"Hold on, hold on, Old Zhou. I spotted this Great Green Carp first. I'm buying it, so don't go thanking yourself!"
As he spoke, the Black-robed youth tossed the Great Green Carp in his hands to a group of attendants in green robes and told them to wrap it carefully.
Zhou Yaya smiled ingratiatingly. "What are you saying, sir? There's no need to be so formal. Even if it goes to the fish market, consider it a gift from me!"
"Fine. You do know how to talk, kid!"
The Black-robed youth smugly patted Zhou Yaya on the shoulder, then casually reached into Zhou Yaya's purse, pulled out a handful of copper coins and silver pieces, and scattered them on the ground. "There, old man. That's your payment for the fish!"
Uncle Mu froze on the spot. There were quite a few copper coins and silver pieces scattered on the ground, but together they were worth no more than two taels.
That Great Green Carp would fetch at least a hundred taels at the fish market.
"That doesn't seem right. Two taels of silver aren't nearly enough for this Great Green Carp!"
A fisherman with a long face couldn't stand by and watch, and spoke up for him.
One voice called out, then a hundred answered. They all made their living from the same bowl of rice and knew how hard it was. Seeing Uncle Mu's hard-won Great Green Carp about to be seized by force, the other fishermen felt his pain and began to clamor.
"Oh? Whoever keeps running his mouth, I won't buy anyone's fish today!"
Seeing the Black-robed youth's expression turn cold, Zhou Yaya's heart jumped. He immediately turned on the crowd and shouted them down.
He had managed the fish market for years and knew exactly how to deal with fishermen. At his words, they fell silent at once.
Zhou Yaya had just managed to quiet the fishermen when a thunderous crash rang out. The long-faced man who had first spoken up for Uncle Mu was sent flying by a slap from the Black-robed youth. He crashed onto the bluestone paving, splattering a pool of black blood across it—a horrifying sight.
"I'll ask you again. Is two taels of silver enough to buy this Great Green Carp?"
The Black-robed youth wore a faint smile, but his killing intent surged like a mountain collapsing, pressing down on everyone present until none dared meet his gaze.
His icy stare was like a winter wind slicing through a forest. Every tree bowed low, save for one lone bamboo standing proudly upright.
Uncle Mu held his grizzled head high and glared coldly at the Black-robed youth. In a hoarse voice, he said, "You want the Great Green Carp? Take it. Two taels, or no money at all—I don't care. But what gives you the right to hit someone?"
"What gives me the right to hit someone? You decrepit old bastard, how dare you talk to Young Master like that! You're asking what gives him the right? He can hit whoever he wants—and now he's hitting you!"
As the words fell, a sharp slap cracked through the air. Zhou Yaya struck Uncle Mu hard across the face.
Uncle Mu's face was as hard as cold stone. He didn't budge. He suddenly drew the short fork at his waist and hurled it past Zhou Yaya's armpit.
Zhou Yaya happened to be standing in front of Uncle Mu, his sleeves wide. The old man's throw came so suddenly that a flash of black streaked through the air. With a ripping sound, the steel fork pierced the Great Green Carp's head with unerring accuracy and pinned it firmly to the bluestone paving.
The sudden turn of events left everyone standing there in a daze.
The Great Green Carp was undeniably delicious and valuable, but it was particular to cook: it had to be killed and prepared right away.
Now its head had been pierced, and the fish was well and truly dead. How could it still be served to the Black-robed youth's guests?
"Old Man Mu, have you got a death wish?!"
Zhou Yaya roared hoarsely, his hair practically standing on end with rage.
"That fish was caught by me, an old man. If I'm in a bad mood and kill it to eat the meat myself, how does that concern you?"
Uncle Mu's beard and hair bristled as he stood there, radiating defiance.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The Black-robed youth clapped slowly, his expression cold but his smile unchanged. "So heroes do rise from the streets! Let's see what sort of hero you are, though. Old Bear, take a few brothers and test him."
At once, seven or eight men in green robes spread out and closed in around Uncle Mu.
They were being so cautious only because of Uncle Mu's swift flying fork. The thugs were worried he might be a tough opponent.
In truth, there was no need for concern. Uncle Mu had merely perfected his throw through years of fishing. By a martial artist's standards, he hadn't even entered the Body Tempering Stage. He was nothing more than a somewhat brawny, destitute old fisherman.
The thugs swarmed him. Uncle Mu had no way to fight back and was easily beaten to the ground, where a brutal beating that made teeth ache began.
"That's enough. Don't beat the old bastard to death. I haven't heard him beg yet."
The Black-robed youth waved for them to stop.
By then, Uncle Mu lay collapsed on the ground, covered in blood. His chest rose and fell faintly, but his grizzled, bloodstained head remained held high.
Seeing how stubborn Uncle Mu was, the smile on the Black-robed youth's face deepened. He spoke gently. "Old man, kowtow to me three times with a good, loud thump, and I'll let you go. Otherwise, your old bones can go fill the Dragon Whisker River!"
Uncle Mu said nothing. Curled up on the ground, he kept his neck straight, like a withered branch—broken, yet still stiff.
"Old man, you're one tough bastard! Someone, tie stones to him and sink him in the river!"
The Black-robed youth had grown impatient and didn't want to waste any more time on the decrepit old man before him.
"Sir, with everyone watching, this may not be wise," Zhou Yaya advised quietly.
Furong Town might be small, but it still lay within the Great Yue Royal Court's territory. Taking a life in broad daylight was no small matter; the laws of the Great Yue Royal Court were no joke.
Powerful families oppressed commoners too, but they used underhanded tricks and covert means. They didn't do it so brazenly.
The Black-robed youth laughed loudly. "Everyone watching? So what if everyone's watching? Forget this little Furong Town—even in Guang'an City, if someone displeases me, I can have him snuffed out in an instant. Who's going to do anything about it?"
With that, he cast a sidelong glance at the attendants in green robes and sneered. "What the hell are you standing around for? Sink him!"
As soon as the Black-robed youth finished speaking, the fishermen's expressions finally changed. Fury and outrage appeared on every face.
"What the hell are you all doing? Planning a rebellion? Do you even know who this sir is? Surely you've heard of Black Dragon Hall. This young master is the Young Hall Master of its Baima Branch Hall. If you're thinking of making trouble, get on the scale first and weigh yourselves—see how much you're worth!"
Zhou Yaya didn't care what happened to the fishermen, but if things got out of hand and the Black-robed youth broke all their bones, they wouldn't be able to work. Without the fishermen, the fish market would lose its income, and that would hurt his own interests too.
At the words "Black Dragon Hall," a bone-chilling wind swept through the crowd, carrying away all their anger and discontent.
"What's the point of telling these dirt-legged peasants? They wouldn't understand the name of Black Dragon Hall anyway."
The Black-robed youth gave Zhou Yaya a haughty glance, arrogance written across his face.
Just then, a girl in plain clothes rushed into the crowd. She was only as tall as an adult's leg, with chubby cheeks and a tiny book bag slung over her shoulder. Tears streamed down her face as she wailed and ran toward Uncle Mu.
"Grandpa! Grandpa, what happened to you? What happened? Waaaah..."
The little girl threw herself down beside Uncle Mu, shaking him as she cried out at the top of her lungs.