Chapter 3: The Trials of the Martial World

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In the southern part of the city, on Yongle Street, stood a grand courtyard surrounded by red walls. Above its gate hung a plaque stamped with the golden characters "Zhang Residence."

This was the private home of Zhang Chengnan, the second brother of the notorious Zhang family.

In the Qi Kingdom, only members of the royal family and immortals were permitted to emboss gold lettering on plaques—a symbol of power and prestige.

At that moment, more than twenty constables gathered on the street outside, fiercely confronting a dozen or so beggars who were causing a commotion. Within the span of a short tea break, all the beggars clutched their injuries and scattered, disappearing from the Zhang Residence’s doorstep.

"Damn it! What a waste of Brother Sheng’s silver!" Zhao Daqiang lamented, pounding his thigh in frustration, ignoring the pain that shot through his leg.

He had been careless.

He forgot to watch for patrolling officers, allowing the beggars he had hired to stir up trouble here. As a result, they were quickly driven away by the constables.

Now that this incident had occurred, the constables remained stationed outside, making any further disturbances far more difficult. Even if Brother Sheng called for backup, it would be difficult to get inside to rescue anyone.

What were they going to do now?

As he hesitated, a man carrying a large broadsword wrapped in black cloth pushed through the crowd and stood before the constables.

"Well, if it isn’t Captain Liang, the street guard. Have you been reassigned? Become someone’s watchdog now? It’s just a relative of a minor cultivator—why do you lick boots so much? Aren’t you afraid of dirtying your tongue?"

The man’s harsh, raspy voice and crude words instantly drew everyone’s attention.

From behind the newcomer, Zhao Daqiang spotted Chen Tiansheng.

Brother Sheng had brought reinforcements!

Full of joy, Zhao Daqiang parted the crowd to stand behind Chen Tiansheng, his face filled with shame.

"Brother Sheng, I’m sorry. I just delayed things a bit. It’s all my fault."

"Just in time. I’ve found help," Chen Tiansheng replied with a slight smile, patting Zhao Daqiang’s shoulder reassuringly.

On his way here, Chen Tiansheng had seen the fleeing beggars and knew Zhao Daqiang had hired them. Gathering so many beggars in such a short time, especially after a long journey without rest, showed genuine concern. A little oversight was only natural under such rushed circumstances.

"I’ll be more careful in the future. Those who accomplish great things are meticulous!" Zhao Daqiang said seriously—the phrase taught by Chen Tiansheng, who himself aspired to great achievements.

"Hmm, keep it up," Chen Tiansheng nodded with a smile.

Zhao Daqiang clenched his fist and then curiously looked at the man who had stepped forward—Fang Chenghu.

"Brother Sheng, this man carrying that big sword looks so imposing. Hey, a broadsword..." He suddenly seemed to recall something, smacking his forehead before pulling out a grimy talisman from his waist and handing it to Chen Tiansheng.

"When I asked that drunken beggar earlier, he gave me this. It said you would face a trouble in the jianghu—someone carrying a broadsword would harm you. It said if things got tough, just tear this talisman."

Chen Tiansheng examined the talisman, slightly taken aback.

That drunken beggar could read fate?

Reading fate was a skill among the common folk, but what Chen Tiansheng had learned in bone-reading only allowed him to predict fortune or misfortune within a day. To foresee a great calamity, or identify the person involved, required at least a master’s level.

He last saw that drunken beggar three days ago near the East City Gate. They hadn’t spoken directly, yet the beggar could perceive his fortune. That mastery was beyond a master’s level.

Beyond master’s level?

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Chen Tiansheng did not believe it.

Above master’s level came the general’s rank, which, as far as he knew, did not yet exist in Qi Kingdom.

If that drunken beggar truly possessed such skill, how had he fallen into such poverty?

Still, Fang Chenghu had set conditions allowing him to stay for a month. Judging by his tone, he seemed intent on harming Chen Tiansheng.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence...

"Uh, I think I was fooled. That sword-bearer is clearly here to help you, Brother Sheng—why would he harm you? That drunken beggar must have been muddled, or maybe it was meant for someone else. I’ll return this talisman to him later. Damn it," Zhao Daqiang said awkwardly, trying to retract the talisman to avoid any conflict between Chen Tiansheng and the sword-bearer.

But Chen Tiansheng took the talisman.

"It doesn’t matter. It’s well-intentioned," he said.

There is a saying: everything happens for a reason, and sometimes enduring hardship is a way to improve one’s fortune.

As they spoke, Fang Chenghu stopped.

The over twenty constables stepped back into rows, hands gripping knife handles with solemn expressions.

Fang Chenghu grinned broadly.

"If you’re scared, then get out of my way! Listen up, trash of the Zhang family—call your master out! If I don’t see him soon, I’ll chop off his head and feed it to the dogs!"

"Fang Chenghu, do you really think your mundane Daoist sect is invincible, that you can do whatever you want? This is the residence of an immortal’s family, not your playground! Are you trying to start a war with the mundane Daoist sect?!" Captain Liang Wei’s eyes were filled with fear, but his words were firm.

The mundane Daoist sect’s power exceeded that of the government. Fang Chenghu was ranked at the gate master level, comparable to a general, and had recently single-handedly crushed a bandit nest of dozens. Their forces could not contend with him.

"We do whatever we want? No, you’re the real villains!" Fang Chenghu snorted coldly, then glared into the crowd.

"You coward! Come out!"

Everyone followed Fang Chenghu’s gaze to see Chen Tiansheng calmly step out from the crowd.

"This kid’s sister-in-law was kidnapped by the Zhang family. Our mundane Daoist sect will never tolerate such evilI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.