Chapter Ten: Encountering a Ruffian Again

For this self-assured, pretentious young man who fancied himself charming, the best strategy was simply to ignore him. With her small basket slung over her shoulder, Banxia walked straight ahead, eyes fixed forward.

Lin You, who had never met such an interesting girl in his life, immediately chased after her. “Hey, don’t go! You’re so skilled—who taught you? I want to become their disciple too.”

Banxia continued to pay him no mind, sidestepping him and moving forward.

Lin You grabbed her basket in a flash. “Are you planning to sell these vegetables? I’ll buy them.”

Banxia stopped at once, turned around, and offered him a dazzling smile. “Alright, a fair price: two taels of silver.”

“What? Just for this? Two taels? I only get five taels a month for my allowance!”

“Fixed price, take it or leave it. Don’t block me from doing business.”

“Wait, if I buy your vegetables, will you sit and chat with me?”

Banxia considered it—such a gullible fool was rare, best to take advantage while she could. “Money first.”

Lin You fished two taels of silver from his sleeve pouch and handed them to Banxia. She received them with both hands, almost reverently, clutching them tightly. Silver—her very first earnings.

“You look so obsessed with money. Who is your master?”

“Gu Shanlong.” The instructor from the City A Police Detective Squad.

“I don’t think I’ve heard of him.”

“He’s just an anonymous wanderer. Where do you live? Shall I deliver your vegetables home?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll tie you up at my estate?”

“With you?” Banxia sized Lin You up, her gaze settling on his most important parts. “I can show you what it means to never stand tall again.”

Her look was so lethal that Lin You instinctively covered his crotch. “Are you really a girl?”

“I am. Are we chatting or not? If not, I’m leaving.”

Banxia was about to go when five men with long sticks approached from behind.

“Master Lin, your esteemed father has taken my brother. I have no choice but to ask you to come with us.”

Sensing trouble, Banxia pleaded, “I’m just passing by. Could you let me go?”

Lin You: He hadn’t expected her to be this kind of person.

“Boss, this woman was chatting with Lin You all along. She might bring others after us if she leaves. We can’t let her go.”

“Take them both.”

Two men moved in from behind. In an instant, Banxia swung her basket, sending wild pheasant eggs flying and splattering across their faces.

Without a second thought, she grabbed Lin You. “What are you standing there for? Run!”

“We must catch them in the alley ahead!” The group gave chase.

Banxia ran with all the effort she could muster, but her companion proved less than helpful.

“I—I—I can’t run anymore…” Barely a hundred meters in, Young Master Lin was gasping for breath, and their pursuers were closing fast. Banxia spotted a broken table to her right, snatched up a splintered leg. “I’ll hold them off—go get help!” Without looking at him, she gave Lin You a push forward. He froze, unmoving.

“Run!” Banxia shouted, charging at one of the assailants. With a swing of the table leg, she knocked his stick away, then landed a flying kick that sent him staggering back. She then assumed a textbook defensive stance and picked up the fallen stick.

“Didn’t expect you to be trained, little lady. But with your skills, you won’t hold out long. Isn’t Young Master Lin going to run?”

Banxia glanced back to see Lin You still standing there. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you running?”

“Do I need to run? Xu Er, you lot have been haunting Black Dragon Mountain, robbing merchants, burning and pillaging, your crimes countless. Today, you’ll join your brother in prison. Little beauty, step aside—this is a man’s battle now.”

Banxia mourned the loss of her wild pheasant eggs. The ruffian actually knew martial arts—and not just any, but quite advanced.

He swiftly took down two of the attackers, leaving only two fierce opponents. As Lin You fought them, a sudden rush of wind behind warned Banxia. “Watch out!” She had been engrossed in the spectacle, but the sight of a hidden arrow made her react instantly. She dove forward, shoving Lin You aside. The arrowhead grazed her left shoulder. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she swung her stick, knocking out the archer.

Lin You, startled by the shove, quickly parried a blow and pushed Banxia aside. “Find somewhere to hide.”

Banxia pressed her hand to her wound, leaning against a wall.

Lin You blew his whistle. Soon, footsteps thundered behind them as a squad of soldiers poured in.

The bandits, seeing their defeat, lost all will to fight and surrendered immediately.

“Young Master…”

“Take them away and keep them separate. I’ll take her to get her wound dressed.” With that, he led Banxia away.