Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System-Chapter 59: Intoxicated

Li Yishan was dejected.

Guo Wei’s old injury had relapsed because he had been giving him pointers. When Li Yishan got back, he had to explain the situation properly. He couldn’t let the Gang Leader blame him, nor could he allow people to gossip about Guo Wei.

The facts couldn’t be twisted.

Avoiding offense on both sides would come down to how he phrased it.

As he was leaving, Guo Wei said to Li Yishan, "Liu Quan is not your equal. Once my injuries have healed, come find me. I’ll teach you the method to defeat him."

"Thank you, Master Guo. Please rest well. I’ll come visit you again after the gang’s affairs are settled."

Li Yishan nodded.

Whether or not Guo Wei was sincere in his offer to teach him, the promise of a way to defeat Liu Quan was something he etched into his memory.

"Master."

After Li Yishan left, both Hei Hu and Chu Lingguang asked with concern.

"From now on, you must be extra careful out there. Never sustain an internal injury and leave it untreated. Otherwise, the slightest misstep could cause it to flare up at any time. You two, help me back to my room to rest."

Guo Wei said, gasping for breath.

"Yes."

Hei Hu and Chu Lingguang could only comply.

Once back in the courtyard, the two exchanged a look and pretended not to know anything. They went back to practicing their own Kung Fu.

At dinner, Guo Fang brought a meal to Guo Wei’s room.

Guo Wei called Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu to his door. Speaking from behind the door and window, he said, "Tomorrow, you two will represent me at the Big Saber Gang’s assembly. I’ve already had your senior sister prepare the gifts. Take them with you."

"Yes!"

The two replied.

The next day, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu took the gifts and rode toward Wine Street.

The Big Saber Gang’s assembly was being held just behind Wine Street. As it was the gang’s founding day, all the Wine Street Bosses had been invited. When Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu arrived, they saw Butcher Hu and others lining up to present their gifts.

He also saw Liu Lishi.

Carrying two boxes of pastries, he casually handed the gift to the steward at the entrance and swaggered inside. It was clear that ever since Liu Quan had defeated Li Yishan, Liu Lishi didn’t think much of the Big Saber Gang.

He had probably only come today to watch the show.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu tied up their horses and walked toward the main gate together. Even though Guo Wei hadn’t come in person, as his disciples, there was no need for them to wait in line with a crowd of merchants.

"The two disciples of Master Guo have arrived!"

Both were martial artists with vigorous Qi Blood, so the man announcing guests didn’t dare to be disrespectful. Upon learning they were representing Guo Wei, he announced their arrival to the courtyard with an even louder voice.

"Haha, I’ve been waiting for you two."

Li Yishan was in charge of receiving guests. Hearing that Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu had arrived, he immediately ran out to greet them and led them to a table in the center of the main courtyard.

He even specially arranged for a maidservant to attend to them.

"Junior Brother, look. That group of people seems to be watching us."

Hei Hu grabbed a handful of melon seeds and, looking around, noticed a group of men staring at him and Chu Lingguang.

"They’re all Big Saber Hong’s men. I saw a few of them when Master and I went to the mountain fortress to look for Big Saber Hong."

Chu Lingguang explained.

"After Big Saber Hong killed Lord Wang and over a dozen members of his family, he vanished without a trace. Who knows where he’s hiding now. This bunch is now running with the Big Saber Gang. It’s a good thing someone’s reining them in, otherwise Baiyang County would be in chaos sooner or later."

Realizing they were just a bunch of bandits, Hei Hu said irritably.

"Senior Brother, watch what you say. The core members of the Big Saber Gang all used to follow Big Saber Hong. Master said the gang’s leader has a formidable background, so we absolutely cannot afford to provoke them. No matter what happens, we just watch quietly. The moment the assembly is over, we leave."

Chu Lingguang reminded him.

Guo Wei had sent him and Hei Hu here with instructions for him to watch Hei Hu and keep him from starting trouble. But if something were to happen, he was still supposed to listen to Hei Hu, whose mind worked faster than his.

"From Zhennan Martial Arts Hall in Qinghe County, the Direct Disciple of Master Tie, Young Master Liu Quan, has arrived!"

Suddenly, the announcer’s voice from the gate caught Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu’s attention.

The two turned to see Liu Quan entering with two of his senior brothers. All three of them were carrying their weapons.

It was a rule of the Jianghu to never be without your weapon, but when invited to someone’s gang assembly or as a guest in their home, you were generally expected to put your weapons away upon entry or entrust them to the host for safekeeping.

To do otherwise implied provocation and distrust.

"You three, this way, please."

Li Yishan led the three over, deliberately seating Liu Quan and his companions at the same table as Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu.

The three took their seats.

Hei Hu stood up. "Junior Brother, we’re leaving."

"Yes."

Chu Lingguang scrambled to follow.

Liu Quan had done Guo Wei a disservice. As Guo Wei’s Direct Disciples, how could they possibly sit at the same table as him?

"Please, wait."

Li Yishan quickly called out to them, not having anticipated such a strong reaction.

"Hall Master Li, my master is unwell, so my junior brother and I cannot stay long. Forgive us. Farewell!"

Hei Hu said with a cupped-fist salute, giving Li Yishan no chance to explain. He then quickened his pace toward the gate.

Chu Lingguang followed right behind Hei Hu.

"Please, don’t misunderstand! I just thought that since we’re all martial artists..."

"HYA!"

Li Yishan chased after them to explain.

But Hei Hu had already mounted his horse and galloped away.

Chu Lingguang’s Little Red Horse quickly followed suit.

Li Yishan stood at the gate, watching them kick up a cloud of dust as they left. He could only return to the Inner Courtyard to report what had happened.

After a middle-aged man in the Inner Courtyard heard the report, he said flatly, "Proceed according to plan."

"Yes, sir." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Li Yishan nodded and withdrew. He couldn’t help but think of Guo Wei’s promise to him.

"Senior Brother, we just up and left. You don’t think Master will blame us, do you?"

On the way back, Chu Lingguang couldn’t help but ask.

"Master told us to leave at the first opportunity and not to linger."

Hei Hu explained.

"So Master knew there was going to be trouble at the assembly?"

Chu Lingguang asked.

"Who cares if there’s trouble? As long as it doesn’t land on our heads, the Big Saber Gang’s assembly can turn the world upside down for all I care. It has nothing to do with us."

Hei Hu said with a laugh.

Chu Lingguang looked as if he understood.

A short while later, he and Hei Hu returned to the Martial Arts Hall. After stabling the horses, they went to see Guo Wei. Herbal medicine was boiling in the kitchen, its strong aroma wafting all the way to the front courtyard.

The two went to Guo Wei’s room and recounted everything that had happened.

Guo Wei smiled and reminded them not to forget their training. After sending them away, he couldn’t help but think, ’With Li Yishan’s aptitude, if I point out the key to Tie Zhennan’s Spear Technique, he should be able to defeat Liu Quan in short order.’

Li Yishan hadn’t led Liu Quan’s group to their table simply because he thought all martial artists would have something to talk about.

「Early the next morning, news arrived.」

Liu Quan and his two martial brothers had gotten drunk and caused a huge disturbance at the assembly, enraging the entire Big Saber Gang. Tie Zhennan had rushed over from Qinghe County during the night and negotiated with the Big Saber Gang for hours before he was finally able to take the three of them back.