Chapter 567
Chapter 567
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 567
>Chapter Title: Daytime Ban
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Chapter 567: Daytime Ban
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> As the sky gradually darkened over the upper capital under daytime ban, aside from soldiers occasionally patrolling outside, Gao Zhijian saw nothing else.
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> “Everyone! Everyone!” The commotion behind him made Gao Zhijian turn around in confusion. Right away, he saw the innkeeper standing on a table, holding a chopstick in his left hand and tapping a bowl in his right, his face beaming with delight.
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> “Dear guests! It looks like none of you can head back tonight. You’ll all have to stay here. But our inn only has three deluxe rooms and six standard ones. Heh, if I just assign them to some folks, others might not be happy. So how about this—highest bidder wins?”
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> “This isn’t price gouging! If you don’t snag a room, you can always sleep on the floor. Our inn offers great value—floor space is just one hundred copper coins!”
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> The words immediately sparked an uproar. Seeing it was just this trivial matter, Gao Zhijian turned back around and continued gazing out at the street.
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> This time, as his eyes returned to the street, they suddenly widened like a bull’s. A young, stunningly beautiful girl was actually walking down the street!
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> Having traveled far and wide with Senior Brother Li, he’d seen his share of the world, but he’d never laid eyes on a girl this gorgeous.
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> “It’s daytime ban—why’s this girl out here alone? Isn’t she afraid of running into Great Liang soldiers?”
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> Just as Gao Zhijian was thinking that, he heard the girl outside anxiously calling out.
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> “Dad! Dad, where are you? Don’t leave me behind, Dad!”
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> “This voice sounds so familiar...” Gao Zhijian rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
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> He couldn’t have met this girl before—someone with her looks, he wouldn’t forget.
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> As the voice outside faded into the distance, Gao Zhijian suddenly opened his mouth in shock with an “Ah!” He remembered whose voice it was! It was the evil spirit raised by Senior Brother Li—the one who wore the raincoat every day!
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> “She’s looking for her dad? Then doesn’t that make her dad Senior Brother Li!?”
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> With that thought, Gao Zhijian shoved aside the table by the door, grabbed the lock with both hands, and twisted it hard, mangling the copper lock into a twisted mess that no longer worked.
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> Ignoring the startled cries of the other diners behind him, Gao Zhijian charged into the empty street, chasing after Li Sui.
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> The deserted street was quiet, and Li Sui hadn’t gone far. Gao Zhijian quickly caught up to her.
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> “Ah! It’s you. Have you seen my dad? He left with an old man with a white beard named the National Advisor, riding a sword. He ditched me right there.” Though Li Sui hadn’t spoken to Gao Zhijian back in Cowheart Village, she still recognized him.
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> “Y-you... Your dad is... is... is...” As Gao Zhijian stammered, sweating profusely in his urgency, over a dozen tall warhorses appeared around the distant corner.
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> Spotting Gao Zhijian and Li Sui brazenly standing in the street, the cavalrymen lightly kicked their horses’ flanks and charged toward them.
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> Seeing the blood-dripping modao sabers raised high, Gao Zhijian’s muscles tensed instantly. He tucked Li Sui under his armpit and turned to run.
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> Though Gao Zhijian was huge with long strides, he couldn’t outrun horses. Soon, the distance between them shrank.
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> Hearing the thundering hooves growing louder behind him, Gao Zhijian knew he couldn’t escape. Gritting his teeth, he hurled Li Sui to the side and spun around, planting both hands firmly on the ground and pushing off explosively.
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> The cavalrymen hadn’t expected him to suddenly stand his ground. Before they could swing their weapons, the charging horse collided solidly with Gao Zhijian.
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> Veins bulged like tree roots from Gao Zhijian’s neck, spreading across his face.
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> “Ha!!” Gao Zhijian roared, steadily catching the oncoming warhorse. Then, with a fierce hug, he followed up with a uprooting throw, hurling horse and rider onto the roof ahead.
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> The surrounding cavalry were momentarily stunned by Gao Zhijian’s strength, circling at a distance, not daring to approach.
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> One of them pulled a long strip of paper from his bosom and held it high. “Whoosh~~ Pop!” A red firework burst in the sky.
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> Murderous intent flared in Gao Zhijian’s eyes. He glanced at the firework, then grabbed Li Sui and hurried toward another street. “Let’s go!”
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> But they hadn’t gone far when a seven-foot-tall man wielding twin melon hammers—armored, one hammer over his shoulder, the other dragging on the ground—blocked their path. He instantly recognized the soldierly aura on Gao Zhijian.
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> “Who dares practice military arts? You think you’re worthy, you bastard? Die!” With that, he charged at Gao Zhijian, hammers raised.
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> Gao Zhijian wanted to retreat, but there was nowhere to go. He could only meet him head-on again.
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> “Buzz~” One melon hammer smashed down. Gao Zhijian caught it with both hands, but the man slammed the other hammer onto it. “Meteor Chase Moon!”
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> The immense force shoved Gao Zhijian back several steps. When he steadied himself, his trembling hands had split open at the tiger’s mouth, blood pouring nonstop.
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> “Where’s your weapon?” The man looked down arrogantly at Gao Zhijian.
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> Gao Zhijian wiped the blood from his hands onto his pants. “At... at... the inn!”
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> “Bang!” The hundred-jin hammer crashed to the ground, shattering the paving stones.
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> “Come on! Don’t say Ma Wu bullied you unarmed!” The man rushed at Gao Zhijian barehanded.
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> Li Sui tried to stand between them, but Gao Zhijian shoved her aside.
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> The two collided heavily, trading brutal, flesh-ripping punches.
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> Clearly, Ma Wu knew fist techniques, while Gao Zhijian did not. Soon, Gao Zhijian’s face was battered and swollen.
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> Yet no matter how badly injured, Gao Zhijian showed no sign of tiring.
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> Just as Gao Zhijian thought he was done for, his body moved on instinct.
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> His right foot stomped and hooked, throwing Ma Wu slightly off balance. Seizing the opening, Gao Zhijian bent his right arm, slamming his iron-hard elbow into the man’s throat.
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> Both froze, then slowly backed away. Gao Zhijian looked bruised and swollen, Ma Wu unscathed—but both knew Gao Zhijian had won that exchange.
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> “Good! A real man, no coward! You’re worthy of military arts!!” Ma Wu nodded, turning to retrieve his hammers.
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> “Daytime ban’s on—don’t wander. Who knows what’s brewing up top. Lucky you ran into me. Someone else, and you might not have lived.”
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> Gao Zhijian kept Li Sui behind him and nodded lightly. “Thanks.”
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> “But your techniques aren’t as good as our Ma family’s. If you ever want to enlist for pay, come find the Ma family. I’ll get you a platoon leader spot!” With that, Ma Wu shouldered his hammers and left.
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> Seeing Ma Wu go, the distant cavalry turned and departed as well. Soon, the quiet street held only Gao Zhijian and Li Sui.
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> Gao Zhijian glanced around, breathed a sigh of relief, and led Li Sui back to the inn.
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