I Don't Need Your Mercy!

The busy market seemed to suddenly quiet down. Su Jiu looked ahead. The man's palm was warm, but there was a layer of sweat on her palm holding the purse.

The man was forceful and he had reacted quickly, he appeared to know martial arts.

What should I do? she thought hurriedly, but in an instant, Su Jiu twisted her wrist around and struck at his. While his grasp loosened, her soft hand slipped out of his palm like an eel, and she jumped forward and ran towards the crowd without looking back.

Her target behind her frowned, patted the horse's neck, and then quickly swept away towards the 'boy.' In the city, there are still people who dare steal from me, he thought. The audacity!

Su Jiu ran but was aware that the man behind her was catching up. She was smart, moving like a ghost, shuffling lightly among pedestrians, and dashing out into an alley.

This place was residential, with alleys interlaced. Su Jiu ran past two alleys, and seeing no one behind, gradually slowed down her pace.

The purse in her hand felt heavy. This time, they not only could buy tables and chairs but would also have an allowance for the next month.

Su Jiu was elated as she went out of the alley, but the moment she stepped out, she froze.

Behind her, the man leaned against the stone wall.

The stranger's exquisite face had a cold smile, his voice low as he spoke. "Are you so happy to have stolen other people's silver?"

I can't believe I didn't shake him off! she thought. He is more familiar with the area than I am, and was waiting to block me here!

Scowling, Su Jiu grit her teeth and ran away!

The man behind her took his time to catch up, keeping a close distance.

Su Jiu ran two blocks and three alleys, and could not get rid of the man behind her. She was not familiar with Shengjing. Every time she crossed the alley, she could see that he was waiting for her in front, so even if she was good at fleeing, she could not persist.

She looked up and saw a three-story building in front of her, with three words written on it. Immediately, her eyes brightened, as she glanced behind her and ran into the pavilion.

Drunken Joy Pavilion was most crowded at night, but it was only noon.There were only a few people in the lobby on the first floor, and they were drinking and making merry with ladies.

The moment Su Jiu came in, she had no time to look at the luxurious lobby as she made her way upstairs quickly.

The brothel madame followed behind, holding her skirt and asked, "Young Master, which girl are you looking for?"

Su Jiu took out a piece of silver in her purse, threw it into the brothel madame's bosom and said, "Find any girl. I'm being followed, may I trouble you to cover up for me!"

The brothel madame looked at the silver in her hand and immediately rejoiced and said, "Alright, young master, come with me!"

After that, she led Su Jiu to the third floor.

The two had almost just disappeared on the corner of the stairs when the man in exquisite blue brocade robes walked in.

He did not look around but stood quietly in the lobby, waiting until the brothel madame came back down.

"Hello there, young master, you look like a new face. It must be your first time here at Drunken Joy Pavilion. I'd like to introduce you to our gentlest girl!" the brothel madame greeted him with a smile on her face.

"What about the young man who came in?" the man asked pointedly.

"Young man?" the brothel madame chuckled, holding the silver in her palm tighter. "There is no young man!"

The man glanced at the brothel madame, and there was no anger on his face. He held a piece of jade in his hand and asked in a calm voice, "Do you know now?"

The brothel madame looked at the jade, and her face suddenly changed dramatically. Her face was ashen, and her legs trembled to kneel down.

"Your Highness, I will take you to find him right away!"

She brought the man up to the third floor, up the stairs to the left, reaching the third room. She hung her head and said respectfully, "In this room!"

The man's aura was cold and majestic as he pushed the door in.

The brothel madame stood outside, patting her chest in fear, muttering, "This is bad!"

After that, she glanced at the room, afraid of being implicated, and hurried downstairs to hide.

When the man entered the room, he closed the door. With curtains hanging in the room, the light was dim and the rich fragrance of powder made the man frown slightly. Approaching two steps, he saw the drapes of the bed hanging down in the inner room.

Hearing a soft whine, it seemed as if someone had just woken up, as an arm lifted the drapes above the bed. A woman sat up without any clothes and a seductive look on her face as she glanced over his way. "Young Master, there are already guests in this room, please go and find my other sisters!"

The man's eyes flashed with imperceptible disgust, and with a wave of his arm, the drapes flew towards the woman.

Ah!

The woman's waist was tangled and she was thrown down. Screaming shrilly, she hit the table beside her with a loud crash and fainted.

Su Jiu sat up suddenly with anger on her face. "How could you strike at a lady!?"

The man frowned, and the drapes in his hand flew out like a dragon emerging from the sea, whistling towards Su Jiu's face.

Su Jiu grasped the drapes, alleviating the force of the impact. Pulling the drapes, she laughed brazenly, "The purse is right here with me, come get it if you can!"

Anger boiled in the man's usually calm eyes and he lunged at Su Jiu.

Su Jiu rolled over and tried to get out of the bed, but was blocked by the man. Her figure did not stop but withdrew back into the bed. At the same time, her long legs kicked at the man's knees.

The man snorted disdainfully, whirled past, and struck a blow at Su Jiu's shoulder with one hand.

Su Jiu dodged his fierce blow, as she kicked, cruelly, at the man's crotch. 

The man didn't dodge and groaned subtly as her foot met its mark. He suddenly grasped her leg, and pulled, grasping her shoulder, and said in a cold voice, "Committing a crime at such a young age, I'll take you to the authorities now."

Su Jiu raised her eyebrows disdainfully, leaped up and out of the man's grasp, giving a fierce kick at the man.

The two were almost neck and neck but were unable to go all out and fight on the bed. After more than a dozen moves, no one could gain the upper hand.

Su Jiu gradually lost patience, made a false move, and rushed out of the bed.

The man immediately threw the drapes to block Su Jiu's way. Although he despised the young man's conduct, he became somewhat interested in the rascal's kung fu. He held Su Jiu's arms and suddenly pushed 'him' back, saying calmly, "I'll treat it as you're young and don't know any better, as long as you promise not to steal again, I can let bygones be bygones today!"

In the dim light, Su Jiu's face was radiant, and her eyes were full of disobedience. She raised her chin and retorted, "I don't need your mercy!"

She struck at the man's face with her palm.

"Insolent brat!"

A trace of annoyance flashed on his face, and he turned his head to dodge Su Jiu's hand, quickly grabbing Su Jiu's shoulder again.

Su Jiu took the opportunity to retreat, and at that moment, the man missed and grasped at Su Jiu's chest instead.

Under the young man's clothes, there seemed to be bandages wrapped around the thief's chest. But he could still feel the soft curves under the bandage, belonging to the unique softness of a woman. The man was stupefied and looked up in shock.