The scholar closed his folding fan with a snap, and performed a bow with a clenched fist towards the shopkeeper, smiling as he said,
"Thank you for your frankness."
With a wave of his right sleeve, a flash of silver scattered, falling precisely onto every diner's table with light clinks, each a glinting small silver piece. The sight of the silver was enticing, but the display of martial arts skill turned the diners pale, draining their faces of any color.
The scholar then pulled out a Yuanbao from his sleeve and gently placed it in the pale shopkeeper's palm, helping him to close his fingers around it while speaking in a gentle voice,
"What happens in Jianghu, stays in Jianghu."
"I ask you all to keep this matter to yourselves; consider the silver as compensation for our indiscretion."
He then performed a bow in all four directions, saying,
"Excuse the disturbance."
