The situation of the other two women was no better.

Especially now, after losing their chastity, they felt as if the sky had fallen, everything plunged into darkness, with no light in sight.

Xia Wenjin raised an eyebrow and said, "You may not have any skills, but can’t you learn? Or are you afraid of hardship? Do you think you can’t learn anything?"

The three of them smiled bitterly; they were not afraid of hardship, having come from difficult lives.

"We are not afraid. But what can we learn? Who would teach us?"

"If there were a way to live, who would want to die?"

"If we could go to a place where no one knows us, as long as there’s something to eat, we’re not picky."

"Why think about these things? We’ve killed someone. The government will lock us up, and even if we don’t get executed, we’ll spend the rest of our lives in prison."

"I hear they provide food in prison."

"..."

Their conversation, though grim, left Xia Wenjin feeling helpless. She didn’t mock their thoughts and could even understand why they felt that way.

She gently tapped the table to stop the women from continuing.

Her gaze swept over their faces as she said, "If you’re willing, you can work with me."

The women looked over, their eyes filled with shock.

Xia Wenjin calmly stated, "But I won’t take in anyone useless. The people I want must meet two requirements: first, capability; second, loyalty without betrayal! I can give you a year. During this year, I’ll have someone teach you skills. If you can’t learn them, I won’t care about your life or death. If you do learn, you can become one of my people!"

Hope ignited in the women’s eyes. A year to learn skills? With dedicated teachers? They were sure they could learn. This young lady had saved their lives, and they felt they should repay her, and loyalty without betrayal wouldn’t be a problem.

Moreover, they had nowhere else to go and didn’t know what to do. If there was somewhere to go, they had hope of surviving.

"Will you...will you take us in? We’re...too dirty!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Xia Wenjin looked at the speaker with gentle eyes, "Who says that? You’re not dirty. It was those evil people who harmed you, and that’s not your fault! Whether you follow me or not in the future, remember this: you are as clean and pure as you were before."

The three women were shocked, followed by a flood of emotions.

They had felt as if the world had collapsed, believing everyone would look down on them, mock them, despise them, belittle them. But this young girl, like a fairy, told them they were as pure and clean as before!

Could they really start anew?

They voiced the doubt in their hearts!

Xia Wenjin affirmed, "Of course you can! You can live with dignity, and as long as you want to, no one can demean you or mistreat you!"

They exchanged glances, tears of joy in their eyes, yet they wore excited smiles on their faces.

However, the excitement was short-lived as their newly found hope extinguished. One of them said sadly, "But we killed someone, and killing requires a life in return, or prison time!"

Xia Wenjin replied seriously, "If you killed an innocent person, I would report you myself. But Qian Baoshan and his accomplices got what they deserved. There’s no need for you to pay with your lives for such scoundrels."

"Then...what do we do about this?" they asked, pointing at the bodies.

Xia Wenjin replied coolly, "Didn’t they love the basement? Didn’t they enjoy tormenting people there? Let them stay there forever!"

The women didn’t understand Xia Wenjin’s meaning.

Without further explanation, Xia Wenjin pulled a sheet off the bed, lifted Qian Baoshan’s body onto it, tied a knot, and carried it out.

Though inexperienced, the women were not fools. They quickly understood Xia Wenjin’s intent and went to help.

They covered the bodies with sheets or clothing to prevent blood from dripping everywhere.

Then, they carried the bodies, following Xia Wenjin out.

Reaching the fake mountain, they opened the secret door to the basement. Xia Wenjin descended the stairs and tossed Qian Baoshan’s body inside.

Following suit, they disposed of all three bodies.

Qian Baoshan and his group likely never imagined that this place they had secretly dug as their lair—

—used for tormenting those they captured through various means, watching them cry in despair, which fueled their beastly desires—

would now become their permanent resting place, never to see daylight again.

Crime does not pay, but timing is crucial! Evil deeds must be repaid!

Afterward, Xia Wenjin and the women cleaned the bloodstains from the floor and bed. After her meticulous handling, even the most skilled investigator from the government would find no trace of evidence.

By the time they finished, most of the night had passed, and Xia Wenjin had to leave. She took out a few pieces of broken silver and told them, "At daybreak, find a chance to slip away unnoticed, then go to Jinyun Inn. I am staying there too, but you cannot contact me, as it is not safe around me right now. Two days later, my people will come to take you to learn skills."

The women, feeling as if in a dream, looked at the young girl in green, her face almost shining with a holy light, like a Bodhisattva saving those in distress.

They wanted to kneel again, but Xia Wenjin stopped them: "Though you haven’t proven your abilities yet, and I don’t know if you’ll become my subordinates, those who follow me should not kneel easily for anyone. You belong to yourselves. Beneath your knees, there is also gold!"

The women had never heard such words, leaving them bewildered. At the same time, they felt something strange, a sense of... being treated equally and with respect?

That girl, so beautiful, capable, kind-hearted—and herself? No longer pure, lowly, ordinary. Yet she didn’t look down on them, instead gazed warmly, comforting and encouraging them, cleaning up their mess.

They must strive to become her subordinates!

"Benefactor, can you tell us your name?"

Xia Wenjin smiled, "My name is Xia Wenjin. I realize I forgot to ask your names, but it doesn’t matter. If you don’t learn any skills in a year, we probably won’t meet again, so you don’t need to tell me!"