Who in the world does not know you?

Chapter 56 Why I Forgive You

Xichuan Mansion.

In the afternoon, the bustling city was teeming with people, horses, and vehicles, a lively atmosphere perfectly matching the season of spring warmth and blooming flowers.

Along South Fifth Street, a graceful figure in red, carrying a vegetable basket, walked slowly with upright posture and light steps.

Wherever he went, people showed him respect and smiles. Those who knew him greeted him softly, their whispers revealing their politeness.

Her name was Leng Honglou, and she was the wife of Li Zigui, the well-known physician of Heguilou in Xichuan Prefecture.

Although she was middle-aged, her fair and beautiful face seemed to bear no trace of time. Her eyes and demeanor exuded a cool elegance that made it difficult for others to approach her. The soft sword wrapped around her slender waist, which could be grasped with one hand, was a symbol of her status, along with her red dress.

She walked along the street and then stopped in front of the Golden Tooth Tea House.

She used to come here often to rest, drink tea, and eat some snacks; it was a good place to pass the time.

As soon as she entered, the waiter in the teahouse was too afraid to make a sound. He simply bowed and stretched out his arms to greet her. Only after watching her walk up the stairs did he dare to straighten up and then quickly ran to find the manager to report the news.

As she stepped onto the stairs, she suddenly stopped.

She glanced sideways at the round platform in the center of the first floor, where an old man was telling stories at a square table in the middle. On the square table were only a simple folding fan, a cup of tea, and a conspicuous object.

"This Li Zigui is truly a martial arts prodigy, one in a hundred years in the martial world. Facing the Qinglin Army's barrage of arrows, he remained calm and composed, merely smiling slightly. The thousands of arrows that came hurtling towards him stopped in his tracks, unable to advance even an inch further. Just imagine how powerful his inner strength must be! Apart from him, who else in the martial world could face a barrage of arrows without dodging, avoiding, or resisting?"

Leng Honglou slightly raised the corners of her lips and took another step upwards.

There is a table always reserved in the center of the east side of the second floor of the Golden Tooth Tea House, and she always sits there whenever she comes.

If she is not present, no famous official or nobleman would dare to use this position without permission.

As soon as she sat down, a waiter brought her a cup of hot tea, along with several plates of snacks, fruit, and dried fruit.

The owner of the Golden Tooth Teahouse also stepped forward with a smile and stood to the side, but did not say anything. After the owner nodded slightly in response, the owner stepped back and stood by the wall, but did not leave.

No one in the entire Xichuan Prefecture was more distinguished than this Madam Li, and no one dared to neglect her in the slightest, no matter where she went.

Leng Honglou picked up her teacup and took a small sip. Her beautiful eyes blinked gently as her gaze settled on the storyteller in the center below.

Listening to her eloquent narration of the former master swordsman, she nodded with slight satisfaction, then took out a silver ingot from the money pouch at her waist and placed it on the table.

Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper immediately stepped forward, but did not dare to directly reach out and take the silver. Instead, he cautiously asked in a low voice.

"Madam Li, what is this...?"

"I've never met that old gentleman before. He told stories very well. This is a tip for him. If it's convenient for you, Manager Jin, please invite him to tell stories here more often in the future."

"Of course, of course... Since you've asked, Madam Li, I'll arrange accommodations for him immediately and treat him well. Rest assured, I guarantee that whenever you come here, you'll hear him telling stories..."

Thank you for your trouble.

"No, no..."

As the two were talking, a little girl wearing a light pink dress and with pigtails ran upstairs with a half-eaten candied hawthorn stick in her hand, grinning.

She was the daughter of Manager Jin, and looked to be about eight or nine years old, with a smile that revealed the unique innocence of a child.

"Madam Li, when is my sister coming back? I haven't seen her for quite some time!"

With a smile on his face, Leng Honglou gently stroked the girl's hair, his tone becoming much softer.

"I haven't seen her for a while either, I guess she'll be back soon."

"Yay! I love playing with my sister the most!"

The warm and lively atmosphere in the Golden Tooth Teahouse did not last.

Just then, a sudden sarcastic remark abruptly interrupted the storyteller's eloquent narration.

"What 'number one in the world'? Now he's just a useless piece of trash who's lost all his martial arts skills! Every storyteller in Xichuan Prefecture talks about Li Zigui's glorious deeds back then, but has anyone actually seen him fight anyone?!"

A middle-aged man, his shirt open to reveal his chest, holding a stick on his shoulder in one hand and a wine jar in the other, reeking of alcohol, staggered into the Golden Tooth Teahouse.

The Golden Tooth Teahouse fell into complete silence, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The regulars at the Golden Tooth Tea House all looked up at the elegant figure sitting on the second floor.

Leng Honglou, who was sitting on the second floor, reached into her bosom, took out a red silk handkerchief, spread her hands to cover the child's eyes, and tied it behind the child's head.

She stood up from her seat, looked up at the man who had been speaking recklessly since entering the room, her eyes growing colder.

Her fair hand rested on the hilt of the soft sword at her waist. With a swift movement, everyone saw a beautiful figure in red quickly pass by from the second floor.

When she stood in front of the rude man, the sharp, gleaming soft sword in her hand was already pressed against his neck.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Feeling the chilling killing intent emanating from the cold blade at his neck, he immediately recognized the stunningly beautiful figure before him, and his entire body seemed to sober up instantly.

"I was drunk and spoke carelessly; I hope Madam Li will forgive me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Leng Honglou's soft sword had already slit his throat.

A single, swift, and decisive strike to the throat.

As the sound of the wine jar shattering echoed, the man's body collapsed to the ground, his face still showing a look of terror, and he soon lost consciousness.

Looking at the corpse on the ground, Leng Honglou remained expressionless. After wiping the blood off the man's clothes with the soft sword in her hand, she put it back at her waist.

Why should I forgive you?

A cold voice came from Leng Honglou's mouth. Someone in the Golden Tooth Teahouse couldn't help but gasp in surprise at the sudden scene, but immediately covered their mouth with their hand.

As luck would have it, two armed constables were passing by the entrance of the Golden Tooth Teahouse.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the corpse lying on the ground. Startled, he quickly walked into the Golden Tooth Teahouse and reached for the hilt of his knife at his waist.

"In full view of everyone, how dare you..."

Before he could finish speaking, his companion covered his mouth with one hand from behind and held down his hand as he was about to draw his sword.

As he turned his head in confusion, the hand that had released his mouth slapped him across the cheek.

"You blind bastard from out of town! Can't you see that Madam Li is ridding the people of a scourge? Isn't this the fugitive the government offered a bounty on a few days ago?!"