The outcome was entirely different from what everyone had imagined. They had expected Wu Caiwei to be the one lying on the ground, but to their surprise, after a mere glance, they found all the burly men sprawled on the ground, seemingly badly injured.
The commotion quickly attracted the patrolling yamen runners. Lu Zi approached Wu Caiwei and explained the situation to them. With so many witnesses, and having initiated the trouble themselves, the men had no grounds to argue. The yamen runners regarded Wu Caiwei with curious eyes before escorting the fallen men away.
Peace finally returned to the front of their shop. Lu Zi was still reeling from the events, having thought it would be a great disaster for their employer and that they might struggle to survive in the capital. If today’s crisis hadn't been resolved, he might have had to look for a new job. He truly didn't want to leave. Yet, under their master's handling, the problem had been solved with such ease. At this moment, he couldn't help but admire his own judgment. He thought he had merely found a casual employer, but it turned out he had encountered a formidable figure. If their master could teach him a few tricks, he wouldn't be so easily bullied when he went out.
Seeing the look of admiration on his face, Wu Caiwei shook her head helplessly. Boys were always drawn to heroes, to those with powerful martial arts. If she hadn't been disguised as a man, perhaps he would have shown a bit more restraint. With his intelligence, he would likely soon seek her out. As expected, the moment Wu Caiwei sat down, Lu Zi immediately knelt before her and kowtowed sincerely.
“Master, would you be willing to take me as a disciple? As the saying goes, a teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime. Although you are young, I am willing to serve you with all my heart.” Lu Zi looked at her with hopeful eyes.
“Have you studied?” Even though he had been with her for so long, Wu Caiwei had never inquired about his past. This child was quite good at hiding things; he had never shown such a refined side to her before.
Lu Zi felt a moment of awkwardness, then nodded. He still didn’t elaborate on his background, and Wu Caiwei didn’t press the issue. Everyone had secrets they couldn’t reveal, and she herself held more secrets than all of them combined.
“Learning martial arts is not an overnight endeavor. You must be patient with loneliness and able to endure hardship. You will need to dedicate a certain amount of time each day to practice, regardless of the weather, be it scorching sun or freezing cold.” Wu Caiwei wished to train a group of capable people, and teaching them martial arts was a necessary step. She had already prepared herself mentally. Seeing that he was reasonably grateful, teaching him was hardly out of the question.
Lu Zi was delighted that she didn’t pry further, grateful for her shelter, and even more thrilled that she was willing to teach him martial arts. He felt he had reached the pinnacle of his life by following her. Life was long, and the future was uncertain, but he was certain he would never betray her.
Next, Wu Caiwei directly handed him a martial arts manual and told him to memorize it thoroughly. Lu Zi's learning ability was quite strong; within two days, he had recited it backward and forward. Wu Caiwei then took the time to teach him how to guide *qi* into his body and cultivate internal energy.
To everyone’s astonishment, Lu Zi began to be seen meditating during his breaks. His former companions from the streets, with whom he used to beg, asked him countless times what he was doing. Each time, Lu Zi would reply that he was practicing martial arts. They couldn’t help but scoff, thinking he was dreaming. They had heard that martial arts had to be learned from childhood, and at his age, could he possibly achieve mastery? It was too far-fetched. But Lu Zi paid them no mind. He believed in his master, for he could feel a surge of energy moving within his body. After a period of practice, he felt his body growing lighter and walked with a powerful stride.
After Wu Caiwei displayed her skills this time, the scrutiny directed at her lessened. However, Liu Dongjia became the unfortunate target. The thugs, upon their release from prison, directed all their vengeance towards him. They hadn’t forgotten Wu Caiwei’s words. Liu Dongjia knew full well that the woman was not to be trifled with and was highly skilled in martial arts; why hadn’t he warned them? He had even given them a considerable sum of money, sending them straight into danger. If he had known the woman's martial prowess, they would never have accepted the money. It was clear, as Wu Dongjia had said, that Liu Dongjia was afraid they would discover the truth and dare not confront her directly, letting them bear the brunt while he watched from the sidelines.
Living in the capital, everyone knew each other’s backgrounds. Liu Dongjia’s family had an official in the court, but he was merely a fifth-rank official, capable of intimidating common folk but insignificant in their eyes. Among these men, some had families with third-rank officials, and others even second-rank. These were the black sheep of their families, usually idle and aimless. They banded together to bully newcomers to the capital, and because they were adept at observing and investigating their targets’ backgrounds before acting, they brought considerable wealth to their families. Although they endured occasional reprimands, everyone turned a blind eye, knowing they were beyond redemption.
After all, they were family. If any truly disgraceful incident occurred, the leader would bear the consequences. As long as they didn’t commit any major offenses, someone would step in to shield them. Liu Dongjia understood this principle. Thus, the moment he walked into a small alley that day, he was ambushed, his head covered with a sack, and beaten severely. Liu Dongjia knew it was the work of those thugs, but he was powerless against them.
Wu Dongjia had truly led him astray. How could he have known the woman practiced martial arts? If he had known, he wouldn't have rashly gone to confront her. It was all Hua Hua’s fault. After spending so much time with Wu Dongjia, she hadn't realized he possessed such extraordinary skills. Consequently, Hua Hua bore the brunt of Liu Dongjia's anger. When Liu Dongjia was humiliated outside, he took it out on her upon returning. When Liu Dongjia was beaten outside, he doubled the torment he inflicted upon her. She tried to explain that it had nothing to do with her, but he wouldn't listen. Since he had started associating with this woman, his life had been anything but good; she was a jinx. No wonder her parents had died when she was young and she had become a beggar.
The household staff were all sycophants. Knowing she had fallen out of favor, they couldn’t resist kicking her while she was down. Madam Liu, in particular, couldn’t stand her. Even if Hua Hua complained to Madam Liu, she would turn a blind eye, or even subtly support them. This emboldened the servants, and Hua Hua's life in the household became increasingly difficult. It was then she realized what it meant to be alive but wish for death. If possible, she truly longed to return to her days as a beggar. Although there were still schemes and plots, she could find ways to retaliate. She had a few close friends who treated her like family. But now, she couldn't even leave Liu Mansion.