TGCFNM -Chapter 160 Changhe County

Four days later.

Chu Ling and the others finally arrived at Changhe County. They had originally planned to casually find an inn to stay in, only to discover that nearly all the inns were fully booked.

With no other choice, Wan Sanjin simply rented a courtyard house for a long-term stay, and the group finally moved in.

Zhang Dong bought firewood, and Qing Tong helped boil hot water. Only after washing up did everyone finally feel refreshed and recover from the journey.

After tidying up their belongings, Xiao Hua looked at Chu Ling and asked, “Sir, what are we eating today?”

Chu Ling stretched her back. “Let’s go eat at a restaurant—and ask around about what’s going on while we’re at it.” In such a small place, for all the inns to be full was clearly unusual.

Bai Su looked puzzled. “Other than me, does anyone else know about that place?”

Ghost Scholar asked, “I’ve actually been meaning to ask—what exactly is that Poison Insect Grass?”

“It suppresses gu worms,” Bai Su replied, frowning deeply. “Bai Zhuoxing’s gu insects are extremely formidable. We need to be prepared.”

—

After arriving at the restaurant, Wan Sanjin paid extra for a private room, and everyone went up to the second floor.

“They’re all martial artists,” Fu Qingyu reminded in a low voice. “And they’ve all come prepared.”

Chu Ling responded softly in acknowledgment. The group entered the private room, and tea was soon served. After ordering some dishes, Wan Sanjin slipped the waiter a few copper coins.

The sharp-eyed waiter immediately put on a flattering smile. “Gentlemen, are you perhaps curious why so many people have come to our county?”

Wan Sanjin handed him a few more copper coins.

Grinning as he pocketed them, the waiter quickly shared what he knew. “Fort Master Guo, who’s retiring from the martial world, is setting up a tournament platform for his daughter—a martial arts contest for marriage.”

Wan Sanjin smiled. “I see. You may go back to your work.”

The waiter bowed and left happily.

Wan Sanjin then let out a soft exclamation and looked at Chu Ling. “Sir, did you guess that the Guo family’s daughter was holding a martial arts tournament for marriage?”

Chu Ling immediately shook her head. “I’m here to dig up herbs. Remember to go with Zhang Dong and buy a few iron shovels.”

Fu Qingyu took a sip of tea and asked, “Sir, do you need help? Or should Qing Tong go assist?”

Chu Ling shook her head. “No need. You need to focus on recuperating, and Qing Tong has to help you with moxibustion. We have enough people as it is.”

Fu Qingyu responded with a quiet “Alright,” and set down his teacup.

Soon, the dishes they had ordered were brought up.

But at the same time, uninvited guests arrived outside the private room. Before they even got close, loud shouting could already be heard—booming voices, raised high, and it seemed that the next moment they might kick the door in.

“Bang—!”

Chu Ling looked at the kicked-open door and thought to herself: As expected.

“This private room—we’re taking—”

“Sir!”

Holding her chopsticks, the corners of Chu Ling’s lips slowly curled upward. With a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, she looked past the man who had kicked the door and at the two people behind him, letting out a soft chuckle.

“Yan Sheng. Cao Tong. Long time no see.”

Yan Sheng: “……”

Cao Tong: “……”

We’re finished. We’re dead.

The burly man who had kicked the door frowned. “You know each other?”

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong immediately each grabbed one of the brute’s arms and dragged him out of the room, forcing awkward smiles onto their faces. “Sir, we’ve got the wrong person. We’ll compensate for the door.”

The brute struggled desperately. “What are you doing? What do you mean you’ve got the wrong person?!”

“Go, go, go—we’re heading downstairs for drinks, downstairs for drinks!” Cao Tong tugged desperately at the others, trying to drag them away.

The burly man suddenly wrenched himself free, strode into the private room, and pointed at Chu Ling. “If you know what’s good for you, move aside. This private room belongs to me now.”

Chu Ling looked up at him calmly. “Who are you?”

“You don’t know who I am?” The burly man gave a sinister grin. “I’m Liang Yidao. I’m famous throughout the jianghu. Wherever I go, people give me some face. I’ll ask you just once—are you giving up this room or not?”

“Master Wan, how much extra did we pay for this private room again?” Chu Ling asked.

“Three taels,” Wan Sanjin replied.

Chu Ling looked at Liang Yidao. “So you’d rather snatch someone else’s room than spend three taels of silver yourself? Are people of the jianghu above rules?”

Liang Yidao spat. “Three taels? You think I can’t afford that—”

“Then why are you stealing?” Chu Ling frowned in disdain.

Liang Yidao’s neck flushed red. “The innkeeper said there were no private rooms left! You expect me, Liang Yidao, to eat downstairs with the common crowd?”

Chu Ling curled her lips into a faint smile. “So you think the people dining downstairs aren’t worthy of sharing a meal with you?”

“Of course!” Liang Yidao barked.

Chu Ling set down her chopsticks and looked at Xiao Hua. “Throw him out. He’s disturbing our meal.”

Xiao Hua grabbed the fire poker and strode forward.

Liang Yidao let out a cold chuckle. “Sending out some yellow-haired girl—are you hoping I’ll go soft on her? A bunch of grown men hiding behind a little girl, you’re nothing but a pack of use—”

“Ah—!”

A shrill scream cut him off.

Liang Yidao’s face turned a shocking red as he collapsed to the ground, clutching his shin in disbelief.

When that black stick had come down just now, he’d nearly thought his bone had shattered.

Xiao Hua held the stick pointed at his eyes and said fiercely, “Our lord said any man who can’t withstand even one blow from me is a useless piece of trash.”

Liang Yidao’s eyes were bloodshot, nearly bulging out of their sockets.

Xiao Hua turned back to Chu Ling, looking pitiful. “My lord, what do we do? He’s glaring at me. Looks like he’s about to curse me out.”

“Give him another strike. Then throw him downstairs,” Chu Ling said.

Xiao Hua gave an “oh,” turned back around, and brought the stick down again.

A crisp crack rang out. Cao Tong and Yan Sheng instinctively shrank their necks, suddenly feeling a phantom chill in their own thighs and taking two steps back.

Liang Yidao was completely stunned now. Though the girl had shown mercy and not truly shattered his bone, the pain was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.

Chu Ling looked at Liang Yidao with an apologetic expression. “My sincerest apologies. I’m a court official, so I’m unfamiliar with the illustrious Liang Yidao of the jianghu—who disdains dining alongside other martial artists.”

Liang Yidao’s eyes widened.

Xiao Hua tucked the fire poker away, grabbed Liang Yidao by the back of his collar, hoisted him onto her shoulder in one smooth motion, and walked to the second-floor railing, scanning below for an empty spot.

His earlier shouting had already drawn plenty of attention. Seeing the little girl about to throw someone down, the diners quickly pushed aside tables and chairs to clear a space.

Satisfied, Xiao Hua lifted her arm and tossed him down.

Cao Tong and Yan Sheng shrank their necks again, standing stiffly to the side like obedient quails.

Xiao Hua clapped her hands, returned to the private room, propped the broken door back against the frame, and calmly resumed eating.

“Young master, that Fort Master Guo—could he be Guo Tieyun, the former master of Liuyun Fort?” Qing Tong asked.

Fu Qingyu nodded. “It should be him. He announced his retirement from the jianghu ten years ago. I just didn’t expect him to be here, hosting a martial arts competition to choose a son-in-law.”

“Fort Master Guo was considered a hero of the martial world, and yet look at the sort who’ve shown up,” Qing Tong said, feeling sorry on behalf of Miss Guo.

Chu Ling asked curiously, “If he truly washed his hands of the jianghu and sought a peaceful life, then why hold a martial arts competition to choose a son-in-law from the martial world? He wants tranquility for himself, yet insists his daughter marry into jianghu?”

Fu Qingyu gave a slight nod. “Your suspicion is reasonable, my lord. It is indeed rather strange.”