The evening sky was ablaze like fire.
The once-quiet Cyan Willow Lane stirred to life again.
Inside the Magpie’s Nest.
Sister Hua was settling the accounts behind the counter, while the girls were each getting dressed up.
Although a prominent and influential figure had died in the establishment last night,
they had sunk to this line of work just to survive. As long as they were still alive, business had to go on as usual.
Besides... everyone glanced toward the empty corner by the table.
As the Brothel Madams understood it, that ’fox’ was of the most cunning and cautious sort. Since he’d dared to make a move, he surely had the connections to handle the matter.
’There shouldn’t be any problems.’
Sister Hua closed the ledger, silently reassuring herself.
She looked up. "Little Liuzi, pour Master Yang a cup of tea. Then open the door, it’s time to welcome the guests."
"I can get it myself."
Old Yang accepted the teapot, feeling a little embarrassed.
That title was far too unfamiliar to him.
If it weren’t for Lin Shu, a cripple like him would have trouble even eating. He likely could never have scraped together the money for a single trip to Cyan Willow Lane in his entire life.
"You’re too kind, sir."
Little Liuzi hurried to the entrance and pushed open one of the double doors.
For the people of the Magpie’s Nest, this was a routine they had repeated countless times. It was all too familiar.
They could practically guess which patron would walk in, what he would say, and which girl he would choose.
But tonight, something seemed different.
The tea in Old Yang’s hands cooled from scalding to lukewarm, and the girls’ expressions grew puzzled.
There were fewer passersby outside than usual.
That wasn’t a major concern.
Business was always fickle.
The strangest part was that the Magpie’s Nest was one of the top brothels in Cyan Willow Lane.
Yet these potential customers seemed to ignore the two-story building right in front of them. Not only did they not walk in, they didn’t even spare it a glance.
"What’s going on?"
Sister Hua finally lost her patience. She stood up and pushed both doors wide open.
The girls all rushed over, looking around in every direction.
Finally, everyone’s gaze converged on the alley’s entrance.
There, several burly men in short jackets stood stiffly at the mouth of the lane, a grim-faced constable beside them.
Any customer who wanted to enter had to first pass between them.
Sister Hua’s eyelid twitched, the unease in her heart intensifying.
She turned around and pleaded, "Master Yang?"
At her words, the teacup in Old Yang’s hand trembled.
His face tensed. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "Alright."
Seeing how formidable Lin Shu was, others would naturally assume the people around him were also skilled.
Only Old Yang knew the truth: he was just a useless cripple.
But since Lin Shu had brought him out from the South Suburbs, he was determined to carry out the tasks he’d been given.
Even if the alley entrance was blocked, he had to get the message out.
"Master Yang."
Jin Gui noticed his slightly trembling hand.
This Brothel Madam had been screaming on the stairs just last night, too afraid to even resist when she thought she was going to die—a testament to her timid nature.
But now, she bent down to help the old man pick up his crutch and whispered, "I’ll go with you."
As everyone watched,
Old Yang, supported by Jin Gui, limped out the back door. The two of them made their way toward the mouth of the alley.
At the entrance to Cyan Willow Lane.
Zhao Peng and a few of his juniors scanned the passersby, their gazes sinister.
He glanced impatiently at the constable standing nearby.
If this man hadn’t been standing here for some unknown reason, things wouldn’t be so complicated.
They had handpicked a few men, originally planning to rush into the lane as night fell. They would break that fox’s arms and legs before the Black Water Gang could react and drag him straight back to the Martial Arts Hall.
But it didn’t matter.
The Young Master died in the Magpie’s Nest last night. As long as they stood here, no one with half a brain would dare step foot in that Brothel again.
If a ’fox’ couldn’t even protect his own den, he’d be finished in the gang once word got out.
He would have to show up sooner or later.
Just then, a glint flashed in Zhao Peng’s eyes, and he took a silent step forward.
His frame was burly, yet his steps were surprisingly light.
"A cripple and a whore?"
Zhao Peng blocked the pair as they tried to slip out from a corner, his eyes narrowing with a cold, menacing glint.
Old Yang and Jin Gui froze.
Even though they had tried to steel their nerves, their bodies couldn’t help but tremble as they looked up at the mountain-like figure before them.
"Sir, I’m old and my body’s broken, I can’t last very long. You go on and have your fun, just let this little lady see me home."
Old Yang’s face twitched, but he forced a flattering smile.
Having practiced martial arts himself, he knew better than anyone how powerful the man before him was.
Based solely on the skill revealed in his gait, even several men like Liu the Third combined would be no match for him.
"What a fake story. And that smile is truly ugly." Zhao Peng’s large hand shot out and slapped the cripple across the face.
Hearing the crisp sound of the slap, Chang Yi opened his weary eyes, his brow furrowing slightly.
He was about to intervene, but he suddenly looked up toward a spot not far away.
"You think his smile is ugly?"
a curious voice asked.
The expressions of the several disciples from Hongyun Martial Arts Hall nearby turned cold as they simultaneously looked in the direction of the voice.
A sickly but handsome young man was strolling over, nonchalantly walking into their midst.
"Why don’t you show him how to smile?"
Lin Shu stopped in front of Zhao Peng, speaking with great interest.
Zhao Peng stared back, his expression blank.
He figured this must be the ’fox’ he and his men were looking for.
The only thing he couldn’t understand was why the man dared to be so arrogant.
At this thought, the corner of Zhao Peng’s mouth twisted into a cruel smirk.
’There’s a constable nearby, sure, but is this Lord Official going to protect you day and night?’
"You’d better cooperate..."
He grunted, but before he could finish, the young man who had been so languid just a moment ago suddenly exploded into action.
Lin Shu’s right arm shot out, his five fingers clamping down on the side of Zhao Peng’s face, and he violently slammed his entire head against the nearby wall.
BOOM!
The walls of Cyan Willow Lane were old and dilapidated; they couldn’t possibly withstand such terrifying force.
The wall shattered on impact, cracks spreading like a spiderweb!
"I told you to show him how to smile."
Lin Shu’s voice was chilling. While pinning Zhao Peng’s face, he brutally dug his thumb into the corner of the man’s mouth and ripped it upward.
He was going to tear a gash right across his face!
"AAARGH!!"
As Zhao Peng let out a bloodcurdling scream, his fellow disciples finally reacted, instinctively glancing at Chang Yi.
The constable hadn’t drawn his blade at the first moment. Instead, he was looking around at something.
Seeing this, the group of Martial Artists clenched their fists and charged at the sickly-looking young man.
"Insolence! Stop, all of you!"
Chang Yi snapped his gaze back, his long saber ringing as he drew it from its sheath.
Last night, the pressure from this old fox had been so immense that the moment he attacked, Chang Yi’s first thought was to wonder what new trick he was playing.
Before he had a chance to investigate further, he found this group of men daring to fight right in front of him.
Several powerful, descending arms froze in midair.
The Martial Arts Hall disciples froze, their expressions turning strange as they looked over.
’Wait, what?! He can do that?!’
Zhao Peng clutched his torn face, his eyes blazing with fury.
But upon seeing the Purple Flood Dragon on Chang Yi’s lapel, he gulped down mouthfuls of blood and waved his arm to stop his peers.
The Black Water City Government Office employed many constables, but most of them handled matters involving ordinary citizens.
But the ones qualified to wear the embroidered Purple Flood Dragon faced the Fierce Wolves of the Black Water Gang or other long-renowned experts.
In other words, the constable before them was either a Grand Martial Artist capable of Inner Strength Release or a revered Cultivator who had officially stepped into the Qi Cultivation Stage.
Given his youth, he was most likely the latter.
"He can’t be here all the time... Let’s go!"
Zhao Peng stared at Lin Shu with resentful eyes, leaving behind a muffled threat before turning to leave with his men.
"Tsk."
Lin Shu watched them go, wiping the blood from his fingertips.
Indeed.
’He can’t be here all the time.’

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