Recognizing the man, Chu Qing felt his teeth ache.
Though he'd long been prepared to see members of the Chu Family on his return, he hadn't expected to run into Chu Fan before even entering Heavenly Dance City's territory.
Wasn't that kid supposed to be studying under Cui Buno, the Wrathful God Fist of Taiyi Sect?
Had he skipped class?
Of course, even a moment's thought made it clear that was impossible.
Though Cui Buno was known as the Wrathful God Fist, he was also notoriously quick to anger.
If his disciples failed to heed his teachings, he would beat them without hesitation.
Chu Fan had to have gotten permission to be here... It was just too much of a coincidence. How had they run into each other of all people?
Fortunately, the other man hadn't recognized him at a glance, so there was no need to worry about complications.
As Chu Qing mulled this over, the junior sister spoke coldly:
"Are you talking about your Third Brother, Chu Qing?"
"That's right."
Chu Fan led her into the teahouse, beckoned the waiter over, and ordered two bowls of cold tea and a few snacks before continuing:
"My younger brother has ambitions of his own. He didn't want to be bound by the family, and wished to follow his own path of chivalry.
"I thought it was just a child's idle talk, but I never imagined he'd be gone all these years.
"Father and Eldest Brother have made inquiries everywhere, but found nothing. These past few years... Father's health has been getting worse, and Eldest Brother kept it from me... But I know. He's been worrying himself sick over my youngest brother."
Chu Qing, who had planned to leave as soon as possible, couldn't help but twitch his fingers at those words.
Chu Yunfei was ill?
His movement to leave froze, and he settled back into his original spot.
A jumble of feelings rose in his heart.
The Chu Family had two outstanding sons. From a young age, Chu Tian had shown natural grace in dealing with others, and his talent and insight were exceptional.
Even as a little boy, great hopes had been placed on him.
Chu Fan had been born with extraordinary strength. Taiyi Sect was a prestigious sect, and the Wrathful God Fist, Cui Buno, was a renowned master.
With a prestigious sect, a renowned master, and natural talent, his future was sure to be smooth sailing.
Only Chu Qing was hopeless at both letters and martial arts, seemingly good for nothing...
Now, hearing that Chu Yunfei had worried himself sick over this disappointing youngest son, Chu Qing couldn't help but feel conflicted.
The junior sister said nothing, her eyes vacant as she lost herself in thought.
For a time, the two young people fell silent.
Chu Qing was the first to break free of the strange atmosphere. The ground had begun to tremble faintly. He looked up and saw dust filling the sky, the horses' cries rumbling like thunder. In almost the blink of an eye, several fast horses were upon them.
The man at their head had a fearsome face, skin black as charcoal, wild hair bristling like spears, and murder in his eyes.
"The Iron Horse Seven Bandits!"
The people drinking in the teahouse had often traveled far and wide and knew the ways of the world. At the sound, they turned their heads and immediately recognized the riders. Many turned as pale as paper.
The Iron Horse Seven Bandits were notorious. They had once belonged to a gang called Iron Horse Hall, which specialized in raising warhorses and providing them to people in the martial world.
But in the end, the hall had been destroyed and wiped from the martial world overnight.
Only a few survivors remained, preserving their lives thanks to the fine horses from the hall.
Freed from Iron Horse Hall's restraints, those few let themselves run wild. Relying on their fast horses and decent martial arts, they began plundering the surrounding villages without restraint.
Wu Ganqi, the lord of Heavenly Dance City, hated them to the bone. Yet the Heavenly Dance Guard had tried to wipe them out several times, only for them to escape disaster each time. Their arrogance grew ever more unchecked.
They had no stronghold and no fixed base. They came and went in a flash, leaving no trace. Those traveling the martial world to do business who ran into them could usually only accept their bad luck.
A few quick-witted people in the teahouse turned and jumped out the windows without a second thought, hoping to flee.
They were almost at their carriage when a whistling sound reached them in the blink of an eye.
A sharp hiss followed, and the fleeing man was cleaved in two. At the same time, with a crash, a battle-axe slammed into the carriage, nearly smashing the whole thing to pieces.
"The Iron Horse Seven Heroes are handling business. Everyone stay put. Once we've taken care of what we came for, we'll deal with the rest of you."
A coarse voice rang out like a clap of thunder on a clear day, making everyone's hearts jolt.
There were experts in the teahouse who had wanted to draw their swords and fight, but those beside them held them back. Better to wait and see.
Then the voice continued:
"Which one of you is Chu Fan?"
Chu Qing froze. So they were after him?
But he couldn't immediately turn his head to look. Otherwise, Chu Fan would surely wonder how this beggar knew his name, and his cover would be blown.
"The Taiyi Sect's Chu Fan is here!"
Chu Fan didn't hesitate. He slapped the table, turned, and was already outside the teahouse.
His face was iron-hard, brimming with fury. But after glancing at Chu Qing, he waved a hand.
"Get inside the teahouse and hide."
Chu Qing nodded repeatedly and went "stumbling and scrambling" into the teahouse. One hand clutched his bamboo staff, while the other held his broken bowl. He'd already tucked the silver from the bowl into his clothes.
As soon as he entered, he saw Chu Fan's fellow disciple still sitting there, drinking tea.
For a moment, Chu Qing was speechless. The Iron Horse Seven Bandits had come knocking, and her senior brother had gone out alone to face them. Yet she was so unconcerned that she was still sitting here drinking tea?
But from the way she acted, she was probably confident she had nothing to fear.
Chu Qing hid beneath the window and peeked outside. By then, the Iron Horse Seven Bandits had reached them. Several horses circled Chu Fan twice before the man at their head sneered:
"You're Chu Fan?
"Did you kill my seventh brother?"
Chu Qing understood at once. No wonder they were called the Iron Horse Seven Bandits, yet there were only six of them here.
So Chu Fan had killed the seventh.
"So the Iron Horse Seven Bandits came to avenge him..."
"What a formidable Second Young Master of the Chu Family in Heavenly Dance City!"
"No wonder the Iron Horse Seven Bandits came after him. I heard their seventh man was operating in Yan Pass Gorge a while back when a chivalrous hero happened to pass by. Seeing injustice, he smashed the fellow's head with one punch."
"Truly worthy of the Wrathful God Fist's disciple."
The people around them whispered among themselves, though no one knew where they'd gotten their information.
Chu Qing secretly grimaced. Chu Fan had been born with extraordinary strength, and after learning the Tai Yi Divine Fist at Taiyi Sect, his fists were naturally no ordinary thing.
While the people in the teahouse were still talking, Chu Fan nodded.
"That was my doing."
"How dare you!"
The leader of the Iron Horse Seven Bandits let out a furious shout. Several sharp whistles followed in quick succession. The men among the Iron Horse Seven Heroes surrounding Chu Fan sprang into action, each raising a hooked claw and aiming for his limbs.
Chu Fan was about to defend himself when he suddenly looked up. The leader had a battle-axe in hand, and an invisible force had already enveloped the area around him.
The slightest movement would bring a thunderous strike.
At the sight, even Chu Qing, who had been rather confident in Chu Fan, raised an eyebrow.
Just then, a teacup was held out to him.
Chu Qing instinctively reached to take it, but suddenly realized something was wrong. He immediately put on a look of terror.
"Ah!"
As if the sudden appearance of the teacup had frightened him, he dropped onto his backside.
When he looked up, he saw the woman who had accompanied Chu Fan crouching in front of him.
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