Chapter Sixty-Four: Night Journey

"Mm." Xiao Bei nodded obediently, taking the short sword with delight to examine it.

She didn't care much whether the sword was long or short. Holding a real weapon for the first time, feeling its weight, she couldn't help but feel happy. This was her own weapon.

"Here, Fang Luoluo, this short dagger belonged to that Black Serpent fellow. It's much better than your knife. It's sharpened on only one side—do you think you'll get used to it?"

Earlier, Xiao Nan had been hiding nearby but had seen everything clearly. When Xiao Bei made her move, this big-hearted girl also seized the opportunity to stab Wu Tie. She hadn't managed to injure him, but her determination was rare.

At their age, it was already unusual—never mind girls, even boys would be paralyzed by fear in a crisis, lacking the will to resist. In fact, most adults, when confronted by criminals, would simply beg for mercy and break down in tears.

It's easy to see how difficult it was to act otherwise.

Xiao Nan quite admired this strong-willed girl, especially her courage to fight alongside Xiao Bei. So, he helped find her a weapon for self-defense.

Any weapon carried by a professional enforcer was not something you could just pick up at a market stall. It might not cut through iron like mud, but slicing flesh and bone would be as easy as cutting tofu.

As for concerns about stolen goods, Xiao Nan didn't care at all. It wasn't a famous sword with any special markings. There were probably a thousand of them in the market, if not more. And even if there were any distinguishing marks, it wouldn't matter—no one would recognize it anymore.

"I have one too," Fang Luoluo exclaimed in surprise. Suddenly, she no longer felt afraid. Receiving a gift like this—wasn't it obvious? Just as Xiao Bei had said, her brother was not fierce at all.

All right, she had already forgotten about his earlier brutality.

"In the future, train more often with Xiao Bei in the Four Seasons Sword Technique. She's very skilled," Xiao Nan said with a smile. "We'll head to my house first, and Xiao Bei will put some ointment on you. Luckily, that guy didn't hit hard—your face is just a little bruised, it'll heal quickly."

"Is it all over?" Fang Luoluo thanked him, her face full of confusion, but didn't dare ask more questions.

Xiao Bei, however, glanced back at the alley and asked, "But... we just killed someone—three people, in fact."

"What could happen? After school, don't you always take the main road and ride the bus home? Did you hear about something extraordinary?" Xiao Nan looked at the two girls with a half-smile.

"Yes, we took the bus home. We've never walked along the old street, never seen the unfinished building, and definitely never witnessed a fight," Fang Luoluo declared, patting her chest in sudden realization.

Is it true that every well-endowed girl likes to pat herself like this? She just can't help herself.

Xiao Nan's gaze swept over her impressive curves, drawing the conclusion that her parents must have taken excellent care of her diet.

"…"

Xiao Bei stared in disbelief. Wasn't this just willful self-deception? She was starting to feel she no longer recognized her brother. He used to be so honest, so kind.

But the current Xiao Nan, he seemed... very, very good, too.

...

By the time they returned to Happiness Community, the last glow of sunset had faded, and darkness crept in.

Tan Qiuyi was still not home, likely busy with work. Fang Luoluo didn't head back right away either. She obediently let Xiao Bei apply some medicinal oil to her face, and after a brief rest, the two girls happily dashed to the kitchen to wash rice and prepare dinner together.

Of course, before that, Fang Luoluo made a call home to say she'd be having dinner at the Xiao family’s place. This wasn't the first time, so her parents wouldn't be worried.

...

When Tan Qiuyi returned, they all had dinner together. Xiao Nan escorted Fang Luoluo home, then went back to his room to train.

Mother and daughter chatted idly for a bit before getting ready for bed. It was still rather early.

This was their usual routine. With two children in the house, Tan Qiuyi always insisted on an early bedtime and allowed little in the way of entertainment. She rarely let them watch television, saying it would distract them.

So, after nine o'clock, the Xiao family would turn off the lights and go to bed, rising at five the next morning to wash up, exercise, have breakfast, and head to school.

Tonight was no exception. After nine, Xiao Nan listened carefully. From farther away, he could already hear Tan Qiuyi’s gentle snores; perhaps she was exhausted from work and fell asleep quickly. In the room next door, little Xiao Bei was tossing and turning, then gradually quieted—she was about to fall asleep too.

He tossed aside his class notes, sat up, his eyes bright and alert.

Opening his wardrobe quietly, Xiao Nan pulled out two thick sweaters and a padded jacket for autumn and winter, then layered a loose black overcoat on top, making himself look quite bulky.

Even though it was early summer and already warm, with his strong physique, he wasn't bothered by heat or cold. It didn't matter what he wore.

He then dug out his elevator shoes—unused for ages—stuffing in several extra insoles. Checking himself in the mirror, he looked much more imposing.

He found a black baseball cap, pulled it low over his head, pocketed some cash, tucked his sword under his arm...

Turning off the light, Xiao Nan slipped out of his room. After a glance back at the courtyard, he avoided the main entrance.

Reaching a corner of the courtyard wall, he leapt lightly, grabbed the top, and vaulted over.

His pace quickened as he headed north, ignoring the curious stares of passersby.

"If people think I'm crazy, so be it. There are plenty who dress stranger than I do."

Wearing winter clothes made him stand out, but at least no one could recognize him. Compared to those returning from outside the city dressed in animal hides, his getup was quite normal.

After two turns, he reached Riverside Road.

Here, the crowds thickened, and he could hear snatches of music drifting through the air. The city wasn't exactly safe—news of barbarian attacks circulated from time to time. Still, once night fell, the lonely and restless would come out for a bit of fun.

Riverside Road was lined with all sorts of leisure spots. In the evenings, people would be out eating, singing, watching movies, or doing business.

Of course, Xiao Nan wasn't out for amusement.

He hadn't forgotten the threats—covert and overt—that Wu Tie and Black Serpent had made against him before he killed them at dusk.

Wu Tie had an older brother, Wu Gang, who seemed to be a figure of some standing with a few thugs at his command. He often led people outside the city to hunt beasts and owned a bar inside the city called "Night Bloom."

Just hearing the name, you could tell it wasn’t a respectable establishment.

In reality, warriors bold enough to keep henchmen and act brazenly would never run proper businesses.

Such lifestyles were common among warriors in this era. As long as they didn't cause major disturbances, the authorities generally turned a blind eye.

After all, warriors were a necessary product of the times, the backbone of the nation's strength. There were a few rotten apples, hard to control, but most contributed to the country’s defense.

No matter what kind of warrior, their powerful constitution and impulsive nature meant they were quick to resort to violence.

With their strength, why bother with words? Action came first.

When warriors broke the law, the authorities were often at a loss. Unless they dispatched experts, ordinary police were powerless.

With too few officers, the warriors weren't afraid of guns. With more, the culprits could simply slip away, and nothing could be done.

Once a confrontation started, casualties were inevitable.