Chapter 5: She\u2019s Fierce
The north wind carried fine snow, the cold biting to the bone. Pedestrians on the street hunched their shoulders and tucked their hands into their sleeves, but Fan Changyu strode through the wind and snow with urgency, gripping a black iron bone cleaver. Veins stood out on the back of her hand.
At the entrance to the alley in the west of the city, a crowd had already gathered to watch the commotion. Shouting, smashing, scolding, pleading, and children crying all mixed together into a chaotic din.
Someone sharp-eyed spotted her and called out, \u201cChangyu\u2019s back!\u201d
Seeing the cleaver in her hand, several people sucked in a breath.
\u201cIs that girl really going to take a knife to her uncle?\u201d
\u201cWell, it\u2019s not like Fan Da is any good. His younger brother and sister-in-law haven\u2019t even been buried long, and he\u2019s already trying to take the orphan girls\u2019 house to pay off his gambling debts. Isn\u2019t he afraid their ghosts will come for him at night?\u201d
\u201cThose gambling den people aren\u2019t easy to deal with. Even with a knife, a young girl like her might not scare them off\u2026\u201d
The Fan household was already in complete disarray. Broken jars and overturned furniture littered the entrance and extended deep into the house. Several burly men were still inside smashing things and rummaging around, even tossing bedding from the bed onto the floor.
Changning clung to Aunt Zhao, crying hysterically. Aunt Zhao\u2019s eyes were red as she cried out helplessly, \u201cStop smashing! Please stop!\u201d
No one paid her any attention.
Fan Da stood beside a gambling house steward, bowing and scraping, clutching one hand and forcing a smile. \u201cMaster Jin, once we find the deed, I\u2019ll transfer it at the government office. The house will be mine\u2014I\u2019ll have money to repay the debt, I will!\u201d
The man called Master Jin didn\u2019t even spare him a glance. He sneered, \u201cIf we don\u2019t find the deed today, I\u2019ll chop off that hand of yours and take it back.\u201d
Fan Da tightened his grip on his hand. \u201cWe\u2019ll find it, we\u2019ll find it\u2026\u201d
A thunderous shout came from the doorway, loud enough to make ears ring. \u201cStop right now!\u201d
The voice cut through everything, and all eyes turned toward the entrance.
The young woman stood there, wrapped in wind and snow, her gaze colder than the gleaming edge of the cleaver in her hand. Even the doorway seemed to shrink beneath her presence.
The moment Changning saw her, she burst into tears. \u201cSister\u2026\u201d
Fan Da avoided her gaze, shrinking behind Master Jin, not daring to speak.
Master Jin glanced at the cleaver in her hand and laughed dismissively. \u201cAh, the eldest daughter of the Fan family.\u201d
Fan Changyu swept her eyes over the wreckage inside, her face tense. \u201cTake your people and get out.\u201d
Master Jin raised his brows, clearly finding her arrogance amusing. \u201cThe gambling house operates by rules. Fan Da says this house is his. We\u2019re just here to take the deed as repayment. Your family matters are none of our concern.\u201d
Fan Changyu\u2019s gaze sharpened like a blade as it landed on Fan Da. \u201cThis house is yours?\u201d
Fan Da didn\u2019t dare meet her eyes. He switched tactics, playing the sympathy card. \u201cNiece, your uncle has no choice. I owe the gambling house money. If I don\u2019t repay it today, I\u2019ll lose my hand. Your parents are gone, and you and Ning have no brothers. When you marry, you\u2019ll need someone from your natal family to back you up. Help your uncle this once\u2014hand over the deed, repay the debt, and I\u2019ll treat you both like my own daughters. Your cousin will be like your real brother. You\u2019ll have support when you marry\u2026\u201d
Fan Changyu let out a cold laugh. \u201cIf you want to pay off your debts, use your own house. What kind of logic is it to use mine? Your gambling-addicted son is no better than you\u2014he\u2019ll be lucky if he doesn\u2019t lose his hands someday. And you think I\u2019d rely on him?\u201d
Fan Da flushed with humiliation. \u201cHow can you be so vicious? Cursing your own cousin? He still needs to marry\u2014if you take this house, how will he find a wife? You and Ning are both girls\u2014you\u2019ll marry off eventually. What use do you have for this house?\u201d
Fan Changyu laughed in anger. \u201cMy parents left this for me and Ning. What I do with it is none of your business.\u201d
Seeing she wouldn\u2019t give in, Fan Da dropped all pretense. \u201cYour father had no sons. According to the law, his property belongs to me! What right does a girl like you have to fight for it? Planning to take it to your husband\u2019s family?\u201d
He sneered. \u201cOr is it because you killed your parents, got dumped by the Song family, and now you\u2019re afraid you won\u2019t marry, so you\u2019re hoarding it as a dowry? Your sickly sister won\u2019t live long either, right? Who would dare marry a cursed star like you?\u201d
No one saw her move.
By the time anyone reacted, the cleaver had already left her hand. It flew past Fan Da\u2019s ear and embedded itself deep into the wall behind him, severing a few strands of his hair.
Fan Da\u2019s face turned deathly pale. His legs trembled violently, his mouth opening but no sound coming out.
The gambling house men, who had been watching casually, finally grew serious.
Fan Changyu raised her eyes, staring at Fan Da. \u201cEverything my parents left is for Ning\u2019s medicine. Take your people and leave now\u2014or the gambling house may only want one of your hands, but I\u2019ll slaughter your entire family before I go meet my parents!\u201d
\u201cYou\u2014!\u201d Fan Da shuddered, unable to meet her gaze. \u201cThen\u2026 then let\u2019s go to the authorities! We\u2019ll see who the house belongs to!\u201d
Turning back to Master Jin, he forced a smile. \u201cMaster Jin, could you give me a couple more days?\u201d
Master Jin snorted. \u201cThe Huixian Gambling House doesn\u2019t have that kind of precedent. Or would you rather repay with your right hand?\u201d
Cold sweat broke out on Fan Da\u2019s forehead. \u201cNo, no\u2014but she\u2026\u201d
He glanced nervously at Fan Changyu.
Master Jin sneered. \u201cIf it\u2019s really yours, my men will find it.\u201d
Compared to taking a hand, he preferred taking the house. Turning to his men, he barked, \u201cWhat are you waiting for? Keep searching!\u201d
The men resumed smashing and rummaging.
Fan Changyu clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking.
Master Jin smirked. \u201cDon\u2019t blame us. These are the rules.\u201d
Aunt Zhao, frantic, suddenly seemed to recall something and rushed out.
She pushed through the crowd and knocked on the Song family\u2019s door. \u201cSong Yan! Fan Da brought gambling house thugs to Changyu\u2019s home to seize the deed! You\u2019re a scholar\u2014her parents treated you well. Come speak up for her! You\u2019re a degree holder\u2014they\u2019ll show you some respect!\u201d
Everyone in the alley knew what was happening, yet the Song family door remained shut. No matter how hard Aunt Zhao pounded, there was no response.
At last, she broke into curses. \u201cSong Yan, what good is your learning? When your father died, you couldn\u2019t even afford a coffin\u2014who bought it for him? Aren\u2019t you afraid your father will be crushed in his grave?\u201d
Her voice rang through the alley.
Inside, Song Yan\u2019s mother trembled with anger. \u201cThat shameless woman! You\u2019ve already broken off the engagement\u2014what does their mess have to do with you?\u201d
\u201cMother,\u201d Song Yan finally said.
She stopped. \u201cForget it. She\u2019s trying to drag us into this. Don\u2019t go out\u2014you\u2019re meant for great things. Don\u2019t get entangled with them again.\u201d
\u2014
In the attic next door, Xie Zheng had heard everything.
The other side clearly had the advantage in numbers. The girl stood alone, with only the elderly couple, who couldn\u2019t help much.
Outside, the clouds cleared, sunlight reflecting faintly off the frost. His face, illuminated by that light, remained cold.
Those scum were making too much noise.
He braced himself on a pair of crutches and slowly got up. They had been made for him that very day by Uncle Zhao.
His wounds weren\u2019t healed. As he stood, fresh blood seeped through the bandages, but he didn\u2019t care. Each step he took was steady.
If he didn\u2019t deal with those troublemakers, he wouldn\u2019t even be able to rest.
\u2014
Back at the Fan house, everything had been turned upside down. Even the floor tiles had been tapped one by one.
Changning huddled behind Fan Changyu, sobbing. Fan Changyu stood silently, shielding her.
One thug overturned the ancestral tablet of her parents and stepped forward to smash it\u2014
Before his foot could land, his collar was grabbed. In the next instant, he was hurled out the door, his head slamming against the threshold.
Everyone froze.
Fan Changyu stood there, looking at the fallen tablets, strands of hair lifted by the wind. Blood dripped from her palm\u2014she had pierced it with her own nails.
\u201cI\u2019ll give you one last chance. Leave\u2014or don\u2019t.\u201d
Her voice was calm, but chilling.
The gamblers hesitated. Fan Da had already retreated toward the door.
Master Jin, however, refused to back down. \u201cKeep smashing!\u201d
The men rushed forward together.
Fan Changyu didn\u2019t even lift her head. She kicked up a wooden staff from the ground and swung it in a wide arc, sending several men flying.
She moved like a whirlwind\u2014striking, sweeping, slashing. It looked less like a staff and more like a long-handled blade without an edge.
One by one, the thugs were beaten and thrown out of the house like sacks.
The crowd gasped.
Fan Da shrank into a corner, trembling.
Master Jin tried to run, but the cleaver flew again, embedding itself in the door in front of him, stopping him cold.
\u201cMiss Fan\u2026 this is a misunderstanding\u2026\u201d
\u201cOfficials are here! Make way!\u201d
At the arrival of the authorities, even the thugs felt relieved.
Uncle Zhao returned with them, shouting, \u201cBroad daylight, bullying an orphan\u2014have you no\u2014\u201d
He stopped when he saw the scene.
Xie Zheng, who had just come downstairs, also paused, surprise flickering in his eyes.
He had suspected she knew martial arts\u2014but now he knew.
No one noticed him as he turned and left, his blood-soaked clothes hidden beneath his calm expression.
\u2014
Inside, Fan Changyu knelt and picked up her parents\u2019 tablets, carefully wiping the blood from them with her sleeve.
Her father had taught her those techniques\u2014but had forbidden her from using them unless her life was in danger.
Today, she broke that rule.
Not for her life\u2014but for her parents.
\u201cFather\u2026 forgive me,\u201d she whispered.
\u2014
With the authorities present, things calmed quickly.
The gamblers were reprimanded and ordered to compensate her for damages. Fan Changyu bore no liability.
Fan Da dared not press further.
As the crowd dispersed, Fan Changyu thanked Captain Wang.
He sighed. \u201cIf your uncle takes this to court, you may not keep this house.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fan Changyu\u2019s face was filled with deep exhaustion and despair. \u201cI\u2019ve tried every method I could think of. I even asked a legal clerk, and they all said I can\u2019t transfer the property my parents left behind.\u201d
Legal clerks specialized in drafting petitions and handling lawsuits; they were thoroughly familiar with the laws of the dynasty.
Having handled countless cases over the years, Captain Wang was experienced and knowledgeable. After a moment of thought, he said, \u201cThere might still be another way.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3133","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3133"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3134,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3133\/revisions\/3134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}