Witnessing the commotion downstairs, De Ming quickly ran down to help the mysterious man who called himself Li Wei. Zhu Lian, who was worried about De Ming, followed suit.
After the first thug fell to the ground, the arrogant young master displayed a shocked expression.
" What are you doing! I hired you to protect me! Go!"
Young Master Mo yelled at the remaining goons, who were hesitant to act but begrudgingly charged forward, hoping that earlier was just a fluke.
Li Wei stood still, awaiting their blows, still wearing his enigmatic smile. Not even an once of worry plagued his mind, these lowly thugs were no match for him.
" Die, you bastard!" a thug yelled out as he ran at Li Wei, sword ready to strike.
" Allow me to help!"
De Ming cried out at Li Wei as he used Flowing Reed Steps to launch himself at the thug, his travel clothes fluttering as his face revealed an anxious and resolved frown
Catching De Ming's sudden appearance, the thug grunted and swung down at him. De Ming side-stepped, the blade narrowly missing his torso as he changed his stance to be more grounded
Setting his chaotic Qi ablaze, His body trembled in pain as he launched a palm forward, striking the pudgy thug in his stomach
A burst of erratic flames threw him back, breaking through the restaurant's railings and plunging him down the river
But before De Ming could relax, another thug had sneakily approached him
De Ming was still recalibrating from strain when he was abruptly kicked from behind, sending him flying towards a table of food
"Ming!"
Zhu Lian hastily ran to where he was and helped him up
"That was too reckless! Stay here, I'll get those bastards."
"Be careful, Lian."
"Speak for yourself " Zhu Lian pouted as she flicked his forehead
The angered Zhu Lian sat De Ming down before she turned to the troublemakers
She flared her early second-rate Qi and began to launch herself at them, Her footwork was fluid and unpredictable; her silhouette seemed to disappear and reappear, making her position and trajectory hard to read.
This was the Drifting Cloud Stride, another signature martial art of the Crimson Cloud house, Low-Silver Grade, an elegant and disorienting movement technique that could only be learned by women and eunuchs, requiring a lack of inner Yang Qi to perform it
Li Wei stood back to observe as Zhu Lian appeared behind one of the thugs, thrusting her hands forward, sending out a beautiful and formidable palm of flame, knocking him into the wall and charring his back.
With only one goon left to protect him. Young Master Mo, who was as pale as a ghost, started to panic
"Hey! You can't hit me! I'm Mo Chen of the Mo family!"
Zhu Lian sneered as she stepped closer, causing Mo to retreat by a half step
" The Mo family? I recalled that we, the Crimson Cloud, your benefactors, had treated you with respect, yet you dare cause trouble with our restaurant? Let alone hurt our people?!"
Zhu Lian raised her fiery tone as she scolded him
Young Master Mo's face sank
" Could it be? You are-"
" Zhu Lian, Young Mistress of the Crimson Cloud"
She proclaimed loudly as he thumped her chest
"Wait, wait, I didn't mean to-"
"You have committed a grave offence. Consider our partnership, terminated."
Zhu Lian made a fierce expression before she wound back a palm and thrusted it up his chin, a controlled blow that knocked him backwards, through the wooden doors, and tumbling down the busy street
Mo scrambled up and ran, the remaining thug trailing him
Zhu Lian watched as they got out of sight, then turned back to the mess they caused
" Where's the manager?"
Zhu Lian asked the fallen waiter, whose wounds were being tended to by fellow staff members
"I'm the manager at this branch, Miss Lian."
A man in his fifties, wearing a black hanfu, stepped forward and introduced himself
" Calculate the damages and send a bill to the Mo family, say that I, Zhu Lian, demand that they pay threefold or we'll cut off our partnership for good."
Zhu Lian said sternly in a business tone, reminding De Ming of the way patriarch Zhu Zhang talked, this was a side of Zhu Lian he had yet to see
"Right away, miss." The manager replied and bowed before slipping away
"So you're Miss Zhu Lian, pleasure to meet you."
Li Wei stepped forward as he cupped his hand and exchanged greetings
"Senior Li, please, the pleasure's mine."
Zhu Lian replied in a nice but superficial tone, darting her eyes, gauging Li Wei's intention
"No need to be on alert, Miss Zhu Lian, the Wudang sect's goals are in your best interest."
" I suppose so."
Zhu Lian replied, still wearing the business smile
"I would like to give my thanks to you and your companion, I am indebted to you."
"Now need for such formalities, senior, someone of your caliber could've handled the situation even without our intervention"
"Indeed, but a debt is a debt, regardless; that is our Wudang sect's philosophy. "
He paused and looked towards the injured De Ming, that Qi-infused kick from earlier should've done a number on his back
"I see that your companion is quite righteous, although his actions seem rash at best."
Li Wei spoke truthfully. He respected De Ming's willingness to uphold justice but found his capabilities lacking
Hearing the subtle jab at De Ming, Zhu Lian's complexion changed into one of slight anger
"He is new to Jianghu, awakened his Qi less than a month ago, and he's trying his best."
Zhu Lian spoke respectfully, yet her face and tone suggested otherwise
"Less than a month?"
Li Wei's face flashed with surprise
"But his palm technique and footwork were at a familiar level, correct? He achieved that within one month?"
"Correct, I too was surprised."
Zhu Lian's mood lifted as a sense of pride grew in her heart
Seeing the conversation going smoothly, De Ming attempted to jump in
"Familiar level? What's that? Is it impressive?"
He spoke up nervously, seeing as they were talking about him, communication had never been his strong suit
"Not usually, but in your case, it is."
Li Wei said as he smiled, this time seemed genuine, he was impressed
"Perhaps you, too can keep talking, I need to sort out some business with the Mo family."
Zhu Lian said, giving De Ming a chance to expand his horizons before she left with the Drifting Cloud Pavilion's manager
"Well then, brave junior, shall we?"
Li Wei asked softly as he gestured upstairs
De Ming, dazed by Li Wei's gentleness and valiant demeanor, awkwardly nodded, thinking to himself
So this is what a true martial artist is like, huh?
"By way of Junior, that kick earlier should've stopped you from even standing up. How are you still walking?"
"Oh yeah, it hurts, but I'm used to pain by now, worry not, senior Li."
Li Wei's mind spun in confusion. De Ming's response gave him more questions than answers