"Brother Cheng, how is it? No trouble, right?"
Su Fan returned from his patrol and asked Cheng Yaoyin in the Peace Inn.
"It's fine. With us here, what trouble could there be?"
As Cheng Yaoyin spoke, he brought a teapot and poured a bowl of tea for Su Fan.
Su Fan was indeed a bit thirsty after his patrol.
Su Fan drank a large bowl of tea in one go to quench his thirst.
"Boss! Two rooms!"
At this moment, a group of four people walked into the inn and said in a gruff voice.
"Guest, I'm sorry, but all our rooms are occupied. Please try another inn."
Cheng Yaoyin skillfully stepped forward and said with a smile.
After a few days of practice, Cheng Yaoyin had become much more adept at greeting guests.
"I've been to eight inns and none of them have rooms. Are you deliberately messing with me!"
The burly man leading the group pointed at Cheng Yaoyin's nose and said angrily.
Cheng Yaoyin didn't get angry and patiently explained to the other party.
"There are too many outsiders recently, and we are indeed full. I apologize. You could try the west district; there are fewer people there, and you might find a vacant room."
Cheng Yaoyin not only patiently explained but also gave them a suggestion. The west district had fewer people, and there might be empty rooms in the inns. If they went now, they might still find a place to stay for the night, otherwise, they would have to sleep on the streets.
"Damn it, I'm staying here today! Hurry up and get me two empty rooms, or I'll smash this place!"
The burly man, perhaps due to frustration from visiting so many inns, spoke with a very unpleasant tone and even threatened to smash the inn.
Cheng Yaoyin's expression immediately turned cold.
After all, he had been a member of the Green Forest. Although his temper had improved somewhat recently, he wouldn't tolerate being cursed at like this.
"I'll give you one chance. Get out now."
Cheng Ya Yin said to the other party with a stern face.
At this moment, other staff members in the inn heard the commotion in the front hall and rushed over. Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two sides, they understood what had happened.
Er Qing, Xiao Jiu, Da Niu, and Aunt Niu, who was cooking, all stood behind Cheng Yaoyin.
They glared coldly at the four opposing men.
"Heh, are you going to fight?"
The burly man chuckled when he saw the situation.
"You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Smash it!"
The other party didn't hesitate and immediately acted on their words.
The burly man's subordinate grabbed a stool and swung it inside.
The surrounding diners remained silent, watching the spectacle with interest. They were all outsiders from the martial world and didn't want to get involved in any trouble. Watching the show was enough.
Su Fan, sitting nearby, reacted quickly and grabbed the stool. The stool remained motionless in his hand.
Although his current strength was only a little over a thousand points, it was still not something a mere subordinate could budge.
"In my territory, anyone who dares to cause trouble will be taken to the yamen!"
Su Fan scanned the four men opposite him with a cold gaze and warned them in a chilling tone.
The burly man and his companions were stunned. Seeing Su Fan in official attire, they showed some apprehension.
"Who are you, kid? Don't meddle in other people's business!"
The burly man warned Su Fan.
Su Fan didn't want to waste any more words with them. With a slight exertion of force, he snatched the stool back from the man's hand and kicked the subordinate flying.
Qian Kun Quan!
With a skill, he bound all four of them in place, rendering them unable to move an inch.
Then, he put his finger in his mouth and blew a sharp whistle.
A squad of soldiers rushed in from outside the door.
"Handcuff them and take them all to the yamen! Anyone who dares to cause trouble on my territory will face this fate!"
Su Fan said coldly.
He said this to the four men, and also to the martial artists present.
These men were now under Su Fan's control, and the soldiers easily apprehended them.
"Sir, the yamen prison is full."
A soldier whispered in Su Fan's ear.
"Then take them back and give them a hundred planks as a warning!"
Su Fan said coldly.
"A hundred planks? Isn't that a bit much?"
Even the soldier thought it was a bit harsh. Most people couldn't endure twenty planks, let alone a hundred. Fifty planks were already life-threatening. A hundred planks would surely kill them.
"Are you telling me how to do my job?"
Su Fan glanced at the soldier and said softly.
"I dare not!"
The soldier immediately dared not say anything more and quickly led his men away with the prisoners.
Su Fan did this for a reason.
It was to make an example of them. He didn't want to be busy with these matters every day. This was done to deter them and prevent them from causing trouble in his territory.
A hundred planks were a lot, but for a level thirty NPC, it wasn't much. They wouldn't die, but they would definitely be bedridden for ten days to half a month.
The diners in the inn were struck silent, truly intimidated by Su Fan's methods.
"Hmph!"
Su Fan snorted, maintaining his imposing image.
"Su Fan, I haven't fought in a long time. Can't you let me have some action? My body is getting rusty!"
Cheng Yaoyin said with some dissatisfaction.
He was finally encountering a troublemaker today, only to have Su Fan intercept him.
Su Fan, who was trying to maintain his dignified image, almost choked to death at Cheng Yaoyin's words.
So, I did something wrong?
"Alright, alright, no more fighting. You are merchants now, not bandits. And Wen Yan is working in the Ministry of Revenue. Don't disgrace him."
Su Fan had also learned that Wen Yan had been invited to work in the Ministry of Revenue. This was a good thing. Wen Yan had always had a persistent goal, and working in the Ministry of Revenue was very suitable for him.
Hearing Su Fan mention Wen Yan, Cheng Yaoyin could only give up.
Time flew by. More and more people came to Tianlong City to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament. Su Fan didn't know how many had registered, but there were over four hundred on the first day. Now, there were probably several thousand.
"Xiao Yan, it's done. The Martial Essence Stone."
As the Martial Arts Tournament approached its final day, Su Fan completed his mission. He had to get the Martial Essence Stone tomorrow to upgrade his Fire Meteor to max level.
"Here, take it. Are you participating in the Martial Arts Tournament again?"
Xiao Yan had also heard that Su Fan was going to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.
"Yes."
Su Fan nodded.
"You have everything you want. Why are you going to compete for it?"
Xiao Yan asked, somewhat confused.
With Su Fan's current status, he had both wealth and power. Even if he didn't want to advance further in his official career, he could easily live as a wealthy gentleman. He couldn't understand why Su Fan insisted on participating in the dangerous Martial Arts Tournament.
"You wouldn't understand."
Su Fan didn't explain.
He couldn't explain it either. Who could understand quests? Perhaps in this world, no one besides Long Jianye could understand the meaning of quests.
"Alright, alright, I understand. It's just about conviction, isn't it? Your goal is to be the number one under heaven, the leader of the martial world. I understand."
Xiao Yan thought he understood Su Fan. In his eyes, Su Fan was a martial arts fanatic who used all means to improve his strength. Participating in the Martial Arts Tournament was just to prove himself.
Su Fan was too lazy to explain. Xiao Yan wouldn't understand even if he did.