Chapter 33: So, Lady Huo Can Fly

The seed shop was spacious, with a decor that appeared quite grand—one of the few intact and upscale establishments on this street. At this moment, there were no customers. Bags of rice and flour were stacked high on the shelves, while various agricultural seeds were placed in the corners.

The counter was located near the entrance. Behind it, a plump man in his forties was hunched over, clicking away at an abacus. He was evidently the proprietor. Hearing someone enter, he lifted his eyelids lazily, his expression cold and arrogant. "No need to look around. You can't afford anything in my shop, and I don't give handouts to beggars. If you're thinking of robbing the place, you'd better consider whether you have the life to walk back out of this street."

Su Da was speechless. Dressed in a dusty, thin, threadbare jacket stuffed with loose cotton and covered in patches, he was, by all appearances, a beggar. He looked down at the little baby in his arms, thinking of the many mouths to feed back home. Refusing to give up, he walked forward, gathered his courage, and spoke, "Shopkeeper, I’m looking for some vegetable seeds. I don't need much—just a small handful of cabbage and radish seeds—"

"A packet of vegetable seeds costs thirty copper coins. If you have the silver, buy it; if not, get lost." The proprietor interrupted him, clearly impatient.

The price was absurdly high.

"I don't have silver. Could I trade you with some goods instead?" Su Da did not argue. He pulled a cloth bag from the side of his carrier and placed it on the counter. Inside were three dried wild rabbits. They were perfectly preserved, each one evenly colored, aromatic, and remarkably large.

The proprietor narrowed his eyes, finally stopping his abacus to look up. His small, beady eyes glinted with calculation. "A tenant farmer with no land looking to grow vegetables? You must be a drifter from outside the city. To hunt rabbits this fine in these times, you’ve got good luck."

"It was indeed good luck. My family couldn't bear to eat them, so I thought I’d trade them for some vegetable seeds to grow our own food. Could you do me a favor and trade some seeds for them?"

"Three dried rabbits for three small packets of seeds. If you aren't happy with that, leave the goods and get out." The proprietor smiled.

It was a blatant case of daylight robbery. Su Da’s face twitched. He gritted his teeth and accepted it. The proprietor was clearly bullying him because he was alone and defenseless. Su Da knew that back in Da-Huai Village, such high-quality wild game could easily fetch forty or fifty copper coins per rabbit from wealthy households. But under the circumstances, he had to swallow his pride; arguing would only lead to more trouble. He just wanted to get the seeds and leave.

The proprietor quickly retrieved the seeds—three tiny packets that barely filled Su Da's palm.

Tianbao had been watching quietly. She didn't understand prices or market rates, but she knew that trading such large rabbits for so little was a loss for her father.

"Ah-da!" Unhappy, she reached out her tiny hand and slapped the proprietor’s head, just like the fights she had seen at the street corner—a quick, impulsive act of retribution.

The proprietor was standing right in front of Su Da, and the baby was at the perfect height in the carrier. The slap landed squarely on his face. With a crisp sound, the plump face was knocked sideways, and a small, five-fingered print immediately swelled up, red and raised.

The shop fell into a deathly silence.

It took a long moment for the proprietor to recover. He stiffly straightened his head and glared at the baby with murderous intent—his head had nearly been knocked off!

Su Da panicked. His legs went weak, and he turned and bolted. "Bao! My little ancestor! Why did you hit him? And why is your strength so great?!"

*This father can't handle this!*

Behind them, the shopkeeper’s roar echoed. Su Da didn't dare say another word, putting all his energy into running faster than he ever had in his life.

Thus, a new scene unfolded on the chaotic street: a tall, thin man with a nursing baby strapped to his chest, running for his life, while a group of men wielding clubs chased fiercely after them. To the people of Fengyun City, such sights were mundane. Some continued their business, while others, having nothing better to do, squatted by the roadside to watch the spectacle.

"Wrong way, wrong way! That’s a dead end, run to the right!"

"From outside the city? You've got guts to cause trouble at the Bai family’s seed shop! Hahaha! You Bai family henchmen, just kill the big one! Keep the little one—you can get three taels of silver for her at Chun-niang’s place!"

"Warrior, I’ll come collect your corpse later! My bun shop is just short of meat!"

"Oh, you turned wrong again! That’s the territory of the Twelfth Wharf. No outsiders allowed—you go in, you don't come out!"

Su Da had no time to think. His mind was a blank slate of panic. He instinctively followed the onlookers' directions, only to feel his blood run cold when he found himself trapped.

Outside the alley, the jeering laughter of the crowd echoed from afar. "Hahaha! They fell for it! Oh, I’m dying of laughter! Hey, you Bai family guys, remember to put in a good word for me with Shopkeeper Bai! Give me a discount on my next bag of flour!"

Su Da panted, his face deathly pale. He clutched his daughter tightly and turned around. The pursuers were already upon them. Their ferocity was no less than the bandits he had encountered before.

It was a dead end with narrow alleys and high walls. There was no escape. Su Da knew he was finished.

"The sins of the father shouldn't fall on the child. I’ll take the beating, but please, I beg you, don't hurt my daughter." After this humble plea, he pulled her closer, turned his back to the attackers, and shielded her against the wall with his own body.

The pursuers—shop assistants and thugs—were enraged after being led on a chase for several streets. Without a word, they raised their clubs high. "You're at death's door and still talking nonsense! You're going to die whether you admit it or not!"

Su Da curled around his daughter, acting as a human shield, hoping to keep her safe. The sound of the clubs cutting through the air was sharp and icy. Just before the blow landed, Su Da kissed the soft swirl of his daughter's hair, a single warm tear falling into it.

It was a small drop, but that warmth instantly flooded Tianbao’s entire body, converging at her heart before bursting forth in her small chest.

It was a father's love—heavy and profound.

Tianbao’s eyes, as if infected by that warmth, suddenly burned, hot with liquid. She didn't understand what fatherly love was, nor why she felt so strange. She only knew that anyone who dared to bully her father had to die.

Everything happened in a flash.

Su Da waited and waited, but the whistling clubs never struck him. As confusion took hold, a familiar, clear, and gentle voice reached his ears: "Shopkeeper Bai, the favor I’m asking for today, I, Huo, will repay another time."

Su Da turned around abruptly. The pursuers were still there, but they were frozen stiff like mummies, clubs raised high in mid-air, their fierce, cruel expressions locked in place—a comical sight at first glance.

Looking further, two figures stood at the entrance of the alley.

One wore a sky-blue long gown. He was tall, thin, and handsome, with a calm demeanor—it was their new neighbor, Mr. Huo.

The other was the proprietor of the seed shop, whom he had seen not long ago, dressed in a brownish, patterned long gown and vest. He looked plump and wealthy, though his expression was far from pleasant.

"What are you standing there for? Get over here!" As Su Da stood dazed, another familiar voice shouted from above.

He looked up quickly. Atop the high wall, Mistress Huo stood with her arms crossed, looking heroic and agile, her arched brows full of impatience.

Su Da was stunned. *So, Mistress Huo can fly.*