The Beauty and the Swordsman

Have you ever owned a dog?

"no."

Do you know when dogs get most excited?

"When chasing prey?"

"Exactly. And some dogs are just cheeky; they enjoy the 'chase' itself, not the prey. What if the prey turns back to chase it? Guess what?"

"Will it get bored? And not want to continue the pursuit?"

"They'll still freeze up."

Inside the Zhenwu Hall, Ren Wofei and Zhao Xingxing discussed their experiences raising dogs.

Everyone else was chatting casually, and the atmosphere was relaxed, because after today, classes would be suspended and they would have a three-day holiday.

Everyone was happy and made plans to go out for a good meal and to stroll through the market to relax.

As usual, Pei Lingyou covered her face with a book and lay sprawled out next to her desk, fast asleep.

A disciple of the Tongchen Sect rushed in at this moment and pushed her:

"Pei Lingyou, wake up! Someone's at the mountain gate, looks like they're looking for you!"

The disciple's hurried manner startled Pei Lingyou from her dream, making her think that some enemy had come to Tongchen Sect.

Her first reaction was that it was really troublesome. The acupoints that had been sealed that day had been broken, and it had taken a lot of effort to find Kuang Ye to reseal them.

If it breaks again, she'll have to beg Kuang Ye relentlessly.

That guy has been really cold to her lately, he's not easy to deal with.

She got up lazily, walked impatiently to the mountain gate, and then burst out laughing.

A large crowd had gathered at the mountain gate, including both male and female disciples, all curiously observing a petite and delicate young girl in the center.

The girl had a round face and round eyes. Her hair was tied into two buns with red ribbons, and she carried two golden maces on her back. She looked to be only fourteen years old and looked just like the porcelain doll holding a big carp on the door gods.

Faced with such an adorable girl, the disciples of Tongchen Sect couldn't help but adore her and gathered around to admire her.

The two female disciples couldn't resist reaching out and pinching the girl's full cheeks.

"Little girl, who are you looking for?"

"Did you go up Huaguang Mountain alone? Such a pretty little girl, you must take good care of yourself when you're out and about!"

"What's your name? Your older brother and sister will give you some candy, okay?"

"Those two little hammers you're carrying are so cute! Are they your weapons? Do you know martial arts?"

Despite the curious stares of the crowd, the girl remained silent, only looking around with her round, grape-like eyes.

Until Shoumo walked over, bent down slightly, and patted the girl's head with a smile.

The girl finally couldn't take it anymore and blurted out a sentence with great force:

"Screw you, smack your mother's head!"

Shoumo was startled and shuddered. He hadn't expected such a tiny thing to make such a fierce noise.

The other disciples also retreated in fear, no longer daring to find her "cute".

Judging from the way this kitten looks like it could roar like a lion, everyone nodded in agreement.

"Yes, it should be the Hun Tian Gang looking for Pei Lingyou. That's it."

After all, Pei Lingyou's cold and beautiful voice with its raspy tone was truly a shocking first impression.

Pei Lingyou was amused by the scene before her and shouted, "My Pingping, my darling!" She opened her arms and rushed towards the girl, giving her a big bear hug.

The once fierce girl instantly transformed into an obedient kitten, nestled in Pei Lingyou's arms, and said sweetly:

"Senior Sister, you said you were just going down the mountain to collect protection money, how come you never came back? I miss you so much."

"That's a long story," Pei Lingyou said, hands on her hips, starting to boast, "Your senior sister is doing very well in the Tongchen Sect now, and I'm almost too happy to leave!"

"Are you planning to incorporate the Tongchen Sect and turn them all into the Huntian Gang?" Pingping asked earnestly, her round eyes wide open.

In her eyes, her senior sister was just that awesome. This fierce young girl only restrained herself in front of her most admired senior sister.

She said happily, "I saw your inscription on that big white rock at the foot of the mountain. It's definitely your handwriting. It means that Huaguang Mountain is already ours..."

Before Pingping could finish speaking, Pei Lingyou covered her mouth and dragged her away.

Pei Lingyou cautiously looked around to make sure no Tongchen Sect disciples had heard what she had just said before leading Pingping to her small house in her courtyard.

"Good Pingping, you can't say things like that! Your senior sister is currently undergoing advanced studies at the Tongchen Sect. If people find out that I carved that ten-thousand-year stone, they might expel me on the spot. If I don't complete my studies and am removed from the martial arts world, my old man will kill me!"

Pingping quickly covered her mouth, nodded vigorously to show she understood, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered:

"The old leader can't worry about these things right now, Senior Sister, winter is almost here..."

Pingping didn't finish her sentence, but Pei Lingyou had already guessed most of it.

This is probably Pingping's main reason for coming to see her.

Autumn has passed, and winter is coming.

The Hun Tian Gang is facing its most worrisome time of the year again:

The entire gang of several hundred people needs to get through the winter; where will they get the money?

Pei Lingyou pulled Pingping down to sit and asked her in detail about the Hun Tian Gang.

Pingping said:

"In the two months that our senior sister was away, nothing major happened in the guild. The old guild leader is still drunk and staggering every day, and he starts cursing at every guild meeting—"

"You sons of bitches—you're cursing like that." Pei Lingyou chimed in skillfully, and both she and Pingping laughed.

Pei Lingyou is a disciple personally trained and raised by the old gang leader.

Judging from Pei Lingyou's drunken, crazy, arrogant, and cool demeanor, one can guess what kind of temperament the old gang leader has.

Every time the Hun Tian Gang held a major meeting, the old gang leader would stagger up with two flushed, drunken faces, let out a burp, and the first thing he would say was always:

"You sons of bitches."

"Who stole Old Li's chicken at the village entrance?"

"Which bastard goes and says 'thank you' after collecting protection money? We're law-abiding citizens! You know what the underworld is like, right? Not a beggar gang!!"

When Pei Lingyou is around, there's always someone arguing and bickering with the old gang leader.

Now that Pei Lingyou is no longer in the gang, the old gang leader can only sit alone and drink alone all day.

Pingping counted on her fingers as she explained:

"Fifty-four days have passed since the eldest sister left, and the old gang leader has drunk fifty-four jars of wine. He sighs and laments all day long, and won't listen to anyone's advice. I guess it's because winter is approaching."

When winter comes, the disciples in the gang can't go out to work and earn money, and their livelihoods have to stop. I don't know what's happened these past two years, maybe it's because of the bad economic climate and the economic downturn.

In the past, quite a few people would pay us to settle scores, fight, or do favors, but this year there are very few. It seems like everyone is holding back their grudges and not in a hurry to get revenge.

But the gang has hundreds of mouths to feed, so they can't stand it. Even if each person only spends ten coins a day on food, and eats something light, it still costs ten taels of silver a day, which adds up to nine hundred taels over the winter. Plus, there are always people who need to see a doctor if they have a headache or fever.

By the way, the little ones need to wear more winter clothes; their thin cotton-padded jackets aren't enough, and the sleeves and trouser legs are too short. Uncle Zhang's legs are in a lot of pain; he can't sleep when it's windy or rainy, so we need to find a way to see a doctor.

"Grandma He's eyesight isn't very good anymore. Sewing clothes always hurts her hands, leaving many cuts. I'm thinking of taking her to see an eye doctor. Oh, and a few rooms need new beams and roof repairs. Otherwise, if they collapse under the weight of snow in winter like last year, it would be a huge problem..."

Pingping recounted everything about the Hun Tian Gang without missing a single detail.

Pei Lingyou remained silent, her brows slightly furrowed, listening intently, her face showing none of her usual carefree and dissolute demeanor.

"And what about him?" Pei Lingyou asked.

Pingping knew the question was about her senior brother Jiang Jiujian, so she rolled her eyes, pouted, and said:

"Still the same old story, always on his deathbed, unable to lift a finger, and he curses you for being heartless, telling everyone how he crippled himself to save your life. What a resentful husband!"

Pei Lingyou smiled; she knew Pingping was speaking up for her.

In Pingping's view, one should not take advantage of kindness when doing good deeds.

Offering kindness voluntarily is virtuous, but taking advantage of kindness to seek repayment is despicable.

She looked down on Jiang Jiujian, a grown man who constantly nags and brings up old grievances.

Pei Lingyou said:

"It's alright, let him talk. He'll feel better if he says it. Every time he says it, he's convincing himself, so he won't regret it so much."

Otherwise, his martial arts skills, which were comparable to Pei Lingyou's, would be wasted, and he would never be able to practice martial arts again. He would probably break down.

After listening to Pingping's long explanation, Pei Lingyou sighed, already knowing how difficult this winter would be.

She patted Pingping's head and said, "I still have two golden phoenix tail crimson flame robes in my room. They were made from fine materials that I specially ordered from southern Jiangsu when I was most eager to show off. Let's take them to the pawn shop first. They'll be worth a few taels of silver. That should cover things for a few days. Once I find a way to get the money, I can make up for it."

Pingping panicked upon hearing this: "No! Senior Sister, those are all your favorite clothes. There were over a hundred of them before, and you've already pawned many over the years. There are only three or five left. If you pawn any more, you won't be able to redeem them!"

Pei Lingyou smiled nonchalantly, "It's just clothes, no one is more important."

For Pei Lingyou, no matter how expensive the clothes were, they were not as important as the Hun Tian Gang.

Pingping stopped talking, her eyes were a little red.

What saddened her most was seeing the Hun Tian Gang go from its peak to its gradual decline.

The golden tower rises, the golden tower collapses, like a grand dream.

What was even more painful was witnessing Pei Lingyou trapped in shallow waters, his once high spirits broken for two taels of silver.

Three years, each year more difficult than the last.

The more indifferent Pei Lingyou seemed, the more heartbroken Pingping felt.

She turned her head away, not wanting Pei Lingyou to see her cry.

But Pei Lingyou, with her sharp eyes, immediately grabbed Pingping, deliberately ruffling her face and hair, and scolded her:

"What are you crying for? Didn't you already say that I'm about to merge the Tongchen Sect into the Huntian Gang? Do you know Kuang Ye? He's the current leader of the Tongchen Sect, a powerful figure in the martial arts world whose word is law. With just one order from me, he'll immediately have to hand over his money. He'll be my underling soon."

"Are you sure you don't want to be a concubine?" Pingping laughed through her tears, teasingly asking.

"Everyone in the neighborhood knows you're pursuing him! How about it, isn't he handsome? Is he tall? Broad-shouldered? Long-legged? Is he your ideal 'resolutely defiant' good boy? Tell me more!"

As soon as the topic turned to men, Pei Lingyou and Pingping immediately forgot all about their lack of money for the winter and chatted animatedly until dark. After having some tea and snacks, they quietly packed their things and left Tongchen Sect.