The Simulation Wasn't Fixed

Broadsword Noodles or Wonton Noodles meant that you either let me cut you down, or jumped into the river and drowned. It was the river pirates' code.

But this wasn't Jiangxin, or even anywhere near it. Li Ke was only startled for a moment before realizing it had been a false alarm.

"Then I'll have a bowl of Wonton Noodles. That should be quicker."

Starving, Li Ke decided to have a quick meal, and the shopkeeper naturally gave the order.

Li Ke let out a long breath. Seeing that no one was around, he took out the prescription Meimu had written for him and read it carefully.

The pill he'd taken before had made him feel wonderful, so he wanted to gather some ingredients during this time and make a few himself if he got the chance.

After reading the prescription carefully, Li Ke could only say that the Kinkou Order truly lived up to its reputation as an established school with a long tradition.

The herbs listed in the prescription weren't expensive. They were common ingredients in Ionia, yet this pill was far more effective than most injury medicines and tonics on the market. Even many pills made with rare ingredients couldn't match it.

As long as you weren't an idiot and knew what you were doing, you could make good medicine with expensive ingredients. But turning ordinary herbs into something miraculous—that took real skill.

The method was simple, too. All you had to do was gather the ingredients, mix them in the right proportions, and then soak them in a special medicinal solution for a while.

It was a pill that even someone like Li Ke, who had no magic, could easily make.

As he considered whether to gather some of the listed ingredients in town while recovering, someone else walked into the shop.

The man also carried a sword. As he entered, he glanced at the sword on Li Ke's person, his eyes shifting slightly, then headed farther into the shop as if nothing had happened.

"Ah, you're finally here, Uncle Long! What'll it be today?"

The burly man merely raised a hand, then sat down at a table with his legs spread wide, conveniently blocking the kitchen. He looked over the menu and waved at the shopkeeper.

"Bring me some venison first, then some wine. I'll tell you what else I want when I think of it."

Though he said this, his eyes were fixed on the long sword at Li Ke's side.

The scabbard of the sword Yone had given him had broken during the earlier fight, so the man could easily see the beautiful cloud patterns on the blade and its gleaming edge.

He was a swordsman himself, but his own sword was utter rubbish compared with this one.

A fine sword!

A first-rate sword!

He was a little excited as he sized Li Ke up again.

The man was skinny, with a sallow face, covered in bloodstains and tattered clothes. He looked like a down-and-out swordsman. And with only a jug of wine and a few beans worth next to nothing, he was clearly broke.

"Hmph! Third-rate swordsman!"

Li Ke noticed him sizing him up, but didn't think the man would dare cause trouble so close to Elder Souma's dojo. After all, the emblem of Elder Souma was supposed to be on his shoulder!

Li Ke turned to look at his shoulder, only to find a hole there. The exquisite emblem had vanished.

"Hmm..."

After a brief pause, Li Ke decided to keep a low profile and avoid trouble.

Unfortunately, sometimes trouble came looking for you.

"Sir, your noodles are here!"

A short while later, the waiter came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of noodles. Hungry, Li Ke eagerly leaned forward, but before he could take it, the burly man who'd arrived later grabbed the waiter and took the bowl.

The waiter froze, then immediately began pleading.

"Uncle Long, those noodles are for that customer. Please let me off."

The burly man only kicked him, then placed the noodles on his own table as if nothing had happened.

"I want noodles right now! I'll talk to him myself. Get lost!"

The waiter didn't dare say anything. He could only look to the shopkeeper, who hesitated, then hurriedly smiled at the burly man before taking the money Li Ke had paid and going over to him.

"Sorry, sir. I'll have another bowl made for you right away."

Li Ke didn't really mind. Honestly, more than anger, what he felt right now was: I can't believe people like this actually exist!

In all his life, whether in Ionia or on Earth, he'd never seen such a textbook villain. The kind who'd die after three minutes onscreen, no less!

So Li Ke looked at the man as if he were a giant panda.

There were too many villains these days who knew how to act cool and had more swagger than the protagonist. Even the ones in beginner villages were usually thoughtful, skilled fighters with sharp minds—and every one of them was talented.

Everything they said and did showed maturity and shrewdness. They knew exactly how to survive in society.

The high-level villains stood out for their sheer style.

Even the stupid ones were obsessed with something. As long as they could achieve their goal, they didn't care if they died. And the more sophisticated ones had grand, lofty ambitions. Their lesser goals were world peace; they either wanted to overthrow a decaying world or make everyone in the world smile.

A brainless villain like this was rarer than a giant panda.

"It's fine. I can wait."

Li Ke waved a hand. When an idiot like this showed up in real life, all you could do was accept your bad luck. But he...

"I'm Elder Souma's disciple. This is Yone's sword. I borrowed it to hunt down demons."

He drew the sword slightly and smiled at the man.

"You think I'm scared? So what if you're Elder Souma's disciple? So what if that's Yone's sword? Do you think I, Uncle Long, was born scared?!"

A sneer curled the burly man's lips. He slammed the table and stood up, putting on an arrogant expression as he carried the noodles, beef, and wine from his table over to Li Ke.

"Listen here! I'm not afraid of the Wind Technique, and I'm not afraid of Yone! I just have somewhere to be today, so I'm leaving for now. But I won't let good food go to waste, so you can have this!"

Still looking arrogant, Uncle Long bowed to Li Ke, quietly paid the bill, and quietly walked out the door.

But the instant he stepped outside, Li Ke heard a splash.

"Tsk."

Li Ke clicked his tongue in disdain. He'd actually hoped the man would foolishly charge at him, but it turned out he was just a low-class thug.

He shook his head and reached for the beef with his chopsticks. The next moment, his pupils constricted. A powerful killing intent came from behind him. He kicked the sword beside him, sending it flying with a burst of force, and caught it in his hand.

In an instant, the clash of metal rang out.

Li Ke held a sword up to his chest to block the blow, but it smashed the table in front of him, sending all his food crashing to the ground. Then an arrogant voice reached his ears.

"I can't believe even that coward Elder Souma's disciples can use his name to scare people now. What a joke!"