Chapter Eight: Scaring People with a Little Gadget

The next day.

The streets of Kyoto had yet to fully awaken with their usual bustle, but inside Chu Nan’s small shop, an unusual stillness prevailed.

Leaning against the counter, he quietly pondered within.

A few days prior, in the presence of Cheng Lingyu, he had casually and subtly declined her veiled probing.

Though he verbally agreed to supply more rare items, his vigilance toward Cheng Lingyu remained unshaken.

This young lady’s status was extraordinary, possibly a member of the imperial family, and for now, she seemed to favor him.

Yet royal favor was as fleeting as clouds; a single misstep could bring disaster upon oneself.

It was the recent silence from the Yang family that took him by surprise.

Though Yang Ruyan had suffered a setback, her nature suggested she would not relent so easily.

Under normal circumstances, she should have sent someone to cause trouble by now, yet these past few days had been eerily calm, stirring a faint unease in his heart.

“Strange… could she be preparing a greater scheme?” Chu Nan murmured, furrowing his brow as a shadow of worry crossed his mind.

The Tianjian Marquis faction behind Yang Ruyan was deeply entrenched in Kyoto. Though he possessed some modern gadgets, facing such a formidable force could easily land him in peril.

Lost in thought, a sudden clamor outside caught his attention. The noise grew louder, accompanied by shouting.

His eyes flickered with curiosity as he stepped outside his shop.

Across the street, a dense crowd parted as street vendors and passersby made way.

Several officials clad in the garb of the Jingzhao magistrate’s officers swaggered toward him, their eyes fixed malevolently on his little shop.

Chu Nan’s brow tightened, a flicker of displeasure passing through him.

He had not recently caused any trouble; why would the magistrate’s men suddenly appear at his doorstep?

Could it be the Yang family stirring mischief once more, using the magistrate’s authority to harass him?

A portly officer with a sullen expression stood before the shop.

With hands clasped behind his back, he cast a condescending glance at Chu Nan and sneered coldly: “You must be the proprietor of this shop, Chu Nan?”

Chu Nan responded with a slight bow and a composed smile, his tone neither servile nor arrogant: “Indeed. May I ask what business brings the honorable officers here?”

The officer sneered, brandishing a document in hand. “Business? We are here on orders from the magistrate of Jingzhao to inspect your shop’s commercial tax affairs.”

Chu Nan was momentarily taken aback but quickly grasped the situation.

He knew well enough that the Yang family was behind this, deliberately involving the authorities to trouble him.

Feigning calm, he smiled lightly: “Officers jest. My humble shop barely earns enough to get by. How could I dare neglect paying taxes?”

The officer’s face darkened as he snorted: “Don’t play coy with me! Our investigation shows that since this shop’s opening, you have never paid any commercial taxes! Moreover, where is the title deed for this property? Has it been registered with the authorities?”

Chu Nan’s heart skipped a beat; this was bad.

Indeed, he had not completed the formalities for property deeds or tax payments—after all, this shop was a product of a modern man’s crossing into the past, and such legalities did not exist in his previous world.

Now, the officials were exploiting this as a pretext to destroy him.

He smiled faintly and replied with measured grace: “You misunderstand. My business is modest. As for the deed…” He glanced aside briefly before continuing, “It is still in process, not yet fully formalized. Might the officers show some leniency?”

“Leniency?” The officer sneered with a gleam of triumph. “Failing to pay taxes and registering property is illegal. There is no such thing as leniency here.”

“By order of the magistrate, this shop is hereby sealed and inspected. Resist, and you shall be deemed disobedient to the law!”

No sooner had he spoken than several officers lunged forward, roughly grasping Chu Nan, attempting to drag him out.

A cold light flashed in Chu Nan’s eyes as anger surged silently within.

These men were utterly shameless. If it weren’t for the Yang family’s instigation, matters would not have escalated so severely.

“Gentlemen, is it really necessary to resort to force? I am but a simple merchant. Must I be treated so?” Chu Nan sneered, his gaze sharp and laced with contempt.

The officer scoffed, disdain written across his face: “Hmph, a mere merchant daring to speak boldly. It seems you need a lesson in official authority.”

With a wave of his hand, he signaled the officers to advance.

They bore cruel smiles and ill intent, clearly well-prepared and dismissive of Chu Nan.

Seeing this, Chu Nan’s lips curled into a cold smile. He thought, “If you insist on force, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Swiftly, he produced a small canister of pepper spray from his sleeve, gripping it tightly.

The metallic container gleamed subtly in the sunlight, an unremarkable little object that seemed utterly out of place.

Chu Nan fixed the officers with a resolute gaze that brooked no argument.

The officers burst into laughter upon seeing the tiny canister, as if witnessing something utterly ridiculous.

One sneered mockingly, “Ha! What’s this? Bringing toys to intimidate us? Do you think this is some kind of weapon?”

Ignoring their jeers, Chu Nan smiled faintly and slowly raised the canister, aiming it at the nearest officer’s face.

“This is no mere toy to scare you. Just wait, you’ll soon see.”

With that, he pressed the nozzle decisively, unleashing a fierce, acrid spray that shot straight into the officer’s eyes.

“Ahh—!” The officer screamed in agony, clutching his eyes as he staggered backward, face contorted in pain.

The liquid burned like fiery needles, invading his eyes and instantly blurring his vision, tears streaming uncontrollably.

The other officers’ expressions shifted dramatically, their faces marked by shock and disbelief at the power of the small canister.

“What... what sorcery is this?” The leader’s face turned pale, his eyes wary and filled with unease, clearly shaken by Chu Nan’s mysterious tactic.

Holding the pepper spray tightly, Chu Nan inwardly sensed danger.

Though he had used this modern device to repel one officer, it had only provoked the others’ wrath.

They discarded all pretense of civility, their eyes blazing with fury, clearly intent on dealing him a harsh blow.

The lead officer rubbed his reddened eyes fiercely, rage boiling over as he bellowed, “So you dare fight back, boy? If we don’t smash your merchant’s shop to pieces today, then my name isn’t Liu!”

The officers closed in swiftly, brandishing clubs from their waists, their faces fierce with menace as they advanced toward Chu Nan.