Lots of News

"What? Young Hero Chen?"

"The Fifth Young Master of the Zhao Family is here?"

Upon hearing the greeting from Iron Fan.

The crowd turned their heads in unison, some rising from their seats, all looking toward the entrance of the teahouse.

Chen Guan's tall frame, clad in his Hundred Beast Garment, was highly conspicuous at the doorway.

"I never imagined I'd see the real person after hearing the stories..."

"Does Young Hero Chen know Mr. Iron Fan?"

"I have met Young Hero Chen!"

Amidst the confusion and chatter, the crowd did not hesitate to offer cupped-fist salutes or greet him with smiles.

Those who offered salutes were mostly people from the pugilistic world.

After all, the stories told here were about the pugilistic world, and most of those gathered were martial artists themselves.

"Everyone..."

Seeing so many chivalrous guests in the teahouse, Chen Guan returned the salutes to the left and right.

He had made a habit of it throughout his journey here today.

Once he finished returning the greetings.

Chen Guan looked toward the smiling "Iron Fan" holding his fan on the stage.

He finally knew the nickname of this gentleman today.

I didn't expect this gentleman to remember me as well?

At the same time.

Seeing that the man recognized him, Chen Guan felt an indescribable sense of joy.

Being remembered by others was naturally a happy thing.

Of course, excluding enemies he couldn't defeat.

"Young Hero Chen, please!"

Seeing that this young hero seemed interested in interacting with him, Iron Fan smiled and gestured toward the back of the teahouse, then bowed and cupped his hands apologetically to the audience:

"My esteemed patrons, please forgive me.

After I step down, I shall invite Mr. Lin to take over."

"Good!"

"I am quite fond of Mr. Lin as well..."

The crowd was not displeased to hear about the change in performers.

Because Mr. Lin was also one of the storytellers in the teahouse, and his skills were no less than those of Iron Fan.

Moreover, under normal circumstances, the two usually took turns.

But it was normal for one to cover a few sessions if the other had something to attend to.

After all, whoever told the stories kept the tips.

When it came to making money, no one complained about telling too few stories.

In the backyard of the teahouse, there were two small courtyards.

These were generally places for the storytellers to rest, and also served as dressing rooms for opera troupes.

Besides storytelling, the teahouse also hosted operas.

There were three opera troupes in Little Liuzi Town.

"Bone-Shrinking Technique?"

Just now.

As soon as Chen Guan entered the courtyard, he saw a short man using a strange posture to "shrink" his body.

It looked magical, but it was merely the result of years of practice and a certain technique of vibrating the body to narrow the gaps between the bones.

"Who are you?"

Seeing Chen Guan enter, the man was about to ask, but then, as Iron Fan followed, he stood up straight and said: "Mr. Iron!"

"My nephew." Iron Fan smiled, then introduced Chen Guan to the man: "You've been saying for days that you wanted to go near the Zhao Mansion and stake out the place to see what Young Hero Chen looked like.

Now that Young Hero Chen is here, why don't you recognize him?"

"What? Great Hero Chen?" Upon hearing this, the man was shocked and excitedly cupped his hands toward Chen Guan: "Great Hero Chen! This junior really... didn't expect you to come to our small place..."

"You flatter me." Chen Guan returned the salute, "Coming here today, I fear I have been a bother to you both."

"You jest..." The man was visibly agitated, and at a gesture from Iron Fan, he hurried into the house to brew the fine tea he kept for himself.

"My little nephew may not look tall, but he is the lead actor in a southern troupe, playing the role of a great general."

Only after the man had left did Iron Fan explain to Chen Guan: "He has wanted to be a great general since he was a child, admiring the martial arts and imposing stature of such men.

Now that he has heard of Young Hero Chen's handsome appearance, which matches the great general he admires so much.

It is only natural he could not hide his excitement; I hope Young Hero Chen will not take offense at his lack of decorum before an honored guest."

"There is no offense to take." Chen Guan was so taken aback by their tone that he didn't know how to respond.

They were simply being too courteous, too polite.

But at the same time.

Through a few brief exchanges and his own keen ability to read people, Iron Fan felt that this "extraordinary hero" was worth befriending, so he shifted the topic and suddenly said:

"Young Hero Chen, if I may be so bold, has Constable Yan sought you out yet?"

"Constable Yan?" Chen Guan studied him for a moment, sensing he had something specific to say, and replied accordingly: "I have yet to see him."

"Then it is likely the constable is currently investigating your background."

Iron Fan was truly bold enough to speak freely before a stranger, trusting in his own judgment of character.

But more importantly, to get to know an extraordinary person, one had to start with something out of the ordinary.

"Young Hero Chen, if I am not mistaken..." Iron Fan unfurled his fan, "within seven days at most, Constable Yan will come looking for you.

You must be careful."

Hearing such words of concern from a stranger upon their first meeting.

Chen Guan felt a bit unaccustomed to it, feeling that the previous excessive politeness was actually preferable.

At the very least, that had maintained the polite distance of acquaintances.

However, these words from Iron Fan did cause Chen Guan to remain vigilant.

Furthermore, Chen Guan had already made preparations, knowing that Constable Yan might come looking for him.

He simply hadn't expected the man to delay so long.

Perhaps, just as Iron Fan said, he is currently digging into my background.

Chen Guan sat steady and composed, his mind filled with various countermeasures.

But his fallback plan was that if Constable Yan, an "acquaintance from his past life," truly came to cause trouble and he found himself in a dead end.

He could always mention the "reincarnation of the Black Bear Spirit" to see if it might have an unexpected effect.

After all, the establishment of Fifth Young Master's identity and family influence had only just begun to show some progress.

Chen Guan still wanted to plant his feet firmly here and continue to develop.

"Many thanks for the warning, sir."

Although Chen Guan had been prepared, he thanked the man sincerely upon receiving the reminder.

Courtesy costs nothing.

He had just learned that from Mr. Iron Fan.

He was putting it into practice immediately.

"No need, no need." Iron Fan smiled slightly: "Seeing the steady demeanor of the young hero upon hearing this news today, I know you already have a plan in mind.

It seems I have spoken out of turn."

As he laughed, he suddenly pointed toward the location of Yanhe Pavilion.

"I heard the young hero has an appointment today? To meet the proprietor of Yanhe Pavilion?"

"That is correct."

Chen Guan nodded, "The invitation was delivered to my estate a few days ago; having promised to go, I must naturally keep the appointment."

After Chen Guan finished speaking, he wanted to hear what other sincere advice the man might offer.

Of course, Chen Guan remained cautious and did not believe everything blindly.

Going to the appointment was something many people knew about, so there was no harm in mentioning it.

"Hmm..." Iron Fan pondered for a few moments before saying: "Is the young hero aware of the relationship between the Bamboo Swordsman and the proprietor of Yanhe Pavilion?"

"I am aware." Chen Guan cupped his hands toward the south, maintaining his manners while out in public, "My father spoke to me about it specifically."

"That is good." Iron Fan tapped his neck lightly with his fan, making a rhythmic clicking sound.

"The proprietor appears to have a murder case on his hands; is the young hero aware of this?"

"What?" Chen Guan was puzzled by this.

"What do you mean by that? What do you mean by 'appears'?"

"That proprietor has listened to many of my performances here." Iron Fan recalled:

"Every time I recount tales of martial arts vendettas, that proprietor displays a sense of indifference."

He spoke of the bandits intercepting merchant caravans and commoners as if it were a mundane occurrence, revealing a trace of excitement that was difficult to detect.

Iron Fan frowned in deep thought.

"In my life, I have seen countless people, all of them different."

"But such an expression, I have only ever seen on the faces of certain bandits and seasoned veterans of the martial world."

"Yet this innkeeper, I hear, was merely a common waiter who was fortunate enough to inherit the inn from the old proprietor."

"Now, he appears so ordinary, yet he associates with the vicious Bamboo Swordsman as if they were brothers."

"This... is not right."

Iron Fan spoke to this point, looking solemnly at Chen Guan.

"Young Hero Chen, you killed the Bamboo Swordsman a few days ago, so you must be careful."

"Now that you mention it, it does seem that way."

Chen Guan did not know exactly what the innkeeper was like, but since this gentleman had said so, he would keep his guard up.

After all, being overly cautious was never a mistake.

The martial world is treacherous, and human hearts are unpredictable.

Tap-tap.

At this moment, the tea was ready.

The man brought it over.

Chen Guan looked at him for a few moments, then suddenly said:

"Is the Bone-Shrinking Technique something that can be passed on? I can exchange some secret manuals for it."

After walking around today, the pedestrians on the street were simply too enthusiastic.

Thus, Chen Guan wanted to learn this peculiar martial art; first, to disguise himself so he could travel more easily while he was currently in the spotlight.

Second, whenever he encountered a new secret manual, he naturally had to take a look.

But upon hearing this, the man shook his head repeatedly: "Young Hero Chen! To someone like you, how could such a martial arts trick be a matter of 'passing it on' or not?"

"If you wish to see it, I shall fetch it for you right now!"

Seeing the man speak so readily, he set down the tea and headed back into the room.

Chen Guan's hand, reaching for the tea, paused.

Good heavens, could this Iron Fan and this man truly be as warm-hearted as they seemed?

"Young Hero Chen has seen so much of the world's treachery that my sincerity has left you bewildered, hasn't it?" Iron Fan, however, picked up his tea with a calm expression, taking a shallow, delighted sip.

Ouch, I got carried away; that sip was truly scalding.

"Young Hero Chen, please."

Scalding as it was, Iron Fan's expression remained unchanged, maintaining the refined demeanor of a storyteller.