Chapter 39: Are You Alright? I’m Fine

Su Tang had never been in a fight.

She was even less experienced than her predecessor, who at least had witnessed her personal maid die before her eyes. Su Tang had only seen such things in dreams.

In those dreams, she failed to change what had happened, and that was what finally made her resolve to study martial arts.

Who could have expected that what she learned in the morning would be put to use by afternoon?

Clutching a tree branch tightly, she pulled her young husband close to the wall, sweeping at the lower bodies of their attackers from left to right.

With her back safely against the wall, all she needed to worry about was what lay before her and to the sides.

Swinging the branch to sweep at their legs, she forced the ruffians to instinctively dodge.

Since escape was impossible, her first aim was to buy time.

At the same time, Su Tang took a deep breath and shouted, “Fire! Help, there’s a fire—”

The faces of the five men around them changed dramatically.

Especially the second brother leading them; he ignored the pain from the branch hitting his leg and lunged at the young boy hiding behind Su Tang.

In this town, nothing was more feared than a fire. That night at the Zhao residence was one thing—there were few homes nearby—but here, the houses were packed together. If one caught fire, the wind could spread the flames in moments.

Su Tang’s cry was a ruse, but who else would know that besides these men?

A tall man charged forward, and Su Tang’s cries instinctively changed: “Help! Save me, ah—”

As she swept the branch, her screams pierced the air—louder than her cry of “fire,” so loud they seemed to shake the very walls.

Jing Yuan thought he might go deaf.

The others’ faces had turned pale.

Whose daughter could cry out so loudly—

The second brother no longer cared about the girl, only wishing the screaming would stop.

Seeing his hand reach for Su Tang’s mouth, Jing Yuan clenched his fist under his sleeve, ready to strike, when suddenly someone shouted, “What’s going on? Who are you?”

Jing Yuan relaxed his hand.

A few men appeared at the mouth of the alley, carrying buckets, pitchforks, and other tools. They saw five men surrounding two young children, one of whom was clearly about to harm the girl.

“Beat them!”

The men outside rushed in.

The second brother reacted fastest, shouting, “Run—”

The outsiders immediately fled down the alley.

The second brother vaulted over the wall and escaped.

“Ah—”

“Ow—”

“Second Brother—”

“……”

The entrance to the alley was chaos: some were beating, some were being beaten, and others were calling for their leader.

Su Tang paid no mind.

At this moment, she felt as if she had narrowly escaped death.

---

A greasy, filthy hand was reaching for her face, the stench filling her nostrils still made her nauseous despite her time here. She jabbed the branch at him with all her strength, but he only tugged her, and even with all her might she couldn’t move him an inch.

If no one had appeared in time, she didn’t know what might have happened.

Her predecessor died not just from illness, but because her frail body couldn’t endure the hardships of travel—a suffering Su Tang herself had never experienced in her past life.

Had her mouth and nose been covered, she wouldn’t have died, but it would have been unbearably uncomfortable.

At worst, she wouldn’t be able to stomach dinner tonight.

No, when pushed to desperation, she probably could still eat.

She felt she could manage.

Thankfully, nothing happened.

Just a false alarm.

Su Tang muttered to herself, realizing she was staring at the ground but had no idea what she was seeing.

Nor did she know what she should do next.

Not until a hand settled on her shoulder and blocked her view of the ground, the familiar scent enveloping her, did Su Tang gradually return to herself.

The young boy before her looked at her, worry flickering across his face.

Su Tang forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

Only then did she notice how dry and hoarse her voice sounded.

“Hah, I really shouted too loudly just now.” Su Tang rubbed her throat and asked, “Are you alright, husband? Did you get hurt anywhere?”

She pulled her young husband close, inspecting him from every angle. Seeing dust on his robe, she reached out to brush it off.

Jing Yuan tolerated her scrutiny, but when Su Tang moved to press his arm and leg, he stepped back to avoid her.

“I’m fine,” Jing Yuan said.

Su Tang’s hand found nothing and she asked, unconvinced, “Really?”

Jing Yuan repeated, “I’m fine.”

The boy’s breathing was steady, his complexion unchanged from before—it seemed he really was unhurt.

But how could that be?

“Let me check,” Su Tang insisted, grabbing his arm and patting his leg.

She herself was terrified; how could such a young boy possibly be unscathed?

Though Su Tang’s face was still pale from fright, her gaze was fixed on him, concerned only for his well-being.

She was just a girl herself~

A ripple stirred in Jing Yuan’s heart.

He caught her hand.

Su Tang froze, looking up to meet his gaze.

See? She knew her husband must be hurt somewhere, but he wouldn’t let her see.

“You—”

“Woof woof woof—”

Before she could finish, a familiar barking grew closer.

“Is that Blackie?”

---

There were many dogs in town, but Su Tang could always tell which one was Blackie.

“Yes,” Jing Yuan replied, hesitating before letting go of her hand.

As soon as he released her, Li Qing Tian and Lu Da Shan appeared at the mouth of the alley.

Near the entrance, several men were being beaten; inside were Su Tang and Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan’s expression was unreadable, but Su Tang was clearly pale, with a dry tree branch at her feet.

“A-lang!”

“Miss!”

Li Qing Tian and Lu Da Shan cried out, about to rush in.

Among the men fighting at the entrance, one recognized Lu Da Shan and called, “These guys were causing trouble for your A-lang—”

“What?” Lu Da Shan immediately looked toward Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan nodded.

Lu Da Shan’s eyes widened, and he swung his giant palm like a fan.

“Brats, you’re asking for trouble—”

Causing trouble for A-lang? And the girl was there too.

Li Qing Tian’s heart skipped a beat, and he sprang forward.

Su Tang watched in astonishment as Li Qing Tian leaped several yards in a flash.

He’s crazy, doing this in broad daylight.

No—

Li Qing Tian caught the look in Su Tang’s eyes, his breath tightening, and quickly restrained himself. In that brief loosen-tighten, his stride stumbled.

“Ah,” Su Tang cried in surprise.

The young boy beside her murmured, “Did he hurt himself?”

Su Tang coughed. “Maybe. We must have frightened him.”

She gestured, “There are so many people, and bad ones too, right? We’re both so young.”

At the mention of her own age, Su Tang frowned.

Sometimes even she struggled to get used to it.

Jing Yuan looked quietly at her.

Now she remembers she’s too young?

……

“Miss, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Li Qing Tian rushed over and began inspecting Su Tang from head to toe, patting her arms and legs.

Su Tang: Strangely familiar.

Jing Yuan: Hmph.