"Sir~ Don't be like this~ If you keep going I'll scream~" "Hehe, go ahead and scream. No one will come even if you scream your throat raw."
"Ah! You're so annoying~ Help~" In a dimly lit alleyway, a slightly overweight middle-aged man was pressing a young girl against the wall while sloppily kissing her.
The girl kept shouting words of "resistance," but this only served to excite the man further.
"Lewd scoundrel! Let that girl go!"
Just as the man was getting excited and preparing to drop his pants, a sudden sharp shout nearly made his third leg go limp in fright.
"Who... who's there!?" the flustered middle-aged man asked while hurriedly retying his belt.
"Upholding heavenly justice!"
"Tch! What bitch dares ruin my fun?"
With a shing sound, Fang Qiuyao drew her White Rainbow Sword. Seeing his opponent was armed, the middle-aged man immediately shouted, "Fine! If you've got guts, wait right here!
I'll go get my men!" With that, he turned and fled. Watching the middle-aged man flee in panic, Fang Qiuyao felt quite satisfied with herself as she sheathed her sword.
But just as she was about to go comfort the girl, she saw the girl chasing after the middle-aged man while shouting: "Hey! Sir, don't go! You haven't paid yet!"
This made Fang Qiuyao freeze in confusion, not understanding what the girl meant. Seeing the middle-aged man's figure completely disappear down the alley, the girl who failed to catch up stomped her foot in frustration before walking back toward Fang Qiuyao. Though still puzzled by the girl's earlier words, Fang Qiuyao already had her heroic lines prepared.
Raising her White Rainbow Sword in a defensive posture, she declared, "There's no need to thank me, miss. Upholding justice is my—" "Thank you my ass! Are you out of your damn mind!?"
Suddenly being cursed at left Fang Qiuyao stunned once more, completely at a loss for what she'd done wrong.
"You—!"
The girl wanted to curse more, but after glancing at the White Rainbow Sword in Fang Qiuyao's hand, she worried she might have encountered an actual crazy woman. Spitting on the ground, she muttered, "What rotten luck! Just my damn luck!"
As the girl slowly left the alley, Fang Qiuyao remained standing there in a daze, still unable to comprehend what she'd done wrong.
"Pfft—!"
Jiang Beiran, who had witnessed the entire scene from the rooftop, nearly suffocated from holding back his laughter. If he'd had a phone, he would have loved to record this moment—it would definitely go viral overnight. After quite some time, Fang Qiuyao in the alley finally snapped out of her daze and grumbled, "What was that about!
I was trying to help her, and she cursed at me instead... She's... she's... even more annoying than that cowardly senior brother!" Jiang Beiran never expected to catch strays in this situation and could only shake his head wryly, while also noting how limited this young noble lady's vocabulary for insults was.
With an angry "Hmph!", Fang Qiuyao turned and left the alley, continuing toward her original destination. The Mysterious Dragon Continent had no curfews, so the nightlife of commoners was quite vibrant. Even though Falling Sunset Town wasn't large, its relatively wealthy JB district offered plenty of entertainment options.
Beyond standard establishments like teahouses, storytelling houses, taverns, and brothels, Falling Sunset Town even had specialized theaters offering dramatic performances—where you could even order takeout to enjoy during the show. It was quite upscale. This was Fang Qiuyao's first time seeing such sights.
Back home, her father strictly forbade her from leaving the house after 3 PM, so this was her first experience of a town at night.
'Hmm?
What's that smell?
So fragrant...'
Passing by a shop, Fang Qiuyao was drawn in by an enticing aroma. Looking up at the sign, she saw the words [Hidden Triple Pork Pancake] written large.
Gulp.
Fang Qiuyao swallowed lightly. She'd already been craving food ever since missing out on those supposedly delicious pea buns earlier, and now the pancake aroma made it hard to keep walking.
'No!
I'm here on serious business—no time for distractions!' Reaffirming her resolve, Fang Qiuyao forcibly turned her head away and kept walking.
"Aiyo~ aiyo~" Just as Fang Qiuyao was recalling her route and wondering who to ask for directions, pained moans came from the roadside.
Following the sound, Fang Qiuyao spotted an elderly woman sitting on the ground not far away.
"Grandma, are you alright?"
Fang Qiuyao immediately rushed over and crouched beside her. Startled by Fang Qiuyao's sudden appearance, the old woman first recoiled before wailing, "This old woman's life is so bitter!
Wuwuwu!
Why must my fate be so cruel!" Seeing the old woman's dramatic display of grief, Fang Qiuyao quickly comforted her: "It's alright, it's alright. Grandma, tell me what troubles you have—I'll help you."
Only then did the old woman properly look at Fang Qiuyao, asking warily, "Girl, who are you? This old woman shares no ties with you—why would you help me? Are you after my money?
Let me tell you, I—" "Ah! Grandma, what are you saying? Helping elders like you is what people like me should do.
Here, let me help you up first." With that, Fang Qiuyao took the old woman's arm and helped her sit on the nearby steps.
"You're such a kind-hearted girl," the old woman said, patting Fang Qiuyao's hand once seated.
Pleased by the praise, Fang Qiuyao grinned before asking, "Grandma, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"Ah!"
The old woman sighed deeply.
"It's my damned daughter-in-law—knowing my legs are bad, she still abandoned me here alone. That woman probably wants this old bag of bones to die right here."
"How could that be? What daughter-in-law would want her mother-in-law dead?"
"Ah, child, your pure heart wouldn't understand. But some women truly have scorpions for hearts—vicious through and through."
The old woman glanced around furtively before continuing in a hushed tone, "Though family shames shouldn't be aired, this old woman has no one to share her troubles with. If you don't mind an old nag, I'll tell you a thing or two."
"Of course, grandma. I'm listening."
"That daughter-in-law of mine! Every day she feeds me leftovers fit for pig slop, and at night she makes me sleep in the woodshed. Summer's bearable, but come winter, these old bones of mine really..."
The old woman began weeping again.
"How outrageous!"
Fang Qiuyao slapped her thigh indignantly.
"How could such a wicked person exist! Grandma, come—I'll take you home and demand an explanation from that daughter-in-law of yours!"
The old woman immediately waved her hands in protest.
"No, no, that won't do. My daughter-in-law is the most notorious shrew in town—fearsome beyond measure. A delicate girl like you would be eaten alive."
"Don't worry, grandma. With this sword of mine, your daughter-in-law can't do anything to me. Besides, I'm only going to reason with her—no violence necessary."
"No, no, this old woman's lived long enough. If I die, I die—I can't drag a young girl like you into this."
"Really, grandma, I'll be fine. Come, let's get you home."
"Well... alright. The heavens must have taken pity on this wretched old woman to send such a kind-hearted girl like you."
Fang Qiuyao smiled gently.
"It's only what people like me should do. Grandma, can you walk?"
"I... I can manage."
"Good, I'll support you. Take it slow."
(End of Chapter)