Hao Ren and Reni were sitting in the yard, the former had brewed some tea and the latter was having a refreshing moment. She took a sip and a sigh escaped her lips as she said, "Young Master, you are very skilled in tea brewing. This is very refreshing."
Hao Ren thanked her, and suddenly they found someone standing at the door. Reni received the people, and soon she brought in twenty children in there early teenage. Hao Ren said, "You go about and deal with that thing, I will handle the children."
Reni was confused but she nodded and left to deal with the slave trader. Hao Ren looked at the children who were standing in the yard with their heads down. They were all sticking to each other, as if looking for a familiar presence in this new atmosphere. Reni set up an illusion and defensive array outside. The yard would appear empty to the people who try to spy on them.
Hao Ren sighed and said, "You all do not have to worry. I am not a monster. I know that I am not able to understand your pain, but I promise that not only will I not add to your pain, I will make you strong enough to trample the ones who caused you to be here in this miserable state."
Hao Ren had the sooth saying skill, and it worked in accordance with the psychological state of the target. The children were innocent and traumatized. It did not take much effort for Hao Ren to get through them. After fifteen minutes, all the children were crying and pouring out their grief.
After an hour they all calmed down, and Hao Ren fed them with some tea. Reni came back and looked at the scene with great awe in her mind. The fact that this young man could make these children look at him and appear to be relaxed was something that shocked her.
Hao Ren asked her, "How did it go?"
Reni nodded and replied, "It was exactly like how you said. The slum is empty, and only a few old people were left there to die. I gave them all some money discreetly on my way back. The slave trader is done for."
Hao Ren nodded and said, "I will take the boys and you can take the girls. Have them all clean up and rest for the coming two days. We will settle the deed of a shop in the mean time."
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Reni nodded and she did as she was told. There were seven girls and thirteen boys in the group. Hao Ren knew what he needed to do, as he sat calmly on the ground and asked, "Tell me your names."
The boys were surprised and then one of them said in a soft voice, "Jian."
Followed by him the rest also reported their names, Ding, Ming, Alan, Trent, Noel, Jing, Peng, Ryu, Arrow, Rin, Lang, Teng.
Hao Ren found that there were many children who had a name that did not sound oriental. He did not think much about this, because he was used to this when he was on the blue star. When Reni came back, she was followed by seven little girls, who were very clean and pretty. They were dressed in new clothes adding to their charms.
Hao Ren nodded with a smile and then he led the guys to wash up behind the house. They cleaned up the place after them and Hao Ren gave them new hanfus as well. Then they all gathered in the courtyard.
Reni came and stood behind Hao Ren. The young man asked for the girls name, and they were called, Jill, Kim, Lin, Lan, Yue, Si, Li.
Reni nodded and then left the house. Hao Ren then said to the group, "It will be a very hard process to cultivate, but it will help you all a great deal. I hope you can preserve for as long as you can. Even if you feel like dying, grit your teeth and continue. I guarantee you that I will be there and ensure that you come out safe and sound. Do you trust me?"
The twenty children replied in unison, "Yes."
Hao Ren smiled and said, "From today, the girls will call me Young Master, and Sister Reni will be addressed as Senior. Okay?"
The children nodded and replied in unison once again. Hao Ren thought of something, and took out a house bot from his space ring, and placed it in the living room. Xiao Mei had made the necessary modifications and now this guy could work with solar powered batteries.
The children were surprised, and Hao Ren said, "This is a high quality puppet. He is called Onyx, and he will teach you how to read, and write, and it will teach the boys how to gather information."
The children nodded, and Hao Ren said, "In this world the strong misuse power, weak girls are targeted the most. I will teach the girls how to cook and you will help me out in the kitchen in the future. The boys will serve the tables, but your main task will be to collect information. For that, you will learn how to read lips. Okay?"
The people nodded, and one boy asked, "Young Master, can I ask you something?"
Hao Ren nodded and Peng asked, "Young Master, will those people beat us if we did anything wrong?"
Hao Ren froze for a second and then he shook his head and replied, "I will not let them beat you. Do not worry. You just have to make sure that they do not find out about you gathering information. Okay?"
The children nodded, and soon Reni came back. Hao Ren then found out a few barrels inside the house, and began to concoct a mixture of herbs and water that was placed over some wood.
Hao Ren called the children over, and said, "There are ten barrels of top quality marrow washing fluid. The liquid is cold at the moment, but if you enter the barrel, I will light up the fire under it, and your body will start to absorb the herbs mixed inside. The longer you persist, the stronger you will become. I will make sure that you do not die, so, who wants to go first?"
The children exchanged glances and almost at the same moment, all of them stepped up and said, "Me!"
Hao Ren smiled and said, "From now on, you are not slaves, but soldiers, my soldiers. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Young Master!"
Reni saw this and was surprised, she did not expect that such a small trace of warmth would make these children willingly follow what Hao Ren said. She looked at the young man before her and could not help but think of the times, when Lady Mei had told her that her brother was a mastermind and tricky.
Hao Ren had a lots of work to do, and he had been making moves at multiple fronts to complete things. Reni thought, 'I pray for his enemies.'