Chapter 132: An Instant Counterkill

As the premier grain merchant in the capital, Sun He had encountered all sorts of peers, but this was his first time meeting one who had no interest in making money.

With grain prices in the capital skyrocketing, all the merchants had to do was follow the guild’s plan to gradually raise prices. Within a month, every one of them would be swimming in profit. Yet, they had run into a stubborn thorn in the side: the Liu family. Even after being taught a lesson by the thugs Sun He hired, the Liu grain shop refused to raise prices and even imposed limits on purchase quantities. This was a blatant act of defiance against the guild, and if not resolved immediately, it would derail their entire scheme.

After leaving Taibai Pavilion, Sun He took a carriage to a quiet, secluded teahouse opposite the Liu grain shop and sent word to summon Wang Qihu, the local bully of East Chang’an Street.

The Liu family’s shop, known as the Yonghe Grain Shop, had been in business for about a decade and enjoyed a good reputation in the neighborhood. Since grain prices had started climbing, Yonghe had continued to sell below market rates. This gesture had won the favor of the local commoners, and following its reopening today, a long queue had quickly formed outside.

Before long, Wang Qihu arrived at the teahouse with a few of his lackeys, all of them panting and drenched in sweat from running.

Entering the teahouse, Wang Qihu saw Sun He sitting by the window. He hurried over, bowing low with a fawning expression. "Master Sun, did you have any instructions for calling me here today?"

On East Chang’an Street, Wang Qihu was a figure of some notoriety. He bullied small vendors, collected protection money, and occasionally acted as a debt collector for casinos and pawnshops, acting with great arrogance. However, in front of Sun He, he was as cautious and timid as a fawning dog. He had no choice; Sun He had deep connections and was exceptionally generous. To make a living, Wang Qihu had to perform the dirty, shameful work for him. When the job was done well, the rewards were substantial—rewards that Wang Qihu used to support his band of brothers—which was why he was so obsequious toward this wealthy benefactor.

Sun He glanced at Wang Qihu, picked up the teapot from the stove, filled a cup, and handed it to him.

Having run the whole way, Wang Qihu was parched. Seeing his big benefactor personally pouring him tea, he felt flattered and hurriedly reached out with both hands to receive it.

*Splash!*

Suddenly, Sun He flicked his wrist, drenching Wang Qihu’s face with the scalding tea.

"Argh!" Wang Qihu screamed, covering his face and stumbling back several steps.

Hearing their leader’s cry, the lackeys waiting outside the teahouse rushed in. "Boss, are you alright?" one asked with concern.

Fortunately, the weather had turned cool, and the tea had lost much of its heat by the time it hit his face. Apart from his skin being slightly red, he had no blisters.

"Get out, all of you! Don't ruin Master Sun’s mood," Wang Qihu ordered, suppressing his pain as he drove his men away.

Being splashed for no reason left Wang Qihu furious, but the man before him was someone he could never afford to offend. He suppressed his anger, cupped his hands, and said, "Master Sun, I don’t know what I did wrong to make you so angry. I am not good at reading the room; if I have erred, please enlighten me."

Sun He’s face was cold. "How did you handle the task I gave you yesterday?"

Wang Qihu was stunned. Yesterday, Sun He had told him to go and intimidate the Yonghe Grain Shop. He had done so early this morning, and he had already reported the results to Sun He, who even gave him a reward. Why was he bringing it up again?

"Master Sun, I handled that matter personally! There can be no mistake," Wang Qihu insisted, patting his chest.

"Then look for yourself—what is the state of the Yonghe Grain Shop right now?" Sun He pointed coldly toward the window.

Wang Qihu had been in a rush when he arrived and hadn't noticed the long queue across the street. Looking now, he saw that business at Yonghe was even better than the day before. However, he had been instructed to warn them not to ruin the trade, and he had done so. They had been beaten, and the message had been delivered. What did the shop’s reopening have to do with him?

"Master Sun, they want to open for business; I can’t stop them. I can’t exactly beat the shopkeeper and his staff to death—I can’t afford a murder charge..." Although Wang Qihu was a bully, he never pushed people to the brink. Unless he killed them, he couldn't stop them from doing business, and that was a line he dared not cross.

*Bang!*

Sun He slammed his teacup onto the table, grinding his teeth. "I told you to warn them not to sell at low prices so they wouldn't ruin it for the rest of us. How exactly did you deliver that message? They reopened not only without raising prices but also by limiting quantities. If this continues, who knows how many commoners will wait and see? They can afford to wait, but can the hundred-odd grain shops in this guild afford to?"

"They didn't raise prices?" Wang Qihu’s expression darkened.

He had assumed that since he had beaten the shopkeeper and his staff half to death this morning, they would understand what he meant. If they wanted to do business in peace, they would naturally have to raise prices. He hadn't expected that even after the message was delivered, they would completely ignore it and reopen that afternoon with prices still twenty percent below market value. No wonder Sun He was so angry.

If that was the case, he had indeed failed. Wang Qihu cupped his hands. "Master Sun, that is my fault. But don't worry, I will handle it right now. I guarantee the Yonghe Grain Shop will not dare to ruin your business!" He rolled up his sleeves and prepared to leave.

"Wait." Sun He glanced across the street. "Look, there are a few more people outside the shop. They’ve likely hired muscle to guard the place. Bring more men so there aren't any hitches."

Wang Qihu peered out. Beside the long line outside the shop, a few men in their thirties and forties were helping to maintain order. Wang Qihu wasn't afraid. His own men were mostly in their early twenties—in their prime. Dealing with a few old geezers would be a breeze. Still, he didn't dare ignore Sun He's warning. After leaving, he sent his men to rally more people.

Soon, over a dozen hoodlums gathered in an alleyway. Upon learning they were to teach a small grain merchant a lesson, the men relaxed. Such a large force was usually reserved for turf wars with other gangs; smashing a shop run by only a few people was like using a butcher's cleaver to slaughter a chicken.

Adhering to the instruction to smash things but not kill, Wang Qihu waved his hand, and the dozen men rushed toward the Yonghe Grain Shop with clubs in hand.

When Wang Qihu and his men had smashed the shop that morning, many commoners had witnessed it. Seeing them return so aggressively, they immediately realized what was happening. Since the shop offered fair prices, the people felt grateful. Though they didn't dare intervene, they shouted warnings to the shopkeeper and staff.

"Shopkeeper! The hoodlums from this morning are back, and there are a lot of them!"

The crowd erupted in chaos, fearing they might get caught in the fray, and quickly scrambled away.

Earlier, when Xue Rui had visited, he had made contingency plans with the shopkeeper and staff. Hearing the warnings, the shopkeeper and his staff quickly closed the shop doors to prevent the thugs from smashing the interior.

As they did so, the six old veterans who had received the warning immediately formed a defensive line, grabbing the long poles they had prepared and meeting Wang Qihu’s group head-on.

Seeing the old veterans unafraid and moving in perfect, coordinated formation, Wang Qihu paused. These men didn't look like ordinary people; they looked like trained fighters. But Wang Qihu didn't have time to dwell on it. Sun He was watching from the teahouse, and if he couldn't even handle a few old men, he would never be able to show his face on this street again.

"Brothers, rush them! Beat these old fools into the ground!" Wang Qihu roared. The hoodlums surged forward with their clubs.

*Clatter, clatter!*

As the saying goes, "one inch longer, one inch stronger." Though the veterans held only long poles, they used the spear techniques they had mastered in the military for years—stable, precise, and ruthless. The hoodlums never expected such skill. Before they could even get close, several were struck in the chest, abdomen, or groin, collapsing in pain.

"Ow! Oh, heavens..."

In an instant, several thugs were beaten to the ground. Fortunately, the poles had no spearheads, or they would have been dead several times over.

"Get up! Beat them to death!" Wang Qihu, standing at the back, shrieked, but he watched his men fall like wheat before a scythe. Within a few breaths, he was the only one left standing.

Only then did Wang Qihu realize how terrifying these unassuming old veterans were.

"Who... who are you people?" Seeing the veterans closing in, Wang Qihu pulled a dagger from his waist, his eyes bloodshot.

One of the veterans sneered, "It's too late to ask that now!"

Before he could finish, he flicked his wrist. His pole struck like a dragon, precisely hitting Wang Qihu’s wrist.

*Ah!*

With a scream, Wang Qihu’s dagger clattered to the ground. The veterans moved in and trussed him up tightly.

Having dealt with the hoodlums, the veterans didn't know how the master wanted them handled, so they had the shopkeeper go find Liu Ren. The commoners, seeing these local bullies finally get their comeuppance, applauded.

When Liu Ren arrived, he was shocked by the scene. Wang Qihu’s men were strewn across the ground, groaning in agony, while Wang Qihu himself was tied up and hurling curses at the veterans.

"This is a mess," Liu Ren thought. He had intended for the veterans to just drive the hoodlums away, not to crush them instantly and hold them hostage. They had certainly offended these ruffians now. If they let them go, the gang wouldn't let it slide and would surely return for revenge. But they couldn't keep them locked up in the shop either.

"The Assistant Magistrate of the Shun Tian Prefecture, Lord Ye, has arrived!"

Just as Liu Ren was at a loss, a loud voice rang out from the crowd. People scrambled to make way, and several bailiffs emerged, leading an official in green robes. It was Ye Maoxun, the assistant magistrate.

"Commoner Liu Ren pays his respects to your lordship!" Liu Ren stepped forward, bracing himself.

Ye Maoxun looked around, frowning. "Someone reported a brawl here. Explain what happened."

Liu Ren quickly replied, "Your lordship, I am a law-abiding merchant. Because I refuse to raise grain prices, I have offended my peers. These thugs smashed my shop this morning, leaving my shopkeeper and staff severely injured. This afternoon, as soon as I reopened, they returned to stir up trouble. Fortunately, I had hired some help to guard the premises, and they managed to subdue these men."

Ye Maoxun counted; there were fourteen hoodlums on the ground and only six men acting as guards. To subdue twice their number without injury was no simple feat. He looked away from the veterans and turned to Wang Qihu. "You, tell me—is what he said true?"

"My lord, he is lying through his teeth!" Wang Qihu, having prepared his story, retorted, "Grain prices have risen, and my family is short on food. I bought grain here this morning, but this treacherous merchant shorted me! I bought thirty catties, but only got twenty-five. When I went to reason with them, I was beaten by the shopkeeper and his staff. I was furious, so I brought my brothers to demand medical expenses, only to be beaten again! My lord, look at us—we are the real victims!"

Wang Qihu knew he had lost all face; he would be a laughingstock on the streets. More importantly, he was terrified that Sun He was watching. Having made such a fool of himself, his status in Sun He’s eyes would plummet. Without his big benefactor, his days of luxury were over. But he had to lie; if the authorities charged him with disturbing the peace, he’d be in jail for weeks. If he lost his standing on East Chang’an Street, he’d never be able to collect protection money again.

However, his words were immediately met with outrage from the crowd. "Wang Qihu, when have you ever paid for anything? Everyone on this street knows your character. Don't try to deceive the magistrate!"

"Exactly! I buy grain from Yonghe all the time, and they always give extra. There’s no such thing as shorting customers. Don't you dare slander them!"

"My lord, this Wang Qihu is a menace! He bullies the good people every day. Please, bring him to justice and throw him in jail!"

Seeing the public fury—with some even throwing rotten vegetables and eggs at Wang Qihu—Ye Maoxun ordered his bailiffs, "There are too many details to verify here. Take them all to the yamen; I will interrogate them thoroughly."

Soon, Wang Qihu and his men were hauled away, and Liu Ren and the veterans from the Duke of England’s estate were taken along to provide testimony.