Chapter 3

As the thought of being drunk just flashed through my mind, the world immediately became blurry. The distant mountains twisted like monsters, their claws and fangs spread wide. Wasn't that the old hen Hua Hua standing on the mountain top? Clearly headless, why did it feel like she was looking at me?

My gaze swept past Hua Hua and saw a bustling metropolis, filled with men in red and women in green. The road was congested again? Might as well get out and walk. A qualified legal worker cannot let the judge and the parties wait.

The opposing witness appeared. Why did she look so familiar? Her small, white feet were bare, and she held two golden carp in her hands, smiling sweetly at me: "Brother, I want to hear a story. My feet don't stink, you know..."

Is it Cao'er? But why did her smile freeze on her face, turning instantly white, full of fear?

"Brother, save me, save me quickly!" A long, dark shadow spread from behind Cao'er. Wherever it went, the judge, the parties, the opposing lawyer... these familiar yet strange images shattered like glass in a hurricane. The shadow gradually became clear—it was Chu Tong, the boastful vagrant!

I shivered suddenly, and Bai Dong, now fully sober, quickly opened his eyes.

The cries for help came from Cao'er's room, piercingly loud in the night. What made Bai Dong most angry was that Chu Tong's voice was mixed in: "The girl offered herself, why is she acting like this now?" His voice was still so beautiful. Is this what they call refined speech? A scholar? Go to hell!

His clothes were still on, and after getting drunk, neither his mother nor Cao'er could undress him. This allowed Bai Dong to rush to Cao'er's small room first, kick open the door, and see Chu Tong sitting on the bed, stunned, while Cao'er was lying on the side, crying and shouting for help. Bai Dong could see clearly that Cao'er's waist belt had been torn off.

The situation didn't seem as serious as he imagined, but it was enough to make Bai Dong furious. "Bastard, you dare to touch my sister!" He lunged forward and punched Chu Tong. Before Chu Tong could react, Bai Dong moved to his side and delivered a kick to his face. Chu Tong screamed and rolled off the bed.

Damn it, I may be a small guy from the Qin land, but in my past life, I did practice Taekwondo. Beating you is like beating a dog.

"Scoundrel, ruffian!"

Chu Tong, kicked off the bed by Bai Dong, didn't retaliate immediately but instead straightened his hat and belt. In this era, scholars were all trained in martial arts, but how could a scholar stoop to the level of a country bumpkin? A gentleman fights with a just cause.

Standing up, Chu Tong said angrily, "Young brother, it was your sister who offered herself, but why did she suddenly change her mind? What fault does Chu have?"

"Offered herself?"

Bai Dong was stunned. Recalling how his mother had gotten him drunk, he suddenly understood the customs of this era. In this time, scholars were precious, and scholars were nobles. Cao'er, born in a mountain village, would likely end up marrying a common farmer if she didn't have a 'chance.' Moreover, with the frequent wars in Qin, the gender ratio was severely imbalanced, and she might even end up with an old bachelor or a widower.

The people of Qin had a custom from the western borderlands, where it was common for daughters, or even wives, to accompany honored guests to bed, not much different from the practices of the Xirong and Yiqu. His mother must have seen something in Chu Tong. Knowing that he always cared for Cao'er, she got him drunk to secure a better future for her.

Heartache, pain, and anger! Looking at Chu Tong's innocent and righteous face, it seemed he was more aggrieved than a 21st-century youth who helped an old lady.

Cao'er stopped crying. With her brother there, she wasn't afraid anymore: "Brother, Mother said Cao'er should accompany the guest, but... but he... In your stories, you said girls shouldn't let men do that..."

Thankfully, Bai Dong felt relieved. His mother probably didn't want to explain too much to Cao'er, and Chu Tong was too eager. If it were a regular farm girl, this 'chance' would have been a done deal. Fortunately, Cao'er had heard his stories, and she understood many things that girls in this era didn't.

"Get out!"

Now that he knew the whole story, by the standards of this era, Chu Tong hadn't done anything wrong. There was no need to continue the beating, but Bai Dong didn't want to be polite. He was ready to kick him out.

"How dare you! This girl came into my room, so she is now mine. Even if we take this to the authorities, it would still be my right!"

Looking at the white, smooth skin on Cao'er's neck, Chu Tong swallowed hard. How could he let go? He was a scholar, and the boy in front of him was just a country bumpkin. Moreover, the girl was sent by her mother, so by Qin customs, she was already his. By law and by custom, it was his right. Why should he leave? A scholar can be killed but not humiliated; he was a man of principle!

Faced with such a fool, the simplest and most effective solution was brute force. Scholarly elegance? Bai Dong wanted to spit in his face. Without a word, he delivered a kick to Chu Tong's groin. Chu Tong bent over in pain, staring at Bai Dong in disbelief. He had heard that the people of Qin were fierce, brave, and full of blood, but why would they resort to such low tactics? Unfortunately, there was no time to question it. Bai Dong wouldn't give him a chance to retaliate. After the groin kick, he followed with a punch to the eyes and a series of kicks. Even a seasoned warrior would have been knocked out, let alone a scholar.

Cao'er, who had been in fear, clapped her hands vigorously. Clapping was something Bai Dong had taught her; it was the best way to show support. Her brother was so strong, making her feel so safe.

"Brother, beat him hard, just like Sinbad beat the sea monster, ahh!" As soon as the words left her mouth, Cao'er realized something was wrong. She stuck out her tongue and swallowed the rest of the sentence. Her mother had said that the stories her brother told were a secret. How could she forget in the heat of the moment?

"You... you dare to beat a scholar! That's a serious crime!"

Chu Tong was completely dazed, taking a long time to recover. He slowly stood up, holding his crotch, intending to seek revenge but was intimidated by Bai Dong's fierce gaze. After a moment of hesitation, he tried to assert his status as a traveling scholar.

In the pre-Qin era, scholars were the true nobility. Could they be beaten at will? Even a foreign scholar couldn't be. If the authorities found out, Bai Dong would be in big trouble, likely exiled or even executed.

"Is it not said that when a friend comes from afar, one should greet him with a fist? Have you heard of Confucius? He said this. I am merely following the teachings of the sage. What crime is there?" Confucius had a disciple named Zizhong who initiated a movement to deify him a hundred years ago. Now, Confucius was revered as a sage, and Bai Dong wasn't lying.

"Ruffian, you not only beat a scholar but also blasphemed the sage. That's a grave sin!"

Chu Tong, who revered the path of benevolence and the rites, was furious at the mention of Confucius. However, seeing Bai Dong's fierce gaze and feeling the intense pain in his crotch, he decided that a gentleman should not stoop to the level of a ruffian. It was best to leave quickly. He spat out a threat and ran away, narrowly missing Bai Dong's mother who was rushing to the scene.

"Anping, you were wrong. Beating a scholar will get you sent to hard labor or even executed..."

His mother didn't scold Bai Dong but cried. Cao'er, with her big eyes, pouted and said softly, "Mother, I don't like this person. Brother saved me. Please don't blame him, okay?" Her mother didn't answer, just held her, crying and shaking her head.

"Mother, don't worry. It's just a scholar. I beat him, and that's that. He won't report it. If this gets out, he will be the most embarrassed."

Bai Dong smiled. In this era, scholars valued their reputation above all. For them, having a fling wasn't shameful, but being beaten by a country bumpkin was. If Chu Tong wasn't a fool, he wouldn't tell anyone. He was bound to take the loss in silence.

In the pre-Qin era, scholars were true nobility, far above ruffians and bullies. Their reputation was more important than their lives. Bai Dong was even willing to bet that if someone asked about tonight, the one who would want to silence them would be Chu Tong, not him. If his mother hadn't sent Cao'er to his room, he would have maintained his gentlemanly demeanor until the end. Moreover, Yishi Village was hidden deep in the mountains, and it would be difficult for Chu Tong to find it again. So, Bai Dong wasn't worried about retaliation.

Cao'er was the best at comforting her mother. With all sorts of coquettish antics, she finally got her mother to return to her room. She looked at Bai Dong with her big eyes and suddenly buried her head in his chest: "Brother is the best."

"Of course." Bai Dong patted her small, round bottom: "You were crying just now, but now you're smiling like a flower. Tell me, was it on purpose?"

Narrowing her eyes, Cao'er smiled like a little fox: "Brother said that if anyone dared to bully Cao'er, you would beat them to death. I was just testing you..."

This little fox, at fourteen, is already so cunning. What will she be like when she grows up?

Bai Dong suddenly felt a headache.

PS: Thanks to 'Li Chenxi' for the first reward. Thanks a lot!

New book uploaded, please recommend and collect. Thanks everyone!