Wufu left the Yamen and instructed Liu Jin, "Go to the Eighth Alley."
The Eighth Alley was the temporary residence for Ah Jiu and the others, just three streets away from Fourth Happiness Alley.
Ah Jiu was playing chess against himself when he heard that Wufu had arrived, his face showing surprise, he leisurely waited for her arrival while sipping tea.
However, although he had heard someone enter, he never saw anyone, which left Ah Jiu somewhat puzzled.
"Xiao Li, go take a look." Unable to restrain himself, Ah Jiu ordered Xiao Li to greet their guest. The residence wasn’t large; surely, she couldn’t have gotten lost.
Indeed, Wufu hadn’t gotten lost; upon entering and passing by the garden that Ah Jiu’s household had temporarily turned into a Martial Arts Training Ground, she heard the sounds of weapon combat from inside and, out of curiosity, walked over.
At that moment, at the training ground, Su Luo and a group of subordinates were engaged heartily in their practice.
Interest piqued, Wufu realized that her martial arts skills were of modern martial arts and not of ancient martial arts; furthermore, she knew nothing of the traditional martial arts sects.
Now seeing others practice and exchange moves, she couldn’t help but feel itch to join them, as what she lacked most were skilled opponents to spar with.
Wufu knew that to take her martial arts to a higher level, it was essential to gain experience through repeated, hands-on sparring, especially real combat, which was a surefire way to enhance one’s cultivation.
Seeing her, Su Luo walked over with some surprise, holding a sword. With a salute of his sword, he said, "Has Miss Wufu arrived? Are you here to see the master? He is not here; are you lost? Let me take you to him."
In this residence, apart from a few sturdy maids, there weren’t many refined ones, and the sturdy ones certainly couldn’t stay close to the master.
"Ah, no, I heard people practicing martial arts here and came to have a look," responded Wufu, her eyes not straying from the two people sparring with each other.
Catching the excitement in her eyes, Su Luo raised an eyebrow and said, "Why doesn’t the lady teach these lads a move or two?"
"Heh, how dare I teach?" Wufu laughed. "I don’t know martial arts."
Not knowing martial arts? Too modest, perhaps!
It was rumored that her martial arts were quite unorthodox.
"However, I do wish to exchange a few moves with them," Wufu admitted, feeling the itch.
"What weapon will the lady use?" Su Luo immediately followed up.
Wufu glanced at the row of weapons laid out in the garden: there were long spears (though with no spearheads attached), large sabers, swords, and even hammers.
She walked over, picked up a long spear—essentially a wooden stick—and twirled it in her hand, her mouth spreading into a grin.
"Lady, how can you fight in those clothes?" Liu Jin anxiously reminded Wufu.
Wufu looked down at her attire, her eyebrows furrowing momentarily. Indeed, wearing a skirt was most inconvenient.
After thinking for a moment, she tied her hair into a ponytail with a band, and as for the skirt—though she wore trousers underneath—she couldn’t just tear it off, or else Liu Jin and Hongyu would probably scream in horror.
Seeing her dilemma, Su Luo was about to suggest going to change when he heard a ripping sound.
Upon closer inspection, Wufu had already torn her skirt up the middle into two halves, promptly using a rope to tie up the skirt into makeshift leg coverings.
Su Luo and the others were dumbfounded, the swords they were holding dropped to the ground with a clang.
Liu Jin covered his eyes, silently mourning the loss of the skirt, thinking, ’Miss, in front of so many men, can’t you be a bit more ladylike?’
And Hongyu, she was practically in tears—this prodigal young lady, ah, she had just put on that newly made skirt, and now it was ripped apart!