A Tattered Blue Purse

Xiaoqing struggled frantically as she was dragged down the alley by the three men. Her wrists were caught fast together, and she could not get her hands free to use her powers. She cursed vehemently and the men laughed. "Look at that! Our fine young lady isn't as fine as she seems, after all! What language, my dear. Sounds like you...belong with us!"

She glared at them, considering if she should turn into her snake form to get away, though that would be a risk that might lead to a greater danger in the future. All snake spirits knew that revealing your true form was like setting off a bomb. Once they saw you, mortals would go crazy with fear, and become unpredictable; they might become obsessed with hunting you down, and call in the help of some powerful priest or monk, in which case a relatively small problem might result in your death.

No, she would not resort to that--yet. Xiaoqing thought of biting the hairy hand that held her wrists together, but couldn't resist making a face at the idea.

One of the thugs, a short, burly man with a mole on his neck, took up a heavy wooden slat leaning against the wall and hefted it experimentally in his hand. "Let's sell her to the brothel. She should fetch a good price with that face." He leered at Xiaoqing. "We'll drive a hard bargain with the madame for this one."

The other men guffawed. "And drink like kings for a few weeks!" the tall one with the beard chortled. "Let's put her to sleep now. Enough talk from this little bitch. Just a light tap, mind, A Jin. A pity if a big clumsy chap like you were to accidentally smash that pretty head in." He laughed raucously.

As the wooden slat came slicing down through the air, Xiaoqing could not resist a flinch. She squeezed an eye open to see a well-aimed pebble hit the man on the wrist sharply. Dropping the slat with a curse, the man shook his stinging hand.

The two other men let go of Qingqing and whirled around to see Bai standing silently behind them in the narrow alley. The white veil fluttered mysteriously about her face, so that only a vague glimpse of her features could be made out. She dropped the hand that had been outstretched, the fingertips still glowing faintly from the depths of her wide sleeves.

"Let her go." she said quietly.

With a loud sigh of relief, Xiaoqing hastily slipped behind Bai, massaging her wrist. "My big sister's come to teach you a lesson! See if you'll still be laughing now, you stupid bumpkins. Lay another hand on me, I dare you!" She stuck out her tongue defiantly.

For answer, the men advanced warily. The tall one reached into his belt to take out a chipped knife, the one with the broken tooth stretched taut the piece of knotted rope he unwound from his wrist.

"You should leave now. I have no wish to hurt you."

The men burst out laughing. "You, hurt us? Are you blind, miss? What do you take us for?"

Mockingly, the tall one pretended to shiver. "Oh, I'm so frightened! What are you going to do, throw more pebbles at us? Are they poisoned, perhaps?"

Bai stood her ground as they approached, patiently waiting for them to change their minds.

Xiaoqing swallowed nervously. "Sister. I don't think they're going to go. You better give them a taste of your prowess."

The one with the mole sneered. "Another chit who doesn't know her place, fancying herself a vigilante because she happened to learn how to throw stones! Well, well. Looks like we'll have two girls for the brothel madame."

"Unless this one's hiding a hideous face with that veil. I doubt even the brothel madame would want her. Let's teach this arrogant bitch a lesson, brothers."

Bai's hand flew out as the closest man lunged at her, and sent him flying backwards. She whirled round just as the one with the knife slipped behind her. The knife slashed downwards as she struck out at him, and there was a flash of bright red on white as she knocked his feet out from under him and drove her foot into his chest so that he gasped for breath. As the knife flew out of his hand she hit it midair, sending it flying towards the last man as he charged at her. He gave a scream of pain as it gashed him in the ankle, and fell back.

The thug with the broken tooth who was sprawled on the floor dropped the piece of rope and got to his feet, lunging at her with his fists. He managed to knock her hat off as she stepped back swiftly, just in time for her two stiffened fingers to hit squarely under his chin. He caught at his throat with a strangled sound and staggered back, making strange noises, while the other man clutched at his ankle, the blood seeping through his ragged trousers.

Bai looked sternly at them as they backed away from her on their hands and knees, waiting to see if any of them would still try to fight. Seeing they were badly frightened, she caught Xiaoqing by the arm none too gently. "You've made enough trouble for today. Come!"

She dragged the younger snake spirit out of the alley, walking rapidly with narrowed brows.

"You came just in time, Sister. I never thought such clumsy looking bastards could have such strong grips." Xiaoqing pouted. "I think that horrid man bruised my poor wrist!"

She caught sight of Bai's arm and stopped short, abashed. "I--I--"

Following Xiaoqing's gaze, Bai looked down and saw that her arm was bleeding freely from a deep gash. She reached into her breast and pulled out a white handkerchief, wrapping it carelessly around the wound. With a swift motion, she directed a stream of spirit energy at it and the white mist closed around the wound, sealing the edges of the handkerchief against it.

"Xiaoqing owes Older Sister another debt for sustaining injuries to save me!" The green snake spirit swiftly knelt and kowtowed.

With an exasperated sigh, Bai pulled her up by the elbow. "Get up. What were you doing to them?"

Xiaoqing shifted uneasily and said nothing, hanging her head.

Bai folded her arms and waited, a set line to her chin.

Chewing her lip, Xiaoqing at last replied, "Well, Sister, I was just walking by-"

She caught Bai's eyes and faltered. "--just happened to pass by--that is, to see--"

Bai's glare was withering. "The purse."

Sulking, Xiaoqing reluctantly took a tattered blue purse out from her sleeve. "Not like you were going to let me have any money, so what could I do?"

As Bai reached for it Qingqing whipped it behind her back. "Wait a minute, sister. You may have saved me but that doesn't mean you can take my money!"

"Your money?" Bai said coldly.

"If they're stupid enough to lose it, they deserve it. They're not a good sort anyway. They would have sold me to a brothel! You heard them! Men like this deserve to be robbed."

Xiaoqing sprang backwards as Bai made a motion towards her. "I'm eternally grateful to you for saving me, Sister, but I'm not going to let you have this money! It's not like you know how to spend it, anyway!"

She darted away, only pausing to make an impish face over her shoulder.

Bai frowned, then unexpectedly found herself smiling. With a little shrug, she let her hands fall to her sides. Ah well, she thought. Those men were cruel, after all, and for their evil intentions they did deserve it. She watched Xiaoqing run across the street, then sped up her steps after her.