Morning wind swept across Qingshui Alley, carrying with it the sound of frying dough sticks, merchants swearing at their donkeys, and one man loudly declaring:
"Freshly carved toys! Guaranteed to entertain your kid for at least three cups of tea before they break!"
That man, of course, was none other than Liang Shixiong, a self-proclaimed weak man, who had recently discovered the profound truth that the martial world was dangerous, overdramatic, and involved far too many people trying to stab him.
Thus, he had taken up a new occupation: selling toys.
The Great Toy Display
Liang Shixiong opened his stall, revealing—after a very long and overly dramatic flourish—an assortment of wooden figures: tiny swordsmen with heroic poses, miniature monks mid-chant, and a special limited-edition "Dao Xuan Tianzun Standing Majestically" figure.
"Limited stock!" he shouted. "Buy now before the Dao Xuan Tianzun figure sells out! And no, it does not grant divine protection, but it does stand really straight!"
A passing auntie squinted at the display.
"Why does this little monk look like he's constipated?"
"That's not constipation," Liang corrected with dignity. "That's enlightenment."
The Sudden Appearance of Trouble
Just as business began picking up—meaning one child had looked at the stall before running off—two familiar silhouettes appeared at the end of the street.
Zhao Jinfeng and Shansier.
Zhao Jinfeng had the aura of a man who believed every street was a battlefield and every breakfast a life-or-death training session. Shansier looked the same as always—half confused, half sleepy, fully dangerous.
"Shixiong," Zhao Jinfeng said, crossing his arms, "why are you selling toys?"
"I am," Liang declared bravely, "retired."
"You can't retire," Shansier said. "You're twenty-three."
"I've lived enough."
Martial Heroes, Zero Business Sense
Zhao Jinfeng picked up one of the wooden swordsmen and flipped it over.
"This carving is… extremely mediocre."
"It's rustic charm!" Liang protested.
"It's lopsided."
"It leans forward heroically."
"It looks like it's falling."
"Heroically!"
Meanwhile, Shansier picked up the Dao Xuan Tianzun figurine.
"Why does he have such a big head?"
"That's wisdom," Liang said.
"And the body is tiny."
"That's humility!"
"So he is a wise, humble bobblehead?"
"…Yes."
The Customer From the Depths of Chaos
A sudden whirlwind of skirts, jewelry, and sheer chaotic energy burst into the stall.
Madam Liu, the terror of the marketplace and self-appointed queen of bargain hunters.
"Oh my heavens! Toys! How adorable!" she said, grabbing everything at once. "How much?"
Liang Shixiong puffed up with pride.
"Five copper per piece."
Madam Liu slammed a single copper coin onto the table.
"I'll take all twenty."
"That's… not how numbers work."
She stared.
Liang stared back.
Shansier whispered, "She's going to win."
Zhao Jinfeng nodded solemnly. "No one has ever defeated her in negotiation."
Liang sighed. "Fine. One copper each—if you buy the whole set."
She brightened instantly. "Deal!"
In the End, a Man Must Accept His Fate
As Madam Liu skipped away with two dozen misshapen martial heroes, Liang collapsed onto his stool.
"I made… negative profit."
"That's impressive," Zhao Jinfeng said.
"Truly remarkable," Shansier added.
Liang groaned. "Maybe I'm not suited for business…"
Zhao put a hand on his shoulder. "Shixiong, you're not suited for martial arts, business, gambling, romance, cooking, or common sense."
Liang stared at him. "So what am I suited for?"
"You're excellent at running away," Shansier said.
Liang brightened. "That's… actually true."
And so, after one morning of heroic failure in commerce, Liang Shixiong decided that the martial world—dangerous as it was—might still be easier than dealing with bargain-hunting aunties.
He packed up his toys, sighed dramatically, and announced:
"I'm going back to being a weak man. At least in the martial world, people try to kill you quickly."
Zhao Jinfeng nodded. "Welcome back."
Shansier gave him a thumbs-up.
And thus, the toy-selling era ended after precisely one morning.