Not long after that young man finished his wild boasts—not even half a cup of tea later—the neat, earth-shaking footfalls of hundreds of people running, along with the scrape of armor, rang out beyond the tavern.
Judging by the sound, hundreds of people were clearly running, yet there was only a single set of footsteps. Such perfectly coordinated strides even at a sprint were the mark of elite troops, and they sent a particular tremor through the heart.
Hearing the footsteps outside, several diners upstairs who had been watching the young man in the private booth with cold eyes now wore faint sneers, waiting to enjoy the show.
The expressions of the two men who looked like guards beside the young man in the private booth visibly tightened. Even the young man who had spoken earlier changed color slightly. He had not expected Golden Crow City's troops to arrive so quickly. Though his face had changed, he seemed to have something to rely on. Forcing himself to appear composed, he picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and declared loudly.
"Morality, benevolence, righteousness, and propriety are the four pillars of man. When the four pillars do not stand, how is man any different from beast? The Ancient Morality Stele says..."
The orderly footsteps stopped outside the tavern, surrounding it at once. Then, less than ten seconds later, the tavern stairs began to shake. Led by a waiter, a red-faced burly man in black armor strode directly upstairs with a squad of armored soldiers. Their thudding footsteps abruptly cut off what the young man had been about to say.
"Who was it that spread rumors and deceived the public here, slandering Elder Mu Shen?" The red-faced man's thick brows were like chopping blades. After sweeping his gaze around the room,