Clouds and Moon Shadow

Chapter 6 First Entry into Rhino Town

Gu Qingyue frowned, turned around, and saw two men standing behind her, just as dirty as she was, with shifty eyes, but judging from their attire, they were also refugees.

Gu Qingyue glanced at the two of them, remaining expressionless.

"Hand over all your valuables, or don't blame us for being ruthless!" A sinister voice rang out as he stared intently at the water pouch in Gu Qingyue's hand. The pouch had an exquisite silver chain on its wooden stopper, and his eyes gleamed as he looked at it.

Gu Qingyue glanced at it and quickly turned away, not wanting to pay any attention to it at all, lest she feel disgusted and want to vomit. That face was just too much.

She stuffed the water pouch into her bosom, rolled her eyes, and could only sigh.

Before the two lewd men could grab Gu Qingyue's shoulders, the sound of rapid hoofbeats rang out behind the group.

"Giddy up! Giddy up! Everyone, make way!"

The young man's shout then rang out.

Judging from the sound of horses' hooves, there were quite a few people approaching.

Gu Qingyue turned around in surprise, only to see a dark, cloud-like figure riding a horse galloping past, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The two lewd men behind her were so frightened by the sound of hooves that they fell to the ground with a thud and scrambled backward as fast as they could, fearing they would be trampled by the hooves.

Gu Qingyue nimbly took two steps back. The group of people were actually quite far away from her, so she wouldn't bump into them if she didn't step back.

She looked up in surprise and saw that the dark cloud was heading towards the path next to the town and did not enter the town.

Gu Qingyue raised an eyebrow. These people didn't seem simple. Although she couldn't see what they looked like, it was best for her to avoid them. The more low-key she was, the safer she would be.

Gu Qingyue glanced back at the two lewd men trembling with fear. She understood; they were probably terrified by the Nanzhao army. These tall, strong men only knew how to bully their own people from Da Chu. Humph, despicable! She shrugged and left.

The two lewd men were left with their hearts pounding, panting heavily like fish out of water, their bodies limp.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingyue had already entered Rhino Town.

Swinging her cane, Gu Qingyue finally stood at the entrance of the town.

She was overwhelmed by the classical atmosphere; she had actually seen an ancient town with her own eyes!

The roadside is lined with signs and curtains of all kinds, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and haggling in different accents fill the air, like a small paradise in a chaotic world, full of human warmth and vitality.

Gu Qingyue walked briskly into the town, weaving through the crowd, and quickly experienced the lively atmosphere of the place.

Because of its large population and diverse mix of people from all walks of life, the town was rife with vandalism, theft, and robbery, which completely shattered Gu Qingyue's worldview. Wasn't this a town under the rule of the Great Chu Dynasty? Did the government simply not care?

Following her footsteps, Gu Qingyue had the misfortune of witnessing a group of people robbing money pouches, a group fighting in the street, and a group attempting to steal children on the street within an hour.

That was truly—absolutely brilliant!

Gu Qingyue was swinging her cane, looking around with great interest, when a woman's voice caught her attention.

"Kid, look how tattered your clothes are. You must have escaped from Mingzhi County. Oh, what a tragedy, such a young child has to suffer like this."

She turned around and met a kind-looking middle-aged woman. Her clothes were washed until they were almost white, but there were no patches. She was carrying a vegetable basket and was looking her up and down.

Gu Qingyue was taken aback, then pointed to herself, "Auntie, are you talking to me?"

The woman nodded.

She walked towards Gu Qingyue carrying a shopping basket, her face full of concern, "Where are your family?"

Gu Qingyue's eyes darted around, "They got separated."

"Oh, poor thing, look at your clothes, they're all torn. Oh, you have a wound on your back?" The aunt carefully examined Gu Qingyue's clothes. "Come on, let me take you to the clinic," she said, and then came up to take Gu Qingyue's hand.

Wait, is the sun rising in the west? So kind of you?

Gu Qingyue subconsciously took two steps back. She looked down at her clothes and saw that they were indeed torn everywhere, especially on her back, which was very drafty. Those were the cuts she had made from the knife. Luckily, it was summer, so she wasn't cold.

It was indeed very shabby. She thought for a moment and nodded without making a sound.

"Oh, look at your clothes! Come on, let me go home and get you two sets. My second son is about your size, so his clothes will fit you perfectly," the aunt said, grabbing Gu Qingyue's hand before she could object.

"Go this way, let's go to the clinic first," the woman said to herself, her tone full of heartache and pity.

Gu Qingyue narrowed her eyes, holding a cane in one hand, and sized up the woman's back, a mocking smile curving her lips.

We entered a secluded alley.

Gu Qingyue quickly withdrew her small hand and stood still, staring intently at the woman. The woman turned around, not having time to hide the surprise on her face, and met Gu Qingyue's half-smiling eyes. "What's wrong, child?"

Gu Qingyue smiled gently, "The performance is over?"

Upon hearing this, the woman's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

Gu Qingyue wasn't surprised at all by her change. She knew someone had come behind her, and needless to say, it was her accomplice.

"Jiao Niang, you have good taste," came the lewd laughter from behind.

Gu Qingyue turned around and saw the man who had been standing not far from the street corner striding towards her.

When the woman saw the newcomer, she laughed heartily, her eyes devoid of any pity.

"That's right, look at my taste! This kid is definitely no ordinary person. Look at his eyes, they're so beautiful! He'll definitely fetch a good price." The man put his arm around the woman's waist, and she pressed her body against him.

The two of them were acting so obliviously, it was nauseating, and Gu Qingyue felt like vomiting.

Especially, ma'am, you don't look like a little bird clinging to someone!

"Hmph! You two are a disgrace!" Gu Qingyue smiled contemptuously and turned to leave.

How could they just let her get away like that? A large hand immediately came over and grabbed her thin shoulder.

The next instant, Gu Qingyue used a clever trick, and then let out a heart-wrenching scream.

The man's wrist was broken.

"You, you, you're actually a tough nut to crack! Call me sir!" The man jumped up and down, clutching his wrists, and shouted at the woman with a contorted face.

The woman was stunned by Gu Qingyue's move. She had seen people punched, but she had never seen someone break a hand or foot with a single blow.

Upon hearing the man's voice, she snapped out of her daze, jumped up, and turned to run away.

With a 'bang,' Gu Qingyue's cane finally came in handy, striking the man's head and sending him sprawling to the ground.

Before the woman could even run out of the alley, a second 'bang' rang out. Her ankle had been struck, and she collapsed to the ground with a 'thud.' She was only a dozen steps away from the alley entrance. She scrambled forward quickly, using both hands and feet, trying to get out of the alley as soon as possible to call for help.

Gu Qingyue looked at the cane in her hand, which was now in a split position, and helplessly threw it behind her. It hit the man, who had regained consciousness, on the head with a 'bang', and he passed out again.

"Who goes there?" A voice came from the alley entrance; someone was coming.

The woman was delighted and climbed even faster.

Gu Qingyue rolled her eyes, messed up her hair that she had combed halfway, loosened her belt, and straddled the woman. She grabbed the woman's hair with one hand and "bang bang bang------" the woman was so shocked that she saw stars.

Finally, a few people peeked out from the alleyway: "What happened?"

Gu Qingyue said, "This woman and her lover beat me up and even tried to sell me." After saying that, she slapped the woman's face several times. In a moment, the woman's once arrogant face turned into a swollen pig's head.

“Don’t listen to his nonsense—” the woman tried to struggle.

Describes a state of utter disarray or embarrassment.

"I'm not lying. If that guy hadn't tripped and fallen unconscious while trying to pursue me, I would have been sold out by you guys right now!"

Gu Qingyue will let this damned woman get her way?!

The people standing at the alley entrance exchanged glances upon hearing this, clearly recognizing the couple.