In the city of Yun'an, within the great Wei Empire, the early summer rains fell like mischievous thieves sneaking into a noble chamber at night. They came swiftly with fierce winds and heavy downpours, leaving behind muddy puddles in the streets and pear blossoms dripping with rain.
As the wind subsided and the rain ceased, the streets of the capital gradually came alive. People emerged from their homes, vendors began their calls, and the hustle and bustle of the city resumed:
"Steamed buns—"
"Coal for sale..."
...
Amidst the cacophony of the streets, a caravan slowly made its way from the intersection near Tian Shui Bridge. Behind the carriage, thirteen armed guards rode on horseback, cloaked in raincoats and wearing bamboo hats, with swords at their waists, appearing weary from their journey.
In the heart of the capital, such a martial procession was a rare sight, and many onlookers couldn't help but cast curious glances. Leading the procession was a young man.
Dressed in a black robe beneath his raincoat, a large white bird perched on his shoulder. He was tall, fair-skinned, with dark, bright eyes and sharp brows that added a touch of fierceness to his handsome face.
"Wow—Mom, look, that brother is so handsome!"
"Shh, don't shout so loudly, are you embarrassed?"
"That bird is so chubby~"
"Chirp?"
"Hey? It can understand human speech!"
...
As praises and comments from women and girls filled the streets, the young man in black paid them no heed. With his entourage, he arrived at the entrance of Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
Throughout the shops on Tian Shui Bridge hung banners bearing the family crest of 'Pei', and the Zhenyuan Escort Agency was no exception.
To own a street in the valuable land of the capital clearly indicated a family of wealth and status. Standing tall outside the escort agency, with its yellow wooden gate and green tile roof, were two guards.
Seeing an unfamiliar horse-drawn carriage approaching, one of the guards stepped forward and respectfully greeted:
"May I ask who you are?"
"Night Shock Pavilion."
The guard looked puzzled, casting a glance at the imposing warriors accompanying the young man.
"I've never heard of the Pavilion. Are you here for business or..."
"To challenge."
The street fell silent at this declaration.
Passersby who were originally strolling around all gathered around, even the hawkers selling dumplings by the roadside put down their ladles and wiped their hands on their aprons, craning their necks to look:
"What's going on?"
"A challenge? It's rare to see such a scene in the capital..."
...
The two guards outside the escort agency frowned upon seeing the arrival of the young man in black. While it would be normal to send away a hotheaded young man, with thirteen mounted guards, each armed, it wasn't easy to deal with. The guards' expressions remained polite as they said:
"The capital forbids private duels. We conduct legitimate business here. If you have a dispute with our establishment, you can seek justice through official channels..."
At these words, the crowd on the street fell silent.
The young man in black reached behind his waist, handing his sword to a man behind him, then stepped forward empty-handed, saying:
"Summon your master. I will leave after a duel."
Seeing the curious onlookers gathering, the guard's expression soured. Nearby, a man went to run and report to the authorities, but was blocked by the swordsman standing behind the young man.
"Hey! You..."
With this action, seven or eight people rushed out from behind the gate of the escort agency, brandishing knives and spears, their faces furious.
From inside the agency, a voice full of vigor echoed out:
"Young man, it's good to be spirited, but you need to keep your eyes open..."
As everyone turned to look, a man emerged from the main hall of the agency. He wore a brocade robe, was well-built, and his right hand, calloused from years of work, toyed with two iron walnut cores.
Crack, crack...
Seeing this, the guards outside the gate quickly called out:
"Master Chen, this young man is causing trouble."
The onlookers from the street became excited. They knew this was Chen Biao.
"Chen Biao has come out."
"Will this handsome brother be beaten to death?"
"The capital dare not spill blood, at most he'll cough up blood."
"He's so handsome, even coughing up blood is pitiful..."
Swish...
Before they could say more, a sharp sound came from the street.
"Dang, dang..."
A support rod holding up a window suddenly fell from the second floor, rolling to the young man's feet.
Looking up at the window on the second floor, a graceful and charming figure caught his eye...