The burly man was named Zhou Liang, a notorious local tyrant at Cold Iron Pass. Relying on his older cousin, Garrison Commandant Zhou Meng, he threw his weight around unchecked and was one of the most troublesome among Ren Ling's many suitors.
He spotted Ren Ling laughing and chatting with Li Chen upstairs, and jealousy instantly flared. Leading his men, he thundered up the stairs, pointed straight at Li Chen's nose, and cursed, "Where did this pretty boy crawl out of?! You dare touch the woman I've set my sights on? Got a death wish?!"
Ren Ling's expression changed. She hurriedly rose to intervene. "Master Zhou, you've misunderstood. These two are-"
Before she could finish, Zhou Liang reached out to shove her aside and grab Li Chen by the collar.
Li Chen's gaze turned cold. Without even getting up, he casually picked up the wine saucer on the table and flicked his wrist. The remaining wine and the saucer itself struck Zhou Liang squarely on the bridge of his nose like a hidden weapon!
Crack! With that sharp sound came Zhou Liang's squeal, like a pig being slaughtered. Blood streamed from his nose as he staggered several steps backward.
"Fuck! Get him! Cripple him!" Zhou Liang roared indistinctly, clutching his nose.
The attendants behind him were just about to attack when Li Chen moved. Everyone saw a blur, followed by several dull thuds. Those fierce-looking attendants flew backward in various twisted poses, smashed through the stair railing, and tumbled downstairs, howling incessantly.
Zhou Liang was scared witless. Pointing at Li Chen, he shouted with a fierce front that barely concealed his terror, "Y-you dare hit me?! My cousin is Zhou Meng! The Garrison Commandant of Cold Iron Pass! You're dead!"
Only then did Li Chen rise unhurriedly. He walked over