Ming Province.
Chong City basked in bright sunshine—a rare spell of fine weather.
The restaurant was almost full, and business was booming.
The restaurant's owner had ties to a gang, so most of the diners were martial artists.
When Yu Hong entered the restaurant with a saber at his waist, he immediately drew the gazes of several tables of martial artists.
But everyone took only one look before turning away, losing interest.
He was young, without the slightest trace of killing intent or the stench of blood. At a glance, he was clearly a fledgling who had only just begun roaming the martial world.
Yu Hong called over the waiter:
"Are there any tables for one?"
Waiter: "I'm sorry, but we don't have any tables left for one. Would you mind sharing a table with someone else?"
Yu Hong nodded readily. "That's fine."
The waiter quickly found him a customer willing to share a table: an old gentleman wearing a scholar's robe, with graying hair and spectacles.
Yu Hong sat down across from him. "Sorry for the intrusion."
Old gentleman: "No trouble. To meet is fate."
Yu Hong glanced at the old gentleman and asked with a smile:
"Are you a teacher at a school?"
The man had a scholarly air about him and did indeed look like a teacher.
Old gentleman: "I'm not a teacher, though I have taught before."
Yu Hong glanced at the dishes on the other man's table, sniffed, and said to the waiter:
"Sorry for the trouble, but bring me the same food and wine as this old gentleman."
The old gentleman looked at the saber on Yu Hong's table and asked in turn:
"You're a martial artist?"
Yu Hong smiled and nodded. "That's right. I've learned a little and wanted to come out and