Chen Zui’s brow furrowed.
The moment the wine flask hit the ground, the tail of his spear swept out like a venomous snake’s tail, striking the guard squarely in the chest.
This strike seemed casual, but the force was perfectly measured.
The guard’s breastbone gave a muffled crack, and he was sent flying off his feet as if struck by a wild bull, slamming heavily against the rockery.
Blood gushed from his mouth, and he struggled twice but failed to get back up.
From the moment the blade was drawn to the moment he hit the ground, less than two breaths had passed.
The guard whose long sword had been sent flying earlier clutched his right arm, staring at Chen Zui with a pale face.
The web of his hand had torn, blood dripping through his fingers, and the meridians of his right arm were eroded by that cold force, making him unable to even form a fist now.
“Inquiry Realm...”
He forced out those three words, his voice filled with disbelief.
The smile on Qian Wanjin’s face froze.
He saw clearly that his two guards hadn’t even touched a corner of this man’s clothes before being decisively knocked to the ground.
Chen Zui bent down to pick up the wine flask and hung it back at his waist before finally looking up at Qian Wanjin under the eaves.
“Are you going to listen to reason or not?”
The fat on Qian Wanjin’s face twitched, and a layer of fine cold sweat broke out on his forehead, mixing with the rain as it flowed down.
He subconsciously took a half-step back, his back hitting the doorframe with a dull thud.
“Who... who exactly are you?”
Chen Zui didn’t answer, merely carrying his spear as he walked toward the eaves step by step.
The middle-aged fat man had already crawled to the corner during the chaos, huddled into a ball and trembling violently.
A dozen guards lay scattered across the courtyard; some were groaning, while others were simply pretending to be dead.
Not a single one dared to stand up again.
Watching the approaching figure, Qian Wanjin’s legs couldn’t stop shaking.
He had been in business for decades and had met people from all walks of life, priding himself on his ability to read people.
But he couldn't see through this young man before him.
The aura on this man was too strange.
Especially those eyes—they were as calm as a pool of stagnant water, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
How could a young man in his early twenties have such eyes?
“What exactly do you want?”
Qian Wanjin forced himself to ask, though his voice was no longer composed.
Chen Zui stopped under the eaves, the spear tip lightly tapping the stone step with a crisp ring.
“Two things.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present with perfect clarity.
“First, the deed to Yun'niang’s bun shop is written clearly in black and white. From now on, if anyone from the Qian family sets foot in that shop again, they will face the consequences.”
Qian Wanjin’s face was ashen, and he said nothing.
“Second.” Chen Zui tilted his head to glance at the middle-aged fat man huddled in the corner.
“This man, your Qian family will handle him yourselves. I will only say one thing: from now on, I don’t want to see him in Meiwu Town again.”
The middle-aged fat man shuddered all over, wanting to beg for mercy, but a single look from Chen Zui scared him into swallowing his words.
Qian Wanjin took a deep breath, his merchant’s instinct for seeking profit and avoiding harm allowing him to make a quick judgment.
This young man before him was definitely not someone he could afford to provoke.
“Fine.” He squeezed a single word through his teeth. “I will do as you say.”
Chen Zui stared at him for a moment, and only after confirming there was no perfunctoriness or calculation in those eyes did he slowly retract his long spear.
“Remember your words.”
He turned and walked toward the gate, his soaked straw sandals making a rhythmic splashing sound against the bluestone tiles.
The guards throughout the courtyard automatically backed away to both sides, clearing a path for him.
Rain washed away the blood on the ground, seeping into the soil through the cracks in the stone.
Qian Wanjin watched the figure gradually disappear into the curtain of rain, his expression shifting unpredictably.
The steward, Qian An, who had been hiding in the inner hall, crawled out from under a table and leaned toward Qian Wanjin’s ear to whisper.
“Master, are we just going to let him go like this? Should we send people...”
“Shut up.” Qian Wanjin interrupted him coldly. “Didn’t you see what happened to those two?”
Qian An shrank his neck and lowered his voice further.
“Master, that man was using a spear just now. Do you remember the matter that has been causing a stir in the martial world these past few months?”
Qian Wanjin frowned. “What matter?”
“They say there’s a Nameless Spearman who obtained the sword path inheritance of Sword Immortal Shen’s Sword Attendant, and he has a Peerless Sword Manual in his hands.
Whoever can get that manual can directly enter the Second Rank peak.
Now, half of the martial world is looking for this spearman.”
Qian Wanjin’s eyes lit up. “You mean...”
“The spear technique that man showed just now was definitely out of the ordinary, and for someone so young to have such a level of cultivation, there’s an eighty or ninety percent chance he’s that spearman the martial world is talking about.
Even if he isn’t, we can use someone else’s hand to give this kid a lesson!”
Qian An smiled sinisterly.
“Master, although we can’t beat him, if we spread this news...”
Qian Wanjin pondered for a moment, a flash of ruthlessness appearing in his eyes.
“Good, let’s do it. Qian An, I’ll leave this to you. Remember, spread the news discreetly; don’t let anyone trace it back to us.”
“Rest assured, Master, I know what to do.”
...
That afternoon.
Meiwu Town was in an uproar.
The commotion at the bun shop had already spread through every street and alley. People on every corner were discussing how that outsider, who usually ate buns and drank tea with a smile, was actually a hidden expert.
Someone recounted the process of him knocking down the Qian family guards in just a few moves, adding plenty of flourish. By the time they reached the exciting parts, saliva was flying, drawing gasps of surprise from the onlookers.
Old Wang the fishmonger told everyone he met, “I knew Little Brother Chen wasn't an ordinary person long ago. Could an ordinary person carry such a heavy spear like a shoulder pole?”
Shopkeeper Li of the tea house shook his folding fan and lamented, “I have discussed the Dao with him for many days, yet I failed to see that he was a martial arts expert. These old eyes of mine have truly grown for nothing.”
Old Sun was even more proud, sitting at the entrance of Dingxiang Tower with a plate of peanuts and boasting to a group of old friends.
“That Chen kid and I have a life-and-death friendship! I treat him to drinks every other day. You have no idea how many martial world stories he’s told me...”
Chen Zui remained his usual lazy self, squatting at the entrance of the bun shop while munching on a bun.
The shop had already been tidied up with the help of the neighbors; the overturned steamers were set back in place, and the crushed buns had been swept clean.
The swelling on Yun'niang’s face hadn't gone down yet, but her spirits were much better. As she kneaded dough, she would occasionally look up at the figure by the door, a smile on her lips that she couldn't suppress.
“Brother Chen!”
Xiao Shitou ran over from the mouth of the alley, clutching an oil-paper bundle in his arms and panting as he held it out to Chen Zui.
“Grandpa Li told me to bring this braised pork shank. He said it’s to help you recover your strength!”
Chen Zui took the bundle and rubbed Xiao Shitou’s head. “Thank Shopkeeper Li for me.”
“And this!”
Xiao Shitou pulled a small jar of wine from his tunic.
“Grandpa Sun said he got this on credit from Dingxiang Tower. He wants you to drink this for now and said he’ll treat you to something better later.”
Chen Zui laughed, pulled the stopper, and took a swig.
The wine wasn’t great, but in this fine March rain of Jiangnan, it felt warmer than any fine nectar.
Yun'niang walked over with a fresh steamer of buns. Seeing Chen Zui surrounded by the neighbors, her eyes suddenly felt a bit stinging.
She lowered her head, placed the buns beside Chen Zui, and said softly, “Eat while they’re hot.”
Chen Zui looked up at her and took a large bite of a bun.
“Yun'niang, the buns today are quite a bit bigger than usual.”
Yun'niang pursed her lips and smiled, though her eyes were rimmed with red.
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