Chapter 9

【I was delayed with some matters today, the second update will be posted in an hour.】

"More than just knowing them, they are the wicked women I mentioned to you earlier. They are ruthless and cruel. Brother, you'd better lower your head and not provoke them, or you'll get yourself into trouble!" the man said urgently.

Seeing the man's frightened expression, Ding Chunqiu couldn't help but want to laugh, but considering that the man had given him so much information, he didn't make things difficult for him. Turning his head, he continued to drink his wine and whispered, "Brother, didn't you say these women only live on Taihu Lake? Why are they here now?"

The man, seeing that Ding Chunqiu was no longer staring at him, let out a sigh of relief and whispered, "Brother, you don't know. These women are still human; they need to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. So, they come ashore once a month to buy supplies."

Hearing this, Ding Chunqiu nodded and didn't make things difficult for the man. He continued to drink his wine, but in his heart, he thought, "Heaven is helping me. If I sneak onto their boat, I can go directly to Mandala Manor without anyone knowing. What a wonderful plan."

With this in mind, he decided not to cause any more trouble.

But sometimes, even if you don't provoke trouble, trouble will still come to you.

"Hey, sister, look, there's a strange man over there!"

Just as Ding Chunqiu was lowering his head to drink his wine, a girl around eighteen or nineteen suddenly exclaimed, pointing at Ding Chunqiu as if she had discovered a new continent.

"What strange man? Xiao E, are you trying to trick someone again?" The sister turned her head and saw Ding Chunqiu's silver hair. "Oh, it really is a strange man. So young and already with a head full of white hair. How can such a strange thing happen!"

"That's right, isn't a head full of white hair only for old men?"

Xiao E said in confusion. This group of people spoke without any restraint, showing no awareness of the impropriety of gossiping behind someone's back. However, no one in the tavern dared to speak up.

"Hmph, what's so strange about that? A young man with a head full of white hair only means he's prematurely aged and is no good. If I'm not mistaken, this person is probably a lecherous rogue who frequents brothels, which is why he looks so monstrous!" The old woman leading the group said harshly, her words filled with venom.

"Oh, this person is actually a silver thief (intentionally misspelled, you get the idea). No wonder he looks so disgusting. I'll go and kill him to save other women from his harm!"

Xiao E, who had spoken first, picked up her sword and was about to attack.

"Xiao E, killing such a beast would dirty your hands. Just make him leave. Someone will deal with such a beast!" the old woman said coldly.

Hearing this, Xiao E's eyebrows shot up, and she shouted, "Didn't you hear what the old lady said? Get out of here quickly! I won't kill you today, but if you stay, I'll take your life with one sword!"

Ding Chunqiu never expected that he would provoke these women's hostility. Anger rose in his heart.

"Indeed, reputation is not as good as meeting in person, and meeting in person is even better. Bitches are still bitches. If you bark again, I'll break your legs!"

Ding Chunqiu sneered, picked up his wine cup, and played with it in his hand, saying softly.

Hearing this, the man sitting at the same table as Ding Chunqiu almost died of fright. His face turned pale, and he thought, "You've doomed us."

"Dog thief, how dare you insult us! Today, the old lady will make you suffer!" the old woman leading the group shouted angrily.

"Hahahaha!"

Ding Chunqiu burst out laughing, not even looking at them. "Insult you? Do you deserve it?"

With that, he drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"Dog thief, take this!"

Xiao E, who had spoken first, was furious. She raised her sword and stabbed directly at Ding Chunqiu's neck.

This stab, though not a high-level sword technique, was swift and decisive, clearly having killed many people before.

"Brother, be careful!"

Suddenly, the man sitting at the same table as Ding Chunqiu was shocked and shouted a warning. Although he was somewhat angry that Ding Chunqiu had provoked these wicked women, he couldn't help but warn him when he saw them about to kill.

"Hmph, there's another dog thief. Xiao Yue, go and kill him!"

The old woman, seeing the man warn, ordered without any consideration.

Xiao Yue, the woman who had been called "sister," heard this and flicked her wrist. A soft whip, like a venomous snake, shot toward the man's neck.

Ding Chunqiu's eyes narrowed, and the wine cup in his hand suddenly flew out, moving as fast as lightning, striking Xiao Yue's wrist before she could react.

"Ah!"

Xiao Yue screamed, her wrist throbbing with pain. She couldn't hold onto the whip, which fell to the ground with a thud.

"Die!"

At this moment, Xiao E pounced on Ding Chunqiu, her sword stabbing at him with a fierce wind.

Slap!

He was fast, but Ding Chunqiu was faster!

Xiao E flew backward, knocked away before anyone could see how Ding Chunqiu had moved, a red handprint appearing on her face.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, leaving the man and the old woman stunned.

Ding Chunqiu refilled his wine cup and said softly, "I'm in a good mood today and don't want to kill. Get out of here, and consider yourselves lucky. If you stay, I'll kill you with one slap!"

Ding Chunqiu sneered, and the old woman's face twisted with hatred, but the speed and power of Ding Chunqiu's attack had deeply shaken her, making her hesitant to act.

"Today's lesson is a gift. Do you dare to leave your name? The old lady will repay you someday!"

The old woman said with extreme hatred, accustomed to her tyranny on Taihu Lake, she still dared to make threats.

"Ha ha!" Ding Chunqiu sneered, "You don't know when to die!"

"Do you dare to leave your name?" the old woman thought Ding Chunqiu was afraid and pressed further.

"Get out! If you keep talking, you won't leave!" Ding Chunqiu said angrily.

"You..." The old woman was furious. Ding Chunqiu suddenly turned his head, startling her. "Let's go!"

She said, abandoning the food they had bought and turning to leave.

The other women, now trembling with fear, followed her.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, Ding Chunqiu's angry shout made the old woman's heart freeze.

"Do you have anything else to say? Do you want to leave your name?"

The old woman, though frightened, still tried to appear brave.

"I said clearly, get out, not walk out!"

Ding Chunqiu said calmly, unmoved by her words.

"You... don't push me too far!" The old woman's face turned red with anger, looking at Ding Chunqiu as if she wanted to eat him.

"Push you too far?" Ding Chunqiu sneered, "I'll push you today. What are you going to do about it?"

If it were anyone else, Ding Chunqiu wouldn't be so aggressive, but he felt no guilt in bullying these people.

Killing innocents and using them as fertilizer for flowers, such people could be called evil. Killing them, Ding Chunqiu felt no remorse.

"You..." The old woman pointed at Ding Chunqiu, trembling all over. Ding Chunqiu sneered in response.

"Die!!"

Suddenly, the old woman shouted, and a burst of green light shot out from her trembling sleeves, heading toward Ding Chunqiu at incredible speed.

This was the old woman's defensive weapon, called 'Shadow Sand,' hidden in her sleeves. Once activated, nine poisonous needles would shoot out, causing instant death upon contact.

The sudden attack made Ding Chunqiu extremely angry.

He raised his hand and slapped at the needles.

"You don't know when to die!" the old woman said with a sinister voice, thinking it was impossible for him to block the needles. She imagined his miserable end and smiled, but the smile froze on her face.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sharp sounds of the needles being deflected echoed.

The needles that were supposed to pierce his hand were instead deflected back at her.

"Ah... my eyes!"

The old woman screamed, falling backward, with black, white, and red fluids gushing from her eyes.

"Grandma!"

"Grandma!"

The women screamed in shock, but after the old woman's scream, she began to convulse irregularly, the needles having pierced her brain and the poison spreading, causing her to die instantly.