Chapter 218 He who eats another's food is bound to do so

"Dumb man! Since you can speak, then tell me why you committed evil deeds at sea, capsizing ships?"

“I’m not called a mute, and those ‘ghost ships’ aren’t good people either. They were robbing passing merchants. I just punished them and didn’t take their lives, which was already very merciful.”

The beautiful woman was very angry, whether because of how Qin Mo addressed her or because her act of bravery was misunderstood.

Qin Mo unconsciously touched his forehead to hide his embarrassment. In this conflict, it seemed as if he was the villain and the beautiful woman was the hero who saved the world.

"So, you mute, where do you come from?...Are you a sea creature?" Qin Mo changed the subject.

"My name isn't...mute...ba!"

The mute girl finally snapped, unleashing her pent-up anger and roaring at Qin Mo.

Kaihime, standing behind Qin Mo, was even angrier than the mute girl. She had already started cracking her knuckles, ready to teach her a lesson if she shouted again.

Qin Mo's gaze turned stern as he coldly stared at the girl. From beginning to end, she had never directly answered his questions, either feigning ignorance or muteness. He didn't have the airs of a prince, but he possessed the dignity of a strong person.

The mute girl watched as Qin Mo's face turned cold, her two large blue eyes became misty, and her mouth pursed, as if she was about to cry out in grievance.

“My name is Shia... I was kicked out of my family... I don’t know what race I am.”

The beautiful woman finally held back her tears and succumbed to Qin Mo's oppressive power.

"Whether you are human or sea creature, you are now a prisoner. Do you... know what a prisoner means?"

Shia could only nod. Of course she knew that prisoners of war were worse off than slaves—starved, poorly clothed, and forced to work. But…why could she eat whatever she wanted and not have to work?

Shia began her life as a prisoner. She ate with Qin Mo, slept with someone watching over her, and did nothing except accompany Qin Mo fishing with Kaihime. She could even sleep soundly while others were cleaning the deck without anyone paying attention to her.

"Is this...the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty?...There are so many people!"

Just by listening to Xia's fluent Mandarin, one could tell the importance of Great Xia in her heart. When she saw the bustling Danshui City, her eyes lit up with admiration.

"Barbarians, bumpkins, country bumpkins..."

Kaihime felt contempt in her heart, but her face remained expressionless. She had already seen through Shia's true nature; she was just a poor child who had never left home.

"This isn't the capital, it's just Danshui City. Don't even think about running away. There are lots of people with unusual interests here. Sea creatures and vampires are very popular. You know what 'popular' means, right?"

Seeing Qin Mo's mischievous look, Shia, though still not understanding what being popular meant, instinctively moved to Qin Mo's side and grabbed his sleeve tightly.

The carriage of Prince Heng's mansion was very low-key. It passed through the streets without disturbing the merchants. Only high-ranking officials and elderly people would bow and make way for the carriage.

As various workshops in Dayuan scaled up, more and more people from Daxia came to Dayuan to do business. The large number of orders, in turn, stimulated the development of Dayuan's industry. As a commercial center, Danshui City became prosperous at an astonishing speed. In terms of cultural heritage, it may not be as rich as ancient cities such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing, but its popularity is comparable to or even surpasses that of ancient cities.

"Is this entire city... all yours?" The girl, Shia, knelt inside the carriage window until she saw the royal palace before turning back to ask Qin Mo.

"Oh! Yes...."

"Are you a nobleman of the Great Xia Dynasty?"

"Oh! Yes..."

Qin Mo answered Shia's questions listlessly. Shia had been mostly silent the whole way, only liking to look around aimlessly on the ship. She loved all things new, and even though Kaihime always seemed to be rejecting her, it couldn't stop her cheerful laughter.

The carriage stopped, and Uncle Lin and Lin Ruoxi were already waiting in front of it. Uncle Lin is now the highest-ranking official in both the government and business worlds, but he still values ​​the position of Grand Steward of the Prince Heng's Mansion the most.

"Your Highness must be tired from your journey!"

"Uncle Lin, you don't need to be so formal in the future. You're very busy these days, so don't worry about such trivial matters." Qin Mo always informed Uncle Lin before going out, and Uncle Lin would always come to greet or pay his respects upon her return.

Lin Huaiyuan smiled but didn't say anything. He greeted Kaihime warmly when he saw Qin Mo behind her, but he paused when he saw Shia, his eyes showing a hint of doubt.

"She's Xiya, we found her on the road. We've arranged for her to stay in the Prince's mansion for now, and we'll make further arrangements later," Qin Mo casually explained to Uncle Lin, before noticing Lin Ruoxi's hostile gaze towards Xiya.

"Ruoxi, how is your cultivation going?"

"Your Highness, Ruoxi's cultivation is progressing smoothly, and she will certainly serve you wholeheartedly in the future."

"Yes! Don't be impatient. The most important thing in cultivation is to be calm and peaceful. Avoid anxiety and agitation."

"Ruoxi has remembered it, thank you for your teachings, Your Highness."

Lin Huaiyuan possessed the cultivation level of the Profound Realm and considerable combat strength, but his descendants lacked the potential for cultivation. Neither Lin Yongqian nor Lin Ruoxi had been able to awaken their cultivation, which was a source of great anxiety for Lin Huaiyuan. Why did he focus on industry and commerce while Wu Mingyi focused on the military? It was all due to the lack of capable successors.

When Qin Mo used his artillery technology to obtain thirty doses of the Spirit Cleansing Potion, he gave two doses to Uncle Lin. Uncle Lin burst into tears on the spot. He might be able to buy Vitality Potion and rubbings with money, but the Spirit Cleansing Potion would never appear on the black market. The whereabouts of every dose would be recorded by the Imperial Family. And who doesn't have children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces?

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!