Chapter 8: Memoirs of the Mystic Nine

Memoirs of the Mystic Nine

I woke up when my head hit a hard thing. I opened my eyes and saw that I'm confined in a big wooden cage. There is also a rope tied in my hands.

Damn.

Those wicked men captured me.

I can't believe that another shit is happening to me right now. I should've just let Hong Rong and Cold Face accompany me.

Shit!

Inside the cage, several men are also apprehended. They all look dirty and malnourished. Aside from their pitiful looks, their eyes are filled with gloom and hopelessness.

I look around and observe. There are two ugly man riding a horse between the cage. The cage is connected to a wooden carriage. In front of it, there is another cage imprisoning women. There are also two men riding in between them.

Seems like they didn't notice that I'm a woman.

It's a good thing.

Dang it!

What was good about it?

No matter what cage I am being captive, I'm still incarcerated here!

What should I do?

Shit!

There's nothing I can do!

I am fucking hopeless!

Where the hell are they taking us?

What's gonna happen to me?

"Aiya! Our top grade slave is already awake!"

I looked at the one who talked and saw the ugly man to my right smiling devilishly at me. I rolled my eyes at him. Fuck! So ugly!

"I'm sure that he'll cost a lot of gold coins! Haha!" the other trader said.

"I can't wait to arrive at Guo Song!"

Guo Song?

Where did I hear that?

"If you ever need some help, you can reach us. In the town of Guo Song, there is a camp of soldiers there, just show them this token and we will help you."

Oh yes!

That's the place Cold Face told me to seek for help!

And they are going to take us there!

I sneakily put my hands to my chest and search for the token that Cold Face gave me. A smirk formed in my lips when I feel that it still inside my white inner cloth.

"Oy! What are you smirking for?!"

I immediately removed my hand from my chest and put an innocent look on my face.

"Nothing! I'm just awed to your handsome face!"

The disgusting man laughed. Eeeew! Look at those black teeth! Yuck! I bet he never brush his teeth for his entire life!

"You have a good eyes there young man!"

Huh! Fool bastard!

I can't wait to arrive at Guo Song and sue these detestable people!

I wish Cold Face and Hong Rong are still there. I regret parting ways with them. My days of floating on the ocean made me realize that there is no portal in that ocean. I can't go back using that way.

Maybe I really died and reincarnated to this era.

The heavens must be punishing me.

For being ungrateful child.

For messing around.

Then I'll wait until the heavens forgive me for my sins in my previous life.

I'll wait for a miracle to happen.

I'll just live my new life here.

So I must strive hard and escape this traders.

The trip lasted for almost a 3 days and during those time, they never fed us! I even have to beg for water. They really made sure that we will have no strength so that we can't escape.

Our cage entered the big gate of Guo Song. Compare to the little town I stayed in, this town is more civilized. There are wooden buildings and stores. The people are wearing clean clothes. My fist clenched when I saw the disgusted looks of every passerby. They should be pitying us!

Social Hierarchy as its finest.

My eyes widen when I saw a soldier walking near us. I crawled into the side near him and yelled.

"Hey! Mister soldier! Help me! Help me! These wretched people confined us and they're going to sell us! This is human trafficking!"

A hope flickered in me when the soldier looked at my direction. He heard me! But my smile disappeared when he turned away and continue walking.

What the fuck was that?!

Did that asshole ignored me?!

"Oy! Soldier don't go! Help us! Do your job! This is a crime! Why are you ignoring us you fucking dimwit!"

"Shut up bastard! If you do not close your mouth, I am going to cut your tongue!"

I angrily sit back and glared at the filthy man.

"No matter how many times you seek for help, they are not going to help you. We are already slaves. Our whole existence now belong to these traders." said by the man beside me.

"Why? This is illegal! This is a crime! This is human trafficking!"

"What are you talking about? Slave selling is one of the businesses here."

"What?!"

"From the looks of you, you seem like the type of a pampered son of a wealthy man who have never went out of his house. That's why you have no idea of what's going on outside your walls. You should have never escape from your place."

I didn't speak.

I don't know what to say.

If the soldier's can't help me then what am I supposed to do?

Right.

Cold Face told me to show his token.

Right.

The next time I saw a soldier, I will show this token.

"Attention! Attention!" one of the slave traders shouted.

The townspeople looked at our direction.

"We are back to sell goods! Slaves for sale! We have men and women!  Choose what you want for a reasonable price!"

Several people came forward and start buying. I can't believe these people. I can't believe that this is legal.

All the people being sold cried and beg to be freed. But their cries were ignored and they were hit instead for creating a commotion. I closed my eyes and covered my ears. My heart is bleeding while hearing them suffer.

"Wow. This one is exquisite!"

I winced when I felt someone touched my face. When I looked at the person who touched me, I saw a very fat man looking at me like I'm a delectable meal. Fear alarmed me.

Fuck.

No.

Don't sell me to this one!

He looked like a pervert fatso!

"My lord this is our most precious one!"

"She's so pretty. How much is she?"

"My lord this one is a man."

"I don't care! His pretty face is enough for pleasure!"

Fuck!

"Hihi. My lord this one cost 20 gold coins."

"What?! 20 gold coins?! So expensive!"

"My lord this one is a top grade! This one's beauty can outshine tons of girls! He's prettier than any girls here! Of course he'll be expensive!"

"Aiya! So expensive!"

"Are you going to buy him or not?"

"Just give him for 10!"

"No! 20! If you will not buy him, then go away! You're blocking other buyer's view!"

Fatso looked at the trader with blazing eyes and then looked at me with frustration.

"Don't sell him to anyone. I will go back to my house to get additional money!"

"You should go back here immediately. This one will be sold to the first buyer who will give me the amount I'm asking."

Fatso turned and walked away. I sighed in relief. Luckily, this trader is ravenous for money. I looked at the cage of women and saw that all of them are already sold. And I'm the only one left in our cage.

I don't care who will buy me. As long as he is not a maniac and a pervert. I will not let Fatso buy me. I have to do something before he came back here.

Deranged, I stood up and went near the wooden barricade and vociferate.

"SOMEONE PLEASE BUY ME! BUY ME! BUY ME!"

"What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?! I'm helping you to sell me!"

"You're an odd one! HAHA. It's my first time seeing a slave selling his self!"

The traders laughed. Well I'm freaking desperate! I don't want to be that fatso's sex toy!

If someone buys me, I'll just runaway when I left this cage.

My continuous shouting gained interest to many people. Several of them tried to buy me but because of my expensive price, they failed. I tried to convince the trader to drop my price for a little but he didn't agree.

Shoot!

If this continue to happen, fatso will arrive here and purchase me!

"COULD SOMEONE PLEASE BUY ME! I AM SO SICK OF THIS FILTHY CAGE! BUY ME! BUY MEEEEE!"

"How much is this slave?"

I stopped screaming when I heard someone asked for my price. In front of me is an old woman. She looked like she's one of those head madame of a brothel. Beside her are three muscular men with swords in their hands.

"My lady! This one is a top grade! He has a beauty that can outshine all the women here! He cost 20 gold coins."

"I'll buy him."

The old woman gave a purse to the trader. The trader opened the purse and counted the coins. When he finished counting it, he smiled and told the other trader to release me. The other trader opened the cage and went inside.

"Young Man you're finally sold! Haha. Are you happy now?"

I didn't answer him. To be honest, I don't know what to feel. Part of me is glad that fatso is not the one who bought me. But I'm still purchased by a person I do not know. Fear is still there.

The trader pulled my rope and took me out. Then he handed me to the woman. One of the muscular man took the rope.

"Thank you My Lady for your purchase. And to you young man, take care."

I rolled my eyes at him. This fucking human trafficker! You will get your karma!

"Let's go." the woman said.

We started walking. I glance at the old woman. I'm sure that during her youth, she's a beauty. She's still pretty even when she is already old.

"Zhao Gao. I lost my purse. I think it fell in front of the market. Bring it back to me later."

"Yes Head Madame!"

She lost her purse? I didn't see her purse fell from her blouse or something.

Did she have two purse?

Wow this one is rich!

First she bought me with a purse full of gold coins and now she lost...

Wait...

What the fuck?!

Is what I'm thinking right?!

She doesn't have two purse.

She only have one.

And the purse she's talking about is the purse she gave the trader?!

Holy guacamole!

I nervously glanced at her. She's still wearing her serious face.

This woman is freaking dangerous and vile!

With her tone of voice, she's like ordering to kill the trader.

I can't mess with her.

Shocks!

I thought that I can escape when I am already bought. But it's impossible to do that! I don't even have the guts to do it. I'm freaking scared to this woman and to these three muscular man surrounding me. I am so sure that they will kill me if I try to runaway.

After minutes of walking, we stopped in front of a big wooden building. Several men went outside with a big smile on their faces. When we entered the buiding, I saw lots of women wearing make up and flashy hanfus. There are tables with men and some of the women are flirting while serving them. There is also a wooden platform in the center where five woman are dancing. I looked up and saw that there is a second floor to this building where some male are also drinking.

This is really a brothel.

"Welcome Back Head Madame Fei."

A girl in red hanfu bowed in front of us. She raised her head and looked at the old woman.

"The three of you, do what I ordered you earlier."

"Yes Madame!"

"Shu Hua come with me to the bathroom and take this one."

Zhao Gao handed the rope to Shu Hua and the three muscular guys left the area. Shu Hua looked at me with glint in her eyes.

"What a beautiful man! Who is this Head Madame?"

"A slave I bought from the market."

"What's your name handsome?" she asked me with seductive voice.

My face turned sour. If I was a man, maybe I fell for her charms but too bad that I am a straight girl.

We entered a a room and inside it is a big wooden tub. I smell different fragrances inside.

"Stop flirting Shu Hua! Take his clothes off and wash him! There is something I want to confirm."

"Yes Head Madame! Hihi. I'll now remove your clothes!"

"Hey! Stop-"

"Don't be shy!"

I tried to push her but she manage to remove my clothes. Her smile vanished when she saw the white inner clothe of mine.

"You! You're a girl?!" she screamed in disbelief.

"My instinct never fails me. The moment I saw that pretty face of yours, I already had a hunch that you're not a man. Haha! I found a gold!"

I just watched her laugh wickedly.

"Shu Hua washed her and give her glamorous clothes."

"I don't want!" I yelled.

"What?! Do you want Zhao Gao to give you a wash?!" Head Madame Fei said.

"No! I mean... I can take a bath alone. I don't need any help."

Head Madame Fei looked at me with scrutiny. I gulped. I am afraid that if Shu Hua bath me, she will see the token Cold Face gave me. The token is my last hope to seek for help and I don't want it to end up with them.

"Fine. But don't you dare escape! I bought you for 20 gold coins! You already know what will happen to you if you tried to run away!"

"Yes Head Madame!"

"Shu Hua guard her outside!"

The two of them went outside the bathroom. I took a deep sigh and face palm. Dang it. Now I'm stucked in a brothel! Worst of the worst!

She bought me? Jukes! She didn't! She tricked the trader! She didn't spend a single penny on me!

I removed my dirty clothes and threw it on the floor. Yuck! I can't believe that I wore those for 3 days. I nearly vomit when I realized how bad I smell.

I removed the token from my chest and hide it under the tub. My eyes shut in relief when I dipped in the tub. Finally after 3 days, I am now taking a bath.

Nearly 2 hours I stayed washing my body. I scrubbed the dirt on my skin and the mud on my ankles. Luckily there is a Rose Oil here so I used it to my hair and my body. I can no longer smell any bad odor.

"Hey! Are you finished?" Shu Hua asked.

"Yes!"

"Wear this robe!"

She handed me a white inner robe. I took it and wear it. I went to the tub and took the token I hid earlier. I put it back in my chest and act as normal as possible.

"I'm done."

Shu Hua went inside and glared at me. Wow. Change of attitude real quick!

"Follow me!"

So I followed her. I went outside the bathroom. Head Madame Fei is waiting outside. When she saw me, her eyes sparkled.

"Now that you are all cleaned up, your alluring face is now more visible! Wear this robe!"

She handed me a black and red clothes. The skirt is red and the top is black. I went to the far corner to change. After changing, I went back to them.

"Shu Hua put a make up on her face!"

Shu Hua rolled her eyes and told me to sit down in front of table. She started putting some white powder on my face. Then she draw my eyebrows. She gave me a paper and and told me to kiss that. After putting my make up, Shu Hua did my hair.

"Head Madame it's done."

I looked at the copper mirror and saw what kind of look she did on me. My eyes widen when I saw how displeasing it is. My face is so white like I dip my face in a pail of flour. My brows are so thin. My lips is only the acceptable one. She's fucking illiterate to make up! Or she sabotaged me!



"The make up is too thick Shu Hua but that can't hide her beauty! I really found a gold! HAHA!"

Head Madame Fei clapped while laughing. She's really satisfied with me. And I don't know how should I feel.

"You'll be the newest girl here! Your serving price will be thrice than the others! You will only serve the richest of the richest! Or maybe, I'll just give you to My Lord as a gift! I'm sure he will like you!"

Crap!

What did I get into?!

Dang she still have a boss. I thought she's the boss here.

Dang it!

She's pimping me fuck!

"Shu Hua teach her the basics here. I will send a letter to My Lord!"

Head Madame Fei went out of the room. I am now left with Shu Hua's glaring eyes.

"Follow me!"

Shu Hua taught me the basics of serving. I learned how to put drinks and teas which is really easy. She also taught me how to approach the guests.

During those days, Head Madame Fei never let me serve anyone. She told me that she finally decided that I will be gifted to her Lord.

While staying in this brothel, I never had the chance to see the sun. I never had a chance to go out. Shu Hua is always guarding me, never leaving me out of her sight.

So no matter how I plan to escape, I didn't take a risk for it. I am afraid of those muscular guards rounding inside and outside the brothel.

All I can do is look at the token that Cold Face gave me. I pray every night. I pray that Cold Face will come and save me once again.

But how?

How can he do that?

When he thought that I already went home?

When he doesn't know that I am here in Guo Song?

When he have no idea that I was abducted?

"What's your name again?"

"Roseanne."

"Roseanne? What a weird name. Do you have any talent? Do you know how to play Zither?" Head Madame Fei asked me.

"I don't know how to play it."

"Hmm. You should have some skills to show so that My Lord will be very please when he saw you."

Jukes. She's really pimping me. She's like kinda leeching to her Lord.

"Shu Hua make her watch Yisa's performance later."

"Yes Head Madame."

Later that night, Shu Hua and I went to the hall where the platform is. The hall is loud and full of customers. I sat on the hidden corner and wait for the performance to start.

The musicians start playing. The sound of the zither echoed in the wall. Suddenly, a girl wearing a blue flowy hanfu came out of the curtain with a fan covering her face. She then closed the fan revealing her lovely face.

The woman became more enchanting when she started dancing. Her hands move as light as a feather. Her body swayed together with the beat of the drum.

I can't help but feel amazed while watching her dance gracefully. She's not just a dancer. She's like an actress portraying a sad story. Her sorrowful expression fills my heart with sadness.

If I was man, maybe I will be captivated by her too like the audience inside the hall.

The music stopped and she did her final pose before bowing. All of the people inside gave her a big round of applause. Of course I clapped very hard too. She's so amazing!

The girl went back behind the curtains and the musicians played another song. Shu Hua told me to come with her.

I followed Shu Hua and we went inside a room. I saw Head Madame Fei talking with the enchanting girl earlier.

"You will not serve customers for the whole week Yisa. I want you to teach this new girl."

The enchanting girl glanced at me.

"This is Roseanne. Starting tomorrow, teach her all the things you know. Make sure that she'll learn to dance as gracefully as you. I'll give her to My Lord."

"Yes Head Madame."

"Alright. I will leave the two of you. Shu Hua come with me."

Head Madame and Shu Hua left the room. The enchanting girl and I were left staring at each other.

"Oh. Haha. Hi! I'm Roseanne."

"I'm Yisa. You are so beautiful."

My grin widen when I heard her praised me. Wah. It's such an honor to be complimented by a girl as enchanting as her.

"Thank you! But you're so pretty too! And to add that you're a very good dancer! I admire you!"

Yisa started teaching me on the day after that night. We have also gotten close. She's really nice and bubbly.

Since I have a talent in dancing and I have attended dance class, I learned the steps and routine. But I noticed that although I successfully gained the knowledge of the art of the dance, I can't carry out the emotional attack and the enactment of a story that Yisa has.

"You are a fast learner Roseanne!"

"It's because I have a good teacher like you."

"Haha. You really have the ability to talk glibly!"

"No! Haha. I am telling the truth!"

Both of us sat on the wooden floor. She gave me a water and I thanked her for that.

"But although I learn how to dance like you, I can't portray a story. I can't exhibit an act. How did you do it? How can you produce such strong persona?"

She smiled bitterly.

"I guess my anguish is really showing spontaneously."

"What do you mean?"

"I was always praised for being able to portray the inner sorrows of a character. They didn't know that the emotions I was showing was not an act. It's really what I feel."

I did not utter a single word. I just stared at her and listen to every words she is saying.

"My life is trapped in the stage. I immerse myself in a character that I will never be. I served to light up the moods of the other but little did they know that behind the smile I was wearing, I weep my heart out. I am enslave to serve others. I am just a tool to flaunt to others. A source of income. A slave dolled up without freedom."

A tear escaped from her eyes. She immediately wiped it and laughed bitterly.

"I'm so sorry. I got carried away."

"No. It's okay. If you want to cry, then cry. Vent your frustrations. Cry your misery."

Like a fire lit in a dynamite's rope, my words goaded her to cry. Yisa silently cried in front of me. I didn't speak a words and just pat her back.

Unlike the celebrities of the modern world, artists in ancient time carries on their back countless untold stories and sorrows. Yisa is an example of them. Her beauty is a facade of her agony.

Such a tragic life.

The life of the poor in this period time is really hard. The social hierarchy is allowing people to put a chain in the people's neck that has a lower status than them.

In my previous life, I was the boss. I realized how lucky I was to have a good and wealthy life. I was so free. But I still felt suffocated for having guards when all my parents want was to ensure my safety.

I also realized how mean I was to my bodyguards. I regret venting my anger to them. When in fact they were only doing their job and it was my fault for messing around.

Compare to protection I thought was imprisonment, it was nothing to what Yisa and the other slaves are experiencing right now.

I was really a spoiled brat back then huh.

Look where I landed.

I was totally being punished here.

We stayed like that for an hour until she stopped crying. She smiled shyly and looked at me.

"It's been a long time since I cried like that. I'm sorry our practice got delayed because of my drama."

"No it's okay. Actually I learned many things just now."

"I don't understand."

"Forget about it. Shall we practice again? I don't want Zhao Gao to beat me for lazying around."

Yisa laughed at my joke.