"HOW DARE YOU! WE ARE HUANG LIN'S MEN. SEE WHAT YOU'VE GOT YOUR WAY!" The stout man shouted at the white robed man.
"Ah! Huang Lin's men, are you?" The white robed man seemed to have cocked his brow beneath the mask.
"Show me what you've got."
Dropping the sacks on their shoulders, the group of about seven shadow men charged towards the white robed man.
The sword in his hand unsheathed and a thundering white light radiated through it.
It was a spiritual sword.
The sword seemed to pierce away the darkness of the night, swinging unapologetically.
One of the men rushed to stab the white robed man from behind while two tackled with him in the front.
Quickly, the white robed man turned around and kicked at the man behind, sending him flying to the shrubs.
One, who held a bow and arrow positioned himself afar and aimed at the man, but swiftly he pushed away the two in front of him and caught the arrow in his free hand.
The archer's face shrivelled. The man began walking towards him, with the same elegant footsteps.
"Is this all you got?" He spoke, snapping the arrow into two and shoving it in the other man's hand.
Two men in the time, ganged up on Song Cheng. But Song Cheng was way more skilled than them with the sword. Afterall, he had cultivated the art for over a hundred years.
The two only tried to stab him each time they raised their swords but Song Cheng tackled them smoothly.
He then jumped up and land behind them, kicking at their knees, the men fell.
Although criminals, they were still mortals. Song Cheng held their arms behind their backs and twisted them as they yelped in pain. He didn't break their bones but still, it was painful.
Meanwhile, the tall man he had kicked first, got up from the ground and dashed towards him, with a small dagger in his hand.
The white robed man only moved his gaze towards him and he stopped. Rather, it seemed everything around had stopped. It was as quiet as death.
The dust stirred by the feet hung still in air, the yelping expressions of the two men froze along with their bodies.
Song Cheng looked around. It seemed that the only two alive were him and the white robed man.
The white robed man took a step in Song Cheng's direction.
His footsteps all seemed measured in a rythmic manner.
Slowly, he approached Song Cheng, who stood with Lan Tian in his hand. But somehow, Song Cheng felt this person didn't have bore any ill intentions.
The man walked upto Song Cheng and stood in front of him. Closer, he observed that the man's handsome features couldn't even hide beneath his mask.
His hands were made for war, but still those long, slender fingers seemed fragile and beautiful.
Although Song Cheng had always been proud of how tall he was, but now he seemed small.
The other man was a head taller than him and his lean muscles made his body look intimidating.
He looked at Song Cheng, cocking his head to the side and leaned forward towards him.
For a moment, Song Cheng's breath hitched and he tightened his grip around Lan Tian. He was just a mortal right now and surely, this person was super powerful.
"Don't be afraid, Xiao ge." The man spoke and his free hand approached Song Cheng's hair.
Softly, without touching him, he withdrew his hand back.
Held in his thumb and forefinger was a tiny speck of grass, that he brought close to his lips and gently blew it away.
Song Cheng relaxed and the man seemed to smile. He then pulled out the white ribbon that held his hair and shook his head free. His dark locks danced in the wind, making him look like a heavenly painting.
He then squatted down and bound the two men Song Cheng was holding onto, using the hair ribbon, and then throwing it's other end in free air, it bound all the shadow men together in a go on it's own.
For the first time in a hundred years, Song Cheng felt so intimidated. Somehow, it felt like his cover had slipped away.
Standing on his feet, the white robed man looked away and snapped his fingers, and everything around seemed to come back to life.
The shadow men were all petrified and tried to struggle free, but the hair ribbon was as taut as steel.
"YOU! YOU CHEAT! I WILL REPORT TO MY MASTER HUANG-" The stout man in the group cried but with just one look that the man gave him, he shut himself up.
Probably hearing the noise, now the inn began to light up and people began pouring outside to see what had happened.
The old housekeeper rushed over with a lamp in his hand. He looked at the group of robbers and then and Song Cheng.
He rushed to Song Cheng's side, ready to kowtow.
"Thank you Noble Master!" he cried.
"Please sir, thank him." Song Cheng spoke as his gaze directed towards the white robed man.
The old housekeeper gave the white robed man a confused stare before his eyes lit up and he cried,
"It's Master Bai Hua! Master Bai Hua! Many thanks that Master helped catch these evils!"
Hearing the name, the crowd seemed to be filled with joy and assurance, while the robbers were stunned quiet and their heads hung down as in shame.
"Master Bai Hua! What good have I done to witness my god!"
"I'll go light an incense for my master in the temple!"
The crowd began praising and thanking Bai Hua, but soon the word changed.
"Master Bai Hua saved this Noble Master. What a lucky master!"
"This handsome young master got saved by Master Bai Hua!"
Song Cheng wanted to tell them what had actually happened but before he said a word, Bai Hua spoke first.
"Young master is capable of saving himself. I only came for the troublemakers." he spoke with a firm stance.
"AIYA- GET AWAY! LET ME THROUGH! AH GENER---," Yuan Jin yelled, making his way through the crowd -SONG?"
Yuan Jin rushed over to Song Cheng's side and Qin Su followed him as well.
"Song Cheng, did you get yourself in a fight?" Qin Su asked.
"Maybe." Song Cheng murmured.
"Let me see, are you hurt somewhere?" Yuan Jin said, grabbing Song Cheng's wrist.
Song Cheng quickly pulled his hand away.
"Thank you Lord Yuan Jin, for your trouble but there's really no need. I am fine."
Song Cheng then turned around and looked at the sacks that the robbers had been carrying. The old housekeeper followed him with the lamp.
Squatting next to them, he flung Lan Tian forward and tore one on the side.
Crinkling coins and a golden charm fell out of the sack and the crowd became noisy once again. The gold emitted absolute hue in the lamplight.
Song Cheng looked at the crowd and then at the robbers.
"NOBLE MASTER! THAT- THAT IS MINE AH!" A chubby man, probably in his forties spoke from the front of the crowd.
"LIAR! WE NEVER STOLE FROM YOU!" The tall man from the group of robbers spoke.
"Shut up you thief! Dare to rob and dare to lie!" The man said, walking up towards Song Cheng.
He gave Song Cheng a big smile.
"Master, may I collect my possession?" He said and squatted down in front of the sack.
He extended his hand forward but Lan Tian swung down and blocked his hand.
"Noble Master, what are you doing?" The man asked, trying to push Lan Tian away.
"My sir must know that to take somebody else's possession as theirs is also theft." Song Cheng spoke, raising his brow.
The man stood up against Song Cheng. Also shorter than him, the man seemed agressive.
"What do you mean? This is clearly mine! You dare believe in these thieves??" The man yelled at Song Cheng.
"WE DID NOT STEAL FROM THIS FATSO! AHOY, MASTER BAI HUA...LITTLE GEGE, WE-" One of the men from the group cried, sounding like a teenager, his words caught up in a sob.
The man became furious and furrowed his brows. Judging from his attire, he seemed to belong to a fine family, but yet he was greedy to the core.
"You? How dare you speak to Son-" Qin Su spoke, veins popping on his forehead.
"Don't." Song Cheng cut him off.
"If this charm is really yours, tell me what's printed on it's back." Song Cheng said, holding the charm with a lotus on the front to the crowd.
"What kind of question is this? I just said it's mine so it's mine !!"
"If it really belongs to this sir, then answer young master's question, what's the harm?" The old housekeeper spoke from Song Cheng's side. The crowd hummed in agreement.
The man gritted his teeth, looking at Song Cheng. Suddenly, he thrusted himself forward, to snatch the charm off Song Cheng's hand.
With the push of the man's weight, Song Cheng slipped in his step and fell backwards, the gold charm went flying away from his hand.
Song Cheng knew that he was a mortal right now and if he hit his head on the stone pavement under his feet, his head would probably be fractured.
Suddenly, something cold touched his body.
Looking up, he saw Bai Hua's face, his long hair falling upon Song Cheng's shoulders.
His one supported Song Cheng's back, while the other held his legs.
A wave of sudden embarrassment rushed through Song Cheng. No one had ever held him like that before. Even thinking of it was embarrassing.
A Heavenly Guardian saved in the arms of a masked deity. Song Cheng wanted to hide his face from the world.
"Xiao ge, are you okay?" Bai Hua asked.
With a red face, Song Cheng nodded. "En."
"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING SIR?" He heard Qin Su yell.
Bai Hua helped Song Cheng back to his feet.
It seemed that Qin Su had already caught the man trying to escape, with the golden charm in Yuan Jin's hands.
Qin Su's face was filled with annoyance. His wavy hair looked messy but Song Cheng had already counted on Qin Su. As from Yuan Jin, he didn't expect anything but just wished he'd eat a bit less.
"Why won't you reason with me now, huh?" Qin Su spoke as he held the man, locking his neck with his arm.
"Old Master, they haven't stolen anything from your inn. Please report them as soon as possible." Song Cheng spoke, walking to the old housekeeper.
"Thank you Noble Master for helping Master Bai Hua. As to report them, it is as Master Bai Hua wills. Noble Master can rest assured." The old housekeeper spoke, walking to rush the guests back in.
After handing the man to Bai Hua, Qin Su and Yuan Jin walked up to the entrance of the inn.
"Song Cheng, will you not come?" Qin Su asked.
Song Cheng stood out, watching as Bai Hua's men came to take away the people. They all wore black attires, almost blending into the night.
"En." Song Cheng responded, and the two walked in.
"Is this Bai Hua a clan leader?" Qin Su wondered aloud.
"I think he's a local deity." Yuan Jin responded, yawning.
"As for General Song, he acted a bit clumsily it seemed." Yuan Jin noted.
"Ah" Qin Su laughed "With that deity next to him, wouldn't you too be intimidated?"
Outside, Bai Hua's men left with the men and the gold.
Bai Hua looked at Song Cheng for a moment.
"Bai Hua takes leave." he spoke and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Song Cheng called "How will this Master deal with those people now?"
Bai Hua seemed to chuckle and turned around to look at Song Cheng.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he spoke.
"Xiao ge can rest assured."
After a while, he added.
"JinHu is a small town. Perhaps, I'll see Xiao ge again."
***