Chapter 158: Crossbows? Are You Courting Death?

Ever since Chen Xi kicked open the door, the scholars downstairs had started to quietly slip away. By the time the chaotic footsteps echoed from outside, there were barely any customers left in the brothel—they weren’t fools.

“Young master, you should leave quickly. Don’t risk your life for someone like me,” the courtesan known as Yue’er pleaded as she heard the approaching footsteps. She knew things were bad. Typically, noble sons traveled with guards, and although some might shake them off, it was clear that this time the three young men had a whole contingent of bodyguards with them.

“Just stay there and don’t move. Don’t cry or scream. Have some faith in your man!” Chen Xi glanced at the woman. Even in such a tense situation, she was still trying to protect Guan Ping—a sign of a decent heart.

“You brat, let’s see how many you can take on!” Zhang Xuan leaned over the railing, shouting. Ever since Zhao Zilong had single-handedly intimidated the mighty Zhen family, the noble families of the land had become wary. Their old household guards had been replaced by hardened veterans, not to defend against top-tier warriors like Zhao Yun, but at least to prevent being overpowered by ordinary ones.

“Seize those two down there!” Zhu Li’s eyes flashed with a cold, mad gleam as he snarled, “I’d like to see what you can do to us. Don’t harm that courtesan—if you want her, let me have her first!”

“Annoying!” Chen Xi snapped his fan shut and waved his hand. The air seemed to ripple, and the second-floor railing was instantly reduced to dust. The three noblemen on the balcony spat out blood and fell to the ground below.

This secret technique really is only good for self-defense. If I really want to fight, I’ll have to rely on my own mental power, Chen Xi thought with some resignation as he glanced at the three men struggling on the ground. This technique might be effective against small fry, but against anyone stronger, it was just wishful thinking.

“Get them!” The steward, who had been hesitating about whether to kill the two men, flew into a rage upon seeing Chen Xi’s display and shouted for the men to attack.

“They’re yours, Tan Zhi. If you can’t handle them, don’t blame me for telling your father,” Chen Xi said with a smile, though his expression was icy. The fact that the Zhang, Gu, and Zhu families had managed to smuggle nearly a hundred veteran soldiers into Fenggao City was a blatant provocation.

Guan Ping kicked one veteran into the air, turned, and punched another square in the face. With a swift grab, he lifted a soldier and hurled him into the not-yet-formed formation of troops, then followed up with a flying kick that scattered their ranks. While his attacks lacked the overwhelming force of his father Guan Yu’s, they were still impressive. However, it seemed he wasn’t going all out.

“Tan Zhi!” Chen Xi called out loudly, snapping his fan shut. “Use your real skills and stop playing around! The formation is almost complete!”

“Understood!” Guan Ping shouted, a faint blue aura enveloping him as he launched himself forward. The air seemed to tremble as his fist connected with the chest of the burly man blocking his path, instantly caving it in.

“Now that’s the power of a true martial lineage!” Chen Xi’s eyes gleamed coldly. In the narrow confines of the alley, large military formations were useless, so he had no worries about Guan Ping’s safety.

A dull hum filled the air, causing Chen Xi to freeze momentarily before instinctively expanding his mental energy. In the next instant, he detected the strong bolts of a crossbow and reflexively forced the bolt down.

With a faint thud, the bolt embedded itself in the ground at Guan Ping’s feet.

Chen Xi’s anger flared. Although civil officials like him had mental energy that could almost negate physical projectiles—since mental energy could influence the physical world, making it possible to deflect bolts as long as they were detected—he was furious that they had dared to use crossbows in Fenggao City.

“Heh, smuggling private soldiers into the city is one thing, but hiding crossbows? You really must have a death wish,” Chen Xi said, his mental energy flaring and causing everyone present to freeze in fear. “Tan Zhi, kill them. Anyone who doesn’t surrender—kill them all. If anything happens, I’ll take the blame.”

“Understood!” Guan Ping shouted back, his own fury ignited by the crossbow attack. Who dared to shoot at him in Fenggao City?

The icy aura emanating from Chen Xi made all the veteran soldiers feel a deep sense of dread. But it was too late to turn back now—they could only grit their teeth and fight. Guan Ping’s attacks, once tempered, now unleashed their full lethality, each move filled with deadly intent.

“What’s happening up ahead?” Liu Bei asked as he, Li Ru, and Xu Chu were inspecting the city. A commotion was brewing just ahead.

“Murder!” Just as Liu Bei began to inquire, a loud shout rang out from the front.

“Murder!” Liu Bei was stunned, then his anger surged. Someone was killing on his turf—did they have no respect for him?

“Zhongkang, clear the way and arrest everyone involved!” Liu Bei commanded furiously. His earlier good mood, bolstered by the prosperity of Fenggao’s new city, was shattered by this cry of murder.

“Lord Xuande, please remain calm. There’s always a reason for killing. The authorities have their duties, and the righteous have their code,” Li Ru said calmly. He was certain there must be some justification for such a brazen act, and he felt Liu Bei was overreacting.

“…” Liu Bei hesitated, then recalled Guan Yu’s situation and nodded. “Law should never override compassion. Let’s see what’s happening first. Zhongkang, go arrest those involved!”

“Make way! Xu Zhongkang is here!” Xu Chu bellowed, then leaped over the crowd and charged into the alley. He found a group of veterans in combat and quickly powered through them, toppling the remaining soldiers in seconds.

“Huh…” Xu Chu stared in shock at the blood-soaked Guan Ping. As Liu Bei’s only nephew, how could Xu Chu not recognize him?

“Zhongkang, drag those three out, arrest all these servants, and bring this with us!” Chen Xi yanked the crossbow bolt out of the stone floor and held it up. “Let’s go, Tan Zhi. Bring your woman—we’re meeting Lord Xuande.”

“Uncle, should I really go like this?” Guan Ping asked, a bit fearful.

“What are you afraid of? You’ve only killed a few people. I’ve crushed tens of thousands in Qingzhou,” Chen Xi sneered. Today’s events, from the pickpocketing to the clash with the Jiangdong families, had reminded Chen Xi that there was still something he hadn’t done!

“Zhongkang, tell that madam to register with the assistant prefect. I’ll compensate her for the damages to her shop. And keep an eye on these bastards—Jiangdong’s three families, huh. Hmph!” A cold light flashed in Chen Xi’s eyes. Using crossbows inside the city—what were they thinking?

“Tan Zhi?” Liu Bei was startled to see Guan Ping, covered in blood, appear before him. “Are you hurt? How did you get into a fight and end up like this? What happened?”

Liu Bei quickly checked Guan Ping over, only relaxing once he confirmed his nephew was uninjured. With so few relatives, any harm to Guan Ping would have been a serious blow.