White-Robed Chief
chapter-180

"However, you need to act with propriety. Don't cause too much ruckus." Xiao Qi frowned. "High Duke Song's temper is not very good. If you really went overboard and got into a fight, we will be the one who suffers."

Chu Li laughed in spite of himself. "He is a friend of the High Duke, isn't he? So the situation will not develop to the extent of fighting with each other, right?"

"Who knows?" Xiao Qi shook her head and sighed. "There is no real friendship between the Public Houses, only gains, and personal interests."

"What benefits are there to fight for?" Chu Li asked.

The Public Houses were founded during the establishment of the country. The title of High Duke could be inherited in perpetuity, so the Public Houses were unshakable. No matter how much troubles they caused, the title of High Duke would not be taken away. They just needed to make sure that they had a successor so it was unnecessary for them to fight for profits.

Xiao Qi said, "Humans will die for money and birds will die for food. This is the greedy nature of human beings. They will fight for even the slightest profits. Moreover, there was someone stirring up this matter."

Chu Li nodded with a sudden realization. Naturally, it was the Imperial Household who were stirring up these fights between the Public Houses.

"In short, only you can do this task." Xiao Qi sighed. "It was somewhat inappropriate to let others do it and I would not rest assured too."

"Don't worry, my Lady," Chu Li said.

Xiao Qi turned to look at him. "I am actually very worried. You are young and vigorous, you are not someone who can endure provocation. This task obviously needs you to act in accordance with the will of others."

Chu Li laughed. "My Lady, why must we endure it? Even if we are not as powerful as them, we still don't have to be afraid of them!"

"Don't be foolhardy!" Xiao Qi frowned.

Chu Li replied, "I know the limits."

Xiao Qi stared at him.

The more Chu Li said he would act in propriety, the more worried she was. Xiao Qi had seen Chu Li's boldness before.

Chu Li smiled. "I will not act recklessly. I will assess the situation first."

Xiao Qi nodded slowly.

Chu Li had a great insight into the heart of others, which was one of the reasons why they let him go. The sense of propriety was subtle and in fact, apart from Chu Li, nobody was able to see through the thoughts of High Duke Song. If it was someone other than Chu Li, he would inevitably be subjected to the restraints of the other party and would have brought shame to their Public House.

After Chu Li went back to the small courtyard, he continued to analyze the Life and Death Scripture.

The second level of the Life and Death Scripture was an infinite mystery. Until now, he had failed to grasp it fully.

His spiritual force went up tremendously, the scope of his Omniscient Mirror and Life and Death Scripture surged greatly and his body became stronger and sturdier. In addition to that, the aura Chu Li abstracted was purer and the aura could be differentiated between pure and turbid as well as weak and strong.

During the study of these two days, Chu Li found a new advantage. Besides having a stronger body, his body could also be differentiated into weak and strong like the aura. Similar to a plant which could display two states: withering and flourishing.

With the first level of the Life and Death Scripture, he could disperse his inner energy, leaving only a small amount of it in his energy center in his abdomen. With a thought, an influx of aura could instantly restore his inner energy. Therefore, Chu Li usually looked like someone who had not practiced martial arts.

When he reached the second level of the Life and Death Scripture, his body could display two states: weak and strong.

Usually, his body was full of vitality, far better than the average person. However, Chu Li could also make his body seem like a piece of dead wood, without the slightest hint of inner energy in his body. Integrating his body with the earth and completely losing the breath of life. Even a Grandmaster would not be able to feel his presence.

Chu Li could become an ordinary person who did not practice martial arts, a sick person, a dying person, a dead person and all of them would seem real. Others would not be able to distinguish between what was real and fake.

Chu Li sighed to himself: with such wonderful ability, if he became an assassin, it would be really effective. He probably would not have any failures.

It was a pity that a Grandmaster had a keen instinct for danger. Thus, they were hard to assassinate. Otherwise, Chu Li may not be unable to assassinate a Grandmaster.

In the evening, the sun was setting. Chu Li went to the Stargazing Tower and trained with Xiao Qi. The two's cultivation levels were now quite similar, hence, training with each other benefited the both of them.

At this moment, Linquan came to tell Chu Li that Master Xiao Tieying had invited him over.

Chu Li followed Linquan to Iron Eagle Island. Xiao Tieying had been waiting in the main hall.

Chu Li gave him a fist salute. After sitting down, he took the teacup that was handed to him by Linquan and sipped lightly. Chu Li put down the teacup and looked at Xiao Tieying quietly.

Sunset dyed the house red, Xiao Tieying's handsome face was somber. "Chu Li, you depart to Huay Public House tomorrow!"

"The evidence was found?"

"We found two witnesses. They saw the brothers in Desolate Town."

"They did not see the assassination with their own eyes. High Duke Song will not admit it."

"It is impossible to find someone who saw the assassination with their own eyes. We can only find out this much but this is already enough."

"... Very well, I'll go."

"High Duke Song has a bad temper. Don't bother yourself arguing with the likes of him but fight for it when necessary," Xiao Tieying pondered. "It's no big deal as long as you don't make a ruckus until things get out of hand!"

Chu Li smiled.

Xiao Tieying said, "We might be weaker than them but we are not afraid of them too... I believe you can handle the matter with propriety!"

Chu Li nodded with a smile. "Yes, I will be careful."

"But you have to be careful. People are sinister," Xiao Tieying said. "If they went too far, retaliate fiercely. If the opponents are too powerful, just run away. It will be fine as long as you are not the one in a disadvantageous position."

"Yes." Chu Li smiled.

He did not expect Xiao Tieying's attitude to be more intransigent than Xiao Qi's.

Xiao Tieying sighed. "This is a very troublesome matter, happening in our territory. If we cannot give an explanation, our Public House's reputation will be the one that suffers."

"The Imperial Court will not give us pressure, right?" asked Chu Li.

"We are dragging it." Xiao Tieying shook his head. "But we can't drag on for much longer."

Chu Li replied, "The best way is to keep dragging."

"Hai…" Xiao Tieying sighed. "We are powerless everywhere! ...You have to reach the Grandmaster's Boundary as soon as possible."

Chu Li smiled.

He could feel the exhaustion and helplessness of Xiao Tieying.

The Public House was in a weak state. They were subjected to the restraints of others everywhere and this feeling was really uncomfortable.

After pressing forward day and night without halting for five days, Chu Li arrived at the Huay Public House that was located in Nanyang Town.

Nanyang Town's prosperity was on par with Chong Ming Town. People coming and going on the streets endlessly.

Huay Public House occupied a whole street, looking grand and magnificent. Although it was not as big as the Yi Public House that covered a wide area, it had a different style. Right after he entered Nanyang town, Chu Li could feel its overbearing air.

Chu Li led his horse and walked slowly to the front of the Huay Public House.

There were two awe-inspiring stone lions that looked as if they were going to leap forward. They were bigger than the stone lions at Yi Public House. Standing in front of the stone lions would make one feel like backing off involuntarily.

Next, to each stone lion, there were four burly Protectors. They were broad-shouldered and sturdy, with a long knife strapped to their waist and an imposing air surrounding them. At a glance, one would know that they had killed someone before.

With a glare from them, the legs of those who were timid would be trembling and their bodies would become limp from fear.

Chu Li led his horse before the Public House and gave them a fist salute. After that, he took out a name card and handed it over to the Protector that looked like the head. "I'm Chu Li Chu from Yi Public House. I've come here to visit High Duke Song."

The burly leader of the Protectors took the name card lazily, glanced at it and then looked at Chu Li, sizing him up with gazes of what seemed like electricity, as if he was trying to see through Chu Li.

Chu Li frowned. This person was quite rude and this was not the proper manner of treating a guest.

After the burly man had studied Chu Li, he said, "Wait for a moment!"

He turned his head and strode away. The remaining seven Protectors stared at him with piercing eyes, as if they were watching a prisoner.

Chu Li shook his head inwardly. The style of this Huay Public House was different from the Yi Public House's style. They were really arrogant and overbearing.

However, Chu Li could not say anything. Each Public House had a different style of conduct. Yi Public House had a gentle style of conduct, but it was also due to their lack of confidence. If they were powerful, they might not necessarily be as friendly as now.

After a moment, a purple clothed man came out slowly. When he stepped out of the door, he gave Chu Li a fist salute and smiled. "I'm Hu Guanghui, the chief of Guest Relation Courtyard. Scribe Chu Li, please follow me!"

Chu Li lifted a brow and smiled. "I wonder if High Duke Song is in?"

"The High Duke is busy so he cannot come and greet you. Scribe Chu Li, please don't mind it." Hu Guanghui smiled and bowed.

A Protector took the horse from Chu Li.

Chu Li gave a fist salute and smiled. "High Duke is a busy person. It's my bad for visiting suddenly. Sorry to intrude."

"Please, come in!" Hu Guanghui gestured with a smile and walked inside. "It's nothing. Our Public Houses' relationship is close. We welcome the arrival of Scribe Chu Li!"

The two entered the door while talking and went inside the Huay Public House.