Li Qingshan faintly smiled in silence, neither admitting nor denying.
Yan Song said, “Dark Wolf guard Feng Zhang also died by your hands?” He would never have believed such a ridiculous thing before, that one Dark Wolf guard, five first-grade masters, together with a great crowd of second-grade and third-grade masters would actually die by the hands of an unknown n.o.body kid. But now he believed somewhat.
Li Qingshan still didn’t answer.
Yan Song pulled his hand out. There wasn’t any talisman in it.
Li Qingshan said smiling, “Not fighting?”
Yan Song said, “You’re dead for certain, there’s no need for me to waste my things on a dead man.”
Li Qingshan said, “Oh? How do you mean?”
Yan Song said, “Do you believe you can continue to live after killing a Dark Wolf guard?”
Li Qingshan said noncommittal, “This matter doesn’t require your honored elderly self to worry about it. Please hand my things over!”
A fit of pallor crossed over Yan Song’s face. Liu Hong went forward and pulled Li Qingshan to one side, pleading, “Qingshan, I only dug those things out because I didn’t know you were still alive. If you want silver I’ll just give it to you, alright?”
Li Qingshan spread his hands in a shrug and said, “That’s what I wanted from the start.” He wanted to be reasonable with others, however others always had to be unreasonable instead and insisted on talking with fists.
Iron Fist Gate disciples dispersed everyone after a meaningful look from Liu Hong, emptying such a big martial training field.
Ye Dachuan had caught up at this time, riding on a sedan chair. He obtained a rough understanding of the situation after watching each and everyone’s expression, then again seeing the red mark not yet faded from Yan Song’s face. He silently thought, delightful. They’d arranged a feast to entertain Yan Song some days ago, but this bird stool protector had acted like he considered everyone else beneath him. Now you’ve seen our ferociousness right?
He pretended to cough twice. “Does protector Yan have some misunderstanding with constable Li? As the saying goes, it’s better to quell enmity rather than keeping it alive. I’ll act the host at noon, and be the mediator for the both of you.”
Yan Song flatly interrupted, “No need, there’s nothing I have to say to a dead man!”
Li Qingshan said, “You say that again!” A loser still dared to be so rampant, do you truly believe I won’t dare to be merciless?
Yan Song snorted coldly but indeed didn’t dare speak any further. It was precisely the so-called circ.u.mstances being stronger than men.
Ye Dachuan said with curiosity, “What dead man?” After understanding the entirety of the matter, he was also indeed starting to worry for Li Qingshan.
Dragon Li said in a small voice, “Qingshan, you better hurry and leave!” Yan Song gave him a cold look.
Li Qingshan laughed coldly inside. You really believe I don’t have long to live? He mildly said, “I was actually about to go to Blessed Peace City and join the Eagle Wolf Guard.”
“What!” Everyone was stunned.
“What a joke! With just, hmph!” Yan Song started to laugh coldly. He’d wanted to say “With just your skills,” but then he remembered Li Qingshan truly had this strength, so he could only coldly hump in disdain.
Ye Dachuan said, “What’s this about?”
Li Qingshan said, “Red Eagle Captain old w.a.n.g let me go to Blessed City and report to Zhuo Zhibo.”
Yan Song cried out in alarm, “How’s that possible? You killed Feng Zhang, you’re the Eagle Wolf Guard’s mortal enemy.”
Ye Dachuan said, “Is…is that true?”
Li Qingshan took out that dark wolf waist badge and waved it. “Feng Zhang has already been fired from the Eagle Wolf Guard, they’re probably letting me take over his position!” Keeping a low-profile was for a stalking beast to hunt and kill its prey at a critical moment, not for being despised and looked down upon by even some beam-hopping clown who’d then ultimately make a lot of trouble for him. That wasn’t low-key anymore, but stupid. If you yourself lower yourself down to the ground, then don’t blame others for stepping on you. Only displaying sufficient strength and influence was the proper way to reduce your troubles.
Liu Hong and Dragon Li shared a look, both rendered speechless. What kind of luck was that. Li Qingshan had been but a young country man half a year ago that could set himself against rascals and scoundrels at best, but now he could already join the Eagle Wolf Guard whose mere mention sent terror to the hearts of men from the martial world. It was simply a meteoric rise.
Li Qingshan’s expression was undisturbed. Yan Song didn’t want to believe, but he couldn’t not believe. He’d made some inquiries after coming to Suncheer and also knew that the one who’d led Li Qingshan away from the restaurant that day was the Red Wolf Captain Hua Chengzan. He’d taken Feng Zhang and Li Qingshan to go meet with w.a.n.g Pushi.
He couldn’t understand how these two would come to a lousy place like this, but the result was very clear. Li Qingshan had ultimately come back while Feng Zhang had died a violent death. Those two people hadn’t helped one of their own like Feng Zhang; the implications therein had truly provided food for thought. Now all had been made clear.
w.a.n.g Pushi had actually fired Feng Zhang on the spot. Li Qingshan also actually dared to call w.a.n.g Pushi “old w.a.n.g.” Was it possible that he had some kind of relationship with w.a.n.g Pushi? The expression in his eyes had already changed when he rested them again on Li Qingshan.
He originally thought that Li Qingshan would have had to find ways of protecting himself even if the Eagle Wolf Guard didn’t actively look for him, but now he had no way but to quell this thought. Only the Eagle Wolf Guard retaliated against other, such were the ways of the world. Was there anyone who dared to retaliate against the Eagle Wolf Guard.
Then he regretted being too impetuous as he thought a little deeper. The other side had such a powerful strength at such a young age, and he was also able to escape from death’s clutches in such dangerous circ.u.mstances. It was very possible some figure stood behind him. How could he really treat him like an ordinary kid?
“That’s great!” Ye Dachuan was delighted. “Before I was still worried you couldn’t go to Blessed Peace, it just happens we can go together this time.”
Li Qingshan said, “I’m still thinking whether I’m going or not.”
Ye Dachuan said, “Why not go, it’s really cool joining the Eagle Wolf Guard, you don’t even need to pay when you go to brothels and gambling dens.”
Li Qingshan sweat a little. So that was the advantage of joining the Eagle Wolf Guard? If “old w.a.n.g” were here, I can’t say for sure he wouldn’t slap you to death with his greatsword.
Ye Dachuan said, “It’s late already, let’s go let’s go let’s go, we’ll chat while we eat.”
How would Liu Hong let Ye Dachuan make the arrangements. He’d long ago let the sect disciples make appropriate arrangements. Yan Song unexpectedly also sat down after his expression went through a burst of fluctuations. He didn’t talk anymore about what “there’s nothing I need to say to a dead man.”
Afterwards Ye Dachuan and Liu Hong played the mediators. After downing several cups of wine down his belly, Yan Song borrowed the tipsiness and searched for himself a way out of the embarra.s.sing situation. He clinked cups with Li Qingshan and said awkwardly, “Li… Young hero Li…” He couldn’t pursue the matter about hall master Wu anymore. Even their headquarters’ master would blame him if he were to offend an Eagle Wolf guard for the sake of a hall master.
Li Qingshan faintly smiled, “Protector Yan, I have sinned against you earlier. Now I’ll drink three cups in punishment and offer you an apology.” He cleanly drained his wine from the cup in one gulp, then followed it with another three cups. He had no reason and no desire either to feud with people. It was of course all for the best if he could resolve the contradictions.
A burst of cheers rose from the table. Yan Song’s expression also became much better.
Liu Hong said, “Everyone’s a man of the rivers and lakes, everyone’s got a big temper. There’s nothing more normal than b.u.mping and clashing together. But don’t they say that it’s better to squash enmity rather than to let it endure, or that you can’t make friends if you don’t fight first? One more friend is one more road, one more enemy is one more wall blocking your way. I’ve lived so long. My martial skills are mediocre, but it’s thanks to this principle that I can foster my later years.”
Ye Dachuan said, “Right right right, it’s reason itself.” He was in a hurry to praise Li Qingshan in his mind. He knew when to advance and when to retreat, relied on strength but didn’t scare the weak. His conduct and behavior simply didn’t resemble that of a sixteen years old young man.
The both of them had experienced through many battlefields. Their level at enlivening the atmosphere was top rate. Now with Li Qingshan’s att.i.tude, one said a remark and the other added a word; soon the atmosphere became friendlier and more harmonious. Yan Song thickened his facial skin and made discreet inquiries. Li Qingshan’s relationship with w.a.n.g Pushi was something everyone was curious about. No one spoke anymore in the s.p.a.ce of a moment, only watching Li Qingshan.
Li Qingshan had no desire to be the fox borrowing the tiger’s might. “This “old w.a.n.g” is actually called w.a.n.g Pushi, I’m not familiar with him.”
Everyone exposed a disappointed expression, but Yan Song didn’t actually believe him. If w.a.n.g Pushi didn’t know you, would he take so much care of you and fire Feng Zhang for your sake?
Then he asked again, “Those two sirs are divine dragons that wouldn’t show their tails in ordinary times inside Suncheer, why would they come to Suncheer City?”
Li Qingshan had no intention of hiding things either. He talked in broad strokes about Gu Yanying’s matter, but concealed the topics about “concubine Serenity” and “cat monsters.”
“White Eagle Captain! Bodhi brew!” Yan Song swallowed his spittle. This was a character from the legends for him, with power and privileges so great he couldn’t even imagine. There was also the Bodhi brew of resounding fame,something only their headquarters’s master had had the good fortune of drinking a cup of once. These little doubts originally still in his mind were hence definitely squashed. He could completely imagine how furious he would feel inside if an indiscreet subordinate were to drag his legs while he tried to curry favors with the headquarters’ master.
“Being fancied by captain Gu, Qingshan, your future prospects are immeasurable!” The indignation and rancor arisen from having his face slapped by Li Qingshan earlier were immediately swept away. The expression in his eyes when looking at Li Qingshan now was even a little more respectful.
It was just like a small-time bureaucrat hearing a certain colleague having an interview with national leader, and they’d even amiably conversed. They would feel deep veneration despite themselves. Why would he still bicker about these tiny grudges.
“Perhaps!” Li Qingshan discovered that the Iron Fist Gate was very amenable to circ.u.mstances from top to bottom. The taste in his heart was a little complicated however. That free and extraordinary woman with clothes whiter than snow had merely invited him to drink a cup of alcohol, but it was enough to thoroughly change the way an innate master looked at himself. It made him also even more cognizant of the gap between them.
Ye Dachuan took a deep breath in. “The three great heavyweights of the Ruyi region!” He’d mixed in Clear River City for many years. He had no scholarly successes and no martial achievement, but he was indeed very familiar with these street gossips and marketplace rumors.
Li Qingshan said with curiosity, “What are the three great heavyweights of the Ruyi region?”
Yan Song said, “The marquis of Ruyi Jiang Fu, White Eagle Captain Gu Yanying, Great General Han Anguo, belonging respectively to the three Mohist, Legalist, and Military schools of thought1 Jiang Fu manages government affairs and commands the nine prefectures. Gu Yanying manages the Eagle Wolf Guard and holds the supervision of the law in her hands. Han Anguo leads the Han clan’s army and is in charge of military power. Each of them is a character with influence filling the sky, hence the streets call them the three great heavyweights of the Ruyi region. I heard it’s even this captain Gu who has the greatest influence among them.”
Ye Dachuan said, “Without even comparing influence, the Eagle Wolf Guard has the responsibility of supervising the armed troops and the hundreds of officials. This captain Gu is the one people dare provoke the least. Qingshan, you’re bound to immediately soar straight to the sky since you were able to casually obtain a promotion from her.”
Li Qingshan silently noted these information down. It turned out the Eagle Wolf Guard belonged to the Legalist school. Then those who came from Mohist and Military schools were probably not scholars and soldiers either. How could people as equally famous as Gu Yanying be mere mortals? The waters of this world were simply immeasurably deep. But of course, the great majority of people would never have any opportunity in their whole lives to come into contact with any on among the three.
He also felt at the same time that reconciling with Yan Song was an incomparably correct decision. One more friend didn’t necessarily open one more road, but he came from Clear River City and certainly knew many information he himself was unaware of. These information were extremely important for him, even relating to whether he would go to Blessed Peace or not.
Afterwards he also learned from Ye Dachuan that other than these three big heavyweights of the Ruyi region, Clear River prefecture also had three little heavyweights. Those were the Clear River prefect, the Red Eagle captain, and the Clear River general.
1. The three schools are part of the Hundred Schools of Thoughts during the Warring States Period (475 – 221 BC) in China.
The Mohist school was founded by Mozi and emphasized impartial and pragmatic policies. The Legal school has already been mentioned earlier in the story. Founded by Han Fei, it’s said that it took inspiration for the Mohist school and emphasized law and order. It was adopted by the Qin and later the Han dynasties as model for their governments. The Military school of thought studied warfare and strategy. One of its leaders was Sunzi, the author of the The Art of War.