Chapter 564: Daytime Curfew

Chapter 564: Daylight Prohibition

Within the capital city under the daylight prohibition, the sky gradually darkened. Outside, besides the occasional patrol of soldiers, Gao Zhijian saw nothing else.

"Everyone, everyone!" The commotion behind him made Gao Zhijian turn around in confusion. Immediately, he saw the innkeeper standing atop the counter, holding a pair of chopsticks in his left hand, tapping them against the bowl in his right hand, his face beaming with a smile so radiant it could light up the night.

"Ladies and gentlemen! It seems that all of you will not be able to return tonight and will have to stay at our establishment. However, we only have three first-class rooms and six medium-class rooms. Hmm, if I simply give them out to whoever I choose, it would not be fair to everyone. How about this: the highest bidder gets the room?"

"I'm not taking advantage of the situation here! Those who can't get a room can also sleep on the floor! Our inn offers excellent value for money. Sleeping on the floor costs only one hundred coins!"

Upon hearing these words, murmurs of outrage immediately arose from the crowd. Seeing that this was merely a trivial matter, Gao Zhijian turned his back once more and continued gazing toward the street outside.

When his gaze returned to the street, his eyes widened to the size of oxen. A young and beautiful girl was walking down the street!

Having traveled far and wide with his senior brother Li, Gao Zhijian had seen many things, but he had never encountered a woman as stunning as this one.

"With the daylight prohibition in effect, what is this young lady doing out alone? Isn't she afraid of running into the soldiers of the Great Liang?"

As Gao Zhijian thought this, he heard the girl outside calling out anxiously.

"Dad! Dad, where are you? Dad, don't leave me behind!"

"That voice... why does it sound so familiar..." Gao Zhijian stroked his chin and pondered deeply.

If he had met this girl before, it couldn't be possible. Such a beautiful girl, he definitely wouldn't forget her.

As the voice outside faded away, Gao Zhijian suddenly opened his mouth in surprise, letting out an "ah!" He remembered whose voice it was! It was the spirit that Brother Li raised! That one who wore a straw raincoat every day!

"She's looking for her father? Then her father must be Brother Li!"

Thinking of this, Gao Zhijian pushed open the front table, grabbed the lock with both hands, and twisted it hard until it became twisted like a rope and lost its function.

Ignoring the gasps of other diners behind him, Gao Zhijian rushed into the empty street after Li Sui.

The empty street wasn't far; Gao Zhijian quickly caught up with her.

"Ahh! It's you! Have you seen my father? He left with an old man with white beard named the National Master, riding a sword. He abandoned me here alone." Although Li Sui hadn't spoken to Gao Zhijian in Niuxin Village, she still recognized him.

"You... you... your father... is... is... is..." As Gao Zhijian sweated profusely, stammering with questions, several dozen high-headed horses appeared around the corner.

Seeing that Gao Zhijian and Li Sui were standing openly on the street, the cavalry gently kicked their horses' sides and galloped toward the two.

Looking at the blood-dripping mace held high, Gao Zhijian's muscles tensed instantly. He clutched Li Sui under his arm and turned to run.

Although Gao Zhijian was large and had long strides, he couldn't outrun the horses. Soon, the distance between them grew smaller.

Hearing the increasingly loud hoofbeats behind him, Gao Zhijian knew he couldn't escape. With a resolute heart, he threw Li Sui aside and quickly turned around, pushing off the ground with both hands.

The cavalryman didn't expect the opponent to suddenly do that. Before his weapon could descend, the galloping horse crashed into Gao Zhijian.

Veins like tree roots spread from Gao Zhijian's neck down to his face.

"Hah!!" Gao Zhijian roared in anger, firmly catching the charging horse. Then, with both hands, he hugged tightly and used a move called "Plucking Willow from Dry Land," throwing both man and horse onto the roof ahead.

The other cavalrymen were momentarily stunned by Gao Zhijian's strength and kept their distance, not daring to approach even a step.

One of them pulled out a long paper strip from his sleeve and raised it into the air. "Swoosh~Bang!" A red firework exploded in the sky.

At this moment, the murderous aura in Gao Zhijian's eyes was overflowing. Looking at the fireworks in the sky, he quickly grabbed Li Sui and walked toward another street. "Let's go!"

But before Gao Zhijian had gone far, a seven-foot-tall man with a double-gourd hammer blocked their path. Dressed in armor, he carried the hammer on his shoulder and let the other hang down, immediately recognizing the aura of death on Gao Zhijian.

"Who dares practice military arts? Are you worthy? You're asking for death!" Saying that, the man raised his gourd hammer and charged at Gao Zhijian.

Gao Zhijian wanted to retreat, but there was nowhere to go. He could only fight again.

"Buzz~" The gourd hammer came flying. Gao Zhijian just managed to grab it with both hands when the other gourd hammer struck it heavily. "Meteor Chasing Moon!"

Pushed back by the tremendous force, Gao Zhijian staggered backward several steps. When he steadied himself, his trembling hands had completely torn their tendons, bleeding profusely.

"Where's your weapon?" The arrogant man looked at Gao Zhijian.

Gao Zhijian wiped the blood on his hands onto his pants. "P... put... put... at the inn!"

"Boom!" The hundred-pound gourd hammer hit the ground, shattering the bricks into pieces.

"Again! Don't let Ma Wu bully you!" The man charged at Gao Zhijian with bare fists.

Li Sui stood between them, but Gao Zhijian shoved her aside.

They crashed into each other, beginning a fist-to-fist battle.

Clearly, Ma Wu had learned martial arts, while Gao Zhijian had not. Not long after, Gao Zhijian was beaten black and blue.

Yet no matter how badly injured he was, Gao Zhijian showed no signs of exhaustion.

Just when Gao Zhijian thought he would be beaten down, his body instinctively moved.

His right foot stepped forward and hooked, causing Ma Wu to lose balance slightly. Seizing this opportunity, Gao Zhijian bent his right arm and pressed his iron-hard elbow against the other's throat.

Both sides stopped moving, slowly backing away. Although Gao Zhijian's nose was swollen and his face bruised, Ma Wu had no injuries. But both knew that Gao Zhijian had won.

"Good! A real man, not a coward! You're worthy of practicing military arts!!" Ma Wu nodded and turned to retrieve his weapon.

"Don't run around during the daylight prohibition. Who knows what the authorities might do. If you meet me, it's fine, but if you encounter someone else, you might not survive."

Gao Zhijian protected Li Sui behind him and nodded slightly. "Thank you."

"But your technique isn't as good as our Ma family's. If you ever want to join the army and receive pay, remember to come to the Ma family. I guarantee you'll become a small flag officer!" Saying that, Ma Wu shouldered his gourd hammer and left.

Seeing Ma Wu depart, the cavalrymen following from afar also turned away. Soon, the quiet street was left with only Gao Zhijian and Li Sui.

Gao Zhijian glanced around and sighed in relief, pulling Li Sui toward the inn.

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(End of Chapter)