Chapter Fifty-One: The Arrogant Youth
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A figure dressed in dark, foreign robes, feet treading on clouds, wielding a fire-tending staff, strode boldly into the circle, scattering the crowd before him. The gang of villains, though clad in luxurious silks, behaved with crude arrogance—several brandished large blades. Their leader, a mass of sinew with a centipede-like scar across his face, could frighten a child with a mere glare.
Beside him, two henchmen manhandled a frail girl, one kicking her mother aside without a hint of courtesy. The leader, Yu Da, eyed the intruder with disdain. The newcomer was scrawny, barely any flesh on his bones, though his stature was decent.
“Well, isn’t this strange? Lately, good men have been flocking to our manor one after another—do these people really have money to burn?” Yu Da barked, hands on hips. Several timid onlookers toppled in fright.
Yet the newcomer remained unmoved, his dark, bottomless gaze fixed on Yu Da. Yu Da felt a chill, but he was accustomed to domineering ways. Even noble sons from the capital would retreat at the mere mention of the Marquis of Wei's banner. Should anyone from the Jiang family object, they’d simply say it was Lady Xue’s dowry. If it was the Duke of England’s mansion, there was no need to even speak—they’d never interfere. Who would meddle in a nun’s dowry? Even her own family wouldn’t dare.
After Lady Xue’s death, Maple Leaf Manor fell under Master Xue’s management. Now, none dared defy him; all treated him with utmost respect. This newcomer was surely no exception.
“Out of the way, you nobody! This is Lady Xue’s dowry, property of the Marquis of Wei. If you want to meddle, weigh your options carefully.”
Jiang Lan watched Yu Da, surrounded by his thugs. The dossier from his cousin had detailed their misdeeds. These brutes, backed by Xue Dafu, wreaked havoc in the manor and throughout the outskirts of Jiankang, offending all—friend or foe alike. If not for a thorough investigation, Jiang Lan would have suspected them as planted troublemakers, their reckless power courting disaster.
Yu Da, oblivious, mistook others’ fear for achievement and respect.
Old Madam Wang, wielding a vegetable knife, helped the girl's mother toward Jiang Lan. At first, Jiang Lan thought Madam Wang sought his protection, being the only one to step forward.
But he was mistaken. Madam Wang stood between him and Yu Da, her trembling knife never lowered.
“Yu Da, you heartless brute! Cuilan is still so young—how can you bear it? Today, even if I die here, I won’t let you harm her!”
Madam Wang brandished her knife, eyes wide as bronze bells. When she turned to Jiang Lan, her face softened into gentle kindness: “Young master, don’t be afraid. Even if I die, I’ll protect you.”
Jiang Lan felt his heart sink, then shifted his gaze to Yu Da and his jeering companions.
The young girl was dragged across the ground, leaving twin trails of blood—so glaring, so painful to witness, reminiscent of the heaps of corpses on Mount Wu. Jiang Lan’s eyes stung.
Shielded by Madam Wang, Jiang Lan quietly slipped a talisman from his sachet. With thumb and forefinger, he ignited a spark, burning the yellow charm on his fire-tending staff.
“Ha! Ignorant peasant woman—show her what’s what!” The tall henchman who’d kicked the girl’s mother rushed forward. Madam Wang’s knife was sent flying by his kick.
Madam Wang froze, a slap looming. The harsh wind whistled, but the pain never came.
Opening her eyes, she saw the young master—her benefactor—step forward, blocking the blow with his staff.
“Auntie, watch carefully!”
Madam Wang, once a merchant’s daughter who’d traveled far and wide, had seen many heroes. But this—beating villains like whack-a-mole—was a first.
“Are you all right, old woman?”
“Mother, are you hurt?”
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Brother Liu and his children squeezed in, sweating, relieved to find wife and mother unharmed.
Brother Liu examined his wife closely. “Not hurt, are you? If not for our benefactor, who knows what would’ve happened. Next time, be careful.”
Madam Wang blushed, unabashed—her man always fussed over her, his words full of affection.
Seeing his father about to fuss again, Liu’s eldest quickly cut in.
“Father, let’s talk later—where’s the young master, our benefactor’s child?”
“Yes, Father, let’s hurry and help him.” As he spoke, Liu’s second son rolled up his sleeves, the farmer’s spirit defiant.
Liu’s third son was gentler—neither as steady as the eldest nor as rugged as the second, but the most handsome of all. Last time, he was the most anxious when their benefactor’s child was attacked, losing a shoe in his rush.
“Yes, Father, quickly!”
Old Liu hurried, “How could I forget! Wife, where’s the young master brought by our benefactor?”
Madam Wang pointed to the youth, one foot on the ground, one atop the pile of fallen men. “There… over there.”
The four Liu men shoved through the crowd, stunned by the scene inside.
“Father, should we call our benefactor back? It seems… the young master doesn’t need any help.”
Liu’s eldest rubbed his twitching mouth—he had indeed been frightened earlier.
“…Yes.”
Liu’s second son’s sharp eyes glinted, as if discovering treasure.
Liu’s third son remained silent, clenching his fists.
“I’ll surely find a way to repay this kindness,” he resolved.
Jiang Lan pressed harder with his foot—cries erupted.
“Let go of me!”
“Ow!”
“Hey, kid, my men have escaped—when Master Xue arrives, you’ll pay for this!”
No matter how they raged, Jiang Lan never relented, his gaze fixed on the bloodied girl, the sight fueling his resolve.
Their curses dwindled to whimpers.
The girl’s mother ran to her, clutching her tightly; Madam Wang came to help.
The talisman’s power faded; Jiang Lan tossed the staff aside.
The four Liu men rushed forward. “Young master, hurry! If trouble breaks out, Master Xue will come with his men to seize you. You must leave!”
Jiang Lan shook his head. “I was worried I wouldn’t find him—let him come.”
Brother Liu watched Jiang Lan, recalling his energetic leaps like ants on freight. Liu’s second son stared intensely at Jiang Lan.
“Father, why not let the young master, Aunt Yin, and her daughter come home with us? If those villains return, we can hold them off a while. Didn’t our benefactor send for help?”
“Jiang’s right,” Brother Liu bowed, “Please, young master, take shelter with us.”
Jiang Lan eyed the anxious old man. “Are you Liu Brother mentioned by Jiang Cheng? The Liu family next door?”
Old Liu nodded, cheeks reddening in humble honesty.
“Just call me old Liu, young master.”
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Jiang Lan nodded, dusting his hands as he looked at the Liu sons. “If I come, you’ll be a thorn in Xue Dafu’s side. Are you really willing to shelter me?”
Without hesitation, old Liu replied, “Don’t worry, young master! Come to our home and take shelter—there’s no time to lose!”
Jiang Lan was about to agree when sounds came from nearby. He sighed, “You’d best withdraw for now—someone’s coming.”
“Someone’s coming?” Liu Jiang, the eldest, exclaimed.
Liu He, the second son, was eager. “Don’t worry, young master, I’ll stand in front and protect you.”
“Liu He?” Jiang Lan looked at the twenty-something youth, dressed for fieldwork, pant legs rolled to his knees. Though his clothes were loose, he was lean and wiry—clearly skilled in martial arts.
“Young master.”
Liu He bowed, eyes full of genuine, unflattering joy.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Jiang Lan didn’t hesitate.
“People will be here soon—get inside and take cover!”
This time, old Liu didn’t argue, quickly helping his wife and the girl’s mother and daughter into the courtyard, while the three Liu brothers stayed behind.
The crowd dispersed, leaving only a conspicuous pile of fallen men and Jiang Lan’s group.
Jiang Lan looked at the four brothers. “There’s still some time—why haven’t you retreated?”
“We swear to protect you, young master.”
Liu Jiang spoke, the others bowing in agreement.
Jiang Lan nodded, turning to face the imposing man riding a fine horse, followed by a gang of armed thugs, all around forty years old.
“Xue Dafu?”
To meet his gaze, Jiang Lan stepped onto the heap of defeated men, standing tall as he called out.
Having enjoyed a decade of wealth, Xue Dafu had never heard someone address him so directly. He was stunned, then furious.
“You brat! Daring to cause trouble on the Marquis of Wei’s land, assaulting servants of the Jiang estate—aren’t you afraid of offending the Marquis and the Empress Dowager?”
Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow at the corpulent, middle-aged man astride his steed. “The Marquis of Wei? The Empress Dowager?”
“What, are you afraid now?”
Jiang Lan observed the arrogant man. He once thought Xue Dafu merely flaunted the names of the Marquis’s estate and the Duke of England to bully the countryside, but he hadn’t expected him to invoke the Empress Dowager as well.
Such a villain must be punished to appease the people’s anger.
“Afraid? Yes, I am afraid.”
Xue Dafu eyed the frail, plainly dressed youth. The smile on his lips as he spoke of “fear” struck him as odd.
“Who are you, really?”
Jiang Lan stomped his foot—Yu Da and his men wailed beneath him.
“Just a benevolent wanderer with a bit of money to spare.”
With that, Jiang Lan drew a small golden fan from his belt.
“What, Master Xue, are you afraid of me?”
Seeing the youth’s swagger, Xue Dafu was livid.
“Ignorant brat! Arrogant to the extreme! To the extreme! The extreme!!”
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