Chapter 281: Chapter 279: Failing to See Eye to Eye

"I don’t know, and I don’t want to know." Zhu Ge put down his chopsticks and looked at the young man. "What is it?"

Internally, he was exasperated.

No matter where he went, he always ran into this sort of riffraff.

He had already made up his mind. The next time he went to a new city, he would go straight to the City Lord to save himself the trouble.

Just then, the young man’s expression darkened. "I keep this private room reserved year-round. You’ve taken it. Now, please get out."

Zhu Ge didn’t move. "The attendant said this room just opened up, which is why I came in. You can leave."

The young man froze, clearly not expecting Zhu Ge to be so blunt.

He gritted his teeth, pulled a jade tablet from his sleeve, and tossed it onto the table. "Take a good look. This is the token of the Zhang Family of Zigong. My family has had this room reserved for three years."

Zhu Ge picked up the jade tablet, glanced at it, and placed it back on the table. "This is the Zhang Family’s token, not proof of an annual reservation for this private room. Go get the Shopkeeper."

The young man’s face flushed beet red. "You... Who the hell do you think you are? You think you’re worthy of telling me to go get the Shopkeeper?"

Zhu Ge sighed at the sight.

’It seems I won’t be finishing this meal in peace.’

Zhu Ge didn’t want a repeat of what happened in Lijiang City, so he simply unleashed thirty percent of his power.

"RUMBLE... RUMBLE... RUMBLE..."

A rhythmic rumbling echoed across the sky above the entire city, like a melody composed of thunderclaps. The source of this music was his Martial Arts Heart.

"What’s happening?!"

"Such a powerful aura! Has one of the Martial Arts Hall masters achieved a breakthrough?"

"With such terrifying power, it must be a disciple of the City Lord, the Cyan Plum Scholar, who’s having a breakthrough!"

"Is that First Realm prodigy really that powerful?"

The city was abuzz with discussion, and the restaurant was in an uproar.

Before Zhu Ge, the young man had collapsed to the floor in fright, his face ashen and his lips trembling too much to form words.

His two attendants weren’t faring much better. Their legs had gone weak, and they could only remain standing by bracing themselves against the wall.

’I guess a little tyranny is necessary after all...’ Zhu Ge didn’t look at him. He simply picked up his chopsticks, selected a piece of rabbit meat, and chewed it slowly.

The rumbling of his Martial Arts Heart continued, like muffled thunder rolling through the clouds, causing the paper on the window lattice to rustle.

The sound wasn’t loud, yet it carried an oppressive weight that struck directly at one’s soul, as if an ancient, ferocious beast were slumbering within the restaurant, ready to awaken at any moment.

"Wh-who in the world are you?" the young man’s voice quavered.

’He’s got some nerve, asking a question under these circumstances...’ Zhu Ge glanced at him but shook his head without answering.

Liu Jianjian put down her chopsticks. Tilting her head, she looked at the young man and said with a grin, "He’s my master."

"M-Master?" The young man grew even more flustered.

"That’s right." Liu Jianjian nodded and said earnestly, "My master is incredibly powerful. You can’t afford to provoke him, so you should hurry and go. Don’t disturb our meal."

"Go? Y-yes, right, I’ll go, I’ll go..." The young man scrambled to his feet and staggered toward the door, steadying himself against the wall.

Liu Jianjian giggled. "See, there are some smart people around. Or rather, not everyone is an idiot. I thought he was going to call for backup, like that other time."

"I’m just here to eat. If he called his family over, the most they could do is buy me dinner," Zhu Ge said, popping a piece of rabbit meat into his mouth.

Liu Jianjian let out a sly chuckle.

Before long, another set of footsteps sounded on the stairs.

These were unhurried, steady, and firm.

Zhu Ge didn’t look up, but his senses told him the newcomer was a Third Realm Cultivator. His Cultivation was considerable, and his aura was stable and profound.

The door to the private room slid open, and a middle-aged man walked in.

He wore a cyan robe fastened with an ink-black sash. His face was lean, and he sported a long, wispy beard. Holding a folding fan, he had the air of a scholar.

"I am the Cyan Plum Scholar, City Lord of Zigong City." The middle-aged man cupped his fist in salute. "I was unaware of your arrival, Mister Zhu Ge. Please forgive my failure to welcome you properly."

Zhu Ge rose and returned the salute. "You’re too kind, City Lord. I’m merely passing through and stopping for a meal. I didn’t intend to cause a disturbance."

The Cyan Plum Scholar smiled. "Your reputation precedes you, Mister. In the battle at Red River Prefecture, you slew the great Hongmi Immortal despite only being in the Second Realm."

"You then went on to create the New Confucian Dao, shaking the entire world. It is an honor for Zigong City to host you."

"You flatter me, City Lord." Zhu Ge invited the Cyan Plum Scholar to sit and poured him a cup of wine. "Your timing is perfect. Please, have a drink with me."

The Cyan Plum Scholar didn’t refuse. He accepted the cup and downed it in one go. "Excellent wine!"

He set the cup down and looked at Zhu Ge. "You released your aura just now, sir. Did you run into some trouble?"

"A small matter." Zhu Ge wasn’t a saint, so he had no reason to keep quiet. He said nonchalantly, "Someone claiming to be from the Zhang Family said his family had this room reserved and told me to leave."

"The Zhang Family?" The Cyan Plum Scholar frowned. "You mean Zhang Boyong’s family?"

"I suppose so." Zhu Ge shook his head. "I’m not sure."

The Cyan Plum Scholar was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Zhang Boyong is the president of the Zigong City merchant guild. His business is massive, but he himself is a relatively upstanding man."

"His son, however, is another story. He’s a troublemaker who throws his family’s weight around, running rampant through the city and bullying the innocent. I’ve been wanting to deal with him for a long time."

"A long time? Has it been inconvenient for you to act, City Lord?" Zhu Ge raised an eyebrow.

"It’s not a matter of convenience," the Cyan Plum Scholar said, shaking his head. "The time just wasn’t right. The Zhang Family has been operating in Zigong City for generations, and their interests are too deeply entangled."

"It’s a delicate situation; pulling one thread could unravel everything. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to expose all their connections and eliminate them in one fell swoop."

Zhu Ge nodded but didn’t press the issue.

This was a matter for Zigong City, and it had nothing to do with him.

"Rest assured, sir, I will handle this matter." Seeing that Zhu Ge had fallen silent, the Cyan Plum Scholar stood and bowed. "It is a rare occasion to have you in Zigong City. Why not stay a few more days and allow me to act as a proper host?"

"Thank you for the kind offer, City Lord." Zhu Ge also rose. "I must be on my way, so I won’t impose any longer."

"In that case, take care, sir," the Cyan Plum Scholar said with a cupped-fist salute.

"You as well," Zhu Ge replied, returning the gesture.

...

Further conversation would have been pointless.

By the time they left the restaurant, the night was deep.

The decorative lanterns were still brilliant, but the crowds on the streets had thinned considerably.

Liu Jianjian walked ahead, carrying a rabbit-shaped lantern and humming an off-key tune.

Zhu Sisi was draped over her shoulder, fast asleep with a mulberry leaf still half-chewed in her mouth.

Mazhu, shrunk to the size of a regular foal, trotted behind them and snorted. "Master, where are we off to now?"

"Out of the city," Zhu Ge said, his gaze distant.

"Alright!" Mazhu swished its tail happily.

Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from behind them.

"Mister Zhu Ge! Please wait!"

Zhu Ge turned to see a young Confucian Scholar panting as he caught up to them.

He was dressed in a white robe with a book pouch at his waist. In his hand, he held a book—it was the preface to "The Human Scripture," which Zhu Ge himself had written.

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