Chapter 90: Reunion with the Mute Girl, Thirty Thousand Taels of Silver

Chapter 90: Reunion with the Mute Girl, Thirty Thousand Taels of Silver

"Talk! What’s the meaning of these children?"

A voice like a demon’s snarl erupted from Tian Yi’s throat. His icy gaze pierced the Medicine Gang members, freezing the air to subzero temperatures and sending chills down everyone’s spines.

Ten large wooden crates stood open, revealing their gruesome contents—child-sized corpses packed tightly inside. Gaunt and skeletal, their protruding bones jutted like twigs. No exceptions.

One crate held at least seven or eight bodies. Dozens of crates meant seventy or eighty children—slaughtered innocents.

Tian Yi’s fury was palpable. His glare promised death, his rage so raw even the battle-hardened Bailiffs flinched. The scene was enough to make anyone’s blood run cold.

"Beat them until they beg to confess!"

When no one spoke, Tian Yi lunged, kicking a Medicine Gang member and barking orders. The Bailiffs’ pent-up fury erupted like a volcano. Fists and boots flew, merciless and unrestrained.

The courtyard erupted with guttural screams, relentless and ear-splitting.

"We’ll talk! We’ll talk!"

One man finally cracked, his voice cracking under the onslaught. "Please—stop!"

As the Medicine Gang member spilled the truth, a harrowing tale unfolded:

Tongshantang Charity Hall, backed by the Medicine Gang, masqueraded as an orphanage. Its true purpose? Profit. Children with martial potential were sent to the Pure Land Sect, while others became commodities.

Desperate families, lured by rewards, surrendered abandoned infants to Tongshantang. But those bribes opened Pandora’s box—criminals began kidnapping children to sell, while starving parents handed over offspring for survival.

Tongshantang accepted all, leveraging its "charity" to usurp the City Authorities’ role in aiding the poor. Yet behind its doors lurked hell itself.

Though they claimed to care for children, Tongshantang operated under one unspoken rule: "Life and Death Not Guaranteed."

When natural disasters and wars erupted, Tongshantang grew bolder, shielded by the Medicine Gang. They formalized their cruelty: "We’ll raise your children, but their lives are not our responsibility. No complaints allowed."

Resistance was futile. Refugees fleeing war had no power, no leverage—only their meager possessions. Families were forced to surrender everything to Tongshantang, their children’s fates sealed.

Recent chaos in Huangshi Citadel flooded Medicine Town with refugees, boosting Tongshantang’s "business." These children—most taken during that turmoil—were starved for three days to weed out the weak. Survivors were neglected, left to live or die on luck alone.

With a survival rate below ten percent, corpses piled high. The dead were tossed into crates and buried in mass graves—though the crates, more valuable than flesh, were reused.

Tian Yi’s fury boiled over. "Beat them until they’re smoking! Let’s see if they survive Life and Death Not Guaranteed!"

The Bailiffs obeyed. Even Li Mo joined the onslaught until nothing remained but broken bodies.

"Boss! We found a dungeon beneath Tongshantang! Children inside!"

A subordinate’s report sent a chill through the group. Tian Yi’s face darkened. "Show me."

The dungeon reeked of decay. Cells lined the corridors, each crammed with children lying motionless as corpses. They didn’t flinch at the newcomers—except one.

Su Chen paused. A pair of eyes met his—a familiar face huddled in the shadows. The Mute Girl.

She shrank against the wall, trembling like a bird startled by a bowstring. The only child to react.

"Get them all out", Su Chen said quietly.

The Bailiffs worked silently. Most children were near death; some already cold.

"Come with me", Su Chen murmured to the Mute Girl.

She stared, her clouded eyes flickering with recognition. He extended his hand. She hesitated, then rose unsteadily, hugging herself but not taking his hand.

He didn’t mind. Guiding her gently, he led her out.

In the Grand Hall, Liu Fang offered a steaming bowl of porridge. The Mute Girl devoured it hungrily.

Tian Yi approached, voice low. "Su Xiaoxiong, we found Tongshantang’s treasury—thirty thousand taels of silver. And… a strange man inside."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end