91 Magistrate Wi

"Huh? What do you mean by that," Zhang Yong questioned what Shou meant.

The youth pursed his lips, seemingly disappointed. "Nevermind, let's just return."

"Wait, I didn't quite get what you mean," Zhang Yong insisted." Could you explain?" Though he didn't understand, he still had a hunch that this was something important to him. He glanced at the two women, but they only shook their heads in confusion.

Shou had already turned around, making his way back to the store. "It's fine, it's fine." he waved his hands. "That just means it isn't time yet. You will naturally get it when everything's done."

"It's not time?" He repeated Shous' words, but it made little sense to him. In the end, he settled with waiting. If it wasn't time yet, he could only wait, just like how Mei Xue said. "Alright, let us return."

The others had already been waiting. By now, even Li Yangyi had left his instance, and was briefed into the happenstance of this city. Even though he was a doubtful man, the smoke in the far back definitely helped sell the story. However, in the end, the person that convinced him was Lin Zhuyue. For some reason, that woman—though older than him—reminded Li Yangyi of his sister. He couldn't help but subconsciously trust her more.

"Did anything happen," Ah Liang rushed over and asked Zhang Yong. "You weren't gone for long, so I assume everything is fine?"

"Nothing happened to us, but I can't say the same about the others," the man answered him. "The City Lord has truly gone crazy this time. His words weren't just talk, he truly plans to fight the three families till one side dies. He's already started cracking down on the Zhang Family."

"Does he not respect the three families at all," Li Yangyi asked shocked.

"Well, clearly not." Zhang Yong shrugged. "Whatever, for now, this is of no concern for you guys." He glanced at the Li siblings and patted their heads. "Just leave it to the adults."

"I am quite young, will you offer me some words of encouragement too," Mei Xue joked, putting the middle-aged man in an awkward situation where he did not know what to do. "I'm kidding, I am quite old already too."

Suddenly, unprompted or not, Shou asked them, "What are you guys doing all outside?" He had noticed it when even Ah Liang opted to wait outside when his legs couldn't even bring him out due to sheer terror after hearing that loud explosion.

The guys looked at each other with an awkward expression. A short silence reigned over them, as Li Yangyi scratched his head. He glanced at Lan Jiu, who nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "Uhm..."

"Is someone else in there?" Shou stared through the window.

"Well, there's a guest, but I wouldn't exactly call him friendly," Li Yangyi answered.

Lan Jiu spoke too, "I don't know him personally, but apparently he's quite the thorn in your eyes? His face does seem punchable. Too bad I have been clearly warned not to engage. I would have shown him my top 10 face-slapping arts."

"You guys really do know how to build suspense," Shou said, and walked into the Store of Fates, and promptly. He soon understood the queer reactions of the quests.

In the small reception hall, on the only couch available, the familiar Magistrate Wi sat, sipping on a teacup that nobody knew where it came from. This was definitely a surprise, but not a pleasant one. He still wore his sword on his waist, together with his smug grin. Shou nodded to himself, agreeing with Lan Jiu—that man really did have a punchable face.

"I thought you'd have fled the country, with the recent announcement," the Magistrate spoke. He glanced at Shou, gauging his reaction. Clearly, he did not come with pure motives today.

Shou cupped his hands over the man's teacup. "Bringing your own food is forbidden."

The mans' eyebrows twitched, as he placed his drink down on the floor. "Haha, fine I will play along for now. Did you know, I wanted to close your store entirely, but the City Lord decided against it, thinking." His eyes darted around, moving to the guests. "Did you know? I could get you all arrested, and there was nothing you could do about it."

"The nerve of this guy..." Mei Xue muttered with a baffled face.

"He's kind of annoying," Li Yinyi spoke honestly. "I don't quite know why. Maybe it's his face?"

Magistrate Han Wi remained gleeful, not letting any words get to him. He shook his head, muttering in shame, "But alas, it's too bad, there won't be any new customers coming, so how long could you possibly survive?"

Shou waved his hand, as if waving the mans' words away. "Yes, yes. Of course." Shou took the drink and placed it away, on the table. "So how's work?"

Magistrate Wi lifted his brows. "They are full of morons. Can't even get one thing right." He shook his hands in disappointment."

"I see, and what about the City Lord," Shou asked.

"That man is different." Magistrate Wi's face changed. "You may not know, but I actually come from the capital. When I was sent here, I thought it'd be the end of my career. And I was right, at first. Everyone in this place is a babbling idiot that has yet to see the world. Their methods are backward, their ideals tired, and worst of all, they are imbeciles." He sighed and paused. "But the City Lord is different. He gives off the flavor of the capital."

"Even after he caused so much discord in this city?" Shou rubbed his chin.

"You wouldn't understand the mindset of the City Lord. Naturally, he obviously is thinking about the big picture, unlike you guys. If a small city like this is meant to be trampled while doing so, then so be it." Han Wi laughed. "...Wait, why are we having a calm conversation as if we are friends that have not seen each other for a long time?"

"You," Shou pointed at Zhang Yong, ignoring Han Wi. "What's your opinion on that?"

Zhang Yong scratched his head, thinking. "I'm not much into politics, but I wonder. . . a law or rule, even with good intentions, will be tarnished if it sacrifices the life of innocent and uninvolved people. That's not justice."

Shou nodded. "But what if they would have died anyway? Would it be right to sacrifice them then?"

"Hmm..." Zhang Yong returned to thinking.

Mei Xue spoke, "Then, I think the City Lord should be transparent, no? Let's say by this sacrifice, he may prevent even greater disaster, I think the people deserve to know. It may cause trouble at first, but people deserve to know what they die for."

"Is there a big disaster coming," Li Yinyi asked innocently.

Mei Xue patted the girl's head. "No, I am just saying in theory."

"If it were the Waning Principle sect, we'd definitely have backstabbed each other," Lan Jiu spoke. "But I think different, I believe we should all work together when that time comes. As my master always said, a small mistake undos a lifetime of right."

"Well, that only works if what the City Lord doing is truly just and righteous," Shou spoke. "If he is doing everything out of selfishness, there really is no point, no?"

"Then we must cut the tree by its roots," Zhang Yong spoke, steadfast, and everyone, including non-combatants such as Ran Wei and Ah Liang, agreed. "Ah! Is that what you mean with us standing for the Store of Fates?"

"...Are these guys crazy?" Magistrate Wi watched them having a profound session right in front of his face. Did they not understand the situation? How dare they ignore him. At first, he simply wished to cause trouble and see the angry expressions, but he would truly be a fool if he let such blatant offense go. "Are you guys courting death?"

"I am, but I've got some suspicions that she is not into me," Shou spoke. "Anyways, don't take any offense to this, but why do you have such a punchable face? It's not only me that thinks so."

"That's right. I felt it too," Lin Zhuyue chirmed in.

An Bai, the straightforward one, said, "You should check it out. This cannot be good for social relations."

"What an amusing little store." Magistrate Wi felt all his veins pop. "Why don't we settle this outside?"

Shou paused for a moment. "How are you going to buy my products then?"

Han Wi grit his teeth. "Who'd want to buy your trash?"

"So you aren't here to buy anything?" Shous' expression immediately sank and it turned completely dark. He grabbed Magistrate Wis' face and squeezed his hand. "What's with the tone then, you little shit?"

Han Wi immediately tensed up, though he did not understand why. He pulled out his sword, and with all his might, gathered the wind around him and swung the blade at Shous' arm. The mans' Spiritual Qi flew rampantly, and one was able to tell he had reached the fourth stage.

But of course, realms and cultivation mattered little to someone like Shou, and his prized possession, the Azure Snake sword, with its intricately crafted pattern and scales, broke apart as it touched Shou's skin. It turned into a cloud of fine dust, as if a vampire that had entered sunlight.

Han Wis' eyes opened wide enough, that some may fear they would pop out. He stared at his empty hilt and muttered in terror, "What the fu..."

"[Yawn] Oh? Is it finally my turn again," Si muttered with a tired voice, and at once, a peaceful melody.