Chivalrous Loyalty

“What do you mean by that? Are you trying to say we set the fire ourselves?” the thinner man snapped, slamming the table and glaring at Chen Yage.

“Whoever did it knows full well what they did, don’t they?”

“You wretched woman, you’re looking for a beating!” the burly man growled, swinging a fist at Chen Yage. She sat quietly, considering whether to greet him with a shadowless kick or a few resounding slaps. She’d intended to wait until the fist drew a little closer before making her move—but before it could reach her, another hand seized the burly man’s, twisting it painfully so that he began to cry out for mercy.

Startled, Chen Yage looked up sharply to see a man dressed in blue standing behind her. He was tall and slender, his features fine as carved jade, his gentle face exuding a subtle but unmistakable masculinity.

Suddenly, he spun through the air and landed gracefully on the bench to Chen Yage’s left. In his right hand, he held a sword, the blade pressed lightly against the burly man’s throat—just a little more pressure and blood would bead along the edge.

“So many of you bullying a single young lady—do you call that manly? If you’ve got any guts, come outside and face me one-on-one!” The man was You Huan, a wandering hero who had roamed the city of Xiangyang for years. He wasn’t a native but had arrived five years prior and never left since. No one knew why he’d settled here, but his reputation was well established. He had no fixed abode but possessed a chivalrous heart, always ready to stand up for the weak. Those who knew him respected him deeply, especially those he’d helped in the past, who would sometimes offer him food and necessities. Though his life was modest, he’d never gone hungry.

With the sword at his throat, the burly man was cowed, his bravado vanishing. He dared not challenge You Huan, and stammered, “Hero, please let me go. I won’t dare do this again!”

You Huan gave a cold laugh. “That’s not up to me. Whether you’re forgiven is for the young lady here to decide.”

Chen Yage hadn’t expected You Huan to leave the matter in her hands. She was startled, but quickly regained her composure, scratching her head and clearing her throat. “Letting you off today isn’t impossible. But if you try any more tricks or try to skip out on your bill again, you’ll face my fists first!”

“Yes, yes, we won’t dare again…” The four men chorused hurriedly.

Chen Yage waved them off, and they scrambled out as if granted amnesty. But before they reached the door, You Huan stopped them with a firm, measured voice, “Wait!”

The burly man shuffled back, bowing his head, a sycophantic smile on his face. “Is there anything else, hero?” He tried to seem calm, but his hands trembled, and behind him, his companions braced themselves for a possible fight.

“You’ve eaten your fill, wiped your mouths, and now you just want to leave?” You Huan asked.

The burly man caught on immediately. “Of course not, of course not—we’ll pay!” He hurriedly pulled out a silver ingot and handed it to the waiter. “Is this enough?”

The waiter, hands shaking, glanced at You Huan. Receiving his silent assurance, he stood a little taller. “It’s enough, it’s enough!”

After the four men had left, Chen Yage turned to You Huan with genuine gratitude. “Thank you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how to deal with that troublesome lot.”

You Huan smiled. “Whenever I come across such types, I take care of them—one or two, it’s all the same. Thanks to you, today I managed to take down not just one pair but two. Quite the haul!”

His words made Chen Yage laugh out loud. When he finished, she tried to stop herself, but You Huan asked carelessly, “Was that so funny?”

She shook her head, then poured him a cup of wine and offered it with both hands. “This cup is for you, as thanks for your help. If you drink it, it means you’ve accepted my gratitude…”

“And if I don’t drink it?” You Huan interrupted.

Chen Yage was taken aback; she hadn’t expected that reply—nor that he would snatch the cup from her hand and down it in one swift motion.

“My name is Chen Yage, but you can call me Yage,” she said, clasping her hands in a bold, heroic salute. “How should I address you?”

“You Huan—‘You’ as in roaming, ‘Huan’ as in joy.”

“So, a wanderer who takes joy wherever he finds it?”

“Something like that. The world is vast; where is home? I roam the wilds like a crane on the wind.”

“But even a wandering crane knows how to amuse himself, doesn’t he?”

You Huan said nothing, only smiled quietly, and took a silver ingot from his pouch, tossing it to the waiter. “Her bill is on me.”

The waiter, smiling, returned the silver. “Hero, our boss says the lady’s wine is on the house, to thank you both for helping us out.”

Hearing that her meal was free, Chen Yage’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Then could I have another chicken and a duck, please?”

The waiter gaped at her, speechless, until the owner came over to smooth things over. “Of course, of course! It’s the least we can do. Well, what are you waiting for?” he urged the waiter.

With the boss’s order, the waiter hurried into the kitchen, delighted.

Not having to pay from her own pocket, Chen Yage ate and drank heartily. You Huan sat silently by, simply watching as she tore into chicken and duck legs, chewing meat and gulping wine. Ordinary women might have considered such behavior unseemly or unladylike.

But this time, You Huan felt he’d found a kindred spirit. He took a real liking to Chen Yage; both of them were straightforward souls who spoke plainly and directly.

When she’d eaten her fill, Chen Yage wiped her mouth and clasped her hands in farewell. “I have something to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”

“Where are you going? Would you like me to escort you?” You Huan offered.

Chen Yage smiled and declined his kindness. After all, they had only just met—she couldn’t keep troubling him. Besides, her current adversaries were no mere ruffians but the city’s most powerful men: Xu Yushi, the lord of Xiangyang, and Wang Fugui, its wealthiest merchant. Who knew what dangers lay ahead?

“I’m going to the Xu residence to see Miss Xu. We’re good friends.”

You Huan’s brows arched, his eyes shining with interest. “Is that so? I’m headed there as well, to see Young Master Xu. Why not go together?”

“Of course!” Given the circumstances, Chen Yage had no choice but to agree. There was only one young master in the Xu family, Luo Jin. Could You Huan be seeking him out to settle a score? The thought made Chen Yage’s heart leap with anticipation. She cheered inwardly, “At last, he’ll get what he deserves! Justice prevails in the end. Huan, you’re truly gallant, righteous, and admirable! I’m in awe of you!”