Wang Chengle stepped out of the Wang Family’s main gate, holding a birdcage in one hand and jingling a money pouch in the other as he swaggered down the street.
The street was bustling—waitstaff from the taverns shouted to attract customers, fortune tellers pulled passersby aside for mysterious readings, a few middle-aged women haggled around a meat stall, and several loafers with nothing better to do squatted against the wall, soaking up the sun.
Wang Chengle walked among the crowd, the fire in his heart not yet fully extinguished, but the money pouch in his hand improved his mood somewhat.
‘Damn, at least I didn’t come away empty-handed.’
He weighed the pouch, then thought of Wang Huaiyu’s cold face and spat. He continued striding along with a swagger.
Strangely enough, the usually crowded street seemed to part like the sea before him, as if he were a goddess of death. The road, which had been clogged just moments ago, cleared a wide path.
“Hey, man! Why’s everyone shrinking away?” a young man who looked like an outsider asked his companion in confusion.
“Shut your mouth!” His companion yanked him to the side of the road, lowering his voice. “If that gentleman catches sight of you and picks a fight, you’re done for!”
“He’s really that scary?”
“Damn right!” The companion glanced at Wang Chengle, then leaned in close. “That’s the Wang Family’s Second Master! You know the Wang Family, right? The big landlord family in our town!”
“I know, I know! The one where the eldest daughter openly cheated, right?” The young man suddenly understood.
“Shh! Keep your voice down!” The companion quickly covered his mouth, looking around nervously. “Do you want to die or what?”
Wang Chengle’s hearing was decent—catching the words “Wang Family,” his face darkened and he whipped his head around. The group scattered in fright.
“Hmph! Disgusting!”
With a cold snort, he didn’t say anything else, turned back, and kept walking.
Once Wang Chengle had gone farther away, the loafers squatting by the roadside started muttering.
“See that face? Obviously didn’t get what he wanted again.”
“He’s still the Second Master—how could he not get anything?”
“Second Master? Ha, just a second son. He didn’t get much when the family property was divided. Now he’s sleeping all day in that Dawn Spring Courtyard, turning into a real profligate!”
“Keep your voice down, don’t let anyone hear…”
The murmurs faded, swallowed by the clamor of the street.
Wang Chengle walked for a while, humming along with the chirps of the bird in his cage, the very picture of a loafing, idling profligate.
Soon, a strong scent of makeup wafted toward him. He looked up and saw a girl from Dawn Spring Courtyard leaning in the doorway, waving at him.
“Oh~ Uncle Wang! Why are you so late? You’ve made me wait so long~”
The Dawn Spring Courtyard girl slid her hand slowly down the wall, her posture seductive, her voice soft, clearly well-practiced in this routine.
Wang Chengle paused for a moment, then forced a smile onto his face.
“Hehe! Miss Su, don’t be anxious! Isn’t your Uncle right here?”
He deliberately tugged at his collar, then, once inside, stroked the Dawn Spring Courtyard girl’s hand in a lecherous manner, the complete image of a beast in human clothing.
“Oh my, such a smooth little hand. I haven’t touched it in a day. Come on, let Uncle have a feel.”
“Hey! What are you doing! We’re still out on the street!” Miss Su pulled her hand back, smiling sweetly.
“What’s there to be afraid of? I ask you, who in all of Xiang’an Town dares to mess with me, Wang Chengle? Besides, who could resist such a little beauty?”
With that, he even brought his nose close and sniffed, looking completely entranced.
“Shameless~”
Miss Su covered her face with a light laugh, clearly amused by Wang Chengle’s lecherous act.
“Hey! Miss, you must be tired from standing around. How about we head back to Dawn Spring Courtyard and rest on the big bed?”
“Sure~”
And so the two of them—the woman holding the man’s arm, the man teasing the woman—walked along the road to Dawn Spring Courtyard, completely ignoring the stares of others.
But as they walked, they didn’t notice a girl dressed in white following unhurriedly behind them.
Not far away, Liu Yao hid around a corner, watching the couple, the corner of her mouth twitching.
Thanks to her sharp ears, she could clearly hear their flirtatious words even through the surrounding noise.
‘Tsk, this old bastard… a real lecher.’
‘Carrying on in the street like no one else exists—truly shameless.’
Liu Yao tightened the reed hat covering her head and muttered to herself.
This hat had been useful when she was fleeing from killers; now it was just right for tailing Wang Chengle.
‘Speaking of which… this disguise won’t really work for tracking, will it? I might need this look more often in the future.’
‘If I get exposed like this during a tail…’
‘Eew—! No way!’
The girl seemed to recall a scene from a storyteller’s tale and shuddered all over.
‘What to do, what to do… Got it!’
As if struck by a good idea, Liu Yao immediately began tinkering with her disguise.
***
Meanwhile, while Liu Yao was busy with her disguise, Wang Chengle and Miss Su had already reached the main entrance of Dawn Spring Courtyard.
Even though the sun was still high in the sky, the girls of Dawn Spring Courtyard were just as enthusiastic as ever. Even with far fewer customers during the day than at night, they were actively soliciting.
They waved their floral handkerchiefs, filling the area around Dawn Spring Courtyard and its street with a thick scent of makeup.
“Oh my, isn’t that Uncle Wang? Why so late~”
“Uncle Wang, come sit with me! I just learned a new tune~”
“What’s that? I managed to fit two in just yesterday. Want to give it a try, Uncle Wang?”
The girls gathered around Wang Chengle, their mouths full of tempting words.
“Hehe, no rush, no rush.”
Seeing all the girls circling him, Wang Chengle grinned from ear to ear.
“Just wait a bit, and I’ll show you all what it means to be a ‘pillar to the sky’! Hahaha!”
“Oh, right, I almost forgot one thing.” Miss Su hooked her arm through Wang Chengle’s, her fingers trailing down from his chest. “Someone gave me a tip to come out and find you.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Of course, who else would they ask but your favorite? Who else?”
“Hehe, right, right. Well, go get them then. Let’s see which blind fool wants to see me.”
Miss Su covered her mouth with a smile, turned, and walked deep into the courtyard. Before long, she returned, leading two large men in front of him.
Wang Chengle sized them up. One was fat, the other thin, both with hostile expressions.
He frowned, stroking his chin, and said:
“Who the hell are you two? How dare you order my people around?”
“Don’t you believe I can destroy your whole family in no time?”
The two threatened men exchanged glances, looked at each other in surprise, and both showed astonished expressions.
“B-boss, this guy is so arrogant, he must be Wang, Wang, Wang Chengle! No mistake!”
“Yeah, but isn’t he afraid of getting beaten up being this cocky?”
“It’s, it’s fine! We two will be the ones to b-beat him!”
The two finished speaking, and without waiting for Wang Chengle to process their conversation, they both drew their blades.
“Hand, hand…”
“Hand over your life!”
The words barely left their mouths before two blades were pressed against Wang Chengle’s neck.
The arrogance on Wang Chengle’s face instantly froze. His legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees.
“Wait, wait, wait! No! Honored heroes! Let’s talk this out! I’ll pay you! Whatever you want!”
The Fat Killer sneered:
“Money? W-we don’t want money! We want your l-life!”
“That’s right! Blame your bad luck!”
Just as Wang Chengle thought he was about to meet his end—
“Bang! Bang!”
Two dull thuds rang out. Both killers’ blades flew out of their hands.
Before they could react, a figure darted out from the alley, closed the distance in a few quick steps, and landed two kicks. The fat one and the thin one went flying, crashing to the ground with cries of pain.
Wang Chengle stood frozen, staring at the reed hat-wearing, white-clad “young man” before him, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
The figure turned around, the brim of the hat hiding a slightly upturned mouth, a voice low and steady.
“A righteous man lends a hand. Uncle Wang, are you all right?”
Only then did Wang Chengle get a clear look—this person was thin, their voice a bit fine, but their moves were swift and decisive, clearly a trained fighter.
But as he gazed at that delicate face, he couldn’t help but stare in fascination.
Could a man be this beautiful?