But there were truly many people. The previously bustling crowd on the dock had all become enemies, plus those blocking the way. A rough estimate suggested over a hundred.
"You think you're impressive just because you dealt with Cao Dahai? He was nothing but a stray dog, not even worthy of shining my shoes. I'll show you what real strength looks like."
So they knew about the incident with Cao Dahai—that explained their thorough preparation. Watching the approaching crowd, Hua Zhi sneered coldly. It was true that one couldn't fight against overwhelming odds, but that depended on how large the gap in strength was.
She tore the hem of her skirt to facilitate movement and removed a hairpin from her collar, clasping it in her palm. The black-red hairpin gleamed ominously—it was the one Yan Xi had given her. With such a treasure in hand, she couldn't bring herself to use any of the others.
"Protect yourselves."
Jiang Huanran, standing at the front, had already kicked two people to the ground. Hearing this, he instinctively turned his head and saw the person he thought needed protection charging past him to the front, shouting loudly, "Break through the encirclement and retreat westward!"
To the west stood a row of buildings, usually used by travelers waiting for boats or companions to rest. Hua Zhi had no intention of retreating inside—that would be cutting off all escape routes. Only by retreating in that direction could they avoid being attacked from both sides, and those with lower combat skills could take shelter there. Only when they were safe could she fight without worry.
As she spoke, Hua Zhi's hairpin plunged fiercely into an enemy's leg. When she pulled it out, she dragged it sharply, and blood sprayed from the deep gash. The man screamed in agony. She stabbed his other leg and repeated the motion, rendering him unable to stand.
She came from a world of peace and couldn't casually take lives, but she could render people combat-ineffective.
Jiang Huanran was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out. Was this really the eldest daughter of the Hua family? The Hua family were civil officials! Or had he remembered wrong? Were they actually a military family? That couldn't be—he distinctly remembered Old Master Hua was a civil official!
A sharp pain in his shoulder made him instinctively dodge a fatal blow. He didn't dare let his mind wander anymore and focused on the situation at hand, but his eyes kept drifting toward the eldest daughter. He watched her take down one opponent after another—again and again, relentlessly.
The Sixth Prince couldn't control his eyes either.
He had always seen Sister Hua as a strategist, someone who gave advice from behind the scenes. Even in battle, she should be the one directing, not fighting. He never imagined Sister Hua possessed such skills!
She was literate and martial, capable of managing a household and making money, and she knew so many novel things. He couldn't think of anything Sister Hua couldn't do.
"Focus!" Hua Zhi suddenly glanced over. At that moment, her milky-white robes were stained with blood, her eyes and face filled with cold intensity. She was as sharp as a newly honed blade. Paired with her features, Jiang Huanran suddenly understood what it meant for beauty to be in full bloom—this was the pinnacle of a woman's beauty. Compared to her, all the other women he had ever met seemed utterly ordinary.
On the dock, cries of agony and misery mingled with Shaoyao's excited laughter, as if they were in a battlefield of demons.
Hua Zhi turned her gaze to Zheng Bei. She loathed this man intensely. Breaking through the crowd, she charged straight toward him. Under his terrified gaze, she stabbed his thigh fiercely. Instantly, Zheng Bei's howls of agony drowned out all other sounds on the dock.
"Yu Tao." Stepping on the man, Hua Zhi looked up.Yu Tao was closest to her and immediately came over at her call.
"Hold him and retreat westward."
With Zheng Bei in their grasp, those men became cautious—neither daring to let him escape nor approaching recklessly. A few crafty ones slipped away from the dock, but Hua Zhi paid them no mind. Since people were already injured, what more did she have to fear!
Retreating to the west, Hua Zhi signaled the injured Xu Ying and Bao Xia to take the twins further inside.
Bao Xia silently cursed her own lack of skill as she pushed Wu Dashuang, who could no longer walk, into the room. Wu Xiaoshuang was in better condition, at least able to move on his own. Before entering, he instinctively glanced back at the young mistress who, though not much taller than him, stood as steadfast as a mountain. This was his master—one who protected rather than abandoned him in danger, never using him as a shield. All the suffering he had endured now seemed entirely worth it.
Had he remained in Shui Guang Village, he would never have known such people existed, never experienced this warmth that soaked straight through his heart.
Zheng Bei's screams were unbearably grating. Hua Zhi casually picked up a rag and stuffed it into his mouth, ignoring how he choked and rolled his eyes. She then turned to Jiang Huanran, who was staring at her with fascinated curiosity. "Young Master Jiang, please leave first."
Jiang Huanran straightened his expression. "Miss Hua, I don't care for empty formalities. I am a man."
This was the endearing quality of people—even if a hundred others spoke ill of you, it didn't mean you were entirely without merit.
Hua Zhi's imposing aura softened slightly. "This matter won't end peacefully. The Governor of Jingzhou holds considerable power, and Magistrate Jiang might not wish to see his son involved."
Most politicians prized their reputations, and none would willingly provoke a high-ranking official without cause. With Shaoyao's earlier reassurance and the backing of the Seven Constellation Bureau's leader, Hua Zhi believed Yan Xi would protect her to the end—this was her confidence in dealing with Zheng Bei.
She had no intention of dragging the Jiang Family into this, lest they bear a grudge and blame her later.
But Jiang Huanran remained unmoved. "If I leave now, my father would truly be furious. As the youngest son with no grand ambitions, I may not contribute much to the family, but at least I avoid fraternal conflict. That's enough for my father. His only demand is that I act like a man—and I believe that's exactly what I'm doing now. If he blames anyone, it should be himself. This is how he raised me."
His brazen defiance was almost charming in its audacity. Hua Zhi nodded and ceased her persuasion.
She wouldn't stop someone from acting like a man.
Wang Cheng approached. "Miss Hua, the passenger ship has arrived. Allow me to escort you aboard first."
Hua Zhi glanced toward the river. The people on the ship seemed to have noticed the commotion at the dock and were holding back from docking. "Since we've started this, we might as well crush them completely to avoid further trouble."
Wang Cheng wanted to insist—after all, the young mistress's safety was paramount, as The Heir had specifically emphasized before their departure—but one look at her expression made him swallow his words. This version of Miss Hua truly seemed formidable.
"Cao Cao."
"Here!" Shaoyao cheerfully bounded back.
"Knock them all out. We'll wait for the next wave. I want to see just how much confidence the Zheng Family truly has.""Alright, take this medicine." Shaoyao cheerfully pulled out a handful of pills and handed them to Hua Hua before leaping up joyfully, stepping on the enemies' heads to spring high into the air, scattering medicinal powder everywhere.
Hua Zhi almost immediately took one pill and put it in her mouth the moment it was handed over, while passing the rest with her other hand to those beside her.
Jiang Huanran hesitated briefly before also taking one. Although the origin of these pills was unclear, since all of the young lady's people were taking them, it was unlikely that only his would be poisoned.
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