Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Meeting
’The county seat... a bailiff named Zhang...’
’Has Zhang Yufeng finally come for me himself?’
Xie Yuan’s brow furrowed instantly.
Seeing the look on his face, Cao Shan immediately asked with concern,
"Junior Brother Xie, what is it? Is something wrong? Should I get our senior-most brother or the master?"
"No, it’s nothing, Senior Brother Cao. It’s someone from my hometown. Could you please show me the way?"
Xie Yuan shook his head, not wanting to make a big scene.
Cao Shan noticed his brow was still knitted with worry, so he just gave a slight nod and led Xie Yuan to a tea room.
Standing at the door to the tea room, Xie Yuan subconsciously touched the axe at his waist before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
Inside the tea room, a handsome young man was sitting at a table, sipping tea.
He was dressed in a blue robe, tall and slender with refined features and a fair complexion. His aura carried a hint of effeminate grace.
However, his knuckles were thick, and a long saber, still in its sheath, rested on the table, preventing anyone from mistaking him for a delicate scholar.
The man raised his eyes and smiled faintly.
"Xie Yuan. It’s been a while. You seem to have gotten taller."
Xie Yuan’s expression was grim as he slowly replied,
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Zhang."
Zhang Yufeng looked him up and down and chuckled.
"Yuanzi, what are you so nervous about? We’re from the same village. Sit."
Xie Yuan stood his ground, not moving an inch.
In Little Rock Village, Zhang Yufeng was practically a legend.
From a penniless nobody to an apprentice who became a Martial Artist, and then to a lead bailiff in the county yamen.
To the villagers, his life story was the stuff of storytellers’ tales. A Martial Artist who was also a government official was an unbelievably powerful figure.
That’s why Zhang Yufeng’s name carried more weight than anything else in Little Rock Village. No matter how much trouble Zhang the Second caused, few dared to say a word against him—until Xie Yuan beat him up.
Although they were in the martial hall and Zhang Yufeng probably couldn’t do anything, Xie Yuan saw that behind his seemingly warm expression, his eyes held not a trace of a smile. They were ice-cold, and Xie Yuan instinctively didn’t want to get any closer.
Xie Yuan shook his head.
"It’s *because* we’re from the same village that I know what you’re really like. If you have something to say, just say it."
"Heh heh heh, listen to you. What am I ’really like’? I made a special trip back to the village, and when I didn’t see you, I came to the martial hall to find you. You’re a slow walker, it seems."
Zhang Yufeng shook his head, putting on the air of an elder chiding a junior.
Xie Yuan finally understood. Zhang Yufeng must have gone to the village looking for him early in the morning, then come to town. But Xie Yuan had gone to see Boss Wan first, which delayed him, causing them to miss each other.
’All this trouble... what ’good thing’ could he possibly want?’
Xie Yuan’s tone was icy.
"So?"
"Why be so defensive? I’m just trying to give you an opportunity."
Zhang Yufeng said with a grin,
"The County Captain’s estate needs a young servant to water the flowers in the back garden. If you go, you’ll have nothing to worry about when it comes to food and clothing. Glory and riches will be yours for the taking. Why would you need to keep slogging away, chopping wood and training in martial arts?"
"Watering flowers in the back garden? If you want to sell your ass, go do it yourself. Don’t drag me into it."
Xie Yuan spat.
He didn’t know what kind of slang it was, but he had already learned the truth from Li Mazi. At this point, no one could fool him.
Hearing him speak so bluntly, Zhang Yufeng’s expression darkened, and he pressed his lips together tightly.
He took a sip of tea and said slowly,
"You’re still young. You don’t understand that some things are out of your hands."
"But you’ll learn soon enough. Because you don’t have a choice."
Xie Yuan felt a sudden, inexplicable pressure wash over him. The air in the tea room seemed to thicken.
He looked at Zhang Yufeng, who was casually preparing and rinsing the tea, then let out a breath and sneered,
"And what if I refuse?"
Zhang Yufeng looked up at Xie Yuan, his gaze a mixture of pity and mockery.
"Does it matter whether you agree or not?"
"You don’t seem to understand. The one who’s taken an interest in you is the County Captain of Yunzhao County. He’s the junior brother of the Vajra Sect Leader and a Fourth Training master. In Yunzhao, even the county magistrate has to show him respect. Anything he wants, people will scramble over each other to deliver it to him. Do you, a little woodcutter from a village, really think you can hide?"
"We’re from the same village, so I wanted to help you. But the County Captain has taken a fancy to you, and there’s nothing I can do. You should just accept your fate."
"I came to find you this time to tell you that it’s about time. You can either come with me quietly, or you can suffer a bit before you go. The choice is yours."
Xie Yuan’s face was as dark as storm clouds as he ground out through clenched teeth,
"You wanted to help me? Then tell me, how did the great County Captain of Yunzhao County even hear about a no-name kid from the mountains like me?"
Zhang Yufeng picked up the lidded bowl and blew on the tea.
"I’m just looking out for you. We’re from the same village, so I’m giving you a hand."
"Son of a bitch."
Xie Yuan couldn’t hold back anymore. He pointed at Zhang Yufeng’s nose and cursed,
"Did it ever occur to you, you disgusting piece of shit, that if I really do go to that old pervert’s house, I could just... not please him, and then find a way to screw you over good and proper? Fucking idiot."
Zhang Yufeng’s face darkened at first, but when he heard the rest, a strange, mocking smile spread across his face.
"You think you’re the only smart one here?"
"The young servants in his back garden... they get replaced every three months, at most."
"I’ve been there. The flowers grow better there than anywhere else."
’Fuck!’
Xie Yuan gritted his teeth. ’So they never planned on letting me live!’
He clenched his fists so tightly he wished he could split Zhang Yufeng in two with his axe.
Taking a deep breath, Xie Yuan managed to slightly suppress the rage in his chest, forcing the words out from between his teeth:
"Zhang Yufeng, you won’t be arrogant for long."
His voice was low and carried a bone-deep chill.
Seeing his expression, Zhang Yufeng raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Got some spirit! Go on, go to the County Captain’s backyard and have your little daydreams."
He shot to his feet, pulled out a waist token, and barked,
"Xie Yuan of Little Rock Village! You are accused of assaulting fellow villagers, bullying men and women, engaging in extortion and racketeering at a city tavern, and oppressing merchants! The witnesses and evidence are all here. Come with me back to the county yamen for trial!"
’?!’
Xie Yuan’s eyes flew wide, shot with blood, and his hand went to the axe at his waist.
An overwhelming rage erupted from his heart. Hot blood rushed through his veins as his Blood Qi and internal energy churned violently.
’If I really go with him to the county yamen, I’ll be completely at their mercy. It’ll be hopeless. I’ll probably be tortured in some sunless hell before I die.’
’Rather than let that happen, I might as well fight him to the death right here and now!’
’Either I win my freedom, or if I lose, I’ll take a few of his limbs with me!’
"You want to take me away, Zhang Yufeng? Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes!"
Xie Yuan roared, drew his axe, and raised it high.
Looking at the demonic, maddened Xie Yuan, Zhang Yufeng suddenly felt a pang of fear, as if sensing a dangerous aura.
’How is this possible?’
’Didn’t he just start training in martial arts?’
Zhang Yufeng was filled with shock and uncertainty. He subconsciously gripped his saber, facing Xie Yuan as if he were a powerful foe.
Just as Xie Yuan’s aura was about to crest, the tension stretched to its breaking point, the tea room door was suddenly thrown open with a BANG!
A short, stout figure leaped inside and planted himself in front of Xie Yuan.
"What do you think you’re doing? What the hell is all this, on my turf?"
