"Enough. This matter ends here."
Seeing his two disciples clash over an outsider like Zhou Qiming, Yuan Tieyi finally could not sit still and stopped Xiao Tian.
"You little brat, just you wait. This time, Senior Brother Cheng is backing you, but don't let me see you again!" Xiao Tian had no choice but to obey his master's order and toss out a few harsh words for appearances' sake.
A feast without good cheer was no feast at all. After this uproar, everyone left in low spirits. They had not gotten to enjoy the good show of the restaurant being wrecked, and all of them felt disappointed.
But everyone knew that Zhou Qiming had thoroughly offended Xiao Tian. He was probably in for trouble.
Xiao Tian, Yuan Tieyi, and the others returned to the martial arts school with livid faces.
"Master, why did you stop me just now? One palm from me would have crippled that bastard. Even Second Senior Brother couldn't have blocked it." Xiao Tian was still somewhat dissatisfied.
"That's enough. The Golden Sand Gang is watching us like a tiger watching its prey. We absolutely cannot fight among ourselves. As for what you do in private, this master won't interfere." Yuan Tieyi sat in his Grand Tutor chair and lifted his teacup.
"Master, you saw it too. Senior Brother Cheng's heart is no longer with the martial arts school. Before this, he would rather provide medicinal herbs to a restaurant servant than lend me a hand."
Xiao Tian fanned the flames again, recounting the earlier conflict at the Cheng Family precisely to drive a wedge between Cheng Yu and his master.
"Cheng Yu did go a little too far, but in the end, the path of martial arts still depends on oneself. Don't lose heart." Yuan Tieyi nodded and spoke with obvious favoritism.
At the restaurant, the storm had temporarily subsided.
"Xiao Ming, with your talent, you should go develop yourself in the County Town. This town is growing more dangerous by the day, and now you've offended that bastard Xiao Tian too. You should avoid the limelight for a while."
Xu Hailai looked deeply worried. He took out a letter that had clearly been written long ago and handed it to Zhou Qiming. "This is a letter of introduction to Hero's Tower in the County Town. The tower master once received a meal from me in his early years, so he will surely make good use of you."
"Thank you, Uncle Xu. The restaurant has looked after me, so how could I abandon it when trouble comes? Please rest assured. No one will hurt Haolai Restaurant."
Zhou Qiming accepted the letter, but he had no intention of setting off immediately. No matter what, Xu Hailai and the chefs had treated him well. He had to deal with Xiao Tian and the enemies from the Golden Sand Gang before anything else.
Besides, he had long planned to develop himself in Luoshan County Town. Now that he had a letter of introduction to Hero's Tower, it was much better than going to the County Town alone and wandering around like a headless fly, searching for a way in.
Xu Hailai had risked offending others to speak up for him, and now he had even produced a letter of introduction he had prepared long ago. Zhou Qiming engraved all this goodwill in his heart.
"All right, Xiao Ming. Don't be reckless. You're still young, and you have a long road ahead of you. This isn't the time to take risks and throw your life away."
Xu Hailai did not know where the other man's confidence and courage came from, but he still encouraged and admonished him a few times.
When work ended that evening, Zhou Qiming tidied up the kitchen and prepared to return home to practice. He had given Cheng Yan five hundred taels of silver to go to the County Town and purchase medicinal herbs with stronger effects, which he would use to restore his Root Bone points.
Because he was afflicted by the King's Blood curse, the area around the County Town was precisely where the Sky Shaker Bandits were active. Zhou Qiming did not want to travel there himself and risk his life, so he had entrusted the task to Cheng Yan, a friend with ties to the Blade Catchers.
As he was leaving, he also heard the other servants in the back courtyard whispering among themselves.
"It's all his fault. He offended Xiao Tian, and now our restaurant is finished."
"Who would dare come eat here in the future? Boss Xu is truly muddleheaded, trusting him so much."
"He thinks that becoming a chef means he can contend with a true Martial Artist. I heard that Xiao Tian is a Martial Artist of the Bone Forging Realm, the third major threshold. His strength is terrifying!"
The servants of Haolai Restaurant were like startled birds, and some were even thinking of packing up and fleeing.
Chen Ping felt deeply guilty at the sight. It was all because of his mistake that Brother Qiming had come into conflict with Xiao Tian.
The moon was dark and the wind was high, cicadas shrilled noisily, and pedestrians hurried home to eat, wash up, and seek a cooler place.
In the Music House, several dancers displayed their graceful figures to the sound of the pipa, vying to outshine one another around Xiao Tian. They all knew that this young man was currently the most influential figure in town. If they pleased him, perhaps they could redeem themselves and marry into wealth.
Several handyman disciples from the martial arts school also served Xiao Tian tea and wine, fawning over him.
"Senior Brother Xiao has boundless prospects. Don't get angry over two restaurant servants."
"They're merely two servants with no family background. A few of us brothers can find an opportunity to finish him off. We'll make sure no one traces it back to Senior Brother."
"Senior Brother, have a drink. When you become the Dragon Son-in-law of a noble family in the County Town, don't forget to raise your brothers up with you."
Everyone lavished him with flattery, even declaring that they would kill the people from Haolai Restaurant for Xiao Tian.
Given Xiao Tian's status and strength—and the fact that he was the future master of Iron Clothes Martial Arts School—many conflicts and troubles did not require him to resolve personally. There were always others scrambling to help wipe his backside.
"Good. I'm grateful for everyone's favor. Don't spoil the mood by bringing up that brat today. His death is near."
Xiao Tian was in excellent spirits and no longer dwelled on what had happened during the day. If Senior Brother Cheng and his master had not stopped him, he would have killed those two flies on the spot.
As he spoke, he pulled the two courtesans who had been playing the zither and pipa into his arms, groping them from top to bottom as his desire burned hot.
"Master, I only sell my art. Please don't break the rules." The two pitiful women tried to dissuade him, but this only added fuel to the fire, making Xiao Tian even more excited.
"Master has taken a liking to you—that's a blessing you earned through several lifetimes. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" The people below snickered and berated the two women.
Suddenly, the entire section of wall beside the window collapsed with a thunderous crash. A tall, black-clad figure strode in, brimming with menace.
The Black-clothed person glared, and the few handyman disciples who met his eyes instantly suffered pounding hearts and bursting blood vessels. Their veins twisted as they spat blood and died.
To glare several quasi-Body Tempering Martial Artists to death in a single glance was truly horrifying. Even their master, Yuan Tieyi, possessed no such Divine Ability. The crowd was scared witless, while Xiao Tian sobered up by more than half and shuddered violently.
The lackeys who had just been preparing to step forward and stop the Black-clothed person immediately froze. Their body hair stood on end, as if they had been targeted by the gaze of a demonic beast.
"Dare to fight this hall master over women? Are the girls of the Music House someone a brat like you can touch? You don't want to live on the Golden Sand Gang's turf!"
The Black-clothed person was none other than Zhou Qiming. At that moment, he shouted "loudly," afraid that the neighbors nearby might not hear him.
Before his voice had even faded, his Minor Completion Realm Earth Fiend Legs swept out, his figure moving like a tiger or leopard.
In the blink of an eye, several martial arts school disciples were struck by his iron legs, hard as steel bars. Their bones and tendons snapped as they flew backward. Even if they did not die, they were gravely wounded.
These people had secretly fawned over Xiao Tian and even threatened him. Zhou Qiming had heard every word. How could he possibly let such minnows off?
Next, his ferocious gaze locked tightly onto Xiao Tian. He strode forward, his oppressive presence rising to its peak. If not for Xiao Tian's appearance, the position of direct disciple at Iron Clothes Martial Arts School might have fallen to him.
With Yuan Tieyi's resources, Zhou Qiming could have avoided many detours, but Xiao Tian had ruined all of it. He had already been generous by not seeking trouble with the man first, yet Xiao Tian was courting death without realizing it and had insisted on coming to provoke Haolai Restaurant.
"Why did you have to force me?" Zhou Qiming's face was hidden beneath his black clothing, his voice hoarse and icy. Wasn't it better to live? These people had repeatedly bullied and oppressed him simply because his status was lowly.
If he had not bitterly trained in Rampant Liver Martial Arts after work every day, he would have died countless times already. Since Xiao Tian dared to threaten Haolai Restaurant today, he would dare to come to his door tomorrow to kill and burn. He could not be allowed to live.
"May I ask which hall master of the gang you are, honored sir? This lowly one failed to recognize Mount Tai. These two women are still untouched, so please spare my life!"
Xiao Tian completely fell to his knees. Where was the arrogance he had shown at the restaurant earlier? If Yuan Tieyi were here, he would probably be sorely disappointed as well. Only bullying those weaker than oneself was no conduct befitting a true man!
"Begging for mercy now? Too late." Zhou Qiming's killing intent surged.
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