361. Please embark on your journey, eleventh day.
As far as the eye could see, there were many: teahouses, taverns, foot inns, butcher shops, inns, and post stations.
Further on, there are pharmacies, pawnshops, money exchanges, security escort agencies, blacksmith shops, carpentry shops, tailor shops, theaters, and storytelling venues.
Teahouses, taverns, butcher shops, inns, and tailor shops are particularly numerous, one here and two there, like a winding path leading to a hidden village, stretching endlessly.
Behind these shops are densely packed residences, which also contain various shops. The alleyways inside are filled with the aromas of grilled and boiled foods, suggesting that there are many snack stalls.
Many people, dressed in patched clothes or wearing simple linen jackets, hurried past, and the sounds of bargaining could be heard.
There were also people punching and kicking in the alley, I don't know if they were practicing martial arts or doing something else.
They really had everything. I randomly picked a restaurant, Uncle San's Restaurant. Nice name. Easy to remember.
"Please come in, sir. What would you like? We have some newly arrived fine wine and fresh game. Would you like some?" A young servant, about twenty years old, who had been standing at the door, nimbly ran over.
"I'd like some wild game, plus two of your restaurant's specialties." She nodded slightly, noticing the large number of people inside; it seemed like a good place.
There was also an old man who seemed to be telling a story. In the middle was an ordinary eight-immortal table with an old gourd on it.
The old man was quite old, but his complexion was ruddy and his eyes were bright and piercing. He held a tattered fan and fanned himself slowly and deliberately, occasionally making a few gestures. He would use the fan as a knife and swing it down as if he were cutting something. The details were realistic, and the scene was performed vividly.
Most of the people below carried broadswords and iron rods, and very few carried swords. They mainly ate and chatted, eating carefully with little waste.
"Alright, sir, please come in." the waiter said happily in a loud voice.
He sat down at a table near the Eight Immortals Terrace. His demeanor was ordinary and unremarkable, except for the large sword at his waist, which looked extraordinary.
The crowd looked at the newcomer; young and handsome, but otherwise unremarkable, except for the large sword at his waist. Could he be a fake?
He sat down on a long bench and thought to himself, 'I'll eat my fill first, then look for someone. Perhaps I should find the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion here. After all, if I want to find the person I need, this Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is really good.'
The fees are reasonable and the price is fair.
As I pondered this, I couldn't help but think of the loess soil, wondering how it had been lately.
The storyteller's unhurried voice reached my ears, "Now, let's talk about Lord He Chen."
He was eight feet tall, dressed in black, and carried a large, broadsword with a single blade on the back, weighing a staggering 108,000 jin.
With a single, swift strike, the broadsword cleaved the tyrant in two, head falling to the ground and blood spurting out.
As he spoke, he gestured and exclaimed, "That scene really scared me to death!"
That was swift and ruthless! Truly ridding the people of a scourge! A true hero!
They spoke as if they had witnessed it themselves.
'Old Hu, you're talking nonsense again. You've never left this place. I don't know where you've been spreading rumors.'
These past few days you've been praising this kid He Chen every single day, saying he's truly one of a kind.
If you're really that capable, cut off Tiger Three's head and show it to me.
A man wearing a tattered robe, with an unshaven beard and messy hair, said angrily.
Before the old storyteller, Hu, could react, three thugs beside him, one of whom had scars on his face, body, and arms—scars from sharp weapons.
He immediately stood up and growled, "Old man Nan, what did you say? You actually cursed my boss! You're really trying to kill me!"
"I think you're tired of living. Today I'll beat you to death so you'll all know this territory belongs to the Tiger Head Gang."
After saying that, he lifted the old man from the south with one hand and kicked him away.
Old Man Nan was kicked to the ground, clutching his stomach and unable to make a sound.
"Gentlemen, please have mercy! We've been paying our fees every month!" The shopkeeper, dressed in all black, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Hmph, get out of the way! He dares to try and kill our leader? He won't live today!" The scarred man persisted, shoving the shopkeeper aside with an air of nonchalance.
With practiced ease, he bent down, twisted his hand, and lifted a heavy bench. His movements were swift, giving no one a moment to breathe. With a sudden swing of his arm, he smashed the bench down toward Old Man Nan's head.
The wind howled, fast and fierce, with immense power. A cruel sneer lingered on the corner of its mouth, as if it wanted to smash Old Man Nan's head to pieces, showing no regard for human life or causing trouble.
The people around watched coldly, seemingly without any intention of helping. Some even looked on with disdain and mocked the old man on the ground, though what they were mocking was unknown.
Seeing that he was about to hit the target, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction, thinking to himself, 'Once I kill Old Man Nan, I'll report back to the gang leader. He'll probably reward me when he finds out. Hehe, Old Man Nan, thank you.'
The moment the stool hit Old Man Nan on the head, he was so frightened that he was speechless and his pants were soaked.
Suddenly, the stool flew through the air and crashed onto the door threshold with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Hey, waiter, bring the food!" He Chen called out to the dazed waiter.
"Okay, okay, sir, it'll be ready soon." The shopkeeper hurriedly got up, rubbing his sore bottom, and didn't dare to say anything more.
"Old Nan, you say Hu San deserves to be killed, there must be a reason, right? Why don't you tell us? There are many people here, let everyone judge." He casually asked the terrified old man.
At this moment, the three men with scars came to their senses and looked at He Chen with wary eyes. Those who were in gangs naturally needed to be ruthless and discerning.
"May I ask which family you belong to, young master? That way we can avoid any misunderstandings." Scarface spoke first, then added, "Young master, you don't know, these unruly people outside the city are so lazy and don't bother to offer more tributes every day."
This will allow our gang to increase its strength and protect their safety. If it weren't for our Tiger Head Gang, they would have been eaten by evil spirits and monsters long ago.
Bah! What a bunch of heartless bastards!
After speaking, he looked around. Some people were avoiding him, while others were indifferent and didn't care.
"Young hero, no, these Tiger Head Gang members are beasts. They not only collect protection money, but also deliberately frame others, forcing good people into prostitution and selling themselves into brothels."
Young hero, in this area outside the city, there are at least seven or eight families, if not ninety, that have been ravaged by the Fierce Tiger Gang.
In some cases, they even killed the master of the house, robbed him of his money, and sold his wife and children to brokers.
The old man was also furious, which is why he spoke up.
Outside the city, the government doesn't care, and you can't report them; they have spies stationed outside the government office.
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