"Chief Yan called Ding the Swordsman a rat, while Ding the Swordsman called Chief Yan a hound. They dueled with swords and traded insults, a battle so fierce it blotted out the sky and hid the moon..."
The patrons had grown a little tired of the tale of the South City Thirteen Thieves. But upon hearing how Ding Mo tried to kill Chen Cheng, bullying the weaker man, they all held him in contempt. Then, the part about his clash with Yan Jian sent them into roaring laughter.
Guo Degao's performance once again earned him thunderous applause from the whole establishment, and the tips he received were far more generous than before.
The fellow was shrewd. He knew to strike while the iron was hot. Seeing that no other storytellers were recounting the duel between Ding Mo and Yan Jian, he collected his money and hurried off to the next tavern to tell his tale and rake in more coin.
The patrons continued to buzz with excitement:
