Chapter 3: Reasoning with Force
After dispatching two minor thugs, Xu Buling entered the back courtyard of the Fu Man Restaurant. Several laborers were huddled in the corner, trembling with fear.
The courtyard housed a storage room, filled with sacks piled high, white powder scattered across the floor.
Constable Zhu Manzhi was too distraught to pay attention to her surroundings, pacing anxiously beside Xu Buling, muttering incoherently.
Clank, clank, clank…
The sound of approaching footsteps and the rustling of armor grew louder, quickly surrounding the restaurant. The flickering light of torches appeared in the alley outside the walls, casting dancing shadows as figures moved back and forth.
The authorities, alerted by the signal flares, had arrived.
Zhu Manzhi was filled with anxiety. Throwing caution to the wind, she rushed to Xu Buling’s side and pleaded:
“Sir, I know you possess exceptional martial arts skills, but this matter is too grave. Please, don’t resist. The Wolf Guards are highly skilled and will be equipped with crossbows and nets. If you engage them rashly, you’ll be killed…”
Xu Buling didn’t respond. He walked towards the storage room with his sword and poked a hole in one of the sacks. White salt spilled out like sand, covering the floor.
Since ancient times, salt administration had been a vital lifeline of the state, strictly controlled. The amount of salt stored in this room was enough to warrant ten executions.
This was all part of Old Xiao’s plan, a carefully orchestrated opportunity for Zhu Manzhi to gain recognition.
Zhu Manzhi knew this was a major case, but she was too preoccupied with the current situation to think about career advancement. She urged Xu Buling:
“Sir, let’s not worry about this now. If your family can handle the consequences of killing an official, we can surrender and let the authorities deal with this place.
If not, we need to escape now. I have a Wolf Guard badge that can get us out of the city. The owner of this establishment is undoubtedly a powerful figure, someone we can’t afford to provoke.”
Xu Buling glanced at her: “If you give me your badge, you’ll become an accomplice to a criminal. Are you sure about this?”
Zhu Manzhi hesitated, then gritted her teeth, feeling a surge of both anxiety and gratitude. She patted Xu Buling’s shoulder:
“My father always said, ‘A drop of water received in kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring.’ You’ve gotten yourself into this mess because of me, and I can’t stand by and watch. Please, don’t delay any longer. We won’t be able to escape if we wait any longer.”
Xu Buling chuckled and grabbed a sack of smuggled salt, heading towards the restaurant entrance. He said calmly:
“Wait here. Leave the rest to me.”
…
With two lives lost, all the theaters and gambling dens in the backstreet had closed their doors. Over a dozen Imperial Guards arrived first, followed by two squads of Wolf Guards, one of which wore wolf head copper badges – the Heavenly Stem unit.
Among the Imperial Guards, a young nobleman dressed in fine attire rushed over from the Dragon’s Roar Pavilion. He was handsome and dignified, the Vice-Captain of the Capital Garrison, Gongsun Lu.
His father, Gongsun Ming, held the prestigious position of Capital Garrison Commander, responsible for maintaining law and order in the capital. He was undoubtedly a powerful figure.
Gongsun Lu’s face was dark with anger as he strode through the alley. A captain hurried towards him and reported:
“Sir, the culprit is inside the Fu Man Restaurant. Should we storm the building?”
Gongsun Lu narrowed his eyes, hesitating for a moment before saying:
“This restaurant belongs to a powerful figure. If we barge in, we’ll cause a mess. Surround the building and wait for them to come out.”
“Yes, sir!”
They arrived outside the Fu Man Restaurant.
Two bodies lay sprawled on the ground outside. The Imperial Guard captain had been dragged under the eaves. Three Wolf Guards from the Heavenly Stem unit surrounded him, examining his wounds and muttering:
“The White Snake Strikes technique of the Wudang Sect. No other injuries, just a single sword wound on the neck, a clean kill. This level of skill requires at least ten years of training.”
The thug’s body lay nearby. Another Wolf Guard tore open his shirt, examining the bruises on his chest. He then looked at the shattered door and the cracks on the steps:
“The opening stance of Bajiquan, but using a knee strike. It seems to be the Tiger Climbs the Mountain technique of the Tantui School. The neck was broken with the Capturing Crane Hand of the Yingzhao Sect. A mixture of various martial arts styles. It doesn’t seem to be the same assassin as last time, but the skill level is comparable…”
Hearing this conversation, the anger on Gongsun Lu’s face turned into caution.
The Wolf Guards of the Heavenly Stem unit were all elite warriors, carefully selected for their exceptional abilities. If they held such high regard for the culprit’s skills, then the person inside the restaurant was likely beyond his capabilities.
With this in mind, Gongsun Lu slowed his pace, positioning himself behind the Heavenly Stem Wolf Guards. He shouted:
“Audacious villain! Surrender immediately…”
The Imperial Guards and Wolf Guards knew their limitations. No one dared to charge in directly. Instead, they stood guard outside, weapons drawn, waiting for the archers to arrive.
Thud, thud…
Footsteps echoed from inside the restaurant. The soldiers outside fell silent, the only sound being the occasional crackle of the torches.
The restaurant was dark. Only when the figure reached the entrance could they see the culprit’s appearance:
Dressed in a blood-splattered white robe, a wine gourd hanging from his waist, a long sword in his left hand. He possessed an exceptionally handsome face, resembling a celestial being descended from the heavens.
Such a strikingly handsome man would be unforgettable if they had met before.
Gongsun Lu narrowed his eyes, searching his memories of the noblemen and dignitaries in the capital, but he couldn’t recall ever seeing this man. His face darkened:
“Who are you? Why did you kill my Imperial Guard captain in broad daylight?”
Xu Buling tossed the sack in his hand, scattering the smuggled salt across the bluestone pavement like a layer of snow.
The six Wolf Guards narrowed their eyes. One of them knelt down, picking up a pinch of the white powder and examining it:
“It’s salt. Don’t panic.”
Gongsun Lu’s expression shifted subtly. He clasped his hands behind his back and glanced around:
“Seize him!”
“Yes, sir!”
Two skilled Imperial Guards immediately charged forward with their swords drawn, while others surrounded Xu Buling with lassos and nets.
Xu Buling frowned slightly, planted his sword on the ground, rested his hands on the hilt, and looked at Gongsun Lu, who was standing behind the crowd:
“Aren’t you going to ask where this salt came from before resorting to violence?”
“What’s so strange about a sack of salt in a restaurant? Seize him! If he resists, kill him without mercy!”
Gongsun Lu waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards closed in.
Xu Buling nodded, leaned his sword against a pillar, and walked down the steps empty-handed.
The Imperial Guards sighed in relief, preparing to apprehend him. However, the Wolf Guards from the Heavenly Stem unit suddenly changed their expressions:
“Be careful—”
Before they could finish their warning.
Xu Buling’s white robe billowed as he moved like a cheetah, lunging towards the two Imperial Guards in a single stride. He slammed his elbows into their scale armor with explosive force.
Bang!
The armor plates shattered.
Before the two Imperial Guards could react, they were sent flying backward, crashing into their comrades behind them.
The three Heavenly Stem Wolf Guards reacted swiftly, drawing their weapons and replacing the ineffective Imperial Guards.
They surrounded Xu Buling, wielding a shield and saber, a hooked spear, and a goose-feather saber, coordinating their attacks seamlessly.
Xu Buling didn’t stop after repelling the first two attackers. He bent his knees slightly, stomped on the ground, and propelled himself forward.
Bang!
His knee slammed into the center of the round shield.
Before the Wolf Guard with the shield and saber could strike, he was knocked back by the force of the impact, groaning as he stumbled backward. He managed to regain his footing by planting his saber on the ground.
The Wolf Guard with the hooked spear seized the opportunity, thrusting his weapon towards Xu Buling’s chest. However, Xu Buling caught the spear shaft with one hand, preventing it from advancing any further.
The spear-wielding Wolf Guard tried to retract his weapon, but a powerful force pulled him forward. Xu Buling then executed a lightning-fast shoulder strike against his chest.
The “Shoulder Strike,” a deadly technique of Bajiquan, was known for its devastating power, capable of crippling or killing its target.
Caught off guard, the spear-wielding Wolf Guard was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing through the window of a nearby brothel, eliciting screams from within.
Xu Buling grabbed the hooked spear, deflecting the goose-feather saber, and pointed the spearhead at the throat of the last remaining Wolf Guard.
The spear stopped abruptly.
The Wolf Guard with the goose-feather saber turned pale, his body stiffening as he held his weapon.
They had anticipated the culprit’s exceptional martial arts skills, but they hadn’t expected him to be this formidable.
The Wolf Guards of the Heavenly Stem unit were all elite warriors, capable of capturing most martial artists.
This young man in white had fought them barehanded. If he had been wielding a weapon, they would have been killed instantly.
His martial arts skills were simply unbelievable!
The Wolf Guard glanced at the spearhead pointed at his throat, carefully taking a step back. He lowered his weapon and moved aside:
“Impressive skills.”
The Heavenly Stem Wolf Guards were defeated in the blink of an eye. The remaining soldiers naturally retreated cautiously.
Gongsun Lu was on high alert.
Xu Buling planted the hooked spear on the ground, his expression calm. He pointed at the ground with his head:
“There’s a warehouse full of smuggled salt behind you. Take your men and seal it off.”
Gongsun Lu’s face hardened. He stared at Xu Buling, his grip on his saber tightening and loosening repeatedly.
The three Heavenly Stem Wolf Guards frowned upon hearing this. Smuggling salt was a serious crime, and a whole warehouse full of it…
They exchanged glances, and one of them headed towards the restaurant.
Gongsun Lu’s eyes narrowed, and he shouted:
“He’s trying to escape! Don’t fall for his trick…”
Slap!
Before he could finish his sentence, a resounding slap landed on his face.
Gongsun Lu reacted by raising his hand to draw his saber, but Xu Buling kicked the hilt, sending the weapon flying into the courtyard wall behind him.
The slap sent Gongsun Lu stumbling backward, his jade hairpin flying off, his long hair cascading down.
The Imperial Guards were stunned, holding their weapons but hesitant to intervene.
A bright red handprint marred Gongsun Lu’s face. His eyes blazed with fury as he threw a punch, but Xu Buling caught his wrist and slapped him across the face again.
Gongsun Lu spat out a mouthful of blood, his face livid. He glared at the man before him:
“How dare you strike me! Do you know who my father is? My father is…”
Xu Buling slapped him again:
“Do you know who my father is?”
After three slaps, Gongsun Lu’s cheeks were swollen, his eyes bloodshot. He breathed heavily, staring at Xu Buling, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He swallowed it down forcefully, not daring to speak another word.
The Wolf Guards and Imperial Guards surrounded them, caught in a dilemma. Their superior officer had been captured, and they couldn’t afford to make any threats. They could only stand there and watch.
The standoff continued for a moment.
Footsteps approached from the alley. Gongsun Lu turned his head and saw his father, Capital Garrison Commander Gongsun Ming, arriving with a large contingent of Imperial Guards armed with crossbows.
Gongsun Lu breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of arrogance returning to his eyes. He sneered:
“You have incredible audacity…”
Slap!
Before he could finish his sentence, another slap landed on his face.
Gongsun Lu fell to the ground, groaning, his eyes filled with resentment. He dared not speak another word.
Meanwhile, Gongsun Ming, who had just arrived, roared from afar:
“Audacious villain! How dare you… dare… Thank you, Your Highness, for disciplining my son…”
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