Second Young Master of the Chu Family

Having recognized him, Chu Qing felt his gums ache a little.

Although he had long been prepared to encounter someone from the Chu Family on this return trip, he had not expected to run into Chu Fan before even setting foot within Heavenly Dance City's borders.

Wasn't that kid studying martial arts under Cui Bunü, the Divine Fist of Non-Anger, at the Great Easy Sect?

Had he skipped class?

Of course, one could tell with their knees that this was absolutely impossible.

Though Cui Bunü was known as the Divine Fist of Non-Anger, he was in fact the quickest to anger.

If his disciples failed to heed his teachings, they would be treated to a storm of old fists at the slightest provocation.

For Chu Fan to be here, he must have received permission... but the coincidence was simply too absurd. Why did he have to run into him of all people?

Fortunately, that glance just now had not allowed the other party to recognize him, so there was no need to worry about further complications.

As he pondered this, the junior sister spoke coldly:

"Senior Brother, are you speaking of your third younger brother, Chu Qing?"

"Precisely."

Chu Fan led her into the tea stall, waved over the shop assistant, ordered two bowls of cold tea and several dishes, then said:

"My younger brother had ambitions of his own and was unwilling to submit to the family's restraints. He wished to put his own chivalrous path into practice.

"I thought it was merely the rash talk of a child, but I never expected that once he left, he would be gone for all these years.

"My father and elder brother made inquiries everywhere and searched in all directions, yet found nothing. These past few years... Father's health has worsened by the day. Eldest Brother kept it from me... but I know. He misses my youngest brother and has fallen ill from grief and worry."

Chu Qing, who had intended to leave as soon as possible, could not help but twitch his fingers upon hearing this.

Chu Yunfei was ill?

His motion to leave stiffened, and he returned to his original spot.

A tangled brew of emotions inevitably rose within him.

The Chu Family had two outstanding sons. From childhood, Chu Tian had possessed a natural grace in dealing with people and affairs, and his talent and comprehension were both exceptional.

At such a young age, great hopes had already been placed upon him.

Chu Fan, meanwhile, had been born with divine strength. The Great Easy Sect was a renowned sect, and Cui Bunü, the Divine Fist of Non-Anger, was a famous master.

With a renowned sect, a famous master, and innate talent, his future was surely a broad and smooth road.

Only Chu Qing had failed in both letters and martial arts, seeming as though he might as well not exist...

Now, hearing that Chu Yunfei had fallen ill from worrying over this worthless youngest son, Chu Qing could not help but feel complicated emotions stirring within him.

That junior sister said nothing. Her eyes were vacant, and no one knew what she was thinking.

For a time, the two young people fell into silence.

Chu Qing was the first to break free from the strange atmosphere, because the ground began to tremble faintly. Looking up, he saw yellow dust filling the sky and whinnies rumbling like thunder. In scarcely the blink of an eye, several fast horses had arrived before them.

The leading man wore a savage expression, his face black as charcoal, his hair wild as spear shafts, his entire body brimming with killing intent.

"The Seven Iron Horse Thieves!!"

Those drinking tea in the tea stall were often seasoned travelers who had roamed north and south. At the sound, they turned their heads and recognized the newcomers at once. For a moment, many faces turned pale as paper.

The Seven Iron Horse Thieves had a considerable reputation. There had originally been a gang called Iron Horse Hall, which specialized in raising warhorses and providing convenience to those of the martial world.

But in the end, it had been wiped out by someone, and Iron Horse Hall was erased from the martial world overnight.

Only a few fish that had slipped through the net remained, relying on the hall's fine steeds to preserve their lives.

Freed from Iron Horse Hall's restraints, these men let themselves run wild. Relying on their swift horses and decent martial skills, they began wantonly plundering the surrounding villages.

Wu Ganqi, the lord of Heavenly Dance City, hated them to the bone. Yet the Heavenly Dance Guards had encircled and annihilated them several times, only for them to escape disaster each time. Thus, their arrogance grew ever more rampant.

They had no mountain stronghold and no fixed base. They came in haste and left in haste, without a trace. Those who roamed the martial world to do business could generally only count themselves unlucky if they encountered them.

Several quick-witted people in the tea stall immediately turned and leaped through the windows without another thought, hoping to flee far away.

Just as they were about to reach their carriages, a whistling sound arrived in the blink of an eye.

Then came a sharp tearing sound. The figure was instantly split in two, followed by a bang as a battle-axe smashed into the carriage compartment, nearly reducing the entire carriage to splinters.

"The Seven Iron Horse Heroes are conducting business. Stay put obediently. Once we finish our proper business, we'll come deal with the lot of you."

A rough voice rang out like thunder exploding upon level ground, making everyone's hearts jolt.

There were also skilled fighters within the tea stall, and some had intended to rise with swords drawn, but those beside them stopped them. They would first watch how matters unfolded.

Then that voice continued:

"Which one of you is Chu Fan?"

Chu Qing was startled. So they had come for him?

But he could not immediately turn his head to look. Otherwise, Chu Fan would surely wonder how this beggar knew his name. Would that not expose him?

"Chu Fan of the Great Easy Sect is here!!"

Chu Fan did not hesitate in the slightest. Slapping the table, he spun and arrived outside the tea stall.

His face was hard as iron and filled with fury. Yet after merely glancing at Chu Qing, he waved a hand.

"Go into the tea stall and hide."

Chu Qing nodded repeatedly and "scrambled" into the tea stall. One hand clutched his bamboo staff tightly, while the other gripped that broken bowl. The silver in the bowl had long since been tucked into his clothes.

The moment he entered, he saw Chu Fan's fellow disciple still seated there, drinking tea.

For a moment, he was speechless. The Seven Iron Horse Thieves had come knocking, and her senior brother was facing the enemy alone outside, yet she was so calm-hearted that she still sat here drinking tea?

But judging from her manner, she was likely fearless because she had something to rely on.

Chu Qing hid beneath the window and peered outside. The Seven Iron Horse Thieves had already arrived. Several horses circled Chu Fan twice, and the leading man sneered.

"You are Chu Fan?

"My seventh brother died at your hands?"

Chu Qing immediately understood. No wonder they were called the Seven Iron Horse Thieves when there were only six here.

So Chu Fan had beaten the seventh one to death.

"So the Seven Iron Horse Thieves came to seek revenge..."

"What a fine second young master of the Chu Family of Heavenly Dance City!"

"No wonder the Seven Iron Horse Thieves came charging to his door. I heard their seventh brother had been making a living in Yan Pass Gorge not long ago. A heroic warrior happened to pass by, saw injustice on the road, and smashed Old Seven's head apart with one punch."

"As expected of a disciple of the Divine Fist of Non-Anger."

The people around them discussed the matter one after another, though no one knew where they had gotten the news.

Chu Qing secretly bared his teeth. Chu Fan possessed inborn divine strength and had learned the Grand Easy Divine Fist at the Great Easy Sect. Naturally, the power of his fists was no trifling matter.

While the people in the tea stall chattered away, Chu Fan nodded.

"It was indeed Chu who did it."

"You've got nerve!!"

The leading man among the Seven Iron Horse Thieves let out a furious roar. Several sharp whooshes rang out in succession as the members of the Seven Iron Horse Heroes surrounding Chu Fan attacked, each raising hooked claws toward Chu Fan's limbs.

Just as Chu Fan was about to defend himself, he suddenly looked up. The leading man held a battle-axe in hand, and an invisible force had already enveloped him.

The slightest movement would bring a thunderous strike.

Even Chu Qing, who had been quite confident in Chu Fan, raised his brows at this scene.

Just then, a teacup was handed over.

Chu Qing instinctively wanted to take it, but suddenly realized something was wrong and immediately put on a terrified expression.

"Ah!"

As though frightened by the sudden teacup, he dropped onto the ground on his backside.

Looking up, he saw that the woman who had come with Chu Fan was somehow crouching before him.