Daily life of a teacher in the martial arts department

But that one glance really caused him trouble. Although Hishimura Tan's wife was always smiling, her temper was... well, it could be said that it was much worse than Ying Qin Guan's.

He took a step and walked towards the pawnshop. His superhuman hearing came into play, allowing him to hear the conversations of the people inside.

It was a gentle female voice tinged with anger; one could tell she was trying her best to make her voice more intimidating, but she had clearly failed.

"They want another deposit... Didn't we just pay that two weeks ago? Why do we have to pay again now?"

"Security fee" has different names in different places, but it can be simply summarized in three words: protection fee.

The situation on Huanxing Plain is unique; there are no regular troops there, so theoretically, protection is indeed necessary. But the biggest joke in the world is that the people who collect protection money from you will actually protect you.

The so-called protection fee doesn't mean "I will protect you," but rather "If you don't pay, we'll see if you can protect yourself."

This "stabilizing gold" is naturally something like this, though nominally... that's how it should be called.

"You, surnamed Fu, that's utter bullshit! My brothers have been smoothing over countless troubles for you these past two weeks. Do you think you're enjoying this peaceful life now because of our silent sacrifices behind the scenes? Now that one of my brothers has lost an arm and a leg, is asking for some peace money too much? If you don't agree, fine, we'll leave now. But what if some thieves come along and cause trouble for you, Miss Fu..."

“That’s a serious offense.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Not a Single One Left for You

This was obviously a threat. The burly man's meaning was clear: I can leave, but if I turn around and pull a stocking over my head and come back, who knows what we'll do then.

When it comes to eating, everyone wants to be civilized, but if you don't let me be civilized, then I'll just have to be uncivilized.

...Although they weren't exactly civilized to begin with.

The woman addressed as Miss Fu was a young woman dressed in blue, with a distinctly Jiangnan appearance—gentle and quiet, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Behind her were two others: an accountant bent over almost to the ground, and a cook, sweating profusely, who rushed out wielding a rolling pin, then shoved it behind his back upon seeing them. The only one standing with her was a boy of sixteen or seventeen, glaring fiercely at the woman opposite them. But judging from his slightly trembling legs, his courage was disproportionate to his ability.

"Hey, you surnamed Fu!" a henchman shouted from behind the burly man, "What's your decision?"

Miss Fu pursed her lips slightly and said in a low voice, "I won't give it to you... If I give it to you today, it will be the beginning. Now you can come once every half month, and later it will be once every seven days, three days or even once a day. How can my small family business withstand such a turmoil?"

"That's right!" the boy, though frightened, still chimed in, "No way!"

Although these words were a refusal, the burly man, having been in this line of work for so many years, immediately sensed that the other party's attitude had softened. He was overjoyed and was about to continue to apply pressure to force the other party to compromise when a strange voice came from behind him.

"I think it would be best to pay this money."

Everyone looked over at the sound and saw Himura Tanzaku, dressed in a cherry blossom-colored ronin outfit, walk in. His words were also very strange. Normally, a capable person would come here and be a hero to save the damsel in distress. Why would someone come here and say such things? Even if he was acting as a lackey, it was a bit too forced.

Himura Tanzaku walked in slowly. The burly man had suspected that this person was not someone to be trifled with, and seeing him approach now only confirmed his earlier guess. As for what the other party said, a seasoned veteran like him naturally wouldn't take it seriously.

He was a seasoned veteran, and he sensed something was amiss, but the young man on the other side was a greenhorn, easily swayed by rumors and believing everything he heard. He genuinely thought that Hishimura had come to help the burly man's group, and he cursed, "Pah! Shameless pretty boy! Licking other people's stinky feet, aren't you afraid of being suffocated by the stench!"

"Shut up!" The cook was so frightened that he dropped the rolling pin and hurriedly covered the boy's mouth. Although he didn't know what Himura was trying to do, the fact that he came out at this time and in this manner meant that his words were obviously not as simple as they sounded.

The burly man narrowed his eyes... In terms of skill level, he wasn't even a third-rate martial artist. Martial artists of that level didn't even have the qualifications to judge an opponent's level by observing and sensing internal energy fluctuations. Therefore, he could only judge from experience that Hishimura Tan's Sakura was not someone to be trifled with.

But his perspective was too narrow. Hishimura Tanzaku was a million times more difficult to deal with than he had imagined; otherwise, he wouldn't be reacting this way.

The burly man's mind raced. Just as he was about to test Himura Tan's words, the other woman casually uttered the second half of her sentence, instantly sealing the entire matter.

"Because of you, I really will have to break my arms and legs."

Broken arms and legs?

How could that be? That was just an excuse the burly man used to ask for money, just like a college student who used up all his living expenses to support his girlfriend and then said he was injured in a fall. It was just an excuse, but your parents suddenly said that to you in a low voice.

You are indeed going to get hurt.

What do you mean?

It means...

Swah——

A cherry blossom-colored tornado flashed by, like the spring breeze of early April, telling you that Grain Rain had arrived. Cherry blossoms filled the sky. A man dressed in a cherry blossom-colored ronin outfit stood under the cherry blossom tree, turned around, drew his sword, and said softly:

"Nine Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Himura Tan Sakura, please enlighten me."

fast!

too fast!

Of everyone present, not a single person could see Himura Tan's movements clearly... No, to say they 'saw' them would be giving them too much credit. They simply didn't 'see' what Himura Tan did. In the blink of an eye, the next second, the burly man's tall body suddenly knelt down, his knees hitting the ground with a dull, heavy thud.

Before anyone could recall what had happened, Hisumura Tan's leisurely voice rang out, and the burly man knelt down in front of him. He smiled, his posture was natural, and he bent down slightly, supporting himself on his knees with his hands. Even so, he was still looking down at the burly man.

The previous words were not a 'prophecy,' but a 'declaration.' They were not 'I know what you will do next,' but 'What I will do to you next.'

This is the true meaning of the strong taking control of their destiny.

"what!"

This turn of events was sudden; Hishimura Tan's movements were so fast that in the blink of an eye, the burly man was forced to kneel before him. Many people in the audience were caught off guard and instinctively gasped in surprise before realizing...

They've run into a brick wall!

The accountant secretly straightened his back, revealing a righteous and awe-inspiring expression. The cook pondered for a moment, then picked up the rolling pin, stepped forward, and adopted an air of self-righteousness, as if to choose between life and righteousness, he would sacrifice life for righteousness.

It's clear they're in high spirits, but people's joys and sorrows aren't always shared. The henchmen behind the burly man aren't happy at all; in fact, they want to run away. This shows that to succeed in this line of work and live a long life, one must master the four ways teammates sell themselves.

The exclamation just now came from Miss Fu, and it was clear that Hiyomaru Tan's move had also surprised her.

"Shenzhou-9, what should we do?"

Himura Tanzakura let out a soft cry, and Shinku, dressed in a black kimono, walked in with a calm expression. She closed her eyes, but "looked" at the burly man, and then said, "Death penalty, can be escaped, punishment is unavoidable."

Shenzhou-9 can see the 'past,' 'present,' and 'future.' When she said this, she wasn't just doing whatever she wanted, but seriously judging the strong man's due guilt.

"Oh..." Hisumura Tanzakura chuckled lightly, and with a casual flick of her wrist, she pulled a dagger from the burly man's waist. She said gently, "There's no government here, so I'll take care of it for you. You heard me? You're out of luck today. Hand tendon, leg tendon, you choose."

The burly man was a seasoned veteran. Although he wasn't even a third-rate martial arts fighter, he knew that experience and strength weren't necessarily linked. Knowing he'd met his match, he gritted his teeth and said, "I've met a true hero today. Chen Da of the Sea Sand Gang admits defeat. Hands and feet are what we make of a living..."

Before he could finish speaking, two flashes of light appeared, and a chill ran through his hands and feet. Surprisingly, he felt no pain at first. But he quickly realized... his tendons had been severed.

"Just kidding." Amidst the screams of pain from the other person who had regained their senses, Himura Tanzaku tossed the dagger back and smiled.

"I won't leave you a single one."

Chapter Thirty: Reunion

Under the orders of Himura Tan's command, those underlings dragged away their boss... but it'll probably be gone soon.

Some people are alive, yet they are already dead; some people are dead, and then they are truly dead.

"Um, I'm sorry about earlier."

After Hiyomura Danzai finished her actions, the first person to speak was surprisingly the boy. He seemed a little awkward and stammered, finding the difference in Hiyomura Danzai's behavior before and after his actions quite difficult to accept. However, he realized he had done something wrong and honestly apologized.

“Courage is a good thing, but it should never be wasted on trivial matters.” Hisumura Tanzakura chuckled lightly, unconcerned.

Miss Fu regained her senses, and some of the worry on her face dissipated. She said, "I am very grateful for your righteous help, but the Hai Sha Gang is powerful, and this is not a wise move. I don't think you two are locals. If you have nothing to hold you back, you should leave as soon as possible."

Before Hiyomura Tan's reaction could come, the accountant suddenly became anxious and interrupted, "Miss, you're mistaken. I think this young hero is truly a dragon among men. The mere Hai Sha Gang is nothing to mention. Besides, he just helped us. How can you ask him to leave so soon after such a great favor? May I ask your honorable name, young hero?"

Himura Tan's smile was ambiguous; she knew the other party was also afraid that she would leave. As the saying goes, "to eradicate evil completely," and that's the principle. This Miss Fu is quite honest; she didn't even ask for his name, which is not a good quality for a businessman.

"Himura Tan's." Himura Tan's was also quite blunt, not even bothering to say "My surname is Himura." He paused for a moment and then said, "This matter is not a problem, but my presence here today is no accident. This pawnshop seems to be newly opened. Where did you get this land?"

The question came out of nowhere and had nothing to do with the previous topic, leaving people wondering about Himura Tan's purpose. This was one of Himura Tan's favorite rhythms.

Although she didn't know why Hiyomaru Tan's wife asked that question, Miss Fu still answered honestly: "We fled here from Nan Qin more than a year ago. We used to run a pawn shop, and after arriving here, we had no choice but to go back to our old ways. So we bought this land from the Hai Sha Gang... There used to be a teahouse on this land, but it had been abandoned for a long time and we demolished it."

It used to be a teahouse.

Himura Tanzaku turned her head slightly to look at Shinku. The other party's ancestral home had really changed hands eighteen times. Who knows what this teahouse was before.

He didn't intend to reveal that this place had once been the ancestral home of Shin-Kyu; the original house had already been demolished, and the place held no commemorative significance whatsoever. As for the intrinsic value of the land, Himura didn't care.

"It seems that the Hai Sha Gang is a powerful local force."

Himura Tanzaku chuckled and asked, "Where is their headquarters?"

This question surprised the others in the pawnshop. Normally, if you want to deal with this gang, you should take it slowly. Even if you are very confident, you should at least ask how many people they have, who their leader is, what experts they have, and whether they have any powerful backers. But when Hishimura Tanzakura spoke, she asked, "Where is the headquarters?"

Why are you asking this?

This was confidence bordering on blind confidence, even considering the astonishing fighting prowess that Hishimura Tan's previous display had displayed. However, the people present were merely ordinary individuals, unable to discern the hidden depths within, and simply regarding Hishimura Tan's skill as a common martial arts expert. Miss Fu immediately spoke up, advising, "I appreciate your kindness, sir, but this matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration..."

Himura Tan's head tilted slightly. "I'll handle this matter now that I have the time. There's really no need to discuss it at length."

He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I came here to wait for someone. They haven't arrived yet, so I have some time to take care of some chores. Once they arrive, I won't have this free time."

"I'll lead the way for you!" Miss Fu hesitated, but the young man volunteered. He had misspoke earlier, and now that he saw a chance to make amends, he spoke up, "I know where the headquarters of the Sea Sand Gang is. I'll take you there!"

Himura Tanzaku nodded and said, "Then Shen-9... you wait for them here, I'll go take a trip."

Shenzhou-9 had no objections and calmly said, "Yes, be careful."

"Oh.."

Himura chuckled softly and followed the boy away.

After Hisumura left, Kamiku chose a spot and sat there quietly.

Miss Fu hesitated for a moment, dismissed the accountant and the cook, sat down next to Shen Jiu, and said softly, "Is your name Shen Jiu? What an elegant name."

As she spoke, she poured Shenzhou-9 a cup of tea, lightly touched the cup to feel its temperature, and said, "It's a little cold, please don't mind."

Shenzhou-9 shook its head and said, "I won't drink."

Miss Fu did not press the matter. She said softly, "My surname is Fu, and my given name is Hanwen. Thank you both for today's matter. However, the Hai Sha Gang is very powerful, with hundreds of thugs under its command. I am just a young lady and do not know martial arts. Will Mr. Feicun be in danger on his way?"

"Normally, no." Shenzhou-9's reply reassured Fu Hanwen somewhat.

"The Sea Sand Gang has been oppressing the people in this area for a long time. Their encounter with Mr. Hishimura today is their retribution..."

Shenzhou-9 did not respond, but suddenly raised its head and looked towards the door.

Her inexplicable action also prompted Fu Hanwen to look towards the door, wanting to know what Shenzhou-9 was looking at.

Two seconds later, footsteps sounded, getting closer and closer, and then two men and a woman entered the pawnshop.

The only woman was short and petite, dressed in clothes similar to Shenzhou-648. The two looked remarkably alike, except that the woman had a more ethereal quality, fair skin, long black hair as smooth as silk, and exquisite features that made her look like a goddess.

The other person was dressed in a black and white chivalrous outfit, with exquisitely crafted black boots with gold trim. A gold-plated corset cinched his waist, highlighting a perfect waistline that would make even K-pop girl groups envious. He had long green hair tied in a high ponytail, giving him a heroic and extraordinary appearance.

The last person... had a listless expression, staring with dead fish eyes that seemed to suggest someone who owned eighteen properties in first-tier cities waiting to collect rent and had lost all will to strive. Although he was good-looking, he lacked any spirit or energy, which greatly diminished his overall demeanor.

When Fu Hanwen saw the last person, she felt he looked very familiar. But after a moment's thought, she couldn't quite place him. She felt she must have seen him before, but only briefly, otherwise she wouldn't have forgotten.

Just as she was struggling to recall, the man looked at her, a look of reminiscence on his face.