Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 325 Tea House

On the long and winding road leading to Jinyan City, Jian Cang glanced around warily, each step a rhythm of alertness. He walked in front, his broad figure imbued with an invisible sense of oppression. Behind him, Sun An tightly grasped a rough rope, the other end of which was firmly tied to Chen Xiner's wrist. Chen Xiner's wrist had been bruised by the constriction, but her eyes showed no sign of surrender. Instead, they gleamed like a cunning star in the night sky.

This is a nearly forgotten path, flanked by wild weeds, some even reaching knee-high. They sway in the breeze, rustling like a whisper of ancient, mysterious stories. Occasionally, a few unknown insects leap from the weeds, only to vanish quickly into the vast sea of ​​grass. If it weren't for the faintly visible path beneath my feet, this place would be nothing short of a vast wilderness, swallowing up anyone who dared to set foot.

Jian Cang looked back from time to time, his eyes piercing Chen Xiner like a sharp blade, and he growled, "Little girl, you'd better behave yourself and don't try to play any tricks, otherwise you will suffer!" His voice echoed in the quiet path with an unquestionable ferocity.

Chen Xiner just raised her chin slightly, with a provocative arc at the corner of her mouth. She deliberately slowed down her pace and scratched back and forth in the grass with her feet, making the already difficult progress even slower.

Sun An impatiently tugged at the rope from behind. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead and trickled down his dusty face. He muttered, "You little bastard, hurry up! Don't waste our time." His eyes betrayed fatigue and irritation. This difficult road had worn away his patience, but the thought of the generous reward he would receive upon success made him grit his teeth and continue dragging Chen Xin'er forward.

After walking for who knows how long, they finally reached a fork in the road. Here, where a small path meets a main road, it felt like a forgotten corner of the world, yet it was also bustling with a unique kind of activity. Not far away, an old teahouse stood quietly, its sign swaying feebly in the wind, making a rustling sound, as if waving to passersby.

The teahouse was filled with the faint aroma of tea and the noisy sound of voices. Several shabby tables were filled with people of all kinds. Four warriors in particular stood out. They wore wide-brimmed conical hats, the edges of which drooped slightly, obscuring most of their faces like the night sky, revealing only their hard-lined chins. Their swords were casually placed on the table, the cold blades gleaming in the sunlight, as if telling of their bloody pasts. One of the warriors placed one foot domineeringly on a stool, leaning forward slightly, his posture bold and uninhibited, revealing the carefree spirit of a man of the underworld. They were sipping tea and chatting animatedly, their voices echoing throughout the teahouse, attracting the attention of those around them.

"Have you heard? The Star Blade, ranked third on the weapon list, has reappeared in the arena!" A warrior said in a low voice. Although he tried to lower his voice, his excitement made his voice tremble slightly, and his eyes flashed with a fiery light, as if the Star Blade was already in front of him.

"Yes, this is great news. If we can find that knife, we will become famous! From now on, we will have a place in the martial arts world." Another warrior said excitedly. He picked up the teacup and took a big gulp of tea. The tea flowed down the corners of his mouth, but he didn't care at all, as if the tea contained the phantom of the Star Knife.

"Hmph, that's easy to say. The whole martial arts world is looking for it now, how can it be so easy to find it? We might lose our lives before we even see the knife." The third warrior frowned, his hand unconsciously touched the hilt of the knife, his fingers stroking it, as if preparing for the upcoming fight, his eyes revealing a hint of worry and caution.

Jian Cang and the others slowly approached the teahouse, and Jian Cang's sharp ears instantly caught their conversation. He was startled, his brows furrowed into a frown, and he thought to himself, "How did the news of the Star Blade leak out? This is troublesome." However, he took another look at the warriors and saw that they were just talking nonsense. He thought they probably had never seen the Star Blade, so he felt a little relieved.

He ignored the warriors and walked straight to an empty table in the teahouse, shouting, "Waiter, bring two pots of good tea!" His voice was rough and loud, exploding in the teahouse like thunder, with an unquestionable majesty that made everyone else in the teahouse look at him unconsciously.

They sat down at the table, and Jian Cang slapped it with a loud "slap," a sound that stood out in the noisy teahouse, as if venting his frustration. His brow furrowed, his eyes filled with irritation towards Chen Xin'er, clearly still distraught by her endless tricks along the way. Chen Xin'er stood to the side, a subtle glint of cunning in her eyes, like a fox ready to tease its hunter.

Not long after sitting down, Chen Xiner said in a sweet voice, "I want some tea." Her voice was crisp and pleasant, like a clear spring in the mountains, but it was particularly clear in this noisy teahouse, attracting the attention of many people around.

Jian Cang frowned and said to Sun An impatiently, "Let her go, let her drink some tea, and don't cause me any more trouble." His tone was full of helplessness and annoyance, like a parent who was exhausted by his child.

Sun An reluctantly untied the rope on Chen Xiner's wrist, muttering, "You'd better behave yourself and don't try to escape." There was a hint of vigilance in his eyes, and his hand was still tightly holding one end of the rope, as if he could immediately regain control of her as long as Chen Xiner made any unusual movements.

Chen Xiner flexed her wrists and walked to the table to sit down. Her posture was elegant and calm, as if she was the host and Jian Cang and Sun An were just her followers. At this time, the waiter hurried over with a pot of steaming hot tea and two plates of small dishes. The waiter smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits, and said enthusiastically, "Sir, please enjoy your tea and small dishes." He placed the food on the table and turned to greet other guests, constantly shouting, "Come on, sir, what would you like to order?"