The middle-aged woman, who had been hurling insults at them just a second before, instantly changed her expression, rushing forward in a fawning bow, "Madam, what brings you to such a dirty place? You could have sent a servant with a message if you needed something."
The white-robed woman didn't even glance at her, her eyes sweeping over the men. No one dared to meet her gaze, and everyone lowered their heads, filled with trepidation.
Yang Xiao sneaked a look at her: a very young woman with chiseled features, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, full of heroic spirit. A sword hung at her left waist, and on the right, under a white jade fastening, dangled a bright green token carved with words and patterns.
"Is everyone here?" the woman asked coldly.
"Yes, Madam, everyone is here. For this autumn tribute, all sects and nearby prefectures have presented 60 handsome men, excluding the 5 who met an early death, leaving 55 here."
