kvmb Chapter 373 Nazai
Chapter 373 Nazai
In the vast desert of the Western Regions, where yellow sand swirled, the sound of camel bells drifted gently. The beautiful scenery should have been refreshing, but Naza was filled with fear and confusion as Ouyang Lie forcibly brought her to a place called Xiaoyao City.
Xiaoyao City, formerly a border region of Loulan, was poorly governed by the Loulan rulers due to its remote location. Over time, it degenerated into a notorious brothel in the west. Amidst the bright lights and revelry, an atmosphere of extravagance and debauchery permeated the air. The streets teemed with all sorts of people: wealthy merchants in fine clothes, ragged refugees, and heavily made-up women leaning against doorways soliciting business. Loulan women were known for their beauty, attracting many seeking their company, and the city teemed with all sorts of people. Later, as the Western Regions rose to power and conquered many cities, Xiaoyao City, with its unique "industry," remained a vital source of wealth, a place of nightly revelry and decadent indulgence.
Ouyang Lie led Nazai through the bustling yet murky streets. Throughout, Nazai's eyes were filled with fear and resistance. Her dark eyes reflected the unfamiliar and chaotic surroundings. Her lips trembled slightly; she wanted to cry for help, but was intimidated by the powerful aura emanating from Ouyang Lie. She could only bite her lower lip tightly, letting tears well up in her eyes. She was terrified that if she attracted the slightest attention from this infamous prince, he would make her his woman. Therefore, with her vital points sealed and unable to fight back, she could only try to minimize her presence.
Finally, they arrived at the city lord's mansion. Among the many buildings in Xiaoyao City, this mansion stood out remarkably. The vermilion gates were tightly shut, and the stone lions flanking the entrance were imposing, yet somewhat ironic in Xiaoyao City, given that the businesses operating here were generally not exactly ethical. Ouyang Lie's steward stepped forward, raised his hand, and forcefully knocked on the door knocker, producing a deep, resonant sound. After a moment, the door slowly opened, and a steward-like man peeked out. Upon seeing Ouyang Lie, he paused slightly, then his face plastered with a fawning smile, and he quickly stepped aside to welcome them inside.
Everyone assumed Ouyang Lie intended to use the city lord's house to take Nazai into his household, but Ouyang Lie simply found a room, led her inside, and didn't make any excessive moves towards her. Ouyang Lie glanced disdainfully at Nazai, whose face was streaked with tears, and said, "What? Are you so aggrieved by this prince? Look at your group of good followers, not one of them dares to save you. It's a pity you even know some martial arts, your mind is full of thoughts of saving the country! See clearly, this is reality. This prince plans to go eat something good first, and then come back to spend a night with you. I'll find a maid to help you wash up later." The carved bed occupied a corner of the room, covered with soft brocade quilts, and an exquisite dressing table was placed beside it. Ouyang Lie glanced around the room and said to a lithe, capable-looking girl following behind him, "From today onwards, you will serve this girl well. If you make any mistakes, you'll lose your head." The girl nodded hurriedly, her eyes filled with a hint of awe. Ouyang Lie then looked at Nazai, who was sitting on the bed, glaring at him with resentment, as if she hated him so much she wanted to die with him. Ouyang Lie frowned slightly, turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Hearing the door close, Nazai trembled slightly and slowly came to her senses. She looked around, her heart filled with doubt and unease. She didn't understand why this man named Ouyang Lie had brought her here, or what would happen next. Thinking of this, she could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her cheeks. Seeing this, the girl serving her quickly stepped forward and said softly, "Miss, don't be sad. What's done is done." Nazai looked up at the unfamiliar girl before her, her voice trembling with tears, and asked, "Who are you? Why have you locked me up here?" The girl sighed and said, "My name is Ayiguli. I was also sold here and have been following this young master Ouyang. This young master Ouyang is no ordinary person. Since he brought you here, he must have his reasons. Don't worry, as long as you behave, life here won't be too difficult." Hearing this, Nazai remained filled with worry. She sat silently on the edge of the bed, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, lost in thought.
At this moment, Ouyang Lie was no longer the carefree and unreasonable person he had been during the day. Dressed in a dark robe, he sat solemnly with the city lord in the study, the candlelight on the table flickering and illuminating their serious faces. The city lord stroked his beard and said, "My lord, is there any important matter that brings that young lady here?" Ouyang Lie frowned slightly, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and slowly said, "City Lord Nangong, this Princess Loulan has a special identity, and the power behind her is not to be underestimated. I brought her here to take advantage of Xiaoyao City to gather some information, and at the same time, she can be used as a pawn for unforeseen circumstances." Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in the city lord's eyes, and he said, "What my lord says is very true. However, although Xiaoyao City is a mixed bag and convenient for action, we must still be careful and avoid causing any trouble. His Majesty has learned that you do not follow the rules, but you have never forcibly taken any women..." Ouyang Lie nodded and said, "That's natural, so I'm going to take one. If I'm going to take one, I can't take a bad one, can I? City Lord, I will need your cooperation during this period." The city lord quickly replied, "Don't worry, my lord. I will do my best for anything that benefits you." The two then discussed in hushed tones for a long time, until the candlelight gradually dimmed, and they finally parted ways late at night.
Nazai spent a sleepless night in her room. Lying in bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, her mind filled with images of her home and her beloved brother, her heart overflowing with longing and sorrow. She didn't know how much time had passed when the sky began to lighten, and morning light streamed through the window into the room. Nazai slowly got up and walked to the window, watching the streets outside gradually come to life. She silently vowed to find a way to escape this place. At that moment, Ayiguli entered. Seeing Nazai standing by the window, she said, "Girl, you're up. Wash up and have something to eat." Nazai turned to look at Ayiguli, a determined glint in her eyes, and said, "Ayiguli, can you help me escape?" Ayiguli's expression changed slightly, and she quickly said, "Girl, you can't do that. If we're discovered, we'll both be in serious trouble." Nazai felt a pang of disappointment at her refusal, but she didn't give up. She knew she had to find a chance to escape this place of trouble.