After a night of rain, when the sun rose, water vapor steamed up from the ground, causing the temperature to suddenly spike. The entire atmosphere carried a sticky, humid feeling.
The heat made people irritable, and the shopkeepers along the official street couldn’t help but curse. In such stuffy weather, most people preferred to stay at home, naturally affecting the merchants’ business.
Of course, the only thriving business was the old woman’s mung bean soup stall by the street. Everyone who passed by couldn’t resist ordering a bowl – one bowl of mung bean soup would ease the burning sensation in their hearts.
“Old mother, five bowls of mung bean soup,” called out a voice with a heavy accent.
People looked over to see several men wearing Japanese clothing. The one in front was particularly familiar to the people of the official street lately – none other than Ren Jiying Song.
“All out,” the old woman lifted her eyes, giving Ren Jiying Song’s group a cold glance before muttering irritably.
The official street area had the most ink shops, including many ink pavilions. Ren Jiying Song had been going from shop to shop challenging people lately, making himself thoroughly despised in the area.
Hearing the old woman’s words, one of the ronin’s eyes bulged with anger. He pointed his Japanese sword at the old woman, then at the pot of mung bean soup, babbling in Japanese.
“Murder! The Japanese are killing people!” The old woman, being a simple and honest sort, immediately screamed when the ronin pointed his sword at her. Her voice was like that of a slaughtered pig, causing the entire official street to boil with tension.
Recently, due to Ren Jiying Song’s constant challenges to the ink shops, everyone in the official street area had been harboring resentment. However, since Ren Jiying Song relied on legitimate skill in his challenges, everyone could only swallow their anger, despite their frustration. They had no choice but to accept it.
But now, with the old woman’s scream, people’s anger surged upward. Immediately, some grabbed sticks, some grabbed knives, others grabbed door bolts, and still others picked up bricks and benches – their weapons were of all varieties.
Then with a rushing sound, everyone surrounded them.
Zhen Niang was in the ink shop at this time. Hearing the old woman’s sharp cry, she understood in her heart that someone had come to seek trouble, though she didn’t know why these Japanese had provoked the old woman. Thinking this, she followed the crowd outside.
When she reached the old woman’s stall, she saw Luo Wenqian rolling up his sleeves, arms crossed over his chest, appearing completely at ease. However, his eyes were coldly glaring at the ronin. He had been eating mung bean soup at the old woman’s stall earlier. The old woman was alone and elderly – encountering such a situation, Luo Wenqian couldn’t possibly ignore it. Therefore, he now stood ready, his stance suggesting that if the ronin dared to take another step forward, blood would spray five steps.
Zhen Niang watched anxiously but understood that at such a moment, they couldn’t show weakness. Therefore, she only pressed her lips together, clenched her fists, and stared intently at Luo Wenqian, afraid something might happen to him. Seeing that Luo Wenqian was empty-handed while the Japanese held weapons, how could this work?
Zhen Niang immediately returned to the house and found a Shizhou military sword from Li Jingfu’s room – this was what Luo Wenqian had given to Li Jingfu previously.
“Brother Luo, catch!” Zhen Niang ran back and threw the sword to Luo Wenqian. After catching it, his expression became even more relaxed and composed. Though he wasn’t from a military background, during his time at the mines, what kind of fights hadn’t he been in? Moreover, when he first cooperated with Commander Qi, he received his guidance.
At this moment, though his expression was calm and composed, it also carried an underlying sharp edge, somewhat reminiscent of a warrior ready for battle. His bearing caused the ronin’s expression to become serious as well.
One can generally gauge a person’s skill by their stance. Thus, the ronin immediately gripped his sword with both hands, assuming an offensive position.
Luo Wenqian now also wore a serious expression. Having long associated with Commander Qi and the Qi family army, he knew something about the abilities of the Japanese and these ronin. These warrior ronin weren’t much of a threat in actual warfare, but in one-on-one combat, they were indeed troublesome.
At this moment, it was better to strike first, and the ronin thought the same. Thus, almost simultaneously, their blades clashed in the air. With a sharp “clang,” Luo Wenqian’s sword broke, causing the surrounding crowd to cry out in alarm.
By now, Zhen Niang’s palms were sweating with fear.
However, Luo Wenqian showed no panic. Managing the Qi family army’s business, he understood military swords well. The Japanese katanas were exceptionally well-made, and due to their length, the Qi family army’s swords were often broken by Japanese blades when confronting them. Therefore, when his sword broke, Luo Wenqian wasn’t too surprised.
When it came to fighting, he was no pushover – “Northern Luo Nine” was a renowned name.
He immediately rolled on the ground, using his body to knock the ronin flying.
The crowd immediately erupted in cheers. Zhen Niang’s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled somewhat.
Meanwhile, the ronin quickly got up, his face ashen with anger, pointing his sword directly at Luo Wenqian.
Luo Wenqian stood with his arms crossed, still maintaining that casual air while watching the ronin, but the cold look in his eyes made several Japanese nervous.
At this moment, five or six people rushed out from the Yihou Sheng Money Shop – they were Yihou Sheng’s guards. Some were elderly, some missing arms or legs, but these men were retired from the Qi family army. Though usually unremarkable, when they gathered now, they exuded a bloody aura. None spoke, just coldly staring at the Japanese.
This development made the entire situation even more tense, with the potential for everything to explode at the slightest provocation.
Seeing this situation, Ren Jiying Song’s expression changed. The reason he dared to challenge people’s ink skills in the Great Ming was based on the Ming dynasty’s policy of benevolent education toward foreign countries, emphasizing the manner of a great nation and winning people over with virtue.
Therefore, during ink competitions, even if his attitude was arrogant, as long as he won fairly with real skill, the Ming court couldn’t do anything to him. They had to maintain diplomatic courtesy and couldn’t slight them in the slightest.
But he understood in his heart that if things escalated now, they might be treated as Japanese pirates by the Ming people. He knew well the Ming court’s hatred for Japanese pirates. At that point, forget about the Ming people – even the diplomatic mission might sacrifice them to appease the Ming court’s anger.
He only regretted that the ronin had moved against Luo Wenqian too quickly earlier before he could stop it. Now, how could he watch the situation continue to develop?
Thinking of this, Ren Jiying Song stepped forward, raised his hand, and delivered a heavy slap to the ronin’s face, then berated him angrily in Japanese.
The ronin, though slapped, dared not move, just nodding repeatedly and responding submissively.
“Everyone, we are friendly. We just wanted to buy some mung bean soup. The weather is too hot. We had no other intention – this was all a misunderstanding.” Then Ren Jiying Song bowed to the old woman in apology.
Seeing this, people knew the Japanese had backed down. Though everyone wanted to grab them and give them a beating, Ren Jiying Song was still a member of the diplomatic mission. Nobody was sure if they could do anything to them.
Luo Wenqian gave Ren Jiying Song another look: “Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, I don’t care. The point is, today you pointed weapons at our citizens, so we will report this to the court. Let the court decide then.”
Luo Wenqian then waved to the crowd, saying, “Alright, it’s hot – everyone goes find some shade.” He then said to the old woman, “Granny Lu, if they want to buy mung bean soup, sell it to them. Better than having them get heat stroke and find an excuse to avoid responsibility.”
Hearing Luo Wenqian’s words, the crowd burst into laughter: “That’s right, Mother Lu, sell it to them.”
Of course, though people said this, by now Ren Jiying Song and his group had no mood left for mung bean soup. Even looking at the soup on the small stall now made him feel sick like he had swallowed a fly. He had lost face today, and now he desperately wanted to turn this situation around.
Thinking of this, seeing the Li family ink shop’s sign nearby, he decided to start with the Li family ink shop today to regain face, to show the Ming people Japanese skills.
This thought made him feel somewhat better.
Meanwhile, Zhen Niang hurried to Luo Wenqian’s side, her eyes full of concern. Luo Wenqian smiled and secretly squeezed her hand, and they shared a smile, feeling how perfectly life fit together.
At this moment, Luo Wenqian narrowed his eyes.
“What is it?” Zhen Niang asked curiously.
“Ren Jiying Song’s group is headed for the Li family ink shop,” Luo Wenqian said, watching the backs of Ren Jiying Song’s group as they entered the Li family shop.
“Don’t worry, just watch the show,” Zhen Niang said with a smile.
“Oh?” Hearing Zhen Niang’s words, Luo Wenqian understood that she must have been prepared for Ren Jiying Song’s group, and his curiosity was piqued: “Let’s go, let’s go see.”
“Alright then,” Zhen Niang lifted her chin with a hint of pride.
Then the two walked side by side into the Li family ink shop.
In the Li family ink shop now, Zheng Fuli was receiving Ren Jiying Song’s group.
“Is your shop’s manager here?” Ren Jiying Song asked Zheng Fuli. Though his Chinese was heavily accented, it was quite fluent, showing that Ren Jiying Song had studied Chinese somewhat.
“I am the shop’s manager,” said Zheng Fuli. He had always been the manager who dealt with outsiders, so this wasn’t wrong.
“No, no, no, I want to find the manager who participated in the Huizhou tribute ink selection,” Ren Jiying Song had inquired quite a bit about the Li family’s affairs and naturally knew that the Li family’s true manager now was a Miss Zhen, who was reportedly the Princess Manor’s ink supplier and also his future ink competition opponent.
He came to challenge, naturally wanting to challenge this Miss Zhen. This way, he could also probe her abilities for the ink competition a few days later.