Chapter 8: The Wind Subsides

The north wind that had swept through Jingzhou City was gradually receding, and at last, the wind died away. Yet the withered grass in the wilds still clung close to the ground, its roots struggling to survive deep in the earth. White grubs gnawed relentlessly at those roots, determined to drain the last vestiges of life from them.

Suddenly, in a deserted alley, the desperate cries of a young girl for help pierced the quiet, drawing Wu Yueling’s attention as she hurried by.

It was a lonely stretch, scarcely populated, the alley obscure and narrow, its uneven ground riddled with potholes, and the gutters along its sides choked with foul, black sludge.

Wu Yueling, responding to the cries, strode swiftly into the alley. There, in a corner, several thugs had gathered, the girl's frantic sobs echoing as the sound of tearing fabric rang out. Wu Yueling gritted her teeth, cursed those beasts under her breath, and charged in. She seized one of the ruffians and hammered her small fist into his face, sending him tumbling headlong into the gutter.

Breathing hard, anger surging in her chest, she yanked aside four or five more thugs on the outskirts of the group, knocking them to the ground. Only then did Li Si, who had been tugging at Axue’s clothes in the midst of the chaos, notice the intrusion.

“Who’s there?” Li Si let go of the struggling Axue, tossed away a torn piece of coarse cloth, and looked over at the young woman now standing before him. A wide grin split his face. Wasn’t this the very girl Master Cui had been seeking? How effortless! “Ha! The mute little lady herself!”

“That's right, Li Ge, we’re in luck!” one of his fellows chimed in.

Wu Yueling glanced past Li Si to the girl cowering behind him—her dress torn, trembling in fear. Narrowing her eyes at the lawless gang, fury erupted within her. She seized the moment while Li Si was distracted, lunged forward, and drove her knee straight into his groin. Caught completely off guard, he doubled over in pain, then collapsed into the filthy gutter.

The remaining thugs, emboldened by numbers, rushed at Wu Yueling, intent on restraining her. She crouched low, spun behind one of them, and with a deft maneuver sent three of them crashing into each other, face to face, body to body, their moans of pain echoing in the narrow space.

She reached for the girl huddled in the corner, eyes brimming with tears, and said urgently, “Quick, come with me!”

Axue clutched the shredded remnants of her dress and ran after Wu Yueling. When the thugs realized their prize had slipped away, they called for reinforcements and gave chase.

Wu Yueling led Axue through the market streets. They were not particularly swift, but any would-be blockade was swiftly dealt with—thugs knocked aside with effortless agility. Yet soon enough, they found themselves trapped, blocked at both ends by buildings and gangs—no escape possible. Wu Yueling released Axue’s hand.

The frail Axue, winded from the sprint, collapsed to the ground, her breath rasping like a broken bellows, face flushed red.

Passersby drew back, some even ducking beneath their carts, unwilling to risk involvement. Those of a more prosperous appearance, however, simply tossed a purse at the thugs and strolled out of the encirclement, untouched.

Wu Yueling stood in the deserted street. She approached a vendor’s stall, picked up a sturdy carrying pole, tested its weight, and decided it would do. Surveying her foes, she counted nearly fifty ruffians on each side.

Drawing a deep breath, she turned to the girl still seated on the ground. “What’s your name?” she asked.

“I… I’m Axue,” the girl whispered, unable to meet her gaze.

“Hide yourself. I’m about to throw down.” Axue, not quite understanding, nodded and scrambled to find cover.

Meanwhile, just up the street at the Gu family’s inn, the commotion outside had caught the attention of the patrons. Many brought their wine cups to the doorway for a better look.

In a private room on the second floor, two men and a woman were drinking and chatting. The older man bore a long scar across his face and sat on the couch, watching as the younger siblings bickered.

“Hua, why haven’t you found a man to marry yet? Wait much longer, and no one will want you!” Tie Dahu boomed, his voice like thunder, nostrils flaring in mockery.

“Hmph! Brother Dahu, if you don’t marry soon and give Father a grandson, who’ll inherit the business? Life on the road is dangerous!” Tie Lihua shot back, refusing to give ground even in front of their father, Tie Zhuangniu.

“You shouldn’t have trained in martial arts as a woman—now you’ve got a reputation for being fierce. Who’d dare marry you?” Tie Dahu sneered.

“Hmph! I have no desire to marry! Men are all the same—no good at all!”

“Look, Father, she’s insulting us!”

…

Just then, noise from outside drew Tie Lihua’s attention. She rose and peered out the window.

She saw a petite young woman standing alone in the street, carrying a pole on her shoulder, utterly fearless before the thugs who surrounded her. “Well, well!” Tie Lihua chuckled. This was interesting—and the girl looked oddly familiar. She tilted her head, trying to recall where she had seen her before.

“What’s going on? Is it just two vendors fighting over business?” Tie Dahu asked, stuffing a piece of chicken into his mouth.

“Where have all the constables gone? Look at this chaos—no one’s around to keep order!” Tie Lihua propped her chin on her hand, watching with mild interest.

“Ha! Most of the city’s police are layabouts and street toughs themselves. You expect them to keep order? Unless there’s money in it, you’ll have to call the real constables,” their father, the head of the escort agency, remarked, moving to the window for a closer look.

“Father, why bother watching this? It’s just some thugs making trouble,” Tie Dahu said boisterously.

“Oh? When did Jingzhou City gain such a bold young woman? She’s not the least bit afraid of those ruffians—look how she puts them down!” the old escort master exclaimed, marveling as Wu Yueling dispatched her assailants. “Lihua, if that girl can’t hold out, go lend her a hand and bring her back to our agency. If she’s willing, recruit her—she’s clearly had some training. We could use more promising martial artists.”

“Don’t worry, Father! Leave it to me!” Tie Lihua replied.

Tie Dahu joined them at the window, a chicken leg in one hand and a cup of green wine in the other.

Below, Wu Yueling wielded her pole, felling another thug, dealing a few extra blows to ensure he wouldn’t rise. Axue remained hidden beneath a vendor’s cart.

In the distance, Manager Zhao of the Gu family’s inn recognized Wu Yueling as the young woman his master had instructed him to watch over. He grew anxious—should he intervene? He summoned the staff to gather reinforcements while keeping a close eye on Wu Yueling’s predicament. Each time she felled a thug twice her size, he felt both exhilarated and nervous, afraid she might be captured or hurt.

Cui Miao, upon hearing that Wu Yueling was surrounded just down the street, was delighted. He set out with his guard, Yuchi Yang, to see for himself. Watching Wu Yueling easily take on three or four men at once, a strange anger rose within him. Why wouldn’t this woman simply surrender?

Wu Yueling, though managing to fend off her attackers, was beginning to tire. She noticed Cui Miao and a burly man with him, whispering together. It became clear they were employing a war of attrition, wearing her down with waves of attackers. Realizing this, she hatched a plan.

As three more thugs charged, she feigned exhaustion, swinging the pole wildly, breathing hard, and, after barely toppling the last of them, let herself collapse.

From a distance, Cui Miao slapped his thigh and cheered. Yuchi Yang’s plan had worked! Lust gleamed in his eyes. “Quickly, pick her up—I want a good look at this troublesome girl!”

Li Si, still clutching his groin, ordered two thugs to haul Wu Yueling up. Cui Miao stepped forward, grinning wickedly at her wearied face. “Didn’t expect to fall into my hands, did you? The shame you dealt me that day—today, I’ll repay it!”

A strand of sweat-soaked hair clung to Wu Yueling’s cheek. She gazed coolly at the arrogant young master and smirked. “Watch your precious jewels.”

With that, she drew a breath, broke free from the thugs holding her, and drove her knee hard into Cui Miao’s unprotected groin. For a moment, he felt nothing—but as he crashed to the ground, agony shot through his legs, and he screamed, tears and snot streaming down his face, his fan falling into the mud.

Wu Yueling straightened and smiled with satisfaction—just deserts for a man like that. But just then, a rush of wind at her ear—a large fist flying at her face. She raised her hand to block, only to realize that a strikingly bold woman had appeared, gripping the burly guard’s wrist and squeezing until he grimaced in pain.

Yuchi Yang, a seasoned fighter, scowled and swung his other fist at the woman’s face. Tie Lihua glanced at him lazily, drew a deep breath, and with a sudden surge of force, crushed his wrist.

With a sickening crack, Yuchi Yang’s wrist broke.

Though a tough man, he bit back the pain, mustering his remaining strength to lash out with his left fist, but she blocked him with ease. Defeated, he retreated, exhaling heavily.

“Your reputation as a fierce woman is well deserved! I can’t match you. But don’t think your agency can protect that girl—if Cui Miao loses his manhood, the Cui family’s wrath will come down on you!” he growled, recognizing Tie Lihua.

Tie Lihua glanced dismissively at the sobbing Cui Miao, resplendent in his finery yet thoroughly wretched, and snapped at Yuchi Yang, “Get lost!”

Yuchi Yang nursed his broken wrist, grabbed Cui Miao, and left, humiliated and vengeful, swearing to settle the score one day.

Wu Yueling gazed after the retreating figure, recalling the first time she had been rescued by this woman while being chased by thugs—a figure who had swigged wine from a jug, fighting ten men at once. The memory was vivid.

“Miss… ahem, how should I address such a gallant heroine?” Wu Yueling said, mimicking the martial heroes from the tales, clasped her fists and brushed aside her damp hair with a flourish.

Tie Lihua turned, clearly pleased with Wu Yueling’s demeanor, and slung an arm around her shoulders. “I’m Tie Lihua, but just call me Iron Lady! Come, you’re coming with me!”

“Wait, there’s still a young girl!” Wu Yueling remembered Axue hiding under the cart and called her out.

Tie Lihua led the way, but the thugs still blocked their path. She was about to declare her identity as an escort and drive them off when a squad of constables assembled from the side, rounding up the troublemakers and binding them after a sound beating. The ruffians scattered in panic, vanishing in moments.

The head constable, seeing the infamous “Iron Lady” of the Water Jing Escort Agency, spoke with utmost respect. Just then, the stout Manager Zhao hurried over. “You must be the Iron Lady of the escort agency—truly, your reputation precedes you. A pleasure, a real pleasure.”

“And you are?” Tie Lihua regarded the gray-robed man with a broad smile. In a flash, she recognized him. “Ah, the manager of the Gu family’s inn! My no-good brother Dahu always drags me to your place for drinks!”

“Yes, yes! This young lady is our Gu family’s accountant. Might I ask where you intend to take her?” Manager Zhao, seeing she recognized him, pressed his case.

“No, she’s coming with me now!” Tie Lihua stood firm, dragging Wu Yueling along.

“Not so fast. Since you helped us, Iron Lady, why not honor us with a visit to the Gu family’s inn? Let me treat you to a feast as thanks for your aid,” Manager Zhao offered sincerely, making refusal almost impolite.

“No need. Just put that meal on my tab—I’ll be sure to visit next time! Besides, I just came from your inn!”

With that, Manager Zhao was left standing awkwardly, watching the three figures recede into the distance. He sighed with a hint of bitterness, then waved his sleeve, dismissing the assembled staff. No wonder she was called the Iron Lady.