Making Trouble

"Give us our money back! You have to give it back! What kind of fucking martial hall is this? It's one thing not to teach us any real skills, but you're even cheating people everywhere!"

Before the True Intent Martial Hall, a pockmarked man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks vented furiously.

Behind him stood a vast crowd of onlookers, who occasionally pointed at the boy guarding the martial hall's entrance. He looked to be around twelve years old.

"That kid looks honest enough. Who knew he was rotten too?"

"Guess the master of this True Intent Martial Hall tricked him as well."

"I'd say everyone in this martial hall is cut from the same cloth!..."

"Junior Brother Sun, h-how can you talk nonsense like that? Last month, you said practicing martial arts was too hard and exhausting. You told us not to bother with you anymore, and said you could come and go whenever you wanted—even Master couldn't control you."

Sweat covered the boy's forehead. Facing that enormous crowd, he looked utterly flustered.

"Pah! You think you're worthy of calling me Junior Brother Sun? Li Kuai, let me make this clear: I'm here to withdraw from True Intent Martial Hall today. You people said we'd be guaranteed entry into the Skin-Flesh Realm once we completed our training. I've trained for more than a month now, yet I haven't even touched the threshold of the Skin-Flesh Realm. If that isn't deception, then what is? Return my money, now! Otherwise, I'll smash this shitty True Intent Martial Hall today!"

As he spoke, Pockmarked Sun widened his eyes, rolled up his sleeves, and displayed his scrawny arms to Li Kuai.

At that moment, laughter came from the crowd. "Hahaha, Pockmarked Sun, are you dreaming? With your sorry state, you want to enter the Skin-Flesh Realm in a month? Ordinary people need over a year just to touch its threshold. You must be dreaming!"

An awkward look flashed across Pockmarked Sun's face. He immediately turned, flushed red, and shouted at the crowd.

"Who was it? Who's talking shit behind my back? Come stand in front of your Grandpa Sun if you've got the guts!"

The crowd shifted, and a broad-shouldered man in a stained apron stepped out.

"What, Pockmarked Sun? You want to have a go with me? I haven't entered the realm either, but I've trained for several years. You're not some half-baked nobody who can pick a fight with me."

Pockmarked Sun looked up and saw the man sneering as he repeatedly curled his fingers at him in provocation.

With so many people watching, Pockmarked Sun was no easy target. How could he tolerate such provocation? Rage immediately rose within him, and he wanted to lash out.

He was just about to clench his fists and charge forward when his legs suddenly went weak.

Right. He remembered practicing the Demon-Subduing Staff Technique in earnest at a brothel last night. He had come here early this morning to cause trouble without even eating. Where would he find the strength to fight anyone?

Pockmarked Sun's eyes rolled, and he immediately spotted someone in the crowd.

That person gave Pockmarked Sun a slight nod. At once, his back no longer hurt and his legs no longer felt weak. Without hesitation, he stepped forward to confront the man.

"Pah, Butcher Hu, shouldn't you be selling your meat? Why are you sticking your nose in this?"

"I'm only speaking a few fair words. Who doesn't know what kind of thug you are? You spend all day stealing and causing trouble."

"Butcher Hu, stop slandering me! Pockmarked Sun may not be a decent man, but I don't swindle and cheat people! Everyone here knows you're close with True Intent Martial Hall. You're defending them so fiercely—could it be that you have some shady dealings with them?"

As though he had truly worked himself up, Pockmarked Sun reddened with anger and roared at Butcher Hu.

The surrounding people did not care who was right or wrong. Used to following the wind, they began pointing at Butcher Hu instead.

Butcher Hu was an honest man who was poor with words. How could he endure such slander before so many eyes?

"Hey, you scoundrel! You dare smear me with lies? I'll smash that mouth of yours!"

Butcher Hu crossed the distance in two strides and grabbed Pockmarked Sun, who had gone limp with fear, by the collar. He raised one hand, about to strike.

But another thick, powerful arm reached out from the crowd and clamped tightly around Butcher Hu, preventing him from bringing his hand down.

"Hu Rong, you're not the one who gets to discipline my little brother."

With a casual shove, Jackal pushed Hu Rong aside and glanced at Pockmarked Sun, who was sprawled on the ground with a look of relief after narrowly escaping disaster.

"Go disperse the crowd."

"O-okay, Brother Jackal."

Upon hearing this, Pockmarked Sun immediately got to his feet. Turning around, he put on a vicious expression and began driving away the crowd.

"What are you still staring at? Get lost, get lost! All of you, get lost! Don't blame Grandpa Sun for getting rough otherwise!"

"And whose kid is that? Why the fuck are you still standing there? Get your ass home and find your mother!"

Under Pockmarked Sun's cursing and threats, the crowd quickly dispersed.

Only Hu Rong remained sprawled where he was, his face twisted in pain as he clutched the arm Jackal had grabbed. It was visibly swollen and red.

"Y-you've entered the Skin-Flesh Realm?"

Jackal looked at Hu Rong with a faint, mocking smile, making Hu Rong's scalp tingle.

"I say, Hu Rong, you should be selling your meat properly. Yet you insist on coming here to join the fun, so I can only give you a small lesson."

"For the sake of your father, Hu Yong, I'll spare you this once. But if you delay any longer, I'm afraid that arm of yours won't be saved."

Hu Rong endured the pain and rose to his feet. Gritting his teeth, he seemed to come to a decision and looked toward Li Kuai.

"Brother Kuai, be careful. If it really comes to it, call the master of the martial hall."

Conflict flashed in Hu Rong's eyes. Then he quickly headed in one direction, though he did not forget to look back here as he left.

"Little Brother Li, my brother caused a commotion before your martial hall because I failed to discipline him properly as his elder brother. I offer you my apologies."

"However, it is true that my brother suffered a grievance at your martial hall. As his elder brother, I naturally have to seek justice for him. Otherwise, what will people think of me, Jackal? How am I supposed to keep my footing in Kaiyang City?"

"So, Little Brother Li, please return every last coin my brother spent at your martial hall. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite! Or you can call your martial hall master out to discuss this with me personally."

Jackal paid no attention to Hu Rong's departure. He kept smiling at Li Kuai, as though letting Hu Rong leave was nothing worth mentioning.

Jackal's gaze was like a thorn, making one's skin crawl. Already timid and fearful, Li Kuai did not dare meet Jackal's eyes. He stammered helplessly, unable to make his next move.

Li Kuai had originally been a nominal disciple whom Wu Yi had kindly taken into the martial hall several years ago. For years, he had only done odd jobs there and had not a single coin to his name. How could he possibly repay what Pockmarked Sun had spent at the martial hall?

Not to mention that this demand was completely unreasonable.

As for finding Wu Yi? That was even less possible.

Though the martial hall had separate rooms, Wu Yi never stayed overnight there.

At this time of day, Wu Yi would never appear at the martial hall. Usually, one might only run into the half-drunk Wu Yi while waiting until near dusk, and even then, he would merely take a glance before leaving.

Seeing Li Kuai's face gradually turn pale, Jackal secretly rejoiced.

You could wait a lifetime, and your martial hall master still won't return. This martial hall will sooner or later become the Wild Wolf Gang's property.

"How about this, Little Brother Li? I'm not an unreasonable or heartless man. Step aside, and I'll go in to speak to the martial hall master myself."

Li Kuai was blocking the entrance only to preserve the last scraps of True Intent Martial Hall's dignity.

If there had not been so many eyes on the street, making it inconvenient to act, Jackal would have attacked long ago.

Once they were inside the martial hall with the doors closed, it would be easy for him, a Skin-Flesh Realm martial artist, to deal with an ordinary person. Lure him inside and kill him!

With that plan in mind, Jackal gave Li Kuai what he believed was a friendly smile.

Little did he know that, to Li Kuai, Jackal looked like a cunning hungry wolf. How could he possibly agree to Jackal's request?

Seeing Li Kuai refuse to appreciate his kindness, Jackal felt fury rise in his heart.

I've given you too many smiles!

"Sigh, Little Brother Li, don't strike a smiling man. I'm only going in to take a look. If your martial hall master truly isn't here, I'll come visit another day."

Jackal wore a fake smile. Though he said this, he stepped forward, intending to force his way inside.

Li Kuai grew even more anxious. He wanted to stop him, but could not. Jackal casually shoved him aside, sending him tumbling to the ground.

How could an ordinary person block a Skin-Flesh Realm martial artist?

Jackal's smile became increasingly unrestrained. Just as he was about to push open the martial hall doors, they burst open from within.

Jackal was immediately confused. Before he could clearly see who had emerged, a Shadowless Kick sent him flying more than ten meters away.

Amid the swirling dust, an unquestionable voice rang out from within the hall.

"Forcefully entering a martial hall deserves punishment!"