Chapter 116: Fierce Battle and Chance Encounter

Autumn rain slid from the eaves, turning the roads of Chang'an Street into a muddy mess. Inside the Journey to the West Restaurant in the East Market, the Chief of the Imperial Investigators and his two commanders stared at a table full of stir-fried dishes, yet had no appetite to touch their chopsticks.

The autumn wind whistled, causing the tavern flags to flap restlessly. It had been two months since they lost contact with Qing Yu and the others; the chances of their survival were slim.

Outside the restaurant, under the eaves, a raindrop formed from the autumn drizzle dripped down from the edge of a roof tile, landing squarely on the nose of a dark-faced, hulking man. It splashed, covering his entire nose.

Beside this beggar-like man squatted a dark, skinny fellow. Seeing his companion looking uncomfortable, he could not help but offer a sly, insincere smile.

"Brother, are you also down on your luck here?"

"Me? My mother told me never to talk to strangers!"

Seeing the man leaning in, the big man shifted away, maintaining a distance.

The skinny fellow dropped his fake smile, cursing inwardly. What kind of nonsense about his mother was that? A grown man still refusing to talk to strangers! One listen to that accent and it was clear he wasn't from Chang'an—just some bumpkin from out of town!

Staring at the pork stall across the street, the skinny man glanced at the stray dogs and cats waiting for the butcher to toss out bones or scraps. One large, one-eyed wolf dog was particularly fierce. He did a quick calculation, thinking he would teach this unrefined outsider a lesson later. There were rules to being a beggar in Chang'an, after all; he shouldn't blame him for needing a little education.

Before long, the butcher tossed out a bone. The big man was quick, lunging forward to snatch it; it would be perfect for tonight's soup.

Suddenly, the skinny man let out a bark at the wolf dog. The animal, which had been waiting for the bone to land, leaped up and charged toward the flying prize.

Not satisfied, the skinny man walked among the pack, driving the cats and dogs toward the muddy street, determined to give the big man a hard time.

The big man grabbed the bone and hugged it to his chest, grinning with simple honesty. He’d have meat tonight! But suddenly, an angry bark erupted by his ear, and the wolf dog lunged at the bone in his arms.

Ji Xiao widened his eyes. He couldn't believe a dog dared to steal from him. He bared his teeth and barked back fiercely, then brought his fist down, smashing the dog’s head with a whimper. The wolf dog collapsed, motionless. He hoisted the carcass onto his shoulder and walked off—plenty of meat for tonight.

Several more dogs and cats barked and hissed nearby. He turned his head and glared at them, his fierce expression terrifying enough that they scattered. He noticed the skinny man standing in the distance, staring at him in a daze. He couldn't be bothered; he barked and meowed back, scaring the animals off.

The previously sullen Chief of the Imperial Investigators witnessed this scene with curiosity. He scrutinized the big man carrying a dog and a pork bone, and his eyes lit up. This man was no ordinary person—he was clearly a master!

Zhang Heng lowered his eyes in thought. The Imperial Investigators were currently caught in an inexplicable web. If they could recruit this man, he might become a great asset. Judging by his behavior and appearance, he was not a local.

The food on the table remained untouched. After paying the bill, Zhang Heng signaled his companions to follow the man. They noticed he was heading toward a secluded alley, thinking it the perfect opportunity for negotiation. However, just as they entered the alley, a red-skinned giant charged at them. Zhang Heng crossed his arms to block a punch, but the force left his arms numb, and he was sent stumbling back dozens of steps. The crossbow hidden in his sleeve shattered, wood splinters piercing his arm. The man's strength was monstrous; he immediately warned the others not to engage head-on.

Qiu Yuanhong had just drawn his twin blades when he was kicked aside. A violent gust of wind followed as a fist closed in, making his scalp crawl—that punch would be fatal!

Liang Zixin swung his heavy staff at the giant’s arm, but to his shock, the staff snapped in two. The giant’s fist, barely pausing after striking at Qiu Yuanhong, slammed into the man's chest, sending him flying several feet into a nearby house, causing the mud wall to collapse.

Zhang Heng used his internal energy to force the wood splinters out of his arm, his elbow stained red with blood. He watched Liang Zixin engage in a fierce struggle, during which a wooden beam from the house crashed down. Liang Zixin was sent flying from the debris, slamming into the mud wall with such force that it crumbled. He coughed up blood—he was no match for this red-faced giant!

"Sir," Zhang Heng said, sensing the situation spiraling and noting the attention of passersby, "we meant no offense."

Before he could finish, the giant hurriedly picked up his bone and the dead dog and fled. It seemed the man didn't want to invite trouble and was escaping before the local constables or investigators arrived. Sighing, Zhang Heng dug out the badly injured Qiu Yuanhong and helped Liang Zixin up. They left before the crowd grew; recruitment was clearly impossible—the man was far too formidable. They would have to try again another time!

Elsewhere, Wu Yueling had just left the Journey to the West Restaurant, bidding farewell to Maihetie, Ajiatie, and Popotie. As the owner of the company, she naturally had a meeting to convene.

The meeting aimed to expand the restaurant's influence, starting by having eight of Chang'an’s wealthiest merchants scout the path and establish infrastructure, alongside an intelligence network between the restaurants. They primarily used a type of eagle, known as a Gyrfalcon, for messaging.

Beyond this, she began selecting exceptional individuals from the militia she was training to develop an intelligence network for the Princess's Mansion. Of course, it wasn't yet time to reveal her hand; there was still much to prepare before absorbing the merchants into her orbit.

Wu Yueling was in a fairly good mood; the restaurant operations had seen few errors. She strolled through the muddy streets, unbothered thanks to her leather boots. She was dressed in men's clothing.

It had been a long time since she had walked among the common folk. Arriving at a pancake stall, she decided to buy some for Xiao Chun and the others. She chose a few sesame-paste pancakes and paid, but before she could take a bite, she noticed a reflection in a puddle: an elderly, ragged woman had been bumped and sent staggering, her hot flatbread falling to the ground. She looked pitiful.

"Stupid beggar, get out of the way! You’re getting my clothes dirty!"

Looking up, the man who had bumped the woman was fat and round, clearly a pampered young master from a wealthy family, yet his look of disgust toward the old woman was vile.

The old woman looked at the pancake on the ground with a pained expression, hunching over to retrieve it.

Seeing the young master about to step on the pancake, Wu Yueling stepped forward, swept the man’s leg, and sent him sprawling. She bent down to pick up the pancake, but seeing it was stained with mud and unfit to eat, she handed her own to the old woman. "That one is dirty, have mine instead!"

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" The old woman seemed a bit slow, but upon feeling the warmth of the pancake, she thanked her excitedly. As she looked at the "young master" before her, a strange light flashed in her eyes—this was a girl. She silently committed Wu Yueling’s appearance to memory.

"You! How dare you trip me! Tired of living? Come here, catch him for me!" The man, helped up by his servants, glared with murderous intent.

Wu Yueling looked at the fat pig, sighed, and knocked the servant rushing at her to the ground with one punch. She grabbed the fat man by the mouth and ruthlessly shoved the muddy pancake into it.

After escorting the old woman a short distance, she took her horse and left the West Market, returning to the Princess's Mansion.