Feng Yiyi pulled the curtain aside slightly and looked out. She saw seven or eight people sneaking toward the door.
Not wanting to alarm Grandma, she quietly pushed open the window and jumped out.
“Who are you? Such gall, daring to break into a home at night!” Feng Yiyi scolded.
“You don’t need to know who we are. You offended someone you shouldn’t; you’re doomed!” a black-clad man said.
“Oh my, scared me to death! Big brother, can you spare me? I’ll spare you too!” Feng Yiyi blinked her big eyes.
“Spare you? We want to, but if we don’t take your head back today, our lives are forfeit!
The boss has spoken; we must take your life!
We’re just following orders; no choice. No grudge against you, but if we don’t kill you, we die!”
“Who sent you to kill me?
Tell me before I die, so I can die knowing!” Feng Yiyi said.
A smug black-clad man smirked, “Don’t you know who you beat today? Those were Xiong Ye’s men; they were just small collectors!”
“Who is Xiong Ye?” Feng Yiyi asked puzzled.
“You don’t even know Xiong Ye? Trying to sell stuff, so ignorant!” one sneered.
“Tell you straight: Xiong Ye is the county magistrate’s brother-in-law, in charge of collecting protection fees.” another explained.
Feng Yiyi laughed, “I thought it was some big shot!
Just the county magistrate’s brother-in-law; what’s so impressive!”
A short black-clad man raged: “Don’t waste words; just kill her!”
Several charged at Feng Yiyi with knives and swords.
Feng Yiyi leaped and ran out the gate.
She didn’t want to wreck her home or scare Grandma.
In an open area, Feng Yiyi stopped.
“Little girl! Run! Keep running! See where you can go!” a black-clad man shouted angrily.
“No more running; I’m exhausted!
Rest a bit; early death, late death, same. You won’t miss this moment; don’t let me die tired!” Feng Yiyi said.
A black-clad man sweated; who dies tired?
“Rest then; you’ll die anyway!”
Feng Yiyi panted; the seven or eight surrounded her.
Feng Yiyi pulled a small bomb from her space, counted silently: 1, 2, 3. She pulled the pin, threw it down, and “whoosh” entered her space.
A huge “bang” echoed; the bomb exploded, flames shooting skyward.
The shockwave blasted the surrounding seven or eight into the air.
Feng Yiyi watched from her space; safe now, she emerged.
“Sigh, so tragic! Had good lives, but came to kill.
Didn’t kill anyone; lost their own lives! All because of protection fees!”
Feng Yiyi feigned concern, “Brothers, anyone still breathing? Say something!”
Then, groans from the bushes!
Feng Yiyi shone the full moon light ahead.
She spotted a black-clad man in the grass.
“Oh heavens, you’re lucky! Don’t know where the others blew to!”
Feng Yiyi finished, pulled a dagger from her space, stabbed the man’s heart…
Feng Yiyi thought: So many bodies here; villagers will report it.
Officers will investigate.
That Xiong Ye, if no one returns, he’ll come to the village.
Walls have ears; if linked to me, trouble.
She searched the blast area for black-clad men.
Thinking: Use bombs carefully; easy to pull and explode, but then have to find bodies—too tiring!
This spot’s far from the village; they might think it’s thunder.
After persistent effort, Feng Yiyi gathered all the bodies.
She waved her hand, stored them in her space, and headed to the mountains…
In the deep mountains, she dumped them, jogged back.
“What Xiong Ye or dog Ye, wait for me; someday I’ll visit you!”
Back home, Feng Yiyi bathed in her space, changed clothes, and slept.
…
When she whipped the thugs, Long Xuanling started noticing her.
That night, Dark One reported: “Master, investigated.
The girl is Feng Yiyi, lives at Zhao Village entrance.
Not originally from here; saved by Wang Shi’s second son, amnesiac then.
Only remembered her name Feng Yiyi.
Recently jumped river, saved by cart driver Liu Er; personality changed drastically.
Knows herbs, skilled in martial arts. Sells herbs, built new house; adoptive parents dead.
Now lives with Wang Shi.”
“Understood. Surname Feng; rare surname. Maybe related to Feng clan or a branch.
Her personality change might be regained memory.
Long Xuanling grew curious about Feng Yiyi.
“What about those thugs?”
“They’re the county magistrate’s brother-in-law’s men, collecting protection fees.”
“People selling goods struggle; yet they extort.
Arrest the brother-in-law, jail in prefecture prison; demote the magistrate. Handle it.”
“Yes, subordinate obeys!” Dark One left.
“Dark Two, found the girl?”
“Master, checked all pawnshops; no one pawned the Jade Linglong Pendant.”
“Good, keep watch; if anyone pawns, inform me immediately.”
“Master, her appearance?”
“At the time, her face was thickly powdered, looked like a ghost.
Eyebrows drawn like caterpillars.
I was drugged, not clear-headed; memories blurry.”
“Master, her figure? Tall or short, fat or thin?”
“Figure? Figure? Haven’t you seen Feng Yiyi? Similar to her.
But that one wore finery; should be an official’s daughter, not a village girl. I can’t wrong her; must find her!”
“Yes, subordinate retires!”