“Truly a lapdog!”

Zhao Qing sneered.

Upon hearing this, Lang Bo’s eyes turned red with fury. Without a word, he drew his sword and aimed it at Zhao Qing!

But Zhao Qing’s skills were exceptionally good. He accurately avoided the sword thrust directed at him, clenching his fists while not forgetting to counterattack.

The two began fighting!

Those bandits knew their Second Chief was formidable and weren’t worried at all. Instead, they made a ruckus on the sidelines, shouting noisily.

Those who pounded tables pounded tables!

Those who drank wine and watched the spectacle watched!

Those who stabbed the ground with their blades stabbed!

All kinds of sounds!

During this commotion on the ground floor, Da Chui and Tie San, who had been hiding on the second floor, took advantage of the chaos and slipped downstairs.

Tie San pulled at Da Chui and asked, “Da Chui, the Second Chief’s people are fighting.”

“I know. Let’s escape quickly and go back to find the First Chief. Have the First Chief avenge us.”

“Yes, they killed so many of our people. This revenge must be taken. Hopefully the Second Chief will kill them all and save us the trouble.”

“Nonsense! This is Gaoshan Stronghold’s revenge. If it’s to be avenged, we must do it ourselves.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

The two crouched forward. Taking advantage of no one noticing, they slipped out of the inn!

Meanwhile—

Zhao Qing and Lang Bo were fighting fiercely!

But Zhao Qing was obviously much more robust than Lang Bo and much more ruthless in his movements.

After several dozen moves, Lang Bo was at a disadvantage. When his sword thrust forward, his wrist was struck hard by a force. He immediately lost his strength, and the sword in his hand was seized by Zhao Qing.

Before Lang Bo could even react, the sword was already pressed against his own neck.

Seeing this, the guards behind him immediately drew their swords and advanced.

Zhao Qing lifted the sword slightly at Lang Bo’s neck. Those eyes carrying malevolence yet appearing lazy were vaguely hidden beneath scattered strands of hair.

He said in a deep voice, “Dare to make a move and I’ll kill him!”

The several guards could only stand in place, sheathing their drawn swords back into their scabbards.

Zhao Qing then said to Lang Bo, “If you want to live, take your people and get lost immediately. I can’t stand lapdogs like you the most!”

Lang Bo was also defiant, stubbornly resolute.

“If you want to kill me, then go ahead.”

“You think I don’t dare?”

“What wouldn’t you mountain bandits dare to do? But the court will send people to suppress you sooner or later.”

Lang Bo’s words immediately drew a round of loud laughter from everyone.

Clearly, they weren’t afraid of the court at all.

Zhao Qing sneered coldly with contempt. “The court doesn’t care about this place. Here, I am king.”

Suddenly—

“King?”

A man’s deep, resonant voice came from the second-floor staircase.

Everyone shifted their gazes over!

Jingrong had already approached, those icy cold eyes freezing everything within three feet, his brocade robe made of the finest silk seeming to carry wind with it!

The surrounding people looked at each other. Where did this fellow come from?

Zhao Qing met his gaze, and invisibly, they silently competed in intensity.

The next moment, Jingrong extended his index and middle fingers, lifted the sword at Lang Bo’s neck, and under everyone’s watchful eyes, flicked it away.

It seemed like insufficient force, but Zhao Qing’s palm clearly felt a surge of power from his opponent. His hand loosened, and the sword was naturally flicked high into the air by Jingrong.

The sword rotated 180 degrees in the air, the hilt turning to face Lang Bo, who reached out and grasped it.

“Stand down.” Jingrong spoke.

Lang Bo then took his sword and withdrew to the side.

Zhao Qing and Jingrong stood facing each other!

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Jingrong said, “In this world, the one who can be called king is the current Emperor Qizhen on the throne, not you.”

“…” Zhao Qing was speechless.

“Shanhuai County is not far from the capital. The court’s failure to dispatch people to suppress bandits is not because they don’t care or are afraid, but because this place is at a strategic pass. Once something goes wrong here, it will affect the people of both the capital and the areas surrounding Shanhuai County. But if you harm my people today, I guarantee none of you will make it out.”

If someone else had said these words, they would surely have drawn contempt. But when Jingrong said them, it was different.

Zhao Qing looked at him with scrutinizing eyes and said, “I don’t understand those flowery scholarly words. What Great Lin, what rule of law—here, none of that matters.”

“I’m giving you a quarter hour to leave this place and stop disturbing others’ peace.”

“And what if I don’t leave?”

Most arrogant!

Jingrong was calm and unhurried. He glanced around, then asked, “Gaoshan Stronghold has a First Chief and Second Chief, divided into two factions. The First Chief’s people should outnumber your Second Chief’s people several times over, right?”

Hm?

“What are you trying to say?”

“Today, your Gaoshan Stronghold’s First Chief sent people to rob travelers of their money. Near the official road, about thirty or forty people died, didn’t they?”

Ugh!

Jingrong deliberately brought it up.

Zhao Qing wasn’t a fool. Of course he understood his meaning.

“So it was you who killed those people.”

“That’s correct. So if I were you, I’d immediately take my people and leave, to avoid ending up with the same fate as those people.”

Zhao Qing narrowed his eyes.

After pondering for a moment, he laughed. “Are you threatening me?”

“That depends on how you interpret it.”

Zhao Qing laughed while tilting his head back, retreating a few steps. He picked up a bowl of wine from the table and took a large gulp.

Immediately after, he forcefully smashed the empty bowl onto the ground.

Bang—

He sighed with contempt. “I never imagined that in just one year’s time, those people of Gaoshan Stronghold that Zhao Huai leads couldn’t even handle lapdogs like you. Thirty or forty people, all killed by you. What a bunch of good-for-nothings.”

Jingrong stared at him.

Zhao Qing snorted arrogantly, pointing at himself with his finger, tilting his head, and beginning to provoke.

He said, “However, my people are not cowards. This place is mine. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you. But now… I’m afraid you can’t leave either.”

Jingrong spoke. “I gave you a chance.”

“It’s I who gave you a chance.”

Both groups began to stir restlessly!

At this moment upstairs, Ji Yunshu pushed open her door and saw what was happening below.

If this continued, the inn would inevitably be engulfed in another storm of bloodshed.

Just then, the innkeeper and waiter hid on the second floor.

“You two, come here.” Ji Yunshu said.

Hearing the summons, the innkeeper quickly tiptoed over.

“What are your orders, young master?”

“Who are those people?”

“Young master, please don’t ask. You should go back inside quickly.” His voice was very low, as if afraid the people below would hear.

Ji Yunshu insisted. “Who exactly are they?”

The innkeeper sighed, becoming worried and distressed. “Those people are mountain bandits, the infamous tyrants of this area. Over these years, many traveling merchants have been robbed by them. Although this place connects to the official road, they’re still so brazen. My inn has become a place to supply them with food and drink. They come every few days. Over time, my inn’s business has declined significantly. If this continues, my whole family won’t know how to survive.”

Helpless!