Street Ruffian

Yang Surong ran out of the Hong residence alone, wandering aimlessly through the streets, wiping her tears with the wide sleeves of her robe. In her hand, she held a wooden bracelet, hand-carved and given to her personally by Hong Tianyun on their wedding day.

She thought back to the days before Yubao entered their lives, to the time spent with Hong Tianyun—those were carefree days, filled with happiness and laughter. But ever since Yubao became pregnant, troubles had come one after another. All sorts of issues were thrust upon her; even her personal maid, Xiao Die, was summoned away to attend to Yubao.

Surong had become isolated, left to live alone. Now, she slid the wooden bracelet onto her left wrist, her eyes brimming with tears as she walked down the street.

At that moment, two young ruffians, stroking their chins, eyed Surong as she passed. Sharing a knowing grin, they followed after her.

“Hey, beautiful,” one called out.

“All alone?” asked the other.

“Why such a lost and forlorn look? Someone as lovely as you shouldn’t have a tear-stained face.”

“It breaks one’s heart to see you like this,” they taunted, blocking her path.

“I don’t know you—leave me alone,” Surong stammered, startled by their presence, and immediately ran off.

The two ruffians exchanged glances and gave chase.

Panicked, Surong fled towards the outskirts of the county, the ruffians close behind. On the road, Li Xintian spotted her running in distress and hurried after her.

“Madam Hong, why are you being chased?” Li Xintian intercepted her, displaying his skill.

“You punk, trying to play the hero? This woman owes us two hundred taels of silver. If she doesn’t pay up today, she’s not leaving,” one of the ruffians threatened, noting Li Xintian’s gilded robes—clearly a man of wealth, ripe for extortion. They had also noticed his martial prowess.

“No, Scholar Li, I don’t know them at all. They’re clearly trying to extort me,” Surong quickly protested, shaking her head.

“Will you leave on your own, or shall I escort you?” Li Xintian, trusting Surong, addressed the ruffians.

“What is Young Master Li doing here?” Hu Xingniang, hidden in the woods above, watched Surong and Li Xintian.

“I only meant to teach Surong a lesson for disobeying me, for insisting Tianyun take a concubine,” Hu Xingniang murmured.

Elsewhere, Hu Xin concealed himself in another patch of woods.

“Get them!” The two ruffians drew short daggers and lunged at Li Xintian and Surong.

“Stand behind me!” Li Xintian seized Surong’s trembling wrist and pulled her to safety behind him.

He shrugged off his outer robe and spun it through the air. The two ruffians, unable to stop their momentum, found their dagger-wielding hands ensnared by the robe.

With a deft turn, Li Xintian delivered a swift kick to each ruffian’s chest.

With a cry, the ruffians staggered back, their blades tearing through the robe, but they tripped and fell to the ground.

“Spare us, great sir! Spare us!” they pleaded, kneeling despite the pain in their chests.

“It’s too late. I gave you a chance to leave. Now, you’ll be handed over to the authorities,” Li Xintian said, tearing his damaged robe into strips and binding their hands.

The ruffians, pale and defeated, could only submit.

Hu Xingniang and Hu Xin slipped away into the shadows.

“Madam Hong, are you all right? You’re not hurt, are you?” Li Xintian asked once everything was settled.

“I’m fine. Thank you, Scholar Li,” Surong replied, shaking her head.

“What’s happened, Madam Hong? Why such a troubled look?” he asked, dragging the subdued ruffians along.

“It’s my own fault for being too kind and naive, for failing to see the malice in others. That’s how I ended up like this,” she said.

That day, because of a murder case, the officials had sent everyone from the residence out to help due to a shortage of manpower, leaving only Xiao Die to care for Yubao.

Yubao sent Surong out to buy medicine to safeguard her pregnancy, claiming the child was restless—just an excuse.

While Surong was away, Yubao waited for Hong Tianyun’s return and produced abortifacient herbs, falsely accusing Surong of plotting harm.

Hong Tianyun did not believe Surong, so she ran out, leading to the events that followed.

“Madam Hong, let’s return and see what can be done,” Li Xintian suggested.

“No, going back will only anger her further. It’s better to wait until she has given birth,” Surong shook her head.

“Very well, that might be best. Let me take you somewhere to rest for now. That way, Brother Tianyun won’t worry as much,” Li Xintian agreed.

Surong nodded in acquiescence.

Meanwhile, Hu Xingniang caught up with Hu Xin.

“What is it you’re really after?” she demanded.

He laughed coldly. “How amusing—you, old as you are, seem awfully concerned about that woman.”

“Are you suggesting we settle this with strength again? Did you not learn your lesson last time?” she retorted.

“Enough talk—I must know what you’re up to!” Hu Xin’s form began to morph, bestial features emerging.

Hu Xingniang transformed as well, the two facing off—one cloaked in white, the other in black. They leapt, landing with such force that the ground beneath fractured in a circle a meter wide as they crossed paths.

White and black spun, each unleashing a beam of light from their mouths—one pale, one dark—striking each other’s chests.

Hu Xingniang suppressed the blood that welled in her mouth; Hu Xin spat a mouthful of blood outright.

She laughed. “It seems I’m still the stronger. From now on, things will be done my way.”

“Don’t be smug. Though I’m wounded, once I recover, I’ll kill you yet, you ancient hag!” Hu Xin snarled, then turned and vanished in a streak of black light.

Only after he was truly gone did Hu Xingniang cough up a mouthful of blood herself.

“Hu Xin’s cultivation is advancing too quickly. Last time, he was no match for me, but now he’s nearly reached a millennium of training. I suppose I must also leave for a time,” she reflected, her injuries grave.

Within both their bodies, the opposing demon power raged uncontrollably.

With that, Hu Xingniang transformed into a white stream of light and departed.

Li Xintian delivered the two ruffians to Tang Zhong, explaining they had attempted assault with weapons and meant harm to Madam Hong, and asked Tang Zhong to see to their punishment.

He then escorted Yang Surong to Hu Xingniang’s home.

“Auntie, how did you get hurt?” Li Xintian asked as soon as he entered the courtyard and saw the pale-faced Hu Xingniang at the door.

“It’s nothing,” she replied, waving her hand dismissively.

“Granny, it’s all my fault. I didn’t listen to you and insisted Tianyun take a concubine. Now I’ve ended up cast out onto the streets—this is the result of my stubbornness,” Surong sobbed, throwing her arms around Hu Xingniang, her eyes red and brimming with tears.