Very few people used this kind of sword—because drawing such a long bde from its scabbard was no easy task. It required a special technique, a unique skill.

  Anyone who could wield such a sword was not someone to be trifled with.

  Since it was so difficult to unsheathe, it would never be put back lightly.

  By the time the sword returned to its scabbard, it was usually stained with blood.

  Someone else′s blood.

  The three men who entered took the corner table at the farthest end of the room, making it clear that they didn′t want to disturb others—nor did they want to be disturbed.

  When asked what they wanted to order, they simply replied, "Anything."

  That meant they weren′t there to enjoy a meal. They didn′t care about food.

  People who don′t care about eating are either burdened with heavy worries—or preoccupied with something else.

  And whatever they were thinking about, it definitely wasn′t something pleasant.

  Lin Taiping had been staring at the bck-cd man′s sword, murmuring, The bde isn′t even drawn, yet it already carries an aura of death."

  Wang Dong replied, "It′s not the sword—it′s the man who carries that killing aura."

  Guo Dalu sighed. "I don′t know much, but I do know that even if I were dead drunk, I would never pick a fight with that guy."

  Just then, Yan Qi suddenly said, "I recognize the other two."

  Guo Dalu raised an eyebrow. "They don′t seem to recognize you, though."

  Yan Qi chuckled. "So what? People as famous as them—why would they know who I am?"

  Guo Dalu asked, "They′re that famous?"

  Yan Qi said, “The tall and skinny guy sitting on the outermost seat is called ‘Jia Gun,’ also known as ‘Gun Zi′.”

  (T/N: 夹棍; Jiāgùn, lit. means leg vise or torture instrument, such as cmp or tong or iron pincher; 棍子; Gùn zi, means staff or rod).

  Guo Dalu said, “Gun Zi fits, but Jia Gun is quite an unusual name.”

  Yan Qi expined, “A ′cmp or tong’ is a torture instrument. No matter how cunning or slippery a thief is, once they′re put on the cmp or tong, they′ll confess to anything. If you tell them to call you their ancestor, they wouldn′t dare refuse.”

  Guo Dalu asked, “Does he really have that kind of ability?”

  Yan Qi replied, “It′s said that no one can avoid telling the truth when faced with him.

  Even if it were a dead man, he could still get a confession out of him.”

  Wang Dong commented, “He must be ruthless.”

  Yan Qi continued, “He also has the nickname ‘Gun Zi,’ meaning ‘he beats everyone he meets.’ Anyone who falls into his hands is bound to get beaten bck and blue first. To those in the underworld, running into him is like encountering a death omen—a living King of Hell.”

  Wang Dong asked, “What does he do for a living?”

  Yan Qi answered, “He′s the constable of Qinghe County.”

  Wang Dong said, “Qinghe County isn′t a big pce. Isn′t that a waste of his talent?”

  Yan Qi sighed, “Precisely because his methods are too ruthless, he′s never been promoted. But whenever a major case arises that no one else can solve, they inevitably have to go to Qinghe County to borrow his expertise.”

  Guo Dalu then asked, “What about that fshy, golden fellow?”

  Yan Qi replied, “His surname is Jin, and he loves gold, so he′s called ‘Jin Shi.’ But behind his back, people call him ‘Jinshi Beijing Quan.’”

  (T/N: 金狮 北京犬, Jīn shī běijīng quǎn, means Golden Lion Pekingese, aka Golden Lion Dog.)

  Guo Dalu ughed, “To be honest, he doesn′t look like a Beijing Quan at all.”

  Yan Qi asked, “Have you ever seen a Beijing Quan?”

  Guo Dalu replied, “I′ve seen all kinds of Quans.”

  Yan Qi asked, “What′s the biggest feature on a Beijing Quan′s face?”

  Lin Taiping immediately replied, “The nose.”

  Yan Qi asked again, “And what′s the smallest?”

  Lin Taiping answered, “The mouth.”

  He chuckled and expined, “I used to have several Beijing Quans when I was a kid.”

  Yan Qi said, “Now take another look at that man′s face.”

  From where they stood, they had a clear view of "Jin Shi′s" face.

  No matter who looked at him, they couldn′t ignore his nose.

  His nose alone took up nearly a third of his entire face.

  Normally, a mouth is wider than a nose, but in his case, his nose was actually wider than his mouth. If someone looked down from above, they wouldn′t even see his mouth—it was completely blocked by his nose.

  Guo Dalu almost burst out ughing but managed to hold it in, saying, “That is indeed an oversized nose.”

  Wang Dong added, “His eyesight must not be very good.”

  Guo Dalu was puzzled. “How do you know that?”

  Wang Dong expined, “Because his nose is so big, it separates his eyes—his left eye can only see what′s on the left, and his right eye can only see what′s on the right.”

  Before he could finish speaking, even Yan Qi couldn′t help but ugh.

  Guo Dalu said, “But I still haven′t found his mouth.”

  Yan Qi, trying to suppress his ughter, said, “That hole under his nose—that′s his mouth.”

  Guo Dalu frowned. “That′s his mouth? I thought it was his nostril.”

  Lin Taiping said, “How could someone grow a mustache on their nostrils?”

  Guo Dalu replied, “I thought those were just nose hairs.”

  Wang Dong added, “That′s why when he eats, people often can′t tell where the food is actually going.”

  They tried their best to hold back their ughter, but it was impossible.

  Guo Dalu ughed so hard he nearly slid under the table.