Chapter 145: The Age of Cold Weapons [Twentieth Update]

After entering the city, the three of them found an inn and settled down. After dinner, having nothing better to do, Fang Nian decided to take a stroll around the marketplace. Since they had made the trip to Jialuo City, soaking in the lively atmosphere was well worth it.

When asked, Chen Deng said he needed to study array formations and declined to go. Zhou Cang, the simple-minded blockhead, loved bustling scenes, so he accompanied Fang Nian to the market.

It had to be said that the marketplace in Jialuo City was indeed the most vibrant ancient market Fang Nian had ever witnessed. Walking down the main streets, you could truly buy anything your heart desired.

This even included pelts and meat from rare beasts, as well as minerals that were scarce during the late Eastern Han Dynasty—a variety that thoroughly justified the massive crowds.

Fang Nian strolled through the market, wandering back and forth. Gazing at the bustling nightscape around him, he couldn't help but sigh, wondering why such a flourishing era of the Han Dynasty had vanished never to return.

Just as he was deep in thought, a sudden commotion broke out in the crowd. Fang Nian was startled and initially wanted to step back, but before he could move, the surging crowd pushed him toward the front.

Zhou Cang wanted to pull Fang Nian back, but Fang Nian waved him off.

"It's fine, probably nothing major. Let's go take a look."

With that, the two of them squeezed against the flow of the crowd and walked in the opposite direction. When they reached the scene of the disturbance, they realized the target of the commotion.

Many people were surrounding a drunken middle-aged man, kicking and punching him as fiercely as if they were beating a stray dog, cursing incessantly as they struck.

"Damn it! How dare you pull a dine-and-dash stunt in my establishment? You've truly grown tired of living! Beat him! Beat him to death, and I'll take the blame!"

The drunkard was thoroughly intoxicated; despite being beaten by so many people, he seemed to feel no pain at all. He lay silently on the ground without uttering a single groan, though tears inadvertently trickled down the corners of his eyes.

Fang Nian was taken aback, sensing that this man was somewhat extraordinary. In his eyes, Fang Nian actually caught a glimpse of a profound story.

He pulled Zhou Cang, intending to step forward and rescue the man. But at that exact moment, a familiar figure suddenly appeared. Charging into the crowd, within the span of just a few breaths, he knocked all the thugs to the ground.

Only then did Fang Nian clearly make out the man's appearance—it was none other than the tall man who had extorted one hundred liang of silver from him outside the city gates earlier. Admittedly, this fellow possessed formidable martial prowess, certainly no inferior to Zhou Cang.

At this moment, the man cast a cold glance at the ruffians he had felled and spoke in an icy tone:

"Since when has it been your turn to run amok on Lady Cai's turf?"

The tavern keeper, who had been so arrogant just moments before, was now scared out of his wits. He crawled on his knees to the man's side, clutched the hem of his robe, and begged desperately:

"General Zhang! General Zhang, spare my life! That man was the one who ate a free meal without paying first, which is why we laid hands on him. You must investigate the truth!"

The general surnamed Zhang abruptly squatted down, grabbed the tavern keeper by the collar, and said:

"Is this your first day in the Jialuo marketplace? Do you not understand Lady Cai's rules? If there's trouble, find the authorities; do not take matters into your own hands, or you know the consequences."

With that, right in front of the gathered onlookers, the general drew his blade and cleanly severed two fingers from the tavern keeper's hand.

A horrific, heart-rending scream pierced the air.

A chill ran down Fang Nian's spine. In the law-abiding society of his past, chopping off someone's fingers in broad daylight was unheard of. Yet in this turbulent era of cold steel, such brutality was entirely commonplace.

However, before he could fully digest the scene, a pale-blue sedan chair was carried out from the parting crowd. A woman dressed in luxurious attire, yet possessing breathtakingly stunning beauty, stepped down from the sedan. She hurried anxiously to the side of the drunken man, squatted down, and asked:

"Master Jia Yuwen, are you alright?"

Upon hearing that name, Fang Nian snapped to full alertness.

"This drunkard is actually... Jia Xu?!"