Chapter Forty-Five: Deepening Misunderstandings

“You reckless girl, are you courting death again? Do you believe I’ll strip you naked and hang you at the inn’s entrance?” Dao Sansheng squeezed through the crowd, raging at the young woman.

“You all treat me so harshly, no one wants me anymore. It would be best if you did hang me on the city gate.” She sobbed, her cries filling the room and bringing silence to everyone.

The innkeeper’s assistant, clutching his wound, hurried downstairs, as a crowd lingered nearby, eager for the spectacle.

“Why not grant the young lady her wish? I can help you hang her outside,” said a man, drooling at the corner of his mouth, his eyes fixed hungrily on the girl.

“Always making a scene, aren’t you? Out, all of you!” Dao Sansheng snarled, pointing to the staircase, his jaw clenched in anger.

“You win. A gentleman doesn’t stoop to petty quarrels.” The young noble turned away and headed for the stairs with his attendant.

Dao Sansheng kicked him from behind, sending the noble tumbling all the way down, his attendant shrieking and running after him.

Thud, thud, thud…

The noble’s face crashed to the floor, and as his attendant rushed down, he slipped and fell too. Just as the noble tried to stand, a figure came flying down from above, landing heavily on him, sending stars spinning before his eyes.

Gingerly, the attendant climbed off his master and helped him up, trembling. The noble, barely on his feet, slapped his attendant’s face.

“You upstairs, just you wait! I’ll be back with reinforcements!” he shouted at Dao Sansheng.

The attendant, covering his cheek, whispered to his master, “That girl just now is the daughter of the city lord’s mansion. We can’t afford to offend her, young master.”

“Never mind, for Miss Li’s sake, I’ll let you off this time. Next time you won’t be so lucky.” With that, he hurried out, supported by his servant.

His words sounded magnanimous, but his heart was anxious. That Li Zigui was a demon in her own right; several heirs of prominent city families had suffered at her hands. That was years ago, but she must be even more formidable now.

“Miss, why bother? If it’s happened, just get rid of it. Who hasn’t met a few scoundrels in their life?” Dao Sansheng meant well, not expecting the girl to grow even more agitated. She grabbed Dao Sansheng’s arm and bit him hard.

“Ah, ah, ah…” Dao Sansheng’s cry echoed through the inn, the bite on his arm sending him into agony. Was this girl part dog? She lifted her head after biting.

“You’re the one who’s pregnant. Your whole family is! Get out!” she shouted.

“Bitten for no reason, and now you want me gone before my wound has even healed. Truly, loyal dogs never win, only scoundrels win hearts. I’ll leave, miss. Farewell.” Dao Sansheng said, watching her toss a pillow after him, her heart growing lonelier as she mumbled, “You really leave when told. So obedient.” She flung the pillow aside.

Despite the encounter with this woman, Dao Sansheng’s gains were not bad. He hurried to leave, not knowing what trouble she might stir up next. He quickly packed his belongings, placing valuables in his hair tie and taking the rest with him downstairs.

The innkeeper spotted him from afar, his face grim, and the assistant wore a deathly expression, a stark contrast to their attitude upon his arrival. The atmosphere was tense, but Dao Sansheng still had to settle his room bill, so he approached with a smile.

“Please tally up the crystal stones. I’m leaving,” Dao Sansheng said calmly and politely.

“The lady upstairs just injured my assistant. You owe compensation. The payment you gave is far from enough,” the innkeeper retorted.

“That woman has nothing to do with me,” Dao Sansheng replied firmly.

“She’s caused quite a stir. She went out just now with her face covered, saying you’d settle the cost. Everyone heard you telling her to get rid of the child. That’s truly immoral.” The crowd downstairs eyed him with anger; Dao Sansheng dared not speak, instead tossing a storage pouch onto the counter. “The spirit stones are inside. Keep the change, I’m leaving.”

As if his thoughts summoned her, that girl truly was his jinx.

Dao Sansheng walked unhurriedly toward the station, finally leaving the inn. After purchasing a ticket, he boarded the flying beast, a process now familiar to him.

No sooner had he settled in than he spotted a beautiful young lady waving at him—none other than the one he had just been cursing. This place truly was uncanny; whatever he thought would happen, happened. Dao Sansheng felt awkward, unable to move forward or take a seat, lingering in the aisle.

“Excuse me,” called someone from behind, breaking the stalemate and relieving Dao Sansheng’s embarrassment.

As he stepped aside to let people pass, Li Hong called out again.

“So it’s you, brother! You slept with the lady, got her pregnant, then told her to get rid of it. Now she’s chased you all the way to the station, and you act like nothing happened. As a man, you ought to take responsibility, not betray her feelings.” The passengers in the cabin turned curious eyes, ears pricked to catch the unfolding drama. Dao Sansheng stared at the man in astonishment.

The man shook his head as he walked past Dao Sansheng.

“All right, I admit I was wrong. If you want it gone, I’ll do it now. I’ll listen to you, isn’t that enough? Just stop hitting me and let me earn money to support you. Yet you take my money and stay at the inn with someone else.” Li Hong grew more upset as she spoke and burst into tears.

Dao Sansheng found the situation increasingly absurd. He turned to leave, but the passengers were now indignant, rising to berate him from all sides.

He had no choice but to sit beside Li Hong. Her smile was sweet, but Dao Sansheng saw only cunning in her expression.

The flying beast soon took off. Passengers whispered about the recent drama, their chatter buzzing in Dao Sansheng’s ears until he could bear it no longer. He sat cross-legged, blocking out sight and sound, and began to cultivate.

He shut out the world, focusing only on his path as a cultivator.

Li Hong, seeing him silent and stone-like, grew furious. She kicked him twice, but he didn’t react, so she gave up.

Dao Sansheng calmed his mind, playing in his sea of consciousness, digging at the sand on his island, immersing himself in his own world.

The flying beast quickly landed at the station, safely arriving. Everyone began to gather their belongings. Several people approached Li Hong to comfort her.

“Miss, find yourself a good man. This fellow isn’t worth it.”

“You’re still young, don’t let him ruin your life. He’s a scoundrel, a shameless rogue.”

“Miss…”

A chorus of reproach surrounded Dao Sansheng, blocking his way out. Li Hong, in tears, refused their comfort, declaring she only loved Dao Sansheng and could not leave him.