Chapter 3

Yang Hong sat across from Zhang Jian, who was slurping noodles as if he were about to run away at any moment, and started a conversation with a casual tone.

"Zhang Xiong, now is not the time for you to be eating noodles."

Zhang Jian continued to eat his noodles without a word. He slurped up a large amount of noodles, filling his cheeks, and chewed them in a way that was incredibly appetizing. Yang Hong swallowed his saliva and continued.

"Zhang Xiong, I remember we had meals together and played cards. I think it would be best for you to leave this inn quickly."

Zhang Jian did not respond. Instead, he slurped his noodles, then lifted the bowl to drink the broth. After putting the bowl down and swallowing everything in his mouth, he took a sip of the tea next to him and finally looked at Yang Hong.

"Why?"

"…Didn’t you see the guy who ran away just now?"

"Jin Yangshi?"

Yang Hong scratched his chin.

"You pretended not to remember, but you remember everything. Anyway, that guy is dangerous."

"A guy who got scammed by a fraudster like you?"

Zhang Jian's words made Yang Hong give a light cough.

"What do you mean by a fraudster?"

"If you don’t like the term 'fraudster,' call me a thief."

"Hey, do you know what a fraudster is?"

"A fraudster is someone who deceives people."

"Deceives people? I’ve never taken anything from poor civilians."

"Are you Hong Gildong?"

"…Who is Hong Gildong?"

Zhang Jian lifted his teacup to his lips and replied.

"The leader of the Halbin Party."

"…Halbin Party?"

"Didn’t I tell you?"

Yang Hong smiled.

"No, I don’t know. I lack knowledge."

Zhang Jian looked at Yang Hong silently for a moment before speaking.

"So why is that guy dangerous?"

Yang Hong picked up an overturned teacup from the corner of the table, filled it with tea, and said.

"Jin Yangshi is a nobody. He hasn’t learned martial arts, doesn’t have much wealth, and isn’t particularly smart. He’s just a fool, a fool."

"A fool is dangerous?"

He took a sip of the tea.

"A fool is just a fool. The problem is that he has an older brother who is quite skilled."

Zhang Jian chuckled and picked up his chopsticks again.

"I’m also skilled in martial arts."

"Of course, I know that. Everyone in Anzhu Village knows about Zhang Xiong’s fist. They all said it was definitely a decoration before they saw you draw your sword."

Zhang Jian put down his chopsticks again.

"Then what’s the problem, kid? Don’t beat around the bush. Speak quickly."

"…The skilled older brother is a problem, and the sect he belongs to is even more of a problem. It’s a faction called Sashang Sect, a villainous sect."

Zhang Jian frowned.

"There’s a branch of the Wulin Alliance here, right? How can a villainous sect exist?"

Yang Hong grinned.

"Are you curious?"

Zhang Jian also grinned. He showed his tightly clenched left fist. Yang Hong’s face paled slightly when he saw it.

"Wh-What? I’ll tell you, so put your fist down… Of course, they’re not openly a villainous sect. They’re not vagrants without a home. The leader of their sect and the branch leader of the Wulin Alliance are somehow connected, so as long as they keep within certain limits, they don’t interfere. And Jin Qingshi, the older brother of the fool, is their top expert."

"Did you scam his brother?"

Yang Hong shrugged.

"I told you. They have to keep within limits. What happened just now happened yesterday, and if you hadn’t come, it would have happened tomorrow too."

"The Wulin Alliance is really well-run."

"Apparently, the residents here think the same. They usually have a lot of complaints, so they opened up to me, an outsider."

Zhang Jian took his eyes off Yang Hong and picked up his chopsticks.

"Then stop talking and get out of here."

"…That’s a bit difficult."

Zhang Jian looked around and understood the situation. The people who had been laughing and gambling with Yang Hong were now glaring at him and Zhang Jian as if they wanted to kill them. It was probably because of the provocation of Jin Yangshi and the use of deceit.

Some of the residents, frightened, were quietly leaving the inn. As Zhang Jian slurped his remaining noodles and looked around, the innkeeper approached with a stern face.

"Sir."

Zhang Jian looked up at the innkeeper. Upon closer inspection, the innkeeper’s face was not only stern but also trembling.

"I’ll return the cost of the noodles and the accommodation. Please leave my inn."

Yang Hong laughed, as if to say, "What can you do?"

"Let’s go. Before the Sashang Sect guys arrive. If they come, neither of us will be safe."

However, while listening to both of them, Zhang Jian calmly finished the noodles, drank the broth, and burped lightly.

"I think we’ll be fine."

"…Are you some kind of Yellow Army expert? There are about twenty of them. What are you going to do?"

"If you wanted to run, you should have left without making a fuss. It’s too late now."

As Yang Hong and the innkeeper heard this, a low, deep voice came from behind the inn’s curtain.

"Right. It’s too late to run."

It seemed as if the blood drained from the faces of the innkeeper and Yang Hong. At the same time, the owner of the voice entered the inn. The man, who looked burly at first glance, seemed to weigh a lot, as the wooden floor of the inn creaked under his weight.

The burly man looked at the frightened innkeeper and Yang Hong, then at Zhang Jian. He watched Zhang Jian, who was calmly drinking tea, for a moment before turning around and asking.

"Are these the guys?"

"Y-Yes, Brother. They used deceit to take my money and broke my nose when I protested. Please teach them a lesson."

"…Your money?"

Jin Yangshi, who appeared behind the man, made a surprised expression and quickly added.

"T-They were taking people’s money. My money, well, it was just a part of it."

The burly man looked at Jin Yangshi, who had a bandaged nose and was stuttering, with a look of disdain, then turned his gaze back to Yang Hong and Zhang Jian.

"Everyone, leave."

Zhang Jian realized the order was not directed at him. All the remaining people in the inn rushed out. The innkeeper, who was about to follow, stopped next to the man and said cautiously.

"T-The new table I bought hasn’t been used for long…"

The man looked at the innkeeper with a stern expression, and the innkeeper, startled by his gaze, quickly ran out.

Yang Hong, who had a worried look on his face, tried to blend in with the people leaving.

"Sit down. If you don’t want to die, sit down."

Yang Hong, hearing Zhang Jian’s dry voice, naturally sat down again, lifted his teacup, and replied.

"Um? What are you talking about, Zhang Xiong? I’m sitting here."

Zhang Jian, who was looking at the man, only smiled at this. When the inn was empty, about ten more burly men entered from outside, surrounding Zhang Jian and Yang Hong in a semicircle.

The man, who had been glaring at Zhang Jian, slowly walked over and said.

"Welcome, friends. I’m Jin Qingshi. I’m a bit embarrassed, but I act as a mediator in this village. It’s a peaceful place, so I don’t have much to do, but I’ve been idling around."

He stopped in front of the table where Zhang Jian and Yang Hong were sitting.

"However, it seems I have something to deal with today."

Zhang Jian did not respond. He just looked at Jin Qingshi with a serious expression and took a sip of tea. Jin Qingshi’s eyebrows twitched, and Yang Hong, who had been watching, quickly stood up, clasped his hands, and said.

"H-Haha. It seems there was a misunderstanding. Nice to meet you. I’m Yang Hong. I came to this village a few days ago, and I’ve heard many times about Jin Xiong’s chivalry. Meeting you in such times is truly a coincidence. And this is Zhang Xiong, Zhang Jian. He’s been in this village for not long…"

However, Yang Hong’s words were cut off by Jin Qingshi’s right index finger pointing at him. Yang Hong, surprised by the sudden gesture, heard Jin Qingshi speak.

"Fraudster."

"Y-Yes? F-Fraudster?"

The finger then moved to point at Zhang Jian.

"Rogue."

Jin Qingshi put his hand down and placed his hands on his waist, speaking arrogantly.

"You suddenly appeared in this peaceful village, took advantage of the poor civilians, and when my brother couldn’t stand it and protested, you answered with fists. You’re not ordinary ruffians. As someone who follows the code of chivalry, I can’t just let this go. I will arrest you and take you to the Wulin Alliance branch. I advise you not to resist, as it will only result in injury."

Yang Hong, hearing the decisive words and the confident attitude, was speechless and only twisted his eyebrows. The men surrounding them, upon hearing Jin Qingshi’s words, pulled out thick cudgels from their waists and approached.

Yang Hong’s face turned pale. He muttered, "Damn it…"

"At least you’re not going to beat us to death."

Zhang Jian’s sudden words made the men closing in hesitate. They looked at Jin Qingshi for a cue. Jin Qingshi, displeased with their hesitation, frowned and glared at Zhang Jian.

"How can I kill someone in broad daylight in an inn?"

"Is it okay to surround and oppress us like this?"

Jin Qingshi took a step closer to the table where Zhang Jian was sitting.

"To arrest ruffians who disrupt the village, all martial artists will understand the situation."

"Where are the other martial artists here? Your self-importance is excessive."

Jin Qingshi, irritated by Zhang Jian’s sarcasm, took another step closer and lowered his voice.

"Is this kid really asking for it? If you don’t behave, I can tear your mouth before handing you over to the Wulin Alliance."

Zhang Jian smiled at the threat.

"You won’t let me go unharmed?"

"After what you did to my brother’s face, you can’t expect to leave my village unscathed. At least I’ll make you a cripple. If you don’t like that, I can take care of the thing between your legs."

The last words made the surrounding thugs chuckle. Some even tapped their thighs with their cudgels. Yang Hong, seeing this, subconsciously brought his hands together and pulled his legs in.

Zhang Jian, looking at the thugs, Jin Qingshi, and the grinning Jin Yangshi with disdain, said.

"In martial arts novels, don’t they usually think that someone who remains calm in such a situation must have something up their sleeve? Don’t they worry that you might be a Yellow Army expert or a wandering expert?"

Jin Qingshi’s face hardened at Zhang Jian’s words.

"What? A Yellow Army expert? Are you a Yellow Army expert?"

Zhang Jian replied with a blank expression.

"No, I’m not."

"…What, you crazy kid? Are you joking? Are you pretending to be a Yellow Army expert to get killed?"

At that moment, Zhang Jian, who had been sitting, suddenly leaped from his chair, grabbed the table with his hand, and kicked Jin Qingshi in the face.

The force of the kick was so strong that the burly Jin Qingshi was sent flying to the inn’s entrance. His eyes were wide open, and his front teeth were shattered, blood streaming down his face. The thugs and Yang Hong, who were in the inn, looked at the fallen Jin Qingshi and Zhang Jian in shock.

Zhang Jian, landing neatly from the kick, looked at them with a slanted gaze and said.

"Are there no experts or Yellow Army members if you’re not one?"