Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

"Oh?"

After listening quietly, Li Fu nodded and said, "These martial arts practitioners are truly lawless."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a constable scrambled in from outside the door, panting and looking terrified.

"Something terrible has happened!"

"Several constables, Juyinglou... Juyinglou is about to erupt into another fight!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Tao's head buzzed. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, then slumped back down, pinching his brow and sighing in utter annoyance, "Who is it this time?"

"It was Zhang Fengyi, the leader of the Qinghua Gang, and Jiao Qi, the head of the horse traders in Guandong, who each led a group of men. They were on the verge of fighting in the building!"

People on the street dared not cross that road.

Upon hearing this, Chen Tao's expression immediately changed.

"What's wrong?" Li Fu asked.

He now has a great reputation in the martial arts world, but he still doesn't know much about the affairs of the martial arts world.

"Li Tou, these two are not easy to deal with."

The Qinghua Gang is one of the largest Jianghu (martial arts world) gangs in Hangzhou, with thousands of members.

Jiao Qi, the head of the horse traders in Guandong, was not someone to be trifled with.

Those who can become horse traders are never simple, and Jiao Qi is one of the biggest horse trading bosses in Guandong.

He had gathered a group of horse traders and bandits under his command, who would seize business outside the Great Wall; they were all ready to fight at the slightest provocation…

After Chen Tao finished speaking, he turned to ask the constable.

Why did these two groups start fighting?

The messenger swallowed hard, his expression strange.

"I heard...I heard...it was because of a plate of braised beef...both the leader of the Qinghua Gang and Jiao Qi ordered a plate."

The kitchen served Jiao Qi first, which displeased Chief Hu, who claimed that Jiao Qi had ordered first and that the dish was his. So, the two sides...

"What?!" Chen Tao's eyes widened in disbelief, and he felt his head was about to explode. "What the hell?!"

The Qinghua Gang was a large waterway gang in Hangzhou with thousands of members; Jiao Qi was one of the biggest horse trading leaders in Guandong, extremely wealthy, and had many fierce and brave men under his command.

These are the kinds of people who can make their own territory tremble with a stomp of their foot. Would they really fight over a plate of braised beef?

Who would believe that if I told them?

"interesting."

Upon hearing this, Li Fu's lips curled into a playful smile.

"Let's go take a look."

Two chivalrous heroes are getting into a fight over a plate of braised beef; this is quite a spectacle... not to be missed!

Upon hearing this, Chen Tao's spirits lifted, and he asked in disbelief, "Chief Li, you're going to personally take charge?"

"We can't let them run wild, can we?"

And it's kind of funny, these two important people, all because of a plate of braised beef, I just can't quite believe it."

Li Fudao.

Chen Tao was overjoyed and quickly followed.

"That would be perfect!"

The brothers have all heard about the great things you've done in the martial arts world, even taking down the Twelve Fiends in one fell swoop!

Today, your reputation is even more renowned than that of many famous sect leaders!

With you in charge, let's see who dares to run wild on our Yanzhou territory!

Li Fu shook his head as he walked, chuckling, "My reputation? I doubt it's that effective."

"If it really worked, these people would know that I am the head constable in Yanzhou City and that I am in charge of the security on the streets. They would have kept their tails between their legs long ago. How could they have caused so much trouble?"

It seems they don't take me seriously.

"This...this..." Chen Tao scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "They probably think...someone like you wouldn't personally get involved in such a trivial matter as a street fight, would they?"

Li Fu neither confirmed nor denied the matter.

After eliminating the Twelve Fiends and becoming famous throughout the martial arts world, he traveled to Pingliang County and then returned.

Indeed, I heard many people in the martial arts world talking about him along the way, their eyes shining, spittle flying, as if they had witnessed his deeds firsthand.

It even seems that storytellers have composed songs for this.

But no matter how prestigious the reputation, when it comes to one's life or fortune, even the Emperor himself wouldn't care.

This involves millions of taels of silver.

The wages of avarice is death.

Could Li Funeng, with just a name or a single sentence, stop these people from fighting and make them behave themselves, instead of running around the city searching for Liu Jingxing, or even leaving?

Not to mention him, even if the abbot of the White Horse Temple or the Celestial Master of the Celestial Master's Mansion came, his words would be useless and he couldn't quell the restlessness in the city.

Juyinglou, located in the bustling eastern part of Yanzhou City, was originally a thriving restaurant.

At this moment, the street in front of the building was deserted, with people hiding far away, only daring to peek out from the alley entrance and behind the window.

Inside the building's lobby, the atmosphere was tense, and the usual diners had already all fled.

There were still five tables occupied in the lobby.

A man, around fifty years old, sat alone by the window on the left. He had a thin face, wore a brocade robe, and had a row of exquisitely crafted deerskin pouches hanging from his waist.

Four small dishes and a pot of Zhuyeqing tea were in front of him. He poured himself a drink and glanced at the street outside the window from time to time, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere inside the room.

This is Tang Jin, the Fifth Master of the outer sect of the Tang Clan in western Sichuan, also known as the Thousand-Handed Centipede. He is famous throughout the martial arts world for his skill in using hidden weapons and poisons.

On the right, by the window, stood a burly man with a dark face and a thick beard, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit. A heavy, ghost-headed broadsword lay horizontally on the table, its hilt wrapped in blood-red silk.

He was none other than Tian Laosan, the notorious lone bandit of Jiangbei Road, known as "Ghost-Scared-Up-Tian".

He held a teacup in one hand and rested the other on the hilt of his knife, slowly sipping his tea, while his eyes scanned the doorway and the street like those of a hawk.

At the corner table sat two young men, both dressed in white with dark blue silk sashes around their waists and long swords on their backs.

The older ones were around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with calm faces and wary eyes;

The youngest was only eighteen or nineteen years old, his face showing the excitement and nervousness of someone just starting out, occasionally stealing glances at the people in the hall.

Judging from their attire, the two were disciples of the renowned Bashan Sword Sect in the martial arts world.

In the center of the hall, two groups of people sat, the largest in number and with the most tense atmosphere.

A group of people dressed in light blue outfits, with small blue-and-white embroidered markings on their cuffs.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties with fair skin and a dignified demeanor; he was none other than Zhang Fengyi, the leader of the Qinghua Gang.

The other group mostly dressed in their northern attire, wearing fur coats and cloaks, looking travel-worn.

The leader was a burly man with a face full of scars and bulging temples, wearing a mink coat; he was none other than Jiao Qi, the head of the horse traders from Northeast China.

The two groups of men glared at each other, their hands on their weapons, ready to spill blood at the slightest provocation.

"You surnamed Jiao, I've traveled all over the country for twenty years and I've never seen anyone as domineering as you!"

I ordered this plate of braised beef first, and I even picked up my chopsticks, but you took it away?

Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?

Jiao Qi slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his voice booming like a bell, causing dust to fall from the roof.

Zhang Fengyi sneered, remaining seated and unmoving, his tone indifferent.

"The rules outside the pass are different. It's not like whoever picks up the chopsticks first gets to use them. But once you're inside the pass, you have to follow our rules."

You should know the importance of first come, first served.

"I clearly ordered the braised beef first. If you're not satisfied, let's find a spacious place outside the city and have a real fight!"

"Are you afraid of me?!"

Jiao Qi glared, and his horse traders drew their swords half an inch from their sheaths, their blades gleaming coldly.

The Qinghua Gang members were not to be outdone and drew their weapons.

The fat shopkeeper, hiding behind the counter, was already pale with fright. He used a wine jar lid to cover his face, leaving only his small eyes showing as he stared intently at the doorway, muttering to himself.

"Come quickly... constables, come quickly..."

Just then, a waiter, whose face had turned pale with fright at the scene, slipped over from the kitchen, leaned close to the manager's ear, and whispered excitedly.

"They're here!"

"Shopkeeper, Constable Li is leading his men out of the yamen and is on their way here!"

The shopkeeper felt a wave of relief wash over him, almost falling down, and let out a soft cry of joy.

"Ouch! Li?"

Which Constable Li is it?

Is it him?

Thank God, my little shop is finally saved!

As soon as he finished speaking, the light at the doorway dimmed slightly.

A tall, upright figure in a blue robe stepped into the main hall first.

The newcomer was in his early twenties, with a handsome face and calm eyes; it was Li Fu.

He was followed by Chen Tao and seven or eight other constables.

Unlike others, Li Fu was dressed in a neat and tidy blue official uniform. He did not have the iron ruler, chain, or steel knife that ordinary constables usually carried at his waist. His hands were empty, his ten fingers were long and clean, and his nails were neatly trimmed.

He simply stood there by the door, exuding an aura that was impossible to ignore, and the noisy hall suddenly fell silent.

The shopkeeper, as if seeing his own father, scrambled out from behind the counter, disregarding the danger, and cried out.

"Officer Li!"

Officer Li, help! My shop... my shop is going to die!

He only remembered his fear after shouting the second half of the sentence, and his voice suddenly dropped to a lower level.

This shout of "Captain Li!" was like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil, instantly silencing the entire hall.

Many people's faces showed a complex mix of surprise, realization, and awe.

Li? Is it Li, the head constable of Yanzhou City?

Which Officer Li?

That "Dragon-Slaying Palm" Constable Li Fu, who's been making waves in the martial arts world lately?!

Tang Jin, the fifth master of the Tang Clan, who had been staring out the window as if he hadn't seen the two groups about to fight inside the hall, slowly turned his head for the first time and glanced at Li Fu, drinking as he looked him up and down.

The lone thief, Lao San, suddenly changed his expression, his grip on the knife tightened involuntarily, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

In the corner, the young junior disciple of the Bashan Sword Sect was so excited that his face turned red. He grabbed his senior brother's arm tightly and whispered excitedly.

"Senior brother!"

Senior brother, is that Li Fu who unleashes the Divine Dragon Palm?

He...he looks younger than me!

The older senior brother quickly covered his mouth, his eyes also filled with shock, and hissed, "Silence! Don't talk about it!"

Because he noticed that the moment his junior brother spoke, Li Fu's gaze swept lightly over their corner, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally!

To be able to pick up such a subtle whisper across the entire hall is astonishing, considering the hearing and internal strength of this Constable Li!

Li Fu nodded to the shopkeeper, his gaze calmly sweeping across the lobby.

Chen Tao, being very perceptive, immediately led his men to bring over an empty table and a chair, placing them between the two groups of people who were on the verge of conflict.

Li Fu calmly sat down, and the shopkeeper personally brought him a pot of fine Biluochun tea, filling it with trembling hands.

Li Fu picked up his teacup, gently blew on the floating leaves, and took a sip. His movements were relaxed and natural, as if the tense and imminent situation before him was nothing more than sitting idly in an ordinary teahouse.

This behavior makes him even more unfathomable.

The people who had initially stayed away out of fear of being affected now slowly gathered at the door and outside the window, whispering among themselves and looking around excitedly.

They had all heard that their constable Li from Yanzhou City had arrived.

Who is Li Fu? He is the man who solved the serial robbery case involving a major treasure thief, and even one of the four generals guarding the iron prison in Yanzhou was no match for him.

Legend has it that even the Iron-Armed Warrior, who was invulnerable to swords and spears and whose arms were strong enough to pull a horse, was defeated by this guy!

Moreover, I've heard that he's recently accomplished something even more remarkable in the martial arts world.

More and more martial arts practitioners rushed to the scene, crowding at the entrance and looking at this legendary young master with curiosity and awe.

Of course, a few people looked at him with suspicion when they saw how young he was.

"Gentlemen," Li Fu put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Zhang Fengyi and Jiao Qi, "what has caused such a commotion, disturbing the peace of the neighborhood?"

A person's name, a tree's shadow.

The two, who were just moments ago aggressive and unwilling to back down, have now toned down their arrogance considerably.

Zhang Fengyi clasped his hands in greeting, forcing a smile: "May I ask if you are the Dragon-Slaying Constable Li Fu? I am Zhang Fengyi from the Hangzhou Blue and White Porcelain Gang. I have long admired your name!"

Your exploits in the martial arts world are legendary, even in Hangzhou, I, Zhang, have heard of them!

Jiao Qi quickly followed suit, clasping his hands in a fist salute and saying in a gruff voice, "Same here!"

Jiao had long heard of Officer Li's extraordinary abilities when he traveled to Northeast China!

It is my great honor to meet you today!

The two greeted each other politely at first, but when the cause of the conflict was mentioned, their expressions changed immediately, and they blamed each other, neither willing to give an inch.

"Our Qinghua Gang is quite a prominent force in Hangzhou!"

I've always been the one to finish eating before anyone else can start eating.

Even outside of Hangzhou, after all these years of wandering the world, no one has ever dared to steal my food.

Zhang Fengyi's tone turned cold.

"Bullshit! What Green Flower Gang? I've never heard of it."

Jiao Qi slammed his fist on the table and roared, "I've traveled all over the country for twenty years, what kind of scene haven't I seen?"

So many fools dared to mess with me, and in the end they all ended up as stray dogs!

"Who do you think your Green Flower Gang is, daring to put on airs in front of me?"

Zhang Fengyi sneered, "Officer Li, you be the judge! I clearly ordered the braised beef first, so why should he get to eat it first?"

Jiao Qi roared, "I was here first, and I ordered the food as soon as I walked in."

You arrived right after me, why should I let you go first?

Don't you understand the concept of first come, first served?

"Jiao Qi, are you blinded by greed?"

I'm ordering, and you haven't even sat down yet!

"You're the one talking nonsense."

I've been drinking tea here for half an hour!

Are you blind?

The two became increasingly agitated as they talked, their faces turning red and their necks thickening, and it looked as if they were about to slam their fists on the table and start hurling insults at each other again.

Chen Tao and the other constables stared nervously, their palms sweating.

Li Fu found the scene quite amusing.

The two men each gave their own version of events, insisting that they ordered the food first.

Clearly, one of them must be lying.

It's not unusual for ordinary people to lie for the sake of words, but these two were both wealthy and powerful figures who made a fortune every day. They lied in public for a plate of braised beef worth twenty coins, and they wouldn't back down even a little...

This situation is rather intriguing.

Li Fu called the fat shopkeeper, who was huddled to one side, over and asked him a question.

"Manager, who ordered first? Does the kitchen have any records?"