Just as the house servant said, Chef Wang had a fiery temper. From far away you could already hear her scolding loudly:

“The Golden Dragonwhisker Carp, the ao-shrimp, the spirit rice, the fragrant cassia; aren’t they all rare treasures? Are any of them things you can just gorge on like common food?”

In between, Susu tried to defend herself in a trembling, tearful voice: “I didn’t.”

“Didn’t? Who was it just now shouting for these things?”

“I was going to pay with silver.”

“Silver? You think silver can make up for it? You think these fine things can be bought with money? Time and again you act like this is your own private kitchen. I’ve told you before, but you won’t let it go. So what if I really have them here? They’re reserved for the masters, the ladies, the young masters and young ladies; not for your household’s young master-in-law. Who does he think he is? He really thinks he counts as one of the Su family? Go ask Fifth Lady yourself. Does she ever even look him in the eye? And you, just a maid, why are you always trying to curry favor? You’ve only just been transferred from the back mountain and already you want to climb higher? Open your eyes! What sort of ‘higher branch’ do you think this is? If you want to give gifts, give your own things. Don’t use the public resources!”

“I haven’t been pestering you over and over. The young master-in-law’s been out of the manor for months, and he’s only just returned. Why accuse people out of thin air, Chef Wang?”

“And another thing, go back and tell your young master-in-law this: the General’s Shrine at the mountain pass was already assigned for use by the master earlier this year. He’d better stop coveting it. As for the people he brought with him, send them off wherever they belong. Our Su family can’t afford to keep them!”

As she was speaking, Liu Xiaolou was already striding over, pushing through the crowd to stand behind Susu. Tears welled in Susu’s eyes as she turned her head toward him and said timidly, “Young master…”

Chef Wang had noticed Liu Xiaolou long before, but she wasn’t the least bit afraid. In fact, those last words had been said deliberately for him to hear. None of the senior stewards of the Su household took this new son-in-law seriously. They might not know the details of the three-year agreement, but they all understood why the Su family had taken in a husband by adoption, and what sort of background this son-in-law came from.

He was nothing more than a wild cultivator from Wulong Mountain, low-level in his cultivation. At the very beginning, some had watched and wondered if it might be worth currying favor with the new arrival, but by now, no one was entertaining that thought.

Everyone had seen what life was like in the SunRain Hibiscus Garden. Months had passed since the wedding, yet the couple hadn’t even consummated their marriage. They didn’t live together, they didn’t share meals. Even Fifth  Lady herself looked down on this live-in son-in-law; so who else would think better of him?

So Chef Wang gave a cold laugh and said, “Ah, the young master-in-law is here? I was just helping to discipline Susu on your behalf. This little wretch has been throwing her weight around behind your back, lording it over others every day. If this keeps up, once the master and the madam hear of it, it might not end well for you.”

“You’re Chef Wang, right?” asked Liu Xiaolou.

“Yes. I’m Wang, I’ve overseen the kitchens here for many years. From now on, young master-in-law…”

“Chef Wang, those things you just said, who told you to say them?”

“What does young master-in-law mean? Who would tell me what to say? I’ve been in the Su household for so many years. Do I not have the right to speak my mind?”

“So no one? All of that came from you yourself?”

“Yes. Did I say something wrong? Please enlighten me, young master-in-law.”

Liu Xiaolou let out a sigh. “Chef Wang, do you know where I come from?”

Chef Wang gave a dry laugh, her eyes full of mockery.

Liu Xiaolou went on, “From Wulong Mountain. Do you know the way things are done there? It’s a harsh, barren place, the people are rough, and none of us are very educated. So when we have disputes, we don’t argue, and we don’t waste words. We’re clumsy with our tongues, quick-tempered, not much good at talking. So do you know what we do instead?”

Chef Wang gave a cold snort and stayed silent.

Liu Xiaolou said, “So our way has always been to settle things with our fists. I’ve heard that Chef Wang is a skilled cultivator, already at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement. I myself have only just stepped into the fourth layer, so I’d like to challenge you. One fight to decide the matter.”

Chef Wang froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “A challenge? What kind of rule is that supposed to be?”

Liu Xiaolou replied, “Afraid, Chef Wang? Insulting me is one thing, but insulting my maid is another. Ever since I entered the Su household, Susu has been the one looking after me. For her to be humiliated is worse than if I were humiliated myself. Faced with such a disgrace, there’s only one answer.... a fight.”

Chef Wang’s expression shifted several times. She glanced at the stewards and servants crowding around, then forced herself to sound tough: “Very well. If young master-in-law is so eager, I’ll oblige. But what if I win? And what if I lose?”

“You’re overthinking it,” Liu Xiaolou said. “There’s nothing more to it. Win, and you live. Lose, and you die.”

Chef Wang was struck dumb. The gathered stewards and servants were equally stunned, staring at Liu Xiaolou in silence, at a complete loss for words.

Susu’s tears spilled over as she threw her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably. “Young master, please, don’t do this… Let her say what she wants. I don’t mind… please…”

Liu Xiaolou patted her back, pulled her gently behind him, and cupped his hands toward Chef Wang. “Chef Wang, please, teach me.”

The crowd was so frightened they immediately backed away, leaving an open ring around the two. Someone dragged Susu out as well, and soon only Liu Xiaolou and Chef Wang stood in the empty space.

This time, Chef Wang truly felt fear. With so many people watching, she wanted to summon the courage to accept, but the moment she thought of it being a fight to the death, she simply couldn’t force the words out. She had hardly even taken part in ordinary duels, let alone one where “victory means life, defeat means death.” To hear this son-in-law speak such terrible words in such a calm, detached tone sent a shiver through her.

So the rumors were true. He really was a bandit from Wulong Mountain.

At last she spoke, forcing a smile. “You’re the young master-in-law, a man of high standing. I’m only a cook, how would I dare to raise a hand against you? If the master heard of this, how could I possibly bear the blame?”

Liu Xiaolou’s face was stern. “Just now, Chef Wang, you said I was nothing at all, that no one in the Su household ever looked me in the eye. What ‘high standing’ is there to speak of? Besides, once a challenge has been issued, there are no titles, only opponents. No young master-in-law, no cook. Please!”

Panic finally broke through Chef Wang’s composure. “It was my mistake, young master-in-law. Please don’t hold the words of a petty woman against me. Spare me this time. I beg your pardon.”

But Liu Xiaolou shook his head. “The challenge has been laid down. If you refuse, you show contempt for me. Why heap such deep insult upon me, Chef Wang? Please.”

Chef Wang backed away step by step, while Liu Xiaolou pressed forward just as steadily. With every move she made, her courage weakened, and with every move he made, his face grew fiercer. In the end, the Liu Xiaolou in her eyes had become a bloodthirsty demon, so terrifying she could no longer hold herself together. She turned and fled, crying out, “The young master has gone mad, go tell the master at once—”

Before she could finish, Liu Xiaolou caught up from behind and struck her squarely in the back. She was thrown more than ten feet, hit the ground hard, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Suddenly a voice rang out: “Who dares commit violence here!”

A figure leapt into the courtyard and met Liu Xiaolou’s next strike head-on, forcing him back.

Everyone turned to look. It was none other than Su Mo, the Su family’s Eighth Young Master.

Su Mo glared at Liu Xiaolou and shouted, “Who gave you the courage to attack someone in broad daylight?”

Liu Xiaolou cupped his hands. “This woman insulted me. I had no choice but to answer her challenge and wash away the shame.”

Su Mo barked, “Even so, you cannot go around injuring people! Chef Wang is an elder of the household, she has toiled bitterly for decades. Now that you’ve hurt her, how are you going to explain yourself? Someone, help her down at once…”

“Wait!” Liu Xiaolou cut in. “She and I agreed to a duel, and it was to the death. Whatever comes after the fight, I’ll answer for it. If Eighth Young Master insists on taking her away, are you planning to fight in her place? If so, please… step forward.”