Wang Xiaojuan

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the tiles from the east, illuminating Gu Chang'an's simple yet tidy courtyard.

After finishing a bowl of steaming porridge, he brushed off his clothes, picked up the empty bowl, and walked out the door, intending to enjoy the fresh morning air and then tidy up his gear in his room before heading to report to the Martial Guard Division.

But before he could turn, he heard a muffled cry from the end of the south alley, filled with heart-wrenching pain.

That was... Old Man Wang's voice!

Old Man Wang was a neighbor. His family wasn't poor; his son originally ran a small business elsewhere, and his daughter-in-law could weave cloth to support themselves.

Unfortunately, more than a year ago, the couple suddenly disappeared, vanishing without a trace, leaving only Old Man Wang and his granddaughter, Wang Xiaodie, who was just over ten years old, to rely on each other.

Old Man Wang, being elderly, had no choice but to go back up the mountain to chop firewood and sell it for money.

A few months ago, he broke his leg. To pay for medical treatment, he had to borrow some money from the Black Sand Gang.

But now, the Black Sand Gang had been absorbed by the Flowing Gold Gang, and their debt collection methods had become extremely brutal.

Gu Chang'an quickly walked out of his courtyard and stood at the street corner, looking into the distance. He saw that quite a few people had gathered at the alley entrance.

At the end of the alley, two burly men in short tunics, with leather belts cinched at their waists, were dragging a small, thin girl by the arm. The girl was no more than ten years old, her face streaked with tears. It was Wang Xiaojuan, Old Man Wang's granddaughter.

Old Man Wang stumbled out, chasing after them. His leg injury had not healed, yet he desperately lunged forward, grabbing the girl's clothes and pleading, "Don't take her away, she's so young... Please, I'll pay you back, I promise I'll pay you back..."

"Pay your mother!"

One of the burly men raised his foot and kicked Old Man Wang to the ground. The old man, frail, was thrown heavily onto the bluestone slabs, and blood immediately flowed from his forehead.

"You old fool, how long has this debt been outstanding? The Flowing Gold Gang is collecting now. Using your granddaughter to settle the debt, you're lucky! If she weren't somewhat good-looking, we'd have taken your life directly!"

This scene seared itself into Gu Chang'an's eyes.

Although he had experienced much of the darkness in the martial world, the sight of such bullying of the weak and inhumane behavior still ignited a fire of rage within him.

"Brother Gu! Brother Gu, save me--!"

The girl's heart-wrenching cries pierced his heart like knives.

Gu Chang'an's eyes turned cold, and without hesitation, he strode forward.

"Let her go."

His voice was not loud, but like a sudden cold wind, it instantly made the two burly men's hearts tremble.

One of them turned back, frowning, "Kid, who are you? Daring to meddle in other people's business?"

Gu Chang'an stopped and said coldly, "How much does Old Man Wang owe you?"

The burly man chuckled, revealing a row of yellow teeth, "Oh, so you're the type who wants to be a hero. Fine, we won't make it difficult for you. Five taels of silver, and we'll let her go."

"Nonsense!" Old Man Wang, enduring the intense pain, crawled up and shouted tremblingly, "I only borrowed five hundred wen. The Black Sand Gang said I'd repay one tael of silver in two months! How can you demand five taels of silver?"

The burly man waved his hand irritably, preparing to kick him again. "The Black Sand Gang is the Black Sand Gang, but we are the Flowing Gold Gang! Times have changed!"

As he raised his foot, Gu Chang'an grabbed it.

"Bang!"

A dull bone-cracking sound was heard. The burly man was horrified to find his ankle held as if by iron pincers, unable to move.

His expression changed as he saw the man's calm, knife-like gaze, and a chill ran down his spine.

The burly man's face contorted, cold sweat beaded on his forehead. The immense pressure on his ankle felt like an iron hoop locking it in place, making it impossible to move.

"You..." he stammered in shock, "Who exactly are you?"

Gu Chang'an's expression was calm as he spoke word by word, "I told you, I'll pay his debt. But I will only pay one tael of silver. Don't think about getting any more."

The other burly man's eyes flashed with ferocity, "Do you know who we are? We have a Hall Master behind us--"

"That's perfect," Gu Chang'an interrupted him. "If you're not satisfied, have your Hall Master, or even your leader, come speak to me."

His gaze was calm yet sharp, his words spoken without the slightest hesitation.

The two burly men exchanged glances, finally realizing that this person was no ordinary civilian.

Recently, the higher-ups of the Flowing Gold Gang had instructed them to keep a low profile and not to provoke people casually.

With this thought, the two decided to abandon their intention of continuing the confrontation.

"Take, take the money..."

Gu Chang'an took out silver from his bosom, flicked his wrist, and tossed out a silver ingot weighing a full tael. He said coldly, "Take the money and get lost."

The two burly men picked up the silver and slunk away.

Old Man Wang rushed forward, hugged his granddaughter, and repeatedly thanked him through tears, "Chang'an... Chang'an, you are our benefactor, my granddaughter and I!"

Wang Xiaojuan's eyes were also filled with gratitude, and she said with a choked sob, "Brother Gu, thank you..."

Gu Chang'an gently patted Old Man Wang's shoulder and said softly, "It's alright, we're neighbors. Helping each other is what we should do."

"But this money…"

Old Man Wang wanted to say more, but Gu Chang'an interrupted him, smiling, "No need to rush to repay it. Let's talk about it when things get better."

Actually, he knew that this money would likely never be returned.

After all, the lives of Old Man Wang and his granddaughter were so hard; where would they find spare cash to repay it?

He just couldn't stand by and watch someone be trampled in these times.

Moreover, he had recently acquired a fortune of two hundred taels, so he wasn't lacking this small sum.

Just then, Old Man Wang suddenly trembled and grabbed his hand, his calloused palm shaking. The hand that clutched his sleeve…

"Little Brother Gu…"

Old Man Wang's voice was hoarse, dry as dead wood. Then, he suddenly pushed, thrusting his granddaughter Wang Xiaojuan's hand into Gu Chang'an's.

The little girl timidly lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.

"I… I'm old now, my leg is crippled, I really can't raise her anymore…"

Tears streamed down the old man's face, filled with regret and powerlessness. "Her grandmother left long ago, her parents' whereabouts are unknown, and her relatives… they've all avoided us like the plague. I'm afraid that one day when I die, she'll fall into a wolf's den, and no one will save her."

"You're a good person, I know… this old body of mine can see clearly. The wild rabbits and pheasants you hunted before, you often shared with us, never making a fuss. When others were in trouble, you were always the first to step up. My granddaughter… I trust you."

As he spoke, he painstakingly took out a grease-stained paper packet from his embrace. Unfolding it, it was a yellowed property deed.

"I'll give you this little broken house too… She can stay at your place to light the fire, cook, wash clothes, and boil porridge… You can also look after her a bit."

His voice trembled, but his eyes held a resolute determination.

"If you don't take her, I truly don't know who else I can entrust her to…"

Gu Chang'an looked at the small girl, not yet ten years old, thin and frail. Yet, her eyes no longer held much childish innocence, but a calm interwoven with tension and fear.

He pondered for a moment. He had intended to refuse, but his heart suddenly stirred—

Indeed, he didn't lack money now, and living alone at home, he was missing someone to light the fire, cook, wash clothes, and boil porridge.

This would reduce some trivial matters and give him more time to practice his skills.

So, he slowly nodded, "…Alright, I promise you."

Old Man Wang immediately knelt and kowtowed, "Thank you, Little Brother… Thank you!"

Gu Chang'an quickly helped him up, "Don't be like this, Uncle Wang."

Old Man Wang shook his head, but he pressed the property deed into his hand, his eyes firm yet relieved.

"She's yours from now on, Little Brother Gu… Whatever you tell her to do, she'll do."

Wang Xiaojuan whispered, "I'll listen to Grandpa."

After a hasty arrangement, Gu Chang'an led her home and cooked a bowl of porridge for her. The girl ate in small bites, like a startled fawn, her head always lowered.

But when Gu Chang'an finished tidying up the back hall and returned to the front, he found that Old Man Wang had not returned.

His heart suddenly tightened. He quickly went out the door and headed straight for the dilapidated, low-slung tiled house.

The door was not fully closed. He pushed it open with a palm. The room was empty and desolate, a smell of dust and moldy old firewood hitting him.

His gaze froze instantly.

—Right under the central beam, Old Man Wang was hanging there.

He had used a broken hemp rope to tie around his emaciated neck.

On the ground below was an overturned chair.

The wind blew through the window frame, letting out a mournful wail.

"Uncle Wang!!!"

Gu Chang'an rushed forward, reaching out to support the old man's body, but it was already cold and stiff.

In an instant, he understood Old Man Wang's decision.

—Afraid he would go back on his word, he simply ended his life to entrust his granddaughter to him.

"Perhaps… I was too slow to realize."

Gu Chang'an murmured softly, slowly lowering the old man, his eyes complex and heavy.

He gently patted Wang Xiaojuan's shoulder, his voice hoarse:

"I didn't expect Uncle Wang would be so distraught…"

Wang Xiaojuan's tears flowed uncontrollably. She rushed to the body, crying out:

"Grandpa—!!!"

That heart-wrenching cry echoed in the cold wind.

She sobbed convulsively, her voice gradually quieting, until finally, she just curled up beside the old man, a ball of misery, no longer making a sound.

Gu Chang'an stood in silence for a moment, then bent down, wrapped the body, covered it with a straw mat from his home, and carried it on his shoulder, taking Wang Xiaojuan with him to a hillside outside the city.

The makeshift grave was overgrown with weeds.

He had no coffin, no eternal lamp, only a hoe and a handful of yellow earth.

He dug the pit with his own hands, buried the body, and then planted a piece of dead wood as a tombstone.

"Uncle Wang, rest in peace on your journey."

He said softly.

Wang Xiaojuan stood to the side, not crying, just watching quietly, without a word.

There were still tear stains in her eyes, but she was no longer wailing.

From that moment on, she changed.

When Gu Chang'an turned to leave, she followed closely.

"Let's go home."

"Mm."

She replied softly.

Gu Chang'an glanced back at her—that small figure, at this moment, seemed no longer a child, but a little adult carrying a heavy world on her shoulders.

If you can't find the book title, you can try searching for the author, maybe they just changed their name!