Returning to the Jinxiu Pavilion after her trip by the city river, Leng Ruo Li remained busy until the shop closed. Only then did she plan to head back to her residence.
The wedding date with Jun Mohan was drawing nearer, yet she still wasn't ready to be a bride.
While she couldn't say she liked Jun Mohan, she didn't dislike him either. However, she hadn't yet found a way to concoct an antidote for the wolf toxin within him.
During this period, her research into Jun Mohan's blood had revealed a grave issue: if the wolf toxin were to erupt again, he would only have two years left to live.
Sighing, the thought of it gave her a headache. She wondered if the esteemed physician by Jun Mohan's side, Physician Chu, was aware of Jun Mohan's current condition.
If she, Leng Ruo Li, were to marry Jun Mohan now, the probability of becoming a widow was exceedingly high. Should she marry him?
But her so-called father seemed increasingly pleased with Jun Mohan as a son-in-law.
Today, her two young maids had been kept by her father to help with something. She had no idea what these people were concealing from her, but she guessed they must be busy with her wedding preparations.
Leng Ruo Li walked on, her mind preoccupied with various thoughts.
A gust of cold wind blew, dislodging her shoulder wrap. She paused, pulling her snow mink shawl tighter around her shoulders.
Just then, several sneaky men suddenly rushed from behind Leng Ruo Li, surrounding her and gazing at her with lecherous grins.
"Haha..."
"Beauty, come along with us."
"We'll take you somewhere fun."
"Haha..."
"Oh, you've been following me for days, and only now dare to show yourselves!"
"Tsk, you woman have quite the nerve, not showing any fear of us."
Leng Ruo Li raised an eyebrow at their words.
"Why should I be afraid of you? You're just a bunch of ruffians. If I don't like you, I'll just eliminate you."
Leng Ruo Li said slowly.
"What big talk from you. Tonight, we brothers will capture you and have our way with you for days."
The leader, a tall and burly man with a blind eye and a large, ugly scar across his face, said menacingly, raising his right fist in a provocative gesture towards Leng Ruo Li.
"Heh!"
Leng Ruo Li let out a cold laugh, looking at them.
"We'll see if you have the ability to capture me."
With that, she drew a sharp scalpel from her "sleeve," ready to face the challenge.
Leng Ruo Li had initially intended to scatter a handful of poison powder or hurl some poison needles, ending the lives of these ruffians instantly.
But as she spoke with them, her peripheral vision caught a stout, dark figure at the alley entrance behind her. Her mind immediately recognized who it was.
Since these individuals were not the masterminds, she decided to play along with them.
Then, the group of ruffians surrounding her lunged towards her.
Leng Ruo Li leaped into the air, kicking each of them in the head. They all collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
"Oh, is this all you've got?"
Leng Ruo Li taunted, looking at those lying on the ground.
"You wicked woman, daring to kick my head! I'll make sure to kill you tonight."
The leader, once he recovered, said through gritted teeth to Leng Ruo Li. He then roared at the groaning group on the ground, "Those who are still alive, get up!"
A few more men struggled to their feet. This time, they all produced daggers concealed in their sleeves and charged at Leng Ruo Li.
Leng Ruo Li was unfazed. She sprinkled a generous amount of itching powder into their faces. Instantly, the men began scratching themselves uncontrollably, a torment far worse than being kicked.
The remaining few who hadn't been hit by the itching powder became instantly terrified. They scrambled to their feet and fled, followed closely by those suffering from the itching powder.
Those hidden in the alley entrance were furious.
"Such useless trash, to waste a hundred taels of silver on them!" Lin Hongtao berated.
"My Lord, please don't be angry. Aren't there still a few subordinates like me? I will immediately go out and vent your anger."
A scrawny, monkey-like man said confidently.
"Good, go out immediately and vent my anger for me."
Lin Hongtao was quite pleased with the scrawny man's attitude.
"You, you, all of you, come out with me."
The scrawny man pointed to the two men standing behind him.
Instantly, the two men felt disdain. They had thought this scrawny man was quite capable, only to find he needed their help.
Heh!
However, they were also helpless and had no choice but to obey this scrawny man.
What could they do when they were so bad at flattery!
The two men, their swords held loosely in their hands, slowly followed the scrawny man out.
"Heh... I didn't expect you, you stinky bitch, to be quite capable, scaring off a whole group in such a short time." The scrawny man said dismissively to Leng Ruo Li.
Leng Ruo Li smiled upon hearing this. The curve of her lips was filled with disdain, and her gaze was like a sharp blade fixed on the scrawny man.
"Oh, the turtles hiding in the alley are finally coming out."
Leng Ruo Li's tone was anything but friendly.
The scrawny man was almost enraged to the point of exploding.
"Stinky bitch, how dare you call me a turtle! I must teach you a good lesson."
"You two, go!"
The scrawny man roared. The two men behind him reluctantly moved to surround Leng Ruo Li.
Leng Ruo Li's apricot eyes swept over the two men. They appeared to be around twenty years old, with good features and tall physiques, dressed in black martial arts attire, holding swords. Their martial arts skills were likely considerable.
"Miss, please forgive our offense."
The two men cupped their fists and bowed to Leng Ruo Li.
They were both originally from the jianghu. If not for repaying Lin Hongtao's life-saving grace, the two of them would truly never have participated in a group bullying a single woman.
Little did they know that this polite remark would ultimately save their lives.
After hearing their words, Leng Ruo Li felt that these two men were not entirely bad and might be amenable to reason.
"Since you two know that doing this will offend me, why do you still offend me?" Leng Ruo Li replied.
"The young lord has a life-saving grace upon us." The two said, holding their foreheads with their hands, appearing helpless.
"But you can't assist evil!"
"We are also very helpless!"
"Then let's fight."
Leng Ruo Li glared at the two men, gripping her scalpel and preparing to engage.
"Miss, we will try our best to go easy on you. If you can't beat us, just run."
One of the men said, teasingly.
"No need, just make your move."
Upon hearing this, the two men thought to themselves: Why is this woman so stubborn?
However, after exchanging a few blows with Leng Ruo Li, they regretted their decision.
This woman was simply abnormal. Without internal energy, she could fight so well.