Chapter 137: A Duel of Swords

Zhang Desen glanced at Sun Fu and asked, "Are you here to demand our jade in person?"

Sun Fu immediately replied, "You should know the strength of the Sun family by now. If you persist in your stubbornness, I guarantee that not a single one of you will leave Hezhou City alive. It would be wise for you to be a sensible person; the fate of your entire party rests in your hands. I trust you understand that by now."

Zhang Desen looked at him and asked, "Do you have no sense of basic law?"

"Law?" Everyone was momentarily stunned. Zhang Desen suddenly realized he was not yet accustomed to the terminology of this universe. He immediately corrected himself: "In broad daylight, have you no regard for the laws of the land?"

Zhang Desen felt a bit frustrated; he truly needed to adapt to these ancient terms, as the human civilization in this universe was still in an ancient state.

However, Sun Fu, the young master of the Sun family, thought the person before him was an absolute fool. Had he not made himself clear? His steward had already informed them of the Sun family’s power in Hezhou City and mentioned that Lord Xuanwei, Wang Wangdan, was on his way, yet this brat was still so oblivious.

Driven by malice and rising anger, Sun Fu snapped, "The law? In this city, the word of the Sun family is the law; the Sun family is the heavens of this city. You will meet a miserable end if you oppose the heavens."

Zhang Desen replied, "Fine, fine, go back to your heavens. I’m hungry now. Why don't you bring a few more flies like yourself? I truly don't know how else to describe you. I’m going to eat."

Sun Fu was incensed. In Hezhou City, he was practically a crown prince; never in his life had anyone dared to defy him. Now, this man—having grown a heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard—not only disrespected him but compared him to a fly.

For Sun Fu, this was the final straw. He barked at Zhang Desen, "Brat, whether you’ve taken the wrong medicine today or not, I must say you have courage. I’ll give you one last chance: kneel and kowtow three times, and hand over the jade. I might let this slide. Otherwise, you know the consequences."

Zhang Desen smiled and said, "Why don't you demonstrate that for me first?"

Everyone was stunned, except for Zhang Desen’s own men. Aside from those with powerful backers, the ordinary diners who had no protection fled the scene immediately.

Sun Fu then declared, "Very well. Since you are so ungrateful, I will show you what true power is. Teach him a lesson—break an arm and a leg."

"Yes!"

The Sun family servants rushed forward. Zhang Desen remained indifferent, acting as if the matter had nothing to do with him. However, Li Longfang and Zhao Chengming immediately led their special operations soldiers to intercept the servants. The servants were used to bullying others, but they were no match for battle-hardened soldiers. Soon, all the servants around Sun Fu were beaten black and blue.

The only ones left standing were Sun Fu and the steward, Sun Jia. The special ops soldiers surrounded them, waiting for Zhang Desen's command. Zhang Desen finally set down his teacup, turned, and looked at them.

Sun Fu could not believe his eyes. His courage began to falter, but he stubbornly blustered, "What are you doing? Do you all want to stay in Hezhou City forever and never return home?"

Zhang Desen replied, "I’ve used that line before; you’re insulting it by using it now. Give him one hundred slaps."

Sun Fu was terrified; one hundred slaps would be unbearable. He roared, "I am the young master of the Sun family! Do you want to die?"

Li Longfang and Zhao Chengming ordered their men to restrain Sun Jia and proceed with the punishment for Sun Fu.

The steward, Sun Jia, panicked and shouted at Zhang Desen, "Have you forgotten? Lord Xuanwei is on his way, and you know our family's influence here. Have you considered your predicament?"

Zhang Desen looked at him and said, "I don't care who he is. I only want to tell you that he started this. Since you’ve bullied me, I won't just sit by and wait for my demise. If you want to threaten me with your family's influence, with the power we possess, we have many ways to make you disappear entirely. You claim your family's influence in Hezhou is great, but you are just one family, and you have likely made many enemies. I am doing this so you might learn to behave yourselves."

The steward retorted angrily, "Then wait for the wrath of the Sun family!"

Meanwhile, the soldier tasked with the punishment was already well into his work, and Sun Fu was wailing in agony. Just then, a roar came from downstairs: "Who dares to bully the young master of the Sun family?"

A burly man rushed up, sword drawn, and charged at the soldiers, attempting to scatter them and rescue the young master. Zhao Chengming stepped forward to meet him. They exchanged three blows.

The burly man was surprised that Zhao Chengming could parry his strikes so easily. "Your skills are decent, but why bully my young master? Are you picking on the weak?"

Zhao Chengming laughed in disbelief. "Is everyone in the Sun household a master of sophistry? Do you truly not know what your young master does?"

The burly man replied, "There is no point in talking. Let our swords do the speaking."

The steward, Sun Jia, shouted, "Wang Jia, why are you still talking? Can't you see the young master is being beaten? Save him!"

Wang Jia looked at Zhao Chengming and said, "You see my duty. I apologize, but if you surrender now, I might be able to plead for mercy for you."

Zhao Chengming smiled and said, "Let us begin."

Wang Jia moved first. The moment his steel blade stirred, Zhao Chengming’s sword flashed into the air. Only then did everyone notice Wang Jia was using a short sword.

As Wang Jia retracted his blade, he lunged forward. Zhao Chengming vaulted into the air. Wang Jia was stunned by the unorthodox style. An experienced fighter, he immediately shifted his strategy, rolling across the floor like a spinning top to arrive beneath Zhao Chengming’s landing spot, intending to cripple him the moment he touched the ground.

The crowd watched in breathless silence. Zhang Desen remarked to Li Longfang, "If Wang Jia were a few years younger, Brother Chengming would have a hard time today." Li Longfang nodded, watching the duel intently.

Zhao Chengming performed two mid-air flips, landing with his knees tucked to his chest, and slashed downward with lightning speed. Wang Jia countered by bracing his waist and swinging his short sword in a semi-circle, clashing against Zhao Chengming’s blade.

Their movements were unpredictable and breathtaking. Zhao Chengming realized Wang Jia was trying to knock his sword away to find an opening, so he unleashed a swift, brutal kick toward Wang Jia’s face. Wang Jia, surprised by the agility, retreated and slashed at Zhao Chengming's leg.

Zhao Chengming pulled his leg back, causing Wang Jia to miss. The crowd erupted in cheers.

Zhao Chengming curled into a ball before landing, striking the ground with his sword to propel himself toward Wang Jia’s lower body. Wang Jia stood his ground, his short sword creating a web of steel. He looked as cold as stone, displaying the true demeanor of a master.

He had clearly risen above the other house guards for a reason.

In a move that seemed impossible, Zhao Chengming flew forward, crashing into Wang Jia’s impenetrable defense. Their blades rang out. Wang Jia, despite his solid stance, could not withstand the force of Zhao Chengming’s charge and was sent stumbling back.

Zhao Chengming pressed his advantage, his sword moving like a shadow. Wang Jia was forced into a defensive posture, retreating as he struggled to cope with Zhao Chengming’s bizarre, erratic, and relentless attacks. For the first time, he realized he had met his match.

Under the relentless onslaught, Wang Jia’s spirit wavered. His occasional counterattacks were like flashes in the pan, unable to save him from defeat.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!* Three heavy blows landed on Wang Jia’s short sword, numbing his wrist.

The crowd cheered for Zhao Chengming, leaving Wang Jia shamed and demoralized. After a dozen more rapid exchanges, Wang Jia’s guard was broken. Zhao Chengming slipped behind him and landed a powerful kick to his back.

Overwhelmed by an irresistible force, Wang Jia collapsed, his face pressed firmly against the floor.