San Gouzi spat with disdain, tightened his grip on the iron rod, and swung it at Yun Che.
Yun Che dodged aside, and San Gouzi sneered, "You fool, you actually know how to dodge! You can run today, but you can't run forever. I'll teach you what the rules are right now."
A murderous intent surged in Yun He's heart, and he was about to make a move.
Suddenly, two young women dining in the shop leaped out.
"Stop right there!"
Against the backlight, Yun He saw that the leading young girl possessed peerless beauty and a unique aura that made her unforgettable at first glance.
Such a stunning beauty appearing in this humble barbecue stall was a rare sight indeed.
The girl was around twenty years old, with a graceful figure and a heroic spirit between her brows.
San Gouzi froze, then grinned and said, "My, what a gentle breeze to blow in such an immortal fairy! If Young Master Ning learns of this, he will surely shower you with favors. Little miss, would you like to come with me?"
Such petty villains turned soft at the knees the moment they saw a beauty.
The girl sneered, "I am an instructor at the Cultivation Academy, and my name is Zige. Seeing you running amok here, will you come back with me to receive a reprimand?"
San Gouzi's smile instantly froze.
Though he had a strong background and wasn't afraid of Jianghu folk, she was an enforcer after all, and antagonizing her was never a good idea. He hurriedly forced a smile, "So it's Lady Instructor. Forgive my offense, forgive my offense."
His subordinates quickly pulled back their hands, but many tables and chairs had already been damaged, revealing the material loss.
"Now I give you two choices: either pay for the damages, or come back with me," Zige said coldly.
"Instructor Leng, we're all familiar with this territory, why be so serious? We were just playing around. Zhao E, tell her whether we should pay or not." A warning flashed in San Gouzi's eyes.
Zhao E lowered her head; better to avoid trouble than to invite it.
She could only swallow her grievances and said, "Never mind."
"Instructor, look, she said it yourself. She owes our boss money; paying debts is only natural, wouldn't you agree, Lady Instructor?"
Zige was about to retort when the young girl beside her tugged at the corner of her skirt and said, "Zige, we're traveling in disguise today. Let's drop it and let them leave."
Yun He stood up calmly, "A debt must be repaid. Ten thousand is ten thousand, with maybe a bit of interest added at most according to the bank. How could it possibly come to twenty thousand!"
San Gouzi gave him a cold glance. "There really are too many busybodies today. Kid, I don't care about the money. Go talk to Young Master Ning; he's at the Red Sun Restaurant. Or someone can come with me so I can report back."
"No, no need..." Zhao E knew all too well how ruthless Young Master Ning was. How could she dare go to the restaurant to find him? Wouldn't that be walking right into the tiger's den?
Yun He stood his ground and said, "I'll go talk to him, and while I'm at it, I'll settle the compensation for the smashed tables and chairs. The ways of the world are simple enough; I've studied the law myself, so I'll just go talk to them. Let's go."
Zige said, "I'll go with you."
Yun He was somewhat surprised that this woman, whom he had only met by chance, was willing to accompany him. But he understood her intent well; with her there, it would actually be inconvenient to handle things.
"No need, Instructor Leng. This is just a minor matter, and if you go, it will only make a bigger fuss. How about this, if there's any trouble, I'll look for you."
Yun Xiao shamelessly asked Zige for her contact information, saying, "I'll be back in half an hour at most after I handle this. Sister E, keep the food warm, don't let my stomach wait too long."
Then, he turned to A-San and smiled, "The tavern is nearby, right? Let's go."
The corner of A-San's mouth curled into a cold, sinister smile, wondering if everyone in this family had something wrong with their heads to dare talk reason with Young Master Ning. He would soon show this fellow the immensity of heaven and earth. But with the officer present, he naturally wouldn't dare intimidate him blatantly, so he grinned and said, "Let's go, let's go. A fifteen-minute carriage ride and we'll be there."
Yun Huan frowned. Why were these people so dense? How could anyone charge into a place like that alone? She said, "Yun Xiao, don't go. It's too dangerous."
A warmth spread through Yun Xiao's heart. His younger sister was concerned about him; though she used his surname in her address, she still cared for this flesh-and-blood brother in her heart.
"It's fine, it's fine. You all enjoy your meal slowly and leave me some good food. Sister E, don't worry, I have my own way of dealing with this trifling matter."
He smiled as he looked at them, then turned to A-San, his expression instantly turning as cold as frost. A-San stared into his eyes, which were as deep as an abyss, and could not help a shudder in his heart. This kid didn't seem quite so simple.
What was going on? Why did he feel like this fellow was no pushover? No, impossible. Even if he had some cultivation, he was still all alone. The Red Sun Tavern was Young Master Ning's turf, guarded by dozens of masters, not to mention that Young Master Ning came from the Ning family—who would dare provoke them?
Yun Xiao got into A-San's dilapidated carriage, sat in the back seat, and closed his eyes to rest.
The vehicle sped away.
Inside the carriage, A-San deliberately sat close to Yun Xiao, intending to flash his dagger and threaten him the moment they got moving. He spoke up, "Kid, you've provoked someone you shouldn't have. Playing the hero might cost you your head." With those words, he aimed the dagger straight at Yun Xiao's throat.
Suddenly, however, a blur flashed before his eyes, and the dagger was already in Yun Xiao's hand.
Wasn't he just sitting there with his eyes closed in contemplation? How had the dagger been snatched away without him sensing it at all?
"Focus on driving. If you have any grievances, we'll settle them later," Yun Xiao said calmly. The dagger in his hand twisted and deformed like plasticine before finally being crushed into a lump of scrap metal and thrown out the car window.
"You—are you a cultivator?" A-San's gaze darkened. "Even if you are a cultivator, so what? Kid, you might have some skills, but Young Master Ning is extraordinary. He is a cultivator too, and every single guard by his side is a powerhouse."
"Oh, I'm not a cultivator," Yun Xiao replied indifferently, admitting it openly.
What? Not a cultivator? Then how did he possess such immense strength?
Perhaps it was innate divine strength.
Not being a cultivator made things even better.
A-San breathed a sigh of relief and said coldly, "You ruined my dagger. You'll have to compensate me with two thousand spirit stones."
Yun Xiao glanced at him sideways and smiled, "Two thousand is too little. Let's make it five thousand."