Aftermath

Chen Yuan looked down at Wang Wei, who was twitching in pain and fear. "Jinsha Trading Company? Very good. I'm not going to hit you too hard today. Consider it a chance."

He applied a little more pressure with his foot, and Wang Wei immediately let out a miserable howl.

"Remember this: Chen Dajiang is my Second Uncle, and this shop is under my protection."

"Go back and tell your master to compensate the shop for all its losses, and pay double the cost of the injured workers' medicine."

"If I find out that anyone from Jinsha Trading Company dares set foot in this shop again, or harasses my Second Uncle... I won't mind going to your head office myself to have a talk with your master."

"Do you understand?"

That last sentence exploded beside Wang Wei's ears like a thunderclap.

"I understand... I understand! I'll deliver the message and do exactly as you say! Thank you, hero, for sparing my life!" Wang Wei promised, tears and mucus streaming down his face.

"Take your men and get lost."

Chen Yuan lifted his foot.

The workers felt as if they had been granted a pardon from heaven. They scrambled and crawled to help the injured men up, then fled the fish shop without even daring to retrieve their weapons.

A brief, deathly silence descended over the shop.

Then enormous sighs of relief and cheers that could no longer be held back burst from the workers of Fengyuan Trading Company!

They stared at Chen Yuan in excitement, their eyes filled with shock and admiration.

"Brother Yuan! That was incredible!"

"My heavens! He snapped ironwood with his bare hands! How much strength does that take?"

"Fantastic! Let's see if they still dare act so arrogantly."

Chen Dajiang was even more agitated, tears streaming down his weathered face. He rushed over and gripped Chen Yuan's arm tightly, his lips trembling. It took him a long while to get the words out. "Brother Yuan... you... you really were... really..."

He was so excited that he could barely speak coherently. He only patted Chen Yuan's arm forcefully, everything he wanted to say contained in that gesture.

Chen Yuan withdrew the chill around him, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He reached back and supported his deeply moved Second Uncle. "Second Uncle, it's all right now. Everything's settled. They probably won't dare come back again."

He glanced at the wrecked shop and the injured workers. "Have someone tend to the injured workers first, then clean things up."

Before long, the shop had been swiftly cleaned, the injured workers had been settled, and the several baskets of precious sea bass had been carefully loaded onto a cart and sent to Liu Manor.

Once everything had been handled, the sky had already turned dusky yellow, and the cold wind howled even more fiercely outside.

Chen Dajiang had recovered somewhat as well, though he was still muttering, "Brother Yuan, business among the town's fish shops isn't easy. Today you steal from me, tomorrow I steal from you. That's just how it goes."

"It's only because all the good men from our fish shop followed the master out to sea today. Otherwise, how could that lackey Wang Wei have come here to throw his weight around?"

Though he knew his Second Uncle was merely putting on a brave front, Chen Yuan still nodded seriously with a smile.

As they talked, uncle and nephew picked up their fully loaded bundles, preparing to lift the padded curtain and leave.

Suddenly, another hurried burst of carriage wheels sounded outside the shop. Judging by the noise, it seemed more than one carriage had arrived.

The people, who had only just relaxed, tensed up again. Could Jinsha Trading Company still refuse to give up and have brought even more men?

The windproof padded curtain was suddenly thrown open. This time, however, the newcomers were not fierce-looking thugs, but a portly middle-aged man dressed in an expensive brocade-padded robe and a sable cloak.

His face was frantic, his forehead covered in beads of sweat. He did not even have time to wipe them away. The moment he entered, his panicked gaze swept around the shop before locking onto Chen Yuan, who stood in close-fitting martial attire with an extraordinary bearing. His complexion instantly turned deathly pale.

Two men who looked like accountants followed behind him, both wearing fearful expressions. The workers from Jinsha Trading Company who had fled in disarray earlier were with them as well. They all hung their heads and huddled behind the others like quails.

The portly man completely ignored Chen Dajiang and everyone else. He nearly stumbled as he hurried to Chen Yuan, then, under everyone's astonished gazes, bowed deeply and spoke in a fearful tone.

"I am Jin Mancang, the master of Jinsha Trading Company. My men were blinded by greed and failed to recognize a distinguished guest of Blackwater Martial Arts School. I, Jin, failed to govern properly and discipline them strictly, so I have come to apologize to Young Hero. Please, Young Hero, calm your anger!"

The scene caused the atmosphere, which had only just settled, to freeze once more.

Chen Dajiang and all the workers of Fengyuan Trading Company were once again dumbstruck. Jin Mancang, the master of Jinsha Trading Company, was one of the town's most renowned wealthy merchants.

Usually, even a shopkeeper from a small fish shop like theirs would find it difficult to meet him once. Yet now he was apologizing to Chen Yuan with such obsequious humility?

Chen Yuan looked at the master before him, every inch of him radiating respect. His expression remained calm, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

This was the reaction of someone who truly understood a martial artist's status and influence. A disciple of Blackwater Martial Arts School who was so young yet so remarkably skilled represented potential and power far beyond what a merchant in a small town like him could afford to provoke.

Never mind anything else—even those medium and small fish shops that depended on Blackwater Martial Arts School to make a living would not be any weaker than Jinsha Trading Company.

"Master Jin, there's no need to be like this. Please rise."

Chen Yuan spoke indifferently. "It was only a minor clash, but the rules at your company seem to need some strengthening."

At the word "rules," Jin Mancang's body trembled violently, and cold sweat slid down his temples. "Yes, yes, of course. I know I was wrong. I'll make sure that blind fool Wang Wei is severely punished and driven from the docks."

"You disturbed Accountant Chen and damaged your company's belongings. I'm willing to compensate you tenfold. I ask Young Hero to show mercy and forgive us."

As he spoke, he pulled a heavy, bulging silk money pouch from his robes. Judging by its sagging weight and shape, it likely contained no less than a hundred taels of silver. He respectfully held it out before Chen Yuan.

"It's only a small token, nothing worthy of mention. Consider it compensation for Accountant Chen and the workers—for calming their fright, treating their injuries, and repairing the shop. Please, Young Hero, do me the honor of accepting it. Otherwise, Jin will be unable to sleep or eat in peace!"

Chen Yuan did not accept the money pouch. Instead, he turned to Chen Dajiang, who was already staring in stunned helplessness. "Second Uncle, what do you think we should do?"

When had Chen Dajiang ever seen such a spectacle? A wealthy merchant from the town was bowing so low before his nephew and offering a hefty compensation.

His head buzzed. He hurriedly waved his hands, unable even to speak smoothly. "Master Jin, this... this is far too valuable... I can't accept it. I can't. Since... since it was a misunderstanding, clearing it up is enough. There's no need for compensation..."

But Jin Mancang insisted on giving it to him, practically forcing the heavy money pouch into Chen Dajiang's hands. "Accountant Chen, you must accept it. If you refuse, it means you still blame me, Jin. How could Jinsha Trading Company possibly continue to show its face at these docks?"

Seeing that the moment was right, and that Master Jin's attitude was fairly sincere, Chen Yuan finally spoke, delivering the final word. "Since Master Jin is this sincere, we'll let the matter end here. I hope nothing like this happens again."

Jin Mancang looked as if he had been pardoned. "Thank you, Young Hero, for your magnanimity! Certainly, certainly! From now on, Jinsha Trading Company will keep strictly to its place and will never dare offend you again!"

Only after repeating his assurances several more times did he lead his men out of the shop.

Inside, the workers looked at the heavy money pouch in Chen Dajiang's hands, then at Chen Yuan, whose expression was as calm as if he had merely taken a sip of water. The awe in their eyes had transformed into an emotion bordering on worship.

Chen Dajiang clutched the money pouch as though it were a red-hot coal, his hands trembling violently. He looked at his nephew, his voice drifting as if he were speaking from within a dream. "Brother Yuan, this... this... I'm not dreaming, am I? Jin Mancang... he... he actually..."

Chen Yuan smiled, stepped forward, and helped his Second Uncle put the money pouch away. He said gently, "Second Uncle, just accept it without worry. It's the price he should pay—and the lesson he needed to learn."

"After what happened today, from now on, no one at these docks—or even in the entire town—will dare come to Fengyuan Trading Company and cause trouble. When they see you, they'll all have to respectfully call you Shopkeeper Chen."

Chen Dajiang drew several deep breaths before he could barely suppress the tempest raging in his heart.

He looked at his nephew, who seemed able to make reality obey his every word. Recalling the scene that had risen and fallen like a play, with one dramatic turn after another, his heart filled with a hundred tangled emotions. In the end, they all became a sigh brimming with feeling.

"Good... good..."

"Brother Yuan, you've truly... truly made something of yourself. You've made something great of yourself!"

He patted Chen Yuan's shoulder forcefully, his eyes reddening once more. Looking at his tall, straight-backed nephew—now the true support and pride of the Lineage—his heart filled with solidity and pride.

"Brother Yuan, come on, let's go home! Your grandfather and the others have all been waiting for you to return."

Chen Dajiang's voice was much fuller than before, and his back had straightened to a ramrod.