Chapter 315 - 248: An Explosion, Reduced to History

Chapter 315: Chapter 248: An Explosion, Reduced to History

The woman’s beaming smile stiffened, turning awkward. She was stuck, unsure whether to sit or stand, but still managed to force a laugh.

"Oh, now, sir, don’t be so angry. A girl just wants to come over and have a couple of drinks with you..."

Before she could finish, a crisp slap echoed out, and the woman was sent flying without so much as a grunt.

The trajectory of her flight was remarkably precise. She perfectly avoided everything inside the small eatery, flew straight through the door curtain, and landed in the snow outside.

However, she was quick to move, flipping back to her feet the instant she landed.

Her left cheek was swollen high, twisting her once-charming face into a hideous mask.

She shot a venomous glare back into the eatery, then turned and left without another word.

Wu Liangchen didn’t give chase.

’To him, trash like her wasn’t worth wasting time on.’

’The real business was to finish his meal quickly, then head up the mountain and take care of Cyan Cloud Mountain.’

So after slapping that tramp into the air, he didn’t even look up, simply continuing to eat with his head lowered.

But while he was perfectly calm, Chen Er was starting to lose it.

He trembled as he stared at the two corpses on the floor, his vision swimming with black spots.

’Looks like my little business is finished. I probably won’t even get to keep these rooms passed down from my ancestors.’

’Two people died here. How can I possibly stay in business?’

’And the local constables will never let me off the hook.’

’You can never find those guys when there’s actual trouble, but the moment they sniff out a chance to squeeze some money out of you, they swarm in like flies to a fresh wound.’

’It doesn’t matter that I didn’t kill them. They died in my shop, so I’m inextricably tied to this. Even if this doesn’t kill me, they’ll skin me alive.’

Just as Chen Er was lamenting his bitter fate and sighing over the hardships of life, Wu Liangchen swallowed the last bite of his braised egg. He then bent down and, with lightning speed, began to search the two men’s bodies.

In the blink of an eye, Wu Liangchen had stripped the Tong Clan brothers of everything valuable.

There wasn’t actually much of value—just a money pouch with a dozen or so silver coins and some loose change, along with the usual items carried by men of the martial world.

Unexpectedly, however, Wu Liangchen found a small booklet on Tong Dameng. Flipping it open, he saw it was a secret manual for Iron Arm Fist and couldn’t help but feel amused.

’Ever since I came to this world, I’ve killed a fair number of people,’ he mused. ’But aside from an archery manual and the Golden Body Cross Training Skill, I’ve never found any other martial arts manuals on them.’

’I can’t believe my luck exploded in this little eatery, dropping a secret manual.’

Wu Liangchen skimmed through it, however, and then shook his head.

The principles of this Iron Arm Fist were crude, and its power was mediocre. As a Grandmaster, Wu Liangchen naturally looked down on it.

Still, he didn’t let it go to waste. He suddenly looked up at Chen Er, who was trembling by the distant counter, and casually tossed the secret manual and the money pouch to him. Chen Er caught them instinctively.

"Here," he said. "This is for the meal and for cleaning up the scene."

After saying this, Wu Liangchen turned and left.

His time was precious; he couldn’t possibly waste it on such trivial matters.

After he was gone, a dumbfounded Chen Er finally snapped out of his daze. He looked down at the booklet and the money pouch in his arms.

He opened the money pouch first. The sight of the glistening silver coins inside made Chen Er’s breath catch in his throat.

’This is enough money to buy my whole little shop.’

’So what’s this booklet?’

With a hint of hesitation, Chen Er opened it.

He had attended the village school for a few years as a child, so he was able to read a little.

When he made out what was written inside, Chen Er nearly jumped out of his skin, his whole body trembling with excitement.

But his reaction was swift. He immediately stuffed the booklet into an inner pocket, hiding it securely. Then, he solemnly kowtowed three times in the direction Wu Liangchen had left before turning and heading into the back room.

A moment later, he emerged carrying a small bundle. He gave the little eatery one last look, but his face showed no trace of attachment.

’Who would want to lock their whole life away in this tiny little world if they had any other choice?’

Before, he’d had no choice. Now that a better one had presented itself, Chen Er didn’t hesitate. He locked the door and strode away without a backward glance.

But not long after he left, another group of people arrived, led by the very same woman Wu Liangchen had slapped into the air.

Her face was flushed with excitement as she pointed at the eatery. "My heroes," she declared, "the man who just killed the Tong Clan brothers and tried to have his way with me is inside that very shop!"

Behind her stood a motley crew of martial artists—old and young, dressed in all sorts of attire, but every last one of them armed.

Their leader, a man of about forty, first shot a lecherous glance at the woman’s heaving chest as she spoke excitedly. Then, his expression turned serious. "Outrageous! How could someone be so arrogant? We must seek justice for you, miss."

As they spoke, the group arrived in front of the eatery, only to find the door locked. But what was a flimsy wooden door to a band of martial artists?

One of them kicked the door open, and the crowd swarmed inside, only to find it completely empty aside from the two corpses on the floor.

"Miss," the leader said with a smile, "it seems the fellow who tried to take liberties with you has already fled!"