TSWRLM -Chapter 216 Repaying in Kind

After agreeing to Chun Xi’s proposal, Lin Hu increased their pace. Five days later, the three of them arrived in Yunzhou.

As per the employer’s instructions, the two men were to bring Chun Xi and Zheng’er to a City God temple on the outskirts, where they would hand her over and receive payment—money for person.

After a day of rest and preparation, Lin Hu contacted the person in charge of the handoff.

That night, they waited at the temple for over an hour before the contact arrived.

The contact didn’t know Chun Xi personally and scrutinized her carefully against the portrait. Only after confirming it was her did he throw a bag of gold at Lin Hu.

Lin Hu checked it, confirmed the contents, and, together with Lin Bao, began to leave.

But the moment they turned, the contact’s expression changed. With murderous intent, he raised a knife.

Lin Hu and Lin Bao had anticipated this and quickly dodged, drawing their own weapons. Both sides glared at each other, tension crackling.

“My brother and I have completed the employer’s instructions. What is the meaning of this?”

“The boss said: kill you, and the money is ours!”

With that, twenty or thirty more people emerged from the shadows, encircling Lin Hu and Lin Bao, clearly intending to eliminate witnesses.

Before Lin Hu could speak, a brutal fight broke out.

Lin Hu and Lin Bao fought for their lives with ruthless precision. Though outnumbered, they held their ground and quickly killed several assailants.

The attackers began to hesitate. Lin Bao spat and sneered, “When my grandfather was running in this world, you hadn’t even grown your first hair! You dare cross us without checking whose turf this is?”

The fighting intensified, and even those guarding Chun Xi joined the fray. Chun Xi seized the opportunity, holding Zheng’er and hiding in the shadows.

Soon, an arrow flew through the night and pierced the arm of one assailant, who had been attempting to sneak up on Lin Hu. He screamed in pain—and Lin Hu slit his throat in a swift counterattack.

The attackers hadn’t expected Lin Hu and Lin Bao to have backup, and panic set in. Seizing the moment, the two men launched a full counteroffensive.

Soon, the tide turned.

The would-be killers lay dead on the ground. At the last moment, Lin Hu captured the contact.

The contact, stunned by the outcome, shouted in panic, “How dare you! Do you know who we work for?”

The stench of blood filled the air. Chun Xi stepped out from the shadows, holding Zheng’er close, shielding him from the gruesome scene.

Standing tall amidst the carnage, she approached step by step. Only when she placed her foot on the contact’s chest did she speak softly, “Tell me… who are you working for?”

The contact hadn’t taken Chun Xi seriously—but a sharp pain shot through his ribs. He cried out, “I work for the Wei family in the capital! Can you bear the consequences of offending them?”

So it really was that fool Wei Lingze.

Chun Xi raised an eyebrow and said calmly, “Just the Wei family? Not the royal court. What’s there to fear?”

The contact was stunned into silence. The group returned to an inn in the city.

Once the door closed, Lin Bao couldn’t hide his excitement: “Big brother, we really owe Chun Xi here. If she hadn’t warned us, we’d be dead. That Wei fellow is despicable. Even if not for Chun Xi, we have to bring him to justice for ourselves!”

Lin Bao was completely impressed with Chun Xi now. Lin Hu remained calm, saying rationally, “One person’s words cannot prove anything. We operate through underground channels and don’t contact the employer directly. Besides, we both have criminal records—if we went to the authorities, the Wei family might accuse us of fabricating a crime.”

The situation was clear, but things were still precarious for Chun Xi.

Lin Bao fell silent. Chun Xi, however, spoke cheerfully: “Lin Hu is right. If this matter went public, it could damage my reputation. Even if the authorities wanted to uphold justice, it wouldn’t seriously harm Wei Lingze. That’s why I have no intention of reporting him.”

Wei Lingze’s repeated abduction attempts relied on this calculation.

Chun Xi’s looks and family background were far inferior to Xiao Qinghe’s. Now married to Shen Qingyuan, she was a respectable married woman. Wei Lingze had never kept her as a concubine in his household, so why go to such lengths to capture her now?

Even with proof, others would assume she was the instigator, seducing Wei Lingze.

She would not only fail to clear her name but also drag Shen Qingyuan into ridicule.

Thus, Wei Lingze assumed that even if she escaped, she would not expose the truth publicly.

Lin Bao asked in frustration, “So you’re just going to let this go?”

“I plan to repay him in kind,” Chun Xi said, beckoning Lin Hu and Lin Bao closer. In a low voice, she shared her plan with them.

“Good. People like him deserve to be punished!”

Lin Bao slapped the table in excitement, while Chun Xi calmly turned to Lin Hu: “Uncle Hu, do you think this will work?”

Lin Hu paused for a moment, then nodded: “With the two of us protecting you, it should be feasible.”

“Thank you, Uncle Hu, Uncle Bao!”

For the next few days, Chun Xi stayed in the inn doing needlework, while Lin Hu and Lin Bao scouted for information.

Three days later, at Yunzhou’s largest tavern…

Zhang Mingyang, the sole heir of the prefecture, was drinking with friends as usual and had even hired a girl to sing.

After a few rounds of wine, his lust got the better of him. He wrapped his hands around the girl’s waist. The girl, like a frightened rabbit, jumped and explained softly, “Sir, I perform, but I do not sell myself.”

Zhang Mingyang laughed lewdly, throwing a silver coin at her. “I didn’t say I wanted anything. I’m just paying to see how supple your waist is. What’s wrong with that?”

The others laughed along. The girl trembled in humiliation, and when Zhang Mingyang lunged again, she smashed her pipa in his face and ran out the door.

Zhang Mingyang, hit on the nose, flew into a rage: “You little wretch! How dare you hit me! Do you want to die?”

He chased after her—but as soon as he stepped out, a foot kicked him back, sending him crashing onto a table, scattering food everywhere and angering everyone else in the room.

“Who dares make trouble here? Do you know who we are?”

Zhang’s family monopolized Yunzhou, and his father-in-law was a capital noble. Those dining with him today were prominent sons of officials.

Chun Xi smiled brightly.

She had, of course, already investigated their identities. She knew exactly whom to punish for their years of misdeeds.

She asked, “Gentlemen, you wanted to hear a song, right? How about I sing for you?”