“Look, big brother, are you out of your mind? Chasing me for three hundred li in this heavy snow just for a jade pendant?!”
Tang San panted heavily, unable to resist turning back to complain at the dark shadow hot on his heels. Yet, he didn't dare slow his pace for even a second, sprinting forward at maximum speed.
But the shadow seemed completely deaf to his words, continuing to close the distance with a red-tasseled spear in hand!
“Dammit! I really regret not checking the almanac before leaving the house today! To think I'd run into this jinx!”
Tang San cursed under his breath, finding the silent, relentless pressure from the shadow behind him absolutely unbearable.
He had always relied on his light-body movement technique, Stepping on Snow Without a Trace, to do whatever he pleased in this region, making a self-sufficient living out of petty theft.
But who could have known that the moment he struck today, some foolish kid would pop out of nowhere and chase him for several hours!
Tang San had never been caught since entering this line of work. He relied on more than just his swift footwork; he also knew exactly where to draw the line.
He rarely stole highly valuable items, because those who owned them were usually high officials or wealthy nobles—influential people a petty thief like him could never afford to offend.
Because of this, the victims of his thefts naturally wouldn't pursue him to the bitter end over a common, everyday item.
Yet, who would have thought he'd run into this single-minded blockhead today!
What baffled him most was that the jade pendant hadn't even been stolen from that kid! Was there any need to risk his life like this for a complete stranger?!
The snow fell thicker and thicker, and Tang San's steps grew increasingly heavy.
He knew his inner qi was running dangerously low.
He looked back again. The pursuer's expression remained completely unchanged, clearly still possessing plenty of energy to spare!
If this chase continued, it was only a matter of time before he was caught!
“Motherfucker, this is taking things too far!”
With that thought, Tang San suddenly ground to a halt. He drew two daggers from his sleeves, preparing to fight to the death!
“Oh? Done running?”
By now, the dark shadow had caught up, spear in hand.
The man tilted his bamboo hat up slightly, looking at him with great interest.
When Tang San's gaze met those eyes, his throat involuntarily twitched as he swallowed hard.
For he sensed a playful, cat-and-mouse amusement in the other man's eyes!
“What a joke! This kid looks about the same age as me. How strong could he possibly be? He's just bluffing!”
Tang San summoned his courage and tightened his grip on his daggers.
“Kid, do you really think I'm afraid of you? I'll show you what Grandfather Tang is made of!”
With those words, Tang San charged forward, daggers bared!
【Ding! Battle scenario detected. Please select a spear technique for combat...】
At that moment, a block of text that only Chen Zui could see appeared before his eyes.
“System, retrieve available spear techniques.”
【You currently possess the following two spear techniques. Please make a selection.】
Chen Zui clearly saw two spear techniques displayed on the panel in front of him.
【Coiling Serpent Willow Spear: Softness Around the Finger】
【Wind and Snow Night Return Spear: Cold Guest's Path】
“I choose the Wind and Snow Night Return Spear!”
Chen Zui chose the second spear technique without a moment's hesitation.
Just as its name suggested, the intent of this spear technique was cold and solitary. In this freezing, snow-covered environment, it could unleash its maximum power!
Sure enough, the instant he made his choice and gripped the shaft, a thin layer of frost coated his long spear. It seemed to resonate with the snow falling gently around him, causing the entire world to slow down.
At this moment, all of Tang San's movements as he charged with his daggers became incredibly slow in Chen Zui's eyes, riddled with openings.
Chen Zui grinned. With a slight sway of his body, he was already standing right in front of Tang San.
【Wind and Snow Night Return Spear, Second Style: Frost on the Branches】
With a gentle flick of his spear, he delivered two rapid thrusts, instantly knocking the daggers from Tang San's hands and sending them flying into the snow!
At the same time, a green jade pendant had somehow appeared on the spearhead, reflecting the dim sunlight as it hung alongside the red tassels wrapped around the tip.
Chen Zui plucked the jade pendant from the spearhead, slipped it into his robe, and pulled back his spear, standing tall.
The world, which had ground to a halt, returned to its natural flow the moment he withdrew his weapon.
A snowflake drifted onto Tang San's face, snapping him back to reality.
He panted heavily, dry-heaving repeatedly.
Just a moment ago, he had felt an overwhelming aura of death!
That aura was far colder and more bone-chilling than the surrounding snow and ice!
What was even more terrifying was that he hadn't even seen what had just happened!
He couldn't understand why someone with such formidable martial arts would chase him for three hundred li over a completely ordinary jade pendant...
“Who... who on earth are you...”
He collapsed to his knees, staring blankly at the mysterious man before him as he mumbled.
The man lowered his bamboo hat, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. “I'm just a busybody. A busybody who meddles in others' business.”
With that, he shouldered his long spear and slowly melted into the vast, falling snow, vanishing without a trace.
...
The inn was quiet and deserted. Only two women sat there, having ordered two plates of vegetarian dishes and drinking tea.
“Teacher, it's been several hours now. Could that man be a fraud? What if he's in league with that thief? If he hadn't suddenly popped out of nowhere, I would have caught that little thief myself long ago!”
One of them, a young girl dressed in a red padded coat, puffed out her cheeks and spoke with great indignation.
She didn't believe for a second that someone would randomly appear out of nowhere just to help catch a thief.
The man was likely just looking for some reward.
Since several hours had passed, he probably lacked the ability to catch the thief and was too embarrassed to return empty-handed.
“No need to rush. Let's wait a bit longer.”
Seated across from the girl was a woman in scholar's robes, possessing an ethereal aura.
Her appearance alone was not strikingly beautiful, but her exceptionally calm demeanor made her unforgettable.
At this moment, she held her tea, slowly bringing it to her pale, lightly colored lips.
Suddenly, she paused and let out an involuntary smile.
“Teacher, you actually smiled!”
The girl in the red coat almost stared her eyes out.
In her memory, her female teacher had always been someone who rarely smiled.
“Xiao Zhu,” the woman said, setting down her teacup with a rare hint of amusement in her voice. “Don't you find this interesting?”
“Do you mean that man who suddenly showed up and stole my credit, Teacher?”
The woman nodded.
“Indeed. Who would have thought that in this chaotic world, where everyone only looks out for themselves, there would still be someone who stands up against injustice upon seeing it?”
“Teacher, aren't you missing the second half of the idiom—'and draws his sword to help'?”
The woman shook her head, sighing as she looked out at the vast, falling snow.
“Most of the time, people simply choose ‘not to see’ the many injustices occurring in this world.”
“Hehe, what you say is always too profound, Teacher...”
The girl in the red coat scratched her head in embarrassment, only to catch a glimpse of her teacher's lips curving upward once more.
“Teacher, why are you smiling again?”
The woman pointed out the window. “Look, Xiao Zhu.”
Xiao Zhu stood up and looked outside, only to see a figure walking through the heavy snow with a spear in hand.
“He actually isn't a fraud!” Xiao Zhu blurted out.
“Who said I was a fraud?”
The man in the bamboo hat, covered in snow, pushed the door open and walked in.
Seeing him enter, the woman stood up, took a few steps forward, and bowed with cupped hands. “Xiao Zhu is young and speaks without thinking. Please do not take offense, sir.”
Chen Zui glanced at the woman, who carried herself with Confucian elegance. Without saying much, he pulled the ordinary-looking jade pendant from his robe and handed it over.
“I'm not that petty. Here is your jade pendant.”
Without waiting for their reaction, he walked straight to the table, picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a piece of vegetarian food, and stuffed it into his mouth.
The woman gently stroked the lingering warmth on the jade pendant with her fingertip, speaking softly, “I wonder how I might repay you, sir?”
“No need for repayment. Your jade pendant isn't worth much to begin with. If I expected a reward, I really would be a fraud.”
Chen Zui didn't even turn his head, focusing solely on eating.
“Oh? Since you knew my jade pendant wasn't valuable, why did you still help, going so far as to brave this massive snowstorm to retrieve it for me?”
A faint, barely perceptible ripple passed across the woman's otherwise placid face.
“I had nothing better to do.”
Chen Zui mumbled back, his mouth full of food.
“How dare you! How can you speak to my teacher like that!”
“Xiao Zhu, do not be rude.”
“Teacher! It's clearly this man who is being disrespectful to you...”
But halfway through her sentence, Xiao Zhu saw her teacher's stern expression and could only shut her mouth with a wronged look, not daring to make another sound.
“In that case, would you be willing to leave your name, sir?”
“I am Chen Zui.”
“Chen Zui... Intoxicated. A fine name.”
“I am Lin Jianxi.”
With that, the woman prepared to lead the girl in the red coat out of the inn. But as she reached the door, she suddenly turned back to look at Chen Zui, who was still wolfing down his food, and left him with a meaningful remark.
“The books say that in life, paths will always cross again. Young Hero Chen, I believe we will surely meet again.”
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