The Woman Hanging There

Cloud Province, Ji City.

Winter had come unusually early this year.

The wind swept down from the Wild Snow Plains in the north, passed through the low adobe houses of the Grey Commoner District, slipped through the cracks in the Inner City's tall blue-brick walls, and howled into a mansion.

It swept through the covered corridor and rolled up the curtain, finally stopping in a side hall, where it brushed against an iron chain hanging from a beam. The chain clattered a few times.

Beneath it, a woman hung suspended.

Her hands were bound, her waist forced to buckle as her body leaned forward, her hips thrust up and her back arched into a breathtaking curve.

A crimson silk robe clung to her shapely figure. Gold and silver ornaments trimmed its collar and cuffs, chiming softly as the chain swayed.

The hem of her dress fell open, revealing only a pair of slender, snow-white feet shackled at the ankles. Her rounded toes curled slightly against the icy stone floor, their nails painted deep red and dusted with a little grime.

The woman did not move, like a precious work of art carefully put on display.

"Damn, what kind of pose is that? Stay calm. Get to work."

Su Yuan looked away and opened the wooden case before him. Inside, small axes, saws, flat chisels, round chisels, angled chisels, and other tools were neatly arranged, their edges gleaming coldly.

He took out a piece of rosewood and began sketching the woman's striking outline.

"Little Su, in such a hurry? Why not take another look? I went to a lot of trouble to get you this opportunity. Don't mess it up." A middle-aged man strolled up to Su Yuan.

"Old Liu, you can trust my craftsmanship. It's just that, about recommending me to a Martial Warrior..." Seeing who had come, Su Yuan smiled and took out a tael of silver to hand over.

"Lord Han Gui will be here shortly. Make sure you handle things well; your chance to study martial arts depends entirely on him." Old Liu pocketed the silver with practiced ease and lowered his voice. "By the way, though this woman is Young Master Shan's twenty-first concubine, she's in favor right now. Don't get any funny ideas..."

"Twenty-first?" Su Yuan's eye twitched. He looked at the woman with a touch of sympathy, then suddenly felt he recognized her.

But her hair had fallen over most of her face, making it impossible to see clearly.

In the end, he could only sigh. There was nothing he could do.

In this chaotic world, being born beautiful might itself be a sin.

Su Yuan had originally been born into a family of timber merchants in Yan Province, Great Jing. He had grown up in comfort, with carriages for travel, hot meals waiting at home, and maids to attend him.

But six years ago, civil strife erupted in Great Jing, leaving the common people destitute. The iron cavalry of Great Liang seized the opportunity to sweep south and crush Yan Province.

The city where the Su Family lived was massacred, and the whole family fled south to Cloud Province. They had wandered for years, those around him dying or scattering, yet they still could not escape Great Liang's iron hooves.

By now, both Yan and Yun Provinces had fallen. The surviving Jing People could only eke out a living beneath the Liang People's boots.

Su Yuan had fled to Ji City two years ago and had no choice but to take up his ancestral craft again to make a living.

This time, he had taken a job from a Liang nobleman: carving a wooden sculpture of his new concubine to commemorate this "beautiful" scene.

The people of Great Liang were naturally combative and taller than the Jing People. They found the petite, fair-skinned women of Great Jing a novelty. Beautiful women were seized in droves and had even become a form of hard currency among them.

At least I'm a man.

After finishing the ink lines on the wood, Su Yuan shook his stiff hand, then picked up his axe, chisel, and saw and began working on the hard rosewood blank.

As he carved, a line of golden text appeared before his eyes.

[Destiny: Climb a hundred-foot pole and advance another step]

[With perseverance, all things can be accomplished. When any craft reaches perfection, it can advance another stage and gain a heaven-bestowed Trait]

[Carving: 1991/2000 (Perfected)]

[Chopping: 1888/2000 (Perfected)]

[Sawing: 1314/2000 (Perfected)]

[Grinding: 91/2000 (Perfected)]

[Painting: 78/2000 (Perfected)]

...

[Current Trait: Slippery Escape (Running)]

[Slippery Escape: Swift strides and a quick getaway]

[Leg bones and sinews strengthened. Speed increased when fleeing at full strength; footsteps silenced and stamina sustained]

Even better, Su Yuan had a cheat ability.

As he fled from place to place, he had awakened the wisdom of his previous life, and this destiny had appeared along with it.

Every one of Su Yuan's skills had a progress bar. As long as he was willing to practice, he could accomplish anything. Once a skill was perfected, he could even gain a Trait.

Thanks to his earlier training, his running had reached perfection. Now, after frantically taking jobs and grinding away, his carving was about to reach perfection too.

Tap, tap, tap!

The footsteps outside abruptly interrupted Su Yuan's carving.

He looked up as several more artisans filed in: some carrying paper to paint, some holding needles to embroider, and others kneading clay into shape.

The most conspicuous person was a man following behind them. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a face pitted like a bear's.

He wore brocade robes, and the purse at his waist bulged with coins that jingled pleasantly against one another.

This must be Han Gui.

"A Martial Warrior." Su Yuan gazed at him with envy.

With a destiny like his, the thing Su Yuan wanted most was to practice martial arts. In a chaotic world, only greater strength could keep him safe.

But to stop Jing People from learning martial arts and rebelling, the people of Great Liang strictly controlled the martial halls in the city and established the Martial Registry.

For Jing People to practice martial arts now, they first needed a Liang Martial Warrior to recommend them. Then they had to undergo multiple tests: an examination of their aptitude, a background check, a loyalty test, and the payment of a huge sum of silver...

Su Yuan had money. What he lacked was the right status.

He had come today only hoping to get acquainted with a Martial Warrior.

Before Su Yuan could do anything, Han Gui spoke first. "Everyone's here? Then let's begin. Make portraits of the madam, two per person. One stays here; take the other back to your own shop and hang it in the most conspicuous place."

"What?" Everyone looked confused.

But after getting a good look at the woman, quite a few of the male artisans swallowed hard.

Su Yuan didn't understand the Liang People's ways either.

Hang such an erotic scene of his own concubine where everyone could admire it?

That was far too generous.

If the shop displayed this, what if that young master regretted it later and felt he'd lost face...

Just then, an elderly woman who was there to embroider spoke up. "Sir, I still have some matters to attend to. I don't want to embroider this. May I leave early?"

"Hm?" Han Gui's expression turned cold at once.

"Sir, I mean no offense. I'm feeling unwell, and as a woman myself, I can't bear to embroider such a scene." The old woman hurriedly explained.

"Hmph! Beautiful things are meant to be admired by all. This is clearly the young master's gift, and you dare to sully it!" Han Gui said coldly.

"This is clearly some kind of perversion." Su Yuan was speechless.

Han Gui suddenly reached out and grabbed the old woman by the collar. "Tell me, do you have some connection to the madam?"

The old woman was startled. Dangling in the air, she flailed wildly and hurriedly tried to placate him. "Sir, I know the madam. She helped me once, and I repaid her. We've always been on good terms."

Han Gui gave a sinister laugh and let go.

The old woman hit the ground hard. She had only just let out a sigh of relief when she heard a wet shunk.

Han Gui drew his long saber and plunged it through her body. "So you're a rebel too. You deserve to die."

In an instant, the whole side hall fell silent as death.

Only the thick blood gathered along the blade and dripped down, one drop at a time, each one hitting the floor with a clear plop.

"Lord Han, what are you..." someone asked, their voice trembling.

Han Gui pulled out his saber and said calmly, "I forgot to tell you all: this madam has quite a background. She's the young mistress of Cloud-Striding Martial Hall. She used herself as bait to seduce the young master. He treated her with sincere affection, yet she secretly colluded with Jing rebel forces to resist us. But the young master loves her too much and only gave her a light punishment. Anyone else who dares to resist Great Liang will meet only death!"

Cloud-Striding Martial Hall. So it was her.

Su Yuan recognized her too. The hall had an excellent reputation for punishing evil and promoting good. Even under Liang rule, it had often helped the Jing People.

When he had first fled here, they had helped him too.

He had intended to join the hall once he got his Martial Registry papers. But it had been raided just days ago. So they really had been secretly resisting the Liang People.

"Han Gui, you were a Jing Person yourself. You changed your registry, and now you really think you're Liang? You're still just their dog, a beast wearing human skin." The woman, who had seemed like a lifeless object, now spoke.

Faced with her insults, Han Gui only chuckled. "Madam, you'd best accept your fate. Beg the young master's forgiveness and marry him obediently. Perhaps he'll still spare you. You wouldn't want more and more people to die because of you, would you..."

His sinister gaze swept over the room, and everyone's heart leaped into their throats.

Su Yuan cursed inwardly too. That beast.

After awakening the wisdom of his previous life, he had seen through the feudal dynasties ruled by powerful families who squeezed the people dry. He had no fondness for Great Jing either.

Still, he admired those who resisted and despised traitors. He just didn't dare resist yet.

Without strength, he could only be slaughtered at another's mercy.

Seeing that the woman did not respond, Han Gui waved his hand. Several guards entered, efficiently dragged away the old woman's corpse, and brought buckets of water to wash the blood from the floor.

One of the guards casually felt around the old woman's waist and pulled out a purse, then grinned and handed it over.

Han Gui took it and weighed it in his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting as he looked around at everyone. "Swearing allegiance to Great Liang is the right path. When has Jing Kingdom ever cared whether you lived or died? Isn't that right?"

But no one answered.

Ji City had already fallen. The Liang People's oppression and cruelty had left everyone despising them, and though they dared not resist, they still hoped in their hearts that Great Jing would come to save them.

Han Gui's face darkened again.

Seeing that things were going badly, Su Yuan sighed and stepped forward. "Sir, you're absolutely right. Great Liang is where Heaven's mandate lies. That decrepit court of Jing Kingdom can barely look after itself. It's only a matter of time before it falls."

Han Gui turned to look at him, his gaze softening a little.

Su Yuan pressed his advantage. "Sir, I have something I'd like to offer you."

"Oh?" Han Gui grew interested and walked over, long saber in hand.

Ignoring the blood still wet on the blade, Su Yuan took a wooden ingot sculpture from his robes.

It was the size of his palm, with upturned ends and a bulging center. A few cloud patterns were carved into it, giving it a plump, charming look.

"An ingot attracts wealth, and it suits your noble bearing, sir. May you enjoy both riches and honor, rise higher with every step, and see your wealth flow in from all directions!" Su Yuan offered the wooden ingot with both hands.

Han Gui glanced at it with faint disdain.

The words were pleasing, but the thing itself was worthless.

He was about to take it when Su Yuan lightly tapped the ingot.

Crack—

The wooden ingot split down the middle, revealing a gleaming silver ingot inside.

A full five taels!

These days, ordinary people in Ji City spent only five or six taels over an entire year. Even the fee for martial training was only ten taels.

Su Yuan had directly handed over half that sum to curry favor with him.

"Good! Good! Good! Well said—and this ingot is even more exquisite!" Han Gui took the ingot and changed his tune at once, his face breaking into a hearty grin.

"Obsequious. Disgusting!" The woman spoke up again, then turned to look at Su Yuan.

At last, Su Yuan could see her face clearly. Her brows were like painted willow leaves, her eyes like cold stars. She wore red makeup, and her lips were delicate, but even that could not hide the clear beauty in her bones.

Under her dark, deep gaze, Su Yuan felt guilty.

Then the woman said, "You look familiar. I know you."

Her cool voice entered his ears, and Su Yuan's hair stood on end. Sister, don't drag me into this!

The last person who'd known her was already a cold corpse.