Chapter 39: No One as Awesome as You Is Allowed in Chang'an!

"I already told you, having a hand is enough...."

"And conveniently, I, big brother, do have a hand!"

Chen Yan lifted his right hand, waved it before Li Tan's eyes, and retorted.

Gripping the strong thoroughly.

Damn, it's completely filled… Li Tan muttered in his heart, stared straight at the person mocking him, and gritted his teeth, saying: "You paper‑cutting poet!"

Who could have thought that a sure‑win situation would be turned over like this?

Since when has the Mingjingsi produced such an oddity???

"Thanks for the compliment!"

Chen Yan watched with interest, Li Tan's twisted expression, and burst into hearty laughter.

He paused, then reminded: "I'll hand my brother A Jin over to you; remember to arrange a skillful courtesan for him!"

"Got it!" Li Tan managed to squeak out a reply between his teeth.

Losing a lady and a troop, his heart felt like it was bleeding.

Paying the silver was one thing, but letting his brother feast on a Jiang Li Courtesan was another.

At that moment, Li Tan felt darkness crawling within him....

After Chen Yan exchanged a few words with Yuwen Ze, he left with Doukou. Not far when a man's voice called from behind: "Brother Cao, please wait!"

It was Zhao Lingyi, the one whose pick was snatched.

He immediately quick‑stepped forward, blocking the way.

"Anything?" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow and asked.

His gut told him this guy came with ill intent, probably had no good business.

Zhao Lingyi didn't beat around the bush, bowed to Chen Yan and said straight out: "I've also set my sights on Jiang Li's lady; may Brother Cao part with her?"

He paused, then flicked his sleeve, declaring grandly: "Name any amount of silver you wish!"

At first it sounded like he was letting Chen Yan set the price, but in fact it was a veiled threat.

In any other circumstance, Zhao Lingyi wouldn't dare such blatant plunder in the Capital.

Yet Chang'an, even the whole Guanzhong region, has no great figure or clan surnamed Cao!

Thus Zhao Lingyi could conclude that this Cao Kun, talented in poetry but without backing, could be handled at will!

"What if I say no?"

Chen Yan laughed, clasped his hands to his chest, and asked with interest.

"You dare refuse this Young Master?"

Zhao Lingyi instantly bristled, stared sharply at Chen Yan, and said slowly: "Then don't blame this Young Master for being forceful!"

Saying so, he lifted his head, his chin slightly raised, exuding a condescending arrogance.

He hummed softly through his nose, as if saying crushing Cao Kun is easier than crushing an ant.

"Oh?"

Chen Yan's playful spirit rose, half‑smiling, and asked again: "What kind of forceful method?"

"How hard can it be?"

Provoked, Zhao Lingyi lifted his sword‑shaped eyebrows and shouted: "Men, come!"

Three tall, flesh‑filled guards answered, saying in unison: "Young Master, give your orders!"

For a moment, the atmosphere was tense.

"Lady, what should we do now?"

The courtesan's maid Greenlu, witnessing the scene, full of worry, asked.

"No rush!"

"Let's look first before deciding...."

Jiang Li remained unusually calm, unruffled, waved a hand, watched Chen Yan's expression, and laughed: "Young Master Cao shows no fear!"

This top courtesan of Chunman Lou also wanted to see whether this world‑shaking poet‑talented man was merely bluffing or truly fearless.....

Li Tan stepped forward, pointed at Chen Yan, looked at Zhao Lingyi, and asked intriguingly: "Brother, are you saying you want to snatch her from him?"

He said, trying hard to suppress the upward curve of his mouth.

There was a hint of disbelief in his tone.

Competing with a living Yan King for a woman is truly unheard of, never seen in one's life!

One of the Twelve Great Generals, Da Xi Jue, along with his subordinate Office General, were named in the clan record and wiped out completely....

And yet someone actually dared to dig on the Grand Duke's head?

What an eye‑opener!

"Of course!"

Zhao Lingyi lifted his head, sneered, and declared firmly: "What I set my eyes on is never unattainable....."

He paused, looked impatiently at Li Tan, and asked coldly: "Are you meddling in other people's affairs?"

"Who gave him the courage to snatch a person from Brother A?"

Even Yuwen Ze's eyes widened in astonishment.

Treading on Da Xi Jue's corpse, the notorious name of the Mingjingsi Zhuque Mirror Keeper had already spread throughout Chang'an, even Yuwen Ze had heard of it.

Who exactly is this subordinate before us, capable of such boldness?

"No, no, no!"

Li Tan, hearing that, waved his hands repeatedly: "Do as you wish; I will not interfere!"

His words hung in the air.

Without any hesitation, he pulled Yuwen Ze aside.

The two exchanged a glance, both straining to suppress laughter.

He looked as if he were watching the commotion, not minding the trouble at all.

Li Tan's retreat fueled Zhao Lingyi's arrogance, making him even more overbearing, and he said, "Brother Cao, did you see that?"

"Your companion has already abandoned you, not even a hint of hesitation…"

"If you have any sense, leave quickly; this Gongzi (Young Master) won't harm you…"

Chen Yan didn't look at him, but scanned left and right as if searching for something, and casually replied, "Still blaming those with principles…"

Finally, his gaze landed on the right, on a porcelain vase used as a decorative ornament.

Bang!

Chen Yan snatched the vase and struck Zhao Lingyi's head directly with it.

Ah!

A wail rang out.

As the porcelain shards scattered on the ground, the unsuspecting Zhao Lingyi also bled profusely.

"Inside Chang'an, there is no room for someone as awesome as you!"

Chen Yan casually tossed the vase's rim aside, glanced sideways at Zhao Lingyi, and sneered.

"You dare make a move?"

"You actually dare smash me with porcelain?"

Zhao Lingyi was stunned by the blow, clutching his blood‑soaked forehead, unable to think clearly.

He never imagined that this background‑less scholar would have the audacity to act so recklessly!

You're getting all greasy, looking for death?

Bang!

Chen Yan said nothing; his response to Zhao Lingyi was another vase.

"I won't just smash you; I'll also slap you!"

"What cats and dogs dare act wild in front of me?"

Chen Yan tossed the vase rim again, raised his hand, and slapped Zhao Lingyi's face.

The frail Zhao Lingyi was knocked to the ground, hysterically shouting, "Attack!"

"Kill him!"

"Break his legs, strip him naked and toss him onto the street!"

At that moment, Zhao Lingyi had lost all reason.

Only a raging fury remained.

He's grown so big, and even his father never beat him; how could this lowly commoner scholar dare?

"Yes."

Three guards answered and rushed toward Chen Yan, "Kid, you've got the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard; daring to strike my Gongzi (Young Master), you shall die!"

"Zhu Yi!"

Chen Yan neither dodged nor avoided, merely called softly.

Zhu Yi turned into a flash of cold blade, darted out, and punched the guard about to strike Chen Yan square in the face.

Ah!

Immediately, he shifted his body, tripped the guard on the left, and kicked him in the head.

The remaining guard sensed something wrong, gathered strength, and threw a punch forward.

Zhu Yi, with a light hand, redirected that punch onto the guard on the ground.

Then, with a single elbow strike, he cleanly eliminated the last man.

But Zhu Yi's movements did not cease.

Just now, he clearly heard that these men intended to break the Young Master's legs.

Therefore, their legs should not remain.

Aaaah!

Wails rose one after another.

Zhu Yi not only snapped nine legs of the three men, but also picked up the broken porcelain and sliced their tendons.

"You shrimp soldiers and crab generals, you're not worth looking at!"

Chen Yan, neither hurried nor slow, walked to the stunned Zhao Lingyi and raised his hand for another slap.

Bang!

From not far away, Li Tan saw this and fanned the flames, "Big brother, haven't you eaten?"

"That's not crisp at all!"

Bang!

Chen Yan, hearing that, swung his other hand again.

Zhao Lingyi, unable to stay upright, was slapped a meter away, and shouted loudly, "Stop!"

"You surnamed Cao, you've caused a massive disaster!"

"Do you know who my father is?"

"My father is Zhao Wuji!"

Having no other recourse, he brought up his father, trying to use his lineage to subdue the madman before him.

"My father is Cao Ni Ma!"

Chen Yan remained unmoved, stepped forward and seized Zhao Lingyi's throat with one hand.

"Who is Zhao Wuji?" Yuwen Ze turned his head, looked at the Li Tan beside him and asked.

He had heard that name many times.

"I haven't heard of it …" Li Tan shrugged.

"Inspector of Qianyuan Zhou, now Senior Physician, Military Marshal of the Summer Office!"

"He's a big figure you can't provoke!"

Zhao Lingyi's blue veins flared, and when he mentioned who his father was, his earlier confidence returned once more.

"Truly terrifying, I'm so scared …"

Chen Yan loosened his grip, tossed Zhao Lingyi onto the ground, and said in a mocking tone.

Zhao Lingyi did not catch the mockery, shouted sharply: "Since you admit you're scared, then kneel before this Young Master, kowtow and admit your mistake …"

But before the threat could be spoken, a loud slap shut his mouth.

"Slap!"

"You!" Zhao Lingyi glared angrily.

"What kind of thing is Zhao Wuji anyway?"

Chen Yan curled his lip, gave a contemptuous smile, and disdainfully said: "What rank are you, and are you even fit to be in the same Qinglou as me?"