White-Robed Chief

“Do you believe me now?” Chu Li said with a proud huff and looked at him sideways.

Guo Shan replied, “I believe you now. You’ve become much stronger indeed. It’s only been a few days. Tell me, what fortuitous encounter have you received?”

“I haven’t had dinner yet.” Chu Li rubbed his stomach. “I’m starving!”

“Young fellow!” Guo Shan chuckled. “You’ve grown smarter! Alright then, come along. I’ll bring you home and ask my wife to prepare a few dishes for you. Let’s hear about this fortuitous encounter of yours then!”

As he was speaking, he turned around and started walking away.

“How much are you planning to pay me for my door?” Chu Li followed him out through the door.

He did not bother to close the door and had left it open instead. Since all his valuables had been stolen, it did not matter whether he closed the door.

“How much do you want?” Guo Shan huffed.

Chu Li replied, “At least ten taels!”

“Ten taels it is then!” Guo Shan took out a silver ingot from his inner pocket and tossed it to him. “Take it!”

Chu Li reached out and caught it. A satisfied grin appeared on his face as he stuffed it into his inner pocket. “Everyone must’ve thought I was dead, eh?”

Both of them walked eastward along the avenue for over a mile before arriving at a residence.

Chu Li swiftly examined the residence before him.

It had three entrances in total. Although it did not seem large, it was quite a grand mansion with a prosperous air about it. This showed that Guo Shan was doing pretty well in the association.

Guo Shan said, “You’ve been missing for a few days after falling off that cliff. We all thought you’ve been eaten by wolves!”

Chu Li scoffed.

Guo Shan continued, “Chivalry Association has suffered some losses this time. Aside from you, we’ve lost two other brothers. As for Ferric Blood Association, none of their people died. Feng Changwen, who pushed you off the cliff, has been especially outrageous and proud of himself!”

Zhao Dahe could be considered as one of Chivalry Association’s valiant warriors. Despite his weak martial arts skills, he always fought boldly and was ever ready to sacrifice his life seeing as most of his moves were aimed at taking his opponents down with him. Therefore, he had gained some fame for his fighting spirit. Unfortunately, he had died at the hands of Feng Changwen this time.

It was a pity that this guy was hot-tempered and impulsive with his words. Furthermore, he was a dim-witted fellow who did not know the ways of the world and was extremely obstinate. He would not show deference to anyone and had even dared to defy the association leader in person. If it was not for his loyalty, he would have been kicked out of Chivalry Association a long time ago.

When Zhao Dahe died this time, the association leader had sighed a few times out of pity.

“Feng Changwen, I’ll kill him off with my own hands!” Chu Li said resentfully and gnashed his teeth in anger.

Guo Shan pushed open the main door and walked in while saying, “He should certainly be killed off if we get the chance to do so. After all, he has taken the lives of three of our men this time… But it seems like this guy has gotten some fortuitous encounter too considering how his martial arts skills have suddenly become stronger. You’re no match for him.”

“Well, things are different now!” Chu Li clenched his fists and said, “It’ll be very easy for me to kill him!”

“Very good!” Guo Shan laughed. “We must avenge our brothers. We’ll bring the fight to them a few days later!”

“We’ll kill them off and eliminate Ferric Blood Association!” Chu Li said hatefully.

“That’s the spirit!” Guo Shan praised.

A maid came over to greet them. Then, a middle-aged woman walked out. She had a petite figure and beautiful facial features. Given her grace and charm, it was most likely that she used to be a beauty back when she was younger.

“Young Zhao!” she called with a delighted smile. “Elder Guo told me you were dead, but I said that fortune favors the foolish so you can’t be dead. I was right after all!”

Chu Li read her mind and saw how Zhao Dahe had previously carried himself. Then, he followed suit and held up a fist salute. “Sister-in-law.”

“Quickly come in and sit down. I’ll go prepare a few dishes right away,” the woman said. “I’ll have Xiao Xing go out and buy some wine for you to get rid of your bad luck!”

“Thank you, sister-in-law!” Chu Li replied happily.

Guo Shan watched his submissive behavior and shook his head to himself while quietly calling him a donkey.

This Zhao Dahe was indeed a donkey since he was as bad-tempered as a donkey and would frequently lose his temper whenever he felt like it. He would only behave if others acted according to his liking. Guo Shan could not bring himself to gratify such a fellow, and only his wife would still accommodate him.

He would occasionally come over to have a meal, but because Guo Shan was not fond of seeing him, he had come over no more than ten times. Zhao Dahe was always full of praise for Madam Guo’s culinary skills and wished he could come over to Guo Shan’s house to eat every day instead of cooking his own meals. Nonetheless, Guo Shan would never allow himself to indulge the man!

After having read the man’s thoughts, Chu Li knew what he should do.

They were now in autumn. Even before the sun had set, the air was already rather chilly.

The two men were sitting on a huge brick bed that had a short table on it and were both leaning against the window as they sat and chatted.

The woman soon served them two dishes and brought them some wine for them to drink.

Guo Shan poured a bowl of wine for him, and they both drained their bowls in one gulp.

“Alright, let’s hear it. What was your fortuitous encounter?” Guo Shan stared at him with bright, piercing eyes.

Chu Li shook his head and said, “I can tell you that.”

“Then hurry up and say it. Stop talking nonsense!” Guo Shan said impatiently. “What’s with all this secrecy!”

Chu Li replied, “Sister-in-law has such great culinary skills!”

Guo Shan threw him a glare. “What are you getting at?”

Chu Li went on, “How nice it would be if I could eat here every day!”

“No way!” Guo Shan scoffed.

Chu Li lazily took another sip of wine and calmly tasted one of the dishes.

“I say, since when have you become such a rascal!” Guo Shan glared at him as he began to lose his temper. “I don’t have that much food to spare at my house!”

Chu Li responded, “It’s not like I’m not planning to pay you.”

“If you have the money, then hire a cook for yourself!” Guo Shan waved a hand in dismissal. “I don’t feel like seeing your ugly face all the time!”

“Elder Guo, how good-looking do you think you are?” Chu Li retorted. “You’re no better than me!”

“What’s wrong with your eyes? Do you think we look just about the same? Haha!” Guo Shan laughed indignantly.

Chu Li nodded. “I think there’s not much difference between us.”

“Never mind then. Since you won’t tell me, just forget about it!” Guo Shan waved a hand and said furiously, “I don’t want to hear it anymore!”

Chu Li said, “Ah… this fortuitous encounter of mine has filled me with so much strength that I feel like I now have inexhaustible energy. I’m not sure how it happened either!”

As he spoke, he drank another bowl of wine.

Guo Shan glared at him and scoffed. “Never mind if you don’t tell me, but there’s no way I’m going to let you sponge off me!”

Chu Li pursed his lips. “Look at how petty you are! And everyone calls you a heroic person. They must be blind!”

“I don’t feel like talking nonsense with you anymore!” Guo Shan said with a huff. He picked up his bowl and gulped down the wine before putting it back down forcefully.

Madam Guo brought a few more dishes in and noticed the tension between them, so she smiled and asked, “What’s wrong now?”

“This guy wants to come to our house every day and eat for free. Tell me, isn’t he taking advantage of us?” Guo Shan said and laughed coldly. “We mustn’t be compassionate to others. I’ve shown him kindness and offered him a meal, and he’s still not satisfied. Give him an inch, and he’ll want a mile!”

Madam Guo chuckled and said, “I’ll have Xiao Xing bring your meals to you every time after I’m done cooking.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law!” Chu Li was overjoyed.

It was not a pretense this time. He was genuinely grateful because while he could manage to do everything else, cooking was a tough job for him.

Madam Guo waved her hand and smiled. “It’s no big deal. I’ll just have to make slightly more food when cooking.”

Guo Shan scoffed and protested, “But why!”

Chu Li responded, “How petty! I’ll pay sister-in-law with some silver every month!”

“That’s not necessary,” Madam Guo replied while waving her hand dismissively with a smile. “It won’t cost much anyway.”

Chu Li laughed and said, “Well then, I shall happily accept the offer.”

“You’re brothers from the same association. You should take care of one another. You don’t have to be so modest.” Madam Guo chuckled as she left.