White-Robed Chief
chapter-176

Chu Li smiled widely and gave them a fist salute.

Xiao Tieying was standing alongside Linquan, Xiao Shi, and Guo Mulin. Once he stepped into the hall, everyone stared at him.

Xiao Tieying went to Chu Li and grabbed him by his arm. He smiled. "Good, you're really back alive now. That's great news!"

"Master Xiao, I'm fortunate to be alive." Chu Li smiled.

"Even the most ferocious of thunders could not get to you. You truly are incredible!" Xiao Tieying exclaimed in admiration.

Xiao Shi's beautiful eyes were as calm as water. She gazed at Chu Li but did not speak.

Guo Mulin went forth and grabbed Chu Li's wrist to feel for a pulse, just to be sure. He nodded satisfyingly. "Not bad, young lad. You truly are tough!"

Chu Li smiled. "I'm sorry I made you worry, Elder Guo."

"You little brat! I consider myself unlucky for having met you!" Guo Mulin said jokingly.

"Alright, Chu Li. You should head up and have some rest," said Xiao Qi. "Take a few days off."

"Sure." Chu Li nodded. He gave one last fist salute to everyone before leaving.

Xiao Shi's gaze was still transfixed on him. Her eyes did not waver as she watched him go.

Chu Li had only looked back at her once, smiling and giving her a slight nod. He then left the place without looking back.

"Sigh, what a lad. Since he's fine now, I shall go back too." Guo Mulin shook his head and said, "Second Lady, you should get some proper rest too. After all, you had just recovered from a huge illness. We shouldn't take chances."

"Understood," Xiao Shi answered him absent-mindedly.

Only the three siblings were left in the room then. Linquan too had left the building.

"Thank God the stars shined upon Chu Li!" Xiao Tieying grinned in delight. "It looks like our Public House's fortunes are taking a turn for the better!"

Xiao Qi nodded gently. "Big brother, this time we really have to thank Chu Li."

"That is for sure!" Xiao Tieying smiled. "We shan't mistreat him in the future. If not, I will not forgive myself for being rude to our savior, and so wouldn't the rest of the people in the Public House!... Second Sister, how do you think we should reward Chu Li?"

"Me------?" Xiao Shi shook her head. "How would I know?!"

Xiao Qi was silent.

Xiao Tieying laughed. "Second Sister, Chu Li seems to fancy you a lot. How about, I let you marry him?"

"Big Brother, what are you joking about?!" Xiao Shi stared angrily at Xiao Tieying.

Xiao Tieying watched as his sister's cheeks blushed red, he laughed. "No need to be shy in front of your own brother. A good companion is harder to find than buried treasure! If I let Chu Li be my brother-in-law, I would not need to worry!"

"Brother, stop this nonsense!" Xiao Shi continued to glare at him. "Chu Li and I can't be together!"

"Why not?" Xiao Tieying's smile vanished as he was taken aback by that statement. "Is Chu Li not worthy of marrying you? Besides his lesser origin, everything else about him is perfect for you. He's smart, charming, skilled in martial arts; he's one the best! The most important thing is, he's willing to die to protect you. Where else can you find another man like him?"

"I am not compatible with Chu Li." Xiao Shi shook her head and admitted. "He likes Xiao Qi more!"

"Huh------?" Xiao Tieying glanced at Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi glared at her. "What does this have to do with me?"

Xiao Shi explained, "I knew exactly why he chose to save me. It was because of his affection for you, Xiao Qi!"

Xiao Qi sighed. "Xiao Shi, are you not fond of Chu Li?"

Xiao Shi answered calmly, "Big Brother, Third Sister, have you guys forgotten? I'm already bound to an engagement."

Xiao Tieying and Xiao Qi looked at her with a serious expression, both shaking their heads.

Xiao Tieying smiled. "Xiao Shi, that engagement was not even official. So many years have passed, and the other party didn't seem to utter even a single word about it. It's obvious that they don't intend to keep their promise."

Xiao Qi added, "It was just a verbal agreement, it doesn't really count."

"They didn't ask us about it because of my weak body. Now that I'm cured, we can't be so sure anymore," Xiao Shi replied.

Xiao Tieying shook his head. "Second Sister, if you're not willing to fulfill the engagement, then just let it be. Don't spread the word out about how you're already up and healthy, then it would be just fine… But it all still comes down to your personal preference, don't be too hard on yourself!"

"I figured that marrying into the royal family might be a good thing after all," Xiao Shi said, "Then you would never have to worry about me anymore."

Xiao Tieying frowned.

"Xiao Shi, our Public House is not in such a precarious position that we need you to marry yourself away!" said Xiao Qi.

Xiao Tieying agreed with her, "She's right!"

Xiao Shi replied flatly, "I've heard that King An is a man of wisdom. Plus, he's a kind gentleman. You can say that he would make a good husband."

"But King An is already forty, and he has so many consorts!" Xiao Tieying looked annoyed. "It's better if you marry Chu Li. Let's not talk about capabilities, just look at how besotted he is with you! He won't ever let anything bad happen to you."

"King An has never crowned himself a princess consort, he could have been adhering to his promise all along," Xiao Shi said.

Xiao Tieying's face turned gloomy.

Xiao Qi's face looked downcast too.

This engagement promise was a wound on their hearts. Nobody wanted to cut it open, because the pain would be too much to endure.

"Big Brother, father may not be here with us anymore, but can we turn our backs on a promise?" Xiao Shi said, "If I had really married Chu Li, King An would certainly not let us go scot-free. Who would be able to stop him then?"

Xiao Tieying gripped hard on the armrest of his chair. He remained silent.

King An, the third son of the Emperor. The real reason he had not chosen a princess consort, was indeed because of the engagement promise back then. Their father had the Prince as their guest one day, and under the occasion, they half-heartedly proposed the engagement. Verbally, their father agreed to marry his second daughter to the Prince as his princess consort.

At that time, Xiao Shi had not even been born yet. Now that their father had isolated himself from the outside world for the cultivation of martial arts, he had left Xiao Shi hanging, and restricted to the engagement.

After so many years, King An's Imperial Residence had never approached them regarding the engagement. The Prince never came to take Xiao Shi away with him too, because of her fragile health. They felt that she would not be able to acclimatize to the environment in the palace. They feared that if anything bad had happened to Xiao Shi, a huge conflict would break out between both parties.

Now that Xiao Shi's body had recovered, once King An had caught wind of the news, he would most certainly pursue the engagement. Even more so because Xiao Shi had been crowned as their state's number one beauty.

The Yi Public House's relationship with the Imperial Residence had always been complicated. They had numerous work ties but at times there were minor conflicts. From the perspective of an outsider, they may have looked like they were united, but deep down, there were many cold wars.

If Xiao Shi had really wed herself into the Imperial Residence and become the princess consort, she would not be guaranteed a perfect life. Instead, she might be jumping straight into a hellfire pit. Xiao Tieying had a special kinship with his sister, so he could not bear marrying her sister to the Imperial Residence. The engagement promise was also the biggest cause of his beef with his own father.

Xiao Qi sighed. "Then just pretend that we have forgotten about it. Sister, get rid of that mindset of yours, marrying yourself to the Prince wouldn't help solve our Public House's crisis!"

"That's right!" Xiao Tieying followed up, "Xiao Shi, even the marriage between me and the Princess would not help our Public House at all, so don't think that way!"

"King An is a good man," Xiao Shi said, "You guys don't have to worry!"

"Second Sister!" Xiao Tieying face turned gloomy. "So you refuse to listen to your own brother?"

"Big Brother…" Xiao Shi exhaled. "The truth will be out there sooner or later. King An and the Imperial Residence will find out eventually!"

"Delay it for as long as we can!" Xiao Tieying scoffed. "If our father can reach the boundaries of Enlightened Mastery, the engagement would instantly be voided!"

Xiao Shi shook her head lightly.

Breaking through the boundary of Enlightened Mastery was not by any means an easy feat. She had zero confidence in it.

Xiao Tieying tried to switch the topic. "Third Sister, how do you think we should reward Chu Li?"

"Promote him to Rank 2?" Xiao Qi suggested.

Xiao Tieying fell silent, he pondered for a minute. Then, he nodded. "By law, what he did was not enough to qualify him as a Rank 2. But this time, I admit that it's different. He had sacrificed his own life to save Xiao Shi's, so I can make an exception. He deserves to be promoted to Rank 2."

Xiao Qi agreed.

Xiao Tieying turned around and looked at Xiao Shi. "Let Chu Li be the Chief of Symphony Island, what do you think?"

"No!" Xiao Shi waved his hand to protest. "Chu Li is our Third Sister's favorite general."

Xiao Tieying turned his glance to Xiao Qi. "Third Sister?"

Xiao Qi sighed. "Fine. Just allow Chu Li visit our Second Sister more frequently and it will do."

She understood her big brother's intentions. He wanted to use Chu Li to tie down Xiao Shi's heart and prevent her from doing anything foolish. He did not want Xiao Shi to plunge herself into the hell pit, namely King An's Imperial Residence. Xiao Tieying would do whatever it takes to marry Xiao Shi to Chu Li.

But what would this leave Chu Li with?

Xiao Shi rolled her eyes at her siblings. "If you do send Chu Li to my place, I will leave immediately!"

Xiao Tieying sighed. "Second Sister, please don't do anything stupid!... If you really marry the King, how would I explain myself to our late mother?!"

Upon hearing him mention their mother, Xiao Shi stopped talking.

Xiao Qi could see through what was playing in her sister's mind. Xiao Shi had feelings for Chu Li, but it was purely admiration. She had no interest at all in pursuing a love relationship. The only thing she had in mind was how to turn their Public House's fortunes around. She fervently hoped that she could help change their situation for the better.