Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 109 Eating Lamb Leg

That evening, Jiang Xun got tired of wandering around the market and was about to go back.

He paused as he passed a roasted lamb leg stall.

The mutton sizzled and dripped oil over the charcoal fire, its skin golden brown, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, its aroma filling half the street.

He swallowed hard. "Boss, one, raw, please."

"Alright!" The boss deftly took a fresh, uncooked leg of lamb from the shelf, wrapped it in oil paper, and handed it over. "Fifty coins."

Jiang Xun paid the money, picked up the lamb leg, and walked back, pondering what to eat for dinner along the way.

Should we grill it or make soup?

Lamb has a strong gamey smell, so you need to add more ginger and Sichuan peppercorns...

Just as they were happily contemplating their plan, several people suddenly darted out from the alley ahead.

"stop!"

Jiang Xun paused and looked up.

Five or six men stood at the entrance of the alley, each holding a weapon—a stick, a knife, and one carrying an iron chain.

The leader was a short, fat man with a fierce face, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, looking at him with a nonchalant air.

"Hey kid, you've got some money, huh?" The short, fat man spat a toothpick on the ground, his posture resembling that of a gangster boss. "You've been asking around the market these past few days about crossbows. What, trying to strike it rich?"

Jiang Xun was overjoyed—they've arrived!

He feigned a flustered expression: "Brothers, I'm just a businessman, and I'd like to stock up on some good goods—"

"Good stuff?" The short, fat man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "You think I'm a three-year-old when you come to Shuofeng City to collect crossbows?"

"There are city lord's guards patrolling around here. If you dare to make a move, I'll call for help." Jiang Xun tried to sound flustered, his voice trembling slightly.

"Haha, it's no use yelling all you want..." The short, fat man waved his hand, and several of his men surrounded him. "In Shuofeng City, the city lord's mansion has no jurisdiction over our Black Flag Gang."

Black Flag Gang? Jiang Xun had never heard of it; he guessed they were local bullies.

"Break one of his legs." As soon as the short, fat man finished speaking, two burly men rushed up to attack.

Jiang Xun sighed.

He originally wanted to act a little longer and get more information out of them—but these people were so clueless, they just started attacking without any skill whatsoever.

The first burly man threw a punch, which was powerful and forceful.

Jiang Xun dodged to the side, grabbed his wrist with his left hand, pulled him down, and kicked him in the back of the knee with his right leg.

With a "crack," the man knelt on one knee, his face turning pale with pain.

The second burly man was a beat slower; before his fist could even reach him, Jiang Xun had already kicked him in the stomach.

The man flew three zhang away like a kite with a broken string, crashed into the wall with a "bang," slid down, and groaned while clutching his stomach.

The short, fat man was dumbfounded, his mouth agape, not even noticing the toothpick fall down.

"You...you..."

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Jiang Xun punched him in the face.

The short, fat man screamed and flew backward, crashing into the wall and sliding down, the iron rod in his hand clattering to the ground.

Before the remaining people could react, Jiang Xun had knocked them all down with a few punches and kicks.

It all happened in the blink of an eye, swift and efficient, like sweeping up trash.

Jiang Xun clapped his hands, bent down to pick up the lamb leg that had fallen to the ground, walked up to the short, fat man, and looked down at him: "Who is your gang leader?"

"Your skill is impressive." A cold voice suddenly rang out.

Jiang Xun looked up.

A person walked out from the depths of the alley.

He was in his forties, of medium build, wearing a dark leather coat. His face was ordinary, but his eyes were very bright, like a hawk or a snake, and he had an unsettling aura about him.

He was followed by four men, each with a restrained aura and bulging temples, clearly skilled in martial arts.

"I am Ma Zhong, the leader of the Black Flag Gang," the man introduced himself, his tone chilling. "May I ask your esteemed name?"

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment—he recognized the voice; it was the same person who had spoken to Boss Yang yesterday.

"Bai Fu," he casually made up a name, grinning, "I didn't know Chief Ma would grace us with his presence; I'm so sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Ma Zhong looked at him with displeasure, clearly knowing it was a fake name.

"Kid, you've got some nerve."

"It's alright," Jiang Xun said. "Just enough to make a living."

"Just trying to make a living?" Ma Zhong's tone grew even colder. "Inquiring about crossbows in Shuofeng City is a capital offense."

"Losing your head? That depends on who has the ability." Jiang Xun was also getting a little angry—these people kept talking about taking lives, as if they could control others at any time.

What, does your family own Shuofeng City?

The two stared at each other; the alley was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

The four men behind Ma Zhong had their hands on their weapons, ready to attack at any moment.

Jiang Xun's hand also rested on the sword hilt.

Just then, a voice came from the alley entrance.

"This person is my friend."

Jiang Xun was taken aback and turned around to look.

A young man dressed in black stood at the entrance of the alley, his hands behind his back, exuding an extraordinary air.

Tuoba Feng.

He still looked the same—clad in black with a cold expression, a long sword hanging at his waist, and eyes as deep as a pool.

He was thinner than when he was in Qiantang after a few months apart, but he was more energetic and stood there like a drawn sword, exuding a chilling aura.

When Ma Zhong saw him, his expression changed slightly.

"Young Master Tuoba?" His tone became noticeably more polite. "What brings you here?"

"Just passing by." Tuoba Feng said calmly as he walked to Jiang Xun's side, glanced at him, then turned to Ma Zhong and repeated, "This man is my friend."

Ma Zhong frowned.

He glanced at Tuoba Feng, then at Jiang Xun, as if weighing something.

"Young Master Tuoba," Ma Zhong began, his tone still polite, "this man's inquiry about crossbows violates the rules of Shuofeng City. It's not that I'm being disrespectful, it's just..."

"I'll discuss the crossbow matter with the city lord," Tuoba Feng interrupted him without even lifting his eyelids. "I'm taking the person with me."

Ma Zhong fell silent.

He stared at Tuoba Feng for a long time, seemingly judging the weight of his words.

Tuoba Feng ignored him, as if he didn't take Ma Zhong seriously at all.

After a moment, Ma Zhong suddenly laughed, but it was a forced smile.

"Since you are a friend of Young Master Tuoba, then forget it." He cupped his hands in farewell.

He left with his men, glancing back at Jiang Xun as he walked out of the alley, his gaze cold and menacing.

Jiang Xun returned his smile, silently making a mental note of this debt.

The alleyway quieted down.

Jiang Xun, holding a leg of lamb, looked at Tuoba Feng and suddenly smiled.

Thanks.

"Why did you come to Shuofeng City?" Tuoba Feng asked, his tone no longer as cold as before.

"To do business," Jiang Xun said with a grin.

Tuoba Feng glanced at him, clearly disbelieving, but didn't press him for details.

Where do you live?

"A rented courtyard in the west of the city."

"take me."

"What?"

"Eat lamb leg."

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment, then laughed even harder.

"Okay." He tossed the lamb leg over his shoulder. "Come on, I still have some wine."