Chapter 253: First Go Relieve Oneself

While speaking, an inn with a tattered wine flag hung before its door, looking quite old, appeared before their eyes.

On the lintel, the three characters "Horse Rest Station" had endured wind and rain, looking somewhat mottled.

Inside, the din of voices rose; faintly visible were several dozen sturdy men drinking and playing finger-guessing games, the atmosphere no different from an ordinary tavern, save for a rather fierce air.

Lu Qi stopped in his tracks: "Lord Master, this is the place."

Suddenly, he thought of something, bent down and whispered in Tuan Tuan's ear: "Lord Master, with your vast divine powers, could you make their horses all suffer diarrhea at once?"

Tuan Tuan furrowed her small brow: "It should be possible, but why, Uncle Qi?"

Lu Qi thought, indeed, the Lord Master is truly formidable—he can even do this!

"The West Ridge Horse Gang never bullies the populace; this incident is clearly Ma Daqiang privately breaking the rules. We can use this as an opening to inquire about their Iron Thread Wood."

"The West Mausoleum Horse Gang dominates Xibei, relying on roads and horses. If their horses were all unable to move at once, the Lord Master could use this as leverage to ask anything, and they would surely answer honestly."

"Oh! I understand."

The crowd entered, the noise of voices rising, the strong scent of alcohol mingling with sweat.

Xiao Er stepped up to the proprietor and called out loudly: "Let someone who's in charge come out to speak."

The previously noisy inn fell silent at once; several tables of men playing finger-guessing stopped, eyeing this group of uninvited guests with hostility.

The proprietor behind the counter was a thin middle‑aged man; he lifted his eyelids, set down his abacus, and smiled broadly: "Gentlemen, tea or drink? If you're here for a meal, please go inside."

Lu Qi stepped forward, his gaze calm as he looked at him: "We've come regarding Ma Daqiang."

The proprietor's smile faded slightly, a flicker of wariness crossing his eyes as he reassessed the group, especially Tuan Tuan, who was being led by Xiao Ningxun and curiously looking around.

"You're all unfamiliar faces," the proprietor said, his tone still polite but now distant, "the matter of Master Ma is beyond what this little shop can decide."

Lu Qi's tone unchanged: "If you can't decide, then bring out someone who can."

He flipped his wrist, revealing the token of Tianji Pavilion.

It was actually the Mysterious Mechanism Envoy of Tianji Pavilion!

The proprietor's pupils contracted slightly; after a moment's thought, he gave a glance to a nearby attendant.

The attendant understood, hurrying into the back hall.

Not long after, the back hall curtain was lifted, and a man in brown short attire, about thirty years old, stepped out.

He was not burly, but his steps were steady, his temples slightly bulging, his eyes holding a restrained gleam.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance; at first sight he was clearly an internal martial arts master, and they both instinctively grew more cautious.

The proprietor respectfully called out: "Third Master!"

Third Master nodded, his gaze falling on Lu Qi, and he cupped his fists: "I am Dou San, Third Chief of the West Ridge Horse Gang; which path do you friends follow?"

As he spoke, his eyes swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on Tuan Tuan before returning to Lu Qi's face.

Lu Qi returned the salute, neither humble nor arrogant: "Third Master Dou, a pleasure."

"Your gang's Ma Daqiang extorted money at the mountain pass, disturbing our Lord Master. Should your gang give us an explanation for this?"

Dou San gave him a sideways glance; he was used to running rampant here—when had anyone ever dared to confront him to his face, especially in front of so many subordinates?

"An explanation?" he snorted, chin lifting slightly, "Ma Daqiang did break the rules, but our Horse Gang's family law will handle him—it's no place for outsiders to point fingers! As for you…"

His gaze turned cold: "Seeing that you've just arrived and are even bringing a little girl, get off my turf right now, and I'll pretend nothing happened—otherwise…"

Having said that, the several dozen gang members in the inn tacitly understood, rose to their feet together, stepped forward, and gripped clubs, knives, and swords in their hands.

Xiao Ran's face turned pale, and Xiao Ningxun pulled his sister tighter behind him for protection.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi inwardly steadied themselves, ready to strike at any moment.

Tuan Tuan untied the embroidered pouch at her waist, pulled something out, clenched it in her palm, and gently tugged at Lu Qi's sleeve.

Lu Qi's heart stirred slightly; he immediately bent down and turned his ear to her.

Tuan Tuan asked: "Uncle Qi, you just said to make their horses have diarrhea, right?"

Lu Qi replied: "Yes, Lord Master. This is the most effective method."

Although they spoke softly, the room was full of experts, so they were heard crystal clear.

Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads to look at the two.

Tuan Tuan shook her head firmly: "Uncle Qi, the horses did nothing wrong—making them suffer diarrhea would be pitiful; they'd feel awful."

She paused, lifted her little face, and her big eyes stared at the ferocious men before her:

"It's they who are unreasonable; if anyone should suffer, it ought to be them!"

Lu Qi: "……"

"Quite reasonable!"

He struggled to keep a straight face, barely holding back a smile: "Lord Master's wisdom is clear; it was my oversight. Indeed, these people deserve the punishment."

Tuan Tuan placed her hands behind her back, leaning on her third brother, and muttered softly: "Let the Horse Gang folks all have diarrhea!" then she relaxed her grip.

Xiao Ningxun held her tightly; from the corner of his eye he saw a small leaf slip from his sister's hand, a faint flash of light, and it vanished into the air.

Dou San flared with anger: "You barge in to cause trouble, and dare to spout nonsense right in my face! Do you really think I'm made of mud?"

He completely lost his patience, slammed the table hard, and roared: "Give me…"

Before he could finish the line "Give me a beating to death," his expression froze instantly, his ferocity vanishing, replaced by a look of shock and embarrassment.

A violent cramping and churning sensation surged through his abdomen!

A powerful urge to defecate came on so fiercely and swiftly, as if pent‑up pressure had finally burst forth, leaving him utterly unable to resist!

Not only him, but at nearly the same moment, the dozens of men brandishing swords, knives, and clubs, ready to rush forward, all simultaneously turned pale!

"Ugh… my… my stomach!"

"Oh no! I can't hold it!"

"To the toilet! Make way! I need to go!"

Cries of pain and surprise erupted one after another.

Just moments ago, dozens of burly men, fierce and menacing, now all had twisted faces, clutching their stomachs tightly.

Some clamped their legs together, unable to move an inch; others no longer cared about anything, wildly shoving aside those nearby, rushing in a panic toward the outhouse behind the tavern.

Some, seeing the outhouse as hopeless, clutched their stomachs and staggered out of the tavern door, looking for any place to relieve themselves.

The tavern, which had been tense and ready for battle just moments before, instantly became a mess, with only various weapons scattered on the ground, and in the blink of an eye everyone had vanished.

Du San Ye was the one with the deepest cultivation and the greatest endurance among them.

But he, too, now had veins bulging on his forehead, cold sweat dripping, his legs tightly clenched, and only by exerting all his willpower could he barely stay standing without losing composure.

He looked at Tuan Tuan with a shocked expression, certain that it was this girl!

What she had just said actually came true!

Tuan Tuan stared back at him with her innocent big eyes.

Xiao Ran had already covered her mouth and burst out laughing.

Xiao Ningxun's mouth twitched slightly, and for a moment she didn't know what expression to make.

Lu Qi suppressed the shock in his heart, stepped forward, and looked at the pale-faced, barely holding on Du San.

"Du San Ye, now can we calmly talk about Ma Daqiang? Or do you also need to go relieve yourself first?"