Сокровищница Цзянху

Глава 29

Wenqing was most annoyed by Youtong mentioning Xu Wei and the Cui family matriarch's names. This was because she idolized Xu Wei and always felt that Youtong had stolen her husband. As for the Cui family matriarch, even though Jiang was the matriarch's niece and she was her relative, the matriarch had never given her a second glance. Initially, when Youtong wasn't around, the matriarch only doted on Wenyan; but once Youtong arrived, she also showed favoritism to the Ninth Miss, completely ignoring her. How could she not be resentful and angry? Therefore, Wenqing's expression darkened even more upon hearing Youtong mention these two.

"Eighth Sister, you're up so early! Did you sleep well last night? It's getting chilly these days, so you should wear an extra layer this morning," You Tong said with a smile, completely unconcerned.

Wen Qing sneered, "I can't bear Miss Yu's concern."

“No problem.” You Tong still smiled, as if she hadn’t heard her call her Miss Yu at all.

"You—" Wen Qing didn't expect that after she exposed her identity, she would remain so calm. Instead, she herself couldn't sit still anymore. She stood up abruptly and said angrily, "Do you think I wouldn't dare to reveal your identity? You're just a little hussy from a merchant family, yet you dare to impersonate the Ninth Miss of the Cui family. Do you have a death wish? I'm only trying not to make a big fuss for the sake of the Cui family's reputation. If you know what's good for you, you'd better quickly ask Brother Xu for a letter of divorce and leave on your own. Otherwise, I will definitely make you pay."

You Tong suddenly burst into laughter, as if she had heard a brilliant joke. She laughed so hard she could hardly breathe and almost couldn't straighten up. After she finished laughing, she finally rubbed her chest and asked, half amused and half serious, "If I'm not sensible, I don't know how Miss Eight wants me to look good?"

"You—shameless!" Wenqing trembled with anger, stomped her foot and cursed, "You're refusing to listen to reason, do you think I can't do anything to you now that you've married into the Xu family? Let me tell you, I have evidence. With just one word from me, you won't have anywhere to stay in the capital."

You Tong leaned back lazily in her chair, smiling dismissively, "My dear Eighth Miss, I thought you had some new trick up your sleeve, really—tsk tsk,"

She shook her head and sighed in disappointment, "I've been waiting for nothing. This trivial matter has been circulating in the capital countless times. You should ask around and see who actually believes it. If you think I'm bluffing, you might as well go directly to the Second Madam and ask her if she knows who I am. Now, even if my own father came, he couldn't prove this. Do you think your so-called evidence would be of any use? Girls, although they don't need to manage state affairs like men, can't be too stupid. They need to use their brains occasionally, otherwise, they won't even realize they're being used, and they'll be foolishly used as pawns. When trouble arises, people will just say you're unreasonable and don't know what's important. You're not young anymore. Stop thinking about how to deal with me all day, and stop being so obsessed with other women's men. You should spend more time thinking about how to get married."

Having said that, he ignored her and gracefully stood up, slowly walking into the courtyard.

Wenqing was so enraged by her words that she almost fainted. Trembling, she pointed at her, tears welling in her eyes. "You—shameless—" she cried, then suddenly charged at Youtong like a madwoman. Youtong frowned, a surge of annoyance rising within her. Compared to her methods towards Yu Wan, she had been relatively polite to Wenqing, yet Wenqing remained ungrateful, repeatedly provoking her. Since that was the case, she couldn't blame her for being ruthless.

With this thought in mind, You Tong neither dodged nor avoided the collision, and instead took the hit head-on. Then, losing her balance, she tumbled off the veranda and into the pond.

With a "plop," water splashed everywhere, and the servants waiting on the shore cried out in alarm, shouting "Help!"

60. Coma

When You Tong was pulled out of the water by the servants of the Cui family, she was barely breathing. The Second Madam almost fainted when she saw her. Fortunately, Cui Weiyuan returned to the mansion just in time. He ordered the servants to quickly fetch a doctor, sent someone to the Xu mansion to inform Xu Wei, and sent someone to the other courtyard to invite the Third Master.

When Xu Wei rushed to the Cui family home, You Tong was still unconscious, lying on the bed, pale and lifeless. Wen Yan was already sobbing uncontrollably beside her, while Cui Weiyuan remained silent with a sullen face, his eyes shifting uncertainly. He would glance at You Tong one moment, then look down at the ground the next, lost in thought.

Although Xu Wei knew that You Tong could swim and would not drown in the pond, when he actually saw You Tong's face as white as paper, he felt a pang of pain in his heart. He completely forgot that You Tong might have been playing tricks, his throat tightened, and he immediately lost his composure.

"Xu—" Cui Weiyuan saw him and immediately felt ashamed. He wanted to apologize, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. This matter involved human lives, and it couldn't be explained away with just a simple apology.

"What happened?" Xu Wei's voice was deep and powerful, but Cui Weiyuan could hear a sob in it. He wasn't there at the time and didn't see what happened. He only heard bits and pieces from the servants. Although he suspected that You Tong was so capable that Wen Qing could easily push her into the water, his doubts vanished when he saw You Tong lying on the bed, barely alive.

"She and Eighth Sister have some kind of misunderstanding, Eighth Sister—" Cui Weiyuan couldn't bring himself to say it. Something happened at the Cui residence, and it was the Cui family's young lady who did the dirty work—what kind of mess is this?

"Misunderstanding?" Xu Wei snorted coldly, looked around, and, not seeing Wen Qing, said coldly, "What kind of misunderstanding could possibly push my wife into this mess? If she's alright, that's fine, but if something really happens to her, I—" His meaning was quite clear at this point; some things were better left unsaid.

Cui Weiyuan was furious, but no matter how angry he was with Wen Qing, she was still a member of the Cui family, and it wasn't his place to speak up if she was to be punished. He cursed the troublemaking woman a thousand times in his heart, but on the surface, he feigned helplessness and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, your third uncle will definitely give you an explanation." This time, it was no longer a matter of the Cui family, and no matter how much the third master tried to protect her, it would be to no avail.

When Xu Wei arrived, he dismissed all the servants in the room, leaving only Huiying and Huiqiao, who tearfully recounted the events to him. Upon hearing that Youtong had voluntarily dismissed them, Xu Wei finally understood. With Youtong's intelligence and skill, even if she were careless, she wouldn't have been pushed into the water by a young lady like Wenqing.

Having figured this out, Xu Wei breathed a sigh of relief. After comforting Huiying and Huiqiao for a while, he dismissed them. Once there was no one else in the room, Xu Wei stepped forward, pinched Youtong's cheek, and whispered with a smile, "Little fox, everyone's gone, get up quickly."

You Tong then opened her eyes with a smile, looked around, and seeing that no one was there, sat up and hugged Xu Wei tightly, apologizing in a sweet voice, "It was my fault, did I scare you?"

Xu Wei was both amused and exasperated, and asked in return, "What do you think? The messenger from the Cui family wouldn't say anything, only that you had some kind of accident. I was so scared that I rode my horse over here at breakneck speed, knocking over several stalls and almost hitting someone. I'll definitely be impeached by the censor later."

You Tong twisted her body and said embarrassedly, "I didn't think that much at the time, I only remembered it after I got into the water."

Xu Wei naturally wouldn't really blame her. Seeing her apologetic expression, the last trace of displeasure he had felt vanished. He reached out and hugged her, kissed her cheek, and asked softly, "Why are you doing this again? Is it because Miss Eight is trying to make things difficult for you again?"

“That’s right—” You Tong said angrily, “I don’t know where she found out my identity. She thought she could bring me down in one fell swoop, but I didn’t care at all and even mocked her. She was so angry that she was about to attack me, so I decided to play along and fell into the pond. I’ll make her behave this time so she won’t keep thinking about you.”

Xu Wei's mind was filled with only her last words. He felt as if he had eaten a ginseng fruit, his whole body warmed up, every pore radiating joy. He smiled and couldn't say another word. He cupped You Tong's face and kissed her. You Tong was startled by his successful surprise attack and pinched his waist twice. Xu Wei didn't let go, focusing solely on his conquest, until they heard soft footsteps outside the door. Only then did they quickly release each other, hastily straighten their clothes, and take their positions.

"Lord Xu, Second Master and Third Master have returned." Huiying's timid voice came from outside.

Xu Wei responded and turned to look at You Tong, his eyes full of inquiry. You Tong laughed and said, "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not going to kill her. I'll just get rid of her." It just so happens that Wen Qing is currently preparing to get married. If it weren't for Aunt Jiang's high standards, she would have already been betrothed. As long as she's not in the capital and is married, she won't be able to cause any more trouble.

Xu Wei nodded, understanding the situation. He bent down to cover her with a blanket and gently instructed, "You've still gotten wet. It's not like it's summer; it's always good to rest more. I'll have someone make some ginger soup for you later to warm you up."

You Tong smiled and agreed, then reached out and took his hand, reluctant to let him go. Xu Wei was also reluctant to leave, but the Second Master and the Third Master were waiting for him outside. Even if he was in the right, he was still a junior and shouldn't be too arrogant, otherwise, others would say he had no respect for his elders.

Upon arriving at the main hall, as soon as Xu Wei entered the room, Third Master quickly stood up to greet him, looking ashamed and saying, "It is my fault for failing to raise my daughter properly, which has led to this shameful incident. Nephew-in-law, if you want to hit or scold me, come at me."

Xu Wei sneered inwardly. This Third Master was no ordinary man. Before he could even speak, he had already taken the blame upon himself. Wasn't this clearly an attempt to favor his daughter? The Second Master, standing nearby, wasn't stupid. He immediately understood the Third Master's meaning and his anger flared. He roared, "Third Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? Wenqing is an illegitimate daughter. If she commits a crime, it's naturally her mother's fault for not raising her properly. What are you taking responsibility for? My nephew-in-law isn't some clueless fool. Saying things like that is clearly a slap in his face!"

Third Master had just managed to speak with Second Master without having a chance to discuss the matter, and his head was still a little dizzy. But now, with Second Master's prompting, he immediately came to his senses. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he wiped it away with his sleeve, looking quite embarrassed. He said, "Yes, yes... I don't know how to speak properly. I was just flustered and confused. Please don't blame me, nephew-in-law."

Xu Wei politely said, "Third Uncle, you're being too serious." After saying that, he nodded to the Second Master and sat down at the lower seat with a sullen face.

You Tong couldn't keep pretending to be unconscious, so after Hui Ying gave her two mouthfuls of medicine, she woke up on her own. Of course, her complexion was still not good, and she spoke weakly. Even so, Wen Yan, who rushed over upon hearing the news, still laughed until tears streamed down her face.

Seeing Wen Yan's expression, You Tong was also moved. This girl was truly innocent and pure-hearted, treating her like a sister. Yet, she had been lying to her like this. You Tong felt a pang of guilt and almost impulsively told her the truth. But then she realized it was inappropriate. Wen Yan's simple and straightforward nature meant that if she knew the truth, she might fall out with her.

A little while later, the servants brought over a lot of herbal soup and ginger soup. Youtong only drank a bowl of ginger soup, and refused to drink the other dark, mushy things no one could persuade her to drink. Seeing her stubbornness, Wenyan said anxiously, "If you keep refusing to listen to reason, I'll call Brother Xu over."

You Tong wanted to laugh inside, but her face showed a wronged expression. She pouted and said, "It's the same if you call him here. I'm awake now. What's the use of drinking that rubbish? It's bitter and astringent, and there's so much of it that I can't eat. Wouldn't that be even worse?"

Wen Yan was speechless after hearing her fallacious argument. She was so anxious that she stomped her feet and turned around to go find Xu Wei.

After a while, Xu Wei was indeed dragged back by Wen Yan with a helpless expression. After listening to her complain for a while, Xu Wei looked down at You Tong, who refused to back down no matter what, smiled bitterly, and shook his head, saying, "Alright, alright, since my wife won't drink it, then I'll reluctantly help you finish it." As he spoke, he didn't care how wide Wen Yan's eyes were, picked up the medicine bowl by the bed, and drank the whole bowl of medicine in one gulp.

Seeing this, You Tong quickly picked a plum from the plate and put it in his mouth, saying, "It's bitter, isn't it? Eat this to mask the taste. This is homemade in the manor; you can't buy it outside."

Wen Yan was so angry at the couple's actions that she didn't know what to say. Instead, she laughed first, looking envious, and sighed, "You two really are a couple. Your relationship is so good that even I'm envious. Others say that Brother Xu married Ninth Sister only because she looks like that Miss Yu. But they haven't seen how you two are together. You're so in sync and affectionate. You don't even see anyone else."

After the New Year, Wenyan will also be getting married. Seeing how loving Youtong and her husband are, she must feel especially emotional. Youtong was also once about to get married, so she naturally knows Wenyan's current state of mind: nervous and happy, but also somewhat uncertain, with so much she doesn't know about the person who will accompany her for the rest of her life.

You Tong stood up and hugged Wen Yan, saying softly, "Tenth Sister, don't worry. That young master of the Sun family is an honest and good person. He will definitely cherish you. If he dares to treat you badly—" You Tong glanced at Xu Wei with a smile and said with a pursed mouth, "Let your brother-in-law beat him up."

Wen Yan was immediately amused and laughed, her unease vanishing like smoke. The two hugged and chatted, completely forgetting how "weak" You Tong had been just moments before.

Before leaving, Xu Wei said that Third Master had already agreed, saying that he had taken a liking to the eldest grandson of a wealthy merchant in Yizhou, and that they would finalize the engagement in a few days and the bride would be married off before the end of the year.

You Tong only responded with a single word, while Wen Yan, who was standing to the side, was still indignant and said angrily, "She almost killed Ninth Sister, and we just let her off like that? If you ask me, she should be sent to a temple to become a nun and never be allowed to come back. Who knows what kind of trouble she will cause in her husband's family after she gets married? When word gets out, people will say that our Cui family has no manners."

You Tong smiled and patted her shoulder to comfort her, "It's alright, I'm fine." But she knew perfectly well that although the old lady didn't like Wen Qing, if something really happened, even if they were relatives, she couldn't go too far. Sending her away was the right thing to do, but sending her to a temple to become a nun was absolutely out of the question.

Compared to Wenqing, Youtong was more concerned about the person behind her. Many people knew her identity, but who exactly approached Wenqing?

61. Bloodbath

Shen Mansion

"What happened that you're in such a hurry to find me?" Shen San asked, frowning and somewhat impatiently.

The attendant before him looked pale and was covered in cold sweat. He nervously handed the letter to Shen San, not daring to utter a word. Seeing his expression, Shen San's heart tightened. He suspiciously took the letter, quickly glanced through it, and his face immediately darkened. He coldly asked, "When did this happen? Why is it only being reported now?"

The attendant whispered, "There's been some unrest outside the capital lately. The head of the Lin family estate wasn't paying attention and ended up being robbed. Miss Bai was kidnapped by the bandits from Jigongzhai that time. Fearing your punishment, Third Master, the head of the Lin family secretly led some men to Jigongzhai to demand her return. But the second-in-command said that the leader had already married Miss Bai as his wife. The head of the Lin family dared not return and fled with some silver the next day. It was only in the last two days that someone from the estate reported this."

"Damn it!" Shen San slammed his fist on the table, making the teapot and cups rattle loudly. The attendant was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe, standing there with his head bowed, afraid that Shen San would take his anger out on him.

"Fine, let her go." Shen San erased the last trace of Bai Ling from his mind and shook his head. "Even if I bring her back, she'll only ever live in the villa. In that case, she's better off staying in Jigong Village." After saying that, he turned to his attendant and said, "Let's leave it at that. We'll find someone else to manage the villa. Lin Zhuangtou must not be spared. Give the order that once he's found, he'll be executed on the spot."

The attendant quickly agreed, bowed, and hurriedly left. Shen San sat quietly in the room for a long time until it was pitch black outside, before slowly standing up.

Cui Family Villa

Wenqing had been locked in the courtyard for two days. She had cried and made a scene, but Third Master remained unmoved. Aunt Jiang had knelt in the courtyard all day, pleading with him not to marry Wenqing off to Yizhou. Third Master not only ignored her but also berated her, saying she didn't know how to raise her daughter, otherwise Wenqing wouldn't have caused so much trouble time and time again. Finally, he had Aunt Jiang placed under house arrest, preventing her from seeing Wenqing at all.

Wenqing cried in the room for two days without eating or drinking. Apart from the little maid who brought her food, she didn't see anyone else. She knew in her heart that the Third Master was really here this time, so she started to panic. She kept asking to see the Third Master, saying that she was innocent and that the Ninth Miss was an imposter.

Not to mention the Third Master, even the maid who brought the food didn't believe it. She solemnly advised, "Eighth Miss, I think you should save your energy. The Third Master is really angry this time. He even locked up Aunt Jiang. He also agreed to the marriage and is going to marry you off to Yizhou before the new year. If you keep making a fuss like this, I'm afraid even the marriage in Yizhou will fall through. In that case, you might end up marrying someone from some poor, remote place."

After the incident that day, Wenqing was immediately confined to her quarters by Cui Weiyuan. After the Third Master brought her back, he immediately sent her to this courtyard for house arrest. She had no idea that she had been betrothed. When she suddenly heard about it, her face turned pale with fright. She even forgot to cry and was in a daze for a long time before she suddenly woke up. She rushed to the window and made a scene, insisting on seeing the Third Master.

By evening, Wenqing's voice was hoarse, and she could barely speak. She gradually realized that even the Third Master might not be able to protect her this time. Filled with anger and resentment, she hated Youtong even more. Lying on the ground for a long time, she finally remembered something. Gritting her teeth, she took off the bracelet from her wrist and slipped it under the door when the maid brought her food, whispering, "Go and deliver a message for me. I'll reward you handsomely later."

The maid hesitated, but her eyes were involuntarily fixed on the crystal-clear bracelet on the ground. Having worked as a servant in the Cui family for many years, she had a discerning eye. This bracelet was probably worth several years' worth of expenses for an ordinary family...

The next day at noon, the maidservant furtively slipped a letter under the door. That evening, Wenqing took the initiative to admit her mistake, crying and saying that she had been deceived, begging the Third Master to punish her, and she no longer resisted the marriage proposal in Yizhou.

Third Master still cared for this daughter. Seeing that she had admitted her mistake, he naturally didn't want to punish her further. He only instructed the servants to keep a close eye on her and not to let her go out for the next few days. Wenqing was also very obedient, spending her days embroidering and writing in her room, looking like she had resigned herself to her fate and was waiting to be married. Aunt Jiang was also saddened to see that even her daughter was no longer fighting for her. She cried twice and finally stopped bothering Third Master.

After Youtong had stayed at the Cui family's house for nine days, Xu Wei finally brought her back. Madam Xu had also heard about Youtong falling into the water at the Cui family's house and was convinced that it was Wenqing's fault. As soon as she saw Youtong, she complained and scolded Wenqing, and said that she would take Youtong to the temple to burn incense and pray to Buddha to drive away the bad luck.

That evening, the newlyweds, having been apart for a short time, enjoyed a particularly tender time together. The next morning, Xu Wei inevitably woke up late again, skipping breakfast and grabbing two steamed buns before rushing off to the government office. Madam Xu, watching this, felt even more strongly that the day she would hold her grandson was fast approaching.

Ten days or so passed, and the weather suddenly turned cold. Youtong, without warning, caught a cold, suffering from coughing and fever for several days, and lost a considerable amount of weight. When Wenyan came to visit her, she saw her like this and secretly wiped away a tear.

Just as Youtong recovered, news came from the Cui family that Wenyan had also fallen ill with a cold and was bedridden. Youtong felt guilty, thinking that her illness had affected Wenyan, so early the next morning she instructed the servants to prepare a carriage and went to the Cui family to visit her.

Because of some recent unrest outside the capital, tensions have risen within the city as well. Although Xu Wei is in charge of the palace, he still works long hours, leaving early and returning late. You Tong can't help him much, so she can only prepare some nourishing soup for him every day.

Early the next morning, You Tong greeted Madam Xu and returned to the Cui family. Since the Cui residence was not far away, You Tong did not bring many servants with her, only letting Hui Ying and Hui Qiao accompany her, and chose a light carriage to travel to the Cui residence.

Not long after they left, the carriage stopped, and the driver outside said, "Young Madam, the road is blocked. Would you like us to wait here, or go around via Lishan Bridge?"

You Tong slightly lifted the curtain and glanced outside. Sure enough, the area not far ahead was completely blocked off, making it impossible to see what was happening or what was going on, and no one seemed to be coming to help. Waiting like this, she didn't know how long she would have to wait. After thinking for a moment, she simply said, "Let's go around that."

The coachman responded, and then the carriage turned around and steadily drove in another direction.

After walking for quite some time, the outside gradually quieted down. You Tong suddenly felt something was wrong and was about to ask a question when the carriage suddenly stopped. You Tong was fine as long as she was sitting steadily, but Hui Ying and Hui Qiao were almost thrown out of the carriage and crashed hard into the carriage wall, wincing in pain.

"How dare you drive like that—" Huiqiao roared, about to lift the curtain to demand an explanation, but the curtain was suddenly yanked open. Youtong opened her eyes wide and saw the person suddenly throw something into the carriage, filling it with smoke. Youtong coughed twice, her mind suddenly foggy. Knowing something was wrong, she disregarded the fact that her identity had been exposed, drew her soft sword from her belt, and thrust it fiercely towards the door.

The man at the door seemed surprised by You Tong's quick reaction and was caught off guard. He was stabbed in the shoulder by You Tong's sword, cried out in pain, cursed under his breath, and then shouted, "You're tough, let's go side by side!"

As she spoke, another row of longswords and short knives came at You Tong. You Tong narrowly dodged them, parried them with her soft sword, took a breath, and rushed out of the carriage.

Once she stepped out of the carriage and looked around, You Tong gasped in shock. There were more than ten people lying in ambush around her, each armed with a weapon. This was no ordinary display for dealing with the families of officials; they clearly knew her background.

You Tong quickly ran through her mind. There weren't many people who knew she possessed martial arts skills, and even fewer who had a grudge against her. Cui Weiyuan had no reason to target her; without a doubt, it was Bai Ling who had hired them. She just couldn't understand where Bai Ling, a delicate young woman, had found these bandits. Judging from their attire and the murderous aura on their faces, this probably wasn't their first time doing something like this.

"This girl is really hot!" someone in the crowd said lecherously. "After we subdue her, I'll let him have a taste first."

"Get lost, do you think you can have a chance with a beauty like that?" The others laughed and said, "This girl has some skills. Old Sun, you probably can't handle her. Be careful you don't get to enjoy yourself and end up getting beaten up by her."

"You fucking insult me..." the man roared. "I don't believe a woman can be that capable. You all watch closely, I'm taking her down right now. None of you are allowed to take her from me." As he spoke, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and leered at You Tong, "Little beauty, don't panic. Follow me, and you'll have your fun." As he spoke, he charged forward, brandishing his knife.

Despite their teasing, You Tong was too lazy to get angry. Her mind was as still as water, and she was racking her brains trying to figure out how to break through. What she feared most was that these bandits would attack all at once or take turns. No matter how good her martial arts were, she was still a woman. First, she was not strong enough, and second, she couldn't fight so many people alone. Since this bandit surnamed Sun wanted to show off, You Tong was naturally happy for him. She smiled coldly, slightly tilting her soft sword, not taking the bandit's knife. She turned around and circled behind him. With a flick of her soft sword, she placed it against his neck in one move.

The crowd was astonished and immediately began to curse. Some impulsively drew their knives and rushed forward, but You Tong sneered and with a slight exertion of force, slit the neck of the bandit surnamed Sun, blood gushing out. "Anyone who dares to take another step forward, I will take their life!"

The bandits were both angry and anxious. They secretly resented Old Sun for underestimating them and causing them to be hesitant, but they could not disregard his life. For a moment, they were filled with indignation, but dared not step forward. They stomped their feet and cursed loudly, their foul language never ceasing.

You Tong remained calm and focused on the crowd, saying, "I know who sent you and what your purpose is. You are all outlaws, so you must know who you can and cannot offend. The person who sent you to kill me must not have revealed my identity."

The bandits were slightly taken aback upon hearing this, exchanged glances, and were somewhat moved. Although You Tong in front of them was somewhat disheveled, her demeanor was extraordinary, and coupled with her strange martial arts skills, they were something that ordinary young ladies from official families could not learn.

"I am the adopted daughter of the current Grand Duchess, the wife of Xu Wei, the Left Guard General, and the ninth young lady of the Cui family. You should carefully consider whether you can afford to offend me. If something really happens to me, can your stronghold withstand my wrath?"

Upon hearing this, the bandits' faces changed color. Some began to speak in hushed tones, while others lowered their knives. You Tong knew she was in luck and was about to utter a few more threats when someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Don't be fooled by her! Even if she really is General Xu's wife, so what? Once we kill her, who will know it was us? If letting her go ruins our plans, do you think General Xu will let us off the hook?"

His words immediately stirred the crowd again, some even disregarding Old Sun's life and drawing their knives to charge. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, You Tong, too lazy to waste any more words, drew her soft sword and swiftly ended Old Sun's life. Enraged, the crowd abandoned all sense of chivalry and charged forward.

Although You Tong was highly skilled in martial arts, she rarely fought and lacked experience. She suffered repeated defeats and soon was covered in cuts, with several gashes on her arms and back, from which bright red blood seeped. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and dodged each sword strike, so although the wounds looked terrible, they were not actually serious.

After a while of fighting, You Tong became more and more adept, and fully displayed the exquisite details of her swordsmanship. She even took the lives of two thugs in succession, which made everyone shout in anger. She showed no mercy and the flashing of swords came at them.

You Tong fought and retreated, keeping her eyes and ears open. Seeing a lake not far away, she instinctively retreated towards it. She was a good swimmer, and once she was in the water, it would be difficult for these people to catch her.

Unaware of her intentions, the crowd, seeing her retreating repeatedly, assumed she was exhausted and grew even more excited, shouting that they would take her life. You Tong remained expressionless, but her hands moved without pause. With a single thrust, she pierced through the attacker behind her, then leaped backward, narrowly escaping the encirclement.