Chapter 7: Injustice

“What are you doing?” “Those who came later, stand at the back.” The people pushed aside by Xu Xian immediately voiced their dissatisfaction.



Xu Xian, relying on his youth and strength, ignored these complaints and just pushed forward. Only when he felt the space open up in front of him did he reach the center of the crowd. There, he saw an old man who sold fish, begging a man in his thirties, this man was none other than the infamous local thug of Qiantang County, Li Si.



Xu Xian had already understood the situation from the crowd’s murmurs. The old fish seller’s fish had jumped out of the bucket, splashing mud all over Li Si.



For most people, such a thing would just be considered bad luck, and at worst, the victim would curse a few times. But encountering a scoundrel like Li Si, who made trouble out of nothing, was like the sky falling. He claimed his clothes were extremely valuable and demanded the old man pay him two taels of silver.



The old man couldn’t earn two taels of silver in a whole day of selling fish, how could he possibly pay? He could only kneel on the ground and beg. Li Si, used to bullying the locals, finally had a chance to extort someone with a “good reason,” and of course wouldn’t let it go.



He even made a show of bowing to the crowd, saying, “Everyone saw it, right? It’s not me, Li Mingde, making trouble. This old man’s fish got me all stinky. Don’t look down on these clothes, they’re made of the finest material, custom-made by a master in the capital. I’m only asking for two taels, I’m actually losing money.”



Everyone knew what kind of person he was, no one believed him, but they all feared him like a wolf or tiger and dared not argue. Some clueless tourists wanted to speak up, but when he glared at them with his triangular eyes, they shrank back. All anyone did was whisper.



“Li Si, those clothes are from the fabric you swindled from Old Wang’s tailor shop last year, and you still haven’t paid. How can you say they’re from a master in the capital?” A voice suddenly cut through the crowd’s murmurs. The whole place fell silent, and the onlookers became even more interested, as if this was more exciting than the tidal bore.



Li Si glanced over, after so many years in the county, who didn’t know each other? “So it’s the Xu family’s fool. Hurry back home and drink your milk! Don’t get in your grandpa’s way, scram, scram, scram, scram, scram.”



The vicious glint in his eyes bore down, but when it met Xu Xian’s clear, bright gaze, it had no effect at all.



Xu Xian just wanted to resolve the matter quickly and ignored the foul language. “If your clothes are dirty, someone can wash them for you. Even if you made a new set, it wouldn’t cost half a tael, let alone for old clothes. People should be reasonable.”



“You little bastard, you dare lecture me about being reasonable? Don’t think that just because you have a constable for a brother-in-law, I won’t touch you. Call me ‘Fourth Master’ and get lost, or I’ll cripple your leg and see how you take the imperial exams.” As Li Si spoke, he pulled a horn-handled knife from his waist, its blade gleaming coldly.



“Ah!” The crowd gasped, immediately scattering in a wide circle. Those who knew them tried to intervene.



Both were well-known in Qiantang County, one for good, one for evil. They’d never clashed before: Xu Xian’s family had been too poor to be worth extorting, and later, with a constable brother-in-law and having passed the xiucai exam, Li Si didn’t want to provoke him. Xu Xian wasn’t some righteous hero either, he just wanted a peaceful life, not to go around righting wrongs.



But when faced with it, he couldn’t ignore it. If he did, it would become a knot in his heart. For now, he forgot about gain and loss, acting only on the indignation in his chest.



Xu Xian didn’t retreat but stepped forward, raising his voice: “If I don’t stand up to you, what’s the point of studying? You’re the one who should get lost.”



At that moment, dark clouds pressed down, and a heavy rain was imminent. Xu Xian’s eyes blazed as he spoke, his whole being radiating a righteous, sun-like aura. That look made Li Si unable to meet his gaze, and he involuntarily took a step back.



Xu Xian didn’t know any techniques, but in that instant, his temperament aligned with the Dao, producing a tremendous majesty, though it couldn’t last. Li Si snapped out of it, instantly furious. The most shameless people are often the most concerned with saving face; taking a step back felt like a great humiliation.



He immediately raised the horn knife, stepped forward, and tried to cripple Xu Xian, consequences be damned.



At that moment, something no one expected happened. Xu Xian suddenly shouted, “Fourth Master, spare me!”



Li Si was delighted. He thought of many things: that a fool was still a fool, that he would never let Xu Xian off, that he would teach him a harsh lesson and use this to establish his authority…



But his thoughts went no further, because a fist smashed into his nose, followed by a second and third punch, all aimed at Li Si’s face. At some point, the horn knife had already been snatched away.



The crowd was shocked, and even the old man on the ground stared in disbelief as the gentle-looking scholar who stood up for him suddenly attacked, his face twisted in fury as he pummeled Li Si. Li Si, caught off guard, tried to resist, but under Xu Xian’s youthful fists, he soon began to wail.



Xu Xian understood that no scoundrel is ever reformed by kindness. In this world, justice doesn’t always win, only the smarter and stronger prevail. Though he’d never learned to fight, Xu Xian had seen plenty in his previous life. He knew that facing an adult with a weapon was dangerous in a fair fight, so he bluffed, and it worked.



True good people never lack strength or courage. Jumping into an icy lake in winter, facing a knife-wielding thug barehanded, each takes immense bravery. Most so-called good people are just powerless or afraid to do evil.



Li Si’s wails turned to pleas for mercy, but Xu Xian ignored him. He knew that petty villains are like evil spirits, if you don’t beat them into submission, they’ll be endless trouble.



Li Si was soon reduced to groaning, lying on the ground like a pile of mud. Xu Xian gave him two more kicks and asked, “Do you yield or not?”



Li Si just groaned, saying nothing. Xu Xian walked over, picked up the horn knife from the ground, and Li Si immediately howled, “I yield, I yield.” He was truly afraid the youth would kill him.



With a “pa!” Xu Xian tossed the horn knife in front of Li Si. “I know you don’t yield. If you don’t, pick up the knife and let’s try again.”



A glint flashed in Li Si’s eyes, he thought, “He’s still inexperienced. If I pick up the knife, I’ll kill him.” But his fingers twitched and he didn’t dare move.



Xu Xian’s eyes were fixed on Li Si’s hand. If he dared reach for the knife, Xu Xian would stomp his hand and beat him again.



In the end, Li Si didn’t move. Xu Xian kicked the knife away, helped the old man up, and said, “Old man, if he bothers you again, just tell me. My brother-in-law is a constable. But it’s best not to sell fish in Qiantang anymore, pack up and leave quickly!”



The old man thanked him and hurriedly packed up and left. The crowd erupted in cheers. Xu Xian felt his breath clear and was quite pleased. But looking at his new clothes, now torn and muddy, he could only shake his head and smile wryly. Amid the applause, Xu Xian straightened his clothes and strode toward Wangjiang Tower.



Someone was already waiting downstairs to receive him, but seeing Xu Xian’s ragged appearance, their expression was odd. At this point, Xu Xian was no longer anxious. Doing good doesn’t always bring reward, often it comes with a price. But there are things in this world that must be done, or you’re not yourself. Since he’d done it, whatever the result, he had no regrets.



Upstairs, everyone’s eyes turned to Xu Xian. He was calm and unafraid, bowing slightly: “Student Xu Xian greets the honored officials.”



Wang Xuezheng’s face was unreadable, his tone flat: “Rise and speak.”



But before anyone else could say a word, Mr. Song rushed over, grabbed Xu Xian’s ear, and scolded, “You little bastard, kneel!”



Ever since the commotion with Li Si, everyone had moved to another window, watching from afar as two people fought in the center of a crowd. A quick-witted attendant had already gone to find out what was happening, and learned that the Xu Xian they were waiting for was fighting. Now, not only was Xu Xian’s teacher upset, but even the county officials were displeased.



Mr. Song cursed Xu Xian thoroughly, then suddenly knelt and said, “It’s my own incompetence and failure as a teacher that produced such a scoundrel. Please, Lord Xuezheng, don’t hold it against him. I’ll be sure to discipline him when we return.” At this moment, he cared nothing for gaining favor through Xu Xian, he just didn’t want to ruin the boy’s future.



Xu Xian was moved, knowing that the usually sour old scholar was now disregarding all dignity and decorum for his sake. But at the same time, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth, was this the price of being a good person? Even if you’re prepared for everything, there are still some costs that are hard to bear.



Xu Xian gritted his teeth, pulled the old man up, and said with his head held high, “This has nothing to do with my teacher. I insisted on coming to see the world, and didn’t expect to run into this. Please, punish me, sir.”