A few people squeezed their way to the front of the stall, looking rough and unruly.

They swaggered with every step, lacking any sense of discipline.

Although they wore silk robes, they couldn’t hide their ruffian nature.

Their beady eyes gleamed with malice as they glared at Qiao Xin and Niu Dali.

“Who gave you permission to set up a stall here? Do you know the rules? This is Lord Rong’s territory!”

Qiao Xin looked around and pointed at herself. “Are you talking to me? I really had no idea!”

She couldn’t believe she was encountering such a cliché situation!

“Don’t play dumb! If not you, then who?”

“Oh, my bad! I’ll leave then.”

Qiao Xin didn’t want to stir up trouble.

She started packing her things, intending to move aside.

“You think you can just come and go as you please? You’ve already used this spot. Since it’s your first offense, we’ll be lenient—leave behind ten taels of silver as a stall fee and then get lost!”

Qiao Xin chuckled in disbelief.

Now she was sure—they were deliberately picking a fight.

She didn’t like to cause trouble, but some people just wouldn’t let things be!

Stopping her movements, she looked directly at them and said:

“Heh! And what if I don’t pay?”

Seeing a lone woman dare to defy them, the leader’s face darkened.

Feeling humiliated, he barked, “If you don’t pay, you won’t be walking out of here in one piece today!”

“Mm.”

Qiao Xin didn’t even blink.

She stood still, unmoving like a mountain.

Niu Dali was visibly nervous, wanting to persuade Qiao Xin to leave, but he didn’t know how to say it.

Qiao Xin, however, showed no fear—she was clearly ready to face them head-on!

The gang leader hadn’t expected this.

After all his posturing, Qiao Xin remained completely indifferent.

With so many people watching, if he didn’t teach her a lesson, he wouldn’t be able to maintain his reputation here.

“Damn it! If you won’t take the easy way, you’ll take the hard way! Don’t blame me for what happens next!”

With a wave of his hand, his lackeys surrounded them.

The crowd screamed in fear and scattered, leaving a large open space.

Qiao Xin and Niu Dali were cornered, seemingly with no way out.

Niu Dali’s legs were trembling, but he still stepped forward to shield Qiao Xin.

The gang leader smirked cruelly. “Get them! Break their legs and smash their stall!”

At his command, the thugs charged—some swinging clubs at the stall, others lunging for Qiao Xin.

Niu Dali could no longer hesitate. He threw a punch, trying to grab one of the thugs’ clubs.

Chaos erupted.

Amidst the commotion, Qiao Xin was the only one who remained motionless. As several thugs lunged at her, she casually grabbed a cloth banner left behind by a fortune teller and swept it toward their legs.

Like a whirlwind scattering leaves, Qiao Xin moved so fast that no one could even see clearly. A rapid series of thuds followed.

“AHHH!”

Miserable screams echoed. Anyone struck by the cloth instantly collapsed to the ground, unable to stand.

The gang leader, still standing, finally got a clear view of Qiao Xin’s movements.

His pupils shrank in horror. Dear heavens! Is she even human?

That soft cloth moved like an iron rod!

He realized he had seriously underestimated her. They had messed with the wrong person.

Fear crept into his heart, but he didn’t want to lose face. Gritting his teeth, he yelled, “Useless fools! Get up and grab her!”

But Qiao Xin didn’t give them a chance. She swung the cloth rod at the remaining two thugs, sending them crashing to the ground to join their fallen comrades.

She tossed the cloth aside and smiled at the gang leader. In a few quick steps, she grabbed one of his men by the collar.

Before he could even react to the pain, she lifted him into the air and playfully tossed him up and down, swinging him from side to side.

Two grown men dangled helplessly in her grasp, flailing like rag dolls.

The gang leader screamed in terror. “A-Ancestor! Mistress! Heroine! Have mercy! Spare me!”

The crowd exchanged glances, all shrinking back. What kind of monstrous strength is this? She lifted a 100-pound man like a baby chick—without breaking a sweat!

Qiao Xin, unbothered, continued swinging them up and down as if she were having the time of her life.

Rong Guang, the gang leader, was terrified beyond words.

His subordinates, writhing in pain, wailed in agony.

“Boss Rong, just tell her the truth! If this keeps up, even if we had mountains of silver, we wouldn’t live to spend it!”

Rong Guang, his face turning purple, glared at his lackey. “Shut up!”

Qiao Xin burst into laughter. “Wow! Arguing amongst yourselves right in front of me? You guys are really something! How did a bunch of idiots like you even manage to become local bullies?”

Rong Guang and his men stiffened, realizing their fatal mistake.

They had gotten so desperate that they forgot where they were—openly bickering while still in her grasp.

Heavens, please spare us!