Chapter 468

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Chapter 468: Why Don’t Adults Have Picky Eaters?

The little snake girl began recounting her own abduction.

Human trafficking was not uncommon in Liu State. It would have been impossible for her to travel alone from the imperial court to Xiangliu country. The journey spanned far distances, making it necessary for someone to handle the transportation, similar to how logistics and delivery are screened.

The human slave trade network had spread throughout the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, particularly within the chaotic Liu State. Many people in this region were struggling to survive, unable to even eat enough or keep warm. Every winter, some starved or froze to death. If they didn’t want to perish from the cold, they had to move south from the northern regions. Often, whole families traveled together, but many either died on the way due to a lack of food or slowed down the group by carrying too much, making them easy targets for traffickers.

People, too, were treated as resources. In an agricultural society, an overpopulation was burdensome, but during the industrial age, such populations became valuable labor.

This mirrored the situation during Amelia’s Civil War, where the essence of the conflict stemmed from the need for a large population to fuel industrial development. As industrialization began, people’s lives were further detached from small farms. Yet, an interesting shift occurred: once the industrial age started, the accumulation of wealth was far quicker than it had been in the agricultural age. While exploitation and oppression still existed, they took on new forms. The announcement of freedom for black people in Ancheng essentially just created another system to make them work as beasts of burden.

This model, if applied to Liu State, would surely work. However, the people of Liu State weren’t being sold for industrial purposes. Most of them were too expensive to be treated as mere workers. Strong men were considered expendable, their worth minimal. But little snake girls like Yan Yubing were highly valued. They were cared for, their appearance enhanced over time, and when transportation became easier, they were sold off to other countries. Though the dragon clan refrained from involvement in this trade, they also made no effort to interfere with it.

As for the lower class, whether they starved, froze, or survived only to be sold off to work in the non-blood mainland’s sugarcane fields, the situation remained brutal.

The only reason human trafficking hadn’t exploded yet was because the ash tide hadn’t receded, and traffickers didn’t want to waste resources. Once the ash tide subsided, and the spring planting had not yet begun, many people would be starving after a long, harsh winter. They would be tricked into signing contracts to sell themselves or lured into promises of fortune, only to end up in grueling labor in sugarcane fields or cotton farms. The demons, with their excellent physical constitution and strong recovery abilities, were much more valuable than the black slaves of the past.

These speculations were grounded in the visible signs of a growing market for human trafficking. Some took the high-end route, while others catered to the low-end, but both would meet their end.

The person who rescued the little snake girl had been someone who couldn’t tolerate such businesses. She wasn’t entirely clear on what had happened at the time. The entire slave group had been set ablaze, many guards had been killed, and she managed to escape during the chaos. She joined a merchant group, where they supported each other and sought a way to return to the imperial court. But during their journey, they encountered betrayal, faltering and stumbling toward the pass, where they met Bai Wei and Chao Lu, and the story continued from there.

She had never mentioned these details before, and Bai Wei hadn’t asked either. It wasn’t particularly valuable information.

If Bi Fang could restore its kingdom, the human traffickers would have no place to operate. They would soon be wiped out, and once farming recovered, every household would be able to afford meals. Who would still sell their children?

Nalan Qingshu shared this with Chao Lu in a tone that was both bitter and sad.

She spoke of Bai Ze Kingdom’s population being nearly equal to the strength of an entire country. They were currently fighting a fierce battle against Lord Qiongqi. The people, from the commoners to the nobles, had endured for five years, and the situation was becoming unbearable.

She also spoke of Bi Fang Country, whose population had once been ten times greater than Bai Ze’s. But after Bi Fang fell, its people had lost all fighting spirit, becoming like waiting prey. From a peak of nearly ten million, their number had dwindled to less than five million. How many had perished in battle, from internal strife, hunger, or cold?

One death was a tragic one, and the other was like a slow, painful wound — both were sorrowful in their own way.

Bai Wei interrupted Yan Yubing’s musings and asked, “What is the point you’re trying to make?”

The little snake girl stopped talking. She had rarely been outside the palace, and when she had, she had been kidnapped and taken thousands of miles away. Despite her hardships, she had grown accustomed to certain comforts. After finishing her meal, she quickly moved on to the important matter.

“I saw the foreign slave group,” she said cautiously.

Bai Wei thought for a moment before asking, “Outside?”

“At the city gate,” Yan Yubing replied.

Bai Wei raised an eyebrow. “They’re asking for trouble by coming here.”

Human trafficking wasn’t a trade for normal merchants. The Exotic Slave Gang was an illegal industry. Without proper bribes, it would be easy for the authorities to uncover their operations when they entered the city. Additionally, finding a place to hide in such a city was nearly impossible. Longyao City, a place connected to Nalan Qingshu and one of the funders of the national reunification project, would never tolerate such a business. Allowing the Exotic Slave Gang to enter would damage the city’s reputation.

Bai Wei muttered, “This Exotic Slave Gang has gone mad, wanting to enter the city…”

The little snake girl, still chewing on a pancake, said, “Isn’t it Young Master Bai who blocked the river?”

Bai Wei froze. “Me?”

Yan Yubing nodded, pointing toward the river. Bai Wei suddenly recalled the time Black Dragon had used a beam to block the river, causing a massive battle between him and Bai Wei. The water flooded in, causing boat accidents and temporarily blocking the waterway. As a result, the Exotic Slave Gang had to take the land route instead, passing through Longyao City. Though they should have bypassed the city, they had been delayed by a few extra days.

It was a series of coincidental events.

Bai Wei asked, “If it’s true that the Exotic Slave Gang passed through, what do you plan to do?”

The little snake girl hadn’t thought it through. “I just thought I should let you know.”

Bai Wei chuckled. “What’s the use of telling me? Do you think I’m some hero who saves the world?”

Yan Yubing blinked. “Isn’t that so? You’re talking about important matters for our country.”

“It’s just business,” Bai Wei dismissed. “I’m just a person from the Ming Country. All the love and hate here doesn’t concern me.”

“The young master only cares about Chao Lu,” the little snake girl chimed in.

Bai Wei nodded. “Otherwise, who would clean up this mess? We’re all forced into it.”

Despite his youth, Bai Wei was not naive. He had no ambitions to become a hero or to manipulate the course of a kingdom. He was aware that even if he learned to slay dragons, without the right environment, it would all be in vain.

Bai Wei said, “You should go back to sleep.”

The little snake girl stuck out her tongue, licking the sauce from her lips. Her forked tongue wagged in the air like a kitten forgetting to retract its tongue.

“You’re really greedy,” Bai Wei remarked, eyeing her flat belly. “How many Star Kirby cards can you finish in one meal?”

“There won’t be as much yummy food if we leave here,” she replied seriously.

“When you return to the palace, there will still be plenty of tasty food,” he answered.

“But… can we still go back?” she asked timidly. “I always feel like I’ll die halfway.”

“Are you eating your last meal?” he asked, surprised.

“Mmm-hmm,” she nodded in agreement, catching him off guard.

Bai Wei didn’t know whether to admire her cunning or find her foolish.

“The young master is all alone. If he wants protection, he’ll definitely protect Chao Lu. I might disappear at any moment,” she said, her thoughts running in circles, feeling small, weak, and expendable.

Bai Wei suggested, “You could hire people to escort you back to the palace.”

Yan Yubing firmly shook her head. “No.”

“Chao Lu will pay the deposit; you just pay the rest,” Bai Wei offered, knowing that he had no money to speak of.

She stubbornly refused, much like a resolute Akita sitting still.

“I don’t.”

“Afraid of dying, but you insist on following us?” Bai Wei scolded. “Restoring the country has nothing to do with you.”

The little snake girl was like a pet Koi fish. If not fed, she would grow weak and perish. She clung to the cage even though it was already open.

“Yes!”

“What do you have?”

“I just have!” She straightened her back and patted her small belly, which seemed full despite not being bloated, before letting out a burp.

Bai Wei was speechless.

He rarely encountered such small-minded, unreasonable individuals, lacking in intelligence but fiercely independent.

He coldly said, “If you follow me, I won’t care if you die.”

She covered her ears, saying, “I’m not listening, I’m not listening!” She acted like a spoiled child.

Bai Wei walked ahead, and she followed like a little tail. Moments later, she had forgotten their unpleasant exchange, quickly shifting back to her carefree, childish self.

“This isn’t the way back. Where are we going?”

“The Invaders’ Group.”

“Didn’t we say we won’t go see them?”

“When did I say I won’t go? I just want you to go back,” Bai Wei contradicted. “I can go, but you can’t.”

“Why?”

Bai Wei suddenly asked, “Why do children pick their food but adults don’t?”

“Because adults eat what they like?” she ventured.

Bai Wei shot her a cold look. “Because adults make the rules.”