Xiao Zuo, who had been smiling at me, was suddenly disturbed, but he didn't seem surprised at all. He turned his face away and glanced at me indifferently, saying leisurely, "Since you married that 'glutinous rice ball,' you can just bear with being hit a few times. Don't you know you're lucky you weren't crushed to death by him?"
"Pfft—" I spat out a mouthful of tea. This guy's words were so rude! Now I realize that he had actually been quite lenient with me all along!
Then look at that old man, so fair and round, doesn't he look exactly like a glutinous rice ball?
I and everyone else in the hall burst into laughter, and even Feng Qiansu couldn't help but chuckle.
Upon hearing this, the fat old man was so angry that his eyebrows turned green. He no longer cared about chasing and beating his concubine. While repeatedly ordering his servants to surround her, he shouted, "You brat, if you kowtow to me three times and say 'Grandpa, spare my life,' you might still have a chance to live... Otherwise, hehe, today I'll make sure you lose your life!"
Xiao Zuo remained unperturbed and asked calmly, "What's your name?"
"grandfather!"
"No need to call me that so affectionately," Xiao Zuo laughed. "If I had a grandson like you, I'd be incredibly unlucky for eight hundred lifetimes!"
The crowd erupted in laughter, which was punctuated by the fat patriarch's furious roar: "Beat him! Beat him hard!"
I couldn't help but sneer—it was clearly his concubine who tried to seduce Xiao Zuo, yet now he's the one in the right? Are they just relying on their numbers? Hmph, what a bunch of bullies! If he dares to lay a finger on Xiao Zuo, I'll make sure they suffer a fate worse than death!
At this thought, I slammed my hand on the table and shouted, "What's all the noise about? What do you want to do..."
Before he could finish speaking, a group of people and horses suddenly came galloping down the street. The horses were incredibly fast and came to a sudden stop in front of the inn. The movements of the dozen or so horses were exactly the same, which showed that the riders were very skilled.
The dozen or so people who entered the lobby were all skilled practitioners with stable lower body postures and agile movements.
The man in the lead had bulging muscles all over his body and bright, piercing eyes; it was clear at a glance that he was a master of external martial arts.
Upon seeing the man, the innkeeper immediately scrambled out of the inner room, stood trembling beside him with his hands clasped, and said in a panic, "This humble man was unaware of Your Majesty's esteemed presence and failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
He then pulled a bundle from his bosom and said, "This is this month's allowance, Your Majesty, please accept it."
I was secretly startled. What? In broad daylight, I actually encountered robbers!
Looking at Feng Qiansu again, her eyes were flashing, as if she was also guessing the origins of these people.
Only Xiao Zuo and Baili Chenfeng remained calm and composed, sipping their tea without even blinking.
Seeing this, I rolled my eyes and made a gesture to the cavalry to calm down.
Unfortunately, even though our group remained indifferent, the other guests in the inn immediately descended into chaos. Those with money frantically hid their belongings under the tables, while those without were desperately trying to figure out how to escape. Women were screaming, and children were crying...
The leader of the group frowned and roared, "Shut up, all of you!" His voice was like a thunderclap in the sky, and the inn immediately fell silent.
The man coldly surveyed the crowd, and those he glared at didn't dare to breathe. He then continued, "Today is a joyous day for the 'Five Dragons of the Yellow River' to welcome our distinguished guest, and the entire city of Hancheng is celebrating. Our distinguished guest dislikes killing, so all business is suspended today, and no tolls will be charged to passersby. This distinguished guest dislikes noise, so you should all sit quietly, speak less, drink more tea, and disperse after our welcoming ceremony."
After saying that, the man sat down on a chair near the door, gazing back at the road he had come from, as if waiting for someone.
The fat master's servants, who were usually as fierce as bandits, were now terrified when real robbers came, and dared not move a muscle.
The entire inn was deathly silent. Apart from our group, everyone else was trembling with fear, their faces contorted and their bodies shaking like leaves.
Before long, another group of people came galloping down the street. Judging from their attire, they were the same group as the first group.
The group consisted of about twenty people. After dismounting, they didn't say a word, but unloaded their washing utensils from their saddles and swept the ground clean, leaving it spotless.
What is this? I simply rested my chin on my hand and looked on curiously.
Not only me, but almost everyone stared in disbelief at this scene. For a moment, the surroundings were silent, with only the sound of breathing and the rustling of bamboo brooms gliding across the bluestone ground.
Then, within about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, two more groups of people arrived. They set up a rain shelter and even laid out a long welcoming carpet. They then lined up in two straight rows, showing they were indeed well-trained.
Ha! I wonder which distinguished guest is making such a grand entrance!
After all these people had finished tidying up, more people came to the street.
This time, the person who came was only one person and one horse.
This man, dressed in a long robe, was elegant and refined, yet he was a handsome scholar.
As soon as he dismounted, the four leading men who had come from the front stood up and called out, "Brother!"
I was secretly startled again, realizing that this scholar was actually the leader of the Yellow River Five Dragons gang of bandits.
The scholar possessed an elegant and refined air, his every gesture exuding a sense of purity and grace. Yet, his eyes were sharp as knives. After surveying the surroundings, he nodded and said, "Everything is ready. Let's go and greet our guests!"
Then, the five of them walked into the inn together, and I realized that the distinguished guest they were supposed to pick up was already inside.
The five dragons of the Yellow River walked straight to Xiao Zuo, clasped their hands and said in unison, "Greetings, Young Master Xiao."
What? So the distinguished guest they were talking about was Xiao Zuo!
I was so surprised I almost jumped up, but Xiao Zuo winked at me, then turned and smiled at Wu Long, saying, "I was passing through Hancheng and didn't intend to disturb you..."
The scholar frowned and said, "Young Master Xiao has come to Hancheng, yet you haven't allowed the Five Dragons to fulfill their duties as hosts. Could it be that you want to keep us up at night?"
"Your hospitality is not quite enough..." Xiao Zuo said with a smile in his eyes, "Last time we met, you said you wanted to be a good host, so you got me drunk for three days straight, and I couldn't even get out of bed! You haven't forgotten about that, have you?"
Wu Long burst into laughter, and the burly man who led the first group of men rushed to say, "Three years ago, I had to travel to the Western Regions on important business and was unable to have a drink with you, young master, which I have always regretted. It is truly a blessing from heaven that I have the opportunity to meet you today, young master. You must not disappoint me!"
What a joke! I scoffed inwardly. When did Xiao Zuo become such a sought-after person?
Before Xiao Zuo could speak, the scholar laughed and cursed, "This fool knew you were coming and pestered me all night, insisting on being the first to greet you. He's driving me crazy..."
Strange! Our whereabouts have always been kept secret, and we even changed our route halfway before arriving in Hancheng. How did the Five Dragons of the Yellow River know about it?
This matter is truly perplexing. Surprised, I subconsciously looked at Feng Qiansu, only to see that she also looked bewildered, clearly stunned by this sudden turn of events.
Just then, Xiao Zuo patted Lao Yao on the shoulder and laughed, "Good brother, since you were the first to greet me today, Xiao Zuo will definitely drink with you until we're both drunk!"