Chapter 15: The Young Maiden Youruo

On this day, Wen Chouchou came to the Lianwu Tang to complain to Xiongba: "Gang Leader, if you have the time, you should go see the Young Mistress. She beats anyone she sees now; the little one has already been disciplined by her several times."

Upon hearing this, Xiongba realized it had indeed been a long time since he had visited his daughter, Youruo.

So he quietly arrived at the Back Mountain, stood on a small boat, and struck out with his palm power, propelling the boat in the direction he wanted to go; the small boat carried Xiongba as it slowly sailed toward an island in the center of the lake.

A few minutes later, the boat reached the shore. This place was the Forbidden Land of the Under Heaven Society; apart from Xiongba, Wen Chouchou, and the servants who usually looked after Youruo, no one knew that the Under Heaven Society still had this place.

Xiongba tidied his appearance, changed his usual expression, and walked onto the island with a kind and benevolent look.

The one residing on the island was his youngest daughter, Youruo. Ever since Youruo's mother passed away, he could not bear to let Youruo get involved in the strife of the Jianghu, so he had kept her under house arrest in this Huxin Xiaozhu.

At this moment in Huxin Xiaozhu, a woman dressed in yellow, with eyes sparkling like stars and a mischievous look, was sitting in the middle of the pavilion, staring from afar at the approaching Xiongba; this woman was none other than Xiongba's daughter, Youruo.

Xiongba walked to the middle of the pavilion and looked at his daughter before him with a smile on his face.

Youruo snorted, then spoke: "Oh my, what wind blew the busy Gang Leader Xiongba here? Has Gang Leader Xiong almost forgotten that he has a daughter like me?"

Without waiting for Xiongba to answer, Youruo walked directly in front of him and rested her head on Xiongba's shoulder, sobbing:

"Father, you finally came to see me. Have you stopped wanting me? How long has it been since you came to see me?"

Xiongba looked at his weeping daughter, feeling very guilty in his heart. He had indeed given Youruo too little care, so he stroked Youruo's head and said:

"There are many matters in the gang that Father must handle; Father is truly too busy to keep up. You must be more understanding of Father."

Youruo pounded on Xiongba's back with both hands and said disbelievingly: "What do you have to worry about? Don't you have four good disciples? Are you busy looking for a Gang Leader's wife? Have you stopped loving Mother? Have you stopped wanting me!"

Xiongba answered this question solemnly: "Your mother is the woman Father has loved most in this life, and you are also the daughter Father loves most. No one can replace your status in Father's heart."

Youruo got the answer she wanted, then her demeanor changed abruptly; she hugged Xiongba and said coquettishly: "Father, I have stayed in Huxin Xiaozhu for so many years already. When will you let me go out and explore?"

After hearing this, Xiongba replied rigidly: "This Jianghu is full of intrigue and deception. I only keep you confined here because I worry about your safety. If you want to go out, you can, but you must prove that you have the ability to protect yourself; otherwise, I will not let you go."

Youruo said indignantly: "Tell me, how can I prove that I have the ability to protect myself?"

Xiongba thought for a moment and said: "Do you dare to make a bet with me? If you win, I will grant you freedom. If you lose, you will stay in Huxin Xiaozhu forever and never go out again."

Youruo answered readily: "Fine, tell me what the bet is."

Xiongba said: "If you can kill my youngest disciple, Duan Fengyun, I will let you go out."

In this life, because of the appearance of Duan Fengyun, he was the one Xiongba admired most when taking on disciples, and now he was also the one he most wanted to eliminate first.

Youruo did not even think about it and agreed immediately.

When Duan Fengyun woke up the next morning, he discovered that the maid who had been serving him had been replaced. He stepped forward to ask this new maid: "What is your name? Where did the previous Axiu go?"

The new maid replied: "Reporting to Hall Master Duan, this servant's name is Youruo. Axiu has already resigned from the gang and returned home to settle her life's major affairs."

This woman was none other than Youruo, who had made the bet with Xiongba. She had asked Xiongba to dismiss Axiu, who was taking care of Duan Fengyun, and replaced her herself. If she wanted to kill Duan Fengyun, she had to first understand his dietary habits so she could find an opportunity to strike.

Duan Fengyun muttered to himself: Why does this Xiongba like to start with his youngest disciple? He even sent his own daughter to kill me; is he not afraid of losing his wife and soldiers as well?

Clearly, Duan Fengyun already knew Youruo's identity, and he decided to play along with this father and daughter.

So he said to Youruo: "Fine. Then from now on, you will be responsible for my clothing, food, housing, and transportation. I am a bit hungry; go and make me breakfast quickly."

"Very well, Hall Master Duan, please wait a moment."

Walking on the path, Youruo was overjoyed to see that the fish had taken the bait, and she strode toward the cafeteria to bring breakfast to Duan Fengyun.

By the afternoon, Duan Fengyun said to Youruo again: "I am a bit tired today; go fetch me some water and serve me while I bathe."

Youruo obediently fetched the water. Duan Fengyun stripped off his clothes, soaked in the tub, and had Youruo come in to serve him.

Although Youruo was mischievous and bold, she was still classical and conservative regarding such matters between men and women.

Looking at the smirking Duan Fengyun, Youruo cursed him as a scoundrel in her heart, then turned around and ran out.

Leaving Duan Fengyun alone to lament: "Xiongba, oh Xiongba, if you want to kill me, at least send someone professional. Aren't you afraid of sending your own daughter to my doorstep and letting me eat her up completely?"

The next day, Youruo arrived early with breakfast for Duan Fengyun, only to run into him just as he had woken up and was still disheveled. After Youruo cursed him as a hooligan, she ran away again.

Duan Fengyun could neither laugh nor cry. After seeing Youruo leave, he took out the Sword Twenty-Two he had obtained not long ago from under his pillow.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he began to study Sword Twenty-Two in the courtyard.

Sure enough, Sword Twenty-Two was not something his own crappy family-inherited sword technique could compare to.

Duan Fengyun finished reading the explanation of the sword moves, picked up the Fire Scale Sword, and began to practice; suddenly, Sword Intent radiated throughout the courtyard.

This Sword Twenty-Two was indeed profound and deep; Duan Fengyun felt as if he had turned into a sharp sword, filled with killing intent and sharpness.

After practicing for several hours, Duan Fengyun felt a faint hunger in his stomach, so he stopped his practice and prepared to go eat something.

Duan Fengyun walked around the cafeteria but found nothing he liked. Thinking that he hadn't been out for a long time, he prepared to go out to find some game to eat.

After simply washing his face and changing his clothes, Duan Fengyun was just about to leave when he was blocked by Youruo, who had just arrived.

Seeing Duan Fengyun's anxious look, Youruo teased: "Hall Master Duan is in such a rush; are you planning to have a secret meeting with some lover?"

At this moment, the starving Duan Fengyun did not want to bother with Youruo, but thinking that this girl probably hadn't left the Under Heaven Society before, he decided to just take her along.

Duan Fengyun thought for a while and said to Youruo: "I am planning to go out for a meal; you come along with this young master."

After hearing this, Youruo threw all thoughts of the bet to the back of her mind; now, she only wanted to follow Duan Fengyun out to see the outside world.

Thus, Duan Fengyun took Youruo and quietly slipped out of the Under Heaven Society.