Book 16: Chapter 51
Neither Lu Jianqiu nor Li Shoulin had any respect for another martial artist of Jiangnan in their age bracket, but they could not help sizing up Tang Ye. It was not just a question of Tang Ye’s skill, but there was also the fact that they never heard about a cool-looking guy staying at Yan Manor. Even if Tang Ye was not another guy trying to court Song Yanluo, they could not accept the risk of her taking a liking to him, hence forming a new united front against a common enemy.
Being the more socially apt of the two, Lu Jianqiu queried, “May I ask for the esteemed name of the one who dares to interfere in our lame business?”
“Liu Shan Men’s Tang Ye.”
There was nothing to gain out of hiding his identity. Besides, since Yan Buer was the local magistrate, it would have been easier for Tang Ye to utilise connections once he identified himself. As for Song Yanluo, there was no need to hide his identity from someone belonging to the martial world.
Tang Ye did not have taboos about offending so-and-so. He only followed Ming Feizhen’s orders when the latter was around. Without Ming Feizhen’s leadership, Tang Ye never hesitated to opt for the more efficient route.
Lu Jianqiu sneered. “You only answered one question. What’s the matter? Your courage is only enough to go around sneak attacking people when you don’t have to face the repercussions?”
Lu Jianqiu restored rational thought once he expelled the freezing energy from his body. Although it was impressive for Tang Ye to get in between them, the audible stimulus did slow them down, so accuracy and perceptiveness aside, there was nothing to suggest that Tang Ye was the superior fighter. If Tang Ye was truly superior, there was no need to first distract them with his voice; he could have leapt right in between them and flicked their weapons away, forcing them to retreat. Seeing as Tang Ye was not necessarily superior, not to mention all the support he had behind him, he saw no logic in fearing Tang Ye.
That was half correct. The missing part was that Tang Ye’s internal energy truly exceeded their levels, except he could blast but not retract. The shout simply caused them to misjudge his timing. It took him everything he had to flick their weapons off course – actually took him to the edge of losing control. Had he thrown two more attacks – hit or miss – his two qis would have started running amok inside him.
Tang Ye’s lack of fear for the two of them made him look cooler, which only triggered them more. “Do you think you are above the law and can unlawful hold a gang war and ride inside a city, not to mention right at the doors of a magistrate’s office, because of your family backgrounds?”