Chapter 11

"Damn... Shit..."

Zhang Jian muttered curses and shivered. His distorted expression and twitching eyelids revealed his pain, anger, sadness, and despair. The dominoes in his trembling hands clattered to the ground. He had lost again.

"...Look, I don't usually say this, but... you really shouldn't be playing games like this."

The middle-aged man sitting at the same table looked at Zhang Jian with pity and offered some advice. But Zhang Jian glared at him with a clenched jaw.

"You guys... couldn't have colluded, could you?"

The middle-aged man chuckled.

"Colluded? No, your skills are so poor that there's no need for that. You're just terrible at gambling."

Those words were the final blow. Zhang Jian's strength drained away, and he bowed his head deeply. He knew better than anyone that the gamblers at this table hadn't colluded. Having been cleaned out before, he naturally used his senses to observe the gamblers' movements, honing his perception and intuition.

The problem was that he had been so focused on their movements that he had completely neglected to hide his own expressions or read their emotions. When he held a knife, he could move as naturally as breathing, but with dominoes in his hands, he fell apart.

In any case, he had been thoroughly cleaned out in this game.

"Don't take my words lightly. You're really bad at gambling. And you call yourself a martial artist, carrying a sword around. If you can't even win at gambling, you shouldn't be carrying such a dangerous weapon. You'll end up getting cut one day."

The middle-aged man scooped up the coins on the table and gave some earnest advice. But Zhang Jian, with his head bowed, seemed not to hear, and he slowly rose from his chair, walking to a long table where the innkeeper sat. The middle-aged man shook his head, feeling ignored.

"Your luck must be really bad."

The innkeeper, who had been roasting something over a small stove, put it down and took out a bottle of wine when Zhang Jian sat down. Zhang Jian naturally accepted the bottle and a glass, filling the glass as he spoke.

"I've never had good luck."

The innkeeper, who looked to be in his late middle age, smiled slightly at Zhang Jian's curt response and returned his attention to the small stove. Having boosted the inn's revenue for several days, the innkeeper seemed to find Zhang Jian likable despite his gruff manner.

Zhang Jian took a sip of wine, leaned his arm on the table, and rubbed his chin, looking around the inn with sleepy eyes.

Most people were drinking and eating snacks rather than having meals. It was late afternoon, and many farmers and shopkeepers had come in for a drink after finishing their hard work. In one corner of the inn, a wandering singer sat with a wide-brimmed hat covering his face, deeply reclined in a chair, plucking a pipa. Zhang Jian sipped his wine, using the pipa music as an accompaniment.

The two-story courtyard-style inn was bright with the afternoon sun. However, the bright sunlight made the shaded areas even darker in contrast.

Sitting in the dark, Zhang Jian looked at the bright area with sleepy eyes. He saw dust particles floating and dancing in the sunlight, weaving through the happy, laughing crowd. What kind of life did these floating dust particles have? Did they just drift along with the wind, carried by the waves between gusts? If so, could their lives be as fulfilling as those of the happy farmers and merchants?

A small smile appeared on Zhang Jian's face as he rubbed his chin, amused by his own musings after losing money.

Still, he had learned something this time. Unlike before, he hadn't gambled until his pockets were completely empty. The coins still in his possession gave him a sense of security.

As Zhang Jian sipped his wine with a satisfied smile, he noticed three people entering the inn, lifting the curtain.

Shiny, well-oiled wide-brimmed hats, black windproof clothing, and sword handles protruding from their right shoulders. Judging by their identical attire and ominous aura, they seemed like a group of perverted individuals.

The innkeeper let out a small sigh that only Zhang Jian could hear, then approached them, still behind the long table.

"Welcome. Are you here to stay?"

The man at the front of the three, dressed in black windproof clothing, didn't respond to the innkeeper but lifted his hat slightly to look around the inn slowly. After a while, he smiled when he spotted someone.

"...Sir?"

He suddenly held up a finger. The innkeeper understood and poured a strong drink, which the man downed in one go. He then placed a coin on the table with a thud and walked inside.

The inn was quiet. It was clear that the three men were not ordinary. However, because they had spread out, people couldn't leave and could only watch nervously.

The man at the front walked slowly to the back of the singer who had been playing the pipa. The singer, who had been lying back in his chair with his feet on the table, lifted his hat slightly, sensing the sudden silence in the inn.

"Ah."

Zhang Jian, who had been sitting with his chin in his hand, let out a small sigh of admiration. The face under the lifted hat was quite beautiful, especially the red lips and the clear beauty mark below them.

"There you are, Zhuyelang."

The woman sighed lightly at the voice behind her and spoke without turning.

"Who are you, and why are you looking for me?"

I am Xiao Queyong of the Shan Dong Ji family. You may not know my name, but you must know the name of the Ji family."

"Shan Dong Ji family? They should be in Shan Dong. The Ji family is now in Xin Shitian, isn't it?"

"...You're talking nonsense, Zhuyelang. That's not important."

"Then what is important?"

Xiao Queyong smiled again and said,

"Today will be your day of reckoning."

Zhuyelang frowned and rubbed her temples.

"...I have an idea what this is about. Sorry, but that Ji family scholar is just delusional. I was just playing the pipa for money. Should I be responsible for his infatuation?"

"Don't talk nonsense! We know you seduced the young master with a purpose! We have witnesses!"

Zhuyelang looked puzzled.

"Witnesses to that?"

"Miss Cheng Zhiying told us everything about how you approached the young master! And how you stole the family's secret manual from him!"

Zhuyelang sighed deeply at Xiao Queyong's growling.

"Great. What secret manual? Ask the young master properly. See if that really happened."

"You bitch! The young master! The young master is...!"

"...What happened to the young master? Did something happen to him?"

Xiao Queyong didn't answer, his face flushed as he grabbed the sword handle behind his shoulder and shouted,

"Stand up! And turn around! I won't strike someone who shows their back!"

As he grabbed his sword, the other two also lowered their bodies and gripped their sword handles. The people in the inn held their breath in fear.

Zhuyelang remained seated with her feet on the table. She leaned her head back against the chair and looked at the inn's ceiling.

"Really fight? Over this young man's infatuation?"

"Bitch! The young master is the heir of the family, who has already had his coming-of-age ceremony this year!"

"Sixteen is still a kid. And honestly, it doesn't seem like the Ji family is really concerned about this. Don't you think so?"

Xiao Queyong shouted,

"What nonsense is this!"

"Isn't it? If the Ji family really took this seriously, a real family member with the Ji surname would have come alone, not three kids like you."

Xiao Queyong flinched at her soft voice, his face turning red.

"How dare you! A vagrant like you is enough for me and my brothers! Stand up now!"

Zhuyelang asked again,

"Really fight? I won't hold back once it starts."

Xiao Queyong, thinking she was mocking him, threw off his hat and threw it to the ground, speaking in a low voice.

"Fine, this is on you. If you want a sword in your back, I'll give it to you."

With that, he tightened his grip on the sword handle and drew it. The other two also drew their swords. As the three swords were pulled out with a swish, just before the blades were fully out of their scabbards, Zhuyelang, who had been sitting, turned her body like lightning.

As she turned, something flashed and embedded itself in Xiao Queyong's chest.

"Ugh!"

Xiao Queyong let out a single cry and fell backward, the force of the impact carrying him to the ground. The other two looked at the fallen Xiao Queyong and Zhuyelang with wide eyes. Two daggers were embedded in Xiao Queyong's chest. Zhuyelang smiled and said,

"You drew your swords first, so it's self-defense."

The two Ji family retainers, regaining their senses, shouted and swung their swords. Zhuyelang dodged by spinning backward, and their swords split the chair and table she had been sitting on. Judging by how they split the wooden table in one go, they were not just kids.

"Ah! A fight! Call the branch leader!"

"Run!"

As the fight started, the inn's customers, who had been holding their breath, began to scream and run. But unlike the fleeing customers, Zhang Jian remained seated, sipping his wine with a blank expression. A chair flew toward him but was caught and stopped by his hand. He gently placed it down.

The innkeeper, seeing Zhang Jian's calm demeanor, blinked and brought a waiter, who was looking at the broken tables and chairs in dismay, to the table opposite Zhang Jian. He peeked out from behind the table, sighing repeatedly.

"To replace all this..."

"...Uncle, there won't be any profit this month."

Zhuyelang, who had thrown the daggers, drew a straight sword from her back, longer than her forearm, and continued fighting. Her agile movements, leaping from table to table and chair to chair, were almost like a dance.

The two warriors, though skilled enough to split a table in one strike, were not fast enough to catch Zhuyelang, who leaped around. They even collided with each other, causing chaos. Zhuyelang was toying with them.

"Ah."

Zhang Jian was delighted to see someone using something like lightness skills, which he hadn't seen in a long time. It seemed she had a natural light and flexible body, enhanced by some training. Perhaps he was witnessing a pioneer of lightness skills in the new continent.

Then, as all the tables on the first floor were destroyed, Zhuyelang landed on the ground again. The two warriors, seeing her feet touch the ground, held their breath.

Immediately, two streaks of light flashed past Zhuyelang. She remained in the same position, holding the straight sword in her right hand, while the two warriors stood behind her, their backs exposed.

A moment of silence. Then, Zhuyelang stood up and sheathed the straight sword at her back. As the sword clicked into place, the two warriors collapsed. One had his neck half-severed, and the other had a dagger embedded in his forehead.

Zhang Jian, who had watched the entire scene, clapped silently and sipped his wine. The singer had used the pipa music to enhance the wine, and now the sword fight was doing the same. He nodded to himself, feeling pleased.

Zhuyelang, after catching her breath, noticed Zhang Jian, the only person still sitting calmly among the chaos. She looked at him as if he were a madman, then approached the innkeeper hiding behind Zhang Jian.

"What a mess. I'm so sorry. The inn is in shambles because of those ruffians."

The innkeeper smiled and shook his head, looking almost enlightened.

"Running an inn means getting used to such things. You don't need to worry, Miss."

"No, I can't. If it weren't for me, this wouldn't have happened."

She said this, then took off the pipa she had been carrying on her back. As she fiddled with the bottom of the pipa, a small, square compartment opened with a click. She took out a pouch, hesitated for a moment, and then handed it over.

"Here. Use it for repairs."

"Oh, what a generous gift."

The innkeeper accepted the pouch without hesitation, chuckling. It seemed heavy. The woman, after handing over the money, looked around at the three dead warriors and the ruined inn, nodded to the innkeeper, and left.

Zhang Jian understood why she left quickly. Even if it was self-defense, the branch leader of the martial arts alliance would likely detain her. It was best to leave to avoid trouble.

A moment later, Zhang Jian realized it was best for him to leave quickly as well. The branch leader, who arrived late, started asking detailed questions. If it weren't for the innkeeper serving him wine and snacks, he might have punched the man in the face.

* * *

The next day, Zhang Jian leisurely rode his horse through the cool forest air. He had managed to avoid being completely cleaned out by gambling, but his pockets were still thinner. The village he had visited the previous day was peaceful, with no significant issues. The commotion caused by Zhuyelang was probably the most exciting event in nearly a year.

There was no way for a martial artist to earn money in such a place.

He had to seek out problems to earn money. Zhang Jian let out a wry smile and slowly rode his horse. The sunlight filtering through the straight trees soothed his mood. He whistled the tune he had heard from Zhuyelang's pipa the previous day.

As he leisurely rode his horse and whistled on the mountain path, he saw a cliff jutting out to one side and guided his horse there.

Standing on the cliff, he saw the winding mountain ridges in the distance, the massive snow-capped mountains beyond, the winding river below, and the undulating forest. They gave him a sense of calm.

Zhang Jian took a deep breath of the fresh air, then, just as he was about to lead his horse away from the cliff, he stopped and pulled the reins. The horse snorted, as if wondering what he was doing.

"Seeing you again?"

Below, at the bottom of the cliff, he saw Zhuyelang standing face-to-face with someone.