Chapter 197
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Chapter 197: The Mortal World of Jianghu (Part 1)
Chewing on the delicious grilled bear meat, Wang Chen glanced at the two newcomers.
Blocking the temple door was a burly man, tall and well-built, dressed in a gray-blue tunic.
His features were rough, but his face was pale, with a bloody scar running from the corner of his right eye down to his chin, the exposed flesh making his appearance quite fearsome.
The burly man’s temples were noticeably bulging, a clear sign that he had reached the advanced level in inner strength.
He was protecting a young boy of about twelve or thirteen years old.
The boy timidly peeked out from behind the burly man, his handsome and refined face showing a hint of curiosity.
When his eyes met Wang Chen’s, he quickly retreated.
The burly man, upon getting a clear look at Wang Chen, immediately released his grip on the short sword, clasped his hands together, and said in a deep voice, “Esteemed Taoist, my master and I are merely seeking shelter from the rain. We kindly ask for your understanding.”
Though Wang Chen appeared young and was alone, the experienced burly man did not underestimate him and remained very polite.
Wang Chen smiled and said, “I’m also here to take shelter from the rain. Please make yourselves at ease.”
“Thank you, Taoist.”
The burly man closed the temple door, then took the young boy’s hand and sat down in a corner of the main hall, maintaining a respectful distance from Wang Chen.
Both of them were thoroughly drenched, and as soon as the young boy sat down, he began to shiver.
The burly man untied his bag and retrieved a fire starter.
He went behind the statue and, to his surprise, found a pile of dry firewood.
This firewood had been left by previous travelers or hunters who had sought refuge in the temple, a gesture of goodwill for those who came after.
Helping others was a way of helping oneself—a noble rule of Jianghu.
With practiced ease, the burly man set up a campfire using the firewood, filling the temple with light and warmth.
“Gurgle~”
As the young boy warmed himself by the fire, his stomach suddenly let out a strange noise.
His face flushed red.
“Please wait a moment, young master.”
The burly man quickly pulled out two flatbreads from his bag and placed them near the fire to warm them.
The flatbreads were hard and dry, nearly inedible without heating.
The young boy swallowed hard, his eyes darting toward Wang Chen and lingering on the steaming pot.
A look of longing filled his expression.
The burly man noticed this and smiled wryly to himself.
His young master was admirable in many ways, but he had yet to taste the hardships of life.
Now in dire straits, he still couldn’t help but think about the delicious food.
However, to be fair, it was hard to tell what Wang Chen was cooking that smelled so incredibly enticing.
Even the burly man, a seasoned veteran of the streets, found his mouth watering, let alone the growing boy.
Bang!
Just as the burly man hesitated whether to ask Wang Chen if he was willing to sell some food, suddenly the temple door was flung open with great force.
A crowd of people surged into the main hall, instantly turning the atmosphere in the temple noisy and chaotic.
“Damn it, what a downpour!”
“You soaked my pants, damn it!”
“Quick, close the door!”
They were all strong and rugged Jianghu travelers.
Many carried large bags on their backs, cursing as they wiped the rain from their heads and faces.
When these travelers saw Wang Chen sitting before the statue, along with the master and servant in the corner,
their voices immediately lowered, and they exchanged uncertain glances at each other.
One man, who appeared to be the leader, made a gesture, and the others quickly sat down in the main hall, marking out a large territory.
They rushed to the back of the statue, only to return empty-handed.
One person cursed, “Damn it, which turtle son took all the firewood? Not a single piece left!”
In his anger, he blurted this out, and several travelers instinctively looked towards Wang Chen and the burly man.
Two piles of campfires were burning brightly.
The leader frowned and said in a deep voice, “Old Four, shut up!”
In Jianghu, the worst thing was to provoke someone whose background was uncertain over trivial matters.
The burly man was clearly not someone easy to mess with, bringing along a young master who looked like he was seeking refuge from disaster, undoubtedly a source of trouble.
As for Wang Chen, who occupied the best spot in the hall, he was completely inscrutable.
But with streetwise experiences, one could rarely encounter a monk traveling alone who didn’t have extraordinary skills hidden away.
Wang Chen’s appearance was ordinary, yet wearing a Daoist robe, he exuded an air of calm and mystery.
They were out in Jianghu to make a living; their lives and families were more important than anything else. Why provoke such a person over a few pieces of firewood?
After receiving a glare from the leader, Old Four sullenly closed his mouth.
He wasn’t inexperienced in Jianghu, just soaking wet from the rain, feeling cold and hungry after running all this way.
Seeing Wang Chen comfortably warming by the campfire, cooking porridge and grilling meat, made him feel very uncomfortable.
Cursing was also partly a way to test the waters.
What if he could bully him? How enjoyable that would be!
But since the boss spoke, he had to listen and could only return to his companions with a displeased expression.
Everyone took out their dry rations and began to eat.
Bang!
Before they could take more than a few bites, the temple door was forcefully kicked open once again!
Wang Chen, seated before the statue, was utterly speechless.
Was this some kind of temple fair?
This time, five individuals entered—four men and one woman.
Their appearances were bizarre to say the least; one was bald, another had no ears, one had a single eye, another was missing an arm, and one had lost a leg and walked with a cane.
The one thing they all had in common was their ugliness, each uniquely grotesque in their own way.
Even the one-eyed woman was hideously unattractive!
However, upon seeing these five, the burly man and the dozen or so Jianghu travelers all visibly changed their expressions.
The quick-tongued Old Four blurted out, “The Five Disasters!”
The Five Disasters were notorious in Jianghu. It was said they shared a bond as close as siblings, each highly skilled in martial arts and proficient in strange techniques, with a history of teaming up to kill innate strong fighters.
Their distinctive appearances made them instantly recognizable.
As soon as Old Four spoke, a venomous, malevolent gaze locked onto him: “Hehe, I didn’t expect that after years away from Jianghu, someone would still remember us five siblings.”
None of them seemed to care about their own appearances!
The group of Jianghu travelers secretly scoffed while tightening their grips on their weapons.
The Five Disasters were known for their unpredictable and ruthless nature, showing no mercy in killing and lacking any sense of morality.
Since they had crossed paths, even without any prior grievances, the travelers were prepared for a deadly confrontation.
However, the next moment, the Five Disasters turned their attention to the burly man.
The one-legged man spoke in a sinister tone, “Wei Chi Zhong, we respect you as a man. Hand over the person, and we’ll let you go!”
The burly man took a deep breath, stepped forward, and firmly grasped his short sword.
As his battle intent surged, he glanced at Wang Chen beside him.
This glance immediately caught the attention of the Five Disasters.
The one-legged man’s eyes flickered: “May I ask the honorable name of this Taoist?”
Wang Chen instantly became the center of attention!
