Hammer in her left hand, sword in her right, the eldest sister is connected to both worlds.

Chapter 189 What is your attitude?

Xue Lan led the sullen Xue Tong onward, and finally found a reasonably satisfactory inn as it was getting dark.

The two entered the inn. It was just after mealtime, and many waiters were cleaning up the leftover food on the first floor, while the innkeeper was calculating accounts behind the counter. Seeing them enter, he personally greeted them, "Are you two guests here for a stay or a meal?"

Xue Lan walked directly to the counter, took out a few pieces of silver from her sleeve, about half an ounce: "Put them on the tab first, order a few signature dishes, and then book a superior room."

Before the innkeeper could speak, the young girl following behind Xue Lan said with a displeased expression, "Two superior rooms!"

The shopkeeper looked at Xue Lan in front of him, and the girl just smiled wryly: "Then two rooms will do!"

The innkeeper had never seen anyone book two rooms just because a child didn't like them, and he grinned from ear to ear. He quickly told the waiter to lead Xue Lan and Xue Tong to their room. Xue Lan went upstairs first to check the rooms, leaving Xue Tong on the first floor of the inn to order food.

The shopkeeper loved customers like Xue Lan who were quick to pay. He personally took out paper and pen and stood next to Xue Tong, listening to the young girl order. His smile grew wider and wider.

The reason was simply that the young girl had ordered all the main dishes, which, while not exorbitantly priced, were still quite expensive in total.

Xue Lan walked around the room upstairs. When she opened the window, she heard the sound of the river waves from across the way, mixed with some charming female voices, which reached her ears like wisps of mist.

Xue Lan used her divine sense to investigate and discovered that a flower boat, about the size of an inn, was moored directly opposite her window on the Qinglin River. It was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. On the boat was an exquisite three-story building, and in front of the door stood a group of brightly dressed girls soliciting customers.

"A brothel!" the girl uttered softly, without closing the window, and turned to go downstairs.

As the busiest waterway in Da Shun, the Qinglin River sees boats coming and going at its dock all night long. Once the city gates of Qinglin City close at night, the surrounding taverns, gambling dens, brothels, and entertainment venues come alive, even more bustling than during the day. When Xue Lan came down from the second floor, Xue Tong was already sitting at the table eating the fruit the manager had given her. Xue Lan went over, picked up a piece of fruit from the plate, and began to eat it.

"I ordered some hearty dishes, so the kitchen will have to wait a while," Xue Tong said, swallowing the fruit in her mouth.

Xue Lan beckoned to a waiter who had been cleaning up the leftovers late and was now free. Seeing Xue Lan beckoning, the waiter quickly came over: "Sir, what can I do for you?"

Xue Lan took out a few copper coins from her sleeve and placed them in front of the waiter: "Sit down, I have something to ask you."

The waiter's smiling eyes vanished completely when he saw the copper coins, but he still glanced at the counter and waited for the shopkeeper's slight nod before sitting down.

"Sir, there's nothing about the docks that I don't know."

Xue Lan pushed the copper coins to Xiao Er's side, and then asked, "My sister and I are from the capital. We are new to this place and have heard that there are many human traffickers here. We would like to know more about it."

Upon hearing Xue Lan's question, the waiter immediately chimed in, "This isn't just happening here; the area north of Qinglin River is like this everywhere. Every year, children are lost, and some even lose their wives!"

Xue Lan nodded slowly, feigning ignorance: "Then where did all these people who were abducted by human traffickers go? Were they sold to families without children?"

Looking at Xue Lan, the waiter wondered which noble family's young lady was out for a stroll, and why she didn't arrange for a personal bodyguard. He then whispered to Xue Lan, "Miss, when you went upstairs just now, did you see those pleasure boats on the Qinglin River? Most of the girls on those boats are abducted."

Xue Tong feigned surprise: "How did you know?"

"It's not just me, the entire Qinglin City knows..."

Before the waiter could finish his sentence, Xue Tong couldn't help but ask, "Isn't the government doing anything about it?"

The waiter looked heartbroken: "How can we ignore this? The city lord and his officials and constables have gone several times, but it's said that those girls were first abducted to the Great Li Dynasty and then sent here. The madam has documents from the Great Li Dynasty, so the officials can't do anything..."

Upon hearing this, both Xue Lan and the other fell silent. Holding the official documents in their hands, anyone who wasn't out of their mind knew what was going on.

Xue Lan sighed. It seemed that the administration of the Great Li Dynasty was far less efficient and transparent than that of the Great Shun Dynasty!

Seeing that Xue Lan and the other girl's expressions had changed, the waiter couldn't help but say, "You two are good people, but in my opinion, it's already the best outcome for these girls to make a living on the pleasure boat."

Xue Lan took another piece of fruit and ate it: "Why do you say that?"

The waiter lowered his voice: "Do you two know about... the mutilation of living animals?"

Before Xue Lan could speak, the fruit that Xue Tong was eating had already fallen to the ground.

"Oh dear, did I frighten the young lady? Well then, I won't say anything more."

Xue Tong stared at the fruit that had fallen to the ground, her heart still pounding as if it would burst from her chest. The young girl's voice carried a maturity beyond her years:

"I'm fine, please continue!"

The waiter didn't really want to continue, but he had already taken the money, so he had to bite the bullet and keep going: "It's said that all the pretty girls have gone to the pleasure boats, and the ugly ones have all been crippled... and forced to beg!"

"And there are things that turn children... into monkeys..."

"Waiter, that's enough!" Xue Lan interrupted the waiter's story. Just then, the dishes in the kitchen were ready, and the waiter went to serve them.

Xue Lan took chopsticks from the table and handed them to Xue Tong: "Children shouldn't listen to this!"

Xue Tong lowered her head and waited until all the dishes were served before asking Xue Lan in a low voice, "Xue Lan, what is your attitude towards these people?"

Xue Lan had already started eating, her posture appearing very elegant. Upon hearing this, she swallowed what was in her mouth and turned to look at Xue Tong: "Do you want me to tell the truth or a lie?"

Xue Tong replied sullenly, "Tell me a lie first."

"We are cultivators, and if we do not wish to have our cultivation path hindered, it is best not to get involved in mortal affairs."

Xue Tong was clearly disappointed by Xue Lan's answer, and hung her head even more dejectedly: "The truth?"

"They have violated human morality and are utterly devoid of conscience. Xue Lan is willing to bear the consequences and send them to their next reincarnation as soon as possible..."

Before Xue Tong's smile could fully form, she heard Xue Lan's follow-up words: "But Xiao Tong, this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause!"

"In this world, there will always be people who think about taking risks and going against the grain!"