Chapter Four: Turning Foes into Friends

A crowd had gathered at the doorway, people with nothing better to do—gossiping women, idling country men—forming a circle as if they were here for a show.

“Place your bets, place your bets! Who do you think will win today?”

Kai Ming’s head throbbed, swelling with exasperation. What on earth were these people doing? Had they all eaten their fill and now sought amusement in watching two women fight over a man? This was their entertainment!

She glanced around, following the commotion, and spotted a familiar face—a coarse, leering man with rough skin and thick flesh. “Hua Da!” The name sprang to mind unbidden.

Thunder cracked in her mind. Oh, Yasha, what poor taste you have! If you must pick, at least choose someone better than Xuan, someone refined and fair-skinned, not this ugly, rodent-like man! I can only feel contempt for you!

Hua Da’s eyes suddenly gleamed, fixed hungrily on her body. Kai Ming’s heart clenched with sudden realization. She sighed inwardly—this was a disaster! Last night, seeking relief from the heat, she’d only worn a thin long shirt after bathing. This morning, without thinking, she’d been dragged out by Chunhua, still dressed in that shirt and shorts. The loose collar sagged, her legs were bare from the knees down—one careless move and she’d be thoroughly exposed. If a scuffle broke out, she’d be at a clear disadvantage.

While she silently lamented, Chunhua stood with hands on her hips and declared in a booming voice, “Kai Ming, these petty scuffles are getting us nowhere. Let’s gamble for real this time—whoever loses must give up Xuan for good. What do you say?”

Kai Ming drew in a sharp breath. So the feud between Chunhua and Yasha over Xuan was serious. She herself had no real attachment to Xuan, but fighting now, in her state, was hardly to her advantage.

“Chunhua, I never fight unprepared. How about we set another date? I’ll face you then, no matter what!” she said, trying to retreat indoors.

But Chunhua was enjoying her moment in the spotlight and refused to let her go. She grabbed Kai Ming by the collar and dragged her back. “Since when did you get so wishy-washy? I like things straightforward!”

With that tug, Kai Ming’s collar slipped open even more. She hastily clutched her chest, furious, and kicked out at Chunhua.

Chunhua nimbly dodged aside, eyes flashing. “So you accept the challenge?” she shouted.

Kai Ming realized there was no escaping this fight. Gritting her teeth, she tied her sash in a tight knot and, relying on her hazy memories, took up a defensive stance.

How skilled was this Yasha? Judging by her build, she seemed to be trained. Could she knock Chunhua down with a single punch? As she pondered, Chunhua lunged at her with a roar.

The attack stunned Kai Ming. Chunhua fought with brute force and the wild methods of a village brawler—hair-pulling, clothes-tearing, biting, and using her massive body to pin Kai Ming down, rolling her across the ground.

Damn it! Under the weight of Chunhua’s body, Kai Ming gritted her teeth. This was nothing but a fight between two unruly country women! Her scalp ached from Chunhua’s grip, but she clung to Chunhua as well, clawing and scratching in return.

The crowd, unsatisfied, only egged them on with more enthusiasm.

“Chunhua! Chunhua!”

“Kai Ming! Kai Ming!”

The fight was fierce, moving from the doorstep to the lane, then from the lane to the crossroads. Under the scorching sun, two strong women, sweaty and disheveled, rolled and shouted, making a terrible scene.

Chunhua’s makeup was smeared, her carefully arranged hair now a bird’s nest, crimson scratches marking her arms, one shoe missing. Kai Ming fared no better—her hair was torn out in clumps, her collar ripped open to reveal a shoulder, her bare legs mottled with bruises.

In the midst of the chaos, a man’s voice approached, growing louder, “Stop! Stop fighting!”

Kai Ming looked up from beneath Chunhua and saw a man hurrying toward them upside down. She twisted free, pinning Chunhua beneath her, and saw the man clearly—it was Xuan, just returning home.

Xuan ran over, face pale with alarm. “Enough! Both of you, stop!”

Two small children followed at his heels, clearly sent to fetch him by the onlookers. But the two women refused to admit defeat and continued wrestling on the ground. Xuan hovered nearby, unable to intervene, while the crowd found it even more amusing, their shouts growing louder.

Just then, a sedan chair happened to pass by the intersection. The figure inside seemed almost weightless as the chair floated to a halt. Whenever the chair shifted left, the women rolled left; when it moved right, they followed.

After a few minutes of patience, a young man attending the chair could no longer hold back. He stepped forward and shouted, “Get out of the way! Move aside!”

But the fighters were too absorbed to hear him.

His face darkened. He strode forward, grabbed Chunhua—who was now pinning Kai Ming—and tossed her aside as easily as a chick, flinging her several meters.

The sudden turn left Kai Ming momentarily stunned. She saw the man’s hand reaching for her collar and was horrified. After that fight with Chunhua, her clothes were already in tatters—if he grabbed her now, she’d be completely exposed! She quickly grabbed his arm with both hands, using his momentum to swing herself forward. The man froze, surprised by her move. Taking advantage of his hesitation, Kai Ming mustered all her strength and shoved him backward. Unprepared, he fell heavily on his backside.

The crowd erupted with laughter. The young man’s face flushed with embarrassment as he jumped to his feet, ready to charge at her again.

Just then, a gentle voice called from within the sedan, making him bow hastily at the curtain.

“Don’t interfere,” the voice said softly.

He responded at once, glaring fiercely at Kai Ming before ordering the chairmen to proceed.

Chunhua, still loud and undeterred, shouted, “So that’s it? You pushed me—how are you going to make it up to me…” Her words faltered as the young man shot her a menacing glare.

The interruption had completely sapped their will to fight. Kai Ming eyed the young man, noting his narrow, phoenix-like eyes and sharp chin—he looked ruthless and severe.

As she stared, the sedan glided past, steady and light. From within, a piercing gaze fell upon her, meeting her own through the curtain. She could not discern its intent, yet the coldness sent a shiver down her spine, as if she’d been stripped bare.

In the days that followed, Kai Ming stayed obediently indoors, nursing her wounds while Xuan fussed over her.

When the scabs finally fell away, she could no longer bear her confinement. Seizing the moment while Xuan was out selling goods, she slipped outside.

The weather remained oppressively hot. Today, she wore a sleeveless top and shorts, cut from Yasha’s old clothes. Her hair was tied in a ponytail that reached her waist, and she wore straw sandals, giving her a look somewhat reminiscent of a Japanese ninja.

She was quite pleased with her outfit—yet why did everyone on the street seem to be staring at her? Was it because she’d become famous after that fight? Or was Yasha already well-known in the area?

She ignored the curious stares and wandered through the busiest parts of town. Despite its poverty, the place had everything one could imagine—gambling dens, moneylenders, taverns—all with colorful signs fluttering in the breeze, lending the town a unique charm.

As she walked, head tilted up to take it all in, her vision was suddenly blocked—not by a cloud, but by three. Blinking, she realized it was Chunhua, arms crossed, flanked by two equally imposing women. So that’s what they meant by “birds of a feather flock together.”

“Come to settle old scores?” Chunhua’s voice was cold, her eyes never leaving Kai Ming as she looked her up and down.

Sizing up her odds, Kai Ming felt almost petite before these three towers. Outweighed and outnumbered, she had little chance.

She forced a sycophantic smile and said sweetly, “Sister Chunhua, as the saying goes, it’s better to resolve enmity than to deepen it. I’m here to make peace today.”

“Make peace?” Chunhua exchanged glances with her companions, clearly surprised.

“So you mean to give Xuan up to me?” Chunhua’s eyes shone, misunderstanding her intention.

“Well, that’s a matter for another time. What’s important right now is…” Kai Ming hesitated. She wasn’t about to hand over Xuan—why give away a bargaining chip for nothing? Her eyes darted to a small tavern nearby, a humble two-story wooden building with a few scattered tables and chairs.

“It’s better to talk things over with a drink. Let’s go have a cup of wine and chat,” she said, clapping Chunhua’s arm in a show of camaraderie.

Chunhua looked at her in surprise, as if about to say something but then holding back.

Her companions followed Chunhua’s lead, and together they entered the little tavern.

As the wine flowed, the women’s voices grew louder, nearly shaking the roof. Chunhua’s face flushed deep red; in her excitement, she slapped the corner of the table with such force it nearly collapsed, sending the serving boy stumbling as if the blow had struck him instead.

“You’re a true heroine, broad-minded and forgiving! I consider you a friend!” Chunhua roared, raising her cup for a toast.

Kai Ming, amused by the serving boy’s reaction and Chunhua’s ludicrous words, couldn’t help but laugh. She lifted her cup in return. “Sister Chunhua, I’ll be counting on you from now on!”

“No problem, no problem,” Chunhua slurred, tongue thick, “That Xuan…”

“Sister Chunhua!” Kai Ming quickly cut her off, grasping her hand tenderly and batting her eyes, “Let’s not talk about such spoil-sport matters at a time like this.”

Before Chunhua could react, Kai Ming pressed another cup to her lips. “Sister Chunhua, let’s drink and let bygones be bygones!” She downed her cup, leaving Chunhua no choice but to follow suit.

“What a drinker!” Kai Ming marveled at her own body’s capacity—several large jars in, the three women were swaying, yet Yasha herself remained upright. Remarkable.

One of Chunhua’s companions squinted at her outfit. “What’s that you’re wearing?”

“What do you mean?”

“That outfit—bare arms, shorts so short your thighs are out for all to see. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

So that explains the looks, Kai Ming thought, keeping her smile. “This is the latest fashion—only we forward-thinking types can appreciate it. The ordinary people around here just don’t understand. Don’t you agree, sister?”

“Haha!” the second companion chimed in. “Well said! We appreciate people who stand out! Isn’t that folk hero, Da Yin, just such a person?”

“Da Yin?” Kai Ming searched her memory but found no information.

“How would she know!” Chunhua bellowed. “She’s not planning on joining the army—she spends her days charming the men. But Da Yin is someone I admire deeply!”

“Who?” Kai Ming’s curiosity was piqued. She poured Chunhua another cup, urging her on.

Chunhua’s face took on a look of longing. “A general of the Purple Palace—accomplished in both letters and arms, with beauty and talent to match!”