Aftermath

At home, Zhang Cai and the others had finished tidying up. Everyone was sitting on chairs waiting for them, and even the old lady who had been lying in bed had gotten up. Guo Sufi quickly asked Zhang Xiaolong to speak to her grandmother, explaining that his arm was not seriously injured. Only then did the old lady feel relieved and return to her room to rest.

Seeing Zhang Xiaolong enter the room with his arm bandaged, Zhang Cai knew there was no major issue and felt a sense of relief. He then began to feel the pain all over his body and extreme fatigue. He quickly asked Guo Sufi to arrange accommodations for the two young women. This presented Guo Sufi with a dilemma, as there weren't many rooms in the house, and Zhang Xiaolong and his two brothers were already sharing one room. Seeing Guo Sufi's troubled expression, Liu Qian said, "Auntie, we can make do with any place for tonight, please don't trouble yourself." Guo Sufi thought for a moment, then decided to give up her own room for the two girls, moving Zhang Cai into the small room with Zhang Xiaolong and his brothers. Zhang Xiaohua would sleep with their grandmother. Fortunately, everyone finally had a place to sleep.

After the two girls went to their room, Zhang Cai took out the medicinal ointment given by Wen Wenhai and administered it to Zhang Xiaolong and his two brothers. He then applied the external wound medicine to Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua before letting the three brothers go to sleep.

Once the children were back in their rooms, Guo Sufi pulled Zhang Cai aside to ask about what happened. After Zhang Cai recounted the day's events to Guo Sufi in detail, she turned as pale as earth. Her body trembled slightly, and she whispered tearfully, "My dear husband, we almost didn't see you again. We went to the market during the New Year and encountered such a thing."

Zhang Cai comforted her, saying, "It's alright, my dear, it's all over now, isn't it? Quickly put away this token and the silver notes. Tomorrow morning, we'll send the two young women back and give them half." Guo Sufi said, "There's so much silver, we've never seen so much in our lives. Why don't we return it to them?"

Zhang Cai said with a serious face, "We don't know who they are, and as our benefactor said, if we try to return it rashly, they might even take our lives. Our lives as farmers are not worth much. If they come to claim it, we'll just give it to them." Guo Sufi nodded in agreement.

After the elderly couple finished talking, Zhang Cai finally took the internal medicine and had Guo Sufi apply the external wound medicine for him. He then slept in Zhang Xiaohua's place. After Zhang Cai lay down, Guo Sufi went to check on the three brothers, found they were all asleep, and then returned to her room.

The two girls in the room were exhausted after a day of fright. They fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows. Guo Sufi entered without them knowing. Looking at the girls' peaceful faces, Guo Sufi smiled kindly, then seemed to recall something and became lost in thought.

In the afternoon, after Wen Wenhai left the wound medicine for Zhang Cai and the others, he and his Junior Sister traveled some distance using their Lightness Skill. Seeing that they were about to reach the main road, they stopped. Wen Wenhai said, "Junior Sister, we're about to reach the main road, so we can't use Lightness Skill anymore. We were so busy saving people this afternoon that we left the horses in town. What should we do for the rest of the journey?"

His Junior Sister said softly, "As Senior Brother arranges." Her voice was still pleasant, but it also carried a hint of coldness.

Wen Wenhai gave a wry smile and pinched his nose, saying, "Junior Sister, you always seem indifferent to people and matters, showing a coldness towards everything. Why were you so insistent on me saving them this afternoon? You even left your Token behind. What if those farmers use it to do something bad? You won't be able to explain it to Master."

His Junior Sister said, "I must thank Senior Brother for your help this afternoon. I will report the matter of the Token to Master, and I believe Master will understand me."

Wen Wenhai said, "Forget it, let's go back and tell Master together. I should have intervened this afternoon as well. It is the duty of us martial artists to uphold justice and support the weak. If it weren't for our mission, I would have acted long ago and wouldn't have let Zhang Cai's family get injured."

The Junior Sister smiled and said, "I knew Senior Brother was kind-hearted and wouldn't stand by idly."

Wen Wenhai said, "You little girl, you've always had a cold exterior but a warm heart since you were young. We grew up together, how could I not know your thoughts? However, it's still early. According to the waiter at the restaurant yesterday, there's still a considerable distance to go. We can't delay any longer. Let's go get the horses and ride there."

The Junior Sister's response was still the same: "As Senior Brother arranges."

Wen Wenhai pondered for a moment and said, "Junior Sister, you're wearing a veil, which makes you quite noticeable. Wait here, and I'll go to the inn in town to find horses." Without waiting for his Junior Sister's reply, he strode towards Lu Town. His Junior Sister's phrase, "As Senior Brother arranges," remained unspoken.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sound of horse hooves could be heard from the direction of the main road. The Junior Sister looked up and saw Wen Wenhai approaching on horseback. When Wen Wenhai's horse reached her, the Junior Sister took the reins he threw over, stepped into the stirrup, and mounted. She shook the reins and galloped off like an arrow, disappearing down the main road in a cloud of dust. Wen Wenhai shook his head, smiled, and also shook his reins, spurring his horse to follow.

Meanwhile, Zhao Quansheng of the Fierce Tiger Gang, along with two short, plump men and a group of retainers, walked back dejectedly. All along the way, many people saw them from a distance and quickly avoided them. Many were also puzzled by their lack of arrogance today compared to usual. These two men were the sons of wealthy merchants in Lu Town. They were known for their bullying and wrongdoing. Today, their families had invited prominent figures from Lu Town to a banquet, which included members of the Fierce Tiger Gang, allowing the two sons to sneak out and enjoy themselves. The banquet had long since ended, leaving only the leaders of the Fierce Tiger Gang and the merchants sitting in the garden. They were very surprised to see them return dejected after leaving in high spirits and summoned them for questioning. Seeing the two plump men acting timidly and not daring to speak, Zhao Quansheng stepped forward and reported everything. When Zhao Quansheng mentioned that the two had molested two village girls, the merchant glared at the two plump men but said nothing. When he mentioned that a few farmers had actually come out to resist, the merchant frowned and said, "Where did these few country bumpkins come from, daring to cause trouble?"

Zhao Quansheng did not answer his question and continued his report. When he mentioned that two martial artists had appeared, the merchant's expression changed. The fat on his face trembled, and he looked at the leader of the Fierce Tiger Gang. This leader was his relative, so they were always close. The leader then frowned, said nothing, and picked up his teacup to take a sip of tea. However, when Zhao Quansheng finished and mentioned the token taken out by the scholar in white, his hand stopped, and he asked nervously, "What did it say?"

Zhao Quansheng, still with a terrified expression, replied, "Misty!"

With a "crash," the leader's teacup slipped from his hand and shattered into several pieces on the floor. The merchant hadn't paid much attention initially, but seeing his usually calm relative so frightened, he was also startled and quickly asked, "Third Brother Zhao, what is Misty?"

Third Brother Zhao did not answer his question. He stood up, walked over to the two short, plump men, and slapped them. "Crack, crack," he delivered several consecutive slaps. Their faces immediately swelled, and blood trickled from their mouths. The two were so scared they wanted to leave but didn't dare, only calling out "Third Uncle" to beg for mercy. Third Brother Zhao angrily said, "You two good-for-nothings! You've done plenty of bullying and wrongdoing. Your father has already provided you with four concubines, and you're still not satisfied? Was that village girl very beautiful?"

Seeing that they dared not speak, he pressed them, "Speak, was she beautiful?"

The two said, "She wasn't very beautiful, just looked refined, and we felt a tickle in our hearts~"

Third Brother Zhao laughed in extreme anger, "You harass someone just because she's not beautiful? And you felt a tickle? You really deserve to have your hands chopped off! Do you know what kind of trouble you've caused?"

At this point, the merchant also realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly stepped forward, asking, "Third Brother, is the trouble very serious?"

Third Brother Zhao did not answer his question. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then strangely said, "Why did you two return safely like this?" This question was abrupt, and the two plump men didn't know how to answer.

Zhao Quansheng took over the conversation, saying, "Hall Master, it's like this." Then he recounted everything that happened afterward. Third Brother Zhao sat back down in his chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent, as if contemplating. One of the plump men who had just been beaten muttered carelessly, "They said to give two hundred taels of silver, and I just gave it without counting. I gave them five hundred taels of silver notes in total. Tomorrow, when I have time, I'll have someone find out which country bumpkin stepped up and make them return this silver."

Third Brother Zhao opened his eyes at this moment, slammed the table in anger, and shouted, "Bastard! How dare you! From now on, don't even think about getting this silver back. That's your life-saving money."

The merchant leaned in and said, "Third Brother, why are you speaking in riddles? You're confusing me. Five hundred taels of silver isn't much, but you have to tell me the reason."

Third Brother Zhao said with a wry smile, "My dear brother, do you know Wu Jian Zhuang?"

The merchant said, puzzled, "Yes, isn't that the great pillar of support for you Fierce Tiger Gang? Of course, I know that."

Third Brother Zhao continued, "Then do you know the Lotus Escort Agency?"

The merchant nodded and said he knew.

"Between the Lotus Escort Agency and Wu Jian Zhuang, who is more powerful?" Third Brother Zhao asked.

The merchant smiled and said, "Their influence is equal, neither is superior nor inferior."

Third Brother Zhao gave a wry smile, "My dear brother, you flatter us. Wu Jian Zhuang is far inferior to the Lotus Escort Agency. Everyone in the martial arts world knows this. You don't need to give us face."

"But what is the relationship between the Lotus Escort Agency and Misty?" the merchant asked, somewhat confused.

"The Lotus Escort Agency is merely a branch of the outer hall of the Misty Sect!" This statement hit everyone like a massive club. The two plump men were stunned. They never imagined that by molesting two not-so-beautiful village girls in this small Lu Town, they had caused such immense trouble! It was fortunate that when Zhao Quansheng told them to pay the silver earlier, although they were extremely reluctant, they had complied obediently. Otherwise, the two plump men dared not think further.