I woke up as the Villainous Empress

"Let's see who will come to your defense," the man scoffed arrogantly as he viciously gripped a fistful of the woman's hair and pulled on them spitefully and aggressively.

The gathered crowd held their breath as they watched the intimidating man, with his imposing stature and a menacing appearance, poised to strike the delicate and gentle-looking girl, who resembled a fairy.

Initially, they anticipated a mere verbal argument, never expecting that the man would stoop so low as to resort to violence against the woman in full view of everyone.

Panic spread among the onlookers, their eyes darting between each other in search of someone willing to intervene and aid the distressed girl. However, the fear of unnecessary trouble deterred them from taking action, as they did not want to embroil themselves in the situation.

The old woman was overwhelmed with panic when the man grabbed the young girl by her hair. She desperately implored others to come to the aid of the young girl. "Please, someone help her! Why are you all just standing here? Take action and save her!" She approached individuals, appealing to their humanity in an attempt to convince them to assist the girl.

Despite her old age and physical frailty, the old woman couldn't bear to passively observe the girl being subjected to such brutality on the streets. How could she simply stand by and allow the girl to be assaulted by a man like him?

Regrettably, no one in the crowd stepped forward to offer their help. Instead, they intentionally avoided making eye contact with the old woman and turned their backs on her, unwilling to engage or acknowledge the urgent plea for assistance.

The man savored the sight of the old woman's tears and her desperate pleas for someone to aid the girl. With a smug expression, he turned his gaze toward the young woman and sneered, "See? No one will come to your rescue. Don't blame me later, for it is you who brought this upon yourself." He mockingly extended his hand, preparing to strike her.

The young girl fought desperately to free herself from the man's firm grip, but his relentless grasp on her hair caused intense pain, making her scalp ache. The escalating agony left her feeling helpless and weak in the face of his formidable strength and imposing physique.

Overwhelmed and unable to overpower him, she found herself devoid of alternatives. Left with no other option, she instinctively flinched and closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impending pain, fearing the worst.

"Ah! Who struck me?" Just as the man was about to strike the girl, an unexpected blow from a stone collided with his head. The force of the impact caused him to loosen his grip on the woman's hair, prompting him to grimace in pain as he instinctively rubbed the back of his head. He turned around, determined to identify the audacious individual who dared to challenge him.

"Who is it? Who dares to strike me?" he growled, scanning his surroundings to confront the person responsible for the unexpected assault.

Seizing the opportunity when the man momentarily released his hold on the girl, the old woman swiftly pulled the young girl to the side, shielding her protectively. The girl was taken aback by the unexpected act of assistance, and gazed around in awe, unable to comprehend that someone had intervened and come to her aid.

She had not anticipated anyone stepping forward to help her. Throughout her encounter with the man, no one mustered the courage to support the old woman or stand up for justice.

Witnessing how people were quick to gather and spectate the unfolding drama, yet reluctant to offer aid, filled her with a profound sense of sadness. Having encountered numerous individuals throughout her life, the young woman had gained a deep understanding of how most people shied away from getting entangled in troublesome situations.

The reality of people's reluctance to get involved had already settled within her, and she knew that relying on others for help in such circumstances would likely prove futile.

However, she was happy when someone helped her.

Filled with gratitude and a newfound sense of warmth, the young woman's eyes scanned the area in search of the person who had come to her defense, eager to express her gratitude.

"I hit you. What will you do about it?" A voice emerged from behind the crowd, catching her attention. However, the woman was taken aback to discover that it wasn't the voice of the man but that of a woman.

"Who is it? Show yourself!" The man shouted, his voice tinged with both anger and confusion. Still rubbing the injured and slightly bleeding back of his head, he strained to locate the source of the voice that had confronted him.

The surrounding crowd shared in the confusion, their eyes scanning the area in an attempt to identify the daring individual who had invited trouble upon themselves.

At that moment, a few people parted to create a pathway, revealing two women dressed in dull attire. Despite their plain clothing, one of the women confidently strode towards the man, radiating an aura of nobility that seemed to emanate from her face.

As he gazed upon the woman approaching him, the man couldn't help but be captivated by her unparalleled beauty, a rarity in the city. However, a frown etched across his face as he noticed the woman's confident smile, which appeared somewhat smug in nature.

"Hah! You claim to have struck me?" he scoffed, chuckling at what he perceived to be her audacious bluff in his presence.

From where she strode towards him, it became evident that she had been standing at a distance by the roadside. The man couldn't help but wonder how she could have possibly struck him from afar.

Did she truly believe he would buy into her bluff? How could such a seemingly frail woman dare to engage in a confrontation with him in the bustling street?

Yang Ning couldn't help but smirk, observing the man's lingering search for the person who had hit him on the head and now lurked within the crowd.

Was he underestimating her? Hah!

To dispel any doubts, Yang Ning proudly displayed the slingshot held firmly in her hand, waving it provocatively in front of him. "I hit you with this," she stated, her smile unwavering.

___

Earlier she had been enjoying her buns in peaceful bliss, however, the disruptive noises from the escalating commotion shattered her leisure time. Initially, she had no intention of getting involved and had planned to discreetly leave without causing a scene.

However, witnessing the man's violent act of grabbing the woman's hair triggered an overwhelming urge within her. It was then that her attention fell upon a child standing near their food stall, holding a makeshift slingshot crafted from wood and rubber.

In a swift exchange, she traded the remaining buns she had for the slingshot. Waste no time, she swiftly retrieved a pebblestone from the ground and skillfully aimed at the back of the man's head.

As the pebblestone struck its mark, eliciting a groan of agony from the man, a surge of pride surged through her. Although it had been a while since she last practiced her shooting skills, she was gratified to discover that she hadn't forgotten her foundational abilities.

Though not wielding her customary bow and arrow, her shot remained precise and found its mark flawlessly.

___

"Why? If you don't believe me, would you like me to demonstrate it again?" Yang Ning addressed the man, noticing the disbelief lingering in his eyes. She emphasized her point by displaying the slingshot once more.

Xiaowei, who stood behind Yang Ning, grew increasingly anxious and attempted to pull her away from the crowd. Whispering urgently, she pleaded, "Miss, please don't argue here. We could get into trouble. Let's just leave, alright?"

Yang Ning glanced at Xiaowei, gently removing her hand from hers, and instructed her to remain in place and not intervene. "Xiaowei, be good," she assured her, affirming that she should refrain from involving herself in the matter.