The Martial Saint of the Defiled World

Tianjin Port is very large.

It encompasses both the neon lights of the concession and the bustling city life of the former imperial city.

The mighty Guhe River flows through the city, carrying goods and ambitions from the north and south day and night.

So many small figures, like Jiang Shaosheng and Hong Pu, have been swept up and down in this system, like a drop in the ocean.

Tianjin Port is also very small.

So small that you might think turning around means you're at the ends of the earth, but looking down you might just see an old friend again.

Old Yang's restaurant has a small storefront with only four square tables.

It was lunchtime, and two tables of customers were already seated in the restaurant. They were all laborers dressed in short clothes, slurping their noodles and chatting loudly about their experiences at the dock.

Jiang Shaosheng and Hong Pu had just stepped across the threshold when they paused.

Two familiar figures sat at the table against the inner wall.

An old man and a young man, both dressed as Taoist priests.

The old man was tall and thin, wearing a Taoist robe, with his hair in a bun and a wooden hairpin.

The youngest were no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, with tender faces and eyes that still held a hint of timidity and curiosity.

It was the same old and young Taoist priests who performed the ritual for Manager Wang, who had died a violent death, at Yongshou Hall that day.

The old Taoist priest had obviously seen them as well.

He was slowly picking up a piece of stir-fried bean sprouts with his chopsticks when his gaze swept over the doorway, and his hand paused slightly.

Immediately, he put down his chopsticks, a kind expression appeared on his face, and he bowed to Jiang Shaosheng and the other man in a Taoist salute.

"Young men, it's quite a coincidence that we've met again here."

The young Taoist priest quickly put down the half-eaten steamed bun in his hand and bowed in the manner of his master.

Jiang Shaosheng was also surprised, and returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Greetings, Daoist Master, it is indeed fate."

Hong Pu smiled in surprise: "Taoist Master, young Taoist Master, it really is you! This Jin Port isn't that big, but it's not that small either; we can even bump into each other while having a meal!"

The old Taoist priest smiled slightly and said, "My master and I have been traveling around and have no fixed abode. We are here to have some vegetarian food. If you two young brothers do not mind, please sit with us."

Jiang Shaosheng didn't want to disturb them, but seeing that there was only one empty table left in the shop and hearing the old Taoist's earnest words, he nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Taoist Master."

As he spoke, he and Hong Pu sat down on the two empty benches at the table.

The waiter was a lean young man who quickly came over, wiped the table in front of them with a rag, and asked what they wanted to eat.

Hong Pu cleared his throat: "Young man, bring me two of your signature dishes! Hmm, I saw the braised pork knuckle on the menu, that looks good, bring one. Also, make a hot pot of mutton, piping hot. And stir-fry some seasonal vegetables. As for the soup, make a tofu and fish head soup, the milky white kind!"

The dishes he ordered were all substantial and satisfying, showing his sincerity without being overly extravagant, which was very much in line with his style of treating his friends to a meal.

The dockworkers at the next table, upon hearing this, all cast slightly envious glances their way.

This meal wasn't cheap.

Jiang Shaosheng glanced at Hong Pu and said in a low voice, "We ordered too much; we can't finish it."

Hong Pu glared at him, his voice stubborn: "Why are you being so polite with me? We have to eat well today! That's all, buddy, hurry up and bring it on!"

The second half of the sentence was already spoken in a raised tone.

The waiter called out to the kitchen in a drawn-out tone, "Alright! One braised pork knuckle, one mutton hot pot, two kinds of seasonal vegetables, tofu and fish head soup, and two bowls of rice!"

The old Taoist priest seemed to have eaten most of the meal, and was only slowly sipping a cup of coarse tea while watching Jiang Shaosheng and his companion order food, a faint smile on his face.

The young Taoist priest secretly swallowed, glancing longingly towards the kitchen, his eyes lighting up especially when he heard "braised pork knuckle."

The old Taoist priest casually asked, "Where are you two young men working now?"

"I found a temporary job as a guard at a nearby warehouse to make a living."

Jiang Shaosheng replied.

The old Taoist priest smiled upon hearing this.

Just then, someone else walked in through the door.

As soon as Qian Mansheng entered, her bright, lively eyes quickly scanned the entire store.

The shop was filled with fumes and the sounds of people talking and dishes clattering; the environment was hardly elegant.

However, this restaurant is famous, and since we're here to eat, the taste is of course the most important thing.

"Sister Jing Shu, look!"

She tugged at Cui Jingshu's sleeve.

"They were the two people who gave money on the street just now! And two Taoist priests too."

Cui Jingshu said softly to Qian Mansheng, "It is indeed a coincidence."

There happened to be an empty table in the store, diagonally opposite Jiang Shaosheng's table.

The waiter eagerly approached them: "Ladies, please come in! What would you like to eat?"

Qian Mansheng looked at the slightly greasy bench and hesitated.

Cui Jingshu, however, had already sat down calmly and said gently to the waiter, "Excuse me, sir, could you please wipe the table again? We'll just have a bowl of three-delicacy noodles, a bowl of vegetarian noodles, and a plate of pickles."

Her voice was gentle and clear, and her demeanor was composed, making her seem out of place in this noisy and greasy little restaurant.

The young waiter was somewhat flustered by the polite and gentle attitude of this young lady from a wealthy family. He responded repeatedly and vigorously wiped the table.

The commotion naturally attracted the attention of the people at the next table.

Hong Pu was sitting directly facing the door, and he immediately spotted the two girls, especially Qian Mansheng, who was wearing a pale yellow dress and had a pretty face.

His eyes widened immediately, and he nudged Jiang Shaosheng under the table with his foot, winking and whispering, "Shaosheng, look!"

Jiang Shaosheng had actually seen them when they entered the room.

It's no wonder Hongpu was so surprised. After all, there was no internet or cell phones here. In all his years, the women he had seen on the street were mostly dressed in coarse clothes and struggling to make a living. He had never seen such a bright and lively young lady from a wealthy family.

Moreover, these two girls are indeed very attractive.

At this point, the dishes Hongpu ordered began to be served one after another.

The braised pork belly was glistening and fragrant, the roasted chicken had crispy skin and tender meat, and the cold noodles were crystal clear. The table was full of steaming hot dishes, which made the little Taoist priest unable to resist taking a sneak peek.

"Taoist Master, young Taoist Master, would you like to eat some more?"

Hongpu greeted them warmly.

"There's so much food, the two of us can't possibly finish it!"

The old Taoist priest smiled slightly and shook his head, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, young brother. My master and I are already satisfied."

The young Taoist priest was somewhat envious, but seeing his master decline, he quickly lowered his head as well.

Just then, a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties strolled in.

This person was of medium height and rather thin. He wore a long silk robe and his hair was neatly combed and tied into a small bun at the back of his head, secured with a smooth bamboo hairpin.

This was a common hairstyle for scholars in the previous dynasty, but it is rarely seen nowadays.

He had a slightly yellowish complexion, high cheekbones, a neatly trimmed goatee, and round-framed brass-framed glasses perched on his nose.

His gaze swept over the Taoist priests and young people at Jiang Shaosheng's table, without lingering for long.

But when his gaze fell on Cui Jingshu and Qian Mansheng, he paused for a moment, especially on Cui Jingshu's elegant cheongsam and gentle demeanor.

A hint of approval, as if praising the child for retaining ancient virtues, seemed to flash in his eyes, but he quickly reverted to his aloof and indifferent demeanor.

After finishing with Cui Jingshu's table, the waiter greeted him as he entered, saying, "Please come in, sir."

The middle-aged man didn't respond, only nodding reservedly, his gaze sweeping around the store, seemingly unable to find anything that satisfied him.

In the end, he chose a seat by the window.

He walked to the table, first pulling out a slightly worn gray handkerchief from his sleeve, and carefully wiping the already clean bench before slowly sitting down.

"What kind of quieter food do you offer?"

He asked the question, his voice carrying a slightly scholarly tone.

The waiter paused for a moment, then scratched his head: "Quiet? Sir, this is just a small restaurant; the dishes are all stir-fried with lots of oil and heat until they're fragrant. If you want something lighter, we have stir-fried seasonal vegetables, tofu soup, and mixed shredded vegetables..."

"That's enough."

The middle-aged man waved his hand impatiently, interrupting the young waiter.

"Then bring a dish of mixed shredded vegetables, a bowl of tofu soup, and a bowl of white rice. The rice must be freshly steamed, not leftover rice. The tofu soup must be smooth and tender, without any beany smell. The mixed shredded vegetables should be cut evenly, with just a little sesame oil, not too greasy."

His request left the young waiter somewhat bewildered, and he could only nod repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I understand, sir. Shredded vegetables, tofu soup, and white rice."

After the young waiter turned to go to the kitchen, the middle-aged man took off his glasses and wiped them with a clean, soft white cloth.

The laughter and chatter of the dockworkers at the next table grew louder again.

The middle-aged man's brows furrowed even more deeply.

He finally couldn't hold back any longer and let out a very soft, short snort from his nose, clearly conveying his disdain and impatience:

"Slang and vulgarity are utterly incessant, a sign of moral decay and a complete loss of civility. If this were in the previous dynasty, humph!"