Chapter 169 - The Fight Between Martial Artists at the
Xiao Bing and Ye Xiaoxi exchanged whispers of love by the riverside until midnight. Then Xiao Bing drove her home and let her sleep in his arms.
The next morning, Xiao Bing began working in the noodle house. He had one less thing to worry about since the Ghost Nest had been eliminated. Given the present situation, Xiao Bing believed that Master Hou would not turn against him. In other words, he was absolutely safe in Jiang City. His priorities at the moment were to recruit more men and enhance his strength.
In the evening, Xiao Bing and the other staff were about to be off work because the guests were almost all gone. Yezi was still working in the company and Su Xiaoxiao was home with her mother, so neither of them came to the noodle house today. And Lil Bei was still watching out for Su Xiaoxiao.
Zhuge Jiangnan waddled into the noodle house with a cane in his hand while Xiao Bing and the others were about to have their dinner. Long Xiaofei was by Zhuge Jiangnan’s side, helping Zhuge Jiangnan with his footing.
“Old man, we’re closed. Come back tomorrow,” said Li Hong.
Xiao Bing grinned. “It’s a long way to come down here for an old man. Li Hong, Auntie Wang, why don’t you cook something for him.”
Wang Guifang found the white-haired man to be over 80 and extremely gaunt. He did not have much hair on his head and wrinkles were all over his face. He stumbled like he could drift with the wind at any time.
So she did not hesitate, then she asked Li Shunguai to cook in the kitchen. “Old man, our boss has ordered us. What would you like to eat?”
“Your boss seems to be kind..” Zhuge Jiangnan coughed and sat on a chair nearby. “I’d like to have a bowl of special lamian,” he said with a shaky voice.
“Just lamian? Nothing else?”
Zhuge Jiangnan nodded. “A bowl of lamian will be enough.”
Xiao Bing stood up and grinned. “Auntie Wang, go and tell Li Shunguai to come here to have his dinner. I’m the only one here who knows how to make lamian.”
Wang Guifang smiled. “It’s your lucky day, old man. Our boss has just returned and only he can make the special lamian here.”
Zhuge Jiangnan nodded while smiling.historical
Xiao Bing walked to the kitchen and put the pot that was full of flour on the board. Then he began making the paste, during which he kneaded, mashed, and cut the dough with his hands. There was not a single halt to it and martial movements were contained in the process.
Zhuge Jiangnan watched and lightly nodded his head. “You’re a cultivator of martial arts?”
“You’re a discerning old man!” Xiao Bing grinned.
“You dropped your chopsticks and began making lamian just because this old man wants to have a taste. It seems that you really are a warm-hearted person. Kindness is rarely seen in today’s society.”
After having kneaded the dough into noodles, Xiao Bing dropped them into the boiling water. Then he clapped his hands while smiling. “All we need to do now is wait.”
Zhuge Jiangnan stared at Xiao Bing and asked, “Young man, where are you from?”
“Jiang City,” replied Xiao Bing with a smile on his lips. “I have been a citizen of Jiang City for a long time.”
“I see. Then what about your family? Are they living in this city as well?”
“I used to be a soldier but there’s something I can’t say,” answered Xiao Bing, smiling.
“I understand.” Zhuge Jiangnan nodded.
Soon after, the lamian was ready and Xiao Bing served it to the old man. While Xiao Bing intended to return to his table, Long Xiaofei, who was standing beside Zhuge Jiangnan, suddenly grabbed him by the arm. Xiao Bing turned back and looked at him and found this young man’s eyes very sharp. He noticed that Long Xiaofei was very fast when he was coming for his arm. He deemed this man a master of the Transforming Strength stage.
“Interesting. Could it be that they are here not only for the lamian?”
Zhuge Jiangnan grinned. “This young man is just so eager to find his equal. He must have heard that you are a master of martial arts, so he wants to spar with you. I believe young men will benefit from sparing with each other. Lil Fei, be careful of the power you exert.”
A smile appeared on Long Xiaofei’s cold face. “I know, grandpa.”
Long Xiaofei drew back his hand on Xiao Bing’s arm and gestured. “Any of your suggestions will be welcomed.”
Xiao Bing took a glance at Long Xiaofei then he fixed his eyes on Zhuge Jiangnan. Then he suddenly asked, “May I know your name, sir?”
Zhuge Jiangnan put on a faint smile. “Zhuge Jiangnan.”
Xiao Bing observed this teetering old man carefully. He found a peculiar hint of light in this man’s eyes. Xiao Bing once heard a phrase which said: “The one who possesses true wisdom is like a demon”. That was what Xiao Bing felt when he was staring at this old man.
Xiao Big eyes became sharp, which surprised the unfathomable Zhuge Jiangnan vastly. He had never seen such sharp eyes on anyone. Even the dominant Lord Long did not have such sharp eyes.
“What kind of a man is he?” Zhuge Jiangnan was more impressed by Xiao Bing. He deemed it necessary to remind Lord Long that this Xiao Bing had to be taken seriously.
After having noticed that there was about to be a fight, Zhang Jing blazed them. “Old man, why are you two behaving like this? Our Brother Bing kindly offered you two bowls of lamian and now you want to pick a fight with him?”
Xiao Bing realized that these two had come here with a purpose. He surmised that they were here to find out what he was capable of. And who was so eager to find out his true power at this very period of time? It was absolutely not Master Hou. Then there was only one possibility remaining—the Long Family!
Xiao Bing was never a man who preferred to flinch, let alone that Long Xiaofei was several years younger than him. Hence, he pointed outside and said smilingly, “The noodle house is too small for us. Why don’t we go outside?”
Then Long Xiaofei dashed out of the noodle house. And all of the guests, including some who were eating, rushed out and were eager to see them fighting, except for that Zhuge Jiangnan.
Maggie clapped her hands and grinned. “The winner is obvious. That Long Xiaofei is just too young. Brother Bing will definitely beat the crap out him.”
Gao Fei was standing next to Maggie. “It may not be so absolute. I believe that at least he can fight back a few times. He’s a quite powerful martial artist, since he has already reached the Transforming Strength stage.”
“At this young age?” asked Maggie in wonderment.
“Yes.” Gao Fei nodded.
“Great. It seems that their odds are even. It would be boring if it was one-sided. This fight must be exciting then.”
Dumbasss sniggered. “Is this lad really that powerful? I believe that I can send him hurtling through the sky with a single blow from my fist.”
Gao Fei cast him a cold glance. “No doubt he’s capable of making you fly through the sky.”
Dumbass seemingly did not agree. But he just mumbled a few words under Gao Fei’s icy gaze. Besides Xiao Bing, Gao Fei seemed to be the one that was dreaded the most by others in the noodle house. His gaze was always cold and dreadful. The staff was easily frightened by a simple glimpse of his.
Zhan Hongyan was in the crowd. She discreetly took a glimpse of Gao Fei and instantly withdrew her gaze. She wondered about the real identity of this Gao Fei. In order to obtain a better knowledge of the people around Xiao Bing, she often helped them with the business there recently. After all, she just began to know them and she did not want to be excluded. It was the fittest that shall survive. It was a truth that assassins knew best.
And after having been discreetly observing him for several days, she found this man more and more intriguing and unfathomable.
Long Xiaofei placed his hands in front of his chest with one in front of the other and said icily, “Shall we begin?”
Xiao Bing glanced at Long Xiaofei. He surmised that Long Xiaofei had to specialize in the martial arts of palms.
Xiao Bing put his hands on his lap and stooped a little while his eyes were fixed on Long Xiaofei. It was the position that predators would take when they were ready to strike.
“My name is Xiao Bing.”
“My name is Long Xiaofei.”
“Long Xiaofei..” Xiao Bing’s eyes brightened instantly. “What’s your relationship with Long Xiaoyun?” Xiao Bing probed.
Long Xiaofei replied without hesitation, “He’s the nephew of my adoptive father.”
“Lord Long is your adoptive father?”
Xiao Bing had never expected that Lord Long would send his adoptive son here right after the death of his nephew. He wondered if this man was too arrogant.
Zhuge Jiangnan stood beside the door. There was a beam of odd light shimmering in his eyes. He was watching Xiao Bing calmly. Only when Long Xiaofei shouted out his name did Zhuge Jiangnan’s eyes glitter.
He had already told Long Xiaofei not to let his name be known to others. But Long Xiaofei’s arrogance exceeded his prudence. He was too proud to use someone else’s name.
But it did not really matter. Zhuge Jiangnan was confident that Xiao Bing would not dare to do any harm to Long Xiaofei because this fight was merely to find out Xiao Bing’s true power.
Long Xiaofei snorted and did not answer Xiao Bing’s question. He sprinted toward Xiao Bing and was about to hit Xiao Bing in the chest with his palms. The air whistled as his palm pierced through it. His palm movements were resolute and full of strength.
The dominance and ferocity of the movement made the witnesses almost want to applaud. But they all felt their breath caught in their throats.
Dumbass widened his eyes to watch this scene. He believed that if Long Xiaofei’s palm were to hit his body with Clear Strength and Concealing Strength mingled, his bones and organs would collapse first, and then his flesh would shrink. He was cocksure that he would be dead if he had not reached the Transforming Strength stage, even if he was a man made of steel!
“Perfect!” Xiao Bing thought to himself as he lunged toward Long Xiaofei’s palm. The bystanders and the staff shrieked because they all thought he would try to dodge out of the way.