These people clearly did not take Zhang Fang and his companions seriously.
Although they arrived later, they insisted the shopkeeper serve them dishes first, a slight no man could tolerate.
Furthermore, Zhang Fang was a personal bodyguard to the Prefectural Magistrate of Longnan County, who always carried himself with arrogance. He had never been disrespected like this before and immediately drew the knife from his waist, ready to fight.
A clamor of tables, chairs, and benches ensued as both parties braced for confrontation, obviously terrifying the inn's owner.
"Respected guests, please, have mercy on my small establishment. If you fight here, my inn will be completely ruined!"
His pleading did not move the two parties in the standoff.
Just as the tension between the two parties reached its peak, the door darkened as a few figures, like bamboo poles, inserted themselves in.