"Pfft!" Yang Wei spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body slamming into a stone pillar several meters away, leaving him dazed and unable to get up for a long time.
The entire place fell silent, everyone frozen in shock. In just one move! Yang Wei was defeated!
"How is this possible?" Chen Hu's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered and burst into laughter.
"Good! Good! Good! Brother Chu, I indeed did not misjudge you. You have great talent. Follow me from now on!"
Chu Chen shook his head. "No, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I won't be staying."
"Hey, why are you leaving..." Chen Hu was about to try and persuade him, but Chu Chen had already walked far away. There was nothing he could do, so he left dejectedly.
Chu Chen returned to the inn and handed the identity token to the Wang couple. "Aunt, please take this token. I plan to leave Yangzhou City tomorrow."
"Leave? Where are you going?" Madam Wang asked with some surprise.
Chu Chen said, "I'm returning to my hometown."
Hearing this, Madam Wang felt reluctant. She sighed, "Chu Chen, you've only been in Yangzhou City for a short while, and you're leaving already? I haven't had a chance to properly host you yet, and it's so late. It's dangerous for a child like you to travel alone at night."
"Don't worry, Auntie, I'll be careful. Goodbye!" Chu Chen smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Madam Wang stood at the inn entrance, watching Chu Chen's retreating figure, and couldn't help but sigh. Wang Peng, standing beside her, also felt a sense of melancholy. In his memory, although Chu Chen was a bit unreliable at times, he was very fond of this nephew. Now, with this sudden departure, he felt a pang of unease. "Mother, Chu Chen must be looking down on our poverty and doesn't want to stay in Yangzhou City anymore."
Madam Wang sighed and said nothing.
The next morning, Chu Chen left the inn early. He walked onto the street, intending to find a place to stay. Yangzhou City, apart from the training grounds where the military camp was located, was rather dilapidated. Chu Chen couldn't be bothered to explore and simply found an inn to rest in.
This inn was not too far from Chen Hu's military camp. As soon as Chu Chen entered his room, he vaguely sensed something was amiss.
"Someone's here!" A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He moved, silently retreating from the room and hiding in the shadows.
Creak! The door was pushed open, and three men entered. They were all dressed in fine clothes and carried themselves with an air of distinction. The man on the left, in particular, was handsome with long hair cascading over his shoulders and a defiant aura about him. The presence he exuded was so strong that it created a suffocating pressure.
Chu Chen narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in the depths of his pupils. To think that such a powerful expert would appear in Yangzhou City made things increasingly interesting.
"Are you the fellow who taught my subordinate a lesson at the military camp yesterday?" the handsome man asked, glancing indifferently at Chu Chen.
Upon hearing this, Chu Chen's lips curved into a slight arc. "Are you Zhao Long's son?"
"I am," Zhao Long replied calmly, his tone laced with arrogance. "Since you know who this young master is, how dare you oppose me?"
"Oh?" Chu Chen frowned, looking at Zhao Long with confusion. "Do you know me?"
"Chu Chen?" Zhao Yun Jie and Xu Cheng Hui both looked bewildered, completely unaware of who Zhao Long was referring to.
"Don't mind him. Let's capture him and deal with him properly later!" Zhao Long said, waving his hand to signal his subordinates to take Chu Chen away.
"Wait," Chu Chen's voice cut in at that moment.
"What? You intend to resist?" Zhao Long sneered, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"I advise you not to mess around. I have a bad temper," Chu Chen said slowly, his voice filled with a warning tone.
"Heh, you're trying to threaten me?" Zhao Long scoffed dismissively. "Kid, it seems you're choosing the hard way. I'll give you one last chance: scram immediately, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"You are not worthy," Chu Chen stated flatly.
"Hit him!" Zhao Long lost all patience and roared, lunging forward and slapping fiercely at Chu Chen's cheek.
A crisp sound of a slap echoed, followed by Zhao Long's pained roar. His entire face turned red and swelled up, and several teeth were knocked out.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!" Zhao Long clutched his face, his eyes filled with intense killing intent, and was about to draw his sword!
"Stop!" Xu Cheng Hui restrained Zhao Long. He looked at Chu Chen, his expression grim. "Your actions are going too far, aren't they?"
Chu Chen glanced at the two of them and shook his head. "You've misunderstood. I simply wanted to beat this guy up; I wasn't targeting you specifically."
"You're seeking death!" Zhao Long roared.
Chu Chen flicked his wrist and delivered a slap that sent Zhao Long tumbling to the ground, wincing in pain.
"You dare hit me!" Zhao Long, enraged, struggled to his feet and prepared to retaliate!
Another slap landed! Zhao Long's other cheek also swelled up! He glared at Chu Chen furiously, roaring, "You dare hit me twice! I will never let you go!"
Two more resounding slaps followed! This time, Zhao Long's lips split, and four or five teeth fell out, blood flowing freely. His body trembled as he pointed at Chu Chen, gritting his teeth. "You dare..."
*Slap!* Chu Chen delivered another slap. Zhao Long's words were cut short as the other half of his face also swelled up!
"I... damn your mother!" Zhao Long's mouth was swollen, but he still cursed defiantly.
"I called you 'brother' out of respect. Otherwise, I wouldn't even call you that." Chu Chen's attitude was cold. He said calmly, "I don't want to kill anyone today, but if you insist on seeking death, then you can't blame me."
"What do you mean?" Zhao Long's expression faltered.
*Slap!* Chu Chen's palm moved like a blur, striking Zhao Long's face in an instant. His body trembled violently, and his head tilted to the side.
"This is my rule. Anyone who curses will be beaten," Chu Chen said, retracting his hand with a calm expression.
This scene terrified the surrounding waiters, turning their faces pale. Chu Chen swept his gaze across the few people present and said coldly, "Is there anyone else who wants to cause trouble?"
"N-no... we don't dare." The waiters were on the verge of tears. They were just ordinary waiters and had never experienced such a situation. They all lowered their heads.
Chu Chen snorted and walked directly towards the stairs. "If I ever see anyone insult me again, I will kill them!"
"Hoo..." The waiters simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief, sweat beading on their foreheads, their hearts still pounding.