The Strange Woman

"She's a real beauty, but you should focus on your work. If you accidentally lose a finger, who knows if Miss Xing'er will like someone with a missing digit..."

Chu Feng didn't pay it any mind and responded with a chuckle. Suddenly, he noticed Li Zhenshan's face, dark as the bottom of a pot, and quickly said, "Master Li, I was just teaching my apprentice. Please don't take it to heart!"

Li Zhenshan left with a dark expression.

He had arrived late and hadn't heard Chu Feng's earlier words, only catching the phrase "missing a finger."

If Chu Feng hadn't explained in time, he would have really made the other person experience the severity of being maimed.

"Master, you should rest. I won't think about such things anymore." Chen Shi Tou knew he was wrong and could only say nice things.

"Study hard. If you have talent, I can teach you skills that will truly help you make a living!"

Chu Feng strode leisurely towards the back courtyard of the restaurant.

"Master, I'll work hard..." Chen Shi Tou was clever and understood the implication in Chu Feng's words.

Did his master have other hidden skills besides his superb butchering techniques?

After the lunch rush, the restaurant finally had a rare moment of respite.

"Master, I'll take you somewhere nice." With rare free time, Chen Shi Tou didn't rest. Instead, he mysteriously came to find Chu Feng.

"Where?" Chu Feng's eyes showed curiosity.

"Just come with me." Chen Shi Tou wouldn't say, only building the suspense.

Chu Feng was helpless and could only follow.

They left the restaurant through the back door, crossed the main street, wound through small alleys, and walked for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, finally arriving at their destination.

It was an open space with no buildings surrounding it.

A stage the size of a house was erected there.

A charming woman stood on the stage, her steps delicate, her water sleeves fluttering like dancing clouds and mist.

Her eyes were like paintings, and a cinnabar mole on the corner of her rosy lips added a touch of allure.

Her rosy cherry lips sang softly.

"Yiya--deer wei..."

Her voice was playful yet enchanting, stirring a sense of tenderness in the listener.

When the song finished, applause thundered, and all the men, women, old, and young spectators excitedly clapped their hands until they were red.

Chen Shi Tou pointed at the woman standing center stage and said proudly, "Master, wasn't I right? Miss Xing'er is the most beautiful girl in the world."

"And she's also the kindest. She had already completed her performance for the Wang family's birthday celebration, but she specifically came to South City to perform for us common folk. Her heart is truly like a Bodhisattva's..."

Chen Shi Tou looked at the charming woman on stage with fervent admiration.

Chu Feng observed her carefully. The woman was indeed beautiful.

However, Chu Feng felt a strange sense of artificiality beneath her beauty, as if she were wearing a false facade, all of it fake.

The charming woman on stage parted her cherry lips slightly, and a stream of red gas, invisible to anyone, rose from the audience and was inhaled into her mouth.

In an instant, Chu Feng also felt a moment of dizziness, but immediately after, the Vajra Mingwang diagram flashed through his body, clearing his mind, and he recovered.

"Oh?" Chu Feng's unusual reaction caught the attention of the charming woman.

When the opera ended, the woman named Xing'er descended the stage with delicate steps.

Chen Shi Tou saw her and waved, shouting, "Miss Xing'er, your singing was wonderful!"

This shout surprisingly attracted Xing'er's attention. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes looked over, like two pools of autumn water, making one's heart tremble.

"Little brother, you've come..."

Unexpectedly, Miss Xing'er walked over.

Chen Shi Tou was overwhelmed with flattery. Many people had shouted like this before, but Miss Xing'er had never noticed them, let alone come over to greet them personally.

For a moment, many people's gazes turned towards them, mostly with unfriendly expressions.

"I... I..."

Chen Shi Tou's face blushed like a monkey's backside, and he stammered, not knowing what to say.

Xing'er ignored Chen Shi Tou's awkwardness and instead looked at Chu Feng, asking, "And who is this?"

Chen Shi Tou quickly introduced, "This is my master. My master's butchering skills are amazing..."

"So, he's a butcher..."

A young master in fine robes immediately became arrogant.

"Miss Xing'er, why bother with these two butchers? Your delicate and charming body shouldn't be sullied."

The young master in robes held a folding fan and lewdly took Xing'er's jade hand.

"Miss Xing'er, I, Wang Linghe, have pursued you all the way from the Wang family. My sincerity is clear for all to see! Please come with me!"

"Heh heh… Young Master, this humble servant is not marrying anyone…"

"This young master, may I ask your esteemed name?" Xing'er sidestepped the Hua Fu young master's lecherous hand and looked at Chu Feng with deep affection.

Her charming gaze, combined with her soft voice, made everyone present's bones go numb and their souls wander.

"A country bumpkin like me can't handle such a title from a young lady. Shi Tou, let's go." Chu Feng was unmoved, replying with a detached expression.

"Huh?"

Chen Shi Tou looked hesitant, clearly not wanting to leave. But seeing his master's stern gaze, he could only leave, still unable to resist looking back multiple times.

Xing'er's gaze towards Chu Feng turned serious. This scrawny young man could actually resist her charm technique?

Wang Linghe looked at Chu Feng with a gaze full of gloom. He gave a signal to the two household servants behind him, and the three secretly followed Chu Feng.

After they walked out of the stage area, Chu Feng spoke first, "That Miss Xing'er is not right. You should forget about her."

All the way, Chu Feng had carefully observed Chen Shi Tou and found that his spirit seemed to have been depleted, making him appear weak and sickly.

Yet, this kid himself was completely unaware, still thinking about Xing'er's captivating figure on stage.

"Why?" Hearing Chu Feng's words, Chen Shi Tou reacted strongly, even looking directly into Chu Feng's eyes disrespectfully.

"She's very strange, not a decent woman!"

Chu Feng said this lightly and didn't explain further. His gaze then turned towards a spot not far away.

He saw Wang Linghe approaching them aggressively with two household servants.

As they walked, he cursed, "You two country bumpkins! How dare you ruin my good deed!"

"Beat them to death. I'll reward you if they die."

They were just two butchers, and there wouldn't be any trouble even if they were beaten to death.

The two subordinate household servants' eyes lit up upon hearing this.

They strode towards Chu Feng without hesitation. Such decisive movements clearly indicated this wasn't the first time they had done something like this.

"Master, hurry and run! I'll hold them off."

Chen Shi Tou gritted his teeth, stood in front of Chu Feng, and said loudly.

How could Chu Feng possibly run?

He pushed Chen Shi Tou aside and, under the other's puzzled gaze, slowly walked forward.

Bang! Bang!

With just two casual punches, the two household servants bent over, clutching their stomachs, like cooked shrimp.

"Huh? I didn't expect you to be a martial artist?"

Wang Linghe closed his folding fan and said with interest.