Chapter 677: Wuxia: Even Archrivals Can Become Lovers 11

Meanwhile, the four from the True Martial Sect and five from the Broadsword Sect at the other table had already linked arms and started drinking and eating meat; the Governor, worried the youngsters wouldn't adjust, joined them at that table.

As a result, they couldn't even eat—if their chopsticks were a tad slow, the meat was already gone.

He kept picking up empty chopsticks, his face flushed with embarrassment, and glanced at the youngsters' table, where they had barely moved.

Thus he rose leisurely, took a seat, stroked his beard, and asked, "Are you all dissatisfied with the dishes?"

Sang Ning raised their hand, mouth still full of braised pork, speaking indistinctly, "Satisfied, satisfied, Sir, the meat at your residence is truly delicious."

"If it's tasty, eat more, but I still need all of you to help me find the culprit."

The Governor finally got to eat the dishes, and was utterly moved.

"Tsk."

In this tense, sword-drawn atmosphere, Jin Chen spoke first, his fingertips rubbing the wine cup as he looked across at Fu Zhiyuan.

"Although the food is good, one must also be able to stomach it; some people lack virtue for their position and have low ability—what's the use of hogging the good dishes?"

The Governor's chopsticks paused, and he looked left and right.

"Who? Who is he talking about?"

Fu Zhiyuan curled his lip, his eyes gleaming with smugness as he locked gazes with him.

"Even if the food we make is utterly inadequate, it's no place for outsiders to gossip."

Sang Ning shook their head while eating a chicken leg, exchanging bewildered looks with the Governor, "I don't know!"

Now Mu Huaizhi could only be on Jin Chen's side; his voice was cold and stern, his gaze icy enough to freeze a person.

"The livestock used for the dishes weren't raised by the cook; they were things the cook picked up—how can that be called 'homemade'?"

The Governor's eyes widened, soup splashing onto his beard—how could these martial heroes demand such perfection from the food?!

Fang Xun's expression darkened; he felt Mu Huaizhi's words were too harsh—if there was a misunderstanding, it could be cleared up, so why stab at people's hearts?

"Even if they were picked up and raised for many years, why couldn't they be called 'homemade'? The cook hasn't complained—are we, as apprentices, overstepping?"

Sang Ning's bite on the chicken leg stalled, they glanced at Fang Xun then down at the leg in their hand.

"Can they even taste whether it was the cook or the apprentice who made it?!"

Jin Chen drew out his reply, and meanwhile slipped a few pieces of meat to Mu Huaizhi.

"Some people are used to eating sweet, fatty big fish and forget that beneath the surface lies filthy, rotting meat."

Having said that, he glanced at Fang Xun.

The Governor, who was in the midst of picking up fish chunks: "……"

"Nonsense! The people in his residence prepare the fish spotlessly clean!"

Fang Xun's expression shifted slightly; he lowered his eyes, took a sip of tea, and did not respond.

As for Fu Zhiyuan, he still needed to observe, but after all he is the fiancé; deep down he does not want to believe he's been deceived.

Mu Huaizhi understood his friend's thoughts, could only sigh inwardly that love leads people astray, and immediately grew more hostile toward Fu Zhiyuan.

Now, just thinking about sharing a table and a meal with him makes me nauseous.

"Ugh—"

He turned his head and gagged, brows knotted tight.

The Governor trembled as he set down his chopsticks—sure enough, they found the dishes disgusting!!

Fu Zhiyuan gritted his teeth, "Mu Huaizhi, what do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious? Some of this stuff is utterly revolting."

Jin Chen handed him a handkerchief, raised an eyebrow, scanned Fu Zhiyuan up and down, and said, "It's just that I haven't eaten much; otherwise I'd be throwing up too."

"Clack!"

The wine cup was slammed to the floor, its shattering sound echoing through the restaurant; the nine people at the other table, mid-bite of meat, stared over in shock.

Fu Zhiyuan rose angrily, drew his sword and pointed it at Jin Chen, "You're asking for death!"

Sang Ning's chicken leg slipped from their hand.

They shakily backed away in their chair, locking eyes with the Governor, both shrinking into a huddle.

"What the heck! Even if you're unhappy with the dishes, do you have to go this far?!"

The Governor adjusted his hat, trembling as he pressed his hands down, "Calm down, you two martial heroes, calm down!"

"If you're dissatisfied with the meat and dishes in my residence, you can just say so straight out!"

Jin Chen gripped the sword tip with his fingers, moved it aside effortlessly, his strength so great it forced Fu Zhiyuan not to dare loosen his grip.

In Fu Zhiyuan's astonished gaze, the sword snapped; internal energy transmitted through the blade struck his hand, forcing him to clutch his arm and retreat two steps.

"You!"

Before Fu Zhiyuan could react, he turned his head and saw two chopsticks embedded in the pillar behind him, brushing past as he wiped his eyes.

His whole body shuddered, and cold sweat instantly broke out.

This person's strength……is far more terrifying than he imagined!

It all happened in a flash; Fang Xun didn't even have time to help.

Jin Chen smoothed his cuffs, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze, yet it fully revealed a chilling killing intent.

"If you don't obediently return Mu Huaizhi's Jade Hilt Dragon, I'll forge you into a sword."

"Forging a sword blade from human flesh, nurturing its spirit with human blood—care to give it a try?"

Sang Ning shuddered, their cute bun-like face trembling, "So scary, so scary."

But the point of that remark seems to be……As Mu Huaizhi's junior brother and the Vice Alliance Chief of the Heaven Sword Alliance, Fu Zhiyuan has snatched his senior brother's Heaven's Number One Sword, the Jade Hilt Dragon!

In the martial world, who doesn't know—heads can fall, blood can spill, but one's life‑bound weapon must not be lost! Now the nine righteous heroes can't stay seated; they immediately rose and surrounded him.

"Junior Hero Fu! How could you seize your senior brother's sword?!"

"Exactly! You don't realize that although the Jade Hilt Dragon is formidable, only Mu Huaizhi's swordsmanship can keep it in check—thinking about it is pointless."

Throwing away the sword is no better than throwing away one's life; no wonder Young Hero Mu has been scowling since he walked in—truly pitiful.

Mu Huaizhi, who usually wore a cold expression, blinked his eyes, then lifted his chin to look at Fu Zhiyuan.

Fu Zhiyuan still wanted to explain, "You don't know! He…"

He was merely misunderstood by you and had his sword taken away! Fu Zhiyuan, you have such a cruel heart!

Jin Chen raised his voice to interrupt him, and indeed didn't let Fu Zhiyuan find a chance to speak.

You frame him for practicing demonic arts, yet you can't produce any evidence, condemning him based on just a few nonsensical remarks about a corpse.

Even when the magistrate handles a case, they stress solid evidence; as someone who is supposed to be a deputy alliance leader, how can you be so unreasonable?

It's downright more baffling than the Nine Abyssal Demon Sect!

When Jin Chen talks back, he even scolds his own family!

Mu Huaizhi's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he lowered his eyes, withdrawing his smile.

He is not good with words, yet he realizes that everything Jin Chen said is exactly what he himself thought.

This feeling is quite wonderful.

【Ohoho! Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +15! Accumulated 0! Congratulations congratulations congratulations!】

Upon hearing this, the nine sturdy men immediately felt it made sense, and even the regional inspector came to a rough understanding.

That's right, Young Hero Fu—if you have no evidence, how can you arbitrarily pass judgment and even seize weapons!

If the leader of the Heavenly Sword Alliance knew, he would surely think the brothers are discordant!

Fu Zhiyuan: '……'

He was rebuked into utter confusion, nearly losing control of his expression.

Fang Xun sat among them, merely lowering his eyes to drink tea, as if pondering something.

Like this! Today I'll decide! I and that Alliance Leader Fu are also friends, Young Hero Fu—just return the Jade Hilt Dragon to your senior brother, and we'll call it even!

A tall and sturdy middle-aged man from the Broad Blade Sect spoke up, his voice deep and resonant.

Fang Xun finally rose, walked over to Fu Zhiyuan's side, and tidied his disheveled collar, saying, "Zhiyuan, return the sword to him; the strange affairs in this town aren't settled yet, and we can't be without weapons."

"When we go back, if it can truly be proven then, killing him and retaking the sword later would not be too late."