Chapter 16: Hands-on, Mouth-off
A few days later.
The sun rose as usual from the east.
No wind, no waves.
It seemed as if Qing Pi Ma had never existed in the world, and no one had pursued it.
Chen Shun’an put down his chopsticks, slung on his water pouch and pipe, and went out to work with a normal expression.
Wan Niang had already swept the courtyard three or four times with the broom, the stone slabs gleaming, yet still pretending to be too busy to pay attention to Chen Shun’an.
Silently lowering her head without speaking, yet unable to even see her own toes.
A strange and alienated atmosphere permeated between the two.
Just as he stepped out the door, Chen Shun’an paused, his eyes showing hesitation.
【Wish: 75】
The wish income from these past few days was neither hot nor cold.
Mainly because the previous turbid water had not yet been exhausted by many beneficiaries, and there was no need for Chen Shun’an to visit and deliver water.
This also led to the fact that although converting 100 points of wish into a wisp of incense seemed not far off, it was always slow, tormenting Chen Shun’an.
Therefore, Chen Shun’an cherished every source of wish even more.
Wan Niang was one of them.
Moreover, Wan Niang’s frank worship of him that day yielded a full 3 points of wish!
Even more intense than Scholar Ma’s gratitude!
But…
Chen Shun’an was a decent man, as everyone evaluated.
Chen Shun’an let out a long breath, his hesitation gradually fading, eyes showing determination.
Chen Mou was getting old and not inclined to women.
Now it was just sacrificing his own appearance.
Everything was for the Path of Divinity.
At worst, be a bit tactful, just scare Wan Niang a little.
Thinking of this, Chen Shun’an turned back into the house and closed the door.
“Bro, what are you doing?”
“Ah!!! No, no!!”
A brief and sharp panicked cry came out.
【Wish +2】
The courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open.
Chen Shun’an’s gaze was calm, but his legs moved like the wind, like a cat sneaking off with fish, hurriedly trotting away.
In the courtyard, Wan Niang’s ears were red as if dripping blood, her chest heaving dramatically, watching Chen Shun’an’s back with an extremely complex gaze.
Struggle, fear, cowardice, shyness… and faint unclear emotions.
In the corner of the courtyard wall, iris quietly bloomed, leaves dripping with dewdrops, fragrance rich and dense.
Sweet as honey, it diluted the lingering strange and alienated atmosphere in the courtyard.
Wan Niang stood in place, and after a long time, suddenly smiled lightly.
She turned and entered the house, then nimbly started washing the bowls and chopsticks.
……
“Something seems to have happened ahead?”
After rushing out of the alley corner, Chen Shun’an finally slowed his steps.
But just after walking a short distance, he saw the intersection ahead crowded on both sides with neighbors from left and right streets, people packed tightly, shoulder to shoulder.
Seemingly watching some excitement.
And the onlookers didn’t block the road; instead, they tacitly left the main path open, standing on both sides of the street.
Chen Shun’an turned and squeezed into a noodle stall, standing on tiptoes to peer ahead, also watching the fun.
The scene ahead was shadowy and unclear.
But it seemed someone was fighting in the street, wielding spears and clubs, cursing and shouting.
Fist and palm winds roared like rolling thunder, mouths howling like frenzied war drums.
Seeing this, Chen Shun’an’s eyes showed curiosity, and he asked the noodle stall owner for information.
“Boss, in broad daylight, where did these madmen come from to fight in the street? Truly reckless with their lives?”
The noodle stall boss chuckled and said,
“Who else? Dogs biting dogs, the water station group and the pounding house group!”
“Heard it was Water Carrier from Weihang Street who glared at someone from Wanlong Pounding House on the road, sparking a fight! They chopped all the way from Weihang Street to our Changping Alley. I heard the well shed on Weihang Street was demolished by Wanlong Pounding House!”
“What?!”
Chen Shun’an cried out in shock, immediately anxious.
“My well shed is gone?!”
……
Whoosh!
A hot wind seemed to rise in the market, overturned stalls everywhere.
Behind the melon cart in the middle of the road, Ah Hua stood with his club, bruises on his hands, eyes glaring like bronze bells, staring deadly at the Wanlong Pounding House people opposite.
Behind him, five or six water carriers clustered, most injured, some severely with even broken arms.
Ah Hua said coldly: “Zhuang Kun, you’re bullying too much! Demolishing my well shed, injuring my brothers—this won’t end!”
The reason for today’s brawl between the two sides was already untraceable.
Or rather, the reason wasn’t important at all—faction divisions, interest disputes,
led to small-scale street fights between the water station and pounding house every few days.
They just wanted the other side dead.
Even the Infantry Commander’s Office was accustomed to it and didn’t want to interfere, as long as no deaths occurred…
At least none discovered.
This time,
although Wanlong Pounding House took advantage of the grit well shift change to demolish the well shed.
But the outnumbered water carriers still repelled them.
Even…
Opposite the melon cart, the middle-aged man named Zhuang Kun heard this, his eyes reddening, pointing at the struggling figures on the ground, furious:
“I’m bullying too much?! Your people only have broken arms, but mine lost their root of life!
Who just used that dirty trick? Who fights aiming only at the valley path and lower body!!”
Facing Zhuang Kun’s hysteria, Ah Hua calmly twisted his neck, turning his face to the person beside him.
“Brother Liu? You?”
Scarred Liu’s expression unchanged, he said: “Emergency situation, no time to care. In fights, use every extreme means—Ah Hua, remember that.”
“Lesson learned.”
Ah Hua nodded deeply in agreement.
And Sun Xiao, the second-rate warrior who partnered with Ah Hua on night patrols, had chaotic breathing, pale face, emanating thick bloody qi.
Earlier, he had been at a disadvantage in combat with Zhuang Kun.
At this moment, Sun Xiao also glanced more at Scarred Liu, puzzled inside.
Scarred Liu’s style wasn’t previously so open and sweeping?
How did it change so suddenly in days? So feminine and tricky…
Zhuang Kun said coldly: “Less talk, one sentence: hand over fifty taels of silver! Today’s matter ends… otherwise, let your Landlord Zhao come fetch them himself!”
“Fetch your grandpa!!”
A fierce shout came, and suddenly a water carrier leaped out, palms flipping like an iron ox plowing, feet stepping quickly, knocking down a pounding house man.
Like an iron skewer fiercely drilling in!
It was that Wanlong Pounding House, relying on numbers, had secretly shifted positions, encircling the grit well people like dumplings.
They must tear an opening to break out!
The other Wanlong Pounding House men saw this, eyes flashing fierce light, all pouncing to block the gap.
Ah Hua roared, legs bending, soles gripping the ground, body leaping like a sparrow, one club sweep surging with strength, shocking two blockers flying.
Scarred Liu and the other water carriers saw this, ignited their bloody courage, and hurried to follow.
“Hmph! Obstinate, courting death!”
Zhuang Kun’s cheeks twitched, a whistle, spine arching, muscles tensing, qi and blood surging, suddenly leg flick, fist shake!
Buzz!
Buzz!
Buzz!
Bones resounding continuously, wonderful sound shaking ears, like gongs and drums exploding like thunder beside everyone’s ears.
Almost everyone staggered, dazed, eyes scattered, some even bleeding from eardrums!
Bone quenching like jade, Bone Thunder Sound, can also injure!
And before Zhuang Kun could act further, a fist wind suddenly came from behind his head; his arched body instantly straightened, turning to block.
The bone sound interrupted, everyone came to their senses, still with lingering fear.
They saw Sun Xiao barely mobilizing inner qi and blood to his palms, blocking Zhuang Kun.
His face showed pained expression, overflowing bloody qi thicker, even his ten fingers bruised.
“A mere defeated subordinate dares block me?!”
Zhuang Kun grinned ferociously, disdainfully looking at Sun Xiao, arms thrusting out like great hammers smashing down.
Zhuang Kun seemed to already see Sun Xiao spitting blood, gasping weakly under his smash.
Suddenly,
Zhuang Kun felt his body tingling and numb, legs softening.
Nosebleed dripping, instantly wetting his chest clothing.
Poison?
When did I get poisoned?
Zhuang Kun’s expression changed drastically, withdrawing hands and body, stepping back greatly, quickly distancing from Sun Xiao.
“You’re Spider Poison Hand Sun Xiao?!”
Sun Xiao’s skin deathly pale, lightly coughing twice, squinting with a smile,
“Brother Zhuang has sharp eyes, finally recognized me.”
Saying so, Sun Xiao’s pores tightened, the thick bloody qi vanishing.
Qi and blood calmed, hand bruises returning to normal color.
Seeing this, how could Zhuang Kun not understand that Sun Xiao used bloody qi as poison trigger, refining poison into hands, needing only combat contact to silently poison the opponent!
Damn, not a single good person among these water carriers!
No wonder my pounding house keeps losing; how can good people beat bad seeds?!
Zhuang Kun’s face flickered uncertain, suddenly waving his hand.
Then nearby, two Wanlong Pounding House men dragged out a young man in short outfit, face fair and clean.
Zhuang Kun said coldly: “Break one of his hands!”
Crack!
A crisp sound, the young man’s right arm dangling limply.
The young man was tough, silent, teeth clenched, letting bean-sized sweat roll from his cheeks.
This young man was one of the twins responsible for water pumping, spared the cart delivery hardship; in the previous brawl, he ran slow and was caught by Wanlong Pounding House.
Zhuang Kun felt great vengeful pleasure inside.
Can’t beat the old water carriers, but can’t handle these tender Green Hook water carriers?
“Xiao Ze!”
Ah Hua saw Xiao Ze’s misery, instantly anxious, qi and blood rushing to head, cursing loudly,
“Zhuang Kun you son of a bitch, donkey-fucked…”
Ah Hua’s curse just out.
Sun Xiao, Scarred Liu and others’ faces changed abruptly, urgently saying: “Can’t curse!”
And Zhuang Kun’s mouth curved up, eyes flashing a cold conspiratorial smile.
It was at this moment.
“Ouch!”
“Who stepped on my head?!”
“His grandpa’s, still stepping?!”
“What thing flew over my head?!”
A clamor of noise came.
Nearby onlookers, the two groups of pounding house and water station with weapons in combat, all felt their heads sink, a blur flashing like lightning overhead.
And Ah Hua hadn’t reacted yet when an iron-like hand covered his mouth.
Then Chen Shun’an stood tall beside Ah Hua, expression solemn.
“Can’t curse! Only fight, fight to the death!”
Saying so, Chen Shun’an snatched the tiger head club from Ah Hua’s hand, handing over a gleaming dagger about an arm’s length.
Since Bai Shan Ren entered the pass, to consolidate the rivers and mountains, they extensively wooed previous dynasty scholar-officials and Shun People magnates, through marriage or taking in as son-in-law.
Bai Shan Ren bloodline quickly spread among Shun People.
Now in the capital region places, not to mention imperial clan descendants, even street pancake sellers, tracing ancestors nine generations, might connect to Bai Shan Ren.
To avoid insulting Bai Shan Ren or even His Majesty the Emperor.
Sacred Dynasty law—those with old grudges may combat in streets to decide victory by strength. But verbal abuse insulting ancestors: 100 lashes, no leniency. If bystanders assist, same crime and punishment, to warn others.
In short, combat allowed, cursing not!
And Ah Hua looked at Chen Shun’an who appeared beside him at some unknown time, expression stunned.
Uncle Chen?
This lightness skill, this movement technique…
Close within inches, yet I noticed nothing?!
