"Boss, pay up!"
The innkeeper hurried over with a smile and presented several Huizi notes to the leader, a man who still wore his shirt open in the deep autumn chill, exposing a broad patch of chest hair.
"Thank you for your hard work, Old Master Zhang. This is this month's customary payment from my humble establishment."
Old Master Zhang took the Huizi notes, counted them twice, and sneered.
"Not enough! The customary payment has gone up. From now on, it's ten strings of cash every month, not one copper coin less!"
"Ten strings?"
The innkeeper's face immediately twisted into a miserable knot.
"Old Master Zhang, you know my little business doesn't make much profit. Even five strings is already a great burden. To suddenly double it..."
"Enough nonsense. Pay up now, or this inn will need a new owner!"
Just as he was threatening the innkeeper, one of the men behind him lightly tugged at Old Master Zhang's sleeve, then pointed at Li Mochou with a lecherous grin.
Old Master Zhang looked over, and the moment he saw Li Mochou, his eyes lit up. He shoved aside the pleading innkeeper and swaggered over to Li Mochou's table, saying with a chuckle.
"This little lady looks unfamiliar. May I ask your surname, and where you're from?"
Old Master Zhang's manners were crude and overbearing, and his face was vicious besides. Li Mochou had already found him displeasing. Seeing that he actually dared to harass her now, she immediately scolded him coldly with a look of disgust.
"Get lost!"
Though her tone was icy, her voice was naturally soft and alluring. Rather than driving Old Master Zhang away, her rebuke stirred him up even more. Smiling, he said.
"This little lady has quite the temper! But Old Master Zhang likes spirited fillies like you. Come, have a couple of drinks with Old Master Zhang and let's have some fun..."
As he spoke, he actually reached for Li Mochou's wine cup.
Li Mochou flew into a rage. She lifted her sword without drawing it, using the scabbard to brush aside Old Master Zhang's outstretched hand before the tip of the scabbard flashed forward and struck his chest.
It looked like only a light tap, yet Old Master Zhang's face went pale. He gave a muffled grunt and nearly lost his breath. Fortunately, two underlings rushed up to support him, preventing him from collapsing onto the floor.
Li Mochou snorted coldly.
"Why haven't you gotten lost yet? If you dare cause trouble again, the next strike won't be with the scabbard!"
Supported by his men, Old Master Zhang rubbed his chest and caught his breath for quite some time before recovering. Recalling the force behind Li Mochou's light strike, a trace of apprehension flashed through his eyes. Yet unwilling to lose face in public, he glared viciously at her and shouted.
"Very good! You dare throw your weight around on Hanshui Gang territory? You little bitch must have the guts of a bear and the gall of a leopard! I didn't bring my blade today. Do you dare wait here?"
Li Mochou held the scabbard in one hand and lifted her wine cup with the other. She tipped her head back and drained it, putting on the full air of a wandering hero before saying proudly.
"Why would I fear you?"
"If you've got the nerve, don't run!"
Old Master Zhang barked another threat before leaving in disgrace with his men.
"My apologies for the spectacle." Imitating the manner of martial artists, Li Mochou clasped her hands toward Lu Chen and Huang Rong.
"Miss Li has excellent skills." Lu Chen offered a polite compliment.
"Sister Mochou is amazing!" Huang Rong raised a thumb in lavish praise.
A hint of satisfaction appeared in Li Mochou's eyes, though she assumed a humble expression.
"It was a trivial matter, hardly worth mentioning."
Huang Rong smiled and reminded her.
"But that Zhang fellow probably won't let this rest. He likely wasn't merely going back for his blade. He should be calling for more men as well."
"Let him call them." Li Mochou patted the sword in her hand, brimming with confidence. "With my sword in hand, what is there to fear from a lowly gang like this, no matter how many people they bring?"
"Sister Mochou is truly bold!" Huang Rong praised her, then beckoned to the innkeeper. "Boss, what's the story with this Hanshui Gang? Tell us about it."
The innkeeper wore a miserable expression and bowed to Huang Rong.
"Little miss, please don't make things difficult for me. How would a nobody like me dare gossip about the Hanshui Gang?"
Huang Rong took out three copper coins, lined them up on the table, and said with a grin.
"Boss, let me show you a little trick..."
As she spoke, her slender fingers flicked repeatedly. The three copper coins shot out with sharp whistles and embedded themselves deep in one of the hall's wooden pillars with several thuds, forming a triangular pattern.
After more than a month in the mountains, Huang Rong still refused to eat snake gallbladders, but she had shared snake meat with the Divine Eagle every day. Even though the meat of an entire Bosiqu Snake had only one-tenth the effect of a single snake gallbladder, her inner strength and physical strength had both improved greatly.
"Rong'er, what fine skill!" Li Mochou's eyes brightened as she slapped the table in admiration.
"You flatter me." Huang Rong gave Li Mochou a radiant smile, then looked back at the innkeeper with a grin. "Boss, what do you think of my little trick?"
As a businessman, how could the innkeeper fail to understand what Huang Rong meant?
He glanced at the three copper coins embedded in the pillar, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and said tremblingly.
"Well... the Hanshui Gang has two or three hundred tough men. Ah, no, vicious men. On the surface, they're a boat gang on the Han River, but in truth... they sometimes engage in river piracy. They also run brothels and gambling dens in several dock towns along the river, collecting customary payments. They're a great menace."
Huang Rong asked again.
"Does the Hanshui Gang have any skilled fighters?"
Since the innkeeper had already begun speaking, he simply spilled everything out.
"The Hanshui Gang's chief, River-Turning Dragon Cao Song, is extremely skilled in martial arts. He wields a Nine-Ring Broadsword, and even ten or so strong men cannot get near him. The Second Boss, Black-Clothed Scholar Shen Qingshi, excels with an Iron-Ribbed Folding Fan and can use hidden weapons too, hitting every target within ten paces. The Third Boss, Water Leopard Zhang Yong, excels with a pair of Water-Parting Daggers and is unmatched in bravery. That Old Master Zhang from before is Zhang Yong's cousin..."
As the innkeeper spoke, Li Mochou, who had been full of heroic boldness and proclaiming herself fearless, gradually began to fidget uneasily.
She had thought Old Master Zhang would at most summon ten or twenty men, perhaps thirty at the most. She had never expected the Hanshui Gang to be a large gang with two or three hundred members, and quite a few skilled martial artists among them...
Li Mochou had considerable confidence in her martial arts, but at the thought of being besieged by several skilled fighters leading two or three hundred burly men, cold sweat faintly formed along her back, and her heart began to pound with uncertainty.
She had truly never seen such a grand scene before!
Though unwilling to lose face before Huang Rong, the little sister she had just met, and still forcing herself to appear imposing, Li Mochou's already fair cheeks had unconsciously grown even paler, while her lips pressed tightly together.
Of course Huang Rong saw Li Mochou's predicament, and secretly found it amusing.
Sister Mochou was brave first and cowardly later, yet she was still forcing herself not to lose face. She was so amusing.
And earlier, she had clearly just entered the martial world, yet she imitated wandering heroes in every way. That was amusing too.
With a smile, she said.
"Two or three hundred people are nothing impressive. As long as your Movement Technique is good, not to mention two or three hundred people, even two or three thousand can't stop you from coming and going as you please. Isn't that right, Sister Mochou?"
"Ah? Yes!" Li Mochou forced herself to remain calm. "That's right. With good Movement Technique, even two or three thousand people are nothing."
After speaking, she hurriedly poured herself a cup of wine to settle her nerves.
At the same time, she consoled herself inwardly. My Movement Technique is very good. Two or three thousand might be hard to say, but two or three hundred should... be no problem, right?
Seeing her drink to calm herself, Huang Rong nearly failed to hold back her laughter.
Even Lu Chen could barely suppress the curl of his lips, so he hurriedly poured himself a cup of wine to hide his amusement.
At this moment, Huang Rong spoke leisurely again, offering Li Mochou a little comfort.
"Still, over such a small matter, the Hanshui Gang probably won't mobilize everyone. I'd guess Old Master Zhang can at most invite the Third Boss, Water Leopard Zhang Yong, who is his cousin, along with perhaps a few dozen men."
Li Mochou's eyes brightened, and she nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, yes. It must be so!"
No matter what the truth might be, that was the only way she could comfort herself for now.
Just then, a burst of noisy voices came from outside the inn, followed by a large crowd surging inside.
At the front was a young man of medium height, fierce and agile, with a hooked nose and sharp eyes. A pair of Water-Parting Daggers hung at his waist. Old Master Zhang hurried alongside this young man, and the moment he entered, he sneered at Li Mochou.
"You little bitch really have guts. You actually waited here instead of running! See this man?"
He raised his thumb and pointed at the young man beside him, laughing arrogantly.
"This is the Third Boss of our Hanshui Gang, Water Leopard Zhang Yong! If you know what's good for you, hurry and kowtow to beg forgiveness, and you might still live! Otherwise, we'll cripple your martial arts and send you to a brothel, where you'll be a bride every night!"
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