Chapter 79 A Slave with Divine Strength

Chapter 79: The Slave Born with Divine Strength

"Young Mistress, why are you so determined to buy this man? Our Prime Minister's estate has plenty of servants; we are not lacking in manpower. If you truly need to add new staff, you can simply instruct the steward to handle it. Why bother getting involved personally?" Ling Wu advised.

Jiang Tianze also chimed in, "That's right, Big Sister. This slave looks fierce, like an uncultured brute. He's probably untamed and unruly. Even if you redeem him, you might not be able to subdue him in the future. Why go through all this trouble?"

Jiang Shuning remained completely unmoved by their persuasion.

She stared at the tall, dark-skinned man on the cart, her tone resolute: "I don't want him as a servant. I just want to buy his life!"

Seeing a customer, the slave dealer's eyes flashed with cunning.

"This young lady has a good eye! This slave is strong and robust, with an extraordinary physique. He's worth thirty thousand coins, not a single coin less!"

"Thirty thousand coins?" Jiang Tianze sneered. "With that money, I could buy all the slaves in your hands! You're clearly inflating the price!"

Unfazed, the slave dealer patted the dark-skinned man's chest, boasting proudly, "I'm not boasting idly. Even if you turn the entire East Market upside down, you might not find a second slave as powerfully built and strong as this one! With this physique, he could block blades for his master several times more than others!"

Ling Wu scoffed, her tone disdainful. "Our young mistress is a noble-born young lady, far too precious. How could such a crude person ever be in a position to block blades for her?"

The slave dealer was about to argue further, but Jiang Shuning couldn't be bothered to waste more words. She directly took a gold ingot from her sleeve and handed it to him. "Is this enough?"

The slave dealer's eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight of the gold. He nodded and bowed repeatedly. "Enough! Enough! Truly the daughter of a wealthy family, so generous! Please wait a moment, I'll go fetch his bill of sale right away!"

Seeing Jiang Shuning's eagerness, Ling Wu grew even more puzzled and couldn't help asking, "Young Mistress, why pay such a high price for this slave? Do you truly intend to keep him by your side as an enforcer?"

Jiang Tianze's face darkened. "This man has a crude appearance and a lowly status. How is he fit to serve by Big Sister's side? If Big Sister needs a guard, I am willing to serve as your guard, certainly not inferior to this brute!"

"There's no need for you to say more. I have my own plans." Jiang Shuning's gaze fell on the slave, her thoughts churning.

If she didn't buy him today, within half a year, he would be purchased by the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, after repeatedly winning in the gladiatorial arena, and be named "A Meng."

In her past life, A Meng was utterly devoted to Xiao Xiuzhan, using his own body as a shield to block blades and arrows for him time and again, protecting him at the cost of his own life.

If not for him, Xiao Xiuzhan would have died long ago during that massive bandit suppression campaign.

Later, A Meng even fell in battle trying to rescue Xiao Xiuzhan.

With his own strength, he held back the tide of enemy soldiers, buying Xiao Xiuzhan precious time to escape.

In this life, if she could acquire A Meng in advance, it would be like severing Xiao Xiuzhan's right arm. Perhaps he would then meet his end in the bandits' lair!

The slave dealer obsequiously handed the bill of sale to Jiang Shuning. She examined it carefully and, confirming it was correct, safely tucked it into her sleeve.

She turned to the slave, whose build was mountainous. "The ropes binding you are meaningless to you. Free yourself!"

"Yes, Young Mistress!" Before the words faded, the slave exerted force with his arms. With a sharp *snap*, the ropes as thick as two fingers binding him shattered into dust.

This scene immediately drew gasps and exclamations from the surrounding onlookers.

Jiang Tianze's face was as dark as a thundercloud.

"This man possesses immense strength. Mere ropes cannot restrain him. If he wanted to escape, it would be effortless. With such skill, why would he willingly be sold? Big Sister, aren't you afraid of bringing a wolf into your home by buying him, inviting endless future trouble?"

Hearing this, Jiang Shuning only smiled meaningfully. Without answering directly, she looked at the slave. "You don't have a name yet, do you? Since that's the case, I shall bestow one upon you. From today onward, your name is Hao Li!"

A Meng sounded like someone ignorant and foolish, capable only of blind loyalty.

What she wanted was a sharp blade containing vast, immense power!

"Yes! Hao Li thanks the Young Mistress for bestowing this name!" Hao Li's grateful voice boomed like a great bell.

Jiang Tianze's gaze was sharp as an eagle's, boring into Hao Li. "Hao Li, I ask you: you possess such astonishing, earth-shattering brute strength. Mere ropes couldn't hold you. Why were you willing to bow your head as a slave, letting others have their way with you?"

Hao Li blinked, his expression guileless. "Because only by being bought can I get a full meal."

"Just for a measly full meal? I don't believe it! There must be another reason!" Jiang Tianze pressed on relentlessly.

Faced with doubt, Hao Li looked wronged. "Young Master, your family is wealthy. Naturally, you don't know how difficult it is for us lowly registered people to fill our bellies. Slaves have low status and cannot engage in proper occupations. If we can't earn money, the only way to get a full meal is to take desperate risks, become bandits, and take to the mountains. But being a bandit means living by the blade every day, a precarious existence where death is far more likely than life. It's better to be a slave peacefully, at least you can eke out an existence and seek some stability."

Hearing this, Jiang Tianze's expression instantly became complex and hard to read.

Thinking he was moved, Jiang Shuning said gently, "Hao Li would rather be a slave for food and shelter than become a bandit and bring harm to others. This shows that although he comes from a humble background, he has a kind heart. He is a person with principles and character, who wouldn't commit heinous acts just to cling to life without honor. Such a person is worth my high price!"

"Big Sister speaks most wisely." Jiang Tianze lowered his eyelids, concealing the flash of dark thoughts that passed through his eyes.

If it were him, he would rather be a bandit than a slave any day!

Bandits may live precariously, with their lives hanging by a thread, but as long as they live, they can burn, kill, and pillage, and do as they please, bound by no restraints.

But slaves must live every day at others' mercy, treading on thin ice, surviving without any dignity.

Better that I betray everyone under heaven than allow anyone under heaven to betray me!

Unless... the one betraying him was...

Jiang Tianze's gaze involuntarily followed Jiang Shuning's figure, his heart in turmoil, his thoughts awhirl.

He could only hope this indescribable affection of his would not be betrayed by her.

Having bought Hao Li, Jiang Shuning was in no mood to continue shopping at the market. She hurriedly set off on the return journey with Jiang Tianze and Ling Wu.

The three of them shared a carriage, while Hao Li, eating the meat buns Jiang Shuning had specially bought for him, kept pace with the carriage with long, swift strides.

However, the East Market was simply too bustling and noisy, packed shoulder to shoulder. When the carriage reached one spot, it was blocked by stalls set up haphazardly by vendors and couldn't move an inch.

Seeing this, Lao Yang quickly turned back to report, "Young Mistress, please wait a moment. Allow this humble one to go down and negotiate with those stall owners, have them move their stalls slightly so the carriage can pass smoothly!"

Seeing the situation, Hao Li shouted towards the carriage window, "Young Mistress, if you trust me, why not leave this carriage to me to handle? I guarantee I can get the carriage through safely!"

Without hesitation, Jiang Shuning replied, "Since that's the case, then I leave it to you. Be careful not to hurt anyone."

Hao Li hurriedly stuffed the remaining half of the meat bun into his mouth. Then, taking a deep breath, he planted his feet firmly in a horse stance, his hands steadily supporting the bottom of the carriage body. He actually lifted the entire carriage off the ground!

His expression was calm, his steps steady. He easily carried the carriage, skillfully avoiding the stalls that had encroached, and placed it steadily in an open space ahead.

The common people who witnessed this unbelievable scene immediately erupted in waves of astonished exclamations.

Not far away, inside an ornately decorated carriage, the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, happened to catch sight of this astonishing scene.

"Isn't that the Jiang family's legitimate eldest daughter, Jiang Shuning, in that carriage? How does she have such a Herculean servant by her side?" Xiao Xiuzhan's sword-like eyebrows raised slightly.

The attendant beside him followed his gaze and, after a brief look, answered, "Your Highness, judging by his clothing, this person appears to be a slave who was just purchased."

"Jiang Shuning is an unmarried young woman. What could she possibly intend by buying such a powerfully built slave?" Xiao Xiuzhan's curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't help wanting to investigate. "Stop the carriage. Let's go down and take a look!"

Hearing this, the attendant immediately looked troubled. He quickly leaned over to dissuade him. "Your Highness, today is probably not the day for complications! You already agreed on a time with the gambling den's manager. If you're late, you might offend the other party!"

Xiao Xiuzhan listened, pondered briefly, and ultimately suppressed the urge to get out and investigate. After all, the cooperation with the gambling den was a major matter that couldn't afford any mishaps.

However, his gaze remained fixed on the slave, as if drawn by a magnet, closely following that robust figure, unwilling to look away for a long time.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this person should have been his to use.