Chapter 293: Overbearing Liu Xigua

Episode 1: Morning Breeze in Jiangning

The sky was still dark when the watchman's calls echoed through Hangzhou city, where only sparse points of light were visible.

In the small courtyard behind Lie Academy, a warm yellow light already glowed from the room. Ning Yi hummed a tune in the kitchen, using chopsticks to mix the flour evenly in a bowl. On the nearby cutting board, he had chopped half of the dishes packed from the Hundred Officials' Feast the previous night into minced meat, preparing to make pancakes.

Although Ning Yi had recently offended many people, nothing particularly unusual happened around him at last night's Hundred Officials' Feast. Besides re-encountering Long Boyuan and Lou Shuwan, he naturally also saw some previously known or memorable figures. What followed was a simple yet lively banquet. Although Fang La and others also made an appearance, it held no significant meaning for Ning Yi. After the feast, Ning Yi simply packed some dishes to bring back; that was all.

It was now early morning of the second day, and Ning Yi had risen early. A patient had likely been brought to the clinic diagonally across from him not long ago, and it seemed to be busy now. Ning Yi sent Xiao Chan to help out while he prepared breakfast in the kitchen. To complement the chopped beef he had brought back last night, he even cracked two eggs into the flour.

Current Hangzhou was largely an environment with severe class disparities. It was not uncommon for people without status or connections to starve to death, while those with backing often had the capital to become nouveau riche. Ning Yi was currently one of the few who existed between these two extremes. He wouldn't starve and could usually eat well. Even if he couldn't compare to others in terms of some material possessions, Liu Dabiao's side didn't treat him poorly. There seemed to be no need for corruption or abusing power for personal gain, yet he didn't have much surplus food on a daily basis. He lived comfortably day-to-day, but in a 'one day at a time' manner.

As she passed outside the courtyard gate, a girl wearing a straw hat, like a phantom, heard strange singing coming from within: "Candlelight illuminates dinner, but not an answer. Love isn't a cozy dinner party..." This was followed by the aroma of pancakes.

This was the small courtyard where Ning Liheng lived. She had glimpsed it from the road before, but had never actually entered. This was, of course, because there was no need. The girl was currently the owner of this entire street. As a superior, one could show concern for subordinates, but there was no need to cultivate neighborly relations. Especially when she was a leader who went by the fierce name 'Liu Dabiaozu,' it was often best to keep a distance from others.

Martial artists rise early. Last night's Hundred Officials' Feast hadn't involved her much, nor had it exhausted her. However, upon waking this morning, as she prepared to practice qi and sword, she heard that Steward Chen's young son in the village had fallen critically ill and had been rushed to the doctor here. Seeing that it was still dark, she decided to walk around and check on things.

The courtyards on this street were originally separated, but after the earthquake, when the Blade Camp occupied this area, many walls were simply knocked down. Now, the courtyards, large and small, were connected, with three to five families living in each. While it was lively, this was actually due to the Blade Camp not focusing on looting after entering the city, which led to a shortage of housing.

The girl wasn't carrying a sword. She had woken up wearing an indigo dress and a veiled hat, arriving silently like a phantom, disturbing almost no one along the way. Of course, even if a few skilled martial artists within the camp saw her, they likely wouldn't say anything. She quietly peeked a few times from behind the clinic. Inside, things seemed tense; family members were anxious, and a child was crying and screaming in pain. The elderly doctor, whom she should call 'Grandpa,' was busy treating the child with acupuncture and poultices. It seemed the maid who accompanied Ning Liheng was also helping. However, she knew that this maid was now Ning Liheng's concubine, and she had a good rapport while helping at the clinic.

The treatment in the clinic likely wouldn't end anytime soon. She had no intention of offering condolences or causing trouble. As she turned back, she passed the entrance to that small courtyard. There was firelight in the kitchen, and Ning Liheng's strange singing drifted out. Since Xiao Chan was helping at the clinic, it was clear he was alone inside. Blade Camp wasn't a family of scholars; they had lived a life of jianghu before, and now they were rebels who killed officials. Men who could cook in the wilderness were plentiful, but a scholar who had a woman and still did such things himself was something she rarely saw.

While the lyrics were strange, they were also interesting. As he sang, "Sunlight flows over my body, waiting for all karma to be forgiven...", she seemed to understand the lyrics easily.

After listening for a few lines, the singing from inside stopped. Then the scholar's figure appeared under the eaves, biting into something golden-yellow, and looking towards her. She had originally intended to leave, but since she had been seen, she stopped.

The scholar saw her and seemed to pause for a moment. Then he smiled, a little teasingly yet quite naturally, "Good morning, Chieftain."

For many days, whenever Ning Yi used the term 'Chieftain' in their interactions, there seemed to be a hint of self-amusement in it. While not malicious, it wasn't necessarily out of respect. However, she didn't mind his slight self-amusement. She raised her chin slightly, nodded, and replied gently, "Morning to you too."

"'Have you eaten yet?' Ning Yi asked, raising the rolled pancake in his hand. 'It's a beautiful morning; why not try your subordinate's cooking?'"

A moment later, the two sat under the eaves, eating the rolled pancakes. The golden-fried pancake wrapped beef, fresh cucumber, and other ingredients, bearing some resemblance to a wrap from Kentucky Fried Chicken in later generations. Liu Xigua slightly lifted her veil, took a few bites, and then looked at Ning Yi. "I heard that a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen."

"'Confucius did say something like that,' Ning Yi nodded, then looked towards the clinic. 'Chieftain... perhaps you came to see the sick child?'"

Liu Xigua ate her food, noncommittally. "Seeing how much that child is suffering, it must be intestinal carbuncle. If they're unlucky, I'm afraid they won't make it."

"'Your compassion, Chieftain, is admirable. However, this "intestinal carbuncle"... that's appendicitis, right? You just need to cut off a section of the intestine.'"

Liu Xigua looked at him from behind her veil for a long moment. Then, seemingly perfunctorily, she asked, "How do you cut it?"

"'You make an incision, find the diseased appendix... which is a section of the intestine roughly here, cut it off, and then sew it back up... Uh, something like that. I'm not clear on the specifics myself, but to research it, one could consider dissecting the corpses of normal people and comparing their intestines with those who have intestinal carbuncle.'"

"'What Liheng said is thought-provoking.' The girl turned her head and focused on eating."

"'It's certainly a way to research things: cut open, compare, sew up. But sterilization needs to be good, and then... Anyway, I'm not a doctor; this is for them to research.'"

There were no stars, no moon, and the sky wasn't fully bright yet. The two talking under the eaves were clearly not very serious. Normally, the girl would probably ponder Ning Yi's words for a while, but now she seemed indifferent. Ning Yi probably didn't care if she believed him—likely because he was certain she wouldn't—and after speaking irresponsibly for a bit, he laughed, "How did they even report me?"

"'They said you believed in unorthodox practices, sewed up a wound on your hand, and almost died.' As she mentioned this, Liu Xigua seemed to smile too, but the feeling was fleeting."

Ning Yi shrugged and defended himself. "'Scientific research, after all, always involves mistakes. Failure is the mother of success.'"

It was still dark, not the time for serious discussions. Liu Xigua had already confirmed that Ning Liheng was essentially an uninteresting person. Everything else could largely be understood from this starting point: he didn't care at all about things like 'a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen,' and his outrageous ideas and actions probably stemmed from his indifference to many things. Liu Xigua, for her part, only needed his strategic abilities and was equally indifferent to other aspects. Thus, they had largely established a way of interacting based on this pattern: words could be spoken carelessly, as long as both parties were clear-headed and didn't act recklessly.

To some extent, in Liu Xigua's understanding, being a superior was essentially a matter of being unscrupulous and unprincipled. Yet, even so, she still appreciated people and things that held principles and persistence. Initially, when she wanted to subdue Ning Liheng, her expectation was to treat it as a huge challenge. She had made various predictions about him. Therefore, when she followed Fang Qifo to attack Jiaxing, she was already preparing everything, for example, sending people to Huzhou to inquire about Su Tan'er and making thorough arrangements. It would have been perfect for them to be master and disciple, friends, or even enemies. Who knew he would later be so straightforward?

Once she understood his way of doing things, everything became dull. She admired his competence but found it hard to appreciate. 'I won't kill you; you work for me, and I'll treat you well.' This was largely the mechanical mode of interaction that followed. Perhaps because of this, she didn't mind eating a pancake in his courtyard and chatting idly, as both parties had discernment and wouldn't take things to heart.

As they chatted on and off, sounds of minor skirmishes seemed to drift from the night sky. Liu Xigua paused slightly, listening carefully. Ning Yi also listened for a moment. 'That street to the east, fights again. Seems quite frequent lately.' As he spoke, Liu Xigua stood up, thought for a moment, and held out her hand. 'Give me another one.' Ning Yi gave her a rolled pancake. She walked towards the gate leading to the street and looked back to ask, 'Do you want to come see?'"

Ning Yi paused for a moment. 'Sure, I love watching people fight.'

A faint pearly white had appeared on the horizon, and chickens began to crow. In the hazy light, the two walked towards the street where the brawl was taking place, eating their beef rolls. Hangzhou was not peaceful at this time. As they reached the street corner, they saw flickering torches and figures lying in pools of blood. Some were shouting, "Kill him!", rushing into an adjacent alley.

Several streets east of the Blade Camp were near the city outskirts and relatively dilapidated. After the city fell, many poor people gathered here. The Blade Camp hadn't expanded its territory significantly into the surrounding areas, likely because Liu Xigua saw that the area was densely populated with old houses and thus allowed them a way to survive. When the city fell, there was chaos everywhere. It was said that Liu Xigua even handed out steamed buns for fun nearby. Later, this area became a mixed bag of people, leading to various messy situations, with some dying from illness or starvation. However, such incidents were now common in the outskirts of Hangzhou. Ning Yi occasionally mentioned it to Xiao Chan, simply telling her to stay a little further away from this area. During this time, Ning Yi had witnessed several turf wars here. It seemed that some of the existing Hangzhou ruffians and gangs, after understanding Fang La's army's permissive attitude, began to re-establish their influence and build their own forces in these areas.

Ning Yi didn't mind watching some gossip and excitement, but he was somewhat surprised that Liu Dabiao was also interested. As the sky gradually brightened, groans filled the street over there. The girl finished her rolled pancake and murmured, "I'll have someone send some medicine there later."

Ning Yi just said it casually. The girl's kindness was often strange; handing out steamed buns when the city fell, and now sending medicine—perhaps it was all just a whimsical amusement. However, her next words were somewhat unexpected.

"'I made them fight.' The morning breeze stirred her veil. Beneath it, the girl's delicate lips seemed to curve slightly, as if she were speaking of a rather proud masterpiece."

"'Hmm?'"

"'I made them fight, you know,' Liu Dabiao said, smiling triumphantly. 'When the city fell, they came over here. I handed out steamed buns, not many, but some people started fighting, and I didn't interfere.'"

"'I heard about it. A child's bun was snatched right in front of you, and you didn't do anything.'"

"'Well, I did a good deed, didn't I? I'm a good person. Anyway, someone would eat my buns. What does it matter who gets them? It's about sincerity, you know.' She continued, 'They didn't recognize me; they just thought I was a rich young lady with a minor background. Once, when I came, they even snatched my own bag. So after that, I drove over in a carriage and distributed them from there.'"

Ning Yi had heard about these things the girl did several times within the Blade Camp. There were so many people on this street; how could the girl possibly manage everyone while handing out buns or other items? She didn't distribute much, just one bag, and after emptying it, she would leave with a clear conscience. So everyone basically thought she was just seeking her own peace of mind.

"'I didn't give out much; I just gave it to a few people, and that way, each person got a lot. Some people suddenly received ten buns, which they couldn't finish. They tried to hide them, but others discovered them, and then people came to snatch them. Later, I also gave out some cured meat and such, delicious stuff anyway. There's Old Jin here, Old Tian, and... anyway, there are several leaders with their own subordinates. Since they couldn't bully our people, they had to bully the people on the street. Every time, their things would get snatched back and forth. Later, when I went to hand things out, almost no one dared to take them.' Liu Dabiao chuckled, resting the back of her hand against her lips. 'But I'm not a bad person. Even if they didn't dare to take it, I still had to give it out. Some people were so hungry they'd always take risks. I heard a child was crippled trying to snatch some food for his mother. Hehe...'"

As the sunlight gradually rose, the girl, dressed in an indigo floral skirt and wearing a cloak, looked soft and pure without the imposing aura of her great sword. But at this moment, a sinister charm seemed to meld into her laughter. Ning Yi frowned, suddenly realizing a possibility. "You're not trying to..."

The girl lowered her hand, and her laughter ceased. The person behind the veil seemed slightly quiet for a long moment before speaking. "'Every time, I distributed a little extra, but it was definitely not enough. And I don't give to those who look strong; I always give to whoever seems to need it. Ten buns, twenty buns, a pound of cured meat... These people, used to city life, dared not do anything. Give them one bun, and they'd eat it immediately. But ten buns, they couldn't finish, right? A pound of cured meat, they'd be reluctant to eat, right? Every time, their things were snatched. Those who were bullied continued to be bullied. Some starved, some died of illness, some were severely injured and eventually died in pain. Truly pitiful. Finally, a few days ago, a fifteen-year-old boy had his buns snatched and was beaten. He grabbed a knife, stabbed to death three people who came to steal his things, and was then captured. I had someone bail him out and let him join my Blade Camp's personal guard... And then, these past few days, many of them started fighting.'"

From a distance, a Black Plume Guard enforcement team seemed to be approaching. The girl chuckled again. "'The law is equal; there is no superiority or inferiority. But in a world like this, if they don't even dare to lift a hand, even if I give them something, it won't be theirs. Then I can only teach them to take it with their own hands. If they can't even hold onto what I give them, and I have to watch them finish eating it, why should I? I'm not their mother. This land was taken by us with blood. They lost this land precisely because they were like this. If they still don't understand these things, they can only die.'"

She slightly raised her chin. "'I also hope that one day, there can be a place where they can take something, and it truly becomes theirs. But before that, we must defeat all those who shouldn't have so much. In this world, too many people have taken what doesn't belong to them...'"

"'This is what I want to do in the future. I'm very capable.' She turned and looked at him seriously. 'So, Liheng, could you please stop calling me Chieftain like that? It's no different from "princess." You can call me Liu Dabiao, or just Dabiao. When we work together, it's like a band of brothers... Of course, if you really don't want to, it's fine. You can continue to call me Chieftain, or Liu Qianqian. I also have a nickname, Liu Xigua. If you really want to call me that, I don't mind. As long as you don't become my enemy, I can tolerate anything, because you are truly capable.'"

After she finished speaking, she turned around, waved her hand, and said, "I'm heading back."

Ning Yi paused for a moment. 'Haha, alright, Dabiao.'

Liu Dabiao, after walking a few steps, turned back, pointed at him, and said, "Don't shout too loudly or casually on the street. I am your boss, after all; I need some dignity..." As she turned, her skirt swirled, and her voice, clear and crisp, carried a tomboyish quality. Then, seemingly noticing a nearby door about to open, she abruptly leaped, flipped over the adjacent wall, glanced at Ning Yi, and disappeared from sight.

Ning Yi found it rather interesting. Liu Dabiao was sometimes eccentric, sometimes domineering, sometimes whimsical, sometimes quiet, yet sometimes frank and pure. If one were to describe her attitude towards the high-ranking members of the Blade Camp, she was indeed a charismatic woman...

As he was pondering this, a carriage stopped at the entrance of his small courtyard at the end of the street. Someone stepped down from the carriage and knocked on the courtyard gate. From a distance, it was clearly Lou Shuwan...