Chapter 26: No One Can Touch the Shopkeeper!

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

By this time, more and more people had entered the tavern, and the shopkeeper got the waiter to add an extra table in the middle of the lobby. The crowd was bustling.

Su Jiu and the gang’s noodles were also served, along with the soup, teeming with large pieces of smoked beef and garnished with green onions. The bowls covered them in the enticing sweet-smelling steam.

No one had eaten the appetizer, as they were all attracted by the beef noodles. They hurriedly scarfed the food down, mouths stained with oil.

Su Jiu ate happily with one foot propped on the bench. She scarfed the food down, causing the people at the next table to stare.

This young master might look handsome and elegant, they thought, but he eats like a bandit!

Qiao An poured a glass of hot wine and was just about to drink it when, suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

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Several strong men, who looked like trouble, came in, followed by a man in rich brocade robes.

There was a moment of silence in the noisy lobby, and everyone looked up.

Standing at the back of the counter, the shopkeeper’s face changed as he walked out hurriedly. “Master Bai San, you are here!” he said, attempting to sound pleasant.

“Have you found your son?”

The man known as Master Bai San held an iron rod as he slowly slapped it against his left palm, his expression ferocious.

The shopkeeper’s expression turned to fear. “I’m looking for him,” he promised. “As soon as I find him, I’ll break his leg myself and then send him to Bai Manor for you and the First Master to deal with!”

“Didn’t you promise to find him in three days? You lied to me and Big Brother?” Master Bai asked coldly.

“No! I dare not deceive Master San, but the brat may have gone out of the capital, and the people I sent out haven’t found his whereabouts!”

“Is there no news of his whereabouts, or are you not looking for him at all?” Master Bai San snarled angrily and grabbed the shopkeeper’s collar, his face malicious.

“Yes, yes, yes! I really did!”

The shopkeeper was one head shorter than Master Bai San. His whole body was lifted up, as his collar strangled his neck, his ashen face gone red.

Su Jiu’s hand on the table was clasped tightly, and she was about to get up.

Qiao An held her arm down and shook his head slowly at her.

“Brother, may I ask what is going on?” Qiao An turned to the next table and asked in a low voice.

“Oh!” The man sighed, lowered his voice, and said, “The shopkeeper’s surname is Xie, he has been an honest and decent man for his whole life! Sadly, his son had gotten into trouble! His son fell in love with Miss Bai of the Bai Family’s martial arts dojo. The Bai family is powerful and despised a small family such as the Xie family, and did not agree to the marriage.

“As a result, Shopkeeper Xie’s son eloped with Miss Bai! The Bai family was enraged and frequently came to demand Shopkeeper Xie to hand them over. See, they are here again!”

Qiao An nodded in understanding. “I see!”

In a short moment, the men brought by Master Bai San had turned the backyard upside down. He had not found anyone and came back to report to him.

Master Bai San’s face turned cold, as he let go of Shopkeeper Xie and roared, “Since you can’t find the man, smash the shop for me. Spread the word. If Xie Chu doesn’t come back, I will kill his father!”

“Yes!”

The hooligans with rods answered and smashed the table in the main hall.

Shopkeeper Xie hit against the counter, his head dizzy. He staggered up to stop the hooligans, and cried, “Stop smashing, stop it!”

It was clear that the hooligans would pay him no mind, and they shoved Shopkeeper Xie aside roughly and trashed the tavern. The customers screamed and ran away, soup splashed everywhere as the place descended into chaos.

The waiter had been hiding in the backyard, and Shopkeeper Xie was pushed to the ground, his head hung low.

In just a short moment, all the people in the store had run away. Only Su Jiu’s table and the Nangong siblings sitting by the window remained.

A hooligan picked up a rod and swung it on Su Jiu’s table, regardless of whether he would hurt anyone or not!

The rod was just about to strike, but it suddenly stopped. Su Jiu grabbed it with her slender hands as she turned to look at the man. Her face was beautiful, but her voice was cold, “Brother, this bowl of noodles belongs to me!”

“I don’t care who you are!” the hooligan snorted and pressed the rod down.

However, while it looked as if Su Jiu didn’t exert any force like she was only lightly pinching the rod with two fingers, the rod was still motionless.

The hooligan looked up suddenly and saw the other four at the table looking at him disdainfully!

Fear crept in his heart, knowing that he had encountered people who knew martial arts. However, relying on the power of numbers and the Bai family, he did not regard Su Jiu seriously and attempted to pull the rod back.

This was typical of the Bai family who was usually tyrannical and arrogant.

However, no matter how hard the hooligan tried, the rod remained motionless!

His face flushed. “If you don’t let go, I’ll chop your hand off!” He spat angrily and snatched the rod again.

“I’m scared to death!” Su Jiu smirked and suddenly let go. “I’ll give it back to you then!”

The rascal had been grabbing the rod with all his might. The moment Su Jiu let go, he fell back and hit the counter with a bang. He hit his back, as a sharp pain bloomed and he cried out with anger.

“Master San, this boy is making trouble!”

All of a sudden, everyone’s gaze were focused on Su Jiu.

The hooligans who were smashing the table gathered one after another at Su Jiu’s table, their faces furious with indignation.

“That’s enough!” Nangong Bi spat coldly, and she reached for the whip around her waist and was about to stand up when her hand was held down.

She looked up and saw Nangong Shu’s calm gaze. “Observe the situation first!” he said.

This boy, Nangong Bi thought. I seem to have met him somewhere before?

Ten days had passed, and Nangong Shu had long forgotten about what happened at the foot of Yuhu Mountain. At that time, he was sitting on his horse, separated by so many people, and did not see Su Jiu clearly. Su Jiu had been wearing women’s clothes, and her face was splattered with blood.

Thus, Nangong Shu looked at Su Jiu but only felt a sense of familiarity, and did not think about that day.

Bai San went to Su Jiu, his gaze swept across Hu Dapao and the gang, grinned and said, “Which gang are you from, brother?”

Su Jiu stepped on the bench with one leg, her arm on her knee, and pointed at Shopkeeper Xie from his position on the floor with her thumb. “It’s none of your business which gang I’m in,” she said with a smile. “But since I’m eating here today, I will protect the shopkeeper. No one can touch him!”

Bai San’s eyes narrowed. He frowned and appraised Su Jiu.

The young man looked only sixteen or seventeen years old, and his face was fair and delicate. He looked like a weak young master, but those eyes were so cold and venomous that he knew he did not come from an ordinary family.

“Brother, you have to know your status to be kind! Who on this street doesn’t know the Bai family? Don’t ask for trouble!” Bai San said in a cold voice.

After he finished his sentence, Hu Dapao, Ah Shu and Chang Huan stood up together, all with a vicious expression, and looked more ferocious than the hooligans from the Bai family.

Subconsciously, the members of the Bai family took a step back together.

Although these ruffians looked strong, what they usually did was oppress the unarmed people and lord their status, relying on the power of the Bai family. In comparison, Su Jiu’s gang led a life that was extremely perilous from an early age, and they were brutal by nature. Of course, the Bai family couldn’t compare.

Bai San’s face turned stony when he saw his men back away.

“Master Bai, we don’t mean to offend you,” Qiao An said gently. “We just want to have a quiet meal. On account of my young master, please spare Shopkeeper Xie!”

Bai San smiled coldly. “Who the hell is your young master, how dare you ask me, Master Bai San—”

Smack!