Chapter 280: Have you ever seen this?

Lu Qi's face instantly froze.

I had just boasted before the Lord Master, and now who is this blind fool, causing trouble at this time?

A few people walked into the teahouse.

In the main hall's center stood a young noble in embroidered robe and jade belt, holding a folding fan, arrogant, with seven or eight burly men behind him.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man with a pale face and short beard, his gaze indifferent.

The young noble glared at a man in his fifties, short and stout, and said impatiently, "Shopkeeper Liu, didn't you hear my words? Hurry up and drive them out!"

"Lord Wang has come all the way from the capital to drink tea here; he's doing you a favor!"

Shopkeeper Liu smiled: "Young Master Qian, how would you like the upstairs? I'll free up the best private room for you, and today's tea is on me."

"Look, those sitting here drinking tea are all our regular customers; how can we just throw them out and not let them sit? Please, be lenient..."

"What do you mean? My household is the biggest salt merchant in Jiangzhou; do I need you to spend money to treat me to tea?"

"Come on!" Young Master Qian lost all patience: "Seize them! Throw them all out!"

"Yes!" The sturdy men with short sticks at their waists immediately moved in, menacingly beginning to drive out the tea guests.

Shopkeeper Liu and a few assistants rushed forward to block them, but could not stop them at all.

The tea guests rose one after another, being shoved by the sturdy men toward the door.

"How unreasonable!" an old man muttered, holding a five- or six-year-old boy's hand, being shoved until he could barely stand.

A sturdy man shoved him again: "Just go if I tell you to; why all the nonsense?"

The old man stumbled, and the boy cried, "Grandfather!" and burst into tears, frightened.

Lord Wang lifted his eyelids, glanced at the boy, furrowed his brows, and wore a look of disgust:

"Noisy. I, the official, despise children's clamor the most!"

"Throw out this crying brat, together with his clueless grandfather!"

"Yes!" The sturdy man reached out to grab the loudly crying boy.

The surrounding tea guests all looked resentful, but dared not speak in anger.

"Stop!" Lu Qi shouted angrily, burning with fury.

"Where did this bastard come from, making me lose face in front of the Lord Master like this!"

The sturdy man froze, his hand hanging in midair, sizing up Lu Qi a few times: "Where did this outsider come from, so reckless?"

Tuan Tuan walked to the still-wailing boy, spread her little arms to shield him behind her, lifted her head, and shouted at the frowning, angry sturdy man: "You may not bully him!"

The sturdy man lowered his head, saw she was a little girl not even up to his knee, and couldn't help but chuckle angrily: "Where did this brat come from, meddling here?"

"Haven't you heard Lord Wang hates children the most? You dare to come closer? Get lost!"

Having said that, he stretched out his big hand to shove Tuan Tuan's shoulder.

Lu Qi grabbed his arm and twisted it hard; the big man immediately screamed in pain.

Lord Wang frowned, glaring at Young Master Qian, impatient: "Throw them all out!"

Tuan Tuan's little face puffed with anger; she lowered her head, untied the embroidered pouch at her waist, and pulled out a small rust-speckled iron nail she had picked up on the boat.

Xiao Ningxun hurriedly held her close, encircling her in his arms, shielding her hand.

Tuan Tuan wrapped one arm around his neck, and with her other small hand let go: "Let these villains throw me out!"

A flash of light, and the iron nail vanished.

Young Master Qian suddenly shuddered, as if someone had shoved him hard from behind and then kicked him fiercely.

With a strange "ao" cry, he staggered toward the door, arms and legs splayed, his whole body flying flat out of the teahouse, and with a "bang" he slapped onto the street, dust flying.

Passersby were all startled by him and hurriedly gave way.

Young Master Qian propped himself up with hands and feet, just about to rise.

Lord Wang likewise flew out of the teahouse, slamming into Young Master Qian with a "bang" and driving him back down.

Immediately after, the seven or eight sturdy men flew out one after another, "bang bang bang" piling onto them both.

A group of people ended up stacked on the ground in a comical heap.

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands and giggled: "Look! They threw themselves out!"

Everyone gaped, faces full of disbelief, staring at them.

"What's going on? Is it a ghost? Or have these people all lost their minds?"

"So satisfying!"

"Serves them right! Let them be unreasonable!"

Shopkeeper Liu walked to the door, staring so hard his eyes almost popped out.

"Get down! All of you get down! You're crushing me!"

Young Master Qian strained to push the sturdy men off himself.

With great effort, everyone finally managed to get up.

Lord Wang straightened his clothes, fuming: "Well, in broad daylight, under the clear heavens, you dare to assault an imperial court official in public? Who are you? Do you still have any respect for the law!"

Xiao Ningxun snorted coldly: "You bully the old and young, condone violence—what kind of imperial court official are you?"

"Insolent! I, the official, am here discussing salt matters with someone; your disturbance here is already contempt of the law and defiance of the government!"

"And you dare to lay hands on people—clearly you harbor ill intent, aiming to eavesdrop on secrets! Come!" he bellowed, "Seize these people for me! Treat them as bandits!"

The sturdy men who had just gotten to their feet drew their short sticks and were about to charge into the teahouse.

The tea guests exclaimed and retreated, clearing a space.

Xiao Ran stared coldly and said: "Lord Wang came from the capital? Have you ever seen this?"

The sturdy men paused in their steps.

Lord Wang wore a puzzled expression: "Seen what?"

Xiao Ran ignored the hulking men and strode straight toward him.

When he reached three steps in front of Lord Wang, Xiao Ran halted, leaned slightly, produced his own Token, held it in his palm, and brought it up to his eyes.

Prince's Token!

Lord Wang's complexion drained in an instant, a chill surged from the soles of his feet up to his celestial spirit crown, his legs went limp, and he was about to collapse to his knees.

Xiao Ran braced him with one hand, preventing him from kneeling.

Lord Wang stared at him, his lips moving, just as he was about to speak,

"Silence," Xiao Ran barked.

Young Master Qian stared dumbfounded, his whole body frozen.

What's happening to Lord Wang?

He didn't see what Xiao Ran showed Lord Wang, but he could see the ashen pallor on Lord Wang's face.

Xiao Ran leaned into Lord Wang's ear: "Don't say a word, not a single one. Finish your official business and get out of Jiangzhou Prefecture at once!"

"Yes! Yes!" Lord Wang trembled all over, could think of nothing else, and turned and fled.

"Lord Wang! Lord Wang!" Young Master Qian watched his retreating back, utterly bewildered.

What the hell is this?

His complexion turned white then green, green then white again, cold sweat streaming down his temples.

He glanced back at Xiao Ran, dared not utter even half a word, staggered a few steps backward, then turned and ran.

The group of hulking men, you glance at me, I glance at you, all with puzzled looks, they sprang after him.

Xiao Ran tucked away the Token and turned back toward the teahouse.

Shopkeeper Liu repeatedly thanked the few, escorted them to an elegant private room on the third floor, and personally brought a pot of fine tea and a tray of snacks.

Tuan Tuan produced an Arcane Token: "Shopkeeper Uncle, I am the Lord Master!"

Shopkeeper Liu was overjoyed: "So it turns out the Lord Master has arrived!"

Lu Qi smiled: "Shopkeeper Liu, long time no see! Can't recognize me? Years ago, I drank tea here for an entire day!"

Shopkeeper Liu examined closely: "Lu Qi! It's you! It's been many years!"

Lu Qi nodded: "Please have a seat. We are here on business. A Daoist named Qixiazi has arrived in Jiangzhou Prefecture; have you heard any rumors?"