Peace Order
Chapter 272 - 127: Repay Kindness, Seek Revenge_2

Chapter 272: Chapter 127: Repay Kindness, Seek Revenge_2

It seemed as though he had been severely beaten; his nose was swollen and his bruises had not yet faded.

Nevertheless, he proudly carried himself with a lifted chin, displaying a certain self-pride and arrogance.

It was the young civil servant, the Vice Minister’s son, Yan Daiqing, who was involved in the brawl with Li Guanyi at Changfeng Building, or more accurately, who was unilaterally beaten up. The people around must have also been sons from civil servant aristocratic families.

The aristocratic sons looking at Li Guanyi chuckled and said, "Ah, isn’t this Colonel Li Guanyi in his crimson robe? A military advisor below the eighth rank, why are you dressed in plain clothes today?"

"Where is your crimson robe?"

"Where is your white jade belt?"

They teased him with a tone of lightness as if they delighted in the young man’s difficulties.

They felt as if they themselves had won.

Yan Daiqing said, "Alright, let’s go to the banquet."

As a Vice Minister, Yan Daiqing held some prestige among these sons of civil servants, so after chuckling for a while, they left. Yan Daiqing was the last to leave on horseback, gripping the reins tightly even as he rode away.

The very intelligent horse slowed its pace.

Li Guanyi raised his eyes, suddenly hearing Yan Daiqing on horseback ahead, saying:

"You, that was truly foolish!"

"A ’thousand gold’ body should not sit idle in the hall. Do you not know to come back to seek help?"

"It is simply foolish, as dumb as an ox! Hmph!"

Li Guanyi was surprised. This young man of revered status pursed his lips, took off his sword, and threw it in front of Li Guanyi. Li Guanyi caught the sword with his hand, immediately sensing that it wasn’t an ordinary blade, but indeed a weapon-level sword. Even after having been beaten until his face was swollen and bruised, Yan Daiqing maintained his arrogance:

"I have heard your poetry, you are a swordsman."

"It has been said, ’Whoever faces injustice, a gentleman must not be without a sword.’"

"Before your sword is returned to you, consider this one on loan."

"Next time we meet, we are still adversaries on both the literary and martial fronts. Last time you guys ambushed me, repeatedly hitting me with a stool, I intend to repay that."

He hesitated, clearly feeling the tension and unfamiliarity between the civil and martial paths while gripping the reins tightly, and then softly said:

"Well done."

He squeezed his legs against the horse, which picked up speed and galloped ahead. The sons of civil servant families continued laughing together. Had anyone noticed that Yan Daiqing’s sword was missing? Yan Daiqing merely said, "It’s lost."

"Ah? Wasn’t that sword a rare weapon? You should retrieve it."

"No need, it might be better off where it is now than in my hand."

Li Guanyi gripped the sword, raising an eyebrow.

The sword blade was long, the scabbard made of sharkskin, the hilt inlaid with a piece of white jade. His finger against the hilt, the blade sprung forward, chilling with a cold, sharp essence; the blade itself was smooth and carved with an inscription.

[A gentleman is like jade, firm but not sharp, gentle yet resolute]

It was a weapon-grade blade, perfectly forged. It could withstand the Inner Qi of a General-level Martial Artist without shattering, allowing the Inner Qi to flow smoothly without impediment, and it was sharp and durable. Any Martial Artist before the Multi-story could harness their full strength perfectly with this sword.

Li Zhaowen, with a light flick of his folding fan, smiled thoughtfully: "Indeed."

Li Guanyi returned the sword to its scabbard, asking, "What do you mean by ’indeed’?"

With a carefree laugh, Li Zhaowen said, "Mr. Li, didn’t you know? Among the younger generation, you are quietly regarded as one of the most formidable, one of the strongest in Chen Country’s younger generation."

"What young people admire most is the courage to act boldly."

"Neither money nor power can bend their backs."

Li Guanyi gave no response, but remained silent.

Li Guanyi and Li Zhaowen went to a roadside tea house. Li Zhaowen, quite adeptly, ordered many authentic dishes from Jiangnan. It wasn’t a grand restaurant but a place that ordinary people would frequent. People often think Jiangnan cuisine is light, but that’s not completely true.

Depending on the area, some places have greasy, heavy flavors with lots of oil and sugar.

Yet others are indeed light. After brewing tea, a woman came over to sell snacks and nibbles, a woman in her forties or fifties with a willow basket on her arm, filled with little bags containing seeds, peanuts, and roasted beans.

Li Guanyi and his companion settled down without ordering any nibbles.

Yet, someone already came over, picked several small bags from the willow basket, placed them in front of Li Guanyi, and then left without saying a word. Li Guanyi, taken aback, said, "Miss, wait, I haven’t paid yet."

He called after her, but she didn’t respond. He quickly followed her, only to see that the woman’s face was full of wrinkles, her white hair like withered grass, appearing in her seventies or eighties, though Li Guanyi sensed that she could be only in her thirties or forties.

With tearful eyes, she turned and knelt down before Li Guanyi, who quickly held her up.

The shopkeeper of the tea house said, "Young hero, please accept it."

He softly added, "She’s a woman of hardship, supporting two daughters in the Capital City. Both daughters were ’taken,’ their knees smashed and tongues cut out to beg as cripples. Her husband sought justice, but was killed and thrown into the river. We saw what you did yesterday."

"Poor people, they don’t have much. At least this gave her some solace."

"Knowing those who harmed her daughters were dealt with, she returned to her hometown. Those three lives now have closure."

Li Guanyi let go, watching the white-haired woman walk away, then burst into crying and laughter downstairs before stumbling away. Li Guanyi said, "Won’t she..."

The tea house shopkeeper softly said, "You’re asking if she might do something foolish? No, she won’t."

"Her two daughters and husband are gone, but there are several acres of land back home that someone needs to look after."