11 Rascal in the Tavern (1/2)

”Wine” was written in huge letters on a white piece of cloth to serve as one tavern's signboard. It fluttered in the wind above the government-made road outside Gusu City. There were a few simple rectangular tables and long benches placed by the road. A young waiter ran back and forth passionately while occasionally shouting, ”Alright. Dear customer, please wait for a while, I will serve you in a moment.” Then, he would pour wine into the cups of the few customers in the shop, which made him look very busy.

Taverns were a major characteristic of the world of martial artists.

They were also the place where fights were most likely to happen.

Bang!

A plump hand slammed against the table. The bowl, chopsticks, and wine all trembled, which showed just how great the man's strength was.

”Shopkeeper!”

With a drunken burp, a man whose chest was exposed and who had a fierce face lifted his wine pot. He stood up while taking a swig.

The shopkeeper was an honest middle-aged man. He was also on the thinner side, so he looked as if the wind could blow him off his feet at any moment. He smiled obsequiously and walked over. ”Dear customer, what might you want?”

”Give me another… two pounds… of wine. Takeaway.”

There were a few empty wine pots on the table in front of the man. The side dishes were also in disorder. He seemed to have drunk quite a lot. The people beside him could already smell the unpleasant stench of alcohol on him. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

”Alright, Young Zhuzi, give this customer another two pounds of Red Daughter [1]. Dear customer, I will calculate the price. Your bill is a total of…” The shopkeeper was about to give the man the bill when the man cut in.

”Don't need to make any calculations. It's a total of one hundred taels of silver crumbs. I'm here for the monthly tribute.”

The man did not bring out any money. Instead, he extended his hand to the shopkeeper, who was now as pale as a sheet of paper, and looked down on him. His words had been spoken in a very straightforward and forceful manner.

”Ah… This is… you are…”

The shopkeeper was an honest man, and he did not understand what the huge man meant. From his shock, he even began to stutter.

”I forgot to tell you. My name is Li Shan, and this tavern of yours has to pay a monthly tribute. I showed you respect by eating your stuff just now. Hurry up and give me the money. I still have to go to the next place to collect its tribute.”

The drunk man, Li Shan, no longer looked drunk. His face grew fierce, like he was a rascal.

”Li-Li Shan…”

The shopkeeper and waiter trembled in fear. They no longer dared to ask the man to pay the bill, but they could not accept giving him their money either. In the face of the tyrant bullying them, they could only stand around like fools.

Li Shan's face darkened!

”What now? Are you looking down on me?” A white sword made of refined steel appeared out of nowhere, and he placed it horizontally before the shopkeeper and the waiter without another word.

When they saw that the shopkeeper and the waiter were about to have their blood spilled in the tavern, the people sitting by the tables next to Li Shan's could no longer continue watching.

”Stop!”

A young man slammed his hand against the table and stood up!

His three companions, who were two boys and a girl, also stood up with surprise and delight on their faces. There was also righteous indignation mixed into that. They glared at Li Shan and moved, quickly forming a square formation to surround him.

In truth, the moment Li Shan drew his sword, they had received an unexpected notification!

[Will you receive a low-level World of Martial Arts quest: Encountering Injustice? Help the shopkeeper defeat Villain Li Shan, and you will complete the quest! Villain Li Shan, a local rascal. Qi Realm: None.]

In truth, the players had heard rumors about this a few days ago. It was said that a rascal was throwing his weight around the taverns on the government-made roads outside Gusu City. He came twice every day to collect protection money from innocent, middle-aged shopkeepers, and all the players who were near the area could trigger the quest to deal with him!

What had attracted the group of players the most was that once they completed this quest, they would receive the shopkeeper's gratitude and get ten Jinchuang Ointments. If they could kill Villain Li Shan, their reward would be even greater. Not only would they be able to get Li Shan's Refined Steel Sword—a weapon that cost more than five hundred taels of silver crumbs—they could even get one hundred taels of silver crumbs—which was the protection money Li Shan collected—and a sword manual.

Refined steel weapons were highly valuable, and coupled with the other rewards, it was enough to attract all the newbies. The three boys and the girl had deliberately rushed to a tavern on this side of the city and waited for more than an hour to see Li Shan act violently.

At that moment, the four of them did not hesitate to take the quest.

”Oh, you even have someone come forward to help you?”