Chapter 294 - 280: Did I Say You Could Run?
At this point, the last of Su Ling’er’s doubts vanished. She was now almost certain this gathering place was no simple haven for beggars to support one another. And that so-called "Mr. Ma" was likely no saint, either.
’I remember that saying from the storybooks: "Vigilantes use their power to defy the law." The affairs of the authorities should be left to them. I’m a Cultivator; I shouldn’t interfere too much in the mortal world. Besides, many of the great heroes in those stories who enforced justice did so anonymously. They would finish the job, brush off their sleeves, and depart, their deeds and fame hidden from the world. It’s best not to be too conspicuous.’
With this in mind, she formed a plan. The Wooden Sword she had silently started to draw was returned to its sheath. She then took a light gauze veil from her storage bag and covered her face. Forming a hand seal for a Technique, she shrouded her features in a thin layer of mist, subtly altering her appearance with a visual illusion.
Then, under the influence of her Technique, the "black-clothed martial artist" outfit gifted to her by her Eldest Senior Brother, while unchanged in its essence, shifted its appearance with her thoughts. Illusory, dark-gold patterns of flowing clouds seemed to materialize on its sleeves and hem.
In the courtyard, the "beggar" named Ah Biao was closing in on Jiang Stone, who, oblivious to the danger, continued to taunt him, beckoning with one hand. "Come on, you loser! Lay a finger on me if you dare! A bunch of cowards like you who only know how to steal food from the bowls of disabled people like me—you’re pathetic!"
[Jiang Stone]: "Bros, I’m about to sacrifice myself for justice! Don’t forget those jumbo jets you promised! Next month’s living expenses are riding on this!"
Instantly, his live stream lit up. Special effect animations of two "Starfighters" and three "Lamborghinis" flooded the screen as bullet comments scrolled by in a frenzy.
[Don’t be scared, Mr. Jiang! Spit on him before you die! Make it memorable!]
[DAMN IT! Fucking kill these scumbags! They’re already useless beggars with perfectly good arms and legs, and now they’re bullying a disabled person?]
[Yeah! Spit on him!!]
[+1]
’I’m about to die before I can even scratch the surface of the corruption in Anhe City, but as long as the gifts have been paid, I’m good!’
Seeing the gifts credited to his account, Jiang Stone felt even bolder. He took a deep breath, and a thick loogie, imbued with the fighting spirit of his entire audience, gathered in his throat, ready for launch!
Ah Biao’s fist was already flying through the air!
In that split second, a dark figure suddenly appeared between the two men!
It was a woman in a black robe with dark-gold patterns, her face hidden behind a light gauze veil. Faced with the viciously thrown fist, she neither dodged nor flinched. She simply raised her hand, fingers together, and met the blow with casual ease.
"BANG—!!!"
A dull, heavy thud echoed throughout the courtyard!
No one even saw what happened. All they saw was the vicious sneer on Ah Biao’s face freeze, then contort into an expression of sheer horror and pain.
"AHH—!"
Screaming, he flew backward as if struck head-on by a battering ram. He smashed through a long row of tables and chairs with a series of CRASHES and CLATTERS before slamming into the corner of the wall like a heap of mud. His vision went black, and he didn’t get up again.
The courtyard fell deathly silent.
Even without circulating her Sword Refining Skill, Su Ling’er’s body had been tempered through countless trials and was far beyond that of a mere mortal. She slowly withdrew her fist, her voice cold and clear. "In broad daylight, under the open sky, how dare you commit such a despicable act? Speak! Who is this Mr. Ma you mentioned?! What other sordid business is going on here?!"
The group of "beggars" in charge stumbled backward, terrified by the display. One of them, who appeared to be the leader, turned pale as a sheet. Forcing himself to remain calm, he gave Su Ling’er a cupped-fist salute. "May I ask... which heroine you might be..."
"W-we were just disciplining one of our own unruly beggars. This is an internal affair of our Masterless Hall. We’re all just poor, homeless folk here. You can’t have a community without rules. What just happened... that was just Ah Biao acting impulsively. We meant no harm!"
"No harm?! Poor, homeless folk?" Su Ling’er’s gaze swept over everyone present. "All I see is a gang of able-bodied thugs, plundering every last bit of the charity these people received in exchange for their dignity!"
"Those copper coins were given by passersby to these truly unfortunate people, not to you! What right do you have to steal it all with a clear conscience? And when you can’t steal, you turn to murder? How are *you* the pitiful ones here?"
Jiang Stone’s expression was priceless. The loogie filled with the fighting spirit of his streaming bros had almost sullied the fair heroine. He could only whip his head to the side and, with a "PTUI," spit it onto the ground three paces away.
Then, he immediately pointed at the "beggars" and let loose a torrent of abuse. "Did you hear that?! The heroine herself has spoken! You bunch of parasites, you dregs of society! You’re too useless to earn your own money, so you just leech off of vulnerable groups like us! You’re worse than animals!"
He puffed out his chest as if he had an army at his back. "I’m telling you all right now! With this heroine here, every last one of you is going to pay for this! You won’t be able to just walk away!"
The live stream chat instantly exploded with a flood of comments.
[THE HEROINE IS SO BADASS!]
[He got so lucky!]
[Make them pay!!]
Hearing the cheers from behind and seeing the thugs before her, now scared into silence, Su Ling’er felt a surge of pride and vindication. It was an incredibly satisfying feeling!
’Finally! Finally, I don’t have to be so repressed like I am around my Eldest Senior Brother! Championing justice, righting wrongs, and roaming the world with my sword—this is the life I want to live!’
(Lin Qingfeng: You aren’t even holding a sword right now, you know!!!)
The "beggar" leader saw how things stood and knew they had hit a steel wall. He didn’t dare say another word. Instead, he secretly gave a meaningful look to the few accomplices still on their feet as his lips moved, silently mouthing a single word: "Attack!"
The men understood instantly. A vicious glint flashed in their eyes as they pounced on Su Ling’er from different directions at almost the same time. They intended to pin down the mysterious heroine, creating a chance for their leader to go and report to the Hall Master.
"Pathetic tricks," Su Ling’er snorted, standing her ground.
The instant their casserole-sized fists were about to land, she spun on the spot. Her black robes flared out like a deadly lotus as a blast of energy erupted from her center!
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
The attacking "beggars" didn’t even touch the hem of her clothes before they were sent flying backward, spitting blood and screaming. They collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
She had cleared the field in a single move.
Meanwhile, the leader had already made it to the courtyard gate. He was just celebrating his escape when he found he was unable to take another step.
"Running away?" Su Ling’er’s voice echoed from behind him. "Did I say you could leave?"