The people from Yu Shun Fishing Firm arrived faster than Hua Zhi had anticipated. The manager maintained a polite demeanor, yet his assertiveness was evident in every gesture.
"Our proprietor said it's rare to have a guest like you in our small town, and you deserve proper hospitality. Staying in this shabby inn is too much of an inconvenience. Our proprietor has arranged a clean courtyard—just come with me."
As he spoke, he motioned for his men to handle the luggage. Yu Tao stepped sideways to block them, his height towering over the manager by half a head, forcing the latter to retreat a step. The manager's expression darkened. "You must be from a big city, miss, but as the old saying goes, 'a mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.' Our town may be small, but there are a few people here you shouldn't provoke. I advise you not to push your luck."
Hua Zhi lowered her head and smiled wryly. Indeed, without the Hua family's protection, once she left the capital, everyone thought she was easy to bully. Even people from such a small place wanted to step on her.
"Throw him out."
Without a word, Yu Tao grabbed the manager by the collar and flung him out. The thud of the impact was painful just to hear.
The manager howled, shouting hoarsely, "What are you standing around for? Get them!"
For someone of Yu Tao's skill, dealing with these men was beneath him. He kicked them out one by one, sending them to join their manager.
The manager, after all, had some sense. Not daring to provoke further, he fled with the support of his men.
Shaoyao was displeased. "Hua Hua, why didn't you let me handle it?"
"Don't worry, you'll get your chance. After beating the dogs, the master will surely show up—otherwise, where would he save face?" Hua Zhi pursed her lips slightly. "If I have to avoid even people like this, I might as well bow my head to every passerby in the future."
Shaoyao immediately grinned, her pent-up energy finally relieved.
Bao Xia and Xu Ying borrowed the inn's kitchen to prepare a meal. Worried about potential trouble, Bao Xia made extra dry rations just in case.
In the village, it was customary to eat only two meals a day, morning and evening. The innkeeper paced around deliberately, swallowing hard at the enticing aroma. He was both fearful and curious about these people's origins. They had just confronted Yu Shun's manager—did they really think they could get away with it? Tsk, once Yu Shun's people arrived, this feast might just end up as his. With that thought, he swallowed another mouthful of saliva.
Hua Zhi didn't wait for Little Six, leaving a portion of the meal for him and eating first.
Outside, there were fewer formalities. She and Shaoyao shared a table, while the others ate together at a smaller side table.
In a coastal town, seafood was naturally abundant. Though Bao Xia's skills weren't as refined as Fu Dong's, the quality of the ingredients made up for it. A simple boil with a pinch of salt was enough to make the dish irresistibly delicious.
Shaoyao was already devouring her food without looking up.
Suddenly, Yu Tao set down his bowl and walked to the window. Shaoyao, a step slower, hurried over as well. Sensing something amiss, Hua Zhi put down her chopsticks.
"Little Six has a tail. Yu Tao, cover the rear."
Without hesitation, Yu Tao pushed the window wide open and leaped out. Shaoyao sneered. "They mistake a tiger for a sick cat." With a flick of her wrist, she sent four pills flying from her fingertips, crushing them with hidden force into a fine powder that landed precisely on the pursuers' heads. Yu Tao, coordinating seamlessly, kicked the frontmost pursuers away and retreated back into the inn.The powder drifted down and settled on people, and immediately someone screamed, followed by one cry after another. Hua Zhi walked to the window and watched as those people rolled on the ground, their faces, necks, and hands torn and bloody. Even their heads were not spared—those yanking their own hair seemed completely unaware of the pain, not stopping even when handfuls of hair came loose.
She didn’t ask what kind of medicine it was or what the consequences would be. She simply watched coldly, her heart undisturbed. Even without Shaoyao, she would never have held back against them. Showing mercy to such people would only mean cutting off her own path to survival.
The door was pushed open. Hua Zhi turned to see the child running in, slightly out of breath but without panic or fear in his eyes. This was a member of the imperial family—even without much experience, they were naturally more composed than ordinary people.
"Are you hurt?"
The Sixth Prince shook his head. "As soon as they noticed something was wrong, they protected me and we ran. Was it the Yu Shun Fishing Firm?"
"I can’t think of anyone else." Hua Zhi beckoned to him. "You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Come, have a little something to fill your stomach."
"…"
Not only the Sixth Prince but also the guards who followed him in stared at the young lady, momentarily at a loss for words. Shouldn’t they be dealing with this trouble first?
"Cao Cao, this time I won’t stop you, but no one is to die." Hua Zhi stepped forward, took Little Six by the hand, and sat him down at the table, gesturing for Bao Xia to bring over the food. "If we don’t make them hurt, even if I strike a deal with Wu Zheng, they’ll still cause trouble later. This time, we must make sure they never dare to even think of it again."
Shaoyao laughed heartily and leaped straight out of the window. Except for Yu Tao, who stayed behind, the other three guards immediately followed.
Hua Zhi didn’t look anymore. She picked up her chopsticks again and slowly resumed eating, occasionally serving Little Six some dishes, silently urging him to eat quickly.
The Sixth Prince lowered his head, using the motion of eating to hide the amusement in his eyes. He couldn’t fathom how a family like the Hua family had raised someone like Sister Hua.
By the time Shaoyao and the others returned, half an hour had passed. Having vented her anger, Shaoyao was radiant, her eyebrows almost flying with her smile. As soon as she returned, she clung to Hua Zhi, seeking praise. "We wrecked that fishing firm. Don’t worry, Hua Hua, he won’t be able to bother you anymore."
Wang Cheng stole a glance at Shaoyao but didn’t dare expose her. It wasn’t just wrecking the fishing firm—the owner’s fate was uncertain, alive or dead. But given how obedient Shaoyao was in front of the young lady, if she said no one was to die, he must have been left with at least a breath.
They hadn’t stopped Shaoyao from her frenzy. Who would have thought that even in such a small place, people could be just as wicked? That pair of twins, only eleven or twelve years old, had been tortured to such a state. Carrying such memories, even if they survived, they might prefer death.
Seeing that Shaoyao showed no intention of mentioning it, Wang Cheng had to speak up. "That pair of twins…"
Shaoyao’s smile gradually faded. "End it for them."
Hua Zhi took Shaoyao’s hand and looked at her quietly.
After a long silence, Shaoyao finally said, "That black-hearted devil is inhuman. He tortured a brother and sister until their skin split and flesh tore. Rather than living with those memories and suffering, it’s better for them to die cleanly.""Yet it shouldn't be you who bears the burden of taking lives. Hand them over to..." Hua Zhi's voice trailed off. A human lifespan isn't particularly long, but it does span several decades. With such a history, remaining in this small place and enduring day after day would indeed be worse than death.
But she still couldn't just watch someone breathe their last before her eyes. Hua Zhi patted Shaoyao's hand. "Let's do what we can. If we've tried our best, we'll have a clear conscience."
"I knew it," Shaoyao muttered, warmth gradually returning to her eyes. Hadn't she always known? This was just how Hua Hua was.
PS: I originally wrote in detail about Shaoyao dealing with Yu Shun Fishing Firm, but during revision I felt it was quite unnecessary. Someone who hasn't even been named yet shouldn't be given too much description. How I mourn my over thousand words, wailing.
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