Chapter 17: An Unexpected Surprise Over a Cup of Tea

Chapter 17: Even a Sip of Tea Brings Unexpected Surprises

In the martial world, it’s often said that there are only mistaken names, never mistaken nicknames.

Zheng Jian felt rather helpless. But to guard against gossip is harder than to guard against a flood; there was simply no way he could kill off every fool who called him “Bandit-Bane” just to shut them up…

With no better option, Zheng Jian could only sip his tea absentmindedly. He wasn’t old enough to drink wine yet, so tea would have to do. Besides, the tea in Fujian was quite good, evoking memories of the past.

In his previous life, he’d been pestered by countless tea-selling girls on social media. They’d always start with, “Did I accidentally add you as a friend?” Then, after a string of chatty messages, they’d get to the point: selling their grandparents’ tea, telling tales of hardship and growing up with their elders, how difficult life was…

And finally, “Would you like to try some tea hand-processed by my grandpa, perfected over decades?”

Zheng Jian would promptly reply, “I don’t drink tea, but my family’s kiwis are just in season—would you like a box to try?” And then, without fail, the tea-seller would block him.

Looking back now, he almost felt it was a shame.

Lost in such random thoughts, he was suddenly confronted by a burly man—eight feet tall and eight feet around, with a menacing face and eyes as large as copper bells glaring at Zheng Jian. The kind of face that could stop a child’s nighttime crying.

“You there, kid! You’re Bandit-Bane, aren’t you? I’ve been looking all over for you!”

The moment the giant spoke, Zheng Jian was baffled. Was his reputation really so widespread already? He hadn’t even unleashed his “kingly aura,” yet someone had come from afar, eager to become his follower?

But this guy was uglier than the scarred-face thug from before!

“No, I’m not!” Zheng Jian answered decisively. Don’t ask, the answer is no—he flat-out refused! If it were someone like Miao Village’s Blue Phoenix or the Demon Cult’s Saintess, he might have considered it, but this ugly brute? Better to keep his distance, lest the average looks of the Huashan Sect be dragged down.

The brute was left confused. He scratched his head and turned to ask, “Big Brother, isn’t this kid Bandit-Bane?” Only then did Zheng Jian notice another man behind the brute, completely hidden by the other’s bulk—he hadn’t even seen him before…

“A true man does not change his name when walking or sitting. You, Bandit-Bane, are a name in the martial world—why deny it?” The man behind stepped forward. He was short and shifty, the type whose face screamed “nameless villain.”

Zheng Jian was furious. He could tolerate others calling him Bandit-Bane, but these two shouting it in his face? If he let that slide, wasn’t he announcing to the entire inn that he really was Bandit-Bane? He’d never be able to clear his name!

This could not be borne!

“I’ll admit nothing of the sort!” Zheng Jian snapped. “Listen well—the young master’s nickname is ‘Heart’s Arsonist!’ That’s my name! Don’t disgust me with this Bandit-Bane nonsense!”

…

The inn fell silent. The brute stammered, “Big Brother, what do we do if he’s not Bandit-Bane? Did we get the wrong guy?”

The nameless villain looked ready to slap him. “You idiot! Stop talking. Kill him, and we—Fuzhou’s Twin Heroes—will make our name!”

Only now did Zheng Jian realize—these two wanted fame and were trying to step on Bandit-Bane’s reputation to get it.

Well, well, even someone with such bold brows and big eyes is no different from those gaudy show-offs out there!

Meanwhile, the so-called Fuzhou Twin Heroes closed in from both sides. The brute produced a broadsword from somewhere and swung it down at Zheng Jian’s head with all his strength, while the other pulled out a folding fan.

Zheng Jian was thoroughly fed up with these talentless, overconfident fools. The reason he’d killed so many bandits along the way wasn’t because he was some bandit-slaying nemesis, but because these idiots practically threw their necks onto his sword…

Now, these two were no different.

“If you’re so eager to die, I’ll oblige. Ugly brute, remember not to be reborn as a pig next time!” Zheng Jian grinned. His longsword on the table suddenly burst forth with a flash of sword-light, instantly engulfing the two.

With a flourish, he sheathed his sword in what he thought was a very dashing pose, not bothering to glance at the fallen men, and strode towards the two who had first been chatting about “Bandit-Bane.”

The entire inn was frozen in terror. Who would have thought this teenage boy was so fearsome—a little fiend, really!

The sharper ones had already put two and two together: this “little fiend” must indeed be the “Bandit-Bane” currently making waves in the martial world.

As Zheng Jian approached, the two who had been chatting earlier turned pale, stammering, “Ba—Bandit-Bane, great hero…”

“Shut up!” Zheng Jian barked. “Call me Bandit-Bane again, and I’ll skin you alive!”

“Yes, yes, not Bandit-Bane—young hero!” the two quickly corrected themselves.

“All of you, listen well. From today onward, whoever lets me hear the name Bandit-Bane again, I’ll wipe out their entire clan!” Zheng Jian threatened fiercely. He’d just had an idea: take this chance to establish his reputation with a new name before that wretched nickname became recognized throughout the martial world. Otherwise, how could he ever face anyone?

“Then… what should we call you, young hero?” The two exchanged glances; as long as they obeyed, their lives would be spared. Whatever he said, they’d go along with it…

“Heart’s Arsonist!” Zheng Jian blurted out, but then shook his head. “No, that sounds too trendy. You probably wouldn’t appreciate it…”

Especially since he remembered the notorious “Lone Walker of Ten Thousand Miles,” Tian Boguang, that rogue. If the martial world started associating him with such a scoundrel, it would be even worse!

Blame the martial world’s poor taste; they can’t even appreciate a name as good as Sa Beining’s.

Forget it; better pick something down-to-earth…

Zheng Jian sighed. “From now on, I’ll be… Young Swordsman Zheng? Sounds awful. Shadowless Sword? Too plain…”

He suddenly realized he was caught in a dilemma. It was truly difficult to come up with a name that was both impressive and elegant.

He didn’t notice that everyone in the inn—including the waiter and the innkeeper—were utterly baffled. Never in a hundred years of running an inn had they seen someone agonize over giving himself a nickname.

Everyone wanted to leave, but didn’t dare in front of this little fiend; they wanted to laugh, but didn’t dare, either…

Meanwhile, system notifications kept popping up in Zheng Jian’s mind: Resentment value from the innkeeper: +50. From the waiter: +30. From Lu Renjia: +66…

Seeing this, Zheng Jian was overjoyed. Who would’ve thought he’d profit from this?

No, he needed to drag this out even longer! Naming was a small matter—milking resentment was key. If he didn’t cash in on these resentment points, he’d be losing out!

So, Zheng Jian paced back and forth in the inn, sometimes deep in thought, sometimes sighing.

The diners’ hearts rose and fell with his every move, while the system’s stream of resentment points flowed in like a waterfall…

It felt like he was soaring—under the destiny’s sky!

…

First update. Everyone, please bookmark and vote. More to come tonight.

(End of chapter)