"That’s me."

"Sorry, sorry... My apologies. I didn’t recognize a true hero..."

The martial artist hurriedly returned the set of books to the shelf, bowed out of the bookstore, sweat from fear dripping on the ground without wiping it off, all while smiling: "Sorry, sorry... My apologies... I’ll take my leave, or rather... we’ll never meet again..."

Then he sprinted out the door.

The old man watched, dumbfounded, as the silver he had almost gotten flew away.

His beard was trembling with anger.

Furiously, he turned and said: "You, you you you... what are you really up to!"

Fang Che smiled: "I want to have a drink with you."

The old man shook his hands: "...You scoundrel!"

Although the bookstore was large, the commotion was quite significant. The Jianghu People, all sharp-eared and bright-eyed, had all heard Fang Che reveal his identity.

One by one, those who had come to buy books were struck as if they’d been hit by a thunderbolt on a sunny day.

Their minds were filled with ’I just wanted to buy a book, how did I step into Yama Palace’—pure chaos.

They all put down the books in their hands and sneaked toward the exit.

As they passed Fang Che, they broke into a cold sweat, flashed a flattering smile, and then backed out the door, after which they sprinted away.

In an instant, the place was empty.

Faintly, you could hear the distant voices of those who had walked away.

"Oh my... Fang Tu, Fang Tu is actually here, my legs have gone weak..."

"My calves are cramping... wait a moment, hiss... let me rub..."

"Coming here to buy a book and actually encountering the King Yan... today just isn’t my day, let me find Little Taohong to wash away my bad luck later..."

"Tch, meeting the King Yan is better; if your time hasn’t come, you won’t die. But meeting Fang Tu, he doesn’t care about your time, he’ll still send you to see the King Yan... it’s really dangerous, that I’ve seen Fang Tu face-to-face and come out alive... gotta celebrate later, find Little Taohong to unwind..."

"I was wondering why, I haven’t done anything wrong, yet entering the bookstore gave me chills down my neck. I was puzzled until I realized Fang Tu was there... this man carries tens of thousands of ghosts with him..."

"..."

Few people were in the distance, kindly keeping watch on both sides.

"Where are you going?"

"I heard Wenxin Moxiang has Conquer the World..."

"Heh... don’t blame me for not warning you, Fang Tu is inside!"

"Who!!??" A shout of shock erupted.

"Fang Tu!"

"Really? Oh crap... whether true or not, I’m staying away..."

Slowly, more and more Jianghu people gathered on both sides, filling the tea house.

And some had other intentions: "Don’t make a sound, let’s see which unlucky soul goes in..."

And indeed, an unlucky soul went in.

Everyone stared with wide eyes.

Only to see the fellow backing out, his waist nearly touching the ground, trembling, exiting, and then wiping his sweat while sprinting... halfway he tripped.

Got up and kept running...

The spectators all laughed gleefully at his plight.

"Serves him right! Hahaha..."

A few unfortunate souls angrily stormed upstairs to the tea house, grabbed someone they knew and began to curse: "Damn you, Wang Laosan... Fang Tu is inside and you didn’t warn me? From today onwards, I sever all ties with you! We don’t know each other!"

"Come on... Brother Li, I really didn’t see you... come here, sit, waiter! Get us tea! Brother Li, just now, that was frightening..."

"Damn... don’t remind me! As soon as I entered, I saw a Life and Death Order in my face, I pissed myself on the spot... damn it, where’s the restroom?"

"Hahahaha..."

...

Inside the store.

The old man was so angry he was foaming at the mouth: "You, you you... you you you rogue! How will I do business now!?"

Fang Che said: "Do it tomorrow, will you really miss this one day of earning?"

"You mother..."

"Shall we go for a drink?"

"Damn it!"

"Shall we go for a drink?"

"You son of a..."

The old man was so vexed he could barely breathe, his face turning red: "Is it just a day’s matter? With your infamous reputation, my store business is ruined! For at least three months, there won’t be any improvement."

Fang Che smugly stroked his chin: "Is my reputation already resounding like thunder?"

"You’re really good at blowing your own horn!"

The old man was furious: "What do you say we do!"

"Let’s have a drink, drown the sorrow in alcohol." Fang Che stood up: "Old man, please."

"Not going!"

"Then I won’t leave today, I’ll come back tomorrow. And the day after that."

"I will absolutely not let you in again!"

"Then I’ll stand at the door! Stand in the street!"

Fang Che said: "Anyway, I must have a drink with you."

The old man was furious: "Fang Che! What exactly do you want!"

"Sing to the wine, how long is life." Fang Che said: "I just want to raise a glass and have a drink with you while saying a few words from the heart."

"You just drag me out to drink? "

The old man felt his anger consume him, almost on the verge of a stroke: "How can I continue to mingle in the future? "

"Don’t worry, after I show up today, not a soul in Donghu State will dare trouble you!" Fang Che said.

"Do you really need to say? No one dares to bring trouble, but damn, no one dares to buy books either!"

The old man was in a bad mood.

"So, I go out and buy some food, and we drink here in the store? That works too!"

Fang Che, in his confident manner, knew this old fellow wouldn’t dare do anything to him.

It was clear from the earlier exchanges.

This old man... hmph, definitely has connections with the upper echelon of the Guardians, and after I left yesterday, he surely made contact.

Having contacted them, what the upper echelon would say to him doesn’t even need guessing?

"That won’t work either!"

The old man angrily retorted: "You dare to buy groceries, buy wine, yet you must pretend you have nothing to do with my store... I want to drink Tiexue Platform, aged 200 years... not a year less, and then I will... will be waiting for you somewhere. Remember to disguise yourself! You can do disguises, right, killer?! "

"You’ll see about that!"

Fang Che laughed heartily, walked over and picked up a set of books: "Five hundred taels?"

"Five hundred taels! Hand it over!"

"I’ll give it to you when we’re drinking!"

Fang Che, carrying a thick stack of books, strode out the door.

The sun was close to noon.

The old man was stamping his feet and beating his chest in the store: "Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!"

"Such sin!!"

...

Fang Che, carrying a stack of books, immediately attracted everyone’s attention when he came out.

All eyes turned to look.

Then they saw Fang Che paste a notice on the bookstore door.

Walked away.

The crowd hurried over to look: "Store sealed for three days!"

Suddenly it dawned on them.

"Turns out Fang Tu is here to investigate."

"What happened, sealing the store for just three days seems so lenient?"

"Don’t worry, don’t ask... as long as it has nothing to do with us."

"Let’s leave, let’s leave, come back in three days if you want to buy books."

"By then Fang Tu shouldn’t be here, right? I’m a bit scared."

"With this seal, things will definitely wrap up in three days, the Guardian works like this."

"That’s still good."

This was also Fang Che’s best remedy for the old man’s bookstore, which was to limit the time.

With three days set, it’s three days.

After three days, things will gradually recover here, but without this notice... as the old man said, it might not recover in half a year!

Might even straight up close down, it’s possible. Fang Tu’s reputation is just that formidable!

"Rather wander the Nine Halls of King Yan than let Fang Tu cast an eye!"

In the eyes of ordinary families, Fang Che already had a living shrine; but in the eyes of martial artists, especially Jianghu martial artists, Fang Tu had reached a terror level capable of silencing crying children.

At noon.

Fang Che secretly arrived at a very ordinary little courtyard.

Quite exquisite.

The Spirit Plant grape vines covered the entire courtyard, now it’s summer, bunches of sparkling grape beads hung quietly.

Though not ripe yet, the unique fragrance of Spirit Fruit was already extremely rich and fragrant.

Carrying wine and food inside, Fang Che immediately restored his true appearance, smiling: "You’re really quite cultured, you even disguised this grape as a Spirit Plant. Tsk, even Spirit Plants can be disguised, senior truly is a hidden master."

The old man snorted, rolling his eyes: "Close the door."

Boom.

The door slammed shut.

The old man waved his hand, a soundproof barrier enveloped the courtyard.

Subsequently, he threw three more consecutively.

The whole courtyard was covered tightly.

Fang Che’s heart trembled slightly, damn... so terrifying? This old thing indeed was hiding his strength!

Looks like this line today was the right move!

The old man coldly glanced at Fang Che, chillingly said: "Fang, if you don’t give me an explanation today, this place, I’ll make sure you can come but not leave!"