Chen Ren caught the piece of sharp metal striking him through the air. His body reacted faster than his mind, twisting in the air sharply.

The knife whistled past him, slicing so close that he could feel its chill brush against his cheeks. But the knife’s momentum downgraded and found its mark on the leg of the bald man who had been holding him as if he was clinging to his dear life.

A strangled cry erupted from the bald thug’s throat.

His iron grip fell away as he stumbled back, eyes wide with pain and rage, hands reflexively reaching for the buried blade.

Blood dripped down his leg as he staggered, his breath coming in gasps as he clutched at the knife buried deep in his flesh.

His expression twisted in agony, but his eyes burned with unrelenting fury, hatred spilling from his every movement.

Chen Ren didn’t hesitate; his body surged into motion. In one fluid motion, he sprang to his feet, eyes darting to where the knife had come from. There, at the edge of the market, stood the beggar girl who he just gave noodles to.

Her eyes were burning with determination and three more knives shone in her small, weak, calloused hands. If anything, she seemed much more strong now. Where had she even gotten them from? Chen Ren couldn’t guess, but there was no time to wonder.

The girl stood firm, her tiny figure seemed taller than before— as though the chaos that surrounded her didn’t affect her, but she was focused, ready for action.

Chen Ren quickly shrugged off his attention from her and turned to the bald man who was now howling with rage and pain.

He wrenched the knife from his leg, the blood staining his fingers while his breath came in jagged gasps. His bloodshot eyes shot at Chen Ren which seemed to boil with passionate hatred.

“Argh!” the bald man brayed and prepared to lunge forward.

At the same time, Chen saw how Zhi staggered upright with a grin that was painful to watch— looking like an absolute maniac. He brushed splinters and dust from his shoulders, and by how his smirk expanded, this scene seemed to only fuel his twisted excitement.

He cracked his knuckles.

Chen Ren’s senses sharpened; his instincts screamed at him that he couldn’t face both at once.

Frantically, his eyes swept through the stalls, searching for an advantage— something, anything. Well, anything except for the woman with knives.

Vegetables, skewers, carts, wares, pineapples, ladles— but then, his gaze landed on a nearby cart bearing a wok of bubbling oil. The liquid was as angry as the bald man. Without hesitation, he lunged towards it.

As if on cue, the bald thug charged.

His arms swung wildly towards Chen Ren, his face twisted in every way possible.

Chen Ren didn’t stop his feet either, and the market seemed to slow.

Almost… there!

The thug was too close now, and there was no time to think. Just as the man drew near, Chen seized the wok of oil, his grip firm despite the weight of the vessel and the searing burning pain that came with it.

He waited no second before flinging the boiling oil, his wrist snapping for its speed.

The liquid arced through thin air and splattered across the bald thug and Zhi. The two men screamed, their cries of agony cutting through the air like a knife. The oil immediately burned their skin, splashing across their faces, clothes, and exposed limbs.

The searing liquid scorched their flesh, sending them into spasms, their hands clawing at their bodies in a pathetic attempt to stop the pain. And the smell of burnt flesh and scorched fabric filled the air immediately, making every other smell of the market disappear.

With that, the market fell into absolute havoc. The onlookers shrieked and scrambled to avoid the splattering oil and the fight overall, but all Chen could focus on were the two men who were squirming in pain before him.

He had no time to linger on their suffering, for his fight was far from over.

The warmth left his eyes, replaced with lightning as he summoned his qi.

His fist crackled with lightning-infused energy, and with a savage roar, he launched into a strike.

“[Thundering Punch]!”

His fist crashed into the bald man’s chest. The thud’s breath left him in a sharp, strangled gasp. He was sent sprawling to the ground. His body went limp, breathless and motionless, a broken heap at his feet.

Turning swiftly, he was ready to send a similar blow to Zhi, but to his surprise, the wiry cultivator was already slumping to his knees.

It was quite the sight to see his malice-filled grin turned to a grimace of agony— just because of the searing hot oil.

No, it was not the oil.

It was then, he saw. Two of the beggar girl’s knives were buried deep in the man’s shoulders, and blood poured down his arm, slick and crimson. He trembled as life drained from his eyes, his body faltering as his will to fight died.

Silence swept through the market.

The stench of smoke, burnt bodies and spilt blood made bile rise in his throat. Chen Ren’s senses clouded with the three. But he forced himself to snap into reality, wanting to deal with the rest of the members, but they seemed to have already scattered, vanished into the maze of alleys, their cowardness outweighing whatever purpose they came for.

Breathing slowly, Chen Ren let the tension in his muscles ease. He stepped toward the fallen bald thug, whose body lay contorted on the ground, twitching with the last remnants of life.

With a swift movement, he retrieved the pouch of coins the man had stolen from the stall owners.

The coins jingled with a cold, metallic sound as he inspected the contents. It wasn't an overly large sum, but it was a day’s worth of all the stalls and he wasn't going to let mere thugs have it.

Chen Ren met the bald man’s dull, pain-glazed eyes, his expression hardening. The thug’s chest heaved with laboured breaths, but he could do little more than look up, unable to move.

With a swift motion, Chen Ren delivered a sharp kick to the man’s ribs, the sound of bone cracking ringing around him.

"This is what you get for being a ruffian," he spat the words.

He looked over at the beggar girl, who stood just beyond the carnage, her eyes still burning with determination.

Her breath came in slow, measured puffs. And though she had just played her part in the battle, there was no hint of satisfaction in her expression— only the same quiet look on her face that had been there when he had given her the noodles.

She met his gaze with a small nod before retreating to her familiar spot, curling up as if nothing had happened. Then, picked up the bowl of noodles he had given her, quietly slurping on it

A flicker of gratitude surged within him, urging him to step forward and thank her for her silent support.

Before he could act on it, a familiar voice cut through his mind like a crisp wind.

“Six and a half out of ten.”

Chen Ren turned to see Yalan, the cat with the knowing eyes, approaching with an air of detached elegance. The shimmer of her fur caught the moonlight as she assessed him with a critical gleam.

Beside her, a worried Tang Xiulan rushed forward.

Yalan continued not giving Xiulan heed. “Better this time. You faced greater numbers and managed to use your environment effectively. But you could have been more ruthless, and you did have some... assistance. Moreover, you are shouting your technique's name seemingly for foolish reasons. Just because the thugs are doing it don't mean you need to emulate them.”

Chen Ren's brow lifted, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re still evaluating me?”

Yalan's eyes narrowed slightly, glistening with an enigmatic glint. “Of course. I’ll evaluate every battle you fight. You’re not above judgement.”

Before he could reply, Xiulan reached him, her soft voice cutting through his thoughts. “Young master, are you okay?”

He let out a breath, rolling his shoulders as the dull ache of bruises reminded him of the struggle. “A few scratches and my back feels like I fought a mountain, but I'll be fine. Nothing to worry about.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

His gaze shifted beyond Xiulan, settling on the bald thug still groaning in agony and the stunned stall owners who were beginning to gather around.

“But the real concern isn't my injuries,” he muttered, eyes sharpening. “These thugs weren't just here for extortion. They wanted the perfume formula. Otherwise, they wouldn't have brought cultivators with them. The Blood Snakes are eyeing my businesses.”

Tang Xiulan's eyes widened. “What are you going to do now?”

Chen Ren thought for a moment before a grimace settled on his face. “We need to check on Heavenly Fragrances. If I'm right, this wasn't the only place they hit.”

***

Chen Ren had expected that their stall wouldn’t be the only one to be affected by the Blood Snake attacks. As they moved closer to the area, the sight before him confirmed his suspicions.

The outside scene of their perfume shop was in disarray. The door seemed to be broken and the board with their stall name was on the ground. Even other shops around them seemed to have taken some damage and a good number of people were out in the open, talking in hushed whispers.

The signs of a violent altercation were unmistakable.

He saw Tang Yuqiu standing outside, flanked by the guards who had been assigned to them by the Tang Clan. They had anticipated something like an attack, though they could never have predicted that a powerful gang would be involved.

The calm resolve on Yuqiu’s face quickly turned into a tense line when she saw Chen Ren approaching.

As he got closer, Chen Ren’s gaze swept the area, taking in the damage. His heart sank as he observed. There was blood on the ground, some still fresh, some beginning to dry on the paved streets. The air was thick with the lingering smell of burnt wood, herbs, and the faint metallic stench of blood.

A few perfume bottles were spilled out on the streets, evidence of the struggle that had taken place. It was clear the attackers had tried to destroy their stock. Fortunately, only a few of them were scattered.

“Did Blood Snakes attack you?” Chen Ren called out, his voice low, scanning Tang Yuqiu’s expression for any signs of distress.

Yuqiu’s gaze met his, hard and focused, and she gave a short nod, her lips pressed into a tight line.

“Yes, they did. A group of half a dozen people.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “But the guards handled it. They just threatened us and told us to give up the formula or they’d do more. Though, they flung a part of our stocks out on the streets and broke our board.”

“Were you here when it happened? Did they hurt you?” Chen Ren asked, looking over her body. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to be injured.

Yuqiu took a breath before explaining, “Yes, I was here when they came. And no, the guards protected me, so I was mostly unharmed and I believe they were trying to go past me to harm our stocks. Although they were from Blood Snakes, they didn't seem to be trained. The guards handled them easily, but they shouted that they would be back again. They’re clearly not finished with us. But how do you know the Blood Snakes attacked us? Did they—”

Chen Ren nodded before she could complete her sentence. “They came after me too,” he said, his voice low, eyes flicking to the unconscious forms of the bald thug and Zhi, who were now lying on a cart, being carried by Old Man Tian’s grandson. “They sent cultivators. Barely managed to take them down, but I caught these two.”

He pointed toward the two thugs, both of whom were still breathing but their injuries would take time to heal. The cart rattled softly as Old Man Tian’s grandson moved them to the side of the street.

Yuqiu’s frown deepened as she processed the information. “They sent cultivators? They are clearly not undermining us.”

Chen Ren sighed. “Yeah, and it's clear they were keeping an eye on us. They only sent cultivators to target me knowing I'm one too. And I don't think they are going to just give up. If we sit around doing nothing, they might escalate things. A bigger attack could be coming.”

Yuqiu looked at him, puzzled. “But... why would they want to escalate things? What do they want from us?”

Chen Ren’s eyes narrowed, putting the pieces together. He had thought about this before he came here. “It's the Bai Hu Trade association. They can’t do anything alone with our supply lines and staff secured, so they got the gang involved. Why they’re working together is beyond me, but it’s not good for us. Bai Hu’s reach is far, but I never thought they would get someone like Blood Snakes involved.”

Yuqiu’s face flushed with anger as the realisation hit her. She took a step forward, her voice rising with frustration. “I’ll go deal with them myself. They can’t just bully the Tang Clan like this. I’ll—”

Chen Ren stepped in front of her. “If you go now, they’ll just deny everything,” he said, cutting her off. “They’ll say they don’t know anything about it. Without proof, it’ll just be another set of accusations with no way to back them up. That’s why they didn’t send their own men to handle this— they don’t want to leave a trail. If you storm in there, they’ll lie through their teeth and say they were never involved.”

Tang Xiulan stepped forward, her expression one of determination mixed with concern. "So what do we do now?" she asked, glancing between Chen Ren and Yuqiu. "Should we inform the city guards?"

Chen Ren shook his head, his eyes scanning the damage once more before returning his gaze to Xiulan.

"We can, but I don’t think anything will come out of it. The Blood Snakes attacked our shop without any city guards around, and there weren’t any stationed down the market street either." He paused for a moment as if considering the implications of his words. "The truth is, they’re already bought. Remember they were easily bribed by the bun shop owner. If such a person can do so, then a gang would have way more power. We can go and complain, but I don’t expect them to take any action. It’ll just be a formality."

Tang Yuqiu’s face tightened at the suggestion. "So, what, we just let them get away with this? We won’t even try to get them to listen?"

"I don’t doubt that the Tang Clan could force them to give us protection— but it won't stop the Blood Snakes. Gangs like that don’t care about any clan. They only respect power, and I was just talking to Xiulan about this. Do you know why the Blood Snakes can operate in the city without anyone stopping them?"

Yuqiu frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why?"

Chen Ren’s voice dropped slightly, his expression grim. "Their boss, Yu Kuang. The leader of the Blood Snakes is a foundation realm cultivator. I asked around before coming here."

That statement sent everyone into deep thought. Yuqiu couldn’t help but pace back and forth in front of Chen Ren. Finally, she stopped and blinked at him, disbelief in her eyes "A foundation realm cultivator? That’s... that’s insane. Such a person is powerful enough to become an inner sect disciple in the Soaring Sword Sect."

Chen Ren nodded. "He can defeat someone like me— hundreds of times over— without even breaking a sweat. Not only that, they have dozens of body forging realm cultivators. That's why the Blood Snakes can do whatever they want, without fear of reprisal from anyone. No clan, no guard, no one can stand against him without serious consequences."

Yuqiu looked down, her jaw clenched in thought, and then she looked up, meeting Chen Ren’s gaze again.

"Does the Tang Clan have someone like that?" he asked.

Yuqiu shook his head. "No. The Tang Clan doesn’t have anyone on that level. I'm pretty sure my father can hire one, but it's rare to find someone at that level among the rogue cultivators.”

"Then we’re stuck in this situation," he said quietly. "We can’t just force them to leave us alone. Not with someone like that pulling the strings. We need to be careful. We can’t just rush in head first. We need a plan— a way to deal with the Blood Snakes keeping their boss in mind. Because if we go up against him, we’ll be crushed."

A silence fell over them as the gravity of the situation settled in.

It’s almost like everyone knew that something had to be done, but no one knew how to go about it without making the situation worse.

For maybe the first time since coming to this world, Chen Ren felt like he was grasping at straws. A foundation realm cultivator was way beyond his current state. They had a difference of one and a half realm between us. Tang Clan might be able to get more security, but against someone like him, even they needed to be careful.

That only left a few options.

Though, it wasn't as if every door was closed. He still had a trump card in Yalan and going by his estimates of her strength, she could deal against someone like Yu Kuang, but was this worth revealing her identity? He wasn't sure.

The more he had seen of his world, the more he realised that having a trump card like her was bigger than any cheat he might have received.

His mind raced, trying to come up with a solution where he could deal with Blood Snakes without anyone finding out about Yalan.

His gaze shifted from Yuqiu to the two unconscious thugs—Baldy and Zhi— who lay slumped in the cart. Then, his eyes flicked over to Yalan, who had been quietly observing the conversation from the sidelines.

A sudden thought struck him.

"I believe I have an idea," he said, getting the attention of both the women.

***

A/N - I got comments in last chapter of people disappointed about Dao of Money having fights. Although this is a more slice of life book, there will be fights. They won't always be brawls as Chen Ren will scheme his way out of them, but there will be fights other than just buisnesses. Also, the shouting out martial techniques part was more for showing he's still green as you can see in this chapter.

PS - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon.