve thought about it already. I have to go.” A beautiful, clear voice, resonates like the sound of spring rain on the mountain.
“You think I don’t know? You’re not going for the jades, but because of that…It’s been three years, you still can’t let it go…”
The young man replied: “I can’t forget it. I have to go.”
“My brother and sister-in-law only have you as a son. When they brought you home that time, they gave you all their love. You are still young…It would be a pity to lose a Yan Zi Jing from this world.”
Duan Wu was surprised. Is this the most hated person, Yan Zi Jing? Hmph! What a waste of such a beautiful voice.
Yan Zi Jing said: “Uncle, you don’t need to worry. Zhuangzi once said longevity brings many humiliations. If I can settle my old debts, it would be a heavenly good thing for me to rest at this age.”
Duan Wu thought to herself: Good people can’t live forever. This kind of man will live a long time to continue hurting people.
“Zi Jing…Ah…Zi Jing..” The old man let out a long sigh. His voice faded into inaudibility…
The deck moves slightly, and the stairs creak. Duan Wu crawled to the side, lowering her eyes, waiting for those two to get off the ship.
A glimpse of the robe, marked with the word ‘bless’, swayed in front of her, and then walked away with heavy steps.
After that, a white robe appeared before her, but also quickly walked away.
Duan Wu looked up, unexpectedly, the back of this human trafficker was as elegant and gentle as the bright moon in the frosty weather.
Although the summer in Quanzhou is not as hot as in Lianzhou, it can still burn the skin of ordinary people. Hence why men will dress casually and lightly.
Yan Zi Jing’s figure is just how she remembered, strict and meticulous. Duan Wu finds this man a little funny. He heartlessly labelled her as an item for sale, after saving her…Even though the situation is laughable, Duan Wu couldn’t laugh at all.
She finished mopping the first floor and went upstairs to continue mopping. This ship is now very highly guarded as many servants have returned, therefore running away at this moment is not an option. Duan Wu didn’t want to think too much, so she quickly entered the cabin.
It felt like a whole new world inside this cabin, a real barrier between slaves and owners. This cabin was spotless and filled with the fresh scent of lilies.
Room decorated with ivory rugs, crystal paperweights, jaded abacuses, and thin porcelain cups. Account books and pens were on the bed. A beautiful pot of red orchids was placed at the bedside.
Duan Wu wandered behind the curtain, there was a large table enshrining a life-size statue of the sea goddess Tianfei. In front of the statue is a large pile of peaches, one of which was stained with ash and rotten. Since she hadn’t eaten fruit for days, she grabbed one, wiped away the ash with her hand, ignored the rotten part, and bit into it.
After throwing away the peach’s core behind the statue, then carefully re-organized the peaches on the plate. Looking left and right, making sure everything is good before moving on.
As she was about to leave, the red spots on her arms and legs started to itch. She carefully observed her surroundings, and suddenly felt more courageous.
Does Yan Zi Jing have some kind of antidotes or medicines to apply to these itches?
She searched quietly like a cat but found nothing. She suddenly thought Yan Zi Jing was always covered in clothes, why would he need something like that? After that realization, she was ready to leave.
A Chang’s voice was heard: “Master, he has arrived.”
Her heart pounded and she quickly ran behind the curtain. Peering through it, she could see a man in a white robe slowly entering the room, then sitting down at the edge of the bed.
Someone else arrived: “That kid is back.”
Yan Zi Jing quickly asked: “Were you able to see him?”
“No, Lord Yuchi wasn’t in Hotan City, but that kid left your letter. Aside from that, I heard some important news…”
The man walked closer to Yan Zi Jing and whispered something, however, the last two sentences were said louder: “That kid bought five girls that fit the requirements. These girls have been examined, they are all virgins.”
Yan Zi Jing fell silent.
Duan Wu thought: What are they planning? Whatever it is, I have to get out of here.
After completing his report, the messenger left without delay. Yan Zi Jing sat in silence for a while. Finally, he reached out his hand, as if he wanted to stroke the orchid. His silhouette stood out under the dazzling moonlight, he must have been greatly blessed by god, but to Duan Wu, his silhouette is no different from a ghost.
Yan Zi Jing’s movements suddenly stopped, as if he was trying to listen to something. Duan Wu didn’t dare to breathe, her face was immediately covered with sweat.
She heard it too, it was just a bird flying.
Thankfully, A Chang appeared in time: “Master, the bath is ready.”
Of course, Yan Zi Jing wouldn’t be bathing here, so he quickly left the room.
“Master, when will the ship sail this time?”
Yan Zi Jing’s voice was very clear: “I want to be alone tomorrow. Maybe, the day after.”
Duan Wu stayed for a bit, then quickly ran out of this dangerous place.
***
Those five virgin ladies don’t get locked up in the same cabin as Duan Wu.
Duan Wu just wants to run away, therefore she could care less about these trivial matters. She thought of many scenarios that could happen on this ship, carefully crafting an escape plan, as she only had tomorrow and the following day before they started moving again. No matter how small this opportunity is…Anything is better than death since she has sought death before.
The female slaves are required to clean the cabin’s toilet, and since she has ulterior motives, she volunteers to clean them.
***
At dusk, Duan Wu struggled to carry the poop bucket to the back of the ship. As she was walking, she heard Yan Zi Jing shouting, then rushed ashore.
The two guards are busy debating whether the prostitutes in Quanzhou or Guangzhou are better.
Suddenly, a ‘thud’ was heard, and both of them froze.
One guard said: “What’s wrong with that girl? Did she fall?”
The other guard quickly responded: “Just let her be.”
The stench around the dumping area was terrible. It’s hard to hold your breath down there, therefore if the girl is alive, she will come out of the water.
Both continued to yell until the poop bucket floated up to the surface, but the girl had not yet been found.
***
Night has just fallen, and lights are lit around the port.
Everyone on the ship was freaking out, some people thought Duan Wu had committed suicide, while others thought she has some kind of magical powers.
The fact is, that Duan Wu was hiding behind Yan Zi Jing’s Buddhist altar in his room at this time.
Duan Wu sat in front of the statue, sitting in the same posture as the statue. If you peek through the curtain, they will think she is the sea goddess Tianfei statue.
Duan Wu deliberately made people think she fell with the bucket, when in fact, she only threw down the bucket, creating a distraction, while hiding in the dark corner of the ship.
While those two guards were panicking, she quickly ran away.
Yan Zi Jing’s room is the only place on this ship that no outsider is allowed to enter. Plus, with her disguise, if you just glance over, you wouldn’t be able to tell it’s Duan Wu on the statue table.
She’s quite scared, but also quite proud of herself. Her whole body is heating up, making it difficult for her to even swallow her saliva. She keeps comforting herself, if you risk yourself, then you will live. What else can you do? After a moment of chaos, many people finally calmed down and probably went ashore to find her.
Duan Wu got anxious and got off the table, ready to follow the established plan and jump into the water as soon as possible.
As she lifted the curtain, the lights suddenly lit up. At this time, the ship has left the coast of Quanzhou.
A man sitting on the edge of the bed. Don’t know if he’s meditating or praying.
Duan Wu yelled “Ah!” When she came into the room earlier, she didn’t notice him. He’s not a person, is he a ghost? No, the white plain clothes held up well on his body. Is this Yan Zi Jing?!
This is her first time seeing his face. Even though she cannot confirm his identity, just seeing his face sends cold chills down her spine.
A man in his early twenties, with clear facial outlines. Although his success has taken away some of his youthful appearance, his skin is fair, with a high nose bridge and dark eyebrows. He is not only good-looking but there is some kind of unknown aura within him. However, his unexpected presence in this room, with his eyes closed, adds to the eerie atmosphere.
“You’re a slave, why don’t you give up?” He asked.
A Chang led everyone to the second floor of the ship.
Knowing that she can’t hide anymore, Duan Wu snorted with laughter, “I’m a slave? Whose slave? Where did you buy me? Do you have a deed of sale for me?”
Yan Zi Jing’s eyes remained closed: “Should I return your life to Lianzhou’s Pearl Division?”
Duan Wu froze, it seems like Yan Zi Jing already knew her origin long ago.
She slowly took a few steps back, chose the largest and most decent peach from the table and started eating it.
After eating, she said: “I am not your slave. Now that I have left Lianzhou, I have the right to choose my path.”
Yan Zi Jing was silent for a long time, his thin lips twitched, “Want to be free? Fine, leave my ship right now!”
Duan Wu thought to herself, isn’t it nonsense to say this now? The ship has already sailed.
Yan Zi Jing is like a blind man, he starts touching the pen and knocking on the table.
At this time, A Chang’s voice was heard: “Master, there are sharks in the sea. Do you want to push her off? Isn’t that a loss for us?”
Duan Wu couldn’t help but say, “You knew I was going to run. You were teasing me?! You’re not blind, why put on the act?”
Yan Zi Jing ignored her.
Two big men arrived and carried Duan Wu to the railing. A Chang winked at them, and they started to stall time.
Yan Zi Jing loudly asked, “Still not done?”
Duan Wu said bravely: “Put me down, you don’t need to push me. I’ll jump by myself!” She took a deep breath, then jumped into the sea.
At first, she felt very refreshed, but then realized they were too far away from land. Not only was there no land, there were no other ships. Yan Zi Jing’s slave ship is heading North.
Duan Wu has known how to swim since she was a child, but she has no understanding of the directions of Quanzhou’s sea. Although the water is warmer than Yan Zi Jing, she can still feel the cold. She estimated that she would only be able to withstand an hour in the water. Even if there are no sharks, she won’t be able to swim for long.
She continues to kick her feet. Suddenly, remembered something she used to say to La La: a good man will not suffer the loss of the present, and a good woman will not go back to the old person.
There’s an old saying as well: A mouth full of food is good, but a mouth full of words, can’t talk.
This time, she decided to choose not to suffer in the present. She decided to chase after the slave ship with all her strength.
When she caught up, many people were waiting at the edge of the ship. She placed both hands on the body of the ship while trying to catch her breath.
Those people witnessing did not dare to save her. After a while, A Chang finally said: “Bring her up.”
Duan Wu was pulled up from the sea, her body was soaked in water. One of the servants was very aggressive, dragging her by the hair and throwing her under Yan Zi Jing’s feet.
She resents these people and Yan Zi Jing. She wanted to cry, but since her face was covered in water drops, no tears could be seen.
Yan Zi Jing’s eyes slowly opened but not fully, he raised his chin: “I will bring you to Hotan City. Before you’re sold off, I am your master.”
Duan Wu bit the tip of her tongue, and spat the blood on the ground: “Fine!”
Yan Zi Jing’s eyes suddenly lit up.
When his eyes were closed, his beauty was indescribable. Right now, his face has this extraordinary and admirable charm.
No matter who he is, no matter how many years have passed. Duan Wu will always remember those eyes.
‘It was a sunny day, there was a lot of bamboo growing, and deep in an alley was a cold water stream.
It was a quiet autumn night, with red leaves piling around the mountains. A bright light lit in an ancient temple. The light was as bright as a crystal, shining on her — a helpless, fearful slave girl with a desire to survive. Duan Wu’s heart was aching, while her throat was bleeding.
Yan Zi Jing is nothing more than an illusion. Like the poisonous flowers in the southern wilderness, although cold and far away from the world, eventually that poison will turn black.’
She thought about the agreement she had made with Yan Zi Jing. It’s not like the situation can’t be changed.
There are two possibilities: The first is that she died before reaching Hotan City, and the second is that Yan Zi Jing died before selling her.
Duan Wu’s eyes brightened, as she thought of them: The beauty of life lies in its unpredictability. Who can tell what will happen in the future?
Syublush 