System: I Can Open Martial Arts Chests-Chapter 91 - 78: Farce and Town (Part 2)
"The Chaotic God emerges, stirring waves across the land.
"Yet who knows... who will claim victory, as heroes remain unpredictable.
"Hmm, what a vicious saber technique that person has!
"Has he discovered me?"
Muttering to himself, his figure flickered, gradually disappearing.
...
...
The murderous autumn wind swept over the tavern’s banner, lifting wisps of dust.
The young servant sitting in front of the tavern had empty eyes, with dry lips tightly pressed, ignoring the dust falling on his head.
Behind the tavern’s counter sat a fat man holding a gold hairpin, grinning widely as he looked at it.
Looking around, this was a desolate town.
The atmosphere was oppressive, with the few residents busy with their own affairs.
The butcher was vigorously chopping bones, with bits of meat and bone fragments flying everywhere.
The vendor selling wonton noodles was sleeping soundly on the stove, unaware of the world.
An old woman sat leaning against the wall, holding a baby in her arms, staring grimly at everyone on the street.
Chu Qing and Gentle’s first impression of this place was that it seemed like a dying town.
Following the scent of the saber, they walked for most of the day and reached here.
As they walked casually into the town, a person suddenly dashed out from the side, holding a broom, looking at them fiercely:
"Get lost, get lost!! There’s nothing here for you!
"Leave quickly, or I’ll beat you to death!!"
Chu Qing protected Gentle with the saber, taking a step back with her.
He examined the newcomer, who was a middle-aged man, with a scraggly beard and unkempt appearance, wearing coarse cloth garments, looking like a farmer.
His hair was chaotic, seemingly untended for a long time.
His eyes were frighteningly red, as if they were about to bleed.
"You..."
Chu Qing just managed to say a word, when he heard several footsteps hurriedly approaching.
They were several robust men.
Judging by their clothes, they were also from this small town, but they seemed much healthier.
The leading man sighed, waved his hand, then two men came forward to restrain the middle-aged man:
"I’ve told you, don’t come out when you’re deranged.
"Almost scared someone, what if any harm comes about?"
"You bastards, let go of me! Let go of me!!"
The restrained middle-aged man struggled hard, trying to break free from the hold.
But the two behind him held on tightly, making it impossible for him to break loose, and he could only be dragged away by them.
While being dragged, he kept cursing:
"You bastards... you will get your retribution, you definitely will..."
The leading man withdrew his gaze from the middle-aged man and turned to Chu Qing and Gentle.
He revealed a slight smile:
"Sorry about that, you two. This person, there’s something wrong here."
He pointed to his head with a finger.
Then continued:
"Years ago, he faced some trouble at home, everyone in the family died, and he was traumatized... now he goes mad at the sight of people.
"Sigh, it’s quite pitiful really."
"Then what are you taking him for?"
Chu Qing asked.
"Of course, to see a doctor."
The man gave a bitter smile:
"We can’t just let him stay mad... after a couple of needles, he calms down.
"By the way, where do you two guests come from? Passing by or looking for someone?"
"Just passing by."
Chu Qing smiled at these words:
"Just wanted to ask, is there a place to eat here?"
"Yes, indeed."
The man pointed with his hand: "The Zhao Family Tavern over there, good wine and food, go dine there, I’m a bit worried about Uncle Erniu, so going to check on him, please feel free to proceed."
"Alright, thank you."
Chu Qing cupped his hands in a gesture of thanks.
The man imitated Chu Qing’s gesture, cupping his hands, before turning to hastily follow the direction the middle-aged man had left in.
Chu Qing’s gaze followed him, and he suddenly turned to ask Gentle:
"If we delay, will the scent trail be lost?"
"Yes."
Gentle replied decisively:
"At most two days, the scent will completely vanish."
"Two days... that’s enough."
Chu Qing turned to look at the Zhao Family Tavern, noticing another shop servant sitting in front of the tavern.
It made him involuntarily recall the first time he met Second Brother, Chu Fan, at that tea house.
He shook his head and walked towards the restaurant with Gentle.
Not far from the corner, the man who had just given them directions was secretly watching them.
His eyes were gloomy and complex.
"Sir, why not take action directly?"
A voice suddenly came from behind.
The sir turned around to glance:
"These two are not simple, judging by their appearance, they’re Jianghu People.
"We’re definitely not their match.
"Don’t be fooled by their young age... martial artists are different from us."
"Hehe, that’s why you let them go to Zhao family restaurant.
"Earlier, there were a few young men and women, looking all impressive, ended up entering Zhao family restaurant vertically and coming out horizontally.
"Heard that the woman went crazy afterwards, tried to escape... finally caught by Third Master and skinned in front of everyone!
"Her body hung there for three months straight!"
The person behind said here, suddenly laughed:
"Sir, I see that girl is pretty nice, should we..."
He said, rubbing his hands, face full of lewd expressions.
However, the sir’s face darkened:
"Have you had enough of living?
"Do as you please with the man, but the woman must be handed over.
"With this, the tribute this time is enough, otherwise..."
Speaking here, a trace of fear appeared on his face, then he took a deep breath:
"You should be clear, the reason we’ve lived to this day isn’t because we have much use.
"It’s because... we’re obedient enough."
The subordinate behind instinctively shrank his neck at these words:
"Yes, Sir, I understand."
The sir waved his hand:
"Where’s Erniu?"
"Locked up... he’s getting more and more unruly, should we just finish him off?"
"Fewer and fewer people here, if we can avoid killing, let’s keep him for now.
"Otherwise, it won’t feel like a town at all."
...
...
While the two were chatting behind the wall, Chu Qing and Gentle had already walked into Zhao family restaurant.
The shopkeeper heard footsteps, looked up and subconsciously stuffed the gold hairpin into his sleeve.
Quickly came up:
"Honored guests, please come inside..."
While speaking, he kicked the back of the shop boy.
The shop boy was sitting there in a daze, kicked forward with his face hitting the ground, blood streaming across his face.
He hurriedly stood up and quickly said:
"Honored guests, what do you need?
"We have top-quality beef and lamb, thirty-year-old bamboo leaf green, and..."
He babbled, ignoring the blood on his face, rattling off names of various dishes.
With a nose collapsing and bleeding, he still couldn’t care less.
Letting the blood flow down his nose.
Chu Qing looked deeply at this shop boy:
"Wipe the blood off first."
The boy was dazed for a moment, the shopkeeper hurriedly raised his hands, wiped the blood off the boy’s face:
"How could you be so careless, what if you offended the honored guest?"
Then turned back to Chu Qing:
"Honored guest, what would you like?"
"Cut some beef and lamb, prepare some plain water, any kind of steamed bun and biscuit, serve ten first.
"The rest, just match it up... we’ll leave after eating."
Chu Qing and Gentle found a place to sit down, the shopkeeper nodded in agreement, then smacked the boy on the head:
"Hurry up."
Unexpectedly, the movement was a bit too much, causing the gold hairpin in his sleeve to fall to the ground.
Chu Qing didn’t pay it any mind, but when his glance caught the gold hairpin, his gaze suddenly darkened.
Before the shopkeeper could retrieve it, Chu Qing reached out, and with a swish, the gold hairpin landed in Chu Qing’s palm.
The shopkeeper was startled by this move, trembling and stammered:
"Sir... Sir, this, this... this is mine..."
Chu Qing examined the gold hairpin carefully, nodded slowly, and clutched his throat.
This wide and plump shopkeeper was unexpectedly lifted off the ground by one hand:
"Tell me, where’s the owner of this gold hairpin?"
