A group of people swaggered into the ghost market shortly after, their weapons brandished openly.
Leading them was a man with a buzz cut, his gaze sharp and his build robust, muscles like molten bronze, radiating explosive power.
Upon seeing the buzz-cut man, the stout stall owner rushed over, clinging to his leg and wailing, "Brother Bao, you must uphold justice for me! Look at how this brat beat me, knocking out several of my teeth!"
Brother Bao glanced at Chen Xiao and asked in a cold voice, "Fatty, tell me, what exactly is going on here?"
The fat man quickly said, "Brother Bao, you don't know, but this brat snatched a Tang Bohu seal from me and refused to give it, then he beat me. Most importantly, when I mentioned your name, he beat me even harder! This isn't just beating me, it's clearly slapping your face!"
"Wait, you say the Tang Bohu seal is in that brat's hands?"
Brother Bao suddenly raised his hand, interrupting the stout stall owner.
The stout stall owner nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, Brother Bao, the seal is in that brat's hands!"
Upon hearing this, Brother Bao kicked the stout stall owner, sending him flying several meters.
"You scoundrel, I've already heard from others that the seal was clearly purchased by this gentleman. Why do you still claim it as yours?"
The stout stall owner, dazed by the kick, quickly explained, "Brother Bao, no, listen to me..."
Brother Bao looked at him coldly, "Fatty, don't think I don't know what kind of dealings you're involved in here in the ghost market. You bully the market and engage in forced sales. I've heard about it for a long time, I just didn't expect it to be true!"
"You have a lot of nerve, conducting such business on my territory, the territory of Xiashan Bao. Come here, cripple him for me, throw him out, and never allow him to set foot in the ghost market again!"
His subordinates immediately stepped forward to grab the stout stall owner.
The stout stall owner was stunned, begging for mercy, "Brother Bao, spare my life! I'll never dare to do it again, please give me another chance!"
However, Xiashan Bao ignored him. A few subordinates dragged the stout stall owner to a deserted corner.
Soon, screams of agony echoed, and it was unclear what they did to the stout stall owner to make him cry out in such pain.
The screams soon stopped.
A short while later, a subordinate returned and whispered, "Brother Bao, the brothers were a bit heavy-handed. The fatty is dead..."
Xiashan Bao didn't seem to care upon hearing this, waving his hand, "Find a place to bury him."
Witnessing this, Chen Xiao found it strange and inexplicable.
He had never met this Xiashan Bao before and didn't know why the man had helped him.
However, Chen Xiao was too lazy to ask. Having seen the commotion, he wanted to leave.
Just then, Xiashan Bao suddenly walked over, "Young brother, please wait a moment."
Chen Xiao stopped and looked at Xiashan Bao, "Do you need something from me? We don't seem to know each other."
Xiashan Bao quickly said, "Yes, yes, we don't know each other. I am Dong Biao of Xiashan Bao. May I ask your esteemed name, brother?"
"My name is Chen Xiao,"
Chen Xiao said faintly.
"Chen Xiao?"
Xiashan Bao repeated the name, as if he had heard it somewhere before but couldn't recall it immediately. Moreover, he had important matters to attend to, so he didn't dwell on it.
"Young brother Chen, I heard you just acquired a treasure, a spiritual artifact?"
Upon hearing Xiashan Bao's question, Chen Xiao's eyes narrowed.
So, he was also after that seal.
"Yes, what about it?"
Chen Xiao admitted it frankly.
Xiashan Bao asked, "Young brother Chen, would you be willing to part with it? Name your price."
"Not selling!"
Chen Xiao flatly refused, then said to Gu Zhendong, "Uncle Gu, let's go!"
Seeing Chen Xiao about to leave, Xiashan Bao became anxious, "Hold on!"
Chen Xiao's gaze sharpened as he looked at Xiashan Bao, "What else do you want?"
Xiashan Bao's tone gradually turned cold, and his address to Chen Xiao was no longer as warm as before.
"Mr. Chen, I wish to purchase this spiritual artifact to save someone. Please reconsider, Mr. Chen!"
Chen Xiao shook his head, "I said, I'm not selling!"
Chen Xiao's tone also became impatient.
Seeing this, everyone commented that Chen Xiao was ungrateful.
Brother Bao had been so polite to him, yet this brat didn't appreciate it at all.
This time, Xiashan Bao finally stopped pretending to be polite.
He said coldly, "Brat, whether you sell it or not today, you will leave the item with me. Otherwise, you won't leave here. These are the words of Xiashan Bao!"
"Fine, another one trying to rob me!"
Chen Xiao sighed helplessly, then shouted,
"Relying on your own abilities, you want to force a sale? What's the difference between what you're doing and what that fat stall owner you just killed did?"
Xiashan Bao was slightly stunned, "Why are you comparing me to him? Besides, I'm doing this to save someone, he was doing it for money!"
"In my eyes, it's all the same!"
Chen Xiao said faintly, "If you want to fight, hurry up. After I deal with you, I still need to go home and sleep!"
Xiashan Bao was taken aback. This brat truly didn't take him seriously!
His subordinates rushed forward, ready to hack Chen Xiao into mincemeat at Brother Bao's command.
"Hold on!"
Xiashan Bao waved his hand, stopping his subordinates.
He said to Chen Xiao, "Brat, do you dare to have a match with me? If you lose, you'll give me the spiritual artifact!"
He could tell that Chen Xiao was very arrogant, so he provoked him.
Chen Xiao sneered, "What if you lose?"
"I will lose?"
Xiashan Bao was slightly stunned, "With you? Heh heh, if I lose, you can do whatever you want with me!"
Chen Xiao nodded, "Alright, if you lose, I will cut off your legs. You won't be called Xiashan Bao anymore, you'll be called Crippled Bao!"
"You!"
Xiashan Bao's brow furrowed, "Fine, as you say. Let's go!"
Everyone cleared a space in the shed for Chen Xiao and Xiashan Bao to duel.
They all cheered for Xiashan Bao, as this was his turf, after all.
"Go Brother Bao, kill this brat! Teach this ignorant brat a lesson!"
"Brother Bao is mighty, kill him!"
"Go, go, go!"
...
"Make your move!"
Xiashan Bao beckoned Chen Xiao, "Let me see if your skills match your arrogant personality!"
Chen Xiao shrugged, spreading his hands, "I think you should go first!"
"Why?" Xiashan Bao asked, confused.
Chen Xiao said nonchalantly, "Because if I make the first move, you won't even have a chance to!"