The sun shone bright, and the breeze was warm and gentle.
A girl's laughter and the chirping of summer cicadas filled the air.
In the shade of a large tree beside the farmhouse courtyard, Cheng Yu lay in a rocking chair, marveling at the news he had just obtained.
Over the past while, Cheng Yu had heard plenty of news about the surrounding regions from passing travelers.
As for how those conversations started...
"Give me two melons from your patch."
"Sure. One Origin Stone."
"Are these melon rinds made of gold, or are the seeds made of gold?"
"I grew these melons with painstaking care. You think they're expensive? So do I."
"Then pick two for me."
"Can you guarantee they're ripe?"
"With this whole melon patch right here, would I sell you unripe melons?"
"I'm asking whether you can guarantee they're ripe."
"You're looking for trouble on purpose, aren't you? Do you want them or not?"
"If they're ripe, of course I want them! But what if they aren't?"
"If they aren't ripe, I'll eat them myself. Satisfied?"
"Heh, heh, heh. Since leaving seclusion, this is the first time I've met a farmer like you. Leave the melons and get lost!"
Cheng Yu frowned at that, but still forced himself to continue the exchange.
"You're fucking looking for trouble, aren't you? Do you want them or not?"
The man sneered, drew his sword, and cleaved the melon in front of Cheng Yu in half.
Cheng Yu froze, then inwardly rejoiced before shouting,
"You fucking chopped up my melon?"
Cheng Yu rose and stepped forward.
The man sneered again and casually swung his sword.
But Cheng Yu caught the blade in his hand. With a little pressure, he shattered the man's sword, scattering its fragments across the ground.
Realizing he