Chapter 2: The Deception and Hazards of Everyday Life
West Jing Town stands as a bastion of martial arts mastery.
The enduring legacy of Heng Martial Arts Hall reverberates throughout Cangcheng with unparalleled prestige.
However, as an era of peace and prosperity settles in, the once numerous martial arts halls in West Jing Town have dwindled significantly. Today, only a handful remain operational.
Despite its storied reputation, Heng Martial Arts Hall rarely actively solicits external clients, sometimes enduring entire years devoid of new business opportunities.
Their last significant engagement occurred three years ago, skillfully managed by the then 22-year-old Yin Xiaodao.
Yin's parents have two children, a daughter and a son, separated by a considerable age gap.
Yin's father once reflected that had Yin Xiaodao been a son, he could have passed away peacefully and contented, his worries all but dissipated. Despite her intellectual acumen and keen wit, she did not possess the physical robustness typically associated with males. Nonetheless, Yin's father diligently urged her to refine her abilities.
Yin Xiaorui, still young, stands out among the current generation at Heng Martial Arts Hall, with Yin Xiaodao demonstrating the most comprehensive skill set.
This notion of comprehensive prowess encompasses not only martial skill but also character traits such as resilience and meticulous attention to detail. A martial artist who possesses the courage to admit their mistakes will inevitably outlast those who rely solely on brute force and aggression.
Thus, Yin's father once again entrusted his daughter with leadership.
According to information from the Lan family, the incidents Lan Yan encountered were merely trivial pranks—such as a falling vase or shattering glass, initially dismissed as minor inconveniences.
Employing a professional bodyguard for such matters would be excessive, making this informal local martial arts hall an apt choice.
As Yin's father bid farewell to Yin Xiaodao, he offered brief words of advice.
Finally, Yin's mother spoke softly, "We'll eagerly await your return," as if seeing Yin Xiaodao off to school.
Yin Xiaodao nodded resolutely, shouldering her bag. "Dad, Mom, see you in three months."
She was confident she would return without fail.
---
Lan Yan didn't cease grinding his teeth until past five in the morning.
Yin Xiaodao leaned against the door, closing her eyes for a moment's rest. The room grew quiet, while outside, the world began to stir.
On any other day, by this hour, she would be up, preparing for practice.
In that moment, she longed for the tranquility of Heng Martial Arts Hall, the fresh air, and the simple meals of rice and vegetables.
Lan Yan didn't stir until eight-thirty.
As he opened his eyes, still half-asleep, he yawned and lazily stretched in bed, rolling over. Spotting Yin Xiaodao, he startled awake. "Fuck!"
Yin Xiaodao stood up straight. "Good morning." Her demeanor was poised.
"Morning my foot," Lan Yan grumbled, finally waking up. "I cant believe the trolls have begun to awaken."
His words failed to unsettle her. She responded composedly, "You have three months to acclimate."
He snorted loudly. "Being around such a tomboy every day is going to be the death of me."
"I can only ensure your survival for three months," she remarked, implying that his fate would soon be beyond her responsibility.
"You—" He grabbed a pillow and hurled it at her.
Yin Xiaodao tilted her head, dodging it effortlessly.
The pillow thudded onto the floor.
Frustrated by his futile attempt, Lan Yan grew irate. "Get out, I need to change."
Yin Xiaodao nodded. "Call me if there's trouble," she said, then opened the door and exited.
Lan Yan muttered curses under his breath.
She paid no heed.
Once the door closed, his swearing ceased. He looked out at the bright sunlight and gritted his teeth. "Damn summer."
Ignoring Yin Xiaodao, Lan Yan washed up and headed to work.
Silently, she trailed behind him.
The driver respectfully greeted Yin Xiaodao, "Miss Yin, your belongings will arrive today."
She nodded appreciatively.
The Lan Corporation building loomed prominently amidst the vibrant heart of the city. During rush hour, the main thoroughfares transformed into clogged arteries of traffic, pulsating with the frenetic rhythm of urban life.
Spotting the gridlock ahead, Lan Yan dozed off once more, filling the car with the rumble of his snores.
Yin Xiaodao glanced at him, quietly assessing his sleep patterns and discerning signs of fatigue.
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed with acute vigilance. Without hesitation, she swiftly leaned over and delicately anchored his head against the headrest, her instincts sharply attuned to an impending danger.
An unidentified object hurtled toward the car window. It struck the glass with a sharp crack and rebounded away.
She sharply surveyed the opposite lane.
Lan Yan's car occupied the leftmost lane, while the opposite lane stretched empty. Suddenly, a sleek black vehicle zoomed past in a blur of motion.
"Hey," Lan Yan rubbed his head, fighting to sit upright, "how long do you intend to keep messing with me?"
Yin Xiaodao released her grip on him. "That car had no license plate," she pointed out, her voice indicating it was clearly targeting him.
He straightened himself and glanced at the window, then remarked nonchalantly, "This new glass is surprisingly high-grade."
"Do you have any idea who it might be?"
Lan Yan tapped on the window, squinting against the bright sunlight outside. "How would I know? I have too many enemies to keep track of."
Yin Xiaodao refrained from further investigation. In light of recent events, it appeared to be another facade. If it had truly posed a threat, one would anticipate bullets rather than thrown objects. Yet, the troubling question persisted: why were such incidents becoming more frequent?
These occurrences, however, didn't seem to cast a shadow over Lan Yan. Within minutes, he dozed off again, seemingly unfettered by the near miss.
He slept soundly all the way to the Lan Corporation.
Entering his office, he let out a weary yawn and grumbled, "I'm so exhausted in this heat. We really ought to have a break from the summer sun."
Meanwhile, Yin Xiaodao quietly made her way around the office, a customary routine whenever she stepped into unfamiliar territory.
Lan Yan lazily glanced at her before turning to his computer, where he donned his headphones, the array of colors from his monitor casting a soft glow on his face.
Meanwhile, Yin Xiaodao completed her tour of the office, settling onto the sofa and flipping through a nearby newspaper.
Suddenly, Lan Yan exploded, "What the hell! Why is this so graphic?"
Yin Xiaodao glanced up, her expression turning incredulous.
He grumbled in dismay, "Isn't there anything less explicit?"
She rose from the sofa and approached his desk cautiously.
On his screen, a highly inappropriate image was displayed, depicting a close-up of a man and woman, there lower halves closely entangled.
Lan Yan reached for his water glass, only to catch sight of Yin Xiaodao in his peripheral vision. He spun around, his expression furious. "What are you doing here, trying to give me a heart attack!"
Yin Xiaodao glanced at the screen, somewhat puzzled.
Seeing her expression, he suddenly smirked maliciously. He removed his headphones and provocatively asked, "Hey, have you ever seen a man's thing?"
She nodded knowingly, "In our village, young boys often bathe in the stream. The entire village is accustomed to it."
"..." Lan Yan nearly choked on his breath, "I meant grown men, not young boys." Judging by her bemused expression, he was certain no adult man indulged in such practices.
"Adult men in the village don't bathe in the stream," she clarified.
"Oh? So you haven't seen it," he smirked even more lasciviously, "Would you like to admire mine?"
Yin Xiaodao glanced at the screen and shook her head in disdain, "I find it repulsive. Only beauty deserves admiration."
"..." He wanted to throttle her. Through gritted teeth, he said, slowly and deliberately, "I can show you heaven. Care to give it a try?"
She still shook her head, "You can't."
"Damn it! I won't stand for this humiliation," he seethed. "Just wait until I strip you of all you close and dignity, then we'll see!"
"You can't," Yin Xiaodao insisted coolly, sizing him up with a glance, confident in her superiority.
Lan Yan erupted in fury. He reached out roughly for her shoulder.
She effortlessly sidestepped him.
He scowled and advanced.
Yin Xiaodao gracefully evaded, swiftly putting two meters of distance between them.
Lan Yan was taken aback. He couldn't bear this humiliation and lunged towards her.
She didn't even break a sweat.
Yet, he couldn't lay a finger on her.
Ten minutes later, Lan Yan gave up. He declared bitterly, "Forget it. Such a hermaphrodite is unappealing to me"
The ordeal of chasing her had drained him completely, leaving Lan Yan with no energy even for watching adult films. Besides eating and sleeping, he had no inclination for anything else. Unfortunately, duty beckoned—his presence was required by the board of directors at the company.
Lan Yan dragged himself into the lounge and collapsed onto a nearby bed.
He wished he could remain asleep like this forever.
---
Meanwhile, Yin Xiaodao sat composed in the lounge, occasionally glancing through a newspaper.
Three years prior, her assignments had been more interesting.
During one mission, she had protected a wealthy businessman attending a conference. Though brief, spanning only ten days, the businessman was articulate and often engaged her in conversation.
Yin Xiaodao was naturally reserved, preferring to listen rather than speak. A person's words and actions often unveiled their true character.
For instance, Lan Yan embodied irascibility and a quick temper.
However, there was another individual she had encountered before, entirely different from Lan Yan. That young man had been melancholic and aloof, as if always obscured in mist behind his blue eyes. These two personalities could hardly belong to the same person.
Around eleven o'clock, a knock broke her reverie.
---
Yin Xiaodao remained seated, impassive. Her sole duty was Lan Yan's safety; anything else fell outside her responsibilities.
After a brief pause, the knocking resumed, accompanied by an impatient voice, "Manager Lan, Miss Hu is here."
Lan Yan remained deeply asleep, oblivious to the world outside.
Then, a piercing voice pierced through the air, "Lan Yan, I know you're in there!"
The knocking intensified, almost resembling forceful kicks against the door.
The disturbance escalated outside, with voices blending in a tumultuous discussion. Shortly after, someone appeared to produce a key as the office door swung open.
Footsteps hurried inside.
"Miss Hu, look, Manager Lan isn't here. Maybe—"
"He must be here," the sharp voice insisted vehemently, growing louder. "Lan Yan, come out and confront me!"
Suddenly, the door to the lounge swung open forcefully.
"Ah!" Miss Hu exclaimed furiously, her eyes blazing, "You shameless pair, hiding here during work hours for such... activities!"