Another Encounter (2)

The guests couldn't help but look towards the source of the voice. At the inn's entrance stood a woman in white, her robes fluttering in the wind, bathed in golden light. Her long hair flowed as she stood there, a smile playing across her face as she scanned the hall.

Graceful like the wind, her smiling eyes narrowed slightly. A vermillion mark glowed between her brows. Though her features were delicate rather than breathtaking, in that fleeting moment, she etched herself into the hearts of all who saw her.

"Who are you?"

The innkeeper had just come downstairs when he heard someone calling him. Startled, he hurriedly descended the steps two at a time.

"Innkeeper Xu, how quickly you forget. Have you already forgotten me?"

Xu Lin'an squinted at the woman in front of him, pondering for a moment. His brow furrowed in deep thought, but no memory surfaced. His expression hardened. "What do you want with me?"

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, eyeing her with disdain. Her plain white clothes, simple and unadorned, along with her uncouth manner, made her look entirely impoverished.

With a smile, the woman named Xianyue walked past him, heading towards the counter. Xu Lin'an quickly followed and grabbed her by the sleeve, pushing her away and blocking the counter with his body to protect it.

This old man still had quite a bit of strength.

Xianyue dusted off her hands, stepped around him, and moved back to the counter. She stood with her back to the guests enjoying their lunch in the hall, her slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, creating a steady beat.

"Ancheng is my home, and everyone shares in its peace. If you want to live in peace, pay your protection fee."

Xianyue raised an eyebrow, mimicking the gesture of counting silver notes, and spread her palm open toward the spot where silver was placed at the counter. Her stance resembled that of a typical street rogue.

"What did you say?"

Xu Lin'an pointed at Xianyue and shouted, his face turning red with anger.

"Who is this woman?"

"A young lady showing herself in public like this? How improper!"

"In broad daylight, she dares demand a protection fee so brazenly!"

The guests below, busy with their meals, started pointing at Xianyue, their voices rising in judgment.

Some scolded her loudly, while others sighed in regret, pitying such a beautiful woman for behaving in this manner.

"With last month's fee included, the total comes to 200 silver leaves."

Xianyue waved her hand in front of Xu Lin'an's face, her palm open, smiling as brightly as ever, seemingly unaffected by the remarks of the crowd.

"Two—two hundred silver leaves."

Xu Lin'an held up two fingers, staring at Xianyue, swallowing nervously. His anger made him stutter.

"Old man Xu, no need to get so worked up. Your Lin'an Inn is the largest in Ancheng, with thriving business and daily profits flowing in. What I'm asking for is just a drop in the bucket. It's a small price for peace of mind, quite the bargain."

Xianyue waved her hand again in front of Xu Lin'an's face, her palm open, waiting.

"You—you're clearly just trying to twist the truth."

Xu Lin'an shouted angrily, his already small eyes bulging wide, as if he wished to bore holes into Xianyue's laughing face to vent his frustration.

Who was this little girl? How dare she come to his territory and demand money?

Silver, no less. His clothes had been worn for three years without being replaced, and now she was asking for 200 silver leaves. That was his life savings!

"So, old man Xu, are you going to pay up or not?"

Xianyue twirled her palm around where Xu Lin'an stood. His eyes followed her hand before he suddenly turned and dashed toward the counter.

"Someone, throw her out!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, four burly men jumped out. They were all tall and broad, with faces full of muscle and expressions that exuded fierce arrogance. They approached Xianyue with a snort, not taking her seriously at all.

The four of them surrounded her, exchanging knowing glances. One extended his muscular arm like an eagle snatching a chick, reaching for Xianyue. Just as his hand was about to touch her robe, the crowd saw a flash of white, swift as lightning. Before anyone could make out what happened, the four strong men were suddenly knocked to the ground without warning, their muscular faces briefly glimpsing the white cloth as they fell with a thud.

Xianyue glanced at the strong men lying on the ground, casually dusted off her hands, and with a light wave of her sleeve, a chair flew over the heads of the crowd, landing steadily in front of her. With a slight movement, she crossed her legs and sat down comfortably.

"Old man Xu, I haven't even had my meal yet. You've earned so much money, don't be so stingy."

Xianyue completely ignored the heroes present, treating them as if they were air. She grabbed a bottle of fine wine from behind the counter and downed it in one gulp. Wiping her mouth, she let out a satisfied sigh, savoring the taste. "Not as good as the Plum Blossom Drunk from last time."

"You—you're simply going too far—too far!"

That wine was meant for the VIPs upstairs. If the guest had been pleased, he might have given him another silver note. But now... now it was all gone, thanks to her.

"Since you won't give it to me, I'll just help myself."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xianyue suddenly leaped from her chair, jumped onto the counter, and coldly stared at the treasure Xu Lin'an was clutching protectively. With a swift kick, silver leaves flew into the air, dazzling the eyes of the onlookers.

"My silver! My silver!"

Xu Lin'an watched the guests scramble for the silver and beat his chest in despair, feeling as if his heart was bleeding. He turned to look at Xianyue, his hatred for her so intense that he wished he could cut her into a thousand pieces.

"You—you—"

Xu Lin'an glared at Xianyue, so angry that he couldn't even speak.

"Whoever takes her down for me, I'll give them five hundred silver leaves."

Xu Lin'an raised five fingers and shouted.

The guests who had been busy grabbing silver leaves looked at Xu Lin'an, then glanced at Xianyue. Their minds quickly calculated.

Five hundred silver leaves was no small amount to these wandering outlaws.

"Since you refuse to listen to reason, woman, let me teach you a lesson today."

Someone jumped out and charged toward Xianyue, his hands forming claws, aiming directly at her left side.

"Oh no, I'm so scared!"

Xianyue covered her eyes with her hands, pretending to cry in fear, but her demeanor showed no trace of anxiety. With a quick, effortless turn, she dodged the attack aimed at her left side. As her right sleeve swung out, it cut through the air like a sharp blade toward the attacker's wrist. Seeing this, the man hurriedly retracted his hand and changed his move, aiming his right hand straight for Xianyue's chest, putting all his strength into this attack.

Xianyue's eyes narrowed as she focused on the hand coming toward her chest. Her gaze was cold and sharp, gleaming with danger.

Her movements were as agile as a dragon. Instead of retreating, she advanced directly toward him. The man, seeing his hand about to strike her chest, felt a moment of joy, but it was quickly replaced by shock. No matter how much force he applied, his right hand could not move forward even an inch. At some point, Xianyue's right hand had landed on his wrist. A loud "crack!" sounded, and in an instant, the bones of his wrist were broken by her grip.

"Ah!"

The man let out a scream, clutching his broken wrist with his left hand as his right hand hung limp. His face turned ashen as he fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"Vile woman, today I shall avenge this man and bring justice to the martial world!"

Before the words were even finished, many others surrounded Xianyue, drawing their swords and unsheathing their blades, or preparing to strike with palms and fists, all attacking her at once.

In an instant, the hall was filled with flying figures, crashing tables and chairs, flashing blades, and dazzling sword lights. The scene was chaotic and lively.

Yet Xianyue remained seated with a smile on her face, leisurely watching from her chair. "Are you sure this isn't just for the five hundred silver leaves?"

After saying this, she burst into laughter without hesitation.

Those who were already angry grew even more furious at her provocation. With renewed resolve, they all charged at her together, swinging their weapons.

But Xianyue, weaving in and out of the crowd, moved with grace and ease, snatching a knife from one man, a sword from another, treating the so-called heroes of the hall as nothing more than playthings.

When everyone had fallen to the ground, Xianyue finally clapped her hands in satisfaction. She gently stroked the jade flute in her arms and laughed softly.

At the same time, a young man dressed in purple suddenly appeared in the hall on the second floor. He chuckled lightly and said, "Miss, we meet again."

A voice as clear and melodious as wind chimes rang out, like the striking of fine jade, pure and harmonious. It was so calm and elegant that even the pain in their bodies seemed to dissipate at the sound.