Xu Qi'an stood up and looked out from the observation deck, leaning on the railing and squinting at the man on the arena.

He was absolutely sure that he didn't know this boisterous man, nor did he remember any enemy at the Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm.

Enemies wouldn't appear for no reason, but I just can't remember... Xu Qi'an touched his chin and pondered about the possible enemies targeting him.

In terms of being a person, he has always adhered to the principle of being kind to others and winning them over with virtue.

In terms of being an official, he upholds the righteousness of serving the country and the people.

Such a good person shouldn't have enemies.

Chen Guifei is a cunning woman. If she wants to retaliate against me, assassination would be her first choice. She wouldn't make such a big fuss... Although many factions in the court would love to see me dead, the current situation doesn't match the style of a scholar...

"He's scared."

"No kidding, that's a master at the Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm. With his small build, he'll be knocked out with just one punch."

"That's why these spoiled brats who rely on their ancestors' influence may act arrogantly in the capital, but they are nothing when they encounter a true expert."

Xu Qi'an's "hesitation" was seen as cowardice and fear by the young heroes at the table.

The young heroes were delighted. At this moment, their mentality was like taking a beautiful woman who scored 90 points to a nightclub, but then a rich young man named Zhao suddenly appeared and shouted, "Zhao will pay for tonight's expenses!"

The high-quality beauty who scored 90 points was impressed by Zhao's extravagance and turned to him... But at this moment, there was a loud noise in the sky, and a true boss descended, slapping Zhao in the face and saying, "You're not worthy!"

Although it wasn't the young heroes who slapped Zhao, they still felt delighted, watching the silver-haired fool lose face and poking at the young heroes' sensitive spot.

Thinking of this, they turned their heads to look at Miss Rong Rong, hoping to see disappointment in her eyes, to see the appearance of the pampered young masters losing their glory.

Then they remembered that they were the ones with potential, and they could be the ones they turned to.

Miss Rong Rong's position was obviously not as shallow as the young heroes thought. She showed a caring look, even though the silver-haired fool had nothing to offer her.

At this moment, Xu Qi'an turned around, his hand resting on the hilt of his waist, and said, "I'm going to meet him."

"Hey!"

Miss Rong Rong suddenly approached, pulled Xu Qi'an's arm, and let go before he frowned. She smiled apologetically and said, "Why bother competing with a nobody from the martial world?"

Xu Qi'an ignored her, shook his head, and went straight downstairs.

"Even if you have a powerful background, you should find some helpers first. If you go up like this, you'll just get beaten for nothing." Miss Rong Rong muttered.

After leaving the restaurant, Xu Qi'an walked towards the arena, flicking his thumb lightly, releasing a burst of aura.

The man with the Copper Skin and Iron Bone, as well as the martial artists in the crowd, immediately sensed it and turned to look. When they saw Xu Qi'an's silver gongfu uniform, they understood.

The main character had arrived.

They voluntarily stepped back.

The onlookers, however, didn't have such awareness and still crowded outside.

"Get out of the way!"

Xu Qi'an kicked a man in plain clothes, causing him to flee in embarrassment. The common people then retreated a bit, making way.

"Get lost, all of you!"

Xu Qi'an took off his scabbard and started hitting anyone, regardless of age or gender.

"Everyone, retreat ten zhang and do not approach... Hey, old man, don't rely on your age to act all high and mighty. Do you want to taste the slap of the younger generation?"

"Which brat's family, if no one takes you away, I'll sell you... Why are you crying? If you force me, I'll kick you... Auntie, have you finished washing the bowls for lunch? Why did you come here to watch the excitement... What's wrong with hitting you? If you were twenty years younger, I would sell you to a brothel."

In the restaurant, on the observation deck.

The young heroes leaned on the railing, watching Xu Qi'an bully the common people, filled with righteous indignation.

"This scoundrel actually takes his anger out on the common people."

"If he has the ability, he should go up on stage and fight. He only knows how to bully the common people. What kind of Nightwatcher is he?"

"He's just a fool."

When Xu Qi'an was not around, they could freely criticize him.

One of the handsome young heroes turned around and walked to Miss Rong Rong's side, speaking gently, "Miss Rong Rong, let's go back and have a drink. I'll tell you about my master's journey to the north and his experience of slaying the barbarians with his sword."

"Yes, what's the point of drinking with this fool of the second generation? Miss Rong Rong, look, he only knows how to bully the common people." The other young heroes echoed.

Miss Rong Rong sat upright and glanced at these young heroes with a smile, "Do you think he is bullying the common people?"

"Isn't he?" the young heroes asked in return.

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Miss Rong Rong blinked her eyes curiously and said, "There is a saying in the martial world: When masters fight, the idle retreat! It means that the aura fluctuations of high-level martial artists can easily kill ordinary people. Don't tell me you don't even know this? Really?"

... The young heroes' faces turned red instantly."That's just to explain the situation. It's not about bullying the common people or venting emotions," the young man who invited Rongrong retorted unwillingly.

Rongrong lowered her head and drank, disguising her disdain in her eyes.

The common people in the market are so ignorant. Even if you explain the pros and cons to them in a kind and gentle manner, will they listen? Do they understand what it means to have a showdown between experts and for the idle to step aside?

Not only are the common people ignorant, but they are also rowdy and unruly. They are only afraid of the officials. Dealing with them is better done with force rather than a gentle approach.

These young men, who come from good families or sects, may say that the common people are parasites living off the merits of their ancestors, but they are not as good as Xu Yinluo.

.............

After driving away the ignorant common people who surrounded the arena, Xu Qi'an finally stepped onto the stage, leaning on his sword, looking down at the man who was a head taller than him, and asked, "Who do you belong to?"

"I belong to your mother," the eight-foot-tall man sneered.

You dare to insult me? Fine, keep your breath, I'll take you to the Nightwatcher's dungeon and teach you a lesson in behaving properly... Xu Qi'an hung his sword back on his waist, gripping the handle, and said, "I only need one sword to deal with a sixth-grade ant like you."

How arrogant!

The surrounding martial artists were shocked. A sixth-grade warrior is considered a prominent figure in the martial world, and in some counties, they hold the position of martial arts leader, a regional overlord.

Even though there are many experts in the capital city and legendary first-grade sorcerers, a sixth-grade warrior is still not someone anyone can easily handle.

"Hahaha."

The eight-foot-tall man with bulging muscles laughed grimly, "I not only want to crush your eggs, but I also want to cut off your tongue and serve it as a dish."

In the lookout hall, Rongrong turned her head and glanced at Xu Yinluo, who was enjoying his food and drink, frowning, "Sir, aren't you calling for help?"

Even when their superiors are being beaten and injured, he can still enjoy his meal so leisurely. It's hard to believe that he is a low-ranking officer in the yamen and knows nothing about social etiquette.

"Hey!"

Xu Yinluo waved his hand dismissively, "He's just a Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm. What's the big deal? You have no idea how powerful our Lord Xu is."

"Lord Xu is also in the Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm?" Rongrong recalled and denied her own speculation. She had observed Xu Qi'an before and didn't see the unique aura of the Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm on his body.

Xu Yinluo looked at the young men and sneered, "Lord Xu is not in the Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm, but let me tell you, he was once attacked on the street. The assassins were two Refining Spirit realm experts and one Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm... guess what happened next?"

Rongrong shook her head.

Of course, nothing happened later. After all, Xu Qi'an is still alive and well. She knew that Xu Yinluo was not talking about this.

"One sword!"

Xu Yinluo raised a finger.

"What?"

The charming Rongrong didn't understand.

Xu Yinluo pointed outside and said lightly, "See for yourself."

Bang!

The sound of the arena's surface cracking came, and Rongrong suddenly turned around, seeing the eight-foot-tall man stepping on the shattered white jade, turning into a black shadow.

On the other side, Xu Qi'an stood with a bow stance, lightly flicking his thumb.

Clang... the sound of a blade being unsheathed echoed throughout the venue, clear and melodious.

With Rongrong's eyesight, she only saw a dark golden thread flash by, followed by the exploding blade aura, like invisible steel needles shooting in all directions.

On the ground, shallow pits were pierced into the arena's surface.

If Xu Qi'an hadn't driven away the common people earlier, there would have been casualties by now.

In the eyes of the common people and most of the martial artists, they only saw Xu Qi'an unsheathing his sword, but upon closer inspection, they found that the sword was securely back in its scabbard.

However, the tall man who had been full of momentum earlier stopped. He stopped one zhang away from Xu Qi'an, lowered his head, and looked at his chest in disbelief.

In the next moment, a thin and long sword mark appeared on his chest, and blood gushed out.

The tall man slowly knelt down, his face gradually turning pale.

Xu Qi'an said coldly, "I said one sword, and it's just one sword."

"Wow!"

The crowd erupted into a noisy uproar. At first glance, it was a "wow" sound.

Cheers followed, with the common people in the market loudly applauding, their voices resounding, and a small number of them shouting to go quickly to the clinic to fetch a doctor.

The martial artists who had cultivation were more knowledgeable. After the initial commotion, they collectively fell silent.

One sword!

One sword that cut through the flesh of a Copper Skin and Iron Bone realm cultivator. This Xu Yinluo's cultivation is probably at the fifth or even sixth grade.

"Nightwatcher Xu Yinluo..."

They silently remembered this name.

"How about that? I didn't lie to you," Xu Yinluo laughed as he stood up and glanced at the stunned Rongrong, saying, "This is the genius that our Lord Wei promoted. What's a mere sixth-grade warrior? Even the officials in the court have to be polite when they see our Lord Xu."

After speaking, he coldly swept his eyes over the dumbfounded young men, picked up his sword, and went downstairs.

.........

After Xu Qi'an killed the man, two Copper Skins and Iron Bones immediately stepped onto the stage and asked, "How should we deal with this person?""Take him to the doctor to treat his wounds, then bring him back to the Nightwatcher's office. Remember to seal his acupoints with an ox hair needle. A dying camel is bigger than a horse," Xu Qi'an instructed.

He looked towards the direction of the tavern and found that Miss Rongrong was gone.

"Where's Miss Rongrong?"

"She was just here."

The man who had gone downstairs turned around and indeed, she was nowhere to be found.

This doesn't make sense, I've put on such a big show, shouldn't she be throwing herself into my arms... Xu Qi'an thought regretfully.

Never mind, it's not like he had expected anything to happen.

Xu Qi'an took the severely injured man to a nearby clinic. After the doctor had bandaged his wounds, he took the unconscious man back to the Nightwatcher's office.

Halfway there, he suddenly felt that something was amiss. He carefully checked himself - his waist tag, his saber, his money pouch... all were still there.

He touched his chest and finally realized what was wrong.

The fragment of the earth book was gone.

"Sir, are you looking for something?" The man carrying the unconscious man on his horse asked, pulling on the reins.

"Quiet!"

Xu Qi'an closed his eyes, recalling his recent experiences.

His clothes were intact, ruling out the possibility of losing the earth book fragment while walking. Besides, with his keen hearing, he would have noticed immediately if it had fallen.

He had only drawn his sword once during the fight, there was no intense hand-to-hand combat, so that was ruled out!

So, there was only one possibility left - it was stolen.

"That old lady seemed clueless, she wouldn't have the skills... The only one who had contact with me was Miss Rongrong, she grabbed me before I went downstairs..."

Xu Qi'an chuckled, "No wonder she left so abruptly, turns out she's a little thief. Is that what 'enchanting hand' means?"

From the time he left the Hero's Platform until now, half an hour had passed. Logically, the person would have escaped far away. The capital was so big, the chances of retrieving the lost item were slim.

"Why did she have to steal the earth book fragment, of all things? This thing can be GPS tracked," Xu Qi'an instructed:

"You guys go back first, I have something else to do."

He wanted to go back to the scene and then find Taoist Master Jin Lian.

.......

PS: I'll edit after updating. I just watched a few episodes of "Listening to Thunder in the Extreme Sea", which delayed my writing. I admit my mistake.