Song Jin was the little tyrant of Linxi Town.
No one could deny this.
At eight years old, she broke the legs of the previous town tyrant and took his place as the new ruler. Every day she ran wild through the town and the mountains. If anyone so much as glanced at her twice during the day or muttered a few extra words, their home would suffer that night.
Year after year, everyone avoided her like the plague, turning around and running the moment they saw her.
But to be fair, whenever Song Jin picked a fight, there was always a reason behind it. The reason might be a bit trivial, but at least it was justified.
Take now, for example. Meihua and Lin Jiaojiao—the same two who had stood before Niu Tielan yesterday, bold as brass and demanding an outrageous sum—their first reaction upon seeing Song Jin was to hide.
Song Jin jumped off the mule, watching the guilt written all over the mother and daughter's faces with great interest. She crossed her arms and walked toward them, her phoenix eyes lifting slightly.
"Hey, why are you running? Didn't you tell my mother to have me come apologize? Well, here I am."
As she spoke, as if remembering something, she turned back and pulled a large beef bone from the basket carried by Xiao Hei. It was as thick as a human leg, still covered in fresh meat and blood. At first glance, it looked eerily like an actual human leg.
Meihua pulled Lin Jiaojiao back a step, her voice trembling slightly. "You… what are you trying to do?"
"What could I be trying to do? Naturally, I'm here to make amends." Song Jin looked at them with feigned innocence, then glanced at the big bone with sudden realization. "Uncle Lin isn't home, so Sister Meihua, you probably can't handle this bone by yourself. Let me take care of it for you."
With that, Song Jin placed the bone beside the steps, flashed them a brilliant smile, and channeled her Qi-channeling Internal Art before stomping down hard.
Crack.
The bone shattered, fragments and marrow flying in all directions before landing on the ground.
"Ah!"
Meihua let out a scream and stumbled backward in terror. "What are you doing? I—I'm telling you, I'm not afraid of you! Careful, or I'll report you to the authorities! My—my eldest brother works at the inspection office, my father—my father is an old scholar, and my—my husband works at the county office! Watch out, or they'll throw you in jail!"
Song Jin listened to her stammering "my—my—my" for a good while, then smiled as she picked up the bone. "Now, Auntie, look at what you're saying. Anyone listening would think a bandit had come knocking. That wouldn't look good if word got around. As the saying goes: you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you please. You should choose your words more carefully."
"Right, Jiaojiao?"
Meeting Song Jin's gaze, Lin Jiaojiao's face went white in an instant. She stammered, "Y-yes, that's right, that's right. I—last time, next time, I'll be more careful with what I say."
Lin Jiaojiao took after her father—tall and thin, a bit dark-skinned—but she was a hardworking girl from a well-off family and quite popular in town. Her only flaw was that she had a bit of a loose tongue.
Yesterday, she'd been chatting with some people and the topic of Niu Tielan came up. She'd said a few things, never expecting to run right into Song Jin coming down from the mountain. The fright made her miss a step and roll down the slope. When she got home, she couldn't help complaining to her mother about it.
Relying on the Town Mayor as their backing, and knowing Song Jin was up in the mountains, the mother and daughter had gone to Niu Tielan's door, thinking she'd be easy to push around and that they could squeeze some advantage out of her. As for Song Jin, the little tyrant—well, Niu Tielan could deal with her.
Who could have known the woman would be so angry she'd spit blood?
Now they'd gotten nothing out of it, been thoroughly scolded by Town Mayor Lin, and now Song Jin had come knocking on their door.
Looking at the shattered bone beneath Song Jin's foot, Meihua and Lin Jiaojiao finally realized that the person before them wasn't just an unreasonable little tyrant—she was someone who had single-handedly killed a starving wolf and shot down bandits.
Seeing the fear on their faces, Song Jin finally withdrew her foot, her smile exceptionally bright. "That's more like it. I'm thick-skinned and tough, so it doesn't matter how you treat me. But my mother is frail—that's different. I'll have to ask you to be more considerate, Auntie."
Meihua's sharp tongue had failed her. She looked at Song Jin as if she were a monster, stammering, "I—I understand."
Song Jin beamed. "Then I'll trouble you, Auntie. Here—this is a fine beef bone. Remember to take it home and stew it well to nourish Jiaojiao. She's of marriageable age now, and she needs a bit more meat on her bones to look good."
Meihua's smile was strained.
Only then did Song Jin let the two of them off. She clapped her hands, turned, and walked over to Xiao Hei, patting its head.
Pfft, pfft, pfft.
A strange, foul odor wafted through the air.
Without changing her expression, Song Jin swung herself onto the mule's back. Xiao Hei snorted twice, then trotted off with a clatter of hooves.
Only after the pair had run far into the distance did Town Mayor Lin, who had been notified, come rushing over. Seeing the shattered bone at the doorstep and the terrified faces of his sister-in-law and niece, he let out a sigh of relief, then looked at the two of them with an expression of utter disappointment.
"How many times have I told you? Don't provoke Tielan, don't provoke Tielan. But you never listen. Now do you understand what's good for you? Did you really think a widow and her orphan would have to kowtow to you? Song Jin is under the county magistrate's protection. You'd better stay in line. If you truly offend her, I won't be able to protect you."
Outsiders didn't know the full story, but Town Mayor Lin certainly did.
That Song Jin—the "bandit" she'd shot and captured back then wasn't just one person. She'd wiped out an entire mountain stronghold. Was she someone to be trifled with? Not to mention the connections she had in the county—even just Doctor Liu of the Huichun Hall alone was someone Town Mayor Lin couldn't afford to offend.
Otherwise, why would he, as the town mayor, have put up with a widow and her orphan for all these years? Even when he fancied her, he didn't dare say a word, and when his house was torn down, he only cursed under his breath—wasn't it because he couldn't afford to offend her?
Thinking of the "grievances" he'd suffered over the years, Town Mayor Lin couldn't help but curse again: "Long-haired, short-sighted fool."
Meihua felt wronged and unconvinced: "So what if I know the county magistrate? Even the county magistrate has to be reasonable."
Town Mayor Lin laughed in anger: "Never mind the county magistrate—even if I, your own husband, were unreasonable, no one would dare say a word. Go home and reflect on yourself. If you cause me any more trouble, you can pack your things and go back to your mother's house. The Lin family temple is too small to house a great Buddha like you."
In all these years, this was the first time Town Mayor Lin had spoken such harsh words, and it scared Meihua into silence. She didn't dare talk back anymore.
If she really got sent back to her mother's house, neither she nor her parents could bear the shame.
Seeing her settle down a bit, Town Mayor Lin finally calmed down.
Besides, Niu Tielan hadn't actually come to harm this time. If she really had been angered to death, did this fool think her own little life would be spared?
Killing someone to avenge one's mother—even if you took that to the county magistrate, the dead woman would have deserved it.
…
Town Mayor Lin's guess was spot on.
Never mind Niu Tielan being angered to death—if even a single bit of yesterday's vomiting of blood had been real, Song Jin would have torn down Meihua's house and taken half her life.
The Song Jin who came from the Apocalypse was not exactly a law-abiding person.
If truly pushed to the brink, she'd kill someone, cause trouble, then simply vanish into the mountains, change her appearance, and start over somewhere else. In this era, that would be all too easy.
But that was only as a last resort. At least for now, Song Jin still wanted to live a happy little life with her mother.
Case in point—after delivering her warning, Song Jin rode Little Black home in high spirits, her voice squeezed with excitement, drawing out her words.
"Mother, I'm back~ Look what I brought you!"
Niu Tielan liked to play the weakling, but her health truly wasn't good. On top of that, she was strikingly beautiful, so she generally stayed home when there was nothing to do—reading, painting, playing the qin, flying kites, tending flowers, playing cards…
She lived a life of quiet pleasure.
When Song Jin came back, Niu Tielan was playing leaf cards with Xiaomei and Xiao'er. Hearing that familiar, excited voice, her hand slipped and she played a good card by mistake. She couldn't help but press her forehead and groan softly.
"Oh dear, I have a headache. I'm going to my room first. Tell Xiaomei and Jinjin I won't be having dinner tonight."
Xiaomei pursed her lips in a smile: "Madam, you're a bit too late with that."
Sure enough, Song Jin had already found her way over with practiced ease, poking her head in from the doorway. Her palm-sized face split into a wide grin of white teeth, phoenix eyes curved into crescents. She grinned at Niu Tielan, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
"Mother, I bought some top-grade beef bones! Perfect for stewing with red dates and angelica root."
Niu Tielan felt queasy just hearing it. She threw her cards on the ground in a little fit of temper: "Soup, soup, soup—it's soup every single meal! You might as well stew me too!"
Song Jin ran over, wrapped her arms around Niu Tielan, and squeezed onto the same chair as her: "Mother, you have to listen. Your health comes first."
Niu Tielan: "If health comes first, then I definitely shouldn't be drinking soup every meal. I'm not made of water."
Song Jin hugged her mother and nuzzled against her out of habit.
Niu Tielan's figure looked slender, but in truth she had everything where it counted. Her skin was as smooth as congealed fat, and her whole body was soft and supple—saying she was made of water wasn't wrong at all.
Seeing mother and daughter each holding their ground and about to sulk at each other again, Xiaomei pursed her lips in a smile and suggested: "Beef bones need to simmer for a whole day to get the marrow out. How about we stir-fry some beef with pickled cabbage and preserved eggplant① for tonight, along with some venison soup to tide us over, and stew the beef bones tomorrow?"
Niu Tielan immediately seconded: "Whoever cooks gets to call the shots. I'll listen to Xiaomei."
Song Jin looked at her like she was an unruly child, and only after a long moment reluctantly nodded: "Fine."
Niu Tielan breathed a sigh of relief.
Her daughter was usually like a wild little monkey—she only listened after getting scolded a bit. But when it came to her health, their roles reversed.
Niu Tielan was also afraid Song Jin might change her mind, so she quickly changed the subject: "Did you give everything to Qi Sheng? What did he say?"
Song Jin curled her lip: "What could he say? He's plenty confident, even planning to use that ratty old brush with the falling bristles for the exam. He doesn't need you worrying, Mother."
Niu Tielan smiled: "Little Sheng has been sensible and hardworking since he was young. He really doesn't need me to worry—unlike you."
Song Jin protested: "What about me?"
Niu Tielan chuckled: "You went to Meihua's house on the way back, didn't you?"
Song Jin immediately fell silent, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. She curled her lip and muttered: "I didn't do anything to her. They have filthy mouths—can't a person say anything? You spoil them too much, Mother."
Niu Tielan poked her head: "You—why bother getting into it with them?"
Linxi Town was an ordinary, prosperous little town. The local Lin family didn't put on the airs of wealthy gentry, and Town Mayor Lin rarely threw his weight around. Though the town had its occasional petty squabbles and a few difficult people, it was largely peaceful and harmonious.
Mother and daughter had lived in Linxi Town for over a decade, and would likely continue living there in the future. Some things called for pushing forward, and some things called for patience and forbearance.
One domineering, unreasonable person in the house was already enough—there had to be room for others to speak their piece.
Though it sounded roundabout and convoluted, that was simply how life went. Without overwhelming power, one had to scheme and maneuver carefully.
But that was Niu Tielan's concern as a mother. For Song Jin, she had only ever had one requirement.
"Mother doesn't need you to do anything else. I just want you to be healthy and safe…"
Though Niu Tielan often scolded Song Jin for being a little rascal and expressed disdain for her bullying ways of running wild everywhere, she never forced her to conform to the world's expectations of how a girl should behave.
A woman's life in this world was already hard enough. As a mother, she only wanted her daughter to be happy and carefree—while also staying safe.
Niu Tielan held Song Jin's hand.
Song Jin was much taller than most girls, with long arms and long legs, and a sturdier overall frame. But there wasn't an ounce of soft flesh on her—it was all hard, solid muscle. Paired with her strikingly radiant face, the way she stood there practically screamed "don't mess with me."
Her hands were covered in fine scars on the backs. Even though the Scar-Removal Ointment prevented permanent marks, new wounds appeared as soon as old ones faded. Her palms were layered thick like cowhide—even a blade would struggle to cut through.
These were the price of years of martial training and mountain expeditions.
Niu Tielan felt a pang of heartache as she touched them, but more than that, she felt reassured. In this world, a strong daughter was far safer than a frail one. Though being too strong wasn't necessarily a good thing either.
She spoke softly and gently: "The county hasn't been peaceful lately. Stay out of the mountains and don't go running around outside. Once things settle down, I won't care how much you run around."
Song Jin had been leaning against her, but at these words she shot upright, staring in shock at her delicate, young, and beautiful mother.
The mountains hadn't been peaceful lately—she'd been running up there every day, so of course she knew. But her mother…
Something wasn't right.
Song Jin blinked and exclaimed in surprise: "Ah, so that's why you let me into town so readily today—you were setting this up all along!"
Niu Tielan glared at her: "Damned girl, as if you wouldn't sneak out even if I told you to stay home."
Song Jin leaned back against her again, grinning: "Go on, keep talking. I'm listening."
Niu Tielan was annoyed by her flippant attitude. She reached out and twisted her ear, snapping irritably: "Listening isn't enough—you have to actually do it!"
Song Jin yelped in pain: "Fine, fine, fine! I know, I know!"
Niu Tielan: "Not just know it—do it!"
Song Jin: "Alright, alright, alright. You're Mother, whatever you say goes."
…
When her mother unleashed her authority, Song Jin was the picture of obedience—whatever Niu Tielan said, she agreed. It wasn't until the night grew deep and her mother, who kept a regular schedule, had fallen into a sound sleep that—
The "obedient, well-behaved, early-to-bed" Song Jin rolled over, grabbed her gear, quietly pushed open the door, and sprinted toward the mountains.
If Niu Tielan hadn't said anything, Song Jin might have let it go. But now that she had, Song Jin had to go see for herself.
Among those people in the mountains… it felt like there might be an old acquaintance hidden there.