Futile Devices Scans

Why was it that after finally transmigrating to ancient times—

the first thing that happened was getting hit on by a man?

Ning Xuan struggled to suppress the urge to shout, “I’m not interested in creepy uncles!”

Yet his hesitant expression was completely misunderstood by the man before him. Taking it for fear and timidity, the fellow immediately broke into a wide grin.

“Don’t be afraid, little brother,” the man said enthusiastically. “Judging from your appearance, you must’ve just arrived here, right? Being alone and helpless in the imperial capital isn’t good. Sure, it’s the Son of Heaven’s domain, but there are still many things even the emperor has to pretend not to see.”

He leaned closer, eager.

“How about I introduce you to a good place? Work hard there and you’ll eat well and drink well for the rest of your days!”

Ning Xuan’s face darkened.

What exactly is going on here…

Seeing that Ning Xuan merely stared without speaking, the man’s already thin patience evaporated. Without another word, he bent down, scooped Ning Xuan up like a sack of grain, and tossed him over his shoulder.

The world spun violently.

Ning Xuan’s head swung wildly while the man’s bony shoulder dug straight into his stomach. His empty belly spasmed painfully under the impact.

Damn it!

Not only did transmigration fail to grant him a luxurious bed or peerless martial arts—

Not only had he been flirted with by a man—

But the most important part was…

The man flirting with him was a human trafficker!

“Let me go!” Ning Xuan struggled desperately. His mind raced as he searched for words that ancient people might understand.

“In broad daylight you dare abduct a citizen—where is the law?!”

Although the jolting made him nauseous, Ning Xuan delivered the line with righteous indignation, combining persuasion, intimidation, and moral outrage into a single speech.

If one ignored the trembling weakness at the end of his voice—and the rather ridiculous position he was currently in—it was actually quite imposing.

The man paused for a moment but never slowed his steps.

He glanced up at the sky and chuckled.

“Of course there’s law,” he said leisurely. “But it’s nighttime now. Even the law has to sleep, don’t you think?”

Ning Xuan nearly popped his eyes out of their sockets in fury.

So he’s actually arguing back?!

Just as expected—remote places breed unruly people!

What Ning Xuan failed to realize, however, was that it truly was the dead of night—the perfect time for thieves and rogues to roam freely. Even the magistrates had long since retired to their warm beds.

And as for this “remote place”—

The location he currently occupied was none other than the imperial capital of the Hua Dynasty, the heart of the largest empire on the continent.

By day it would have appeared dazzling and prosperous.

But Ning Xuan would not be seeing that anytime soon.

Carried along the streets like cargo, Ning Xuan was jostled until stars danced before his eyes.

Fearing he might shout and attract attention, the two men simply stuffed a piece of cloth into his mouth.

Unable to shout or breathe properly, Ning Xuan quickly lost the strength to struggle.

At this point his only wish was that these two uncles would hurry up and stop walking.

After countless twists and turns through dark alleys, the men finally arrived somewhere unknown.

Through his hazy dizziness, Ning Xuan vaguely heard them speaking to someone.

Judging from the repeated bowing and nodding—each motion making his stomach churn even worse—it seemed they were greeting someone respectfully.

Before fainting from the ordeal, Ning Xuan spared one final glance at the other victim still trapped inside the sack.

Brother… your endurance is truly admirable.

Pop!

Ning Xuan woke with a start.

The crackling of a candle wick had roused him.

Still groggy, he rubbed his eyes and looked around.

The room was decorated in a simple but elegant classical style.

A wooden table and chairs.

A plain landscape screen dividing the chamber.

Behind it, the faint outline of a bronze lamp stand could be seen.

The walls were painted white, giving the place a clean and orderly appearance.

Logically speaking, a residence of this size and arrangement should belong to a wealthy household.

Yet the furnishings lacked any true luxury—no porcelain ornaments, no jade carvings, nothing extravagant.

It seemed neither rich nor poor.

Just… ordinary.

Ning Xuan frowned.

Where exactly had he been brought?

Could it be that even commoners nowadays were wealthy enough to buy servants from traffickers?

How rich was this country supposed to be?

Ning Xuan turned his head.

At last he saw the unfortunate soul who had been stuffed inside the sack earlier.

It was a boy.

Clean-featured and delicate.

Not stunningly handsome, but still rather pleasant to look at. He appeared around fifteen or sixteen—roughly the same age as Ning Xuan.

The boy was staring around with equal astonishment, his eyes wide and lips slightly parted.

Ning Xuan’s shock came from trying to decipher the mysterious nature of this household.

The boy, however…

Was staring directly at Ning Xuan.

Just as Ning Xuan was about to strike up a conversation, a series of footsteps sounded behind them.

He immediately fell silent.

“Are these the two new servants?”

The voice was cold and stern, carrying an authority that made one instinctively nervous.

Servants?

Ning Xuan silently analyzed the situation.

Then this must be a declining noble household.

Considering the furnishings and conversation, he quickly formed his conclusion.

“Yes.”

A man dressed in short working clothes responded hurriedly.

Ning Xuan looked up, using the lantern in the man’s hand and the candlelight in the room to examine the two figures.

Strangely enough, they didn’t resemble the typical fawning lackeys described in novels.

Especially the younger man.

He stood with a straight back, exuding a quiet authority.

At the same time Ning Xuan was studying them, the younger man was also examining the two boys.

Meeting Ning Xuan’s curious gaze, the man frowned slightly.

“Where did you find them?”

“Th-this…” The older man suddenly became nervous.

“I told you,” the younger man said evenly, “I only need two servants capable of working. Their backgrounds need not be perfectly clean—but I will not allow more seducers into this household.”

Though his tone had barely changed, the older man behind him began trembling violently.

But he wasn’t the only one shaken.

The boy beside Ning Xuan stiffened as well.

“N-no, that’s not it!” the man stammered. “Your servant has investigated carefully. They both came from fallen official households. Since they would become government slaves anyway, I thought…”

As if afraid he wouldn’t be believed, the man hurried forward and grabbed Ning Xuan’s sleeve, shaking it excitedly.

“Look at this fabric! It may not belong to the extremely wealthy, but it’s certainly not something ordinary people can afford!”

“If he came from a brothel, how could he be wearing something like this?”

The younger man remained noncommittal.

But the older man beside him visibly relaxed in relief.

Ning Xuan, however, was not pleased.

First of all—

How did a perfectly respectable young man like himself suddenly get mistaken for someone from a brothel?

Second—

This robe was a gift from heaven itself!

How dare this guy grab it so casually?!

Did he not know that disrespecting heaven could invite divine punishment?!

Ning Xuan turned his head away from the rough, dark hand tugging his sleeve, consoling himself inwardly.

I’m being magnanimous.

Yes. A gentleman does not quarrel with petty people.

But then a horrifying thought struck him.

Wait a second…

If he was being taken in as a servant—

Didn’t that mean…

He’d just been sold?

…But if I was sold—

Why didn’t I get the money?!

Not only did I not get paid—

I don’t even know how much I was worth!

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