At the words, everyone quickly stepped aside. None of them dared to offend this brute, for he would surely find ways to make their lives miserable. As soon as the onlookers dispersed, the burly man transformed into a beast, tearing at the weak woman's clothes.
The woman pushed and cursed, but it was all in vain. She bit down hard on the man's shoulder, and in response, he picked up a nearby rock and smashed it onto her head. Blood immediately gushed out.
The man snorted coldly. "I told you to listen to me. Otherwise, you'll get no good."
The woman could only cry out hoarsely. "Help... Is there anyone who can save me?"
Just then, Jiaoyue descended like a celestial being. She snapped the man's hand tendons with a single move. The man collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain. "Who is it? How dare you touch me? I'll have my brothers beat you to death!"
When he opened his eyes, he saw Jiaoyue's face. Jiaoyue sneered. "It's me. So what? Do you really want your brothers to fight our Huafu guards? We in Huafu can hire as many people as we want. Even if you manage to recruit some, you won't be able to get enough."
The man gritted his teeth in anger, but the excruciating pain all over his body told him there was nothing he could do.
He could only plead weakly. "Heroine, I was wrong. I shouldn't have done such despicable things. Please spare me. Besides, this woman has no parents, no one to rely on. You don't have to help her. Help me..."
Before he could finish his words, Jiaoyue snapped his foot tendons too. Now, he could only crawl on the ground.
Jiaoyue glared at him with disgust, as if looking at a dog. "Just because she has no parents and no one to rely on, you think you can bully her like this? Is this your excuse for doing such evil? Today, I've snapped your hand and foot tendons. Let's see how you can do evil again!"
Shen Li watched all this quietly. She didn't interfere with what Jiaoyue was doing, but just frowned slightly. "Don't leave any evidence. We don't want the government to know it was us."
Then she gave a pill to the fallen woman. Soon, the woman regained consciousness. She hugged Shen Li tightly. "Thank you, miss! Thank you for saving my life!"
Shen Li gently patted her on the back. "It's okay. It's all over now. The bad guy has been driven away."
The woman suddenly knelt down, ignoring the blood still flowing from her head. "I, Xiaomahua, swear here that from now on, I'll be a slave to repay the miss's kindness."
Shen Li raised her eyebrows. "How do you know my identity as a miss? I never said so, and you were unconscious just now."
Shen Li was quite interested in this, as it concerned whether it was necessary for her to train this woman.
The weak woman thought carefully about Shen Li's question, and then slowly said, "Sorry, miss. I've been an orphan since childhood, so I grew up wearing clothes and eating food given by others. I'm very good at observing people. Just by looking at your clothes, I knew you were extraordinary, even though you were dressed very simply. And there's another secret of mine..."
It was obvious that the weak woman was a bit hesitant. Shen Li wasn't the kind of person who liked to force others, so she said calmly, "It's okay if you don't want to say. After all, it's your secret."
The next second, the weak woman seemed to make up her mind and said, "Since the miss saved me, my life belongs to the miss from now on. There's nothing I can't say. Actually, I've had stronger senses than others since childhood. Although I fainted just now, I could still hear very clearly..."
Seeming afraid that Shen Li wouldn't believe her, she seriously grabbed Shen Li's hand and continued, "Although I fainted, I still had a glimmer of consciousness. In fact, I heard your conversation a long time ago. So, I'm sorry, miss..."
Shen Li didn't blame her. After all, the woman hadn't done anything to scheme against her, and saving the woman was her own will. But what the woman said really surprised her. Having extraordinary senses was most suitable for practicing light - footed skills and assassination.
So Shen Li took out a handkerchief and gently bandaged the wound on the woman's forehead. She stretched out her fair hand. "You just said your life is mine. So I ask you, do you want to learn martial arts?"
At the words "learn martial arts", Xiaomahua's eyes immediately sparkled. Having been bullied since childhood, she most wanted to learn martial arts to protect herself.
So she nodded heavily. "Yes, miss! I've dreamed of it! They say learning martial arts is very hard, but I've suffered a lot since childhood. I think I can bear it!"
Hearing this, Shen Li smiled. Talent was important, but character was even more so. Their hands clasped tightly together. Obviously, Shen Li had decided to take Xiaomahua under her wing.
Jiaoyue, standing beside them, didn't say much. She also felt sorry for the girl in front of her. Shen Li smiled gently. "What's your name? I'll give you a nickname based on it."
Xiaomahua suddenly lowered her head dejectedly. Her eyes dimmed. "I've been an orphan since childhood, so I don't have a name. To be honest, I don't even know who my parents are. As for the name Xiaomahua... It's because I always wear braids, so everyone just calls me that."
Jiaoyue was suddenly touched, for she too had lacked family warmth since childhood. She tugged at Shen Li's hand. "Miss, why don't you give her a name, just like us?"
Shen Li was slightly stunned. Just like them? After thinking for a while, she said with a smile, "What do you think of Xinyue? I already have Jiaoyue and Lengyue under my command. Your name is similar to theirs."
Hearing this, Xiaomahua shed tears of gratitude. She couldn't help but murmur, "Similar..."
Jiaoyue didn't quite hear clearly and asked, "Xiaomahua, what are you saying? Don't you like it? It's okay. You can say it. The miss is very talented and can give you another name."
Xiaomahua raised her head and wiped the tears on her face forcefully. "No! I'm very touched. I like it very much! Thank you... Miss. From now on, I have a name. My name is Xinyue."
Xinyue was taken back to Huafu by Shen Li and properly settled. When the old lady heard about this, she praised Shen Li for being a good girl and doing the right thing.
But the good days didn't last long. A few days later, the first mistress came to the door. She looked at Shen Li with a hostile expression. "You should hand over the management power of the family now. I'm back."
Shen Li didn't expect the first mistress to be so rude. So she also looked displeased. "Give it to you? Why? I don't think you're qualified to manage the Huafu family affairs."
The first mistress immediately showed her anger. Losing the management power of Huafu made it difficult for her to gain a foothold in her natal family. She shook Shen Li's body forcefully. "I told you to hand over the management power. Did you hear me?"