Yu Qiufeng regarded Zhou Zishu with a frosty smile and didn’t pick up where Huang Daoren had left off, thinking that if it weren’t for the weakening might of the Huashan Sect in these recent years, and that he was worried that it would be difficult for them to succeed without support, how would he be willing to claim brotherhood with this sort of slimy person? If this dumbass was willing to take the charge, he would let him; it was just as well that these two people were of unknown background and undetermined expertise, and no one knew what kind of attitude the descendant of the ancient monk held. He would use Huang Daoren to test the waters.

And thus something awkward happened--Huang Daoren’s intention was for Yu Qiufeng to pick up from where he had left off once he was done shouting, and have the crowd behind him swarm all at once thereafter, so he would not have to put in any effort and could still wait smugly off to one side. Yet, he had not expected Yu Qiufeng to remain silent, waiting for him to charge ahead into danger. Unclear of the situation, the crowd behind Huang Daoren only stared at him, and no one moved a single step.

Tens of people clogged the narrow alleyway, but in that instant, not one person spoke up, leaving the alley in pindrop silence.

In half a lifetime’s worth of existence, Wen Kexing had never witnessed such a bizarre sight. He had always been the sort to laugh when he wanted, cry when he desired, and play the ruffian when he felt like it—not bothering to be polite, he cackled uproariously, pointing at Huang Daoren as he booed, “I say, don’t tell me that the few of you didn’t rehearse this properly and have forgotten your lines? Get off the stage, how is it that you dare come perform the opera when you haven’t even familiarised yourself with the steps? You won’t earn any tips from anyone.”

After observing the situation for half a beat, Ye Baiyi said, “What is this nonsense.” And turned to leave, neglecting Liu Qianqiao. In a flash, there was no trace of his white figure.

Thinking this entire encounter a circus, Zhou Zishu did not feel like entertaining these people any longer. He made to leave, but Huang Daoren gave a strange shout of, “Kid, don’t think you can go!”, and pounced. Zhou Zishu’s figure straightened all of a sudden, and without looking back, he ordered, “Get lost[17]!” A whirl of his long sleeve birthed two gusts of force; with great accuracy, one hit Huang Daoren in the shoulder, the other on his knee, and Huang Daoren was really as well-behaved as a filial child, rolling away obediently.