Chapter 1: Snowfall Villa

Snowfall Villa isn't really a villa, but just an inn, and a very rundown one at that. Within a hundred miles, it's the only inn around. It backs against a tall mountain and faces a large river. Crossing that mountain takes a long time, and getting across the river isn't easy either, making it the preferred resting spot for travelers. 

However, in recent months, business at Snowfall Villa hasn't been good. As its name suggests, a long, relentless snow has fallen, blocking the roads and sealing the paths. Xiao Se, dressed in a white fur coat, leaned against the doorway, watching the snowflakes swirling outside, and let out a sigh. 

This sigh was very much like his name—desolate. 

A few of the inn's waiters were dozing off on the tables, occasionally waking up from the cold, shivering violently, looking around, and seeing only their pretentious boss gazing at the snow. They wrapped themselves in their tattered coats and went back to sleep, silently complaining: there had been guests who didn't want to travel in the snow and had planned to stay, but because the boss was unwilling to spend money to repair the inn, every room was drafty. After a few days, the guests, preferring to endure the bitter cold outside, left. 

This boss, named Xiao Se, had once instructed them, "Our inn, backed by the green mountains and facing the flowing waters, will appear more elegant if the rooms have more of a dilapidated feel. That's the sensation travelers on the road crave." 

The waiters didn't understand and asked, "What exactly is that sensation?" 

Xiao Se, pretending to be profound, shook his head, "Ah, it's naturally the feeling of being on the road." 

The waiters nodded in vague understanding. 

Until one night, a burly traveler, unable to bear the creaking windows due to the wind, punched a huge hole in the wall. He was then made to work as a laborer for a month as punishment. The traveler didn't resist; when he raised his fist, Xiao Se threw him out the door. As he stood up, Xiao Se casually picked up a stick. Before the stick came down, the traveler knelt. 

There was debate among the waiters about whether the stick actually struck. One sharp-eyed waiter said he saw the stick tremble slightly, producing an illusion of numerous flowers, causing the entire rickety inn to shake. But since the traveler was unharmed, no one could confirm if the stick really hit. The traveler didn't say another word for a month and ran when asked. 

After sighing, Xiao Se started calculating. He thought about selling the inn since a wealthy man from Honglu Town a hundred miles away had shown interest. But even if someone wanted to buy it now, they'd have to find the man first. Alternatively, he considered dismissing some waiters. But in this freezing weather, those with no martial skills would have nowhere to go. Suddenly, Xiao Se had an idea. If he dismissed the waiters, they'd have no choice but to stay as guests and pay. Problem solved. A satisfied smile appeared on Xiao Se's face. 

Just as he was feeling relieved, he saw a flash of red in the distance. Blinking, thinking he imagined it, the red became more distinct. Blinking again, he lazily called out, "We have a guest." 

Though he called out lazily, the waiters jumped to their feet. 

The red figure appeared before Xiao Se. 

"Honored guest, would you like to rest or..." 

The red figure had already passed Xiao Se. 

Xiao Se felt the snow seemed even more desolate. 

The waiters were stunned too. 

In such snowy weather, the person wore only a red robe, with the chest exposed, revealing not enticing curves but knotted muscles. The face, however, was strikingly handsome, appearing only in his late teens, with bright, radiant eyes more beautiful than an average girl's. 

The person seemed a perfect blend of masculinity and femininity. More astonishing, the figure, walking in the freezing snow, radiated heat. As he sat down, steam rose from his body, warming the cold inn. 

Xiao Se was initially annoyed because the youth was impolite and equally handsome. But his mood quickly improved upon seeing the youth's bundle. It was long and large. In such weather, ordinary travelers wouldn't carry much, and what they did carry would be valuable. 

So, the bundle must contain something very valuable! This guest must be wealthy! 

"What would you like, sir?" The waiter, understanding this logic, immediately approached fawningly. 

The young man in red spoke with a firm voice, "One bowl of plain noodles and one bowl of old wine!" 

The waiter nearly slipped and fell, and Xiao Se, leaning on the door, felt his arm go limp. 

The young man in red carefully took out six copper coins from his pocket, placing them meticulously on the table, "That's six copper coins, right?" 

The waiter collected himself, "Sir, the plain noodles are five copper coins, and the old wine is three copper coins, making it eight in total." 

The young man in red was taken aback, "How can that be? I came from Honglu Town where plain noodles only cost four copper coins, and the old wine only two copper coins!" 

The waiter straightened his face, "Sir, the old wine for two copper coins is a hundred miles back." 

The young man in red blushed, lowered his head slightly, thought for a moment, and hesitantly said, "Then I'll skip the old wine and just have the noodles." He carefully took back one copper coin. 

The waiter couldn't help but look up at Xiao Se's reaction. 

But Xiao Se had already turned back resolutely, staring at the endless falling snow in a daze. 

After a while, the sound of slurping noodles came from behind, making Xiao Se feel a bit hungry. Just as he was about to call the waiter, he saw some figures flickering in front of him. Looking closely, there seemed to be about a dozen people. He wanted to laugh but quickly couldn't. 

These people looked very poor. Although the young man in red was frugal, Xiao Se could tell that his red robe was made of Phoenix Fire silk, which even a major shop in the capital would have to sell everything to afford. But these men were in coarse cloth coats, with ferocious faces, and they all carried knives. 

They gave Xiao Se a few scrutinizing glances before entering. 

Those glances made Xiao Se feel that they were truly impolite. He was angry but still smiled because he was the innkeeper and had to think about business. 

Usually, such things were handled by the innkeeper's wife. 

As the waiter approached, one of the men shouted, "Bring us your best wine and finest meat!" 

The waiter quickly nodded, "How much would you like?" 

The leader roared, "As much as you have!" 

"Well..." The waiter hesitated. 

"What?" The man glared at him. 

"Sir, we require payment in advance. So, how many pounds of meat and how much wine exactly?" Xiao Se smiled politely at them. 

The man glared, "Who are you?" 

"I am Xiao Se, the owner of Snowfall Villa," Xiao Se replied with a polite smile. 

"I have no money." The man threw his knife on the table. 

"Oh?" Xiao Se responded lightly. 

"But you must have money!" The man pointed at Xiao Se. 

Xiao Se shook his head, "To be honest, the inn hasn't had business for nearly a month. I've even delayed the wages..." 

"I don't care!" The man slammed the table, "Even if you don't have money, that fur coat of yours is worth at least a hundred taels of silver." 

"Nonsense!" Xiao Se suddenly changed his expression, glaring angrily. 

The man was startled. 

"A five-flower horse, a thousand gold coats! This fur coat was custom-made at the Yu Xiu shop in the capital. It took three months to make and a month to deliver. A hundred taels? That wouldn't even buy a sleeve." Xiao Se spoke with strength and determination. 

The man was stunned for a few seconds, then grabbed his knife and split the table in half with one slash, "Did you understand what I said?" 

"Two taels of silver!" Xiao Se frowned. 

"Two taels of silver?" The man's momentum weakened. 

"I said, this table is worth two taels of silver!" Xiao Se shouted. 

The man's face turned red with anger, "You brat, I'm here to rob you, not to dine! Give me your best wine and meat, and all your valuables, or I'll kill you and burn this inn!" 

"Robbery?" The young man in red put down his bowl, wiping the soup from his mouth. 

The man glanced at him, waving his knife, "So what?" 

The young man in red stood up solemnly, "Then I have to intervene." 

"Who are you?" The man asked. 

The young man in red smiled confidently, "Lei Wujie!" 

He spoke with confidence and a hint of arrogance. The dozen men were taken aback, "Lei Wujie!" 

The young man nodded, "Exactly!" 

Only the leader frowned and continued, "Who is... that?" 

The name sounded imposing, and the young man said it with such arrogance that they felt it must belong to someone formidable, but they couldn't recall who. 

The young man in red laughed, "I'm new to the martial world, so you haven't heard of me yet. But soon, this name will be famous." 

He raised his eyebrows proudly, full of arrogance. 

But the men were furious. 

Just a fledgling kid! 

"Lei Wujie! You dare to show off before us?" One of the men swung his knife at the young man. 

The young man slightly dodged, touched the blade with his finger, and quickly retreated. 

The man was shocked. The young man's light touch seemed to drain all his strength. His knife couldn't move an inch further, although one more inch would have severed the young man's hand. He watched as the young man effortlessly avoided his strike. 

He wanted to chase him, but then he heard a sound. 

A faint, subtle sound from his knife. 

Everyone heard it. 

It seemed like the blade was slowly cracking, but the sound grew faster and louder... 

The leader yelled, "Throw the knife!" 

The man quickly threw the knife into the air. 

With a loud bang, the knife exploded into dozens of pieces, sparks flying, and everyone scrambled to avoid the shards. The waiters hid under the tables. 

Only the young man in red stood calmly, smiling at the stunned men. 

Lei Wujie wasn't unknown. At least his surname was famous in the martial world, so much that people would avoid it to save their lives. 

"The Thunderbolt Hall of Jiangnan, the Lei family!" The leader gritted out. 

The young man nodded, "Yes. Lei Wujie of the Lei family."