Chapter 282: The “Clean” Noodle Table

Such a shocking scene left the people of Tianshui County wide-eyed. Many even questioned whether they were still dreaming—everything before them felt utterly surreal!

The tyrannical county magistrate had just been killed, and now, in the blink of an eye, that pig demon—large as a small mountain—had been beheaded as well!

Everything had happened too fast. The sheer weight of what had just unfolded left no time for anyone to process it, let alone react.

However, the martial artists among them remained calm, watching the scene unfold without surprise. Some even picked up their weapons and, in front of everyone, began methodically butchering the pig demon.

Judging by their actions, they seemed intent on eating it!

Drenched in blood, Yan Wuyong casually wiped the demon’s blood from his cheek and addressed the crowd. “You all saw it—demons are not invincible! And yet, the so-called Great Wu court has failed to put an end to the rampant chaos of these creatures!”

“They sit high in their lofty positions, hiding in the capital, guarded by elite soldiers and armed with artifacts gifted by the immortal sects!”

“But what about the common people?”

“All we can do is pray each day that we don’t cross paths with these monsters!”

“So tell me, what has this imperial court done for us?”

“Nothing! They give us nothing! And instead, they continue to exploit us with relentless taxation. What use is such a government to the people?”

As he spoke, Yan Wuyong raised his arm and declared, “Those willing to follow me, go home and pack your belongings! At dawn, we set out together—to slay corrupt officials and exterminate demons!”

His words left no room for doubt—this was a call for rebellion.

Among the crowd, young men, their blood boiling, immediately voiced their support. Some middle-aged men hesitated, their words catching in their throats. Elderly men, regretful of their aging bodies, lamented that they could no longer keep up—if they were younger, they would have followed this blood-stained warrior without hesitation.

Before long, Yan Wuyong dispersed the crowd, telling the people of Tianshui County to think carefully. He reminded them repeatedly—this was a path of no return. Once they stepped onto it, there would be no turning back.

As the townsfolk departed, the martial artists who had pledged to follow Yan Wuyong once again melted into the shadows.

Yan Wuyong, however, turned his gaze toward the man seated at the nearby noodle stall—Gu Ning’an—who had just set down his chopsticks.

Ever since Gu Ning’an casually pointed him toward a medical clinic, Yan Wuyong had been keeping an eye on him. Whether it was when he executed the corrupt constables, beheaded the county magistrate, or slew the pig demon, he had been watching that white-robed scholar quietly eating his noodles.

And to his astonishment, no matter what happened around him, nothing seemed to disturb that man’s meal.

What was even more bizarre was that when the pig demon was beheaded, its blood had sprayed over a dozen meters. The noodle stall’s wooden table was only seven or eight steps away from the site of the execution. Yet, within a two-meter radius of that table, not a single drop of blood had landed!

From a distance, the surroundings were soaked in crimson, but that table remained completely untouched—so pristine that it was as if nothing had ever happened.

“Brother Yan!”

A sudden shout snapped Yan Wuyong out of his thoughts. He turned and saw the man who had escorted the two wounded brothers to the medical clinic returning.

A relieved smile spread across the man’s face. “Brother Yan, they’re fine! That old doctor at the Bai Family Clinic is a miracle worker—he pulled them back from death’s door!”

“Did you pay him?” Yan Wuyong asked.

“Of course! We’re not the type to skip out on medical bills!”

“Good. Keep an eye on them, and later, buy some nourishing food to send to the clinic.”

“Understood!”

Once the man left, Yan Wuyong quickly strode over to Gu Ning’an and cupped his hands in gratitude. “Many thanks for your guidance, sir. Because of you, I was able to save my brothers.”

“It’s nothing. Didn’t you also adjust your plans ahead of schedule to help me?” Gu Ning’an replied with a slight smile.

At those words, Yan Wuyong’s smile froze.

Several days ago, he and his men had infiltrated Tianshui County in batches, carefully scouting the situation. Their plan had been to seize the county office in one decisive move.

They had calculated the timing—at this hour, the corrupt constables would usually come out to eat first, and not long after, the county magistrate would emerge from the yamen. The plan was to wait until they had all left the county office, then ambush and eliminate them in one fell swoop.

But unexpectedly, the unfamiliar scholar, Gu Ning’an, had suddenly appeared—and even provoked the constables.

Seeing that the corrupt constables were about to strike, Yan Wuyong had no choice but to advance his plan.

Advancing the plan didn’t make success impossible, but it undoubtedly alerted the enemy ahead of time. As a result, the first group of brothers who stormed the county office ended up gravely wounded and on the verge of death.

Back in the alley earlier, he had indeed exchanged a few words with his companion, but his voice had been extremely low. Given the distance of several dozen meters, there was no way the man before him could have heard their conversation, right?

“Don’t worry. I just happen to have good ears and overheard it,” Gu Ning’an said with a smile.

“Haha~~” Yan Wuyong waved his hand and laughed. “Sir’s hearing is truly sharp… By the way, is that bowl of noodles really that good?”

“I saw such a commotion happening right beside you, yet you didn’t even blink. Could it be that this bowl of noodles is so delicious it’s beyond comparison?”

Gu Ning’an nodded toward the noodle stall and said, “The noodles have a nice chew to them, and the flavor is quite decent. If Brother Yan wants to try, why not order a bowl?”

“That sounds great! Just finished a fight, and my stomach is empty!” With that, Yan Wuyong waved at the middle-aged stall owner, who was still standing there in a daze. “Boss, one bowl of noodles, the same as what this gentleman had.”

“Ah?” The stall owner froze for a moment, looking a bit troubled.

Seeing this, Yan Wuyong frowned in confusion. “What’s wrong? Are you out of noodles? If so, then forget it.”

“No, it’s not that…” The stall owner hesitated before pointing at Gu Ning’an with an awkward smile. “Earlier, this gentleman cooked the noodles himself and mixed his own seasonings… If you want one exactly like his, I wouldn’t know how to make it.”

“Oh?” Yan Wuyong looked at Gu Ning’an with curiosity and cupped his hands. “Sir, would you be willing to share your recipe? I’d love to give it a try.”

“It’s not much of a recipe,” Gu Ning’an said with a casual wave of his hand. “A little salt, a handful of chili flakes, three spoonfuls of soy sauce… As for the noodles, just cook them to your preferred texture.”

“I’ll get started right away! Hero Yan, do you like your noodles softer or chewier?” The stall owner, hearing this, immediately prepared to cook.

However, Yan Wuyong strode toward the noodle stall with a grin. “I’ll do it myself. Since Mr. Gu said the noodles should be cooked to one’s preference, I’d best handle it myself.”

“Ah?” The stall owner was momentarily stunned but quickly stepped aside to make room.

Yan Wuyong, still covered in blood—his hands included—promptly removed his bloodstained outer garment and washed his hands in a nearby basin. Only then did he grab a handful of noodles and toss them into the boiling pot.

“Mr. Gu, would you like another bowl?” he asked while stirring the noodles with a pair of chopsticks.

Gu Ning’an shook his head with a smile. “I’m full. But thanks for the offer.”