Dazed and shattered, Du Xiaoyan stumbled through the bustling streets of Dingzhou like a lost soul. She had no idea where she was going, how long she had been walking, or what places she had passed. She simply wandered aimlessly, tears falling like beads from a broken necklace.
People came and went, but she didn't dodge them. She collided head-on with several burly men, knocking them off balance. Though furious, none of them dared complain. Anyone with half a brain could tell—this delicate-looking girl had terrifying martial skills. The fact that she was wandering about like a lunatic only made her more dangerous. Who knew what she might do if provoked?
Unfortunately, not everyone had brains.
Just then, a local dandy—pale-skinned, dark-ringed eyes, clearly someone who indulged in too much wine and too many women—caught sight of her.
Trailing behind him were four hulking guards in servant livery. With a smirk and a twirl of his folding fan, the dandy sauntered straight toward her.
"Miss," he drawled with a wicked grin, "in such a hurry—off to meet your lover? Why rush? Let me take that lucky fellow's place, hmm?"
Before he finished the sentence, bam—Du Xiaoyan slammed into him like a stone launched from a catapult. His wine-soaked body couldn't withstand the impact. With a groan, he flew backward, only barely caught by his guards.
Still dazed, Du Xiaoyan didn't even notice the collision. She kept walking.
The dandy roared in anger. "Bitch! How dare you bump into me! You four—grab her! I'll teach this little wildcat a lesson!"
With toothy grins, the four guards surrounded her. She didn't resist. They grabbed her arms and dragged her before their master.
The dandy raised his fan and lifted her chin with its edge, leering. "I may be worthless, but I've got money. Stick with me and you'll never lack luxury. Refuse me, though…" His voice dropped into a sneer. "Well, I can be very... unpleasant."
Du Xiaoyan, eyes empty and wet with tears, murmured, "What do you want from me?"
"What do I want?" He reached for her chin. "I want—uhgh—!"
That last sound was a strangled squeal, abruptly cut off.
Du Xiaoyan's whip lashed out like lightning. The red three-zhang weapon coiled through the air in impossible arcs. In the blink of an eye, it had spun and sliced through flesh. Agonized screams rang out—and then silence.
The dandy and his four guards lay in pieces, scattered across the blood-slick street.
Not a single intact body remained.
Du Xiaoyan calmly retracted her whip. Her face was speckled with blood. Tears clung to her lashes. Without a word, she stepped through the gore and continued forward, still stumbling, still lost.
Cheers erupted around her.
The onlookers applauded, thrilled by the spectacle. A few beggars darted forward, rummaging through the corpses for valuables.
This was Dingzhou. Slaughter like this? Just another Tuesday.
Then came the sound of pounding hooves—two magnificent horses, one black and one white, galloping through the street.
When they were two zhang from Du Xiaoyan, the riders reined them in. The horses reared with piercing whinnies before landing gracefully.
On the white horse sat a woman clad in flowing white robes, a three-foot-long sword strapped to her back. A sheer white veil covered her face, but her eyes—cold as frost—pierced through.
The black horse bore a striking woman dressed in purple top, green pants, and a short skirt. Her face was hidden behind violet gauze, but her eyes were dazzling, seductive, and dangerously sharp.
The purple-clad rider glanced at the carnage. Her voice rang out in mock outrage. "So vicious! You didn't just kill them—you turned them into meat chunks. What, no respect for law and order?"
The white-robed rider shot her a glance. "Ni'er, aren't you being a bit hypocritical? How many of your 'admirers' ever left your company alive?"
Ni'er huffed. "At least I leave their bodies whole. Besides, I'm a citizen of the Qin Empire. If I say someone lives, they live. If I say they die—they die. Who dares argue?"
The white rider sighed. "Fine, I'm not arguing." She turned to Du Xiaoyan. "Miss, what happened? Why such ruthless slaughter?"
Du Xiaoyan glanced at them, eyes blank. "Pervert... deserved death... deserved to be torn to pieces..."
Ni'er's gaze sharpened. "What's your name? Do you know the bastard Third Young Master of the Qin family?"
Du Xiaoyan flinched. The name jolted her out of her trance.
Facing the two fierce women, she hesitated, then said, "No... I don't know Qin Ren. I've never seen him. Please… don't block my way."
She lowered her head and tried to walk past the horses.
Ni'er extended her whip and blocked her path. "You don't know him? Then why'd you flinch when I said 'Third Young Master'? Lying to me? Please, girl—you're not even good at it."
Du Xiaoyan forced a smile. "Everyone knows Qin Ren is the Third Young Master. It's not a secret. But truly, I've never met him…"
Ni'er's gaze swept up and down her body. Her voice turned icy. "You don't look like a virgin. Let me guess—he ruined you too? Women like you are the problem—suffering in silence, letting monsters roam free. Listen to me: never be silent. Fight back!"
The white-robed girl sighed. "Cousin, don't go overboard."
Ni'er pouted, then turned back to Du Xiaoyan. "Well? Did you hear me? Don't let my words go in one ear and out the other. Now—tell us. Where's Qin Ren?"
"I don't know," Du Xiaoyan repeated.
Ni'er's brow furrowed. "So you want a beating before you'll talk?"
The white-robed girl shook her head. "So fierce with women. No wonder only Qin Ren would dare touch you…"
That did it.
Du Xiaoyan had been raised like a princess—daughter of Du Gongfu, lord of Tianping Manor. She'd never been spoken to like this. Her pride flared into fury.
She snapped coldly, "You call me girl, but look at yourselves—barely grown! Had you asked politely, I might've answered. But with that tone? Even if I knew where Qin Ren was, I wouldn't tell you! Now move—good dogs don't block the road."
She shoved Ni'er's whip aside and marched forward.
Ni'er roared, "You dare? Let's see if you can still talk after this! Taste my whip!"
The lash cracked toward Du Xiaoyan.
Du Xiaoyan sneered. "Play the whip with me? I'll show you real technique!" She floated aside like drifting willow fluff, dodging the blow, then drew her crimson whip. It snapped taut like a spear and lunged at Ni'er's waist.
"They're fighting! Shouldn't we stop them?"
Not far away, four people peeked around a corner—Qin Ren, Qiao Wei, Uncle Li, and Li Xiaoye.
Qiao Wei nudged Qin Ren. "That's Du Xiaoyan, isn't it? She's fighting the purple one!"
Qin Ren grinned. "Heh, didn't know Xiaoyan had moves! Let them fight. Two tigresses, one bone. One's bound to get hurt. We'll watch the show."
"But that purple chick seems stronger," said Qiao Wei. "And the white-robed one watching—she's no pushover. Xiaoyan might lose."
Qin Ren shrugged. "Fine by me. One less woman, one less headache. Tsk… both use whips too. If they're into that kind of play, I'm doomed."
Qiao Wei blinked. "SM? What's that?"
"It's a… special bedroom game," Qin Ren said gleefully. "You'd love it! Horses, whips, candles, nails—all sorts of toys. You use them on women—or they use them on you. Fun, right?"
Qiao Wei shuddered. "Thanks, but I'll pass."
Li Xiaoye snapped, "Qin Ren! Is that how you repay her? Du Xiaoyan's risking her life to protect you, and you're here joking about her death?"
"Okay, okay," Qin Ren said, rubbing his head. "You think I want to let her fight? But that purple girl… I can't mess with her."
Uncle Li raised a brow. "There's a woman you fear?"
"Hell yes," Qin Ren whispered. "Don't tell anyone—but that girl's Qin Ni'er, the Emperor's illegitimate daughter. And, uh… let's just say she's been under me before. Now she wants payback…"
Qiao Wei and Uncle Li's eyes widened...