"My honey, oh you look so adorable when you are showing your temper."

Lord Quan ignore the useless threats from Ai Le and press her body close to his. Taking in her scent while closing his eyes, not knowing there is a brewing anger forming a monster outside the pavilion. Seeing Ai Le being so close and intimate towards another man, the driving madness is clouding Qi Yuan's mind. At that moment, nothing matters anymore.

What plans to escape from Luo City? What plans to travel to Kai border?

It doesn't matter to him now.

All he can see is Ai Le is here, she is here in Luo City. She is dressed in skimpy clothings and now being embraced by another man that he doesn't know.

Jealousy, possessiveness, threats and all sorts of negative emotions attacked him at once. It is definitely driving him crazy. Before he realized, he is already taking a step forward, ready to charge into the pavilion.

Luckily Xuan Di is right behind him, stop him from his intentions and drag him away by force. However, Qi Yuan is not accommodating to him and used his strength to fight against his restraints.

"Qi Gong Zi, please calm yourself down! You can't afford to make a mistake right here and right now!" Xuan Di reminded him.

"LET GO OF ME RIGHT NOW! HOW DARE HE TOUCH HER! WANG XUAN YOU BETTER LET GO OF ME!" Qi Yuan shouted with his eyes glowing with redness.

Ignoring his protest, Xuan Di drags Qi Yuan by locking his arms around his neck and head back to where Merchant Leong is at. Witnessing the struggling mad man and an annoyed ruffian making their way towards him, Merchant Leong shaked in fear and confusion.

"W-what's going on?" Merchant Leong asked.

"Bring us to an empty room now." Xuan Di ordered.

Without asking any questions, Merchant Leong quickly bring them to a nearby room and close the door. Qi Yuan is still trying to escape from Xuan Di's grip with no sanity reflected in his eyes. The immense anger and rising blood-crave desire stripped away the sensible side of Qi Yuan. Unable to withstand his retaliation, Xuan Di gather his energy to his fist and aim straight at Qi Yuan's face.

Receiving a hard punch, Qi Yuan fall straight to the ground and pain filled his senses. Temporarily taming his anger, and he blinked his eyes for clarity.

"Awake now? We got no time for you to behave like a kid!" Xuan Di shouted.

Still sitting on the floor and not moving an inch, Xuan Di look away and took a seat on the stool. Merchant Leong, who is still standing by the side, approach Xuan Di carefully.

"What happen? Why is Qi Gong Zi behaving like this?"

"He saw his lover in that pile of ladies."

"Oh my ... Is she one of the sisters who worked here?"

"WHAT SISTER? SHE IS NOT A LOW STATUS LIKE THOSE PEOPLE THERE!" Qi Yuan exploded.

"Yeah, she is born as a noble lady. There is no way she will be here voluntarily." Xuan Di explained.

As Xuan Di did his background research on those people who are hanging around Jae-in all day, it is not a surprise that he knew the details of Ai Le.

"Dang, this situation will be hard to deal with."

"What do you mean?"

"In Luo City, it is known that a lady's status is equivalent to being a slave. This city is an underground human trafficking place. Men can commit crimes and not be charged for it. Woman will be domesticated to instil fear and obedience. As this city is not as rich as the Capital of Kai or Ding City, the only way to survive is to betray your humane conscious. Earn a living by selling your kin for money, kidnapping is common and there is no law to hold justice."

"This is insane ... How can this not be known by the Emperor of Kai?"

"Because this city is well protected by this Lord. A lord that has unlimited power and wealth to distort information and hide the truth from the cities. But, no one knows his true identity or where he comes from, only address him as Lord Quan. With full control over the magistrate here, that's why, this human trafficking still happen as no one knows the danger of this city. People still travel to Luo City and once they are here, they will never be able to head home."

"Then, why didn't you tell us?"

"I am just a merchant, I was born here and this filthy place was a hell that I wanted to break free. I am against all these transactions however, there are limits to one's strength, and so I conceal myself and mix within them. Most of the clients that I meet knows about Luo City's secret, and so I will arrange ladies to entertain them whenever they come to Luo City.

But, Qi Gong Zi is a little different. When I met him in Capital of Kai, I was unable to predict what kind of man he is. Seeing that he reach out to me in Luo City, I decided to test the water to see if he is like the other clients that I met."

"Then, is there a way to save the girl?"

Merchant Leong paused and shake his head.

"No way. Everything is clean up with no tracks left behind. The ladies being caught here will never be able to escape. Unless ... she doesn't capture anyone's attention, with that, I can help to try to sneak her out."

Silence filled the room as Qi Yuan and Xuan Di absorbed this absurd information.

'Just how much power and resources that Lord Quan have to allow full control over the whole City despite it being a territory of Kai Kingdom? The ability to cut off information from leaking out, manipulate the true nature of business in Luo City, creating a separate status ranking between Man and Woman, underground businesses with other rich nobles or even reaching out to other countries ... Just what identity does he have?' Xuan Di thought.

'Why is she here? How can she be here? Who capture her here? Alas, this is my fault. I should have leave some men to protect her in the dark, I knew she will definitely chase after us after she recovered from the wound I gave her. I knew it. Why didn't I prepare in advance? She is like a never-dying cockroach that will not give up no matter how I push her away. Why did I think that she will be well-behave after that encounter in Yuan Ding Lou? Now ... How do I save her?'

Both of them are drowning in their own thoughts before a familiar figure appear by the door. With a loud bang, the door push open with a force and everyone turns their head to the source of the sound.

Dragging his bloody body, Wu 'Er collapse onto the floor when he saw his master's face. A part of him felt relieved and Xuan Di ran up to him.

"Wu 'Er! Stay awake! What happen!!"

"Her H-hig ... L-lady Jae-in ... S-she ..."

"Jae-in? What happen? WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?"

"I am sorry Master ... She got taken away."

Both Xuan Di and Qi Yuan freeze with the news of Jae-in being taken away in this dangerous city. If the abductor realized her true gender, the consequences will be easily imagined. Now, it is Xuan Di's turn to have that rising anger in him and it is quite similar to Qi Yuan's madness, but he is more controlled.

Being an Emperor, he is trained to control his emotions at all times. Regardless of the situation, no sign of weakness is supposed to be seen. Hiding all the true feelings behind his black eyes, he clenched his fist tightly while grinding his teeth.

Closing his eyes, he came up with a plan.

"Qi Gong Zi, please stay here with Merchant Leong to know the current situation and find ways to save Ai Le Gu Niang. Wu 'Er, you too shall stay here with Qi Gong Zi and remember to mend to your injuries. I will head back to Si He Yuan and see what is going on and definitely will rescue Lady Jae-in."

"Y-you ... Take care." Qi Yuan said weakly.

Nodding his head to acknowledge his concern, Xuan Di left the room with confidence and determination.

'Jae-in, don't worry. I am here to save you.'

_________________________

[A/N]

Hi guys, just want to share that this story will not be updated on every Friday, as I finally got a full-time job. Due to this sudden change of my life tempo, this story will be updated whenever I am free.

So, I will try my best to update as much as I can and apologize for this cliff-hanger style of writing and slow updating.

(Sincerely apologize)