Chapter 246: Newborn Cuddlebug Prefers Tigers

At dusk, the convoy arrived at Qingping Town.

According to the prior agreement, the Nine Prince's ceremonial escort flamboyantly took up residence in the town's official post station, causing the local clerks to scramble in confusion.

Xiao Ran made an appearance, fully displaying the Prince's bearing, drawing everyone's gaze.

Meanwhile, Tuan Tuan's carriage, under Lu Qi's arrangement, silently slipped into the rear courtyard of a tavern called "Shunda" in the town.

Xiao Ran quickly changed into ordinary clothes and hurried over,

Lu Qi handled matters with great care; not only did he secure a private courtyard, but also prepared hot water and meals, all local specialties that tasted quite good.

Tuan Tuan slept soundly in the carriage, ate the meal, felt more energetic, and couldn't sit still.

She tugged Xiao Ningxun's sleeve: "Third Brother, shall we go out for a walk?"

Xiao Ningxun was about to nod when Lu Qi beside him spoke up.

He frowned slightly: "Miss, the east side of town is unsettled today. The Stone Family Fist and Willow Leaf Sword people have met there to 'settle scores', and it looks like they might resort to violence. We should stay here and rest, better not go out."

He deliberately exaggerated the seriousness, hoping to make the young mistress back off.

But when Tuan Tuan heard it, her big eyes lit up with a swish; instead of being scared, she grew even more excited: "Settle scores? Fight? Uncle Seven, is that what the storyteller said? I want to see! Third Brother, let's go! I haven't seen it yet!"

Lu Qi: "…"

A crack appeared on his cold, hard face as he stared at Xiao Ningxun in astonishment: "That reaction isn't right, is it?"

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er exchanged glances, one sighing, the other holding his forehead.

Xiao Ningxun sighed: "Mr. Lu, the more you forbid her, the more she wants to go. If you hadn't mentioned it, she might have forgotten in an instant; now that you bring it up…"

Xiao Ran, even more excited than Tuan Tuan, rubbed his fists beside them: "Go! Must go! I've seen so many wandering‑world illustrations, heard countless chivalrous tales, and finally get to see the real thing!"

"Come on, come on, little runt, Brother Nine will take you to open your eyes!"

Xiao Ningxun sank completely, hand on forehead, "How could I have forgotten him!"

This person, unlike the composure of the Seventh Prince by any stretch, is a master who fears the world not being chaotic.

Lu Qi looked at the people before him, especially the five‑year‑old Xiao Tuanzi on the ground, and felt a headache coming on.

Having roamed the jianghu for years, this was his first encounter with this kind of "a newborn calf not fearing the tiger", no, "a newborn cuddlebug preferring the tiger."

Tuan Tuan walked up to him, arms outstretched: "Uncle Seven, hug!"

Lu Qi, with a face saying "don't think you can bribe my stubbornness," stepped back half a step.

Tuan Tuan persisted, took a few steps forward, stood on tiptoe, stretched both hands, lifted her little face: "Uncle Seven, hug me!"

Lu Qi had no choice but to scoop her up and hold her in his arms.

Tuan Tuan clung to his neck, her little head rubbing in his collarbone, pitifully blinking her big eyes at him: "Take me to see! Uncle Seven, I haven't seen it yet!"

She stuck out a tiny finger, gently poked Lu Qi's taut cheek: "Uncle Seven is a great hero! You love helping others, right? Then help me first, okay? Uncle Seven, you're the best!"

Lu Qi became utterly stiff; the fragrant, soft Xiao Tuanzi pressed gently against his chest, and the repeated "Uncle Seven" was so sweet his heart melted, instantly surrendering: "Alright, alright, I'll obey the Lord Master."

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er were accustomed to it, while Xiao Ran stared dumbfounded: "Little runt, when will you be able to do the same as me?"

Tuan Tuan made a goofy face at him: "Never!"

Lu Qi looked at Tuan Tuan: "Lord Master, as we agreed in advance, we'll watch from afar and never get close; if anything happens, we leave immediately. The master has instructed his subordinate that your safety is always the top priority, wherever and whenever."

"Got it! Got it!" Tuan Tuan replied happily, skillfully slipping from the adult's arms onto the ground.

She grabbed Third Brother with one hand, tugged Xiao Er with the other, and rushed out impatiently.

Lu Qi, now empty‑armed, couldn't help but reach out vaguely, then quickly withdrew his hand.

Tuan Tuan remembered something, turned to him: "Uncle Seven! You lead the way! I don't know where to go."

Lu Qi hurried to the front and led them to a clearing on the east side of the town.

At this moment, torches lit the clearing, and the two gangs faced each other clearly.

Each side had dozens of people, expressions tense, curses ringing out, and it seemed the "settle scores" would turn into a fight.

Lu Qi, with his experience, chose a small earthen mound dozens of steps away from the crowd.

The spot was slightly elevated, offering a view of the clearing while being hidden by trees, very concealed.

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up, whispering: "Whoa, this scene, it's intense!"

Xiao Ningxun anxiously held Tuan Tuan in her arms, fearing any mishap.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi guarded them from left and right.

They didn't know that in a shadow behind them, dozens of greedy eyes stared fixedly at them.

"Big brother, look! It's them!" the shady money‑lender muttered, pointing at the few people on the mound. "The fat fish moved into Shunda Inn; I was hesitating to act, and they ran to this remote spot to watch the fun. Heaven's on my side!"

"How many people in total?"

"Four. By their dress: a driver, a retainer, two young masters; not sure which mansion's young lord is out playing."

"Hmm, only four, that's easy. Wait, didn't you say there was a little girl too?"

"Oh right! That stinky girl! How could I forget her! She's been following those two young masters, looks like a family."

"What a fat fish indeed!" Daoba Liu licked his lips, a fierce glint in his eyes: "Alright! Everyone, stay still! When they start fighting, that'll be our chance to strike! Keep your eyes on them for me!"

"Hmph, these Stone Family Fist and Willow Leaf Sword folks argue all day over whose kung‑fu is the best in Qingping Town, endless bickering, downright stupid. Once they clash, we'll be ready to cut that fat fish!"

At that moment, the two sides on the clearing seemed to break off talks; someone struck first, and with a roar, the gangs collided, the sounds of fists, kicks, and shouts filling the air.

"They're fighting!" Xiao Ran exclaimed, nearly shouting.

Tuan Tuan stared without blinking, her little face full of amazement.

She watched for a while and realized the brawl on the clearing was completely different from what the storyteller described.

These people had just been shouting, faces flushed, as if they wanted to devour each other, but when they actually fought, they kept their limits.

A Stone Family Fist disciple threw a punch that seemed about to strike the face, but at the crucial moment it veered slightly, grazing the opponent's cheek.

The Willow Leaf Sword followers unleashed their sword technique, wind whooshing, but mostly striking with the backs and sides of the blades, never aiming for vital points.

"Uncle Seven," Tuan Tuan asked, puzzled, "Why are they fighting like this? It's not as good as when my dad and Second Brother spar."

Lu Qi gave a slight smile: "They're all locals, they all know each other, they're all neighbors from the same street, naturally they don't want to hurt anyone."

Tuan Tuan wondered: "Since they're all neighbors, why would they fight?"

Xiao Ran also found it boring, pursed their lips: "I thought it would be impressive, but it's boring."

After a moment, Tuan Tuan let out a small yawn, listlessly tugged at Xiao Ningxun's sleeve: "Third Brother, let's go back."

Xiao Ningxun heard that and nodded: "Okay."

Xiao Ran agreed: "Indeed it's dull, the scene is big, but we didn't even see a flash of blade or sword."

Several people reached agreement, turned, stood up, and were about to leave the small earthen slope.

Who would have thought that as they turned around, they came face‑to‑face with a group of the Green Wood Gang members sneaking up the slope, bent low and tip‑toeing.

One side suddenly turned and stood up, the other was quietly creeping forward; the distance between them was no more than ten or so steps, and in an instant they came face to face, everyone froze.