NOVPUBActually, since Chen Xi kicked the door in, many of the scholars downstairs had already slipped away. By the time the chaotic footsteps began outside, there were hardly any patrons left in the brothel, enjoying the company of courtesans—none of them were fools.
"Young master, please leave quickly. Do not trouble yourself for the likes of me," the singer girl called Yue’er knew something was amiss when she heard the disorderly footsteps outside. Generally speaking, when members of Aristocratic Families travel, bodyguards are close at hand. Of course, there are times when they are shaken off, but clearly, this time, these three were followed by a large group of guards.
"Just stand there and don’t move, no crying or fussing. Have a little faith in your man!" Chen Xi glanced at the woman while standing sideways, thinking that at a time like this, she was still defending Guan Ping; her temperament was quite commendable.
"Kid, I want to see how many you can fight," Zhang Xuan leaned over the railing and shouted loudly. Ever since Zhao Zilong singlehandedly suppressed the Zhen Family, a northern aristocratic clan, all Aristocratic Families Under Heaven had been on alert. The original protectors were all replaced with well-seasoned retired soldiers. While they might not be able to fend off top Valiant Generals like Zhao Zilong, they should at least not be threatened by ordinary military generals!
"Seize those two down there!" Zhu Li’s eyes flashed with a crazed chill as he spoke with a ferocious expression, "I want to see what you can do to us! Don’t harm the singer girl; you want to take her away, don’t you? I’ll have a go first!"
"Quiet!" Chen Xi snapped the folding fan shut and waved his hand. The air trembled, and the railing on the second floor shattered into dust, while the three men on it simultaneously spat out blood and tumbled down from the railing.
[It seems that this kind of secret technique is only good for self-defense. When it comes to a fight to the death, I still have to rely on my own Spiritual Capacity.] Chen Xi glanced at the three struggling men on the ground and thought with some helplessness that while the secret technique might be effective against weaker opponents, it was like dreaming to use it against stronger ones.
"Attack!" The steward, who was still contemplating whether to kill these two men, became furious upon seeing Chen Xi’s move and yelled.
"It’s up to you now, Tanzhi. If you can’t handle this bunch, don’t blame me for telling your father when we get back," Chen Xi said with a smile, but his expression was somewhat icy. The Zhang Family, the Gu Family, and the Zhu Family managed to bring nearly a hundred old soldiers into Fenggao City; was this a provocation?
Guan Ping kicked a veteran soldier flying, spun around to punch another in the face, and then grabbed and smashed another soldier hard onto the forming military formation. He followed up with a kick that scattered the formation. Though his moves lacked the sheer forcefulness of Guan Yu, they were still ferocious. However, it seemed his blows were not lethal enough.
"Tanzhi!" Chen Xi called out loudly after snapping the folding fan shut, "Show your true skills, stop playing around! The military formation behind you is about to complete!"
"Alright!" Guan Ping roared, a faint Qing glow emanating from his body, and he hurled himself forward with all his might. The explosion of air that followed crashed violently against the bulky man blocking the way, instantly caving in a large area of his chest.
"This is the pride of a family that imparts martial arts!" Coldness flashed in Chen Xi’s eyes. In such narrow alleys, large military formations couldn’t really be deployed, so Chen Xi wasn’t worried about Guan Ping’s safety.
"Buzz!" A muffled sound; Chen Xi was startled, then quickly reacted by instinctively dispersing his spiritual power. The next moment, he spotted a Heavy Crossbow bolt, instinctively pressing down on the tip of the bolt.
"Pop." A soft noise as the Heavy Crossbow bolt lodged itself into the ground at Guan Ping’s feet.
Chen Xi was furious. Although Civil Officials, due to their spiritual power, almost disregarded physical arrows, the advantage of spiritual power lay in its ability to affect reality even if not extremely powerful, on the condition that you could perceive and see the threat. Something like a Crossbow bolt, as long as it was sensed instinctively, could be easily deflected with spiritual power without any safety issues.
"Hahaha, not to mention bringing private soldiers into the city, you’ve also concealed heavy crossbows. It seems you really don’t want to live," Chen Xi’s spiritual power burst forth in an instant, frightening everyone present. "Tanzhi, kill them. Anyone who doesn’t surrender is to be killed. Anything happens, I’ve got your back!"
"Good!" Guan Ping answered loudly, his fury thoroughly ignited by the adversary’s heavy crossbow; to think someone dared to shoot at him in Fenggao City!
Chen Xi’s body radiated an icy aura that immediately made all the veterans feel endangered, but by then, any words were too late; they had no choice but to brace themselves and proceed. Guan Ping’s movements dramatically shifted from his prior gentleness, his techniques now executed with wide, powerful strokes tinged with killing intent!
"What’s happening up ahead?" Liu Bei, accompanied by Li Ru and Xuu Chu, was inspecting his own territory when there was a commotion in front of them!
"Murder!" Just as Liu Bei began to speak, intending to inquire, a loud roar resounded from up ahead.
"Murder!" Liu Bei was stunned, then flew into a rage. Someone had committed murder on his own turf; did they no longer regard him at all?
"Zhongkang, clear the way in front and arrest everyone inside!" Liu Bei roared in anger, his previously good mood from witnessing the prosperity of the new Fenggao City utterly ruined by the news of the murder.
"Lord Xuande, please remain calm. Since ancient times, there is always a reason behind a murder, government officials have their duties and righteous men have their honor," Li Ru spoke calmly. Considering that it was a murder in public, it was nearly impossible for it to be without reason, and he believed Liu Bei was overreacting.
"..." Liu Bei paused, then remembering Guan Yu’s situation, nodded, "Legal principles yield to personal sentiment. Let’s see the specifics first, Zhongkang, go and arrest the other party!"
"Make way, Xuu Zhongkang is here!" Xuu Chu bellowed, then with a mighty leap, he vaulted over the crowd of people and charged into the alley, only to discover a group of old soldiers fighting. He restrained his force and bulldozed through, knocking down the few dozen old soldiers still standing in a matter of seconds.
"Ha..." Xuu Chu looked somewhat dumbfounded at the bloodied Guan Ping. As Liu Bei’s only nephew, how could Xuu Chu not recognize him?
"Zhongkang, drag those three guys out here. Arrest all these servants; I’ll take this one with me!" Chen Xi strenuously pulled the crossbow bolt lodged in the blue stone out and held it in his hand, "Let’s go, Tanzhi. Take your woman and meet with Lord Xuande!"
"Uncle, going like this..." Guan Ping said, somewhat apprehensively.
"What’s there to fear? Isn’t it just killing a few people? I’ve crushed tens of thousands in Qingzhou," Chen Xi sneered as he spoke. Today, whether it was the petty thieves or the affair with the three families of Eastern Wu, all served as wake-up calls to Chen Xi that there was still one thing he had not done!
"Zhongkang, tell that old matron to go report to the Magistrate. I’ll compensate for smashing her shop. And keep a close watch on this bunch of scoundrels. The three families of Eastern Wu, huh!" Chen Xi’s eyes flashed coldly. To employ a heavy crossbow within the city was truly suicidal!
"Tanzhi?" Liu Bei got a shock when the blood-covered Guan Ping appeared before him, "Are you hurt? How could you get into a fight and end up like this? What happened?"
Liu Bei quickly checked Guan Ping for injuries, and only after confirming that there were none did he breathe a sigh of relief. The group had just this one younger member; it would be problematic if something happened to him. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
