A Lesson

Translator: AnubisTL

The three men killed in the city were members of the Great River Gang, a powerful faction with a substantial presence in the city. They boasted a large membership and two External Strength Experts among their ranks.

This level of strength placed them just below the Red Fish Merchant Guild and the City Lord's Manor in terms of influence.

It was clear that during the Wolf Hunt operation, the Great River Gang had been the aggressors, choosing to steal prey rather than hunt wolves honestly in the forest.

Their subsequent public statements confirmed this, revealing that they had seized a considerable amount of prey, likely antagonizing at least two or three other gangs in the process.

"Our brothers' blood will not be shed in vain! If we uncover who was behind this, the Great River Gang will stop at nothing to exact revenge!"

These words were filled with murderous intent and arrogance, even a hint of contempt for the City Lord's Manor.

It seemed the gang had profited handsomely from selling their stolen prey to the Red Fish Merchant Guild, allowing them to recruit even more External Strength Martial Artists.

Such gang conflicts were not uncommon in the city.

"Giant Rock City is truly different," Li Qing remarked with a wry smile after learning about the city's chaotic gang-ridden landscape, far more turbulent than Blackrock City.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qing's Smithy stirred again.

He glanced up to see the same group of thugs from the Sand Crocodile Gang.

Each man carried a bear trap, their faces grim, clearly signaling ill intent.

"Master Li," the gang leader stepped forward, slamming ten dirt-stained bear traps onto the counter. "We're here to return these. You don't need to refund the full amount. Just give us back a hundred Money Crystals."

Li Qing had heard about the Sand Crocodile Gang's recent wolf-hunting expedition, which had ended empty-handed.

So, they're trying to pull a fast one!

Li Qing, lounging in his master's chair, almost burst out laughing.

He picked up the bag of bear traps beside him, casually grabbed one, and spread it open. "What's wrong? Are the traps faulty? They look perfectly fine to me."

As Li Qing spoke, he demonstrated how to open the trap. It remained in perfect condition, its blades still razor-sharp.

"There's nothing wrong with the trap itself. We just don't want it anymore. Give us back a hundred Money Crystals, and you'll still make at least fifty."

"I've already been more than generous. Don't say I'm not giving you face."

The thugs from the Sand Crocodile Gang spoke arrogantly, some even thinking fifty Money Crystals was too much for Li Qing to keep. Ten would have been more than enough.

Hearing this, Li Qing's lips curled into a dangerous smile.

Heh, they really think I run an online shop? Seven-day no-questions-asked returns?

While Li Qing didn't place much value on Money Crystals—they were essentially useless anywhere else—he was still annoyed. When had the Sand Crocodile Gang gotten so bold as to try and ride roughshod over him?

"I'm sorry, but I don't offer returns. If there's a quality issue, I can reforge them for you."

After speaking, Li Qing put the bear trap back where it belonged and tossed it at the feet of the local thugs.

The moment those words left his lips, the faces of the Sand Crocodile Gang members darkened.

"Master Li, don't push your luck."

Li Qing didn't even glance at them. "Face is something you earn, not something others give you."

"Hmph, I didn't realize you had such guts, Master Li! You dare to disrespect the Sand Crocodile Gang's goodwill!"

As he spoke, several of them reached for their waists, clearly intending to draw their blades and intimidate Li Qing.

But Li Qing had handled more knives in his lifetime than they had ever seen. How could he be intimidated by such a display?

"I advise you not to draw your blades," Li Qing said, still lounging in his chair, his voice completely flat, without a hint of threat. "Just take your things and leave quietly. Otherwise, you won't be able to handle the consequences!"

To the Sand Crocodile Gang members, his words carried no weight at all.

Swish!

The leader, gritting his teeth, drew his long blade and was about to press it against Li Qing's throat.

But in the next instant, the long knife vanished from his hand. In less than a blink, it had landed in Li Qing's grasp.

Li Qing had straightened up at some point, now examining the inferior long knife he had just seized.

Even these street thugs knew they had kicked an iron plate.

The owner of Li Qing's Smithy was clearly no pushover. No wonder he had been so confident.

"You... you just wait!"

"Gulp! Just you wait! We'll have our Gang Leader come talk to you!"

Their initial eagerness for trouble instantly extinguished, the thugs were now desperate to retreat, no longer wanting to provoke Li Qing further.

Their threats were merely a desperate attempt to save face.

But Li Qing had no intention of letting them off so easily. As the thugs turned to leave, he said coldly, "Did I say you could go?"

His words sent a chill colder than the outside air through the crowd, freezing them to their very cores.

"What more do you want? We're not asking for the money back!"

"Master Li, you'd better think this through. We're from the Sand Crocodile Gang, and our Gang Leader is an External Strength Expert!"

Li Qing stood up, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I told you, face is something you earn, not something you're given."

"I told you not to draw your knives, but you wouldn't listen."

With that, Li Qing unleashed his Internal Strength, snapping the long knife in his hand clean in two.

Clang!

The blade shattered with a sharp, crisp sound.

The few remaining men in the room were so terrified their legs turned to jelly.

"Grandpa Li, please, show us mercy and let us go!"

TL/N: For those who are new, in Chinese culture calling someone Grandpa or Grandfather shows extreme humility, same with great grandfather, the older the address the more respectful it is considered.

Thud!

With that, the entire group dropped to their knees, utterly devoid of backbone.

Their swift surrender made Li Qing chuckle. "All four of you, start slapping each other. Whoever slaps the hardest gets to leave."

"This..."

"Hmm?"

Seeing that some people still had doubts, a murderous glint flashed in Li Qing's eyes. He glared at the remaining questioner, who flinched and immediately slapped the person kneeling beside him.

Soon, Li Qing's Smithy echoed with the chaotic, crisp sounds of slaps.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

By the time their cheeks were red and swollen, their arms aching and numb, Miao Qi, who had been sent out to gather information for Li Qing, returned.

Miao Qi stared in surprise at the four people kneeling in front of Li Qing's Smithy, but he didn't ask any questions. He immediately went to Li Qing's side.

Seeing Miao Qi enter, Li Qing said, "Alright, all of you, get out of here."

At his words, the group scrambled to their feet and fled Li Qing's Smithy, abandoning their bear traps and other devices.

"Brother Li," Miao Qi said, "City Lord Qin of the City Lord's Manor is planning a birthday banquet and has invited all the prominent gang leaders in the city to attend."

(End of the Chapter)

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