Chapter 57: Enemies on a Narrow Road

It is said that on the evening of that day, after Shen Mizhi had that incident on the street, she felt as if she had swallowed a fly—disgusted and vexed!

Upon returning to the mansion, she first scolded and beat Qiuhun, then locked herself in her boudoir to sulk, refusing to let anyone in, and did not even go to eat dinner.

Having been beaten and scolded, Qiuhun did not dare to try to persuade her.

Ma Chunmin, seeing that something was wrong, called Qiuhun over. Upon questioning, Qiuhun tearfully recounted the events she had witnessed in detail.

Only then did Ma Chunmin arrange the banquet to host Duan Rong!

Ma Chunmin assumed Shen Mizhi had been frightened, so she did not disturb her, wanting to let her calm down on her own, and merely had someone send a bowl of lotus seed soup over.

Shen Mizhi sulked all night, and the next day she still felt a tightness in her chest, her hatred undiminished!

Therefore, early in the morning, she made an appointment with Xia Shuangshuang of the Yunshui Money Shop, and the two each rode a Qingzong Horse to go for an outing in the suburbs!

Shen Mizhi played for the whole day and broke into a sweat, finally feeling a bit refreshed in her heart. As soon as she returned to the mansion, she heard that a banquet had been prepared in the flower hall to host Duan Rong.

At first, she did not know who Duan Rong was, nor did she associate it with what had happened to her.

She was even quite interested, and while wiping away her fragrant sweat, she asked Qiuhun about it!

As soon as Qiuhun explained, Shen Mizhi's expression changed instantly; she nearly rushed over to beat that little thief who had molested her and drive him out of the house!

Fortunately, she was naturally calm and knew that if she rushed over like this and exposed the matter, her chaste reputation would be ruined!

And yet, that little thief had only... molested her... in order to save someone!

This point was also what she found most unacceptable, as if she deserved to be molested.

Shen Mizhi slashed her Sword at the washbasin stand in front of her, sending water splashing everywhere, which startled Qiuhun into jumping back!

Shen Mizhi barely managed to suppress her impulse, turned around, and stormed out of the County Government Office to go to the Xia Mansion to find Xia Shuangshuang.

But Xia Shuangshuang had been dragged to the suburbs by her to play for a whole day and was already so tired she had collapsed like a pile of mud; after playing two games of chess with her, she really couldn't hold on, wrapped herself in a quilt, and fell asleep...

Shen Mizhi had no choice, and hearing the night watchman's gong on the street outside, it was already the hour of the Dog.

She reckoned the banquet must have ended, so she left the Xia Mansion and walked back alone, filled with worries.

Just as Shen Mizhi crossed the threshold of the County Government Office and stepped into the shadows of the lanterns, she suddenly saw a person walk out from a small path beside the main hall of the Ya Men, holding a dim yellow lantern in their hand.

The person seemed slightly tipsy, walking unsteadily, and humming a little tune as they walked.

The yellow light of the lantern shone on their face.

Who else could it be but that thieving brat?

Shen Mizhi stood there as if struck by lightning, her whole body trembling!

She wished she could draw her Sword immediately and hack this lecherous scoundrel before her to pieces!

Duan Rong walked out holding the lantern. He vaguely saw someone standing in the lantern shadows beside the Ya Men, but as he was holding the lantern, the light was somewhat blinding, and the person was standing in the shadows.

Duan Rong didn't pay any mind, let out a hiccup from the alcohol, turned his feet, bypassed the person, crossed the threshold of the County Government Office, and turned onto the street.

Just as Duan Rong left the County Government Office and hadn't walked two steps, a cold wind suddenly blew, and Duan Rong's drunkenness instantly sobered up by more than half.

He suddenly remembered the person in the lantern shadows beside the Ya Men. The person was in the shadows, so he couldn't see clearly, but the Sword in that person's hand had happened to be illuminated by the light at the entrance of the Ya Men.

That Sword... why did he feel it looked familiar... as if he had seen it somewhere before...

"Tasseled sword hilt, dark red snakeskin scabbard..."

"It's that... little wench!"

"Oh my goodness..."

Duan Rong suddenly recalled the image: the pair of slender, fair hands gripping the dark red snakeskin scabbard, the knuckles already turned faintly white!

Clearly, she was in a state of rage!

Duan Rong was instantly drenched in a cold sweat. He shrank his head and glanced behind him, seeing no one chasing him from outside the Ya Men.

Duan Rong immediately took off at a sprint, the lantern in his hand swaying as if caught in a violent storm.

Duan Rong dove into the nearest dark alley and rushed through the night toward the Yuanshun Escort Agency...

Shen Mizhi was already trembling with rage, and then, smelling the unpleasant scent of alcohol drifting from him...

She endured for a few breaths, and her emotions finally broke past the critical point...

Shen Mizhi suddenly turned around like an angry lioness and rushed out of the Ya Men!

If I don't beat you until even your father can't recognize you, it would be an insult to that hateful face of yours!

But when Shen Mizhi rushed out, West Street at the hour of the Dog was already empty, with only two night watchmen shrinking their necks as they walked past the entrance of the County Government Office...

Shen Mizhi was full of grievances; she stamped her foot, and tears instantly flowed down uncontrollably!

Shen Mizhi returned to her boudoir courtyard, feeling somewhat dejected.

She stood there, looking at the mulberry tree in the small courtyard; this mulberry tree would bear mulberries in the summer, which tasted very delicious!

She had always loved eating mulberries, so she had always taken great care of this mulberry tree, often having Qiuhun water and fertilize it!

Looking at the mulberry tree illuminated by the dim yellow light, Shen Mizhi suddenly went mad and drew her Sword, slashing wildly!

Shen Mizhi's figure moved with the agility of a rabbit and the swiftness of a falcon, flashing left and right, the Long Sword in her hand dancing wildly with a cold light like water.

"Little thief!"

"You didn't even look at me!"

"And you dared to let out such a foul-smelling hiccup in front of me!"

"Sooner or later, I will skin you alive!"

The cold light of the Long Sword flashed, and the branches and leaves of the mulberry tree were scattered all over the ground as if they had been ravaged by a violent storm...

As Shen Mizhi slashed like this, she didn't notice that her hands were already trembling!

Shen Mizhi panted, looking at the broken branches and fallen leaves all over the ground before her; the pent-up frustration in her chest had finally been released a little...

She knew in her heart that she was self-abusing!

Just like those first few years after her mother passed away, when she had just begun to understand things!

She sheathed her Long Sword, turned around, and returned to her boudoir, lying on the bed to sulk in secret.

Shen Mizhi had just lain down when Qiuhun carried in a quilt, preparing to come in and sleep on a floor pallet...

This was also part of the daily routine for a personal maid; if the young lady needed water or anything else during the night, she had to be ready to get up and serve at any time.

Just as Qiuhun finished laying out the quilt, Shen Mizhi turned onto her side, glared at Qiuhun with a pair of fierce almond eyes, and scolded, "Get out and sleep! I find the sight of you annoying right now!"

Having been scolded for no reason, Qiuhun was instantly filled with grievances, sobbing as she carried the quilt to sleep in the main room.

It was not without reason that Shen Mizhi blamed Qiuhun; if Qiuhun hadn't lost the queueing tally, so many things wouldn't have happened, and she herself wouldn't have been taken advantage of by that little thief for no reason.

Furthermore, if she hadn't been loose-lipped, there wouldn't have been this whole business of hosting a banquet for Duan Rong!

Now, with her own grievances suppressed and her heart full of anger, how could she possibly give Qiuhun a pleasant look?

In a secluded firewood yard in the Outer Courtyard of the Yuanshun Escort Agency.

This place was where the Miscellaneous Disciples practiced their arts.

However, the assessment for this year's Miscellaneous Disciples had already concluded, and the next batch of Miscellaneous Disciples would not be recruited until after the Lantern Festival in the first lunar month of next year.

The courtyard, which should have been completely empty, now held one person who was practicing the Hunyuan Stance!

The dim sunset glow spilled onto his face; his entire body was covered in sweat, and steam was even rising from the top of his head!

The person practicing the stance had broad shoulders and a large frame; it was none other than the Apprentice Escort Kong Bin!

Ever since he was struck by the progress of Duan Rong last time to the point of almost losing his motivation, Kong Bin had stopped practicing at the Martial Arts Arena.

Whenever he ran into Duan Rong, he felt that his own training was practically a joke.

Yet he knew in his heart that the one who was abnormal was actually Duan Rong, not him!

But while everyone understands the logic, when things actually happen to them, who can avoid being confused?

Later, Kong Bin stopped practicing at the Martial Arts Arena and instead preferred to walk a few extra steps to practice in this secluded courtyard in the Outer Courtyard.

In this way, his state of mind had indeed become much more peaceful, and his progress in the Internal Breath First Layer had slowly begun to speed up!

It was already dusk, and the time for the Middle Courtyard to serve meals was approaching.

Kong Bin dispersed his energy, walked out of this courtyard through the side gate, and headed toward the Middle Courtyard canteen.

(End of this chapter)