Chapter 126: Sister Ling'er Is So Amazing

Without Chu Meier at the Prince Xian’s residence, Baili Xian no longer needed to come to Liu Ling’er and put on a show. Although Liu Ling’er felt a bit unaccustomed, she enjoyed far more freedom.

After dinner, Liu Ling’er went straight to find little Shuangshuang. They hadn’t seen each other for a while, and she had missed the little bundle who always clung to her side.

Upon seeing Liu Ling’er, little Shuangshuang grew even more excited, shouting, “Sister Ling’er, have you forgotten about me? I’ve been practicing diligently recently! I’ll show you what I’ve learned!”

With that, she carefully demonstrated the punches and kicks Liu Ling’er had taught her. It was clear she had put considerable effort into mastering the moves, as she executed each one steadily and precisely.

After finishing the routine, little Shuangshuang lifted her head to look at Liu Ling’er. Though her cheeks were flushed, her bright eyes betrayed her excitement and silently begged, “Please praise me!”

Understanding the nature of children, Liu Ling’er would not discourage her, especially since little Shuangshuang had indeed done well. She gave a thumbs-up and said, “Well done! Little Shuangshuang, would you like to come with me to meet someone? He’s about your age; maybe you two could become friends!”

At once, little Shuangshuang’s interest was piqued. “Really? Where is he? Where is that person?” Her eagerness was palpable, as if she wished to meet him immediately.

“Don’t rush. We’ll go see him right now. But be sure not to call out loudly—if you shout, he might not come to see you,” Liu Ling’er cautioned gently. Then, she picked up little Shuangshuang and, using her lightness skill, quickly left the prince’s residence.

There was still over half an hour before dusk. After exiting the estate, Liu Ling’er held little Shuangshuang’s hand as they walked along the road. Their destination was the bamboo grove where Chu Sheng lived. It stood to reason that Chu Sheng’s son, Chu Xiaosheng, should be somewhere within the grove.

Following Chu Sheng’s directions, they soon arrived at the edge of a bamboo forest. The sun was setting in the west, and the time was perfect for birds returning to their nests. Various birds flitted back to their roosts, creating a picturesque scene within the grove.

Such a beautiful sight naturally lifted one’s spirits. Not only was Liu Ling’er delighted, but little Shuangshuang also bounced about gleefully, her eyes darting everywhere as if she wished she had twice as many to take it all in.

But the pleasant moment was short-lived. Suddenly, Liu Ling’er heard footsteps approaching from behind. This place was so secluded that, had Chu Sheng not told her about it, she likely would never have come here. Now, at this hour, someone was arriving—not a good sign.

Liu Ling’er quickly concluded it was something bad. She grabbed little Shuangshuang and hid behind a large tree, whispering, “Someone’s coming. Little Shuangshuang, don’t speak.”

Little Shuangshuang’s big eyes rolled around, then she nodded obediently. Together, they watched as a masked young man approached, waving a fan. Little Shuangshuang’s heart raced with excitement: “Sister Ling’er is amazing! There really is someone coming!”

The man was masked even before nightfall, clearly no good in broad daylight. Heading straight for the bamboo house, it was obvious he meant harm to Chu Sheng’s son. Having promised Chu Sheng to protect his child, Liu Ling’er knew she had to stop this man at all costs.

She pulled out a handkerchief from her chest pocket and covered her face like the masked man. Then, she whispered to little Shuangshuang, “Stay right here and don’t move. Sister Ling’er will be back soon.”

Without hesitation, Liu Ling’er sprang forward to ambush the masked man. Though she bore an injury on her back and couldn’t fully tap into her inner strength, the suddenness of her attack caught the man off guard.

She struck out with a palm. The masked man, agile and quick, blocked it with his folding fan. Though the fan stopped the blow, Liu Ling’er’s move sent him flying backward. Not stopping there, she produced a flash of silver from her hand—a handful of silver needles shot toward him like a cage.

The man clearly hadn’t expected an opponent who, despite holding the upper hand, resorted to hidden weapons. It was hardly chivalrous, but at the critical moment, he still thought about martial codes of honor. That was a bit naïve—he didn’t understand how treacherous the jianghu truly was. After all, the man called Wuyou was usually sought out by people asking for help; he had no idea how dangerous the martial world really was.

Caught off guard by Liu Ling’er’s unorthodox tactics, he managed to dodge most of the needles, but a few, like bone-eating maggots, burrowed into parts of his body he couldn’t reach.

Realizing his life was in danger, Wuyou no longer dared to fight. He activated his lightness skill and fled without looking back.

Little Shuangshuang’s eyes sparkled with admiration. As expected, her Sister Ling’er was the strongest; she had driven the masked man away in just a few moves. One day, she vowed, she would be just as formidable.

Emerging from behind the trees, little Shuangshuang tugged at Liu Ling’er’s sleeve with a soft voice, “Sister Ling’er, why didn’t you chase after him?”

Liu Ling’er crouched down and patted her head gently. “Little Shuangshuang, there’s a saying: ‘Never pursue a desperate enemy.’ Often, they use your pride and competitiveness to lure you into a trap.”

Little Shuangshuang nodded and then shook her head, indicating she didn’t quite understand. Liu Ling’er chose not to explain further; the child was still young, and such lessons would come in time.

“It’s okay if you don’t understand now—you will one day. Come on, I’ll take you to meet your new friend.” Taking little Shuangshuang’s hand, Liu Ling’er led her deeper into the bamboo grove. She followed Chu Sheng’s directions carefully; otherwise, with her poor sense of direction, she would surely get lost in such a vast forest.

From afar, through the gaps in the bamboo stalks, Liu Ling’er spotted the bamboo hut and knew they had reached Chu Sheng’s home. Even from a distance, she could hear the rhythmic sound of something being struck repeatedly—as if someone was pounding on something inside.